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Jackie Mitchell |
Welcome to the fifth and sixth grade at Holy Ghost Catholic School. My name is Jackie Mitchell, and I will be your child’s Math teacher for this school session. I am committed to making this class an exciting learning experience for your child, and I look forward to working with you to make that happen.
We will be using the Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley series to strengthen the students’ GLE’s (Grade Level Expectations.)
I would like, at this time, to familiarize you with a few of my classroom policies:
HOMEWORK: Holy Ghost School utilizes the www.Quia.com internet site. You may get to this site through our Holy Ghost web site (www.hgschool.org). Once you are on the site, go to teachers and classes/middle school teachers/Jackie Mitchell/5th or 6th grade web site. I will post homework, test dates, project criteria, and other important information on this site. Parents can also e-mail me from here with any concerns. I will check this site 3-4 times a week and respond to any questions. Homework will be written, for the whole week, on the “Homework Board” in my class, on Mondays. The students are responsible for copying their homework off of the board into their assignment pads every Monday for the entire week. Please don’t print the homework page and give it to your child. There will be times when the homework will change due to shortened classes, the students needing more time with a skill, etc. If this should occur, I shall make every effort to update the Quia site. I have, however, informed the students that if there is a discrepancy between Quia and the homework board--- do what is on the homework board. If you do not have access to the internet, I will furnish your child with a hard copy of my Quia homework page. Each homework assignment is worth 10 points toward their grade. If an assignment is not completed or the student does not have the assignment on the due date, the child will receive 0 points.
TESTS: Students will have 3-4 tests/quizzes each nine weeks. Study guides will be given prior to tests. Each chapter test will include some of the past skills that were taught.
The study guide will reflect which past skills will be tested. The children need to learn to review their work a little each night instead of waiting until the night before a test to study. I will also select various other alternative assessments such as projects, worksheets, art, etc.
MAKE-UP WORK: When a student returns from an absence, they should check the "Absent Work Folder" in the back of the classroom for missed in-class assignments. These assignments should be completed at home. The work should be completed within 2-3 school days. This includes any missed tests. (Extended time for prolonged absences) Work not completed and turned in within the agreed upon time will receive an F in the grade book. Homework does not fall under this category since we check answers the day the assignment is due. If you child is absent on the day homework is due, it will not count for or against them. They are encouraged to come to me and use my key to check their answers.
GRADED PAPERS: I
will notify you through Quia.com when I am sending papers home for
signatures. Graded paper
packets will be sent home following each test. Please sign
and return the papers promptly. Signed papers will be placed in
their “take-home” folder on the home side. Once signed, please
place them on the school side of their “take-home” folder. Getting
their papers signed will be a homework assignment on the day they are
given out. This will also be on Quia. If not returned the next day,
they will receive a “0” for that homework assignment. It will,
however, be written in pencil. I will then give the student 4 days to
return the papers. If they do, the “0” will be taken away from
their homework grade. If they don’t return them by the day
designated by the teacher, the zero will be written in ink and will be
permanent. I collect test packets to keep in their individual student
portfolios. It is your child’s
responsibility to show you their papers and keep them in their
“take-home” folder. It is the parents’ responsibility to check
grades on-line, check Quia for homework and test dates, ask to see
their child’s papers, and see that they are returned to the
“take-home” folder by the day designated by the teacher.
EXTRA CREDIT: I do not give extra credit assignments. I am trying to instill in the children a sense of responsibility that will carry with them to the work force. They need to give each assignment and test their best effort and return papers on time.
BASIC MATH FACTS:
The students should have mastered their basic math facts by the
5th grade (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division). We will have
timed fact quizzes each nine weeks.
If your child has not mastered their facts or is having trouble
with them (ex. Uses their fingers, adds all numbers, sings songs),
please begin working with them at home. Drill them in the car (on the
way to school or an extracurricular event), before TV time, on
weekends, etc. One of the major causes of “Math frustration” is a
student not competent with his/her basic facts.
They cannot focus on the skill being taught because they are
busy trying to compute basic facts that should have been committed to
memory. Please help me
ensure your child’s success by helping them to master their basic
math facts.
I am really looking forward to working with each and every one of you in order to make this year an outstanding one in your child’s academic and social growth. Thank you.