BUTZIN/FRISHMAN HOMEWORK POLICY
If your child does not complete an assignment on time, we give them the opportunity to come in during lunch/recess to complete it. This has been extremely successful for the past several years in helping students become more responsible and accountable for their work. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, students will have the ability to visit the “BCS Success Center” during lunch/recess. Please know that we understand that things happen. Whenever your child is unable to complete an assignment for any reason, please send in a note or email us. We are happy to give students more time whenever you feel it’s necessary. If this policy is something that doesn’t work for your family, please let us know and we will be happy to come up with an alternative that works best for your child and your family.
ALL ABOUT OUR FOLDER AND BINDER SYSTEM
If your child does not complete an assignment on time, we give them the opportunity to come in during lunch/recess to complete it. This has been extremely successful for the past several years in helping students become more responsible and accountable for their work. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, students will have the ability to visit the “BCS Success Center” during lunch/recess. Please know that we understand that things happen. Whenever your child is unable to complete an assignment for any reason, please send in a note or email us. We are happy to give students more time whenever you feel it’s necessary. If this policy is something that doesn’t work for your family, please let us know and we will be happy to come up with an alternative that works best for your child and your family.
ALL ABOUT OUR FOLDER AND BINDER SYSTEM
Color-coded folders, math books, planners, and a chapter book should be in the cloth zip-up binder at all times.
Blue Take Home Folder: This is the place for mail and graded papers. Some papers will have a sign and return stamp or a fraction on them. We ask parents to look over these papers and send them back to class. Other papers without this stamp or fraction can stay at home. Students stuff these folders themselves. The left pocket is for MAIL. The right pocket is for papers to sign and then return to school.
ALL ABOUT THE HOMEWORK BLOG
Our class blog is designed for our families. It is an informative, helpful, and insightful tool to help keep you updated about your child’s school experience. This site will tell you what we do in class every day.
Remember that each child writes in his or her planner EVERY day. The purpose of this homework blog is to explain assignments with greater detail. Occasionally, I may be unable to post due to circumstances beyond my control. I encourage parents to compare my online listing of homework with their child’s planner to help their child to evaluate his or her own self-organization.
PLEASE INITIAL YOUR CHILD’S PLANNER EVERY DAY AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT DAY’S COLUMN!
ALL ABOUT TURNING IN HOMEWORK
Our goal for students is that they are independent in turning in their paperwork. While we do remind students where to store papers, when to check pockets for work that is due, and where to put completed homework, we do not make it a habit to take papers from the kids’ hands or folders. Eventually, students are able to take their completed work to the turn-in trays and file them accordingly for us to grade. Independence
As we mentioned at Back to School Night, if students do not complete their homework, they will have the opportunity to visit Success Center to complete their homework during lunchtime and recess time. When the homework is done, the student may return to recess. We have received many appreciative comments from parents for supporting moms and dads as they encourage their children to finish homework.
During math class, we walk around the room and check homework during work time in class. Often, we check work together as a class and students should be marking their own pages. Self-checking is a skill we teach students.
When parents have questions about homework, I recommend that they first talk with their child and then ask your child to check with me the next day. If you are not satisfied with your child’s response, please email me and we can collaborate to help your child be more independently responsible for their homework. A lot of parents like to write their children reminder notes in the child’s planner. This is very helpful towards fostering independence!
ALL ABOUT HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS
-MATH is 5 days per week
-Reading is 20-30 minutes each night or 100-150 minutes weekly
-Spelling and Cursive assignments (quarters 2 and 3)
-Occasional assignments in other subjects
We encourage a “Healthy Snacks” policy and try to establish ’snack time’ just before we switch for math. However, at BCS students are always allowed to eat when they are hungry, no matter the time of day.
Each week we will have a “catch of the week” in our classroom. During this week, children have the opportunity to be spotlighted and to share personal interests with their teammates. This will give us a chance to get to know everyone a little better. They may bring in photos for our “catch” bulletin board in addition to personal items for show-and-tell. During the special week, the “catch” will have a few “perks” in the classroom (special seat, an important job, etc.).
What to bring?
Your child will be given an interest inventory on Friday before their assigned week to complete. In addition, they are also welcome to bring in any of the following items for this special week:
o Photos of yourself – recent, a long time ago, as a baby
o Photos of your family – pets, hobbies, vacations, etc.
o Awards, certificates, ribbons or trophies you’ve earned
o Projects you want to display
o Collections
o Whatever you can think of!
At the end of your child’s special week, he/she will share the board with the class. We will celebrate your child all week long!
You will take your things home at the end of the week!
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
If you would like your child to celebrate their birthday at school, you may send in an individual snack to share with each child in our classroom (27 students). We will celebrate all birthdays during the designated snack time. If you would prefer that your child not participate in birthday celebrations, please let me know as soon as possible.
