Welcome to 5^th grade in room 413 with Mrs. Ey and Ms. Townley

1. You should keep a copy of this document at home and one in your desk.  You can also find it on our class website at: 

http://www.learningfirstfoundation.org/wb/pages/elementary-academy/grade-5/ms.-ey.php

Items you will need DAILY  without exception

1.                  Writing utensils (pens, pencils, etc…)

2.                  Notebooks

3.                  Homework assignments

4.                  Positive attitude

2. Let’s start off with the word BEHAVIOR.  (The definition = noun; the manner of acting or conducting oneself.  This is referring to the way you act.) All students in room 413 are expected to follow the school wide code of conduct:  Be Kind, Be Safe, and Be Responsible.  The school’s code of conduct also acts as our classroom set of rules. 

3. Anyone part of room 413 is expected to show respect for ALL people, creatures, and things.  Respect can be defined as the state of being regarded with honor or esteem and the willingness to show CONSIDERATION AND APPRECIATION.  It is vital that you treat all people with respect, but also things (items in room 413, anywhere in our building, and the belongings of your fellow peers.)  Not showing respect will NOT be tolerated. 

4. It is very important that you pay attention.  It is hard to understand information if you do not give your full attention to the topic.  You success in school will be greater and easier if you just simply pay attention to what’s going on in class.  Paying attention is half the battle.

5. Questions…Do not stop yourself from asking questions.  This is how we learn.  If you do not understand something we are doing, then you MUST ask questions, so we will know you need some help.  It is impossible for us to know that you do not understand if you are not asking questions.  In most cases if you have a question about a topic, then I would be willing to bet that someone else has the same or a similar question to yours.  Asking questions is very important to your learning. 

6. Taking notes…This is a skill that will carry you through the rest of your education.  Note taking is a skill. You must be taught and practice it to be good at it.  You will be given many opportunities to learn to take notes.   Notes are very important because they are used to study from for quizzes and tests.  On the other hand, it is completely unacceptable to write and pass notes to friends during class time.  This is not permitted and any notes seen will be confiscated (taken away) and not returned under any circumstances.

7. Organization is a key to being successful at just about anything.  People who are organized tend to do well in school and in life.  Being organized will carry you through the rest of your life.  Being organized saves you time.  We will take time periodically to help you get and stay organized, so you can make the most of your time.  You are given an agenda, and you are EXPECTED to use it. You are expected to keep a separate folder and notebook for each subject we cover.  It is your responsibility to purchase notebooks when they are running low and new folders if yours are getting tattered.  It is not the classroom’s responsibility to provide materials for you.  Please feel free to come talk to your teachers if there is a private reason you are unable to get your own materials and help can be provided at that time. 

8. Agendas are provided for you by the school.  You are expected to write down your homework for the week on MONDAYS or the first day you are present in school for the week.  If an assignment changes later in the week for any reason, then you will be notified the day it is changed, so you can mark your agenda accordingly.  Agendas are to be signed each night by a parent/guardian.  It is expected that the parent/guardian will sign the agenda each night and NOT FOR THE WEEK.  This ensures open communication in change of assignments and/or projects. 

9. Morning Work is a starting activity that you are required to complete at the start of each day.  You will pick up your morning work from the till each day.   Morning work is expected to be taken seriously and have full effort each and every day.  If effort is lacking or additional support is needed to grasp the concept, then recess time will be used to gain tutoring or redo the assignment.  Breakfast and morning work is expected to be completed by 8:00 am promptly.  This means you should be putting it on the morning work till at 8:00 am. 

10. Tills are trays where paper is stored and assignments are submitted.  Morning work and homework is submitted each day to these tills.  It is expected that you will submit your assignments without needing a personal reminder.  It is your responsibility to turn them in to the tills.  The teachers should not have to tack your down for your work. 

11. Assignments are given in all subjects, but your homework will consist primarily of math and ELA work.  There will be some projects and other various assignments.  You will have class work that you will do individually, with a partner, or with a group.  All work assigned to you is expected to be submitted on time.  Late work is not accepted without a valid excuse or point deduction.  Turn in your own work.  Even if you work in a group or with a partner, then you are expected to do your own work with the help of your partner or group, but you must turn in your own work.  You must complete all assignments in full and they must have the proper heading.

12. Headings are required on all papers submitted.  You will need to put your name and date in the upper RIGHT hand corner.  This format should be followed on ALL papers regardless of the assignment.  The only exceptions will be if the directions are given to put your heading somewhere else.    You should check your paper before turning it in.  5 points will be deducted from grades lacking this simple heading.

13. Bathroom can only be requested to be used once in the morning and once in the afternoon.  You must sign out on your appropriate space and sign back in immediately return.  Be sure you are not asking during important information.  You must use the signal.  The signal is to put your thumb between your first two fingers and twist your hand back and forth.  You will receive a nod (yes) or a head shake (no) to your request.  This means that you must be looking for the answer.  A verbal answer will not be given, so if you are not paying attention, then you will not be allowed to go or even know if you were granted permission.  You must take a pass with you in order to use the rest room.  Bathroom permission will only be granted to one person at a time.  If someone was granted permission to go, then you will need to wait to ask b/c lines will not form for this. 

14. Absent from school?  If you need to be out, then you are expected to make up all work you missed in addition to the assignments of the day you return.  It is your responsibility to find out what assignments you missed while you were out.  Please see a teacher for this information.  Homework and in class assignments will generally be found in your mailbox.  This will usually be all that you missed, but make sure you double check with one of the teachers. 

15. Raise your hand and wait to be called on before you speak.  If you are answering a question or asking a question, then raise your hand and wait for a response from either or the teachers.  Do not raise your hand and blurt out your question or request.  You need to be patient and wait your turn.  This is the procedure for all class discussions unless you are directed otherwise. 

16. Clean up after yourself everyday.  Everyday before you leave you are expected to tidy your desk and pick up the area around you.  If there is a paper on the floor, then pick it up and get rid of it.  It doesn’t matter if it is your paper or not.  What does matter is that this classroom belongs to all of us and we want to keep it neat and clean.  Any materials you use need to be put back in a very neat manner.  Do not leave your personal belongings in the classroom.  Take them with you. 

17. Dress code is to be followed at all times in our classroom. You must be dressed in the designated clothing.  All shirts will be buttoned and tucked appropriately.  Violators of the dress code will need to fix their appearance and pull a discipline strip.  Checking your uniform is your obligation.  If repeated offenses occur, then a call to a parent/guardian to correct the dress code situation will happen. 

18. Signals are needed to have our class run smoothly.  We already discussed the bathroom signal.  Other signals you should be aware of are zero noise (right hand is raised with a closed peace sign and as soon as you see the signal, you are to finish up your sentence, stop talking, and also show the signal.  Then further directions will be given to you.)  Another signal that might be used to gain attention is clap if you can hear me.  I will speak in a low voice.  I will say, “Clap once if you can hear me.”  If you can hear me, then clap once.  I will give more directions that will followed by more and more people, until I have everyone’s attention.  Once you hear my voice, then you stop talking and follow the directions.  Do not start talking again unless you have been told otherwise.  If you need to sharpen your pencil, then raise your pencil in the air.  If you have your own sharpener, then sharpen your pencil at any point.  If you need a tissue, then hold one hand over your nose, and raise the other.  Pay attention and look for the yes nod or the no shake of the head.  You must raise your hand to throw items away or wait until the appropriate time to do this.    

19. I don’t know and I can’t are unacceptable phrases to use in room 413.  These phrases are for people that find it ok to quit.  The members of room 413 are successful people.  Quitting is not in our vocabulary.  We try and try again.  Trying and succeeding is a very rewarding feeling.  We all must work to gain this. 

20. Substitute teachers will occasionally have to become temporary members of our room 413 community.  Sometimes the adults need to be out and a substitute is called in to replace them.  These subs are very important people.  They are there to help the class run like it normally does.  I have zero tolerance for misbehavior in the event of my absence.  Consequences will be given if you cannot behave yourselves in the event of my absence.  You are expected to treat the substitute with respect and do anything s/he asks you to do. The work s/he is assigning comes from me.  I have put together all the work that is being assigned, so it will be graded and count toward your grade. 

21. Classroom Jobs are assigned to members of our 413 family.  Various jobs require more of each individual.  Some jobs we will have are:  Line Leader, Door Holders, Teacher Helper, Greeter, Secretary, Messenger, Librarian, and others may be added as our community finds a need. 

22. Partner and group work will take place often in this class.  The selection of partners and groups will be done randomly sometimes and other times you are permitted to pick your own partners or groups.  Occasionally I will specifically select groups.  I will not tolerate complaining and definitely no whining about who you are to work with on that task.  I cannot tolerate or stand whining.  If you spend time complaining and whining about your partner or group selection, then these groups will become permanent, until you learn to work together.  We all have people in this world we do not necessarily want to work with, but there are times when we have to work with these people.  You do not have to like them, but you do have to cooperate and work with them productively (getting all the work done properly).  Look at it this way…if you just dive right in, get the job done, then you will not have to be near that individual for as long.  Everyone must learn to work with all kinds of people.  We all must show tolerance and acceptance of each other.  We are a family in room 413.  We must take care of each other and not knock each down. 

23. Preparedness is a requirement of this class.  You are expected to come to school with a positive attitude, ready to learn, and all of the items you need to have a successful school day. 

24. Common Sense is using good judgment for the day to day or simple things.  There are appropriate times for most things and you know how to figure out if the times are good or not.  Allow me to elaborate.  If you need to throw something away or grab a tissue, then go ahead and do it, BUT you must use common sense when making these decisions.  If I am teaching and you are taking notes and your pencil breaks, then raise your pencil in the air to signal that you need sharpen your pencil.  Before you do things always ask yourself the following questions:  Are my actions going to disturb anyone?  Will my actions cause a problem?  If you can answer those questions with a no, then by all means proceed to throw something away or grab a tissue.  If the answer is yes, then stop and wait until an appropriate time comes. 

25. Discipline will help keep order when poor decisions are made by you or classmates.  We will use a three strikes you’re out system.  Everyone starts out with a baseline fish card on the chart, but if for some reason you have to be warned about behavior, then you will have to move the baseline fish card behind the others, so you are looking at the green card, then yellow, and if you reach red, then you will make a phone call to a parent.  A teacher will also speak with your parent/guardian immediately following your conversation with your parent/guardian.  If you made a poor choice in the morning and had to move a card, but then decided to correct your behavior for the next period or rest of the day, then you have earned the right to move back one card at a time.  You demonstrated that you deserve to not have a phone call about negative behavior.  A note can/will be written in your agenda, so your parent/guardian is aware that you decided to make better choices.  The choice is yours. 

26. Grading is an essential part of education.  It indicates your progress.  Grades are given to demonstrate if you are succeeding.   Grades indicate your effort.  If you are always trying, then you will succeed.  You will be graded in all subjects taught.  You will be graded based on class work, homework, quizzes, tests, reports, projects, and other various assignments.  You will be given your grading reports in trimesters.  Attendance does not have a direct impact on your grade, but if you miss a lot of school, then it will indirectly affect your grade because you will miss the material.  It can be difficult to learn the material on your own.  You need to be in school as much as possible to be successful in school.  Please seek out extra assistance if you are struggling.  You may arrange some tutoring time after school, BUT you must take it seriously and your ride MUST be on time or future time slots will be filled by students that are serious about the extra help. 

27. Communication between all people involved in your education is vital to your success.  It is very important for your parents/guardians and your teachers to stay in contact.  It is also extremely important that you talk to your parents and keep your teachers up to date about things going on in your life, difficulties in school, good news, and other items that you find important.  Please know that your teachers are hear for you and if you need someone to talk to about things, then arrange a time to discuss positive or negative things happening in your life.

ALL PROCEDURES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON

THE NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS OF OUR CLASSROOM.