You may find the following information helpful:

www.educationplace.biz/rdg/hmsv is a useful webpage where you can access the spelling unit words, games, puzzles, etc. (please remember that we are using the level five text)

Also www.dositey.com/math34.htm is useful for math games and quizzes.

www.lmcgovern@smmcs.org is my email address. Please feel free to contact me with your concerns, I will respond, on school days, within 24 hours.

This is some general information for you to refer to throughout the school year:

Classroom procedures:

          Morning routine: students enter the class at 8:00 am and are expected to unpack their backpack. They are asked to submit any homework in the appropriate trays, take their Religion text to their seat and put snack and lunch boxes in the appropriate areas.

Tracker:

          Each student has been given a daily calendar, referred to as a “tracker”. EACH day students are required to copy from the board any assignments and/or notices in the appropriate section. I will check daily that these notes have been copied correctly and I would ask that each parent initial daily and confirm that the work was completed. It is extremely important that this line of communication between class and homework remain consistent. It is the student’s responsibility to copy the information and bring the tracker back and forth each day.

Thursday Folders:

          Each week on Thursday, the students will take home all graded papers, newsletters, notices, etc. in their blue folder. I ask that each parent/guardian sign the sheet inside the folder as a way of communicating to me that you have seen its contents.

Homework:

          Expect approximately one hour of homework each evening in addition to the outside reading requirements. This guideline is a Diocesan standard. I will not assign homework on Friday evening, but students are encouraged to use this time to review any subject matter that needs attention. Except for research projects and/or reports, please note that I will not assign homework on subject matter that has not already been taught in class. In my opinion, homework is an extension of the lesson already given.

Tutoring:

          I have allotted Monday afternoons from 3:30 to 4:00 pm as a regularly scheduled time. Students whom I feel require tutoring in specific subject matter will be given an invitation to attend the session. Parents will be notified of the invitation and be asked to respond in writing.

Grading:

          For each subject, 60% of the grade will be a result of class work, class participation and homework, and 40% will be a result of test scores. Please refer to your student handbook for a numerical/letter grade equivalency.

Outside Reading :

          SMMCS has adopted and Outside Reading Program that is designed to encourage students to become avid readers. The students are required to read a minimum of 400 pages (as an accumulation of several books or one book) over EACH nine week term. Although some class time will be given to accomplish this task, the MAJORITY of this task must be completed outside of school. Any pages read above the 400 requirement can be carried over to the next term.

           The student must “register” the book with their teacher by the specified deadlines and must choose a title that both parent and teacher feel of appropriate content and ability. Be aware that a text that has been made into a movie will only count for 50% of the total pages read.

          During the nine week period, students will be informed of the scheduled Reading Conference days. On these days the student MUST bring their book to the conference in which they will sit one-on-one with an adult volunteer and prove their ability to discuss the main characters, plot, setting and the like. The volunteer will sign the conference sheet giving the student credit for the pages read, if the student conferences successfully.

          The Outside Reading Requirement will factor as 10% of the students’ language arts grade.

          Any questions regarding the program can be addressed by Mrs. Pleasant, our Library manager.

ZAP program:

          The Zeroes Aren’t Permitted program is in place. Students not completing daily work or homework assignments will be required to complete such work during recess or free center time. Except for an excused absence, five percent will be deducted each day the assignment is late, up to the third day when a grade of zero will be entered. A student who does not hand in the assignment the morning it is due and completes it during that days ZAP time will still be penalized the 5 percent. It is extremely important that students complete all work as assigned.

Grading:

          If a student does not produce a passing grade on any class work or homework assignment, I will ask the student to redo the work, correct the errors and return it to me the following school day with a parent signature. If the work is redone successfully, the student will earn a passing grade of 70%.

Spelling Routine:

          Students will be introduced to the words each Monday and given homework from the text each Monday evening. It is important not to work in advance as I may not always follow the units in numerical order. Students are encouraged to write the spelling list in their tracker so as not to have to carry the text home each night of the week. Tuesday, will be class review of the words and spelling patterns, while Wednesday I will conduct a Spelling Pre-test of each basic, review and challenge word with a sentence dictation. Any student scoring 100% on Wednesday’s pre-test will not have to complete any further spelling homework and will not have to redo the test on Friday. All others will write the misspelled words five times each Wednesday evening, and prepare for the test on Friday.

Rewards:

          Students can earn a “Lion’s Roar” ticket for various acts of kindness, consistently following class room and school policies, completing assignments on time, completing classroom duties without reminder, etc.. Once the student has accumulated enough tickets, they can trade them in for a reward of their choice according to this system:

5 tickets: choice of treat from the jar (candy, gum, snacks, etc.)

10 tickets: choice of a small toy from the jar

15 tickets: free homework pass

20 tickets: teacher will perform their assigned class room duty

25 tickets: extra free time for the entire class (centers or recess)

50 tickets: teacher to provide treats for entire class