Syllabus
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Welcome to 5th grade with Mr. B.
I am very excited for this school year and it is off to a great start. We have a great year planned. This is my second year at Audubon and my three kids are all part of the Audubon family.
This year we are implementing a new transition routine to assist the students moving between classes. Students have 3 minutes in between classes, marked by bells. They will be able to use the restroom, get water, and socialize during this time. A bell rings at the end of class they need to be in their seats to start class when the next bell rings at the end of the 3 minutes. This independence will help students develop responsible habits and so far they have been doing great at it and are enjoying this new freedom.
In ELA we will be reading several books and this year we are requesting students have their own personal copies. This ownership will allow them to practice critical skills such as taking notes and annotating directly in the books. Additionally, students will be able to take the books home to work on assignments when necessary and at the end of the units, the books are theirs to keep. I will provide you a list of the books we will need this year shortly. We are starting the year with poetry and we will be reading and writing poems. We also use Wordly Wise as a vocabulary tool. I have already given my classes their workbooks which they can bring home to work on the lessons. We normally do a lesson and test each week and our first test will be next Friday.
In Social Studies, we will be going over Medieval times spanning Europe, Africa, and the Americas and finish with the Reformation and the Renaissance. For each unit they will be given worksheets that serve as note-catchers during the lessons and they will use these to review for the quizzes and tests.
I am really looking forward to getting to know your students better and working with you all to make this year great and I hope to see you at the back to school night next Wednesday.
BJ Coffman
5th Grade Homeroom/ELA/Social Studies
Behavioral Management Procedures
The school sets clear expectations for behavioral expectation for our students. The handbook covers these expectations and consequences for when students do not meet behavioral expectations. In our classroom, we abide by these expectations. Classes should be interesting, fun, and safe. To create this environment, I expect our class to treat others with respect and to not disrupt others’ learning.
To this end, we will go over our routines and expectations during the first couple weeks of school. The aim is to set clear expectations so we can focus on learning. After this time, I will give the students a warning about their behavior and if they continue with the behavior, they will be referred to the Dean for further action. These referrals are normally accompanied by an email to the caretaker so they are aware of the behavior.
Additionally, students who are frequently tardy to class or not ready when the bell rings will be subject to disciplinary action as well. The first tardy will be a warning, the second an email home, and the third will be a referral. Not being ready for class when the bell rings earns an email home after the third time and a referral after the fifth not ready.
Behavior issues are the number one cause of interruptions in class. Students are expected to meet the minimum behavior threshold so the class can focus on learning.
Classroom contracts
I do not use a written contract for our classroom but use a verbal agreement by the students to set the routines and expectations for the class.
Classroom Routines
We use routines to get ready for class everyday starting with arrival.
1. Look at the board for the material you need for the day and bring them to your desk. This includes pencils, binders, books, journals, and etc.
2. When the bell rings to start class, students will be at level zero and ready to get started.
3. Students need to raise their hand to ask questions or add to the discussion.
4. Restroom breaks are allowed but not during the first ten minutes of class. Students will make the appropriate hand signal, receive the ok, sign out, and take the pass. Students are not allowed to visit other floors or roam during restroom breaks and are expected to return to class as soon as they are done.
5. Sharpening pencils should only be done with a manual sharpener or the one mounted on the wall. Electric sharpener use should be minimized to keep noise levels down.
6. Work should be completed in a timely manner and group work must be productive.
7. All students are asked to participate in class discussions and are given a grade for their participation.
8. Before dismissal students are expected to put away their materials quietly and prepare the class for the next period.
9. Students will sweep, straighten desks, and ensure the overall cleanliness of the room prior to being released.
10. Students will be released by sections after their area is examined for cleanliness.
Early Finishers
To be sure, we have a lot of work to get through during this year. Students will always have some work they need to accomplish in different classes as well. I normally put a list on the board of activities students can engage in if they finish the assigned work early. The first thing they can do is review their work, then complete other work due in the subject we are studying. If this work is complete, they can work on their iReady assignments. Next, they can read their independent reading book or the current book/text we are reading in class. Last, they can complete assignments from other classes.
Missing days/Tardies
Students are responsible for asking the teacher what assignments they missed and how to make up the work. I will keep a wall of missing work in the classroom so students can regularly check what they are missing and complete the work on their own, during academic support periods, or when they are finished with other classwork.
New Students
New students will be given the same instructional materials their peers received and will be exempt from work from when they were not enrolled. However, some background information is critical to current studies and students will receive the previous material and quizzes to ensure they are able to complete the background work. Academic support periods, individual support, or small group will be used to assess their current level and given assistance when necessary.