Classroom Philosophy and Environment
As a class we will focus on teamwork, challenging our skills, and being positive role models for the school. Our classroom will be a safe environment, where we will feel comfortable making mistakes and learning from them. We will always push ourselves to the next level and never give up on trying, even when things get hard. We will respect each other, our classroom, and each other’s goals. We will have fun with our learning experiences, but will also work hard. Parents will be welcomed when time allows.
Classroom Rights and Responsibilities
You have the right to a safe environment
You have the responsibility to follow safety rules
You have the right to voice your opinion
You have the responsibility to respect the opinions of others
You have the right to use school books, materials, and equipment
You have the responsibility to take care of all school materials
You have the right to fair treatment
You have the responsibility to treat others fairly
You have the right to a good education
You have the responsibility to do your best
Curb Procedures:
Please keep your child in the car until you get to the adult at curb. At that point, the staff member will open the door and help the child out of the car. Students are NOT to exit the vehicle on the street side - curb side only.
Basically stay in line until you get to the adult - your child will be assisted out of the vehicle - and then drive forward.
Do not park in the loading/unloading zone.
Classroom Procedures:
Morning Routine – Students may enter the building as early as 8:20. By 8:30 students need to have put book bags/coats away in their lockers, fill their water bottle, have 2 sharpened pencils, and turned in their homework in the South Basket. Students are expected to start morning math work right away. The Pledge of Allegiance is at 8:30 and the door is closed; any student who arrives after the door is closed, must go to the office and get a pass to class. All tardy slips will be recorded in the system.
Weekly Newsletter – Our class website is www.monicasclass.weebly.com. You can find information regarding field trips, important upcoming dates, and our newsletter. A weekly newsletter will go out. It will include skills that we have worked on, what we will focus on next week, and any extra information that may need to be communicated to parents.
Materials – All supplies have been provided for the students. It is recommended that each student bring a water bottle labeled with their name for use during class. Students are responsible for the care of their materials. Materials such as markers, scissors, crayons, colored pencils, glue, and pencils will be shared by all and can be found in the supply cupboard.
Field Trips – A variety of field trips are planned for the school year to go along with our units. Details, permission slips, and driver requests will be sent home prior to each trip. Remember to check your email and your child’s folder on a daily basis.
Snack - Students may bring a HEALTHY snack to class each day. Cookies and candy are not allowed as snack, and the student will be asked to put them away. Students may eat their snack during reading work time (10:00 AM). If a student forgets their snack, they may not share with a friend.
Academics
Literacy:
Literacy instruction is broken down into writing workshop, small-group reading activities, phonics/advanced language groups, and silent reading time.
Orton-Gillingham phonics will be used to teach the sounds, syllabication, and spelling rules of our language. While small groups of students are working with the teacher on Orton, the remaining students will be working on literacy centers.
Reading Whole Group each day whole group reading lessons will be conducted to teach big idea reading skills. These skills will be incorporated into their phonics and book club groups and literacy centers.
Writing Workshop generally consists of a short lesson on a writing concept followed by time to work on writing and editing individual compositions. We will be using the writing process to pre-write, edit, and publish our work, and using the COPS (Capitalization, Organization, Punctuation, and Spelling) model with a rubric for assessing writing.
Mathematics: Students will be utilizing FrontRow software throughout the year to guide Monica’s math instruction. FrontRow adapts to each learner, so each student is focusing on the content that is at their personal level. Small groups will be used daily for instruction with Envisions Math to have each student proficient in all standards.
Science and Social Studies: Science and Social Studies are taught in units that typically last about four to eight weeks. Field trips will be planned to go along with many of the units. This year we are incorporating Project Based Learning into our science and social studies curriculum. Students will also make class videos to incorporate into their science and social studies projects. The students will get a chance to experience hands on learning on the way to meeting Iowa Core Standards.
iPads: Our classroom implements 1:1 iPads, creating a 21st Century Classroom! Every student will have their own iPad that they will use throughout the year. The iPad will be used as a tool to enhance student learning across the curriculum.
Students will be responsible for the iPads when in their care. The students will know the expectations for the iPads, and will be expected to follow expectations and procedures. The iPads will not go home.
iPad Expectations:
The student will:
- Always use 2 hands when walking with the iPad
- Only use apps and programs that Monica has instructed to use
- Not have liquid anywhere near their iPad.
-Not use excessive force if frustrated (ex - hitting the iPad harder than necessary to open an app).
- Be responsible and use smart learning choices while using the iPad.
- Always know where their iPad is.
Consequences for not following expectations:
Strike 1 - Student loses the iPad for the rest of the day and the following day, parents will also receive an e-mail of the incident, student will reflect with Monica and create a strategy to ensure it does not happen again.
Strike 2 - Student loses the iPad for the rest of the day and 3 days following. A meeting is set up with parents and student to discuss strategies to help student stay on task in the future.
Strike 3 - Student loses the iPad for the rest of the year, meeting is set up with parents and student about loss of privilege and student will write a reflection on their actions.
Homework: Students will write in their weekly journal during the week at school. On Friday's they will take their journal home, have their parents read and respond to their entry, and bring it back on Monday for homework credit. The students are encouraged to read at home with their family members, play outside, eat dinner with their family, and get to bed on time. :o)
Special Experiences: This year includes Spanish, P.E., Health, Art, and Music. This year’s Y.A.L.E. (Yet Another Learning Experience) program will include Ice Skating in the Fall, and our Service project will run the entire year.
As a class we will focus on teamwork, challenging our skills, and being positive role models for the school. Our classroom will be a safe environment, where we will feel comfortable making mistakes and learning from them. We will always push ourselves to the next level and never give up on trying, even when things get hard. We will respect each other, our classroom, and each other’s goals. We will have fun with our learning experiences, but will also work hard. Parents will be welcomed when time allows.
Classroom Rights and Responsibilities
You have the right to a safe environment
You have the responsibility to follow safety rules
You have the right to voice your opinion
You have the responsibility to respect the opinions of others
You have the right to use school books, materials, and equipment
You have the responsibility to take care of all school materials
You have the right to fair treatment
You have the responsibility to treat others fairly
You have the right to a good education
You have the responsibility to do your best
Curb Procedures:
Please keep your child in the car until you get to the adult at curb. At that point, the staff member will open the door and help the child out of the car. Students are NOT to exit the vehicle on the street side - curb side only.
Basically stay in line until you get to the adult - your child will be assisted out of the vehicle - and then drive forward.
Do not park in the loading/unloading zone.
Classroom Procedures:
Morning Routine – Students may enter the building as early as 8:20. By 8:30 students need to have put book bags/coats away in their lockers, fill their water bottle, have 2 sharpened pencils, and turned in their homework in the South Basket. Students are expected to start morning math work right away. The Pledge of Allegiance is at 8:30 and the door is closed; any student who arrives after the door is closed, must go to the office and get a pass to class. All tardy slips will be recorded in the system.
Weekly Newsletter – Our class website is www.monicasclass.weebly.com. You can find information regarding field trips, important upcoming dates, and our newsletter. A weekly newsletter will go out. It will include skills that we have worked on, what we will focus on next week, and any extra information that may need to be communicated to parents.
Materials – All supplies have been provided for the students. It is recommended that each student bring a water bottle labeled with their name for use during class. Students are responsible for the care of their materials. Materials such as markers, scissors, crayons, colored pencils, glue, and pencils will be shared by all and can be found in the supply cupboard.
Field Trips – A variety of field trips are planned for the school year to go along with our units. Details, permission slips, and driver requests will be sent home prior to each trip. Remember to check your email and your child’s folder on a daily basis.
Snack - Students may bring a HEALTHY snack to class each day. Cookies and candy are not allowed as snack, and the student will be asked to put them away. Students may eat their snack during reading work time (10:00 AM). If a student forgets their snack, they may not share with a friend.
Academics
Literacy:
Literacy instruction is broken down into writing workshop, small-group reading activities, phonics/advanced language groups, and silent reading time.
Orton-Gillingham phonics will be used to teach the sounds, syllabication, and spelling rules of our language. While small groups of students are working with the teacher on Orton, the remaining students will be working on literacy centers.
Reading Whole Group each day whole group reading lessons will be conducted to teach big idea reading skills. These skills will be incorporated into their phonics and book club groups and literacy centers.
Writing Workshop generally consists of a short lesson on a writing concept followed by time to work on writing and editing individual compositions. We will be using the writing process to pre-write, edit, and publish our work, and using the COPS (Capitalization, Organization, Punctuation, and Spelling) model with a rubric for assessing writing.
Mathematics: Students will be utilizing FrontRow software throughout the year to guide Monica’s math instruction. FrontRow adapts to each learner, so each student is focusing on the content that is at their personal level. Small groups will be used daily for instruction with Envisions Math to have each student proficient in all standards.
Science and Social Studies: Science and Social Studies are taught in units that typically last about four to eight weeks. Field trips will be planned to go along with many of the units. This year we are incorporating Project Based Learning into our science and social studies curriculum. Students will also make class videos to incorporate into their science and social studies projects. The students will get a chance to experience hands on learning on the way to meeting Iowa Core Standards.
iPads: Our classroom implements 1:1 iPads, creating a 21st Century Classroom! Every student will have their own iPad that they will use throughout the year. The iPad will be used as a tool to enhance student learning across the curriculum.
Students will be responsible for the iPads when in their care. The students will know the expectations for the iPads, and will be expected to follow expectations and procedures. The iPads will not go home.
iPad Expectations:
The student will:
- Always use 2 hands when walking with the iPad
- Only use apps and programs that Monica has instructed to use
- Not have liquid anywhere near their iPad.
-Not use excessive force if frustrated (ex - hitting the iPad harder than necessary to open an app).
- Be responsible and use smart learning choices while using the iPad.
- Always know where their iPad is.
Consequences for not following expectations:
Strike 1 - Student loses the iPad for the rest of the day and the following day, parents will also receive an e-mail of the incident, student will reflect with Monica and create a strategy to ensure it does not happen again.
Strike 2 - Student loses the iPad for the rest of the day and 3 days following. A meeting is set up with parents and student to discuss strategies to help student stay on task in the future.
Strike 3 - Student loses the iPad for the rest of the year, meeting is set up with parents and student about loss of privilege and student will write a reflection on their actions.
Homework: Students will write in their weekly journal during the week at school. On Friday's they will take their journal home, have their parents read and respond to their entry, and bring it back on Monday for homework credit. The students are encouraged to read at home with their family members, play outside, eat dinner with their family, and get to bed on time. :o)
Special Experiences: This year includes Spanish, P.E., Health, Art, and Music. This year’s Y.A.L.E. (Yet Another Learning Experience) program will include Ice Skating in the Fall, and our Service project will run the entire year.