1. Britton’s Back to School Basics
July 27, 2017

2. Our Daily Schedule 8:25-10:00 – Reading Block
10:00-10:25 – Number Corner
10:25-11:10 – Related Arts
11:10-12:10 – Math
12:15-12:45 – Lunch
12:50-1:20 – SST
1:20-1:55 – Writing
1:55-2:15 – Recess
2:15-3:05 – Social Sciences
3:05-3:15 – Pack Up/Dismiss

3. Reading
Wonders reading series from McGraw Hill will be used for all students
Every week, we will learn eight new vocabulary words, a reading strategy and skill, and a vocabulary strategy
Your child will receive a family literacy guide on Monday with all words, skills, and strategies listed
Weekly tests will be given every week consisting of 20 multiple choice questions and 1 essay

4. Foundations of Language
Students will study weekly phonics patterns from our reading series
The pattern for the week and words following that pattern that you can practice at home can be found on the family literacy guide
Each Friday, students will demonstrate that they can spell words with the pattern and use words from the pattern in their writing

5. Writing
Michael Clay Thompson program that begins with intense study of grammar
Writing skills from Traits of Writing
Most writing is typed and goes through multiple drafts
Students will receive 30 minutes of keyboarding instruction every week

6. Bridges in Mathematics
Bridges Math Curriculum
Develops students’ deep understanding of mathematical concepts and proficiency with key skills
Blends direct instruction, structured investigation, and open exploration
Ask your student about their favorite workplace game.
Number Corner
Skill-building program revolves around classroom calendar
Daily practice of skills and broad mathematical concepts through “workout” routines
Ask your student about the Calendar Grid pattern.

7. Bridges in Mathematics
What do Parents and Families Need to Know?
Math is FUN!
Making mistakes is a natural part of learning. We will persevere through solving problems, using many different strategies to make sense of mathematical concepts.
Homework is practice of skills.
Please contact me if you have questions or concerns.

8. Bridges in Mathematics
What do Parents and Families Need to Know about Grading and Reporting?
Bridges in Mathematics develops skills and concepts to mastery over time, often over several units.
This year you will receive 3 different reports about your child’s progress:
Unit Reports – about once a month
Quarterly Reports – with report card, in lieu of letter grade
Number Corner Checkup Report – four times a year around report card time
Please see handout for more details and a sample Unit report.

9. Bridges in Mathematics
Unit Report About once a month at the end of a unit.

10. Bridges in Mathematics
Number Corner Checkup Report Four times a year, around report card time.

11. Bridges in Mathematics
Bridges Support for Families
Specific grade level support for the Bridges math curriculum and additional resources

12. Science Four topics – one per nine weeks Magnetism and Electricity
Environments
Earth’s Changing Surface
Motion and Design
Daily hands-on investigations
Students track investigations in science notebooks – record focus question, predictions, data, and conclusions
Emphasis on content AND scientific thinking and skills
Science receives a traditional letter grade this year! Watch for study guides to come home. Quizzes and tests make up a large portion of your child’s science grade.
Students are tested over all THIRD and FOURTH grade science skills and content on ISTEP!

13. Social Studies
We will be studying Indiana’s geography, history, economics, and government this year.
As with science, your child will receive a traditional grade. Please watch for study guides to come home prior to tests. This is a great time to teach your child how to develop good study habits!

14. Classwork/Homework Regular homework includes reading and fact practice
Unfinished classwork also becomes homework
Homework must be recorded in students’ daily planners and planners should be signed each night
Six late or missing assignments in a grading period will result in an office referral

15. Specials Rotation Monday – Art Tuesday – P.E. Wednesday – Library
Thursday – Music
Friday – Clubs

16. Field Trips Possible trips for this year may include: Conner Prairie
Indiana State Museum
Indiana Statehouse
The Children’s Museum
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway

17. Maple’s Positive Behavior Plan
Maple V.I.B.E. (Very Important Behavior Expectations)
School Wide Positive Behavior Support is:
A systems approach for establishing the social culture and individualized supports needed for all students to achieve both social and academic success.
Based on Maple’s Motto:
Be respectful
Be responsible
Do your personal best
Plan has been updated to include:
Teaching Matrix (behavior expectations to be taught)
Adult Responsibilities (for staff employed by corporation)
Volunteer/Visitor Responsibilities
Voice Level Rubric

18. Behavior Expectation Matrix
Respect
Responsibility
Personal Best
Everywhere Always
Actively listen while others are speaking.
Raise your hand to speak.
Be kind to peers and adults.
Respect other’s space.
Respect other’s materials .
Respect materials in all special area classes.
Follow directions first time given.
Keep Maple clean by picking up trash and report anything that is broken.
Be honest and trustworthy.
Be on time.
Be determined, even when the task is challenging.
Hallway
Say, “excuse me.”
Stay to the right side.
Speak in a kind way to others.
Voice is a level 1.
Walk straight to your destination.
Use quiet walking feet.
Hands and feet to your side.
Look at displays instead of touching them.
Stay in a straight line.
Cafeteria
Use manners such as saying please and thank you.
Voice is a level 2.
Talk only to those at your table.
Use kind words and complete sentences.
Leave space between your tray and the tray in front of you in line.
Gently return serving utensils.
Get everything you need as you go through the line.
Eat only your own food.
Pick up all trash.
Walk carefully with your tray or trash.
Take and use the expected amount of condiments.
Eat your food before any extras.
Swallow food before talking.
Sit up straight and face the table when eating.
Use napkin and utensils in an expected manner.

19. Matrix continued Playground Restroom Respect Responsibility
Personal Best
Playground
Keep your hands and feet to yourself.
Use kind words to ask for equipment.
Allow others to join in games.
Stay in the designated area.
Tell an adult if someone is injured.
Put equipment away when finished.
Line up quickly at the end of recess, by the third whistle.
Slide down the slides feet first.
Share equipment.
Use equipment properly.
Restroom
Respect the privacy of others. (Knock or look for feet before opening a stall door.)
Wait patiently for your turn.
Voice is a level 1 (only necessary talk).
Keep your hands to yourself.
Use appropriate amount of toilet paper and put toilet paper in the toilet.
Flush the toilet.
Wash your hands.
Use one or two pumps of soap.
Turn off the faucet.
Wait your turn at the hand dryer.
Leave when finished.
Notify teacher if something needs repaired.
Notify teacher if there is a bathroom mess that needs cleaned.
If water is running when you arrive, turn it off.

20. Matrix continued Convocations Weather/Safety Drills Respect
Responsibility
Personal Best
Convocations
Enter space in line with a level 1 voice
Use level 0 during presentation.
Applaud and laugh only when appropriate.
Use whole body listening.
Respect others space and shared space.
Sit on pockets.
Give your full participation when asked.
Weather/Safety Drills
Follow the directions of the adult in charge without any questions.
Look out for your classmates and other students when exiting your classroom.
Voice is a level 0.
When leaving your classroom, have quick walking feet unless you are told to run.
If you are not with your class, find an adult.
Stay calm.

21. Volunteer/Visitor Responsibilities
When working with students at Maple, please use personal cell phones only when necessary. Limit picture taking to your child only.
Volunteering
Please schedule in advance with your child’s teacher a time to work in the classroom.
All visitors are required to have an approved criminal history report on file at the office.
Sign in/out at the office.
Wear a visitor badge at all times in a visible location.
Younger siblings must remain at home when volunteering in the classroom. 
Lunch
When a special guest joins a student for lunch, students may invite only one other student to join them at the long table for lunch.
Food may only be shared with your child.
Due to safety and supervision concerns, only Maple teachers are allowed on the playground. Please say goodbye to your child in the Maple café.
Field Trips
Chaperones may be required to drive to field trip location instead of riding the bus with the students.
Be on time and able to stay for the duration of the field trip.
Younger siblings must remain at home when attending a field trip.
Students are not allowed to visit the gift shops and/or food courts during the field trip.
Bring a lunch and a drink if required. (Disposable)
No pictures of students may be taken, and cell phone usage is for emergencies only. (Thank you!)

22. Voice Levels
To provide greater consistency in expectations for students and adults, a voice level rubric has been created.
Five Levels
4-Outdoors
3-Whole Class
2-Small Group
1-Partner Whisper
0-No Talking

23. Maple Behavior Plan Color-based system Each student has a clothespin
Starts on green each morning
Can move up to blue, purple, or even beyond = rewards given
Purple = automatic “I got caught” card, 10 purple days earns a silver clip, and 20 earns a gold clip
Blue = head of the lunch line
Poor choices can make clip move down to yellow, orange, or red.
Orange = 10 minute loss of recess
Red = family contact, complete loss of recess

24. Weekly Behavior Sheet
Stays in the front of the Parent Communicator (silver) folder
Students color in box daily
Comments from teacher as needed
Parent/Guardian reviews behavior with child daily
Parent/Guardian signs sheet at end of week, turned in to teacher every Monday.

26. Your child is an integral part to each and every school day.
Having good attendance will help your child in a variety of ways: academically, socially, and emotionally.
We value your partnership in helping to make this possible.
Each and day is extremely important for all students.
Each class will be working towards a perfect attendance goal. For every day that a class has perfect attendance they will color in one letter on their poster. After a class has received perfect attendance for 17 days, they will receive a reward.
Last year was the first time in several years that attendance at Maple Elementary fell below 97%.

27. Communication
Papers from the week come home together on Friday for your review with your child
A weekly newsletter will be sent out every Friday via
Feel free to call me before school from 7:45 to 8:10 a.m. or after school from 3:20 p.m. to 3:40 p.m.
me anytime at
Please allow a 24 hour response time for phone and messages

28. How You Can Support Your Child at Home
Remind your child that he or she is doing advanced work; mistakes are ok and perfection is not expected
Model a positive attitude about schoolwork
Help your child when he or she is getting started and when he or she is stuck but do not sit with your child the whole time he or she is working
Check your child’s work when finished but make students responsible for corrections
Create routines for signing your child’s planner and working on homework
Model good study habits and how to break long term projects into manageable chunks