Michelle Graham
Welcome to fifth grade!
Scroll down for links to spelling lists and reading logs.
About our class:
I strongly believe that parents and teachers working together will give each student the best opportunities for success. Feel free to come and visit our classroom to see what we do in fifth grade. You can arrange a visit with me as well as call for any questions and concerns that you may have. Please leave a complete message, with a phone number, so that I can get back to you as soon as possible. My number at school is 913.871.8101. You may also email me at mgraham@resurrectionkck.org
Homework:
Students are given anywhere from 20-50 minutes of homework each night, except most Fridays. They always have some time in class to begin their homework. However, students may need to take some work home to complete. If you find your child is bringing home more than 50 minutes of homework each night on a consistent basis, please let me know. Sometimes there will be long-term assignments that may take several weeks or months to complete.
Every afternoon the students will write their assignments in their planners. Please check this every night for homework. If your student is consistently failing to turn in assignments on time, their planner may need to be signed every evening. When homework is not turned in, the student has not practiced the skill taught. If the skill is not practiced then the student will not retain the information. This will reflect on their grade. I follow a strict late-work policy. The first day late, 10% will be taken off of the grade earned. You will receive a yellow notice of this which will need to be signed and returned with the assignment. The second day, 25% will be removed from the final grade and you will receive a blue notice. Any day after that, the assignment can be completed for half-credit and I will contact you by phone.
I am including a link to the spelling word lists. All of the lists for the year can be found here: http://www.imagineitreading.com/documents/Imagine%20It!%20Spelling%20List%20Grade%205%20rev%207.28.pdf
Although the words will change weekly, assignments will remain the same from week to week.
Monday- Three times each
Tuesday- ABC order
Wednesday- Alliteration Sentences
Thursday- Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check (L,S,C,W,C)
Also, students will need to complete a reading long every week which can be found here: http://www.lauracandler.com/filecabinet/literacy/ar/readlog2.pdf
Lastly, students will have math homework that varies from day to day.
Friday Folders:
Each Friday (or the last day of the week), your child will bring home a folder with the week’s graded work and quizzes/tests. This folder will also contain important information regarding items such as field trips and special projects as well as important information from the school. Please look through the folder and sign it every week. Not having a signed folder on Monday (or the first day of the week) will result in 10min off of your child’s recess.
Rewards:
Every day, your child will have the opportunity to receive praise! I feel very strongly about positive reinforcement and believe it is the greatest tool to enforce student behavior. We work toward rewards as a class. There will occasionally be reward parties. You will be notified of these in advance. Also, students will have their green RCS punch-card punched for doing the right thing. This will provide individual rewards.
Discipline:
Students are expected to follow classroom rules. If a child fails to follow the rules, he/she will abide by the consequences. If a demerit is received, that student will serve a detention with me after school. These detentions are served on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. You will receive a notice of the detention in advance.
It is my belief that the teaching of personal responsibility and accepting the consequences of one’s own action are very important parts of student’s learning. This can be accomplished through a team effort of parent, student and teacher in which the student learns to assume responsibility and is aided by parents and teachers.
Absences:
If a student is absent from class, homework will need to picked up that day by yourself or another student at the end of the day. Students are expected to make up work missed but will be given 2 extra days for every day missed to complete assignments.
Book Orders:
Book order will be sent home with your student. They are due on the 10th of each month. Please make checks payable to the book company, Scholastic, and do not sent cash. This makes it easier and means the books will be back sooner!
Birthday Parties:
Please notify me if you are sending treats and I will let you know how many students we have. We will normally have our celebrations at the end of the day. Summer and holiday birthdays will typically be celebrated on the half-birthday.
Final Words:
Please remember that I am on your child’s side. I will be continually giving your child opportunities to experience success. I want to give each child the best school experience possible. I hope to instill in them a lifelong love of learning.