1. Welcome!
Parents: Please check each item to indicate that you received and reviewed it. Your child will return all items copied on yellow paper. These items are noted with a star (*). You may keep all items that are not starred.
Students: Please return all paperwork that is starred (*) by September 2, 2016.
_______ Cover Sheet*
_______ Parent Letter
________ Class Schedule
_______ Curriculum
________ Grading Policy
________ Homework Policy
________ Classroom Management Plan*
_______ Parent Homework*
_______ Additional Helpful Information
 I have received, read, and understand the information in the Welcome Packet.   
X (Parent Signature)

2. Classroom Communication
 August 25, 2016
Dear Parents:
Welcome to my classroom! I am looking forward to teaching your child and anticipate a successful year. Expectations are high for the students this year, and their responsibilities will increase. Students must be organized; complete a more difficult & extensive curriculum and workload; use time management skills to get assignments done; and work to solve problems on their own. At the same time, they will also participate in creative learning activities and demonstrate what they know in imaginative ways.
Welcome Packet
The welcome acquaints you with information about the classroom. Also included is an assignment for you to complete that allows me to better get to know your child! Please take time to read and discuss this packet with your child. There are also several forms that need to be signed and returned as indicated on the cover sheet.
Parent Support
I look forward to working with you toward the goal of providing the best educational experience for your child. At home, one good way to review the day’s lessons is to ask your child to tell you about what he or she did in class. Please encourage your child to read, read, read and then tell you about what they read. Reading any written material will help students with fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. I recommend 30 minutes of reading a day to students. In addition, reinforcing organization and time management skills goes a long way toward achieving the best educational experience possible.
Classroom Communication
I believe communication is important between a teacher and parents. Please, feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns, you can reach me at school via telephone or via at:
Again, I welcome you to another school year, and I look forward to working with you and your child to make it a fantastic one!
Your partner in education,
Courtney Waller

3. Classroom Communication
 August 25, 2016
Dear Parents:
Welcome to my classroom! I am looking forward to teaching your child and anticipate a successful year. Expectations are high for the students this year, and their responsibilities will increase. Students must be organized; complete a more difficult & extensive curriculum and workload; use time management skills to get assignments done; and work to solve problems on their own. At the same time, they will also participate in creative learning activities and demonstrate what they know in imaginative ways.
Welcome Packet
The welcome acquaints you with information about the classroom. Also included is an assignment for you to complete that allows me to better get to know your child! Please take time to read and discuss this packet with your child. There are also several forms that need to be signed and returned as indicated on the cover sheet.
Parent Support
I look forward to working with you toward the goal of providing the best educational experience for your child. At home, one good way to review the day’s lessons is to ask your child to tell you about what he or she did in class. Please encourage your child to read, read, read and then tell you about what they read. Reading any written material will help students with fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. I recommend 30 minutes of reading a day to students. In addition, reinforcing organization and time management skills goes a long way toward achieving the best educational experience possible.
Classroom Communication
I believe communication is important between a teacher and parents. Please, feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns, you can reach me at school via telephone or via at:
Again, I welcome you to another school year, and I look forward to working with you and your child to make it a fantastic one!
Your partner in education,
Mary Stankowicz

4. Classroom Communication
 August 25, 2016
Dear Parents:
Welcome to my classroom! I am looking forward to teaching your child and anticipate a successful year. Expectations are high for the students this year, and their responsibilities will increase. Students must be organized; complete a more difficult & extensive curriculum and workload; use time management skills to get assignments done; and work to solve problems on their own. At the same time, they will also participate in creative learning activities and demonstrate what they know in imaginative ways.
Welcome Packet
The welcome acquaints you with information about the classroom. Also included is an assignment for you to complete that allows me to better get to know your child! Please take time to read and discuss this packet with your child. There are also several forms that need to be signed and returned as indicated on the cover sheet.
Parent Support
I look forward to working with you toward the goal of providing the best educational experience for your child. At home, one good way to review the day’s lessons is to ask your child to tell you about what he or she did in class. Please encourage your child to read, read, read and then tell you about what they read. Reading any written material will help students with fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. I recommend 30 minutes of reading a day to students. In addition, reinforcing organization and time management skills goes a long way toward achieving the best educational experience possible.
Classroom Communication
I believe communication is important between a teacher and parents. Please, feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns, you can reach me at school via telephone or via at:
Again, I welcome you to another school year, and I look forward to working with you and your child to make it a fantastic one!
Your partner in education,
Stephanie Kleeman

5. Classroom Communication
 August 25, 2016
Dear Parents:
Welcome to my classroom! I am looking forward to teaching your child and anticipate a successful year. Expectations are high for the students this year, and their responsibilities will increase. Students must be organized; complete a more difficult & extensive curriculum and workload; use time management skills to get assignments done; and work to solve problems on their own. At the same time, they will also participate in creative learning activities and demonstrate what they know in imaginative ways.
Welcome Packet
The welcome acquaints you with information about the classroom. Also included is an assignment for you to complete that allows me to better get to know your child! Please take time to read and discuss this packet with your child. There are also several forms that need to be signed and returned as indicated on the cover sheet.
Parent Support
I look forward to working with you toward the goal of providing the best educational experience for your child. At home, one good way to review the day’s lessons is to ask your child to tell you about what he or she did in class. Please encourage your child to read, read, read and then tell you about what they read. Reading any written material will help students with fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. I recommend 30 minutes of reading a day to students. In addition, reinforcing organization and time management skills goes a long way toward achieving the best educational experience possible.
Classroom Communication
I believe communication is important between a teacher and parents. Please, feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns, you can reach me at school via telephone or via at:
Again, I welcome you to another school year, and I look forward to working with you and your child to make it a fantastic one!
Your partner in education,
Andy Green

6. Informational (SS/SCI)
Class Schedule
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
9:10-
10:10
Specials:
Music/Gym
Second Step/
Health
Library
Art
10:10-
11:10
Guided Reading/
100 Book Challenge
11:10-
12:10
Math
12:10-
1:10
Recess/
Lunch
1:10-
1:40
Word Work
Literacy:
Literature
Chrome-
books
1:40-
2:10
2:10-
2:40
Informational (SS/SCI)
2:40-
3:10
Writing
3:10-
3:40
RTI

7. Curriculum Reading Writing Math Social Studies Science
**If interested, you can visit the Common Core State Standards website for additional information.**
Reading
Programs include Making Meaning, Making Meaning Vocabulary, Word Work, and Guided Reading.
The overall focus for our students is to improve their Reading comprehension. This is a cognitive process for constructing meaning.
Students will be reading Literature and Informational Text. This includes drawing quotes and citations from text; themes/main idea and details, compare and contrast story elements or various texts, analyze various elements that contribute to meaning, tone of a text, or point of view; read and comprehend various literature and technical texts.
Writing
Our Writing program includes Being a Writer and Word Work.
Writing is to help engage students in authentic written language tasks for a variety of purposes. Writing occurs daily and across the curriculum.
Examples of writing we will work on will include: opinion pieces, Informative/Explanatory papers, Narrative stories, Short Research Projects, Grammar Knowledge and Usage. Students will be working on developing the varies writing process stages.
Math
We are excited to introduce our new Common Core aligned Math curriculum called: Eureka Math!
Lessons are organized into Modules and students are given Mid-Module Assessments and Summative Module Assessments that will be the only grades entered into gradebook for Math.
Lessons are taught daily for 75 minutes and include: sprints (math fluency practice), concept development, practice application problems, problem sets, exit slips, and daily homework.
Social Studies
Our Social Studies program includes TCI Interactive Science: Social Studies Alive! America’s Past. Our curriculum includes a “lesson guide,” a student edition that helps students focus their learning, interactive student notebook, visuals (maps, graphs, diagrams, tables), sound history that includes visual supports for chapter activities (audio tracks, sound effectives, musical recordings).
Students will be begin learning about geography, and then will lead into understanding the life and culture of American Indians and will continue traveling through the past ending the year with learning about the American Revolution, the Constitution, and the Bill of the Rights.
Science
Our Science program includes Interactive Science by Pearson. Our curriculum includes an extensive library, videos, technological activities, science equipment and experiments.
Students will learn more in depth how to conduct and experiment, the scientific process, and how parts of the human body work.

8. Extra Opportunities of Growth
Grading Policy
Grading Process
Students will have many different opportunities to show what they have learned. Grades are determined using points. Point values for each assignment depend on the type of assignment.
Grading Scale
4 – Meeting Learning Standards with Distinction
3 – Meeting Learning Standards
2 – Partially Meeting Learning Standards
1 – Not Meeting Learning Standards
Late Work
Students are expected to turn in completed assignments at the time that I ask for them. If incomplete work is turned in, I will return it to the student to complete. Students who don’t complete homework will receive a pink slip that parents will sign.
Types of Assessments
Homework
In-class work
Participation
Effort
Tests/Quizzes
Writing/Papers
Projects
Oral presentations
No Name Assignments
Following a grace period at the beginning of the year, assignments turned in with no name will receive no credit. I will still review work and give students the opportunity to claim no name papers. This encourages student responsibility
Cheating
Cheating will result in a zero for the assignment or test. Examples of cheating are copying answers from another student, plagiarism, and turning in work completed by someone else as one’s own.
Absence Work Policy
When a student is absent, he or she is responsible for obtaining, completing, & turning in missed work according to the absence policy. Once students get materials for missed assignments, it is the students’ responsibility to ask me any questions that they have about missed assignments. I am always here to offer support and help.
Extra Opportunities of Growth
Extra opportunities for growth may be offered throughout the grading period.

9. Homework Policy What’s the Point of Homework?
Practice & build on what’s been taught in class
Complete unfinished class work
Prepare for upcoming lessons
Practice responsibility and develop good study habits
How Much Homework Will Students Have?
I believe that the majority of after-school time should be spent with family, or dedicated to extracurricular activities such as athletics or instrumental practice. However, homework is necessary when it is used as independent practice to reinforce instructional strategies in order to achieve higher success and understanding. Therefore, any type of “busy work” will not be given. Majority of homework will consist of reading and math. Homework may be assigned any day. Also, on most days, there will be in-class time to work on homework. Students should see me before leaving for the day if they need help with homework, if possible.
How Will Students Know What the Homework Is?
Homework is written on the board every day. Students in 5th Grade are responsible to independently write assignments in their Assignment Notebooks. All assignments are reviewed before students are dismissed, and the class has the opportunity to ask questions and clarify assignments at that time. Independent reading and daily math is an ongoing assignment.
What Happens to Homework?
It highly benefits the student to complete all homework to the best of his or her ability and turn it in on time. Homework assignments will either be reviewed by me independently or as a group during class. Using the results of the homework, I adjust instruction accordingly. I will return student work in a timely manner. Once we go over homework, students should file homework in the appropriate folder or binder.
What If a Student Doesn’t Do Homework?
The most obvious effect of not doing or turning in homework is lower grades. Students also risk loss of privileges when not completing and turning in homework. When students do not complete homework, it also makes it difficult for me to determine if they understand the material. Please, refer to the previous page with information regarding the class grading policy on late work and homework that is not turned in.

10. Classroom Management Plan
Classroom Rules
Students came up with their own classroom rules that follow PBIS in regards to being respectful, responsible, and safe. Rules are posted by the door. Also, general rules are as follows:
Respect yourself, the teacher, each other, and school property.
Speak in a positive, supportive manner.
Objects, hands, and feet should be kept to yourself.
Always follow directions.
If a student chooses to break a class rule…
Student will receive a verbal warning.
Student will lose recess or free time.
Student and I will contact your parents.
Student will meet with the principal.
*Students have a fresh start every day
*Severe Clause:
I reserve the right to send a student directly to the principal in the event of severe misbehavior.
Positive behavior could earn…
a “shout out” from me
a special recognition note to student
a special recognition note or phone call home
special privileges
special class-wide rewards
Students: I have read this classroom discipline plan and understand it. I will honor it.
Signature________________________________ Date _________________
Parents: My child has discussed the classroom discipline plan with me. I understand it and will support it.
Signature________________________________ Date__________________

11. Permission to be Photographed
Permission Slips
Please, check “yes” or “no” and fill in your child’s name.
Parent Signature: _____________________________ Date: ________________
Movie Permission Slip
Throughout the year we periodically show movies for both educational purposes as well as class rewards.
Yes, my child _____________________ has permission.
(child’s name)
No, my child _____________________ does not have permission.
(child’s name)
Permission to be Photographed
Throughout the year we take pictures of students in their educational setting.
Please, check “yes” or “no” and fill in your child’s name.
Yes, my child _____________________ has permission.
(child’s name)
No, my child _____________________ does not have permission.
(child’s name)
(child’s name)

12. Parent Homework
Parents, are you ready for a homework assignment? Tell me about your child! Please answer the following questions about your child. All information will remain confidential. Feel free to use the back of the paper, if necessary. Thank you for your help!
1. What are your child’s strengths?
2. In what areas could your child improve?
3. What are your child’s interests in school?
4. What are your child’s interests outside of school?
5. What are your child’s reading habits?
6. Is there anything else you’d like me to know about your child?

13. **Please mark items with first & last name**
Class Supply List
**Please mark items with first & last name**   
6 - spirals: 1 red, 1 blue, 1 yellow, 1 green, 1 purple, 1 orange; 70 ct. spiral notebook; wide ruled
4 - pocket only folders
1 - nylon pencil back, clear with top grommets
12 - Dixon #2 pencils—sharpened
8 – medium stick pens; 2 red and 6 black
3 – highlighters, assorted colors
1 – 6” protractor, clear
1 - 3’x3” Post-it notes, 4 pack
2 – 1” white durable view D-ring binder
1 – 5” sharp scissors
1 – pink beveled eraser
1 – Sharpie black fine marker
1 – Expo fine tip dry erase marker
1 – 12” standard & metric ruler, 1/16”
1 – wide ruled 8”x10.5” filler paper, 200 count
1 – 3M 1” masking tape
2 – Scotch transparent tape ½”
3 – large Elmer’s glue sticks
1 - Crayola 7” colored pre-sharpened pencils, 12 count
1 – box of Crayola Crayons, 24 count
1 – box of Crayola washable thick classic markers, 8 count
1 – box of Crayola washable think classic markers, 8 count
1 – Crayola washable watercolors, 8 count
1 – Pentel oil pastel crayons, 12 count
1 – Webster’s New 3”x5” pocket dictionary
1 – Webster’s New 3”x5” pocket thesaurus
1 – 12 pocket, letter size, plastic expandable file
3 – Clorox or Lysol cleaning wipes
1 – box reclosable gallon plastic bags
2 – boxes Kleenex tissue