Classroom Policies

I will be implementing the Responsive Classroom® approach to teaching this year.

The Responsive Classroom® is an approach to teaching and learning that fosters safe, challenging, and joyful classrooms and schools, kindergarten through eighth grade. Developed by classroom teachers, it consists of practical strategies for bringing together social and academic learning throughout the school day.

The Responsive Classroom® approach includes the following main teaching strategies and elements:

• Morning Meeting: A daily routine that builds community, creates a positive climate for learning, and reinforces academic and social skills.
• Rules and Logical Consequences: A clear and consistent approach to discipline that fosters responsibility and self-control.
• Guided Discovery: A format for introducing materials that encourages inquiry, heightens interest, and teaches care of the school environment.
• Academic Choice: An approach to giving children choices in their learning that helps them become invested, self-motivated learners.
• Classroom Organization: Strategies for arranging materials, furniture, and displays to encourage independence, promote caring, and maximize learning.
• Family Communication Strategies: Ideas for involving families as true partners in their children's education.

The above information was taken from the Northeast Foundation for Children’s website. To find out more about Responsive Classroom, visit their site: www.responsiveclassroom.org

Agendas- Once again, the children will be using agendas to keep track of their daily assignments.  While we do not require parents to sign agendas, children should be writing in assignments each day. If a child habitually fails to turn in work, I will then ask that his/her agenda be signed each night by a parent. 

Homework Expectations

·         All homework should be completed in pencil.

·         All work must contain a proper heading.

                                     Student Name                                                                                              Date

                                                 Subject                                                                                                           Assignment

·         Work should be neatly and carefully written so that it is easy to read.

·         Papers should be clean and unwrinkled.

·         Written responses should be checked for careless errors.

·         Homework should be turned in to the homework bin at the start of each day.

Helpful Homework Hints

·         Set up a clean work area away from distractions.

·         Have a set time each night for homework to be completed.

·         Check your child's agenda daily.

·         Talk to your child about his/her homework

*All homework for the first two weeks will be completed at school and then brought home to be shared. Completing the homework at school will allow me to teach the students how to do homework successfully and to clearly define my expectations of “quality work”. Bringing the completed work home to be shared and explained will help reinforce the learning that took place during the school day.

Friday folders- Each Friday your child will be bringing home a folder.  In the right-hand pocket will be corrected work from each of his/her classes. These sheets can be taken out and kept at home. I’d like to save the left-hand pocket for important notices and correspondences. The Friday folder update sheet needs to be signed by a parent or guardian and returned each Monday. Please feel free to use the folder as a means of notifying me of concerns or comments you may have.

Snack and Water Bottles – Due to the fact that we have a late lunch, we will be taking a snack break around 10:30. Students will be allowed one snack that is either brought from home or purchased the previous day during lunch. Students will not be allowed to go to the cafeteria to purchase a snack during instruction. Students may also keep a spill-proof water bottle at their desks.

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ELA

Our ELA block will be filled with many activities to develop good reading and writing skills.  I’ve listed a few of the activities below. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. 

Reading

Read Aloud- The teacher reads aloud to the whole class or small groups. Carefully selected pieces of literature are used to give concrete examples of what good writers do.     

Guided Reading - The teacher works with small groups of children (3 to 6) who have similar instructional needs.

Independent Reading -Students read on their own from a wide range of materials. The books are self-selected with guidance from the teacher.

Literature Groups – Students meet in a small group to explore a piece of literature in depth.

Word Study – Students learn to read and spell high frequency words. They will also learn specific patterns, which will allow them to decode and spell many words

Writing

Interactive Writing - The teacher and students collaborate on a piece of writing.

Guided Writing - The teacher works with a small group, or the whole class, and provides instruction through mini-lessons.

Independent Writing - Students work independently on self-selected pieces of writing while the teacher monitors progress and offers suggestions.