Dear 5th Grade Parent(s):
Welcome to the fifth grade! I am delighted to start the school year and to get to know you and your child. With your encouragement, your child will be a part of an exciting and rewarding year. I encourage you to visit our classroom at anytime. I would like to know any concerns or suggestions you may have. I can be reached at 947-5036 (school) or 302-0513 (cell).
I have compiled this class handbook to provide information of the policies, procedures, and expectations for the new school year. Please review the handbook with your child and sign the contract at the end of the handbook so that I know that you have read and understood the information contained here.
CLASSSROOM DISCIPLINE PLAN
As I firmly believe that lifelong success depends on self-discipline, we have developed a plan that gives every student the opportunity to manage his or her own behavior. I will discuss this plan with the students, but I would appreciate it if you would also review the plan with your child. Working together, all of us can ensure that your child will receive the most positive educational climate possible.
I believe that all children are different. Therefore, all actions and reactions should be personal in nature. I will deal with situations as they arise, hoping that the students will grow and learn from his/her actions.
Classroom Guidelines:
1. You may engage in any behavior which does not create a problem for you or anyone else.
2. If you find yourself with a problem, you may solve it by any means which does not cause a problem for anyone else.
HOMEWORK POLICY
Students will be given assignments daily. Work that is not completed during school needs to go home the day it is assigned to be finished. We will be having a study hall most days. This is time when homework may be completed.
LATE WORK
If an assignment is not completed, the child must complete it during recess (if before lunch) or after school (if after lunch). The grade for the late work will be the average of the incomplete grade and the complete grade.
GRADES
I update grades at least once a week. You may view your son/daughter’s grades at https://new-rockford.ps.state.nd.us/guardian/home.html
by using the parent PowerSchool password. This password may be obtained in the school office. Please review your son/daughter’s grades regularly.
CLASSROOM WEBSITE
I post my lesson plans on the school website for your convenience. These are posted by the end of the school day Monday. However, they are subject to change.
1. http://www.newrockford-sheyenne.k12.nd.us/
2. Under the “Staff Directory” tab, click on “Laura Hager”
3. Click on “Lesson Plans”
PLANNERS
Each student will have a planner sheet in the front of his/her binder. The planner will be used to record daily assignments that need to be completed. The planner should go between home and school. As a parent, please look at the planner to see that all work has been finished. I am not requiring that the sheet be signed unless a problem arises.
TUESDAY FOLDERS
Each Tuesday, your child will bring home his/her mail folder. It will contain tests, assignments, and a newsletter for the week. Review the tests and assignments with your child and sign the form on the outside back cover of the folder. You may leave comments in the box provided. The folder must be returned on Wednesdays.
BOOK REVIEWS
Reading is one of the most important skills children will ever learn. The child who reads well and loves to read will excel in school. To help with this skill, the 5th grade will be using the Accelerated Reading (AR) Program. The most important goal regarding Accelerated Reading is to encourage a love for reading by developing confidence through practice. Accelerated Reading is an individualized reading program for students. It allows teachers and students to set goals, track growth, and monitor comprehension.
For those parents not familiar with the program, Accelerated Reader is a computerized reading incentive program. The students read a book and take a test. There is a selection of over 10,000 books. The computer awards points based on the difficulty of the book and the number of questions that the student answers correctly. These tests will take the place of book report forms.
Accelerated reader (AR) Steps:
1. Teacher and student set the quarter AR point goals according to Lexile level and the student’s reading commitment. A 20 minute reading commitment per day is the minimum.
2. Student chooses a book within his/her Lexile range.
3. Student reads the book and completes a reading log as he/she reads.
4. Student submits reading log once book has been completed.
5. Student takes quiz on book that he/she read.
6. Immediate feedback is given to the student on his/her comprehension and vocabulary growth. Students earn points toward their individualized Accelerated Reader goal according to the accuracy of the quiz questions answered.
7. Your son/daughter earn a grade for each quarter based on the number of points earned compared to his/her individualized AR goal. For example: If a student earns 7.0 points for the 1st Quarter and has a goal of 8.5 points, he/she will earn an 82% as a standard grade in reading for the quarter.
Through the use of this program, I hope to encourage our students to read more so that they become better readers. Since the amount of time reading is directly associated with academic achievement, I would like to encourage you as parents to promote this program with your children.
ABSENCES
If your child is absent from school, please send a note of explanation or call the school. All homework and class assignments must be made up within the number of days absent. It is important that your child have limited absences.
GRADING POLICY
A+ 98-100 C+ 81-83
A 95-97 C 78-80
A- 92-94 C- 76-77
B+ 89-91 D+ 74-75
B 86-88 D 71-73
B- 84-85 D- 69-70
F 68 and below
Inc. Incomplete
CLASSROOM PARTIES
The class has been split into 3 party groups. When the time approaches, the group will decide on activities and supplies needed. It will be the designated group’s responsibility to plan and provide for the party.
Halloween Valentine’s Day Christmas
1. Kate A. 1. Ryder B. 1. Claire B.
2. Kelsie B. 2. Landen B. 2. Keaton C.
3. Donald E. 3. Talan G. 3. Thomas G.
4. Connor K. 4. Duane M. 4. Andrea O.
5. Preston P. 5. Ashton R. 5. Trysta T.
6. Lora W. 6. Alec Y. 6. Lucas Y.
7. Hannah A.
.
TEXTBOOK WEBSITES
You may find the following resources useful when studying for tests or helping your son/daughter with homework.
Reading
· https://www.macmillanmh.com/reading/
o Select “North Dakota” from the drop-down menu and click “Go”
o Select the “Students” or “Families” tab
o Under the “Students” tab, you will need to select the “5th Grade textbook” your child uses
Math
· http://www.eduplace.com/saxonmath/wv/onlineactivitiesk-3s.html
o On the left side of the screen, click on “Intermediate 3-5”
o After scrolling down, you will find several activities organized by lesson
Social Studies
· www.harcourtschool.com
o Click on “The Learning Site”
o Click on “Social Studies”
o Click on “Harcourt Social Studies”
o Click on “North Dakota”
o Click on the book with the bald eagle on the cover
I look forward to a great year. If you have any questions, please contact me. Please sign and return the last page of this handbook so that I know that you have read its contents. Keep the handbook so that you may refer to it throughout the year. Thank you for your time and cooperation!
Respectfully, Mrs. Hager
Please return this page to class
I have read the information concerning the classroom rules and procedures.
Parent’s/Guardian’s Signature: Date:
______
Child’s Signature: Date:
______
Comments/Questions:
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