School Procedures
- What is the official time of Whitehall Elementary School?
2. What time is considered late?
Anytime after 9:15 am. If you are running behind, please make sure to check in with the office to get a yellow tardy slip that should be given to me upon entrance to the room.
3. What if I need an early dismissal?
Should you need to pick-up your child earlier than the dismissal time and if you know ahead of time, kindly email me or write me a note ahead of time. This will help expedite the packing of their belongings. In extreme circumstances or emergency, I will try to pack their things as fast as I can.
4. What is the procedure if my child is sick?
You can either email me or call the office to inform us of the absence/s. Upon return, we would like to have a "retun to school" note from the doctor or from the parents explaining briefly the reason for the absence/s. If no excuse letter is sent, it will be notated in School Max an unexcused absence.
Homework
1. Where can we locate the homework calendar?
Homework calendar is glued on to the homework journal and is issued on a monthly basis unless the team changes it. Homework calendar and Math POW sheet can also be downloaded through this website (here is the link).
2. What is POW sheet? What does it look like?
POW sheet means Problem of the Week and it is considered Math homework. You will always see a "Homework" stamp on the POW Sheet.
3. When do we turn in homework?
Homework is due every Friday unless Friday is a non-school day and which I collect them the day before. POW Sheet will also be issued a day ahead. If your child is sick and is not able to turn it in on Friday, you have a grace period of 2 days to turn it in. Otherwise, if it is not turned in by Tuesday or Wednesday (if Monday is a holiday), then your child will be given a grade of zero for every homework assignment that is not done.
Homework calendar is glued on to the homework journal and is issued on a monthly basis unless the team changes it. Homework calendar and Math POW sheet can also be downloaded through this website (here is the link).
2. What is POW sheet? What does it look like?
POW sheet means Problem of the Week and it is considered Math homework. You will always see a "Homework" stamp on the POW Sheet.
3. When do we turn in homework?
Homework is due every Friday unless Friday is a non-school day and which I collect them the day before. POW Sheet will also be issued a day ahead. If your child is sick and is not able to turn it in on Friday, you have a grace period of 2 days to turn it in. Otherwise, if it is not turned in by Tuesday or Wednesday (if Monday is a holiday), then your child will be given a grade of zero for every homework assignment that is not done.
Classroom Procedures and Routine
1. How does the day begin in Room 104?
Morning work is already on the table ready for them to do. This is to get their minds in the mood for learning. Simple illustrated instructions are posted on the board, and verbal directions are given as the children arrive. The class watches the Morning Show and then we follow the class schedule.
2. Are the students given bathroom breaks?
Since we have our own restroom inside our classroom, they can go anytime they need to go. The only time I request them to avoid going to the restroom is when I am reading a book but of course if the child really needs to go, I will stop the read aloud and wait for them. I also give waiting time when students need to go use the restroom during tests but otherwise, they can go as they please.
3. What is Reading Rotation?
Reading groups will begin soon. This is the time I devote for all three of my reading groups to address the group's reading needs. This is when I tell the students that when I am at the horseshoe table I can't be bothered except when one or all 3Bs are present (Blood, Barf, Bell--fire alarm). These are the only times I will stop reading instruction. In other words, students will either be doing Independent Literacy Activities, at a Learning Station, or they are with me in the Reading Group. But all the students will see me, depending on their rotation. This is the true test whether the student can work independently or not. All works are differentiated depending on their level so there is no reason why they would not be able to do the independent work. Most independent work are reinforcement of what has already been taught. Station activities are also differentiated when necessary.
Morning work is already on the table ready for them to do. This is to get their minds in the mood for learning. Simple illustrated instructions are posted on the board, and verbal directions are given as the children arrive. The class watches the Morning Show and then we follow the class schedule.
2. Are the students given bathroom breaks?
Since we have our own restroom inside our classroom, they can go anytime they need to go. The only time I request them to avoid going to the restroom is when I am reading a book but of course if the child really needs to go, I will stop the read aloud and wait for them. I also give waiting time when students need to go use the restroom during tests but otherwise, they can go as they please.
3. What is Reading Rotation?
Reading groups will begin soon. This is the time I devote for all three of my reading groups to address the group's reading needs. This is when I tell the students that when I am at the horseshoe table I can't be bothered except when one or all 3Bs are present (Blood, Barf, Bell--fire alarm). These are the only times I will stop reading instruction. In other words, students will either be doing Independent Literacy Activities, at a Learning Station, or they are with me in the Reading Group. But all the students will see me, depending on their rotation. This is the true test whether the student can work independently or not. All works are differentiated depending on their level so there is no reason why they would not be able to do the independent work. Most independent work are reinforcement of what has already been taught. Station activities are also differentiated when necessary.
Behavior/Responsibility Sheet
I use the responsibility sheet as an assessment tool and grades are given on a daily basis. It is on a 10 point scale which is the same way the kindergarten rubric is scored. Their behavior is not the only thing that is taken into account when I am grading your child. The first few numbers are areas that pertains to work ethics and the second half are rule-specific. There are times that I will indicate something that is not listed such as "needs self-control". I look at the quality and completion of work for all subject areas. The responsibility sheet should not be misconstrued as a bad notice, it is merely to let parents know how your child's day was. I indicate the numbers that they really need to work on. Those are the areas you need to work on at home as well. It will be very difficult for a child to learn to follow rules in school if there are no rules to follow at home.
General Grading Policies
- What does the "C" mean on my child's paper?
The "C" would mean a couple of things. I use "C" when I am checking morning work/warm-up work. This is to indicate that I looked at it and it is not graded work. I also indicate "C" on make-up work that you bring back. I do not put the make-up work in the School Max since it was done at home. In fairness to the students who put in their efforts to do it as independently as possible in class, I exempt any student from the work they missed in school--exempting means it will not affect your child's grade. The make-up work is to let you know the materials we worked on in class and to help you reinforce it at home. I do give make-up tests and it will be put in the School Max as an assessment grade.
2. Will Kindergarten students be given Unit/Chapter tests in subject areas?
Yes. It is part of our grading system. In most subject areas assessment/test carries a weight of 40% of their total grade. Should there be any test, we will try our best to let you know in advance via the weekly wire.
3. What does a "0 (zero)" mean in School Max?
It means that the student did not get any correct responses on classwork or test. I also indicate a score of zero if homework was not submitted on the due date. I will change it as soon as I receive the homework no later than Wednesday.
4. How come my child got all the answers correct and still received a lower grade?
I use the Kindergarten Scoring Rubric which would indicate if a student was able to do the work independently or otherwise. RUBRIC (click on the word to go to the link).