I am excited to welcome 30 new students into my classroom this fall!!!! So far we have had a GREAT start–the smoothest ever, I think. We are quickly getting to know each other and adapting well to the expectations of a new grade & a new teacher.
I want to thank those parents who were able to attend Parent Orientation last night. I hope I was able to answer all of your questions. If not, please feel free to e-mail me at shannon_murdock@gbsd.gresham.k12.or.us or write me quick note in your child’s planner!
For your future reference, I am posting our Fourth Grade Class Handbook in it’s entirety below. Hopefully you have already seen this packet come home, read through it with your child, and signed & returned the bottom section of the last page. If not, please do so as soon as possible.
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FOURTH GRADE CLASS HANDBOOK–MRS. MURDOCK
Rules
Our classroom community has four rules:
1. Listen and follow directions
2. Raise your hand before speaking or leaving your seat
3. Respect your classmates, teacher and other school adults
4. Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself
Consequences for choosing to not follow the rules are as follows:
1st offense: Warning (yellow card)
2nd offense: Time Out (orange card)
3rd offense: Behavior Letter Sent Home (red card) & full-day Time Out
I strive to create & preserve a learning environment that is conducive to all learners. Therefore, when a rule is broken multiple times in one day, that student will sit in a Time Out until they are ready to follow our class rules, so no one else is interrupted by the behavior. This reinforces the idea that their behavior is not acceptable, and thus they do not get to participate in the engaging learning activities at that time. They will still receive instruction and be expected to do the work; they will just not be able to engage with peers.
Homework
Research shows that having homework to do each evening helps teach students discipline, responsibility and organization- three very important lifeskills. Family support is extremely important in helping students develop good study habits. Your child will need help with the following:
1. Time: setting aside a consistent time to study every night.
2. Place: finding a quiet place to work
3. Checking off: making sure each homework assignment is completed
4. Parent Signature: verifying that you have seen that each assignment is complete by signing on the right hand side of the corresponding day in the planner & on the Reading Log. This is required every day.
5. Supply Spot: finding a place to keep homework, books, backpack, etc. so that everything will make it back to school.
Homework may vary, but the following assignments will be consistent every week:
**Monday: spelling activity page 1, read 20+ minutes & fill out Reading Log, math facts 10 minutes
**Tuesday: spelling activity page 2, read 20+ minutes & fill out Reading Log, math facts 10 minutes
**Wednesday: spelling values, read 20+ minutes 7 fill out Reading Log, math facts 10 minutes
**Thursday: spelling sort & practice test, read 20+ minutes & fill out Reading Log, math facts 10 minutes
**Friday: only make-up work, missing assignments, etc. as needed
Spelling:
The spelling practice test should be administered, corrected and signed by an adult. It is due Friday morning. Missed words should be practiced in preparation for Friday’s test.
Math:
Math facts should be studied through flash cards, timed tests, concentration game, computer games, or other methods. Memorization takes lots of practice, so have fun doing it!
Reading:
A parent/adult should initial the reading log each night the student reads for at least 20 minutes & fills out the Reading Log. They are due every morning.
In addition to these daily assignments homework may include unfinished in-class assignments and ongoing projects (book reports, research reports, etc.) For students who use their class time wisely, daily homework should take no more than one hour each evening. It is my policy that students in my class work hard during the day and if they complete the assignments they are given, they should have some time to relax and be kids after school. Therefore, no “busywork” will be sent home as homework.
Planners
We use daily planners in 4th and 5th grades. Students will fill out the main part of their planners on Monday and will update it at the end of each day. All of the day’s work will be detailed in the planner. Homework for that day will be highlighted. A full adult signature (not just initials) is required every day. However, please only sign the planner if:
· writing is neat and legible
· homework is highlighted
· you have seen completed homework
If one of the above qualifications is not met, please write a quick note directly in the planner about why you are not signing so that I will know you have seen the planner and something was missing. Students will not receive credit for their planner if any of these pieces are missing, even if a parent signature is complete.
Late or Missing Assignments
Homework is due by 8:35 each morning. From 8:40-8:55 I meet with each student to check their homework, check their planner and to answer any questions. Work not turned in at this time is considered late. Students with missing work and/or one or more circles on the homework chart the previous week will have a 25 minute study hall each Monday afternoon to help them catch-up. Students with no missing work and no circles on the homework chart for the previous week will receive an extra 25-minute recess each Monday.
Generally, I do not accept notes as excuses for not having homework or forgetting their planner. However, I do realize that there are times when circumstances beyond the student’s control may keep them from completing work. Please send a note ONLY if this is the case.
Snack
Students may bring a healthy snack to school if they choose. This includes, but is not limited to, fruit & veggies, granola bars, crackers, pretzels, string cheese, etc. Please do not send snacks that require a spoon and/or can spill–yogurt, fruit cups, etc. Students may not bring high sugar items such as fruit snacks, cookies, cakes, chips, candy, etc for snack. Those food items need to be saved for lunch.
Water is the only drink allowed in the classroom. I provided each student with a sturdy water bottle on the first day of school. They may fill it before school and at lunch. They are to keep it (or another water bottle) at their desk to drink from during the day, rather than leaving the room for a drink. Water bottles will be sent home every other Friday or so to be washed & returned the following Monday.
Absenteeism
Any student who is tardy or misses school will be responsible for any work he/she missed. They will have one day per day that they were gone to make up the work. Work not completed in that time will be considered late. If you know that your child will be absent multiple days due to illness, please arrange to pick up work. If you call and let the office know by 10 a.m. I can have work ready to pick up after school. Repeated tardies or absences will affect student grades. Please try to schedule vacations to coincide with non-school days. Students who are gone much, miss much.
Supplies
Please send planner money ($4) to school as soon as possible, if you have not done so already. Please let me know right away if you are unable to pay this fee.
I have collected and will store your child’s extra supplies. They are allowed to access them as needed. If they are running low on necessary items, I will put a note in their planner. Please send the noted items to school A.S.A.P.
Also, please be sure your child has a backpack, appropriate shoes for P.E. and a warm coat. Please let me or our counselor, Mrs. Brand, know if you need assistance getting these items for your child.
Parent Involvement
There are a variety of opportunities for you to become involved in our school community:
*Production work/in-class help–please let me know if you would like
to help and we can schedule a day/time that works for both of us
*Help with field trips
*Occasional at home projects–materials can be sent home for you
to work on at your leisure
*CopyCats–volunteer run program to do production work for all
Hollydale teachers or the office
I appreciate your help whether it is reading with your child at home, helping in the school, supporting school activities, or working at home on one of the many tasks that are necessary to create a rich educational experience.
Birthdays/Parties
You are welcome to send in treats on your child’s birthday. We will take the treats to lunch with us & the birthday child will pass them out to classmates in the cafeteria. At this point we have 30 students in out class. Please let me know a day or so ahead of time so we don’t end up with multiple treats on the same day.
We will have a class celebration in the fall, a party for Valentine’s Day, and a possible end of the year celebration. I allow the students to plan these celebrations, so sign-ups for bringing treats, etc. generally happen a week or so prior to the event. If your child signs up to bring something and you are unable to provide it, just let me know and I will find someone else to take care of it.
Book Orders
Every month we will be sending in a Scholastic Book Order. If you would like to place an order, please fill out the order form and send a check made out to “Scholastic” for the total amount (if sending cash, please be sure it is in a marked and sealed envelope.) You will also have the option of placing your order on-line and paying with a credit/debit card. The website is www.scholastic.com/bookclubs and you will need to sign up for an account using our class activation code: GMJBV
For each dollar our class spends, we receive points that accumulate to get free books for our classroom library.
Parent/Teacher Communication
Communication between home and school is essential to the success of our students. I can be easily reached via e-mail. This is the most efficient & effective way of communicating with me. I check my e-mail every morning around 8:00 and every afternoon around 3:15 (and sometimes in-between). My e-mail address is:
shannon_murdock@gbsd.gresham.k12.or.us
And of course, you may always write a note directly in your child’s planner, or send a written note with your child.
I also have a class blog (website) that I try to keep updated with important information. There are many on-line resources available there for students to access. The web address is: www.mrsmurdock.wordpress.com
I can be reached via voicemail by contacting the school at 503-661-6226. Please keep in mind that voicemails do not always enter our mailboxes immediately & I do not always check my voice-mail on a daily basis. The best time to reach me personally by phone is between 3:00 and 3:45 p.m.
