Presentation Transcript

1. Welcome As you are waiting… Please begin by filling out the Information Card at your seat. After filling out your card, please look through your Parent folderand pages. Then, fill out the volunteer page, classroom party sign-ups, parent/teacher conferences sign-up, look at the “Giving Tree”, or just get comfortable!

2. Mrs. Brooks’ 4th Grade Class

   Welcome, Parents!
3. All About Me My Background: I grew up near Greencastle, IN. I come from a family of educators. My husband, Garrett, was transferred back to the Carmel area last October. We live in Carmel with our kitty, Lynda! I attended South Putnam High School & Purdue University. I hold a K-6 teaching license, a literacy specialist certificate, and have completed all of my course work for my High Ability Licensure certificate from Purdue. My Experience: I student taught at River Birch Elementary in the Spring of 2011. I spent my first year teaching in Elkhart, IN in a third grade high ability classroom. Last year was my first teaching year at Avon. I feel privileged to be back home to continue my career here at White Oak.
4. Classroom Volunteers Classroom volunteers are welcome any time after the first month of school. If you are unable to volunteer during school hours, there will be several opportunities for you to help out by cutting classroom supplies and sending them back to school with your child. Please complete the volunteer sheet provided in your parent folder and send it back to school as soon as possible with your child.
5. Parent/Teacher Conference Schedule Please make sure to sign up on the schedule going around the room before you leave this evening. Dates: Monday, September 9thth-13th This schedule will be posted on the classroom website (listed by student name).
6. Transportation Changes If there is a change in your child’s normal transportation home from school you must send in a note explaining how your child is to get home. Your note must come to school on or preferably before the date of the transportation change. Please do not leave a voice message or an afternoon e-mail detailing a transportation change on the day of the event. I am sometimes unable to check e-mail and phone messages while students are present. E-mails and phone messages in advanced are welcomed. If your child is riding the bus with another student please include the student’s first and last name on your note. If your child is a pick-up, only adults on the authorized pick-up form will be allowed to take your from the building. If you would like to add or remove someone from this list, please contact the office.
7. Classroom Parties & Field Trips Last year, space was very limited for our study trips. The first two parents to indicate an interest in attending were signed up. All other parents were welcome to meet us at the field trip location. To celebrate birthdays, students are given a pencil. Per Avon School Policy, cupcakes and treats are not allowed. This year we will celebrate with the following parties: Harvest Party, Holiday Party, and the Valentine’s Day Party. All parents are welcome to attend parties. All celebrations will occur from 2:45-3:30. **If you are interested in volunteering to help with one of our celebrations, please find the sign-up pages going around. I will make copies of these pages with phone numbers to help you coordinate with others.
8. Communication Assignment Books- An assignment book has been provided for each student, and homework is recorded in it daily. It is your child’s responsibility to show you his/her assignment book and assignment each evening so that you can sign it. This will help communicate to your child that you are interested in and aware of what is being studied in our classroom. Website – Updated daily with homework assignments under “Homework”. Newsletter- A weekly newsletter, “The Brooks Bulletin”, and e-mail will be sent each Friday morning. ***If your family also would like a paper copy, please let me know. At this time, I will NOT be making paper copies for your student unless indicated. Please read this weekly, as it contains information about our current units of study, activities, and upcoming events. E-mail- The easiest way for me to communicate is via e-mail. I will contact you as needed to make you aware of your child’s strengths and needs. Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
9. Homework Policy Homework is due the first thing in the morning. Homework assignments and projects will be entered into PowerSchool under the corresponding subject area with its due date. Every nine weeks, students will receive TWO Homework Passes. Each late assignment will receive a 10% deduction from their score, plus a “fine”. If a student does not complete an assignment and does not have a pass, the student will not receive credit for the assignment(or “0” in gradebook).
10. Classroom Management & Mini Economy All students have a classroom job that they will be expected to apply for and perform. They will be paid in classroom currency (Brooks Bucks) for this job and can spend the money in the classroom store or auction after they have paid their bills and (if any) fines. As the classroom mini-economy progresses, our classroom may have banks, insurance companies, and student businesses. Please look over your child’s Classroom Mini-Economy documents with them. These documents include information about current job positions and descriptions, application sheets, other ways to earn money, and ways students can be “fined”. Also, see the “Earnings and Fines” sheet on the next page. The students will receive this sheet every Monday. They will bring it home to be signed and returned every Friday(in their Friday Folders). If your student receives your signature, they will get “paid”, with a possible bonus, on the following Monday.
11. Discipline Policy Students are given an “Earnings and Fines” sheet each Monday. If a student chooses to make a poor choice, homework responsibilities, etc.,however, he/she will be “fined”. If misbehavior occurs again that day, the student will be fined for a second time. If the student reaches the need to be fined for a third time, his/her next recess will be lost. Students could possibly lose their classroom job as well. For serious misbehavior, I will contact the child’s parents to discuss the incident/behavior that occurred and the resulting consequences.
12. Discipline Policy (cont.) **White Oak will be implementing a school-wide discipline plan. This plan will merge with our Mini Economy and Fines sheet each week. Our school-wide behavior plan will integrate a “clip” system. There are 4 different levels: Exceeding Expectations (blue), Ready to Learn (green), Warning (yellow), Consequence (red). Class numbers will be written on individual clips. All students will begin on “Ready to Learn” (green) EVERY morning. Students can move up and down each day. This will NOT relate to homework or classroom performance/completion. Each day, students will write their color on their “Fines” sheet for the day. I also record all fines and behaviors on my class behavior sheet. Students’ conduct grades each week will come from their Fines sheets each week. At the end of each week, the student’s sheet will be sent home, providing parents with a specific behavior report.
13. Water Bottles & Snack I allow the students to have water bottles on their desk throughout the day. I will allow the students to have a small, healthy snack in the morning. Snacks need to either be contained in a small container (with a lid) or plastic baggie.
14. Daily Schedule
15. Specials
16. Reading Curriculum Avon has adopted a new textbook and curriculum, aligned to the Common Core and Indiana State Standards, Wonders. I cannot stress enough how rigorous our new curriculum will be EACH and EVERY day. Our first 2 weeks together is called a “Smart Start”. Vital for students to be present at school during our 2-hour block English/Language arts from 9:05-11:05 each day.
17. Reading Assessments It has been decided by our administration that all students will be assisted and supported during the first FIVE weeks of our Reading assessments. Reading grades will be pulled from assessments, but with support and guidance. After Unit 1, students will take assessments on a more independent level without the extra support. Reading assessments will take place on Fridays. Beginning after Unit 1, students will take both paper versions and on the computer (alternating). Questions?
18. Math Curriculum Envision Math, Pearson Each student will have a Math textbook. On most occasions, Math homework will be the lesson’s worksheet, and textbooks will not travel home. Students can access Pearson SuccessNet at home: https://www.pearsonsuccessnet.com/snpapp/login/login.jsp?showLoginPage=true
19. Math Facts Students will do timed written tests to show mastery of addition and subtraction facts during Math class. Students will complete Multiplication (and then progress to Division) facts online, every evening M-Th, at the website www.xtramath.org. If your student does not have access to a computer, Ipad, etc., I will be happy to provide paper versions for their homework completion.
20. Science! Science! Science! 4th Grade has a heavy focus on Science (and the students LOVE it!) We will do Science everyafternoonfrom 2:45-3:35. I would greatly appreciate volunteers. If you would like to help during Science with the students or help with prep work before/after school, please indicate this interest on your volunteer form. Our units: Electricity & Magnetism Structures of Life (Crayfish and Bess Beatles!) Earth’s Changing Surface Motion & Design
21. PowerParent Live August 1st! Grade breakdown for this 1st 9 weeks: Writing (Grammar & Writing pieces): 7-9 grades Reading (Word Study, Spelling, Reading assessments): 9-12 grades Social Studies (IN Dailies- Morning Work and daily discussion): 7-9 grades Science (In-class work, HW assignments, quizzes, Unit tests, group participation): 7-9 grades Math (HW assignments, In-class assignments, quizzes, tests): 7-9 grades
22. PowerParent (cont.) New for the elementary level (1st-4th), and new for us! Communication is key! It is a set expectation by Mrs. Patchett that all assignments be graded and entered by the following Tuesdaynight. Graded assignments are used throughout the week for small group intervention and follow-up. Graded papers are sent home the same Friday in the students’ Blue Friday Folders. If you or your student still have additional questions/concerns in regards to an assignment, I welcome them after you have reviewed the assignment. I do ask for your patience each week! Please keep the graded assignment!
23. Supplies Please check out our “Giving Tree”!
24. Possible Question Areas PowerParent? School-wide Behavior Plan/Fines Sheets? New Reading curriculum/assessments? Grades?
25. Don’t forget! Parent/Teacher Conferences Schedule Parent Volunteer Form & Classroom Party Sign-up if interested Mrs. Brooks’ Contact information: Located in your parent folder; it’s a magnet! At your earliest convenience, please e-mail me a quick message at hbbrooks@avon-schools.org so your e-mail is on file. This powerpoint and documents have already been posted to our website.
26. Let’s Have a Great Year!