Ms. Britz's 4th Grade Class

Room 25

20011-2012

A Peanut-free Classroom

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Contact info:

Patwin 757-5383 X 119

sbritz@djusd.k12.ca.us

Click in the link below for information on:

4th Grade Math with Ms. Britz

Click in the link below for a Fourth Grade Recommended Reading List:

4th Grade Recommended Reading list

CLICK on "Class Newsletter" for updated information!

Welcome to Room 25's web page! This is the place to get information, and get answers to how our class works.

Class Handbook      

Class Norms:  Respect and Responsibility

Parents and Students;

Please review the class norms to be sure they are understood.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to discuss them with me.  After reviewing, sign below to indicate that these norms will be followed by the student.

_______________________________     ______________________________

Student signature                                                  Parent signature

CLASS RULES

BE RESPECTFUL

• Use appropriate voice level and tone
• Be truthful
• Treat others with courtesy and consideration
• Treat materials with consideration

BE RESPONSIBLE

• Complete classwork
• Complete homework
• Meet deadlines
• Have materials needed in class
• Use time effectively
• Clean-up

CONSEQUENCES

1.   Reminder

2.  Second Reminder

3.  Third Reminder:  take a time out to log in the the

Behavior Journal

4.  Repeated Reminders:  loss of recess, write a

behavioral contract, student calls home

5.  Letter sent or e-mailed home and/or student sent

to the Office

General consequences may be modified for on-going and continued behavioral issues.

Character Ed and Spirit Day Schedule

SEPTEMBER - Respectful: Listens to adults and peers. Treats others the way he or she would like to be treated. Treats self, others, and school supplies kindly. (September 7-Mustache Day)

OCTOBER – Responsible/Using Common Sense: Dependable, makes smart choices, sets a good example, and is a helpful person. Shows good common sense. (October 5-Pirate Spirit Day)

NOVEMBER – Compassionate/Caring: Kind, considerate, forgiving, and helps those in need. (November 2-Jersey Day)

DECEMBER – Cooperative/Fair: Shows effort to help others and is a team player. Plays by the rules. Is considerate of others and is helpful in resolving conflicts. (December 7-Crazy Hat Day)

JANUARY – Trustworthy/Honest: Always truthful, genuine, sincere, and reliable. Keeps promises. (January 4-Crazy Hair Day)

FEBRUARY – Courageous: Stands up for self, others and what is right.  Is a fair and just person who makes wise choices. (February 1-Twin Day)

MARCH – Self-Disciplined: Hard worker. Sets goals and works to achieve them. Is very motivated and shows initiative. (March 7-Hero Day)

APRIL – Showing Perseverance: Shows persistence and is determined in all situations. Keeps trying until they get it. (April 4- ER Day)

MAY – Having Integrity: Thinks independently and ethically.  Holds to his or her beliefs. (May 2-Pajama Day)

JUNE – Being a Good Citizen: Follows rules and laws.  Involved in family, school, community, and country. (June 6-Beach Day)

VOICE LEVELS EXPECTATIONS

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Teacher Instruction

Reading                                                      NO TALKING

Quiz-Taking

Test-Taking

Art

Videos

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Individual Class Work                         QUIET WHISPERS

FOR NEEDED HELP

ONLY

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Partners’ Work

Table Group Work                       QUIET VOICES FOR

Cooperative Group Work                 YOUR EARS ONLY

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Class Presentation                             

Asking & Answering Questions

Class Discussion                                   REGULAR VOICES

Class Singing

Be In Control of Yourself

• Be willing to discuss a problem
• Be willing to listen to each other
• Be willing to apologize
• Be able to ignore unkind words
• Be able to walk away and choose             something positive

• Be able not to hold grudges
• Be willing to control your anger
• Be ready to make a plan together
• Be ready to compromise and meet in the middle

Safety Nets

Turn in work due today by the end of the day.  If I’m not in my room after school, you may turn your work in to my mailbox in the office by 3:30 pm.

 If you haven’t completed your homework or classwork you may use your recesses to do your work that is due for the day.   Take needed materials with you.

 Use Class Study Hall to get your homework done ahead of time, and to get your class work up-to-date.

 Complete extra credit when it is offered.  Build up your insurance policy!

 Correct and return work within five school days for credit (80% =B-).

If you are having difficulty with math homework, have an adult help you out.  If difficulties continue, have the adult sign your homework page and then assign you alternative work.

Use Silent Sustained Reading time (SSR) to correct and do make-up work.

Use your study buddies when you go out of class for music or other services.

 Arrange with classmates ahead of time to note missed work when you are absent.

 Actively participate in reviewing the calendar each day.  Note work due dates.  Plan your time.

Morning Procedures

• Arrive to class on time at 8:30 am.
• Use quiet voices.
• Add your tally to “Lunch List” if you need a school lunch.
• Unpack your backpack.  All materials should be unloaded and placed neatly in your desk.  Lunches and snacks should remain in your backpack, but readily available to take out at the appropriate times.  Hang up your backpack on a hook by the door. 
• Sharpen pencils.  Fill water bottles.
• Turn-in make-up and past due work in the appropriate basket.
• Check the “No Name, No Number” box.
• Put any parent notes or signatures in the teacher’s “In Box”.
• Check the days’ agenda and any notes on the board or the overhead.  Begin this work.
• Be in your seat and ready to begin instruction at 8:35 am.

General Procedures

• Recesses are the most appropriate times for using restrooms.  Any restroom visit during class time must occur at least 30 minutes after a recess at a time when direct instruction is not happening, except in the case of emergency or illness.  Do not abuse this privilege.
• Always ask permission from the teacher before going to the restroom.  Turn the appropriate pass over when leaving the room, and turn it back when you return.
• Use the water fountain outside during recess or keep a spill proof water bottle at your desk (water only).

End of the Day Procedures

Review and complete your calendar.  Have it checked.

• Monitor your voice level.
• Select needed materials for homework and place on desk.
• Check the floor around your desk, and pick up trash.
• When your table or group is called, get your backpack.
• Pack your backpack and put it outside.  Be sure to pick up all items left outside.  You may leave when dismissed by the teacher, not before.  Put your chair up on your desk.  Any trash or piles remaining on the floor by your desk results in a loss of recess the following day.
• Go directly home safely.  If riding, use your helmet – it’s the law!  Be sure to use the crosswalks.
• Of course . . . Do your homework!

Homework and Classwork

• Refer to our class website  http://www.djusd.k12.ca.us/patwin/sbritz/index.htm
• Put your name and your number in the upper right corner of all work. 
• Turn in your work on time, otherwise you will need to use your recesses (including lunch recess) to complete work. 
• If you have been absent or have been out of class during the day, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL MISSED WORK.  If your absence is excused, you are allowed one day of make-up time for each day missed to receive full credit.  Be sure to write “ABSENT” at the top of your paper, along with the date(s) you were gone. NOTE:  This does not include regular weekly assignments such as Spelling quizzes or At-Home Reading.  It does not mean that if you are out of class for music and miss a spelling quiz that you can turn it in late:  these assignments and missed class times you know about and can turn in on time.
• Review your calendar, being sure to compare it with the class calendar.  Five to fifteen minutes is provided for this at the end of each day.  Check on daily, weekly and long-term assignments.  Make sure you have all necessary materials for completing work at home.
• Bring all necessary materials to class.
• Students may do incomplete work during at recess if class time was not used wisely or if the work is past due. Extra credit will be given or accepted only after classwork and homework are completed.
• Extra Credit packets will be distributed three times during the school year, once for each grading period. 
• Individual study plans can be arranged with the teacher.

When You Are Absent or Have Been Out of Class

• When you are absent or out of class you are responsible for all work.  It is helpful for you to arrange with other students in class to keep track of work and assignments.  Just as you would like someone to help you, please be open to helping others.  Students will list two to three homework buddies below:

Name                                                                         Phone

_______________________________    _______________________________

_______________________________    _______________________________

_______________________________    _______________________________

• Absentee forms are provided in class to help organize missed work and assignments.  When you go out of class for music or other instruction, pass one of these forms to your homework buddy before you go.  This will serve as a reminder for them to keep track of missed work for you.
• When one of your homework buddies or someone at your table group is absent, be helpful!  Fill out an absentee form for them.
• If you do not understand or are not sure what a homework buddy has written, ask her/him to explain.  If you are still not sure what to do, ask two more people (THREE BEFORE ME!).  If you are still not clear about something, please ask me.  Make sure you find out what you need to do to make-up missed work!

Grading

Classwork and homework will be graded using a ten (10) point scale.  Many

assignments will be worth 10 points, while others that require more work will be

weighted by multiples of ten.

A  Exceptional; all requisites of the work are completed in a way that demonstrates mastery of the concepts of the assignment;  the work may go beyond the minimum requirements of the assignment.

B   Very Good; most requisites of the work are completed in a way that demonstrates a good understanding of the concepts of the assignment.

C   Regular; most of the requirements of the work are completed in a way that demonstrates a basic understanding of the assignment.

N   Minimal or No Effort/Incomplete ; some or very little of the requisites of the work are completed in a way that demonstrates little or no understanding of the concepts of the assignment.

Grade Scale

Cumulative grades are given regularly through progress reports.  These grades

are recorded as percentages.  Below is the scale used to determine grades.

98% - 100+%     A+

92% - 97%            A

90% - 91%            A-

88% - 89%            B+

82% - 87%            B

80% - 81%            B-

78% - 79%            C+

72% - 77%            C

70% - 71%            C-

< 70 %                  N

Progress Report Policy

Progress Reports will be issued regularly.  The purpose of these Progress Reports is to assist students, parents and the teacher in keeping an up-to-date and accurate record of a student’s work and progress.   All Progress Reports are to be added to the student’s handbook for record keeping.  Occasionally, I will request signatures on these progress reports.  PARENT NOTE:  Do expect a phone call from your daughter/son if they didn’t get their Progress Report signed by you.  If you find any discrepancies in the grades, please make a note on the progress report and have your child ask me about it. 

Students and parents may request either of these progress reports as needed, and will be provided the following day.

Year-long Extra Credit Opportunity:  Observation of a Television Program or Movie

Choose a TV program or a movie that relates in a direct way to your classroom learning.

Name of the program/movie _________________________________________

Date of airing __________________ Length of program ___________________

Channel ______________________ Number of commercials _______________

Type of program  (genre) ___________________________________________

Target audience __________________________________________________

How you found out about the program ________________________________________________________________

Content (Write a 1-2 paragraph summary of what happened in the program; write a 1-2 paragraph explanation of how the program relates to our classroom learning; each paragraph should have at least five well-written sentences):

Books and Supplies List