Miss Fernandez’ 4th Grade Procedures
There are many important procedures to rehearse the first two weeks of school and then continue practicing through out the year. The following are procedures I expect to have in my classroom:
1) Entering the classroom/morning business: All students must enter quietly and stand behind their chairs immediately. The first thing I will do is to greet my students with a smile and they will acknowledge my presence by responding in the same manner. Next, they will have 5 minutes to unpack their book bag, take out their homework according to their agenda from the day prior, and sit at their seat with their H.W. on top to be checked by the team leader as they read their Book Club (M, W, and F) or write in their journal (T & Th). If a student comes in after the majority of their classmates they come in quietly, greet the teacher, and proceed with getting ready for the day and being on task with the rest of the class.
2) H.W. Check: There will be teams. Each team will have a team leader (changes every week). The team leader will have a check off list for the week to write down the H.W. assignment from the previous night and indicate if the people on their team completed the assignment or not. If the student on the team didn’t, it is marked red. If the student has it incomplete it is marked orange, and if it is complete it is marked green. The team gets one point for the day if everyone in the group completed their h.w. The team who got all possible points for the month will receive a surprise prize! If a student is missing h.w more than once a week, they will receive a phone call home.
3) Sharpening pencils: Students are NOT allowed to sharpen pencils through out the day. During homework check off they can sharpen two pencils in the morning to have for the rest of the day. The only other opportunity they have to sharpen their pencils is during the fifteen minute “good-bye” period at the end of the day. If they don’t have a pencil or both break during the day, they are allowed to switch their broken pencil for a sharpened one from Miss Fernandez’ desk.
4) When a student is tardy: When a student is tardy they will make sure to go to the front desk and get a tardy pass. Then, they will enter my classroom quietly and leave the tardy pass on my desk. Next, they will follow my procedure for entering the classroom (unpacking and turning in h.w.). They are allowed to ask their neighbor what important information they might have missed at independent work time.
5) Checking out classroom materials: When a student is going to use one of the books from our class library, they must place a book mark where they found it, write down the name of the book title, date and their name on a chart that will be posted near the book shelf. Then, when the student finishes reading the book, they are to place it in alphabetical order, according to author and genre back on the shelf. Lastly, they will sign it back in on the chart along with the date and their signature.
6) Indicating whether you understand: In a case when we are in the middle of instruction, I will ask the students occasionally, “Thumbs up if you understand, thumbs to the side if you sort of understand, and thumbs down if you don’t”. We also often use white boards and other strategies in addition. I will also be making observations to check for understanding as well as providing guided practice. Students will often be offered small group instruction after our whole group lesson. Students will know they are more than welcome to come up to me personally before school, recess, after school, or independent work time to tell me they need help. They can even write me a little note on their assignment or email me when home for h.w.
6) Meeting consequences or rewards: If a student CHOOSES to be extraordinary and puts in all their effort they will be rewarded. The rewards are as follows:
However, if a student CHOOSES to break a rule he/she will follow through with a consequence:
7) Working cooperatively: I expect my students to always say please and
Thank you. When I catch them speaking in such a polite/loving manner, I will commend them immediately. For example, the class will recite a cheer for that student. There will be many opportunities for the children to demonstrate the six pillars of character (Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship) during group work.
8) Coming to attention: Every time I want my students’ attention I will either ask them to give me 5 (eyes on the speaker, mouth quiet, body still,ears listening, hands free) by the show of their hands, I will silently walk towards the students who might be causing disruption , use bell signals, or clap a beat and have the students repeat it. If it is for a transition period, I will let my timer go off and announce to them to please do a certain action.
9) If a student wants my attention:
Ø When a student wants to make a comment, he/she will raise their hand and shape it like a “C”.
Ø When a student has a question, he/she will raise their hand and stick out their pinky finger.
Ø When a student has an answer to a question, he/ she will simply raise their hand.
Ø When a student needs water they will indicate it by putting up three fingers.
Ø When a student needs to use the restroom they will put up two fingers.
10) Going to the office: Student must have an office pass, sign out by the door (including the time).
11) Going to the bathroom: Students will be aloud to go to the bathroom by raising their hand and putting up two fingers. Then the student will sign out by the door (including the time), and go to the bathroom. The students will know they have only up to 5 minutes to use the restroom. They should try to only use the bathroom during recess break. If they run out of passes for the week, they have to write out a behavior ticket.
12) Knowing the schedule for the day: I will have our class schedule posted on the white board. If there is a change I will announce it in the morning.
13) Lining up to go to recess, assembly, and lunch: My students will stand in line in ABC order. They will line up when I dismiss them from their desks, while I stand by the door. They must stand in line quietly. If they do not, we will stop. If a particular child is causing trouble they will stand next to me. There will also be a line leader and a door holder every week.
14) Heading on papers: Every student will be given a number for organizational and testing purposes. When they do an assignment they will be taught to first write their number on the top right hand corner of their paper. Below their number they will write their first and last name. To conclude they will write the subject, page number, assignment and date below. Example:
Hector Roman #20
Miss Fernandez
Math
p. 35 #1-25 odds
Aug. 26, 2008
15) When you finish early: The first thing a child is to do when they finish early is to go back to a previous assignment that they didn’t finish on time. If they have everything done they will have a list titled “Early Finishers” to refer to posted on the white board that gives a list of ideas to choose from depending on their learning style. They can earn extra credit if they do all their work and then complete an activity from the early finishers list.
16) Responding to a fire drill: Students must know this is a very important practice because it could mean life or death in case that a fire really happens in our school. They are to line up at the front door, in order, and quietly immediately when the fire drill bell rings. They will know to follow me to our designated areas and any misbehavior will not be tolerated.
17) Responding to an earthquake: Students will immediately go under their desks with one hand holding on to the leg of the desk and another hand and arm over their head. They are to stay in this position until the earthquake is over and I give them the okay to get up. From there we will follow the schools emergency procedure.
18) When a visitor stops by the classroom: When a visitor stops by the classroom and enters through the front door, I would like for them to stand, face the visitor and say, “Good Morning/Good Afternoon Mr. / Mrs. _______, welcome to the forth grade” Then they can quietly sit down and look at me for further instruction or continue to doing what they were doing before the visitor walked in. I feel that our students need to learn to have a great amount of respect to others.
19) Transitioning into another subject/lesson: When it is time to change subjects my timer will go off and I will tell them something like, “Okay boys and girls, please put away your reading books, go back to your desks, and take out your math activity from yesterday. You have 30 seconds.” I will play a chorus of a song up to thirty sec.
20) Passing in papers: Since they are in groups of five they will simply need to give their papers to their team leaders at the far right side of the groups. I will then have paper collector monitors of the week collect all the papers.
21) Communication Assignments
Ø Homework-always checked in the morning but kept at desk to correct before the appropriate subject time. I will make a phone call home if student did not complete an assignment for the week.
Ø Missing Assignments/absent work-Students will be allowed one week to make up assignments on their own time. The missing assignment must be complete in order for me to accept it. If absent, student has double the amount of time to make up the work as they did absences. For example, if they are absent two days, they have four days to turn in their work or if they are absent four days they have eight days to make up the work.
22) Grading:
Ø Checking assignments in class: Students will exchange papers with the person to their right. They must check with a red pen. The students will mark the incorrect answer with an X. The total of the ones correct at the top of the paper and who it was corrected by at the bottom right hand corner. THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY OTHER MARKS OTHER THEN THE ONES INDICATED HERE!
Ø Assignments will normally be corrected and handed back by Fridays.
Ø Progress reports and report cards will follow school procedures and scales.
23) Tests, Projects and Quizzes- Tests will be announced within a week’s time on our website and noted in our H.W. planner. Quizzes will not always be announced.
There are many important procedures to rehearse the first two weeks of school and then continue practicing through out the year. The following are procedures I expect to have in my classroom:
1) Entering the classroom/morning business: All students must enter quietly and stand behind their chairs immediately. The first thing I will do is to greet my students with a smile and they will acknowledge my presence by responding in the same manner. Next, they will have 5 minutes to unpack their book bag, take out their homework according to their agenda from the day prior, and sit at their seat with their H.W. on top to be checked by the team leader as they read their Book Club (M, W, and F) or write in their journal (T & Th). If a student comes in after the majority of their classmates they come in quietly, greet the teacher, and proceed with getting ready for the day and being on task with the rest of the class.
2) H.W. Check: There will be teams. Each team will have a team leader (changes every week). The team leader will have a check off list for the week to write down the H.W. assignment from the previous night and indicate if the people on their team completed the assignment or not. If the student on the team didn’t, it is marked red. If the student has it incomplete it is marked orange, and if it is complete it is marked green. The team gets one point for the day if everyone in the group completed their h.w. The team who got all possible points for the month will receive a surprise prize! If a student is missing h.w more than once a week, they will receive a phone call home.
3) Sharpening pencils: Students are NOT allowed to sharpen pencils through out the day. During homework check off they can sharpen two pencils in the morning to have for the rest of the day. The only other opportunity they have to sharpen their pencils is during the fifteen minute “good-bye” period at the end of the day. If they don’t have a pencil or both break during the day, they are allowed to switch their broken pencil for a sharpened one from Miss Fernandez’ desk.
4) When a student is tardy: When a student is tardy they will make sure to go to the front desk and get a tardy pass. Then, they will enter my classroom quietly and leave the tardy pass on my desk. Next, they will follow my procedure for entering the classroom (unpacking and turning in h.w.). They are allowed to ask their neighbor what important information they might have missed at independent work time.
5) Checking out classroom materials: When a student is going to use one of the books from our class library, they must place a book mark where they found it, write down the name of the book title, date and their name on a chart that will be posted near the book shelf. Then, when the student finishes reading the book, they are to place it in alphabetical order, according to author and genre back on the shelf. Lastly, they will sign it back in on the chart along with the date and their signature.
6) Indicating whether you understand: In a case when we are in the middle of instruction, I will ask the students occasionally, “Thumbs up if you understand, thumbs to the side if you sort of understand, and thumbs down if you don’t”. We also often use white boards and other strategies in addition. I will also be making observations to check for understanding as well as providing guided practice. Students will often be offered small group instruction after our whole group lesson. Students will know they are more than welcome to come up to me personally before school, recess, after school, or independent work time to tell me they need help. They can even write me a little note on their assignment or email me when home for h.w.
6) Meeting consequences or rewards: If a student CHOOSES to be extraordinary and puts in all their effort they will be rewarded. The rewards are as follows:
- Earned more than 5 bonus tickets in the classroom for the week or truly did something remarkable- N.U.T (No Uniform Today) card to redeem only on Fri.
- Earned at least one bonus ticket each day of the week- can pick any activity from Miss Fernandez’ reward list.
- Earned 4 bonus tickets during the week- One free coupon to be excused from a Homework spelling assignment (must be approved by teacher)
- Earned 3 bonus tickets during the week- Do only the odds or evens of an assignment. (must be approved by teacher)
- Earned 2 bonus tickets during the week- Can pick a pencil
- Earned 1 bonus ticket-Take one sticker
However, if a student CHOOSES to break a rule he/she will follow through with a consequence:
- Warning
- One behavior ticket-5 minutes of recess
- Two behavior tickets-10 minutes of recess
- Three behavior tickets or extreme inappropriate behavior- think sheet write-up (completed by the student) parent must sign and call to parent
- Three think sheets-conference w/ teacher, principal or dean, parents, and student.
7) Working cooperatively: I expect my students to always say please and
Thank you. When I catch them speaking in such a polite/loving manner, I will commend them immediately. For example, the class will recite a cheer for that student. There will be many opportunities for the children to demonstrate the six pillars of character (Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship) during group work.
8) Coming to attention: Every time I want my students’ attention I will either ask them to give me 5 (eyes on the speaker, mouth quiet, body still,ears listening, hands free) by the show of their hands, I will silently walk towards the students who might be causing disruption , use bell signals, or clap a beat and have the students repeat it. If it is for a transition period, I will let my timer go off and announce to them to please do a certain action.
9) If a student wants my attention:
Ø When a student wants to make a comment, he/she will raise their hand and shape it like a “C”.
Ø When a student has a question, he/she will raise their hand and stick out their pinky finger.
Ø When a student has an answer to a question, he/ she will simply raise their hand.
Ø When a student needs water they will indicate it by putting up three fingers.
Ø When a student needs to use the restroom they will put up two fingers.
10) Going to the office: Student must have an office pass, sign out by the door (including the time).
11) Going to the bathroom: Students will be aloud to go to the bathroom by raising their hand and putting up two fingers. Then the student will sign out by the door (including the time), and go to the bathroom. The students will know they have only up to 5 minutes to use the restroom. They should try to only use the bathroom during recess break. If they run out of passes for the week, they have to write out a behavior ticket.
12) Knowing the schedule for the day: I will have our class schedule posted on the white board. If there is a change I will announce it in the morning.
13) Lining up to go to recess, assembly, and lunch: My students will stand in line in ABC order. They will line up when I dismiss them from their desks, while I stand by the door. They must stand in line quietly. If they do not, we will stop. If a particular child is causing trouble they will stand next to me. There will also be a line leader and a door holder every week.
14) Heading on papers: Every student will be given a number for organizational and testing purposes. When they do an assignment they will be taught to first write their number on the top right hand corner of their paper. Below their number they will write their first and last name. To conclude they will write the subject, page number, assignment and date below. Example:
Hector Roman #20
Miss Fernandez
Math
p. 35 #1-25 odds
Aug. 26, 2008
15) When you finish early: The first thing a child is to do when they finish early is to go back to a previous assignment that they didn’t finish on time. If they have everything done they will have a list titled “Early Finishers” to refer to posted on the white board that gives a list of ideas to choose from depending on their learning style. They can earn extra credit if they do all their work and then complete an activity from the early finishers list.
16) Responding to a fire drill: Students must know this is a very important practice because it could mean life or death in case that a fire really happens in our school. They are to line up at the front door, in order, and quietly immediately when the fire drill bell rings. They will know to follow me to our designated areas and any misbehavior will not be tolerated.
17) Responding to an earthquake: Students will immediately go under their desks with one hand holding on to the leg of the desk and another hand and arm over their head. They are to stay in this position until the earthquake is over and I give them the okay to get up. From there we will follow the schools emergency procedure.
18) When a visitor stops by the classroom: When a visitor stops by the classroom and enters through the front door, I would like for them to stand, face the visitor and say, “Good Morning/Good Afternoon Mr. / Mrs. _______, welcome to the forth grade” Then they can quietly sit down and look at me for further instruction or continue to doing what they were doing before the visitor walked in. I feel that our students need to learn to have a great amount of respect to others.
19) Transitioning into another subject/lesson: When it is time to change subjects my timer will go off and I will tell them something like, “Okay boys and girls, please put away your reading books, go back to your desks, and take out your math activity from yesterday. You have 30 seconds.” I will play a chorus of a song up to thirty sec.
20) Passing in papers: Since they are in groups of five they will simply need to give their papers to their team leaders at the far right side of the groups. I will then have paper collector monitors of the week collect all the papers.
21) Communication Assignments
Ø Homework-always checked in the morning but kept at desk to correct before the appropriate subject time. I will make a phone call home if student did not complete an assignment for the week.
Ø Missing Assignments/absent work-Students will be allowed one week to make up assignments on their own time. The missing assignment must be complete in order for me to accept it. If absent, student has double the amount of time to make up the work as they did absences. For example, if they are absent two days, they have four days to turn in their work or if they are absent four days they have eight days to make up the work.
22) Grading:
Ø Checking assignments in class: Students will exchange papers with the person to their right. They must check with a red pen. The students will mark the incorrect answer with an X. The total of the ones correct at the top of the paper and who it was corrected by at the bottom right hand corner. THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY OTHER MARKS OTHER THEN THE ONES INDICATED HERE!
Ø Assignments will normally be corrected and handed back by Fridays.
Ø Progress reports and report cards will follow school procedures and scales.
23) Tests, Projects and Quizzes- Tests will be announced within a week’s time on our website and noted in our H.W. planner. Quizzes will not always be announced.