WELCOME TO MRS. SWAFFORD'S 5TH GRADE CLASS
YOU WILL FIND LASER BEAM IMPORTANT INFORMATION SO READ BELOW.
MRS. SWAFFORD’S CLASSROOM POWER INFORMATION
HOMEWORK LOG
Your child’s homework log will be in a homework binder. The homework log will be sent home nightly and will need to be signed and brought back the next day. The first day it is not signed there will be two conduct grades deducted from your child’s conduct grade. Thereafter, every night it is not signed there will be an additional two conduct points taken off of your child’s conduct grade. It is several reasons you need to sign the homework log: keeps you informed, to see any behavior marks, and the homework/tests/projects will be listed on the log. The homework will be posted daily and it is your child’s responsibility to write down his/her homework.
HOMEWORK
Homework will be counted as a grade. Homework is very important because it is extra reinforcement of what your child learned in school. Your child will ALWAYS have time allotted for homework in my homework in my classroom, but what your child decides to do during this “allotted” time, it up to him/her. There is always time after I teach each subject to work on the classwork/homework and a few minutes at the end of each day.
Rules, Consequences, and Rewards
All rules must be followed.
RULES
- Listen and follow directions
- Complete all assignments
- Do your own work
- Show respect for others
CONSEQUENCES
W- Warning
1- 10 minutes silent break and loss of privilege
2- Silent break, loss of privilege, and two conduct points removed from conduct grade
3- No break, loss of privilege, parent contact, and two additional conduct points (total 4)
4- No break, loss of privilege, parent contact, two additional conduct points (total 6),
and go see the principal and/or paddling
If you get a mark after your break, you will have silent lunch the next day.
REWARDS
The joy of learning and positive praise
Positive note home
Goodies
Free time
Free homework pass
Center time
Free break
Longer break
Various position perks
TARDIES
You are late at 8:01. Read the Coosa Handbook for number of tardies and absences. Be on time. I give morning work, and sometimes morning work is a grade. When your child is late, this will cause extra stress on your child to try and “play” catch up for the rest of the day. Plus, it could give your child “extra” homework for the day.
EXCUSES
Please do not ask me if your child is going to miss anything if he/she misses school. YES, your child is going to miss something in school. LEARNING! It also depends on our school’s activities for the day, but if it is a regular school day, your child WILL MISS learning skills. Read the handbook because your child will be counted absence if he/she does not have an approved excuse.
PROJECTS
My classroom is a PBL classroom that is a Project Based Learning classroom. They learn a lot from projects. It could be poster board, book reports, blogs, wikispaces, can book reports, emailing each other. There is a page on the website that explains PBL.
Projects will be assigned throughout the school year. Each project will be a test grade. They must be completed as directed and turned in on time. I do not take projects late.
CLASSROOM WEBSITE
I believe that communication between parents, students, and teachers is very important. You will find our classroom website filled with valuable information for parents and students.
EXTRA CREDIT
I don’t give a lot of extra credit because I do so much group work, games, and extra reinforcement before tests/quizzes. If your child is doing his/her part, and I am doing mine, grades should not be an issue, but there are times that I will give it.
CONFERENCES
My plan time is 11:55-12:35 so please call and set up an appointment during this time or we can set up a conference after school. I ask that you please set up an appointment and not just stop by and try to talk.
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
A weekly newsletter will go home to keep you informed on homework, test dates, events coming up, etc.
CONDUCT POINTS
Conducts points is a huge umbrella that can range from behavior to unsigned/ turned in papers. It is on the newsletter. Some examples would be the newsletters, homework log, weekly parent signature form for papers, field trip forms, other forms, "anything that needs a signature", dirty desk or floor, talking too loud in groups, breaking a rule, etc. It will tell you how many points were deducted for unsigned papers and behavior. This could be based on individual points or class points. By fifth grade, the parents may or may not be aware of all conduct points mentioned in class because communication was only within my walls and it is the child's responsibility to tell the information to the parent. I do not tell the parents every thing that will be deducted from the conduct. If it is unsigned papers that is needed, I reiterate that to my students daily so they can remember to bring the papers in so points are not continually being deducted. If something needs to be signed, then I need those papers turned back in to me as soon as possible normally the next day unless noted orally or on an attached letter.
TECHNOLOGY
Set up E-mail
E-mailing will help in letter writing. Our class will email other classes and within our class. Kidblog
Kidblog helps with reviewing Language skills and affirmation. They will have to write complete sentences to comment to someone’s post or tell them where a mistake is in their writings.
Elmo
Your child will be able to use the Elmo this year. The Elmo magnifies objects, so the students can see things more clearly.
iPads
We use iPads and iPods in the classroom to play games like Quizlet and SpellingCity; they scan QR codes to explore videos and problems.
It is set up so parents can see photos/videos of things we do in the classroom. Also, the students like to see pictures of themselves on the internet. It is also a way to show parents, grandparents, and other family members what their children are doing when we go on field trips like hiking, space camp, or The American Village. It is for those that are unable to attend our trips, but to feel like they are a part of their children's lives. It is like a "live" page where family and friends from far and near can post comments about what they see going on in the classroom.
BOOK REPORTS
Our curriculum requires that our students complete seven book reports during this school year. Each book will be of different length and different genre. Each book report assignment will be different and shared with the class. Each child will write in a response journal throughout each book assignment so I can make sure that each child is understanding his/her book. The book will be on your child’s reading level. You know your child’s reading level.
LIBRARY RESEARCH PAPER
The paper will take place at the end of the school year, and it is the library research paper. Our curriculum requires fifth grade to complete a research paper but it will not be a complete research paper like high school has to do.
MEMORIZING DOCUMENTS AND ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Our curriculum requires oral presentations and several documents to be memorized in fifth grade. Some examples are in the back of your History book.
SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST
You will receive a school supply list. I highly recommend that you buy every item on the list.
Copy of list
and a picture of the 1/2 size crate is at the bottom of the page if you need to see it.
LUNCHES
Put lunch money in the front plastic pencil bag for easy keeping, AND label it with child’s name. You can put it in an envelope or put a paper clip around it with a piece of paper with name on it.
COST: $3.00 No microwaves
Extra is $1.50 Tea.50
FIELD TRIPS
1. Space Camp
A letter was sent home at the end of school last year, and the information has been on my website all summer regarding saving money for the cost of space camp. The cost is $239. Please check out News Flash link for more information. I will keep you updated. I am looking at attending in April.
2. The American Village is another field trip and it goes along with our history curriculum. It is a living history field trip which takes us back to the colonial times and the Revolutionary War.
3. A hiking field trip is usually taken in October (around the time we are discussing insects, flowers, and mammals). We are looking at going to Mentone or Cherokee Rock Village.
DARE
I am checking into DARE, but if you can help in this area, please let me know.
CONTACT
I have a contact email on my website. If you have any questions, you may email me from my website. In addition, I gave each of you a card, I ask that you do respect my privacy and only text/call when you have a “true” concern.
COOSA HANDBOOK
Most of your other questions can be found in our school handbook like grading, attire, tardies, lunches, etc. Please check first if you have any questions.
Picture of the crate that is on the 5th grade school supply list