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Miss Cantillon's Homework Policy
Homework is assigned four to five times per week. Students are responsible for recording their homework assignments each day in their homework journals. As each assignment is completed, they should place a mark in the box next to the assignment in their journals.
I check to make sure homework has been turned in daily and that students have had their journals signed by an adult. I ask that you would sign your child’s homework journal only after looking at the assignments that were completed.
Parents are encouraged to discuss homework assignments with their children as this will foster a deeper understanding of the material. However, a student’s mistakes alert me that your child may need further instruction in that area.
Time spent on homework will vary according to the student. I expect that students in fifth grade will spend approximately one hour per night on homework. In addition to this time, students should read for 20 minutes .
Challenge homework is offered regularly. Long-range assignments are a major component of fifth grade.
If a student does not have his or her homework in class on the due date, a "late homework " slip will be sent home to be signed. The work must be returned the next day. If homework is more than one day late, or if three or more late homework slips have been earned in one quarter, 10% will be subtracted from the student's assignment grade. After the fourth late homework slip, the student will be required to stay after school to get his/her supplies/binder/desk organized. This will be for one hour after school on Thursdays.
Parent & Teacher Communication
Daily: I check my e-mail throughout the day. It is a great way to get feedback to your questions or comments, and I encourage you to contact me this way. My e-mail address is Jcantillon@stellamarisacademy.org and I also receive school e-mail at home. If I do not respond to your e-mail within one day, it most likely means that the school e-mail server is down. If that is the case, please re-send your e-mail to Julie728carol@Hotmail.com.
Weekly: A gold-colored newsletter is sent home with your child every Friday. This newsletter outlines upcoming tests and quizzes. Students are encouraged to post this on the fridge or another obvious location.
Other: Occasionally, your child will be sent home with a project deadline sheet or test prep form to be signed by a parent. When each project/report is assigned, students are given specific deadlines, which they need to record in their planners. A good strategy may be to post these deadlines on a family calendar so that work will not be saved until the last minute. Before most major tests, we complete a “test prep” form in class. Students record important key concepts, vocabulary, study strategies, study sessions etc. This signed test-prep form serves as an entry ticket to the test. It is also worth up to 5% of the test grade.
A Week's Worth of Work, Grading, and Retakes
Work from the week will come home for you to look at each week on Fridays. You are encouraged to review the work with your child. EVERY student needs to bring back the signed cover sheet (gold color) on Mondays. Much of our classwork and homework will be graded using our "general grading rubric." For class essays and projects, the specific rubrics will be sent home for review when the assignment is given. Students may correct and turn in any assignments for a new grade. Students may also make an appointment with me to retake tests and quizzes. Before retaking a test or quiz, students must complete a "corrective assignment form." This form simply asks what the student did to prepare for the retake. The final score will be the highest grade.
When students are absent, they are responsible for making up the work. Our class "Administrative Assistant" will record assignments. Students will have an “Absent Packet ” on their desk when they return. Students have the same number of days they were gone, for example, if John misses 2 days of school, he would have 2 days after he returned to school to make up the work. Much of our classroom activities cannot be done at home (e.g., group work, experiments, in-class games, buddy class activities), so regular attendance is encouraged.
POSITIVE CONSEQUENCES
Scholar Dollars (A.K.A. Tickets) Scholar Dollars are fifth grade's classroom money. When students are following the classroom rules and/or generally behaving as they should, they can be rewarded with Scholar Dollars. Students can also receive Scholar Dollars for completing challenge work, helping a classmate or a teacher, and going "above and beyond" in fifth grade. Students can lose Scholar Dollars for breaking classroom rules. All Scholar Dollars are kept in a white hanger tree and can be counted by the student every Friday. Small treats are available for purchase each Friday and the Cantillon Classroom Store opens at the middle and end of each quarter.
Paper Clip Chain The Paper Clip Chain rewards the whole class when everyone is on-task and following classroom rules. When this happens, I add a paper clip to a small chain of paper clips located on the top of the white board. When the chain reaches the bottom of the white board, students earn an extra 15-minute recess. Yay!
Secret On-Task Seat Every day, I secretly choose a student in our class to be the "Secret On-Task Seat." At the end of the day, if the student has been on-task and following all classroom rules, I announce the Secret on-task seat and reward him or her with a Good Behavior Reward Card which is entered into our weekly drawing for 30 Scholar Dollars.
Class Parties Students who maintain good behavior and follow classroom rules are eligible to participate in our class parties. If a student receives more than three Behavior Citations (see below) in a quarter he or she is not eligible to attend the next class party.
Competence The best positive consequence a student can receive for following all classroom rules and practicing good study skills is learning many new things!
NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES
Unfortunately, when students are having difficulty maintaining responsible behavior and do not respond to our positive consequences, negative consequences will be used. The following steps will be taken if necessary:
1) Verbal warning - using the Boys Town Complete Teaching Interaction Method (minus 2 Scholar Dollars)
2) Written warning in my records and on Teacherease behavior log (minus 5 Scholar Dollars)
3) Behavior Citation - The student will write about the events leading up to the citation and this will need to be signed by a parent (minus 10 Scholar Dollars).
4) After 3 Behavior Citations an After School Conference (ASC) will be held with student and teacher. Parents are invited to attend.
5) A referral to Mrs. Lowell will be made.
*In the case of an extreme behavior infraction, students will proceed directly to step 4.
All students begin each quarter with a "VG+" in Responsible Behavior. Students with outstanding behavior earn an "O." For each behavior citation earned, a student's grade drops incrementally. For example, since students begin with a "VG+," one citation lowers the grade to a "VG," the second citation lowers the grade to a "G+" etc.
Religion
The students will build awareness about how to be more Christ-like. They will concentrate on the sacraments and learn about signs and places that embody God’s presence.
Later in the year, the students will be learning about family life as well. During this portion of the year, we will cover God’s gifts of family, self, life, community and sexuality. Christian living is the primary focus.
Reading
The students will be reading numerous chapter books of various genres and literary forms. Students will examine literary devices and become familiar with the terminology. Some of the books we will be reading include: Holes, My Brother Sam is Dead, and A Year Down Yonder. We’ll also be working in literature circles toward the end of the year. More information on this program will follow.
Students will learn many reading strategies and techniques, some of which include: using context clues to determine word meaning, cause and effect relationships, character analyses, literary terminology, participating in literature discussions and self-monitoring comprehension.
I will have several individual reading conferences with each student during the year. I will use the Student Quarterly Reading Conference Form to record student progress. Please ask me if you would like to view your child's record.
Writing Across the Curriculum
The five-paragraph essay is a major emphasis in fifth grade. Special focus will be given to the opening and closing paragraphs.
Students will use brainstorming techniques and a variety of graphic organizers to become more proficient writers. Some of the writing strategies taught include: writing a thesis, linking a closing paragraph to the introduction, finding a focus, working with paragraphs, brightening up boring beginnings, writing satisfying endings, replacing overused verbs, comparing using similes and metaphors and editing techniques.
Grammar
Students will become more familiar with parts of speech, sentence structure, transitions, and tense. We’ll be learning many songs to memorize parts of speech. Please encourage your child to sing these for you! Also, particular attention will be paid to capitalization, punctuation and formal letter writing.
Spelling and Vocabulary
We are piloting a new spelling program called Sitton Spelling this year. More information will follow.
Social Studies
Students will take an in-depth look at United States History. Students are encouraged to be critical thinkers and analyze decisions made in our country’s short history. At many points during the year, our text will be used as a reference rather than a primary source. The text will be supplemented with trade books related to the current topic of study, primary sources, WebQuests and student research.
Beginning in the third quarter, much of our focus will be on the 50 states and capitals and U.S. Presidents. Students will begin a major research project, which will culminate with a classroom published book and individual PowerPoint presentations. By the end of the year, your fifth grader will need to know all 50 states and capitals and their proper spellings.
Math
Everyday, we begin math with a multiplication or division speed drill. Student progress is charted in the front of his/her math journal. The goal is for students to solve 80 multiplication or division facts in a 2 minute time period. Home practice is necessary! We also review all California Standards each day by working on Mountain Math; this is a program that helps to review all of the fifth grade math standards recognized by the National Council of the Teachers of Mathematics.
There are many terrific websites that students can use to practice math facts. If you're interested in a great tool to make facts more easily recalled, go to www.flashmaster.com to order a handheld fact practice tool.
Much emphasis is placed on mental math and using various strategies to solve problems. Predictions are used significantly in fifth grade.
Students will be using the Houghton-Mifflin series this year. There is a Houghton-Mifflin homework assistance link on our website. This link also has test-prep questions.
The text will be supplemented with other activities and class projects (e.g., math games that reinforce concepts taught, M&M Math, fraction demonstrations, projects, etc.).
We will have special math mini-units on finance and taxes in April. Students will also participate in challenges such as designing a dream bedroom and designing jewelry using geometric shapes. This year we will participate in Math Fax (an elementary school math competition). Finally, our fifth grade participates in a weekly "Challenge 24" game and several students will be respresenting our class at the San Diego Math Field Day at the San Diego Jewish Academy. This event will be held in the spring.
Grading Policy for Math Homework
Since homework is meant to be practice, it will only account for 10% of the student grade. The grading policy is as follows:
5 pts. - (1) Assignment was turned in; (2) the work is complete, neat, and submitted in the correct format; (3) 2-3 sentence statement of learning; (4) sample student created problem and solution that demonstrates lesson concept (5) Problems were attempted and/or statement of what is not understood
4 pts. - met requirement #1 including 4 out of 5 requirements
3 pts. - met requirement #1 including 3 out of 5 requirements
2 pts. - met requirement #1 including 2 out of 5 requirements
1 pt. - met requirement #1 including 1 out of 5 requirements
Science (taught by Mr. Jeanson)
The students will study the function of animals and plants, as well as the food chain and the interdependence of organisms for survival. Cell theory and ecosystems will be observed. Matter and atoms will also be addressed; as well as earth formations, the water cycle and weather patterns.
Study Skills
“Active” study strategies are taught in fifth grade. For example, students are often required to have a “ticket” to take a test. This “ticket” may be a set of flashcards, a concept map, a study card, a test prep guide etc. Since no one method will meet the needs of all learners, they are offered a repertoire of strategies. I will help to determine which study strategies work best for them.
We’ll be using a program this year called “The Mind That’s Mine.” Please click on the link to view the Web site.
Regular binder organization and desk “quizzes” are given. We also play "Let's Make a Deal." This is when students will earn Scholar Dollars or a treat if they are prepared with the materials that I ask them for.