Thursday Folders: 

Every Thursday a blue Thursday Folder will be sent home with your child.   It must be signed and returned by the next day.   The folder will include late assignments, as well as any violations accumulated will be listed (see student handbook for information on violations).    Any notes and communication from the office will be sent home in the Thursday Folder as well.  The weekly newsletter is posted on the web page and will have dates for special tests and/or projects for that week.

Late Work:   Work that is not turned in at the time it is due will be considered late and will not receive full credit.   If an assignment is late, but is turned in by the end of the day or the following day it will receive 10% off.   Late work beyond this point will result in 25% off of the grade as per the student handbook.    

Late work is written in the weekly folder so that you and your child can keep track.   However, if folders are missing or not turned in, we are not able to record late work in the Thursday Folder.   

Assignment Spiral:   All students should have an assignment spiral (AS).   We encourage students to fill out their own notebooks as things are assigned, rather than wait until the end of the day.   It is important that students get into the habit of filling out their assignment notebook as well as gathering the materials they will need to complete assignments at home.  I will do my best to oversee this during the first quarter. As the year progresses, I may be stepping back a bit to allow the students to develop their own organization skills and and encourage them to be responsible for themselves. 

Homework/Tests:   As per the student handbook, homework outside of school at the 5^th grade level is anywhere from 30-60 minutes per night.   Some days your child may have more than this, other nights they may have none at all.   A large factor in determining homework load is how well your child uses class time during the day.   I try to give some class time to work on homework with the understanding that some or all may need to be done at home.  Study Links are considered homework. and should be corrected at home.  Please notify me if you do not have the answers

We will try to stagger larger projects and tests so they are not on the same day but there may be days when it cannot be avoided.   There will be a Math Facts Test every Wednesday, a Spelling Test every Friday or the last day of the week, and a chapter Religion Test approximately every two weeks.   Other tests will be listed in the folder on a week-by-week basis.   

For Math, an outline with sample problems will take the place of a study guide.   Math journals and Study Links will be sent home prior to a test for study purposes.   An oral review game will prepare students for tests in Religion, and they will be required to take notes and create their own study guide.

Silent Reading Books:   Students are required to have a silent reading book at school at all times to read when they finish any assignments or tests.   We also have silent reading time once or twice a week.

Appointments:

Please call or email to set up an appointment if you need to talk with me.  If you do happen to stop in before or after school, please keep in mind that I may be working with a student, meeting with a teacher and/or parents or I may be preparing for my next class.  Thank you in advance for being considerate of my time and responsibilities.

I look forward to the opportunity to work with you and your child next year.   As a parent myself, I know how vital communication is and welcome your phone calls, emails, or notes whenever you have a question or concern.    We will be partners in your child’s education next year so please let me know if you would like to discuss anything with me before the 2009-2010 school year begins.  

Happy Summer,     

Ellen Stevens

262-763-1515 ext 206

estevens@stmb.org