Welcome to ….. a Wonderful School Year!!! Mrs. Herko

Some Important Points to Remember! You have the Right To Feel Safe in your classroom! You have the Right To Learn in this room! You have the Right To Be Challenged! You will be Respected! Your opinions and ideas will be Valued! Be prepared to learn amazing, unbelievably cool, and mind-blowing lessons that will astound you!!

Remember that…………. Before we can begin learning…… We must understand that our class is a TEAM!! We are ALL equal and are to be treated honestly and fairly!!!!! Remember that every answer given during a lesson is equally important!! If your answer happens to be partially correct or not exactly on target….that is NOT a problem!! Why?????? Because……..

You have shown that you : Were focused on our lesson! Tried to add an answer or an idea to benefit all of us! All of us learn from every experience no matter how small! We will all make mistakes …..you and me. The important part is to try!!!! And, of course, to learn from our mistakes!!

Behavior! Important Points!!! 1) Raise your hand whenever you have a question! I will help you! Please do not call out!!! 2) Use indoor voices, be respectful, and remain seated unless you have received permission to move about!

Homework! 1)Homework will be assigned daily except on Fridays! ( Unless there is a long-term assignment or project that will be due.) 2)If homework is not completed……. a. A homework slip will be filled out by the student and signed by me. That slip will be sent home to be signed by the parent and that missing assignment will be made up. Both slip and missing assignment will be turned in the next day.

b. If those items are not brought in the next day…..you will be given one more day to bring in the missed work along with the slip. c. If the items are not returned…a phone call will be placed to a parent/guardian. Why is this done???? Simply because I would like to prevent this kind of behavior from happening again!!!!

Grades! 1) Tests equal 50% of your grade. 2) Quizzes equal 25% of your grade. 3) Homework/Classwork equals 25% of your grade. Everyone starts out with a 100 for homework. Every missed assignment = minus 3 points.

Absences! 1) If you are ill, work will be sent home or left in the main office for pick-up. 2) For every day you are out, you will be given a day to make that work up. DO NOT WORRY! 3) I understand that sometimes when we are really sick, we cannot complete any work. You will be given time to make everything up!!!

Important Extra Info!! a. Backpacks will be kept in the closet! b. Your desks should remain neat and clean! c. Remember to keep all of your belongings – things you have brought and things I have given you – neat and clean. d. Sign out and then in when leaving the room and remember to take a pass with you. e. Remember to get permission before leaving the room!!! f. While walking alone or as a class in the hallway……absolutely no talking!!!!!!

g. Please do not touch or “borrow” other students’ belongings unless you have received permission. h. Treat others the way you would like to be treated!! i. Fairness is very important to me!!! I will always be honest and fair with you…please be the same with me.

j. Please remember that any misbehaviors, distractions, or interruptions will not be allowed!!! Why? It’s a simple case of fairness! Each one of you is here to learn! Misbehaviors, distractions, or interruptions stand in the way of that learning!!!

What if these things happen anyway? Discipline Steps: 1 st time – verbal warning! 2 nd time – verbal warning + note is jotted down in my book 3 rd time – phone call home The principal will be involved if necessary!

Learning Through Humor Can learning be lots of fun and educational at the same time? Absolutely!!!!! Studies have shown that students remember facts/ideas better when a “fun approach” is used. BUT…… please remember that there is a limit! I will be sure to let you know how much “fun” we can use in our lessons!!

Get Ready To Learn!! Get ready to begin an exciting, adventurous journey! No matter which topic we are reading or writing about….. Pretend You Are There!!!!! Pretend You Are One of the People Involved!

Reading, Writing, and ? We will read exciting stories in our Journeys readers and complete grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and writing lessons based on these stories! We will read class novels as Read Alouds. Our first one is Pinballs.

Writing! Prepare yourselves to enjoy writing!!! Hint # 1 - A “secret recipe” is part of the plan!! Hint # 2 - Our sentences will be s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d!

In the end……. Each of you is important, special, and unique!!! What Does Unique Mean? It simply means so special that there is not another like you!! All together we will have a fabulous year!