1. Welcome to Room 535 Mrs. Finnegan, MS

2. About the Teacher My husband Jim and I live in Pennsylvania This is my 29 th year of teaching I have a master degree in Reading This is my 9 th year with Christina School District and my 4 th year at Brader Elementary I have a son Jimmy who is getting married in October to Beki I have a daughter Tiffany who is married to David and they have two wonderful children, Nathan and Lucian I enjoying doing many activities, such as spending time with my family and friends, going fishing, working in the garden and reading

3. My Goal  To provide a supportive and engaging classroom community that balances grade level curriculum with instructional level content.  To help your child reach their academic, behavioral and social goals through the idea that “practice makes progress”.  To provide flexible, needs-based learning catered to the individual student through collaboration with other specialized support classrooms.

4. Our Daily Schedule 8:45- 9:10 Arrival/Breakfast/Announcements/Pledge of Allegiance 9:10- 9:35 Class Meeting 9:35- 10:25 5 th Grade Special Combined Flex/IEP/Whole Group 10:25 - 10:55 Reading Intervention 10:55 - 11:15 ELA-Writing 11:15-11:25 TT/Go Noodle 11:25-12:15 Combined Special 5 th Flex/IEP/Whole Group 12:15-12:45 Lunch 12:50-1:20 Math Intervention 1:20-2:15 Math 2:15- 2:45 Recess 2:45-3:00 Agenda/Pack Up 3:00-3:15 Science/Social Studies 3:15Dismissal

5. Thursday Schedule 8:45-9:10 Arrival/Breakfast/Announcements/Pledge of Allegiance 9:10-9:15 Class Meeting 9:15-10:10 SS/SCI 10:10-10:20 TT/Go Noodle 10:20-11:00 ELA 11:00-11:30 Lunch 11:35-12:15 Math 12:15-12:45 Math Intervention 12:45-1:15 Reading Intervention 1:15-1:45Recess 1:45-2:15 Writing 2:15-2:45 Scholastic 2:45-3:15 Agenda/Read Aloud/Dismissal

6. Policies  Drop-off/Pick-up Procedures  Absentee Policy  Visiting Classrooms  Volunteering

7. Classroom Routines  When students come into the classroom, they are to unpack their book bag and place all homework in the homework bin. They are to wait for the teacher to ask if there are any notes or messages from their parents.

8. Classroom Community/PBIS  Our classroom is a community. In our community, we have rules to help us get along with each other.  Our class rules are: -Follow directions quickly -Raise your hand for permission to speak -Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat -Make smart choices -Keep your dear teacher happy  Brader’s Schoolwide ROAR / CR-PBIS (hallways/cafeteria/classroom/recess)  R Respect  O Outstanding Achievement  A Achievement  R Responsibility

9. Earn Your Stripes Students will manage their behavior by using a modified traffic light system. All students begin each day on “green”. It is their goal to stay on green. Doing so shows that they are Ready to ROAR. When a student fails to follow classroom rules, the CR-PBIS plan is followed and clips are moved accordingly. After two warnings and a two part choice, students are moved to Stop and Think and may be asked to Take a Break in one of our classroom cool down areas. If the behavior continues after 3 cycles through the universal behavior system, the student may move further down to Teacher’s Choice. This move is typically accompanied by a parent contact and possible contact with the interventionist. In conjunction with managing negative behaviors, the chart also rewards positive behaviors by allowing students to move up on the chart for showing exemplary behavior and decision making. The first upward move would be to You’re Doing Grrreat, followed by the ultimate- Earn Your Stripes.  Each day the color earned will be noted in your child’s communication log and it will be signed by a teacher.

10. Other Incentives  Individual Rewards  Individual Rewards – students earn “paws” for following class and school-wide principles. They can cash their paws in for monthly rewards.  Teacher Rewards  Teacher Rewards -students earn a monthly reward if the do not move to Stop and Think and/or Teacher’s Choice  Trimester Incentive Reward-  Trimester Incentive Reward-students spell out the word “Incentive”. They need to have 8/9 letters in order to participate in their grade level incentive. They earned a letter each week by making sure they do not move to Teacher Choice.  Grade Level Incentives: 4 th Grade5 th Grade Rudy’ PizzaMovie and Popcorn Indoor CarnivalRolling Skating Lums PondDance

11. Common Core State Standards To access the site for our Common Core State Standards visit: http://christinak12.org/apps/pag es/index.jsp?uREC_ID=2029 91&type=d The purpose of CCSS is to provide clear understanding to teachers and parents of what a child should learn at each grade level.

12. Reading  Text- Houghton Mifflin Journeys  Whole Group, Small Group and Individual Instruction (reading intervention)  Reading Goals  Develop Critical Readers and Thinkers  Guide Students in Building on their Individual Reading Skills  Develop a Love of Reading

13. www.Thinkcentral.com  Access weekly reading  Utilize to complete comprehension questions at home

14. Writing Types of Writing Explored this year:  Narrate  Persuade  Respond  Inform  Instruct Correlates with CCSS

15. Math  Aligns with the Math Common Core State Standards  Whole Group, Small Group and Individual Instruction (math intervention)  Math Goals  Real Life Math Connections  Guide Students in Building on their Individual Math Skills

16. Math Websites  1. Access your child’s math book online www.connected.mcgraw- hill.com/connected/login.dowww.connected.mcgraw- hill.com/connected/login.do Username: csdXXXXXX (x’s are your child’s lunch number) Password: abc123  2. Dreambox website: https://play.dreambox.com/login/ xr9u https://play.dreambox.com/login/ xr9u Username: lunch number Password: lunch number  3. Access math practice and tutor lessons online www.macmillanmh.com www.macmillanmh.com No logins needed

17. Science/Social Studies  Curriculum:  Harcourt: Horizons  Real life examples and discussions related to topic  Science and Technology for Children  Hands on learning with the use of science kits

18. Homework  Policy/Frequency-math, reading/writing-occasionally additional homework will be given and shall be documented in the agenda. My expectations is to make sure their name (first and last name) is written on the paper and hand-in on due date. However, they may have until the end of the week to make up the homework. At times, a project will be given with dates to be determined.  Weekly Letter- Every Monday students will bring home a weekly letter with important information and any changes with homework.

19. Family Participation  Please try to get involved in our classroom this year!  Homeroom Parent/Cash in Help  Classroom Visit  Field Trip Chaperones/Class Activity

20. Trips EDUCATIONAL 4 th Grade The total activity fee for the 2015-2016 school year is $30.00.  Make a Splash  ? Field Trip  DuPont Environmental Educational Center 5 th Grade The total activity fee for the 2015-2016 school year is $50.00.  Bellevue State Park-Ecosystems Program  Marshall Steam Museum  Junior Achievement

21. Upcoming Events Parent-Teacher Conferences:  Monday November 23 rd, 2015  Tuesday November 24 th, 2015  Friday February 12 th, 2015 (as needed) Other Important Dates:  October 9 th, 2015 – 1 st trimester interims go home  November 20 th, 2015- 1 st trimester ends

22. Let’s Have a Great Year! Mrs. Finnegan margaret.finnegan@christina.k12.de.us School-454-5959 ext. 342