Homework Policy
The main goals of homework are to assess your child’s learning, provide practice of learned skills, and teach responsibility. Homework will provide reinforcement of lessons taught in the classroom. Your child will be given homework Monday-Thursday on a regular basis. Students are responsible for writing down their own homework assignments each day in their agendas or other form of homework recording sheet. Students will have a daily math and literature assignment. Science, social studies, long-term projects, and/or studying may replace an assignment occasionally. As part of the daily homework assignments, your child will be expected to read at least 30 minutes every night. The amount of time it takes your child to complete his/her homework may vary, as every child is different. However, please notify me if your child is taking an excessive amount of time to complete the homework.
Homework Expectations
• Do your best on all assignments.
• All work should be done neatly and in pencil.
• Students are responsible for gathering any necessary materials before they leave for the day.
• Homework should be turned in on time.
Behavior Expectations
I have adopted a positive behavior program. Positive behavior is a systematic approach that establishes and reinforces clear behavior expectations. it is proactive because it teaches the appropriate behavior, instead of punishing misbehavior. Social behavior is taught, modeled, and reinforced through Second Step lessons. Students can be rewarded individually, as a cooperative group, and as an entire class.
During the first week of school we will create our class rules/expectations together. We will discuss the consequences for not following the school and classroom rules and expectations. You will receive a copy of the expectations along with the consequences once they have been established.
Follow-Up to Classroom Expectations
*Our class will hold class meetings with an open discussion about issues and concerns that students have throughout their school fay. During the meeting, we will work on problem solving skills and brainstorming ideas for improvement.
*OOPS! Card- This card will be kept in the child’s binder on a daily basis for you as parents to be actively involved with the specific behaviors performed in the classroom. Each letter of “OOPS” represents the next step of consequences for the child as he/she makes choices in their behavior. This encourages the child to be aware of strengths and weaknesses and to learn there is a choice that is all in their hands. Choices can be changed daily before becoming a problem or a habit.
For each behavior, a hole punch will be “punched” on the card. The first two holes are an, oops, or warning. The 3rd punch means there is a problem occurring and the 4th punch means I will speak to a parent. There will be a consequence at the problem level. The specific date and key words will be included on the card as a record for all of us. The next day, the child has the opportunity to start the day with a clean slate. If there continues to be behavior or work habit problems during the week, there will be further consequences and the office will be notified.
If needed, this card will come home in your child’s take home folder on Monday’s to be signed and returned to school. I am hoping that this new system will help encourage students to follow the school wide expectations.
*Behaviors that warrant office referrals are: Bullying, Physical Aggression, Weapons, Repeated Misbehavior, Major Class Disruption, Sexual Harassment, Disrespect/Non Compliance, and Theft. If an administrator is not available, the student will either remain in his/her regular classroom or go to another classroom, depending on the nature of the incident, until an administrator can address the incident.
*I will let you know through the student planner, email, or a phone call if your child is having difficulty following the classroom and school-wide expectations.