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Melissa Tallo |
Welcome to the fifth grade at Holy Ghost Catholic School. My name is Melissa Tallo and I will be your child’s Language Arts teacher. Language Arts is being taught in a ninety- minute block, which means that reading, English, and spelling are taught at one time. 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.
This year your child will be using the reading textbook, Expeditions, and a grammar textbook for extra grammar support. Each child has received 2 textbooks that are to be left at home. I have books in the classroom for them to use at school. The students have also been issued a practice book and a Shurley Method workbook that need to be brought to school every day. At this time, I would like to inform you of a few of my classroom policies:
HANDWRITING: Students are expected to write in cursive for all assignments except for spelling tests. Students are also expected to write in complete sentences on all assignments. A complete sentence must contain a subject and a verb. A helpful hint is to repeat most of the question in the answer. For example: What is a noun? A noun is…
COMMUNICATION: Holy Ghost School utilizes the www.schoolnotes.com internet site. When you go to this site you are prompted to type in the zip code of the teacher’s notes that you are trying to locate. You should type in 70401 and scroll down to find my name, Melissa Tallo. Schoolnotes offers a “notify” feature. Once you have opened a teacher’s school notes look at the information box at the top. Schoolnotes allows you to sign up and receive e-mail notification every time the teacher updates his or her Schoolnotes. Parents are also able to e-mail the teacher through Schoolnotes.com. If you should need to get in touch with me you may send me an e-mail. I check my e-mail daily and I will respond as quickly as possible to your request. I update Schoolnotes every week. I will have them updated by 3:00 p.m. on Monday. I will post major projects, test dates, and important information on Schoolnotes.
HOMEWORK: Homework will be written on the homework board in the classroom. The students are responsible for copying all homework into their assignment pad. If a homework assignment is not completed or if it is not turned in on the due date, the student will receive a zero. Students will have spelling homework every Monday night. They are to write the current spelling words three (3) times each. This assignment is due on Tuesday. The spelling word lists follow in order in the Practice Book.
TESTS: Tests will be given upon completion of each story (reading), or each grammar lesson (English). The test dates will be posted on Schoolnotes, the test board, and will be written in the student’s assignment pad. Spelling tests will be given every Wednesday. Spelling tests will also be posted in the above-mentioned places. I would suggest that students study a little each night instead of waiting until the night before the test.
MAKE-UP WORK: When a student returns from an absence, they should check with a responsible classmate or the teacher for missed assignments. These assignments should be completed at home and turned in within 2 or 3 days. This time frame also includes any tests that need to be made up. If a student is absent, it is his or her responsibility to check for missed assignments or tests that may have been missed. Work not completed within the agreed upon time will receive a zero.
GRADED PAPERS: Graded papers will be sent home every 2-2.5 weeks. Attached to the graded papers will be a progress sheet. Please sign the progress sheet and return the entire packet of papers within two (2) days. For example, if papers go home on Monday, they are due back by Wednesday. One (1) bonus point will be given if the student returns the paper signed on time. This is the only bonus opportunity that I offer.
EXTRA
CREDIT: The only
extra credit (bonus) opportunity I offer is the one (1) bonus point
for returning signed papers on time.
Each student has two (2) days to return the papers.
Bonus points will be split equally between English and reading.
I am looking forward to working with you to make this year outstanding for your child’s academic and social growth.
5th
Grade Accelerated Reader
Guidelines
5th grade students will be participating in the Accelerated Reader program. Students are expected to read at least 15 minutes every night as homework. Each student has an Accelerated Reader folder and inside you will find an AR log. This log is where the students will document his or her reading time as well as the number of pages read each day.
Students will be graded on their reading logs twice per nine week period; once at progress report time (4 ½ weeks) and once at report card time (9 weeks). The grading scale will be as follows:
20/20 = the student is missing 1- 5 daily log entries.
18/20
= the student is missing 6 - 7 daily log entries.
16/20
= the student is missing 8 - 9 daily log entries.
14/20
= the student is missing 10 - 11 daily log entries.
12/20
= the student is missing 12 - 13 daily log entries.
10/20
= the student is missing 14 - 15 daily log entries.
8/20
= the student is missing 16 – 17 daily log entries.
6/20
= the student is missing 18 – 19 daily log entries.
4/20
= the student is missing 20 – 21 daily log entries.
2/20
= the student is missing 22 – 23 daily log entries.
0/20
= the student is missing 24 or more daily log entries.
I will be checking AR logs on a daily basis to help ensure that the students are logging their information correctly.
Students should keep all TOPS reports in their AR folder. These reports should be kept until I tell them it is time to clean their folders out. The students will be able to choose 1 TOPS report that he or she would like to count as a grade at progress report time (4 ½ weeks) and 1 TOPS report that he or she would like to count as a grade at report card time (9 weeks). Each TOPS report will be worth no more than 10 points.