This document provides an overview of classroom policies and procedures for a 5th grade classroom on the first day of school. It introduces the teacher, Mrs. T.G., who has over 15 years of teaching experience. It outlines the daily schedule, expectations for student behavior and organization, grading policies, and special events like birthdays. Students are informed of bathroom times, lining up procedures, and end of day dismissal.

1. WELCOME to your first day in Fifth Grade! 5TG 2008-2009

2. Opening Questions What are you looking forward to? What are you NOT looking forward to?

3. Meet Mrs. T.G. I’ve been teaching since 1993. I have a Master’s Degree in curriculum and instruction. I taught 2 nd grade for 12 years. This is my second year of teaching 5 th Grade. I am also the K-5 Reading/ Language Arts Curriculum Committee Specialist for MOC-FV Schools. One of the BIGGEST things you need to remember is that teachers are HUMAN! I WILL mess up. Please don’t expect perfection.  I will remember that for YOU, too!

4. “ Meet” Mrs. T.G.’s Family My husband, Scott, is a farmer and also owns the “Snack Shack” which serves food at area auctions. We LOVE going to all kinds of ball games together. My daughter, Natalie, is in 8 th grade. She’s into playing any kind of BALL sports. My son, Kyle, is in 3 rd grade. He is into anything ACTIVE!

5. Starting the Day 7:50-8:25 Breakfast is served HOSPERS TOWN KIDS MUST BE IN LINE BEFORE 8:00. BUS KIDS* MUST HUSTLE TO GET TO IN LINE ASAP. I EXPECT YOU TO CHECK IN BY PUTTING PLANNER ON YOUR DESK BEFORE YOU GO TO EAT AND I EXPECT YOU TO BE BACK IN THIS ROOM BY 8:25 . *NOTE FOR PARENTS of BUS students: Please be aware that your students DO miss time in class when they eat breakfast here at school. Use this service as needed, but use it wisely.

6. Starting the Day 8:00 Classroom opens I may be in the room preparing for class, but please give me the time alone I need to do just that. I love to see your SMILING faces, but not until 8:00. Please place your planner ON TOP of your desk when you arrive so I can quietly take attendance. 8:10 Attendance taken and class begins You will be counted tardy if you are not in the classroom when that bell rings at 8:10. BE ON TIME and be prepared to have a GOOD day! (In other words, have a POSITIVE attitude!)  8:28 Prepare to switch classes 8:30 5TG goes to Mr. Puttmann’s room for Math and Science until recess at 10:30.

7. Your Desk What to keep in desk: Things you need all the time… paper, pencil, notebooks, reading binder, school books, etc. What not to keep in desk: - Corrected papers (take them home!) ALL PAPERS THAT ARE TO GO HOME BELONG IN YOUR SEAT SACK. Don’t even THINK about leaving them in your book bag, either!  -TOYS (or anything that you choose to play with in class) DO NOT BELONG IN YOUR DESK. Mrs. T.G. will be happy to hold anything that distracts you until the last day of school. Other people will be sitting at your desk. *PLEASE KEEP YOUR DESK NEAT AND ORGANIZED.  Don’t leave valuable items in your desk at all.

8. Lockers Please keep your locker neat and organized. Respect your locker mate! You may hang pictures INSIDE, using magnets , but not on the outside. Use the clip on the outside for reminder notes. NO inappropriate pictures, please. *Photos of any “Super Star” with a “M” or “mature” rating are NOT appropriate at school.

9. Our Classroom Floor: Must be clean before any of us leave for the day. Seat sacks empty and chairs up ready for the vacuum cleaner each day except Wednesday. Anything left on the floor may just disappear . Desks: Keep them neat and organized and every Wednesday they must be clear for cleaning. Supplies: If you need something, check the “free” basket first (yours to KEEP) or BORROW from Mrs. T.G. and then WRITE YOURSELF A REMINDER NOTE stating what it is that you need. You may also ASK to send a reminder email during your recess.

10. Mrs. T.G.’s Stuff My desk is off limits. You are not allowed to be at or near it without permission and please do NOT spend any time gazing at any papers I may have laying on it. My teacher “locker” is off limits EXCEPT when you spill and need a paper towel immediately (DON’T ASK, JUST GET ONE!), or when you are given permission to get something out of it. Please feel free to use the items I’ve left out on the supply shelves by the lockers. Please also feel free to TAKE from or DONATE to the “free” box, just don’t be greedy.

11. Q uickly and Q uietly Line up for switching Q UICKLY AND Q UIETLY Line up for lunch Q UICKLY AND Q UIETLY Line up after recess QUICKLY AND QUIETLY I expect that you will line up IMMEDIATELY when the whistle is blown. LINE UP ANYTIME Q UICKLY AND Q UIETLY WALK DOWN THE HALL AFTER LUNCH Q UICKLY AND Q UIETLY Yes, you HAVE to go out OUR recess doors-NOT the Kindergarten doors.

12. Bathroom You are FIFTH graders. Please use the bathroom at the designated times: BEFORE the 8:10 bell rings. BEFORE you go out for recess. BEFORE lining up for lunch BEFORE we line up for Music/PE/Art/Library You may also use the bathroom when I’m working with other students, as long as I am not teaching in front of the whole class. Just remember to SIGN OUT before you go. If you have an emergency signal me and I’ll PROBABLY let you go.

13. Telling Time Recess is at 10:30, after we switch back. Lunch is at 12:10. Mr. Puttmann and I both know how to tell time. 

14. Schedule CLICK “SCHEDULE” TO SEE A COPY Please post yourBLUE 6 Day Cycle Schedule somewhere at home or in your planner where you and your parents can check it and then dress appropriately for the day’s activities. If you forget your tennis shoes on PE days, you MUST use your recess time to get an extra pair from Mrs. K’s stash of shoes. She has created a REWARD program this year for each CLASS.

15. STUDY HALL TIME As you can see from our schedule, we don’t have “Study Hall” scheduled. However, we will be trying a “Homework Help” time on days 2 & 4 for 15 minutes. During this time Mr. Puttmann and I will be trying to help as many students as possible and will try to be available to answer your questions. USE this time wisely!  IF you find yourself with any free time, please use it to READ, WRITE, or STUDY!

16. BIRTHDAYS You may bring treats. Make sure you bring enough for everyone. We’ll PLAN on our summer birthdays being celebrated on HALF b-days. We’ll do a 10-15 minute birthday game time SOME time during the week.

17. Holidays You will be placed on a committee: Halloween, Christmas, and Valentines. Your group will be responsible for treats and games.

18. Grades For Reading Binder Checks/Daily Work 40% Independent Reading (AR) 25% Tests/Quizzes 25% Participation 10% For Spelling Tests 85% Assignments 15% For Language Arts Completed Writing Projects 40% Writer’s Notebook 30% Assignments (Grammar/DOL) 20% Participation 10%

19. Grades For Social Studies, Science, & Math Tests/Quizzes 60% Assignments 40%

20. END OF THE DAY 3:05 Get your seat sack emptied, desk clean, chair up (except on Wednesdays), and make sure you have your homework ready. That includes having an AR book to read. Also, remember, no one leaves until our floor is tidy. 3:10 Town kids dismissed. Go directly home. Do NOT cut around the buses. 3:15ISH Bus kids will walk out. I’ll walk with you as far as I feel necessary for you to remember to walk, hopefully that won’t be all the way to your seat on the bus. 

21. QUESTIONS I will do my BEST to answer ALL questions and to do so without making fun of you or the question. Don’t be afraid to ask. Any questions? 