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R.O.Y.A.L. Binders

To help with organizational skills, we will be using a R.O.Y.A.L. (Responsibly Organizing Your Awesome Learning) Binder. This binder is a system of teaching organization and responsibility in students through creating and maintaining an organized binder with specific sections and folders. It's also a way to promote communication between parents and teachers easily, without backpack chaos! A ROYAL Binder is a 1 or 1 1/2” 3-ring notebook that holds everything the students and parents need to keep updated on classroom and school events! See the information sheet about ROYAL binders for more specific information.  This is the 3-ring notebook you needed to buy. 

Homework Policy

Students may receive homework every night, including Fridays.  A typical night of homework will include an assignment in Math and one other subject.  Additionally, I ask that students read at 30 minutes per night.  What they read is up to them.  The goal is to get students reading.  The more they enjoy what they are reading, the more they will read, and the more they read, the better at it they'll become.  Daily homework is due the day after it is assigned (unless otherwise specified).  Students absent due to illness will be given the necessary time to make up missed assignments. All work must have the student's name, homeroom teacher, roster number, and the date.  Students are required to write down their assignments in a student planner and have parents sign it every night.

Additionally, the completed planner is used as the restroom pass from class.  The planner must be filled in to use the restroom during class work time.  Students should not seek permission to leave during instruction, but wait to work time. unless there is an emergency.  Students are welcome to use the restroom between classes.  Students should remember that classes start promptly.  Accessive late arrival may result in lost recess time.

If you know your child will be absent in advance, please follow the school policy posted in the handbook.  I will try to get assignments gathered in advance.  If your child is absent, due to sickness, please contact the office or leave voice mail requesting assignments.  Many of the assignments will be available here in the future.

Reading

We will be using our language arts curriculum from Scott Foresman.  We will be reading from Fantastic Voyage and several novels. We will be participating in the Accelerated Reading program. My emphasis is on individual goal setting and contracts. The contracts will require students to do book talks, "lunch bunch" or a written book report. A related creative project may also be required.  Accelerated reading points are used to determine a portion of the reading grade, as are the A.R. test scores.

Spelling

Spelling Contracts are assigned weekly.  A spelling list and contract will be sent home at the beginning of the week. The regular list will consist of 20 basic words and a number of review words or challenge words. The challenge words will mostly be from math, science or social studies.  Some students may have an adjusted list to meet their individual needs.  Practice tests will be on Wednesdays, while final tests are on Fridays. Students scoring 90% or above on the practice test have the option of skipping the final test. The tests will be scored as follows:  Regular Words: 5 points each Challenge Words: 1 point each for a Total Possible: 108 % for the basic list.  Adjust list uses a different scoring.

Science and Social Studies

Most of the units we cover in science and social studies will require students to take notes, keep a journal, or complete a study guide. The notes or study guide will be kept in the ROYAL binder before a test to help the student study. We will cover the following units in Science this year: review for MEAP, classification of animals (includes heredity and adaptations), animal body systems, weather, changes in force on motion (with simple machines), movement of objects in the sky (Space and Solar System).  Our human growth lesson is part of the body systems, but may be completed later in the year.  This lesson is given in separate sessions for boys and girls, and includes a state mandated pretest and post test.

Our social studies covers the settling of America, ancient civilizations to European settlers, American Indians, Explorers, American Revolution and Causes of the Civil War. Current events are covered, as well as individual rights and freedoms as we prepare for the MEAP test and understanding our responsibilities as citizens.

Math

We use Saxon Math for our math series.  Students are issued a book.  Students should cover the book with a paper bag cover to protect the book.  Students will generally have time to complete most of the math assignment in class each day, but may need to take it home to finish.  Students also do a math fact tests.  Students that struggle with fact recall should be practicing facts at home to ensure mastery. The number of the math lesson should be included to receive credit, as too often students only write down the answer, and it takes too long to figure out which late assignment it is.