4TH GRADE POLICIES 2018-19 SCHOOL YEAR

 

 

Parent/Teacher Conference Policy

 

If you would like to request a parent/teacher conference, please email us at:

• Mr. O'brien: pjobrien2@cps.edu

• Mrs. Johnson: seobrien@cps.edu

• Mrs. Brown: srtravis@cps.edu

with the conferring reason and (3) times and dates  that would be best for you and allow up to 48 hours for a  response.

 

Classwork Policy

The completion of a student's’ classwork immediately after it was taught/assigned is such an important part of allowing me to monitor their progress from day to day. If a student is present during a lesson and assignment, but fails to complete a majority of the assignment in the allotted time, it hinders my monitoring of them and the feedback I could have potentially given them. If students do not finish their classwork during the day, they will be allowed to finish it that night and turn it in the next morning for full credit. I will not accept it past the next morning.

 

Homework Policy

Reading

*This year’s reading homework will largely be computer based and assigned on Monday. Each week students will be required to:

1. 25 minutes of at-home Reading, logged in their Reading Logs located in their Reading notebooks/folders.

2. complete (2) Achieve 3000 articles that I’ve assigned-Due by Sunday night

3. Spelling/Vocab word list and activities assigned on SpellingCity.com-Due by Thursday Night

*At times, I will also assign homework from IXL, i-Ready and Quizziz.

Math

I will assign (2) pages of math homework, Mon-Thurs, based on the topic we just covered.

*I will accept late homework, but points will be deducted.

 

 

Excused Absence Policy

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Once a student returns from an absence, it is theirs and their families’ responsibility to refer to my class website to catch up on any homework they missed. Unfortunately I cannot provide homework prior or in advance to the excused absence, due to instructional needs changing from week to week. It is important to note that only students returning from an excused absence will be able to have their classwork assignment “waived” for the days they were absent; they will not need to make them up.

 

Correspondence Policy

 

The best way to reach us is through our CPS email:

• Mr. O'brien: pjobrien2@cps.edu

• Mrs. Johnson: seobrien@cps.edu

• Mrs. Brown: srtravis@cps.edu

Please allow 48 hours for a response. It is important to note that we do not check this email during the day. Please notify the office of urgent matters or messages that need to be relayed to us or your child during the day.

 

Technology Policy
 

Every 4th grade student will receive their own CPS monitored Gmail Account. Parents, it is paramount that you add your child’s email account onto your phone, so that you can aide us in monitoring their account/messages in order to keep them safe. Each student will be assigned a Chromebook that they use and keep up with in class.

Here are the parameters of the student CPS account:

• The account has a cps.edu address

• Students can only send and receive emails to/from accounts with a cps.edu address

• Teachers have access to the accounts at all times, including the ability to change passwords

• Once students receive their Gmail Accounts, the address and password will be sent home to parents

This account introduces them to a multitude of amazing things:

• Access to Student Portal, where they can keep track of their own grades, allowing them to self-advocate for better ones, and showing them assignments they’re missing

• Completing online assignments in Google Classroom

• Typing papers in Google Docs

• Keeping a digital record of research citations

• Creating power points in Google Slides

• Creating calendars to write their homework and project dates in, so they can have access to it at home (for those kiddos who tend to forget their planners!)

 

Behavior Policy

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Good behavior is a must, and the students know that they are held to a high standard. I try to focus on positive reinforcement (rewards, flexible seating, etc) that the students have designed. These rewards take place on Friday. Unfortunately, if a student is misbehaving consistently, the following levels of consequences will occur:

1. 1st Negative Choice within a day: Warning/Listening Grade Point Deducted

2. 2nd Negative Choice within a day: Listening/Grade Point Deducted and Logical Consequence assigned

3. 3rd Negative Choice within a day: Yellow Slip and Parent-Teacher Phone Conference initiated

Class Binder Policy

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Your child’s class binder is extremely precious. Every supply, notebook, folder, planner and assignment will be kept in it, and will be used as a “one-stop shop” for organizing everything regarding their Skinner paperwork. A part of your child’s nightly homework will be to organize and replenish supplies in this binder using a checklist as an aid that will be provided to them. Please note: students are discouraged from removing folders, notebooks, etc. from the binder to take home. The entire binder is expected to go home each night, and return each morning.

 

Birthday Celebrations Policy

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Birthdays are big in 4th Grade! If you would like to bring something for your child and the entire class (approx. 34 students) to enjoy, it must be store-bought and from the CPS Healthy Snack List. Please let me know in advance so we can plan a time for them to enjoy it in class. If your child would like to invite individual students to a party, please have them pass them out after school, to avoid any issues.

Electronics/Toys/Bags Policy

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Cell Phones: It is the policy of Skinner West, that all 2nd-8th grade students turn their phones into their homeroom teacher upon entering the classroom each morning. The homeroom teacher then stores the phones in a lockbox, and returns them at 3:45pm.

Other Electronics, Toys, and Bags: Students are to keep all electronics, bags and toys (spinners, balls, slime, etc.) stored in their book bags throughout the day. During recess, they are more than welcome to play with their toys. Unfortunately, no electronics will be allowed during recess/lunch time. This is due to an array of issues we’ve observed: students fighting, screaming, and crowds hovering over devices which all makes for the perfect storm of chaos.