Welcome to Open House 2010

1. Welcome to Open House 2010 Mrs. Satagaj Grade 5 Room 31

2. Agenda Books • Help keep students organized • Can be used as a checklist • Help students learn time management strategies • Help students set long and short term goals • Allow you to monitor what they are doing on a daily basis • Goal = Independent Use!

3. Organization & Communication • Students have folders and notebooks to keep materials organized. • Students red folders are their “take-home folders”. They travel between home and school each day. School notices, announcements, and homework will be placed in these folders. • Notes can be written between home and school in students’ agenda books. • Tests at the end of units will be sent home and must be returned to school signed by a parent or guardian regardless of the grade the student received. This counts as a regular homework assignment.

4. Assessment of Students • Class Work • Group Work • Responses to Reading • Written Assignments • Reports and Projects • Tests and Quizzes

5. Discipline Individual Behavior • Point System • Earn points for good behavior and work habits and lose points for poor behavior and work habits Group Behavior • Point System • Students can earn class points based on whole-class or small group behavior • Use points to buy privileges • Losing points may result in loss of recess. • Serious offenses such as bullying, physical behavior, and cheating may result in after-school detention.

6. Homework Assignments: Generally 50 – 60 minutes per night, Monday through Thursday, and may include: • Math practice • Writing • Vocabulary/Grammar work • Reading (20-30 min./night), needs to be logged • S.S./Science • Test preparation • Projects • Signed materials

7. Homework Policy The Windermere homework policy states that students will earn a detention for every fourth assignment missed per semester. • One offense per semester is a “freebie”. The student will be expected to make up the missed assignment and/or stay in for recess with me in the classroom to complete missing homework. • The next three offenses the student will be sent to Structured Review during recess.

8. Homework • The subsequent missed assignment results in an automatic detention for the student. At least one school day’s notice will be provided in order to arrange for transportation. • Held on Tuesdays/Thursdays from 2:40 – 3:40 • In order for you to monitor your child’s homework progress, a sticker will be placed in his/her agenda book for each missing homework (except ‘freebie’). Please sign the sticker so that I know you are aware of the missing assignment(s). • Each of the 3 teachers on our team hold students accountable for their own assignments.

9. Snack Procedures • Snack will occur every day; students will need to bring their snacks into the classroom first thing in the morning • Students may not purchase snacks from the cafeteria this year • Due to severe allergies present this year, students will be expected to follow certain procedures for snack. • Students may only bring in snacks on the safe snack list • If snacks are not in a pre-packaged container, then they must be labeled for easy identification • Snacks will be checked by the teacher daily; if the snacks is not safe, the student will not be permitted to eat it

10. Subjects: • The students will study: • Reading • Writing • Math • Science • Social Studies • Grammar & Vocabulary

11. Workshop Model: • Enables students to learn and apply reading and writing strategies. • Provides students with the opportunity to read and write with stamina, volume, and fluency at their independent level. • At different times during the year, these workshops are geared to focus on different genres.

12. Writing Workshop • Narrative • Fiction • Expository Essays • Grammar & Punctuation • Vocabulary Work

13. Goal of the Reading Program at Windermere: For our students to become fluent, lifelong readers who comprehend and enjoy a variety of texts.

14. Reading Workshop Units • Building a Reading Life • Character Study • Non-fiction • Adventure Book Clubs • Content Area Reading/Research • Social Issues Book Clubs • Test-Taking Strategies • Independent Reading Projects

15. Time devoted to reading is important.Students should read extensively both in and out of school to polish their basic reading skills and develop fluency. During the school day, students need long periods of time to read extended texts for a variety of purposes: for information, for pleasure, and for exploration. The key to becoming a better reader is: practice, practice, and more practice.Weekly reading logs count as a homework! A designated ‘quiet spot’ at home to read and do homework is ESSENTIAL!

16. Writing About Reading • Students will be expected to “Stop and Jot” about their reading on a regular basis. • Writing about their reading allows students to explore their thinking, practice reading strategies, and prepare for conversations. • Students will also be asked write longer entries about their reading in their reader’s notebooks. These entries will be collected and graded.

17. Math Units: • Numeration and Number Sense • Addition and Subtraction • Multiplication and Division • Decimals & Percents • Fractions • Probability • Plane and Solid Geometry • Measurement • Preparation for CMT

18. Science Units • Light • Sound • Earth, Moon, and Sun • CMT Preparation

19. Social Studies Units • Using a textbook • Age of Exploration • Colonization • American Revolution • United States Government

20. Specials Schedule • Tuesday: P.E. (Mrs. O’Brien) • Students are expected to change clothes. • Wednesday: Music (Mr. Cheman) • Students will have weekly homework and end of unit tests • Thursday: Art (Mrs. Dymkowski) • Media (Mrs. Varley): Every other Friday • Students can check out two books.

21. Beginner Band • Lessons take place once or twice a week at different times throughout the day • Students in band will miss regular academics; they will be responsible to make up missed worked and come in for recess if necessary • Students may not miss tests, quizzes, or projects to attend their lesson • The second half of the year, students will miss one recess a week to attend beginner band; students’ progress will be evaluated on their report card • Band is a responsibility; please discuss whether or not this is manageable for your child

22. How Can I Help My Child Adjust to 5th Grade? • Ensure that he or she reads every day (weekends, too!) • Talk to your child about what he or she is reading • Multiplication fact practice! It is essential to have these “down pat” in 5th grade! • Talk about homework, encourage studying, and give time management tips • Ask about upcoming tests, quizzes, and projects

23. How to Contact Me:Nicole Satagaj • Email:nsatagaj@ellingtonschools.net • Checked daily • Phone: (860) 896-2329 ext. 131 • Usually available after school • School Notes Webpage: http://new.schoolnotes.com/nsatagaj/ • Links to sites to practice math facts • Updates on long-term homework assignments • Information, Announcements, and Dates • Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have questions or concerns. You can also choose to write me a note on a separate piece of paper or in your child’s agenda book.

24. How to Contact Team Teachers: • Ms. Horvath – Social Studies • shorvath@ellingtonschools.net • Extension #129 • Mrs. McKeegan – Social Studies • amckeegan@ellingtonschools.net • Extension #133

25. Being a Part • Our classroom is always in need of: • Tissues • Hand Sanitizer • Non-bleach wipes • Books • Volunteers are needed throughout the year for various events

26. Thank you for coming! I look forward to a great year of learning with your children! Please remember to sign up for a conference time slot. Thanks!