Absences
Please contact the office to notify them of any absences. When your child is absent, she or he is responsible for making up the work missed. I will do all I can to reteach any missed standards or information while a student is absent. If you know of any absence in advance, please let me know so I can have materials around. Students have the same number of days to make up their work as they were gone. For example, Nevaeh missed 3 days of class, she has 3 days after the day she returned to complete all make up work. Regular attendance is important to you child's success as much of what we do in class cannot be made up at home.
Birthdays
Students are welcome to bring a snack to share with the class to celebrate their birthdays. As per the district's wellness policy, we ask that you try to make snacks that are healthy choices. I do ask that you try to send either precut or individually packaged treats. Snacks will be shared during our silent reading period to avoid disrupting any instructional time.
Book Orders
Book orders will be sent home approximately once each month. You are not required to purchase any books, but it is an excellent opportunity to buy books that are at your child's reading level and are reasonably priced. If you do choose to purchase, fill out the order form with the book(s) of your choice and your student's name. Please make checks out to Scholastic. (You need only to write one check for the entire amount if ordering from more than one book order). If it is possible, please put check and order form in an envelope with your child's name on it. This will help me keep everything straight. Cash is also accepted and I can have PHES write a check for the total amount of the order. You may also order your books online by clicking on the Scholastic link below. Parents who order online receive a coupon for a free book off your next order!
Classroom Expectations
In order to provide students with the best educational environment, it is important for us to establish certain rules and guidelines for our classroom. The students and I will be creating our classroom expectations together. After we create them during the first week of school, I will post them here on our website for you to view.
Classroom Visits
I love parent visitors! Please feel free to come visit us in the classroom. You are an important part of your child's education and we welcome you to share our fourth grade journey with us. Several times during the year, we will send out invitations to special events and we hope you will be able to attend. Students love to have family members join them for lunch. We look forward to seeing you!
Classroom Website
I believe that communication between parents, students, and teachers is very important. You will find our classroom website filled with valuable information for parents and students. I, along with student helpers, will update the site frequently each week so the information you are reading will be up-to-date. To receive updates via text message, sign up for the text alerts available through www.remind101.com.
Conferences and Report Cards
Conferences will be held at the and of the first quarter. More information on available times and dates for that will be posted later in the year. I am a firm believer in parent communication, so if you would like to speak with me, please do not hesitate to set an individual parent-teacher conference outside those dates. I am available most mornings before school and every day after school to meet. Report cards are only printed at the end of the year, however, they can be viewed online through the Panther Paw website. Please contact me if you need assistance setting up your account.
Contacting Mr. Ellert
Email is the very best way to contact me. I check my email all throughout the day. It is a convenient way to get quick feedback on questions or comments.. I am able to check my email from home, so feel free to send a note even after school hours. For more serious concerns, please feel free to call me at school so that we can talk or set up an appointment. My email address is [email protected]. My classroom phone number is 260-351-3214 ext. 2401. (Please note: one of our classroom jobs is the Messenger who is in charge of taking phone calls, so if you call the classroom and a student picks up, please just ask for Mr. Ellert and they will hand me the phone!) I also have no problem if you call me on my personal number as well.
Effort
Students are always expected to do their very best work, including the use of their best handwriting. Students will be given the opportunity to correct low scores to show that they understand what was being taught.
Grading System
I update my grade book frequently. Our grade card is a standards based grade card. This means that each standard we teach is graded on a 1-5 mastery scale. The scale looks like this:
5: Student is able to apply this standard in everyday situations with no or little help
4: Student understands this standard without help
3: Student is approaching understanding of the concept, but needs a little help
2: Student is aware of standard, but does not understand it
1: Student has no concept or understanding of the standard
Standard grades are updated and changed throughout the year. If a student receives a 3 on a standard, he or she can continue to grow in that area and reach a 4 or 5 by the end of the year. If a student receives a 5 on a standard but does not maintain mastery, he or she may go down to a 4 or a 3.
5: Student is able to apply this standard in everyday situations with no or little help
4: Student understands this standard without help
3: Student is approaching understanding of the concept, but needs a little help
2: Student is aware of standard, but does not understand it
1: Student has no concept or understanding of the standard
Standard grades are updated and changed throughout the year. If a student receives a 3 on a standard, he or she can continue to grow in that area and reach a 4 or 5 by the end of the year. If a student receives a 5 on a standard but does not maintain mastery, he or she may go down to a 4 or a 3.
Homework
Students will be assigned homework. Please check their assignment book nightly to make sure all assignments are completed and initial that you have done so. The assignment book is also a great way to send quick notes to me. On average students should be able to finish their assignments in 20 to 30 minutes. This does not include their reading minutes. Should your child seem to be spending more time on their assignments, please contact me so that we can be certain to address any concerns or problems that you child may be experiencing with that standard. Many times I will give students time in class to start their assignments so they know what to do at home. I will never send homework home that the student is not able to complete by themselves.
General Homework Guidelines:
1: Students will be expected to read 100 minutes every week. They are to write down the time and pages read on their weekly reading logs. Parents should initial the log sheet.
2: Any assignment which was not completed during the school day (reading or math assignments, etc.) will need to be completed as well as the regular assigned homework.
General Homework Guidelines:
1: Students will be expected to read 100 minutes every week. They are to write down the time and pages read on their weekly reading logs. Parents should initial the log sheet.
2: Any assignment which was not completed during the school day (reading or math assignments, etc.) will need to be completed as well as the regular assigned homework.
Daily Schedule
8:05 - Students arrive
8:25 - Math
9:35 - English
10:35 - Reading
11:10 - Specials
12:20 - Lunch
12:45 - Recess
1:15 - Reading
2:15 - Recess
2:30 - Wild Time
8:25 - Math
9:35 - English
10:35 - Reading
11:10 - Specials
12:20 - Lunch
12:45 - Recess
1:15 - Reading
2:15 - Recess
2:30 - Wild Time
Water Bottles and Daily Snack
Students may bring and use water bottles in the classroom. I do ask that the bottle have a spill proof lid. Please send only water. Students may also choose to bring in a healthy snack to eat during our silent reading time. if you choose to send in a snack for the entire class, please make sure their is enough for each student (a class list can be found on the website).