Mr. T's News to Use
Our 5th Grade Classroom Newsletter with Useful Information
Newsletter Information- Issue 1
Lightning Bolts for Behavior!
At the end of each day each student will color in at the bottom of their planner the color they ended up on. This shows you the type of day that they had (behaviorally) and allows the family to have a conversation about it at home. As you look at their planner and she their color for the day PLEASE SIGN the bottom. This lets me know that you've seen both their homework and their color.
If they end the day they are on red then there will be parent or family contact. Generally it will be your child calling you to explain why they have ended the day on red. At times I might send an email if that is most convenient (example: No one answers the phone). It is my hope that this never happens but we all make mistakes and sometimes learning from mistakes create the best lessons! Please let me know if you have any questions about this system. Your students should have pretty good idea about it as well!
Homework Update
PHILOSOPHY: I see homework as an extension of the school day. It is extra practice in what we are learning inside of the classroom. It is a great reinforcement for the kids to practice skills, think deeply or further about a topic, or stretch their thinking. With all of this being said I hope that my students spend right around 50 minutes a night working on homework.
STUDENT EXPECTATIONS: As you have seen in their planners they are expected to read for 30 minutes. I allow this to be in a variety of print. So for example if there is a lot of math, writing, and social studies and they spend about 15 minutes on each subject I know that they have been reading when working on these assignments.
If they would like to continue reading a great book that they are very excited about I am not going to stop them but I know that some nights are full of lots of activities to do. So I want you to know that about 50 minutes should suffice with the work that I send home. The only EXCEPTION to this expectation is if they have not finished work from the day I may decide to send it home to finish so they are prepared for the next day.
Another expectation is that each student be able to do most work independently. If this isn't the case, let me know and we will work towards a solution if it is a recurring issue. It is also helps me if I know that they struggled with a skill or assignment on a particular night so I can talk to them about it the next morning.
EXPECTATIONS OF FAMILIES: All that I expect from you is that you check to make sure that they have done their work for the night and SIGN THE PLANNER to inform me that you have seen the work that they need to complete and also get a glimpse into the day that they had here at school. Remember that Green or Above (Blue, Purple, or Pink) means that they have met my expectations. Red, Orange, or Yellow means that they have not met expectations for the day and each student should be able to tell you why they ended on that color.
Meet this year's 5th Grade Teaching Team!
Mr. T
Mrs. Weitman
Mrs. Hoffman
Mr. T's Contact Information
Email: dthomas@gibraltar.k12.wi.us
Website: http://www.gibraltar.k12.wi.us/pages/Gibraltar_Area/Academics/Fifth_Grade/Mr__Thomas
Location: Gibraltar Elementary School, Wisconsin 42, Fish Creek, WI, United States
Phone: (920)868-3284 (221)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Mr.Ts5thGrade1516/