JUST FOR FUN:Homework policy

Here is an explanation of my homework policy:Students should not spend more than 90 minutes per night. This time should be

budgeted in the following manner:15 minutes looking for assignment

11 minutes calling a friend for assignment23 minutes explaining why the teacher is mean and just does not like children

8 minutes in the bathroom10 minutes getting a snack

7 minutes checking the TV Guide6 minutes telling parents that the teacher never explained the assignment

10 minutes sitting at the kitchen table waiting for Mom and /or Dad to do the assignment 

LONG TERM ASSIGNMENTS:These are given the night before they are due. This explains the name ‘long term’. It

is a long term commitment to time that begins at 9:30pm and ends at 11:50pm- or later. It is important that the whole family is involved in the project. It is also imperative that at least one family member race to Walmart/Target for poster board, and that at least one

family member ends up in tears (does not have to be the student).One parent needs to stay up and complete the project. The other parent needs to

call the school and leave a message that the student is out sick.It is not necessary to have the student’s name on the assignment.

Welcome toOpen House!

5th GradeMiss Stacey Belnap

This year we’re departmentalizing!

• Miss Belnap teaches Language Arts and Social Studies.

• Mrs. Worrell teaches Math and Science.

Daily Schedule

8:25-8:40 Morning Work

8:40-9:45 Language Arts ‘A’

9:45-10:15 Social Studies ‘A’

10:15-11:00 SPECIAL AREA

11:00-11:15 D.E.A.R.

11:15-11:45 Intensive Block ‘A’

SWITCH

11:45- 12:15 Intensive Block ‘B’

12:15-12:24 D.E.A.R.

12:24-12:49 LUNCH

12:49-1:50 Language Arts ‘B’

1:50-2:30 Social Studies ‘B’

2:30-2:50 Clean-up/D.Play

Special AreaDay 1: MediaDay 2: PEDay 3: ArtDay 4: PEDay 5: Music

Special AreaDay 1: MediaDay 2: PEDay 3: ArtDay 4: PEDay 5: Music

Homework Expectations• Assignments should be written daily in planner• Approximately 45 minutes each night• Study for tests/quizzes• Daily Homework (Math, Language Arts, Science, Social

Studies, Health, Projects, and Reports)

• AR Reading• Remember: Homework is your child’s responsibility!

(Encourage independence, although you can help or students can come in early/after school to get additional help.)

• It is CRUCIAL for students to learn responsibility and organization BEFORE middle school.

Friday FoldersLook for these items each week:• -Student work (You may keep.)• -Biweekly Newsletter and other flyers• -Weekly evaluation of behavior and

work/study habits

**Please sign and return folders each Monday.**

KLES Rules:

• Keep hands, feet, and other objects to yourself.

• Listen and follow directions at all times.

• Expect and give respect to people and property.

• Stay focused by taking responsibility for your learning and behavior.

KLES

Discipline Goals:• Be positive!• Follow through to complete all jobs.• Become independent by carefully following

all written and oral directions.• Become self-confident by giving yourself

your best effort in all you do.• Set goals appropriate to your needs and

abilities.• Develop strategies to use throughout life

Beliefs:

• Every child can learn.• We all have strengths.• Real-life problems and parallels are the

key to making connections with students.• Mistakes and adversity are a given. We

must grow from them.• Personal pride is one of the greatest

motivators.

Grading Scale

• Tests, Quizzes and Projects

90-100 A80-89 B70-79 C60-69 D0-59 F

• Homework /Practice Assignments(Usually graded together in class)

+ Great

Good

- Okay/Keep Trying

REDO Oops! (Correct & Return)

Reading

• Main Program: Open Court/ Imagine It.

– On-line– Emphasize writing to explain using examples from the text to

support– Reading skills taught and emphasized through all subject areas

• SRA used for skills practice• Supplemented with extra work in higher

order skills such as cause-effect, main ideas, etc

• AR is used for independent practice• Success Maker Lab

Accelerated ReaderAccelerated Reader**AR is used to encourage independent reading. PRACTICE = IMPROVEMENT!

**Students and teachers set point goals TOGETHER based on reading level. These are reviewed each nine weeks.

**Students who receive an 80% or higher on an AR test will be given the opportunity to win a free book during our K.L.E.S. AR drawings on Fridays.

**Our main goal is to LOVE READING.**

(One way to help your child achieve his/her goal is to have in mind that students should average 10% of their goal each week. )

Book Level

Score

Book Level Score

Title

Average % correct

% of Goal

Writing

• Students go through the editing/revising process with their chosen writings in social studies, science and math.

• Monthly WUR, including 4 quarterly WUR on documented report cards **Last 2 of year must be an average of 3.5 for

promotion**

• Fifth Grade Social Studies Units

• Colonial Period• American Revolution• Government & Constitution• Presidential Election• Westward Movement• Heritage / Immigration

Snack• Please send in healthy snacks with your

child each day. We have a very long and productive morning, and they are in need of some serious “brain food.”– Crackers, cheese, and fruit (pre-cut,

etc) are an excellent choice.– Water and juice are also a great

substitute to sweet drinks.

Birthdays

We love cupcakes and birthday celebrations. Just give a little advance notice, and we can help your child celebrate the big day at snack time.

If you decide to bring in a special treat, please remember to include napkins and make sure the servings are ready for easy distribution.

**Please don’t send party invitations to be passed out at school UNLESS you

are inviting the whole class**

Students have feelings that get hurt easily when watching some people get invitations…and they aren’t invited. Thank you for

your understanding.

Lunch (12:24-12:49)

Please put any money in an envelope labeled with:

– Child’s Name– What the money

is to be used for (lunch/milk)

– Keypad Number

$8.75…per $8.75…per weekweek

$1.75…one $1.75…one daydayLunch Bunch

Please meet us at the cafeteria on Thursdays and Fridays.

To get to my website, go to the KLES homepage and under school info select Class/Programs. Click on 5th grade and then select my name.

Money, money, money! (Behavior Management)

Belnap’s Bucks

Bonuses for

Good choices

On-time assignments

Acts of kindness

Superior work

•1st Semester •Salary of $200•Fines and Bonuses of $20

•2nd Semester•Salary of $300•Fines and Bonuses of $50

Activity Period / Study Hall

Students will go to study hall on Friday if they have missing assignments (in class or homework) OR if they earn 3 strikes for… Needing to work on making better choices Planner not signed Talking or off task during instruction

Students may choose to go to study hall on Friday if…… They choose to study or “get ahead” Want to spend time working on their AR goal

Students with all assignments in on time, and who have made good choices during the week, will go outside on Friday for 30 minutes of playtime.

Report Cards/Conferences

Report cards are sent home each 9 weeks. (Progress alerts will be sent home as need after the 4th week of a 9 week period.)

Conferences are held with each parent during the first semester, and on an “as needed basis”.

If your child is in my homeroom, please sign up for a conference before you leave this evening.

Changes to Promotion and Retention

• Materials from the county office can be found at the following site:

http://www.planning.leon.k12.fl.us/Policies/415.htm • State Testing

– No more NRT (National Percentile)– Only SSS in math (MC), reading (MC), and science (MC)

• No more CORE benchmarks– Students must master 100% of all benchmarks at 70% or

better in reading, language arts, math, science, and social studies.

• Links to SSS: http://www.floridastandards.org/Standards/FLStandardSearch.aspx

And finally:• Champions : PE department will be in the cafeteria with answers

and applications (6:30-7:45)• Strings: Tuesday and Thursday mornings• Science Fair: Tuesday, November 2nd.

• Entry forms due September 15th – no exceptions.• Science Fair packets will go home September 21st.

• Agrirama Fieldtrip: Thursday, November 4th

• Chaperones wishing to participate must drive separately to Agrirama.

• Sea World: Wednesday, May 25th

• There will be about seven slots available for the Sea World trip. Parents who are interested in being a chaperone will be contacted later in the year.

The transition this year has been more difficult for some than others but all are finding a niche in class. The key

is to give the responsibility to the student and allow them to rise to the

occasion.