Weekly Homework (ELA)-
READING: Students will read every night and take AR tests (at home or in class), on the books they have read for homework. A realistic goal is that students are finishing one book every 1-2 weeks that is on THEIR reading level. I will help them choose “just right” books and let them check out books from my personal classroom library (as well as the Berkley library).
READING STRATEGIES: Students will receive a weekly passage with questions. It is due on Fridays.
Homework is extra practice and great home reinforcement. Students may receive ONE combined ELA grade per quarter to get credit for completing this homework.
Homework (Science)- Students should study their science vocab for their weekly quizzes. Science homework will be given occasionally and will be related to the labs we are doing in class. Students can study science vocab, found on this website under "Vocab Words". There will be a couple “at home science projects” due this year (moon logs, solar system project, rock project, science fair project, etc.- information to come).
Weekly grades: Please check the parent/student portal on FOCUS weekly. After assignments are graded, I review the most missed questions in class. Almost all of our graded work is on Google Classroom or McGraw Hill online. Your child can help you view that assignment at home or I can screenshot it for you and send it via email.
ELA Tests: Biweekly reading tests on McGraw Hill (every 2 weeks, usually Friday's)
ELA Quizzes:
Vocabulary* (biweekly - usually Thursdays)
Spelling* (weekly - usually Fridays)
Mini Comprehension stories* (weekly - Fridays)
*on Google Classroom
ELA Classwork: Essay writing (usually 1 complete essay every 1-2 weeks)
Science: weekly quizzes/tests (usually Fridays) on Google Classroom- everything to study will be in their Interactive Science Notebook (ISN)
*I do not give extra homework or extra credit. If you are seeking extra practice for your child, check out the "EXTRA HELP" tab.
Notebook (journal): We will create interactive science journals in class. This is a mixture of science content (labs, foldables, flaps, vocabulary practice, interactive tutorials, charts, diagrams, etc.). Students may bring their science notebook home to help them study for their weekly assessments, AS LONG AS THEY RETURN THEM EVERY DAY. Please also be aware that some lessons will be online through various platforms (Nearpod, CPALMS, etc.), so your child may have online notes some days.
Behavior:
Café Cash & Classroom Café: Students receive "Café Cash" as motivation for following procedures, routines, completing work, and being kind. On Fridays, students can purchase items from my Classroom Café menu!
Choice Boards: Students may be given the daily opportunity to do extra STEAM projects and challenges through choice boards. Choice boards are given after students have correctly completed their daily work.
Behavior interventions:
1st: My first step with any minor behavior intervention is to conference with the child.
2nd: If the undesired behavior continues, your child will receive a time out from recess or class activity.
3rd: I will contact you and complete a minor infraction form to get your support so we can work together to help your child. Please know that contacting you and completing the minor infraction is my attempt to work with you to resolve the behavior before contacting administration by writing an office referral. If you receive a minor infraction form, please speak to your child about this message, specific to their behavior.
4th: Lastly, if the undesired behavior continues after student conferencing, time outs, minor infractions, and parent intervention, an office referral will be written to resolve the issue. Please see the Berkley Discipline Plan for more information.
Classroom Café - How can I help?
Every Friday, I open my "Classroom Café" to celebrate a week of hard work and successes! Students can spend their earned café cash to purchase items! We need store bought items for our Classroom Café! Items could be anything like mini erasers, mechanical pencils, colorful pens, cute mini notepads, fidgets, hot cocoa packets, gum, party favors, fancy pencils, etc. If you'd like to purchase Classroom Cafe items to help our classroom, I have created a teacher Amazon wishlist
Uniform Policy:
Please refer to the uniform policy for any questions about uniform.
Flexible seating:
We are a full flexible seating classroom, which means we have many alternative seating options to choose from- yoga balls, pillows, cushions, beanbag chairs, rocking chairs, stools, balance cushions, standing tables, etc. Flexible seating is earned by students, and is based on their hard work, behavior, and preparedness. Flexible seating helps students to learn in a comfortable environment and atmosphere, as well as make choices for their own learning. Flexible seating is not for everyone, students who misuse the equipment or struggle with basic procedures, routines or social skills, will not be given flexible seating as safety is a priority. If you are not comfortable with your child using flexible seating, please let me know. Please note that flexible seating is not given every day to every child; it depends on our daily activity or tasks and teacher discretion. If you have any gently used or new flexible seating options, I’d love the donation.
Parent/Teacher Conferences: Please email me if you would like to have a conference. I am available most days during my planning block 1:45-2:30. I do my best to respond to all emails by the end of the school day. I am not available after 3:30pm due to family obligations.
I know this is a lot of information! Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, or would like to volunteer in any way!
READING: Students will read every night and take AR tests (at home or in class), on the books they have read for homework. A realistic goal is that students are finishing one book every 1-2 weeks that is on THEIR reading level. I will help them choose “just right” books and let them check out books from my personal classroom library (as well as the Berkley library).
READING STRATEGIES: Students will receive a weekly passage with questions. It is due on Fridays.
Homework is extra practice and great home reinforcement. Students may receive ONE combined ELA grade per quarter to get credit for completing this homework.
Homework (Science)- Students should study their science vocab for their weekly quizzes. Science homework will be given occasionally and will be related to the labs we are doing in class. Students can study science vocab, found on this website under "Vocab Words". There will be a couple “at home science projects” due this year (moon logs, solar system project, rock project, science fair project, etc.- information to come).
Weekly grades: Please check the parent/student portal on FOCUS weekly. After assignments are graded, I review the most missed questions in class. Almost all of our graded work is on Google Classroom or McGraw Hill online. Your child can help you view that assignment at home or I can screenshot it for you and send it via email.
ELA Tests: Biweekly reading tests on McGraw Hill (every 2 weeks, usually Friday's)
ELA Quizzes:
Vocabulary* (biweekly - usually Thursdays)
Spelling* (weekly - usually Fridays)
Mini Comprehension stories* (weekly - Fridays)
*on Google Classroom
ELA Classwork: Essay writing (usually 1 complete essay every 1-2 weeks)
Science: weekly quizzes/tests (usually Fridays) on Google Classroom- everything to study will be in their Interactive Science Notebook (ISN)
*I do not give extra homework or extra credit. If you are seeking extra practice for your child, check out the "EXTRA HELP" tab.
Notebook (journal): We will create interactive science journals in class. This is a mixture of science content (labs, foldables, flaps, vocabulary practice, interactive tutorials, charts, diagrams, etc.). Students may bring their science notebook home to help them study for their weekly assessments, AS LONG AS THEY RETURN THEM EVERY DAY. Please also be aware that some lessons will be online through various platforms (Nearpod, CPALMS, etc.), so your child may have online notes some days.
Behavior:
Café Cash & Classroom Café: Students receive "Café Cash" as motivation for following procedures, routines, completing work, and being kind. On Fridays, students can purchase items from my Classroom Café menu!
Choice Boards: Students may be given the daily opportunity to do extra STEAM projects and challenges through choice boards. Choice boards are given after students have correctly completed their daily work.
Behavior interventions:
1st: My first step with any minor behavior intervention is to conference with the child.
2nd: If the undesired behavior continues, your child will receive a time out from recess or class activity.
3rd: I will contact you and complete a minor infraction form to get your support so we can work together to help your child. Please know that contacting you and completing the minor infraction is my attempt to work with you to resolve the behavior before contacting administration by writing an office referral. If you receive a minor infraction form, please speak to your child about this message, specific to their behavior.
4th: Lastly, if the undesired behavior continues after student conferencing, time outs, minor infractions, and parent intervention, an office referral will be written to resolve the issue. Please see the Berkley Discipline Plan for more information.
Classroom Café - How can I help?
Every Friday, I open my "Classroom Café" to celebrate a week of hard work and successes! Students can spend their earned café cash to purchase items! We need store bought items for our Classroom Café! Items could be anything like mini erasers, mechanical pencils, colorful pens, cute mini notepads, fidgets, hot cocoa packets, gum, party favors, fancy pencils, etc. If you'd like to purchase Classroom Cafe items to help our classroom, I have created a teacher Amazon wishlist
Uniform Policy:
Please refer to the uniform policy for any questions about uniform.
Flexible seating:
We are a full flexible seating classroom, which means we have many alternative seating options to choose from- yoga balls, pillows, cushions, beanbag chairs, rocking chairs, stools, balance cushions, standing tables, etc. Flexible seating is earned by students, and is based on their hard work, behavior, and preparedness. Flexible seating helps students to learn in a comfortable environment and atmosphere, as well as make choices for their own learning. Flexible seating is not for everyone, students who misuse the equipment or struggle with basic procedures, routines or social skills, will not be given flexible seating as safety is a priority. If you are not comfortable with your child using flexible seating, please let me know. Please note that flexible seating is not given every day to every child; it depends on our daily activity or tasks and teacher discretion. If you have any gently used or new flexible seating options, I’d love the donation.
Parent/Teacher Conferences: Please email me if you would like to have a conference. I am available most days during my planning block 1:45-2:30. I do my best to respond to all emails by the end of the school day. I am not available after 3:30pm due to family obligations.
I know this is a lot of information! Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, or would like to volunteer in any way!