Mrs. Overland’s Policies
*Please
read and discuss the following policies and procedures with your child.
Homework
J
Why do I assign homework?
I
believe homework is important because it is a valuable aid in
helping students make the most of their experience at school. I give homework because it is useful in
reinforcing what has been taught at school, it prepares students for upcoming
lessons, it teaches responsibility, and it helps students develop positive
study habits.
J
When will homework be assigned?
Homework
will be assigned Monday through Thursday nights. Assignments should take no more than one hour
to complete each night. THIS DOES NOT
INCLUDE STUDYING FOR TESTS OR WORKING ON EXTRA PROJECTS AND REPORTS. Please contact me (AES: 475-5121) if you have
any questions about an assignment.
Spelling tests will be given every Friday. Students may earn NO HOMEWORK passes for good
behavior. Students may be given time in
class to begin homework assignments.
J
What are the students’ homework
responsibilities?
I
expect students to do their very BEST job on homework. This means that all homework is to be
completed NEATLY and LEGIBLY. I expect
students to work independently and only ask for help after they have given it
their best effort. Parents are encouraged
to check homework assignments for accuracy, but AT NO TIME should a parent
write or complete any portion of the student’s homework. All assignments are to be turned in ON TIME
each morning upon arrival to the classroom.
J
What are the teacher’s responsibilities
regarding homework?
I will
check homework EVERYDAY! Periodically, I
will record homework grades in the grade book.
Students will receive a grade based on accuracy. Students will receive a “0” for all
assignments that are not completed. Students
will lose “5” points a day for late assignments. Any student who chooses not to complete their
homework will lose recess in order to make up work.
J
What are the parent’s
responsibilities regarding homework?
Parents
are the KEY to making homework a positive experience for their children. Therefore, I ask that you make homework a TOP
PRIORITY. In your home, please provide the necessary supplies, a quiet homework
environment, and provide praise and support, Also, set
a daily homework time and do not let your child avoid homework, You may contact
me if a problem arises. It is also a
good idea to review your child’s homework each night by comparing the
assignment given on the newsletter to that which your child has completed.
I
believe that the Accelerated Reader program should be used as part of a
balanced reading program. My goal is to
foster a love of reading in my students therefore; I will teach my students how
to choose a “Just Right” book to read. I
will encourage my students to choose books that can be read independently. I will use the AR program as an extra
component of my reading curriculum. I will
work with your child to set an AR point goal each nine week grading period. The point goal will be individualized for
each student. Students will be rewarded
for reaching their AR goal each nine weeks.
They will be encouraged to take AR tests and I will give students
opportunities to test during the day.
Classroom
Procedures
During the school year, there are several key
procedures that will be followed on a regular basis in our classroom. It is very important that both you and your
child become familiar with these procedures.
Please read and discuss the following procedures with your child. Then, sign and return the accountability slip
signifying that you have read and fully understand what is expected of your
child.
J Agendas
Every student is required to have a school
agenda. We will use the agenda to record
homework assignments, important messages, parent/teacher communication, and a
daily behavior report. I will check the
agenda daily for parent signatures. I
will award prizes periodically for signed agendas.
J Signed Paper Folders
Each student will have a folder located in the
BEAR binder for graded papers. On
Monday, all of your child’s work that has been graded will be sent home along
with a weekly behavior report. Papers must be signed and returned to school by
Tuesday of the same week. Any papers not signed will be sent back home for an
appropriate signature and failure to get papers signed will result in loss of
recess or other privileges.
J Homework Folders
All homework assignments will be placed in the
homework folder located in the BEAR binder.
Any materials that your child will need in order to successfully
complete the assignments for that night will be in this folder. Upon completion, ALL homework assignments
should be placed back into the homework folder and returned to school the next
day. This aids in keeping your child
organized and establishing a routine for keeping up with their homework. All homework should be placed in the
appropriate tray in our classroom each morning upon arrival.
*IMPORTANT NOTE- failure to turn in homework
will result in loss of recess and will affect grades.
J Weekly Newsletter
A newsletter will be sent home each Monday. The newsletter will be located in the sheet
protector labeled “Newsletter” which is in the BEAR binder. Homework assignments will be listed on the
newsletter as well as spelling words, and topics that we will be studying in
each subject. Test dates will be listed
as well as due dates for projects. The
weekly newsletter will include information about school events and happenings. This newsletter should be kept in the BEAR
binder for reference throughout the week.
J Progress Reports
Progress reports will be sent
home toward the middle of each nine-week grading period. Each progress report will show your child’s
current average in each subject. All
progress report’s must be signed by a parent and returned to school in a timely
manner. It is your child’s
responsibility to see that his or her progress report is signed and returned to
school on time.
J Tests
Spelling tests will be given
every Friday and
*Remember to check the
newsletter for test dates!
J Snacks
Each day, we will have snack in
our classroom. Please send a healthy snack
with your child everyday. Students may
bring BOTTLED WATER to drink with their snack.
Students will not be allowed to share snacks. **Please let me know of any food allergies so
that I can keep your child safe. **
Learning Centers
Students will spend a portion
of the morning hours in learning centers devoted to reading, language arts, and
literacy skills. During this time, I
will meet with a small group of students to work on reading skills. The centers will provide review and practice
activities for skills I have already taught and/or introduced to the
class.
Students will also spend a
portion of the afternoon in learning centers devoted to math, science, social
studies, and technology. During this
time, I will meet with a small group of students to work on math skills. Students will rotate through a seatwork
activity, a science or social studies activity, and possibly one other center
based on an area of need.
Projects
All projects will be completed
in class as a center activity. I will send
home a project information sheet with a list of supplies that your child will
need to complete the project in class. I
feel that this will take pressure off of parents to help with projects. I know how busy families are with other
activities and work so hopefully, this policy will help decrease stress. I only assign a few projects that will need
additional supplies. Parent volunteers
will be needed to assist with these projects.
Parent Volunteers
I need parent volunteers to
help with projects, assist students with activities, make copies, and other
activities. If possible, I would like to
have a volunteer that is willing to listen to students read and read to
students. I would love to have several
volunteers that come to our classroom one-day each. Volunteers will not be grading papers or
viewing other confidential student information.
If you are interested, please contact me @ 475-5121, email: boverland@tipton-county.com, or
send a note.