Cooper Elementary

Ms. McFarland

Welcome to Language Arts!

Dear Parents/Guardians,

This letter contains information regarding important aspects of our classroom and program. Please read this letter carefully, keep the information you need, and sign and return the slip at the end of the letter.

Rules for the classroom 1. Come to class on time 2. Have all supplies ready when class starts. 3. Turn in all assignments by the due date with your name/number on it 4. Raise your hand to answer or ask a question 5. Wait until the teacher or fellow learner is done talking to ask a question or join in on the discussion. Set of reasonable consequences is listed: 1st reminder, student will be told what they are getting a reminder for. (Talking, No read ing log etc.) 2nd reminder, SAME AS ABOVE 3rd reminder, student will be written up on a Behavior Plan. They will be required to write a one page reflection and have a parent/guardian sign it. 4th reminder, will require the student to call home and talk to their parent about how their day has been. I will talk to parent to try and find a way to make sure they have a better day. 5th reminder, the student will be walking the track for recess. 6th reminder, I will call parent and schedule a meeting with them and the student to try and find a plan of action to help the student have a more productive day. 7th reminder, Student will be sent to the principal and she/he will take action from there.

Coming to class on time is critical so the children learn about schedules and being on one. Starting at the same time everyday is a great routine and something that children depend on, that is why it is rule number one. The students must have all of their supplies ready when class starts. We cannot take time out of our schedule and routine for the students to find their pencils and paper. Making everyone has their supplies will help the classroom and the lesson run a lot smoother. Turning all of the assignments in by the due dates is an important life lesson for the students that must start early in their schooling. There will be deadlines for them for the rest of their lives from school to when they start working. Raising their hands to ask a question or to answer a question is very important it teaches the children respect for their peers and the teacher as well. Discussions during class will go a lot more smoothly as well if everyone abides by this rule. Last but not least waiting until the teacher or fellow learner is done talking is a big step in learning to be respect and having patience.

The consequences I will have for my classroom are very reasonable. Everyone makes mistakes or gets too excited and forgets some of the rules every now and then, thus the first infraction will be a reminder. It is something to show the student that they have broken one of the five rules. The second will result in a second reminder. This is a second warning. After allowing the student to learn twice about their mistakes, a third infraction is a behavior plan that the student has to write a reflection on and then have a guardian sign. Hopefully this will have an impact not just at school but at home as well on trying to learn the rules of the classroom. I also hope that this infraction will stop and no further consequences will have to be used. The fourth infraction is running/walking the track during lunch. This will give the student the ability to get their energy out of their system but still allow them to contemplate what they have done in class. The fifth infraction will result in a call home. The student will be making the call, they need to own what they have done throughout the day and be able to take the consequence. The fifth infraction/reminder will be a meeting set up between the student, myself, and the guardian. This is where I will show the guardian all of the incidents the students has had in the classroom, on what days, and the consequences this student has had to try and fix the problem. If this fifth infraction consequence does not work with this student the only thing left in my power is the sixth consequence and that is the student will be sent to the office of the principle and the principle, the student, the guardian, and I will have to have a meeting to resolve this problem. No Bullying Rules~ We will not tease, call each other names or put our classmates down. We will not shove, kick, punch or hit. We will help others that are being bullied by speaking out or getting adult help at home and at school. We will use extra effort to include all classmates in our activities. We look for the good in others and value the differences. If at any point in the year the teacher sees a student intentionally breaking the rules she will have to go immediately to consequence number three. Bullying will not be tolerated in the class room. No matter how minor an infraction. Confidentiality Policy~ Returning graded papers~ All assignments will be graded by the teacher All students will have a folder with their name on it where the graded assignments will be placed after they are graded. Each student will be able to look at their graded assignments anytime throughout the school year. Students will not be able to take any graded assignment outside of the classroom. The teacher will keep all graded assignments for record and parent/teacher conferences. Students parents can ask for an assignment inventory with grades if needed. Displaying graded work~ Students work that has been completed at graded will not be displayed for show unless the student, parent, and teacher have signed an assignment release contract. The assignment release contract is a contract allowing the teacher to display graded work on bulletin boards, for examples in future classes etc. The assignment release contract can be amended by the teacher and parent if the parent is fine with one part but not another Example: The parent will allow their childs graded work on a bulletin board but not for use in other classes without their childs name being removed.

Students grading and calling out the grades~ Students under no circumstance will be allowed to grade another students assignment or call out their grades. Students will how ever be allowed to edit other students behaviors and discuss editing and revision on said assignment. The students opinion on another students assignment will not be used to deduct or add to their grade. Homework Rules~ Make sure your name/number is written at the top right Make sure the date is written correctly under your name Put the assignments name on the top line Put your assignment in your classrooms cubby hole Students will not be receiving homework over the weekend or any major holiday in part to those children that have separate homes and trying to juggle the student from one house to another. There will be a homework list sent to both parents for convince, so both parents know what assignments are coming up in the future. These are the rules and consequences of my classroom at Cooper Elementary. I want this year to be fun, educational, and safe for your child. These rules are the classrooms way to ensuring that your student will feel at home and safe in my classroom. If you have any question or concerns about any of the rules please email me at _________________ or call my class phone at _______________. I look forward to seeing you and your child at open house and parent teacher conferences. Thank you so much for your time and patience. We are going to have an amazing year! Sincerely,

Courtny McFarland Educator Tulsa Public Schools Cooper Elementary Classroom website: http://magnificentminds.weebly.com/

I have read and understood the rules, behavior, homework, grading, confidentiality, and bullying consequences for Ms. McFarlands classroom. ______________________ Parent Signature ________________________ Date