Class Policies and Procedures
Attendance/Absences/Tardies
Attendance is very important. New skills are learned daily and students can fall behind very quickly if they have poor attendance.
Since our teaching schedules remain the same each day, students who are continuously tardy miss the same subject each day. This means that the student may become weak in that academic area. Most students are at their learning peak in the morning. This is when Reading/Phonics is scheduled, which is a very important part of our day. Please make sure your child is at school on time (no later than 7:52) so that they do not miss out on important learning.
To avoid tardies, students must be in line (behind the number 31) on the yard when the final bell rings. If a student is not in line when the bell rings, he/ she is considered tardy.
Although Dearborn encourages excellent attendance, we understand that illnesses do occur. If your child is absent, please send me a note with the reason for the absence. Any homework or notes that were missed will be sent home when your child returns to school.
Since our teaching schedules remain the same each day, students who are continuously tardy miss the same subject each day. This means that the student may become weak in that academic area. Most students are at their learning peak in the morning. This is when Reading/Phonics is scheduled, which is a very important part of our day. Please make sure your child is at school on time (no later than 7:52) so that they do not miss out on important learning.
To avoid tardies, students must be in line (behind the number 31) on the yard when the final bell rings. If a student is not in line when the bell rings, he/ she is considered tardy.
Although Dearborn encourages excellent attendance, we understand that illnesses do occur. If your child is absent, please send me a note with the reason for the absence. Any homework or notes that were missed will be sent home when your child returns to school.
Backpacks and Notes
Your child will need his/her backpack every day because it makes it much easier to bring home notes, homework, graded work, etc.
We will try our best to send home all notes from the office on Mondays (Monday Folders or E-Backpack). However, there are times when notes will go home on other days. Please take a few minutes each day to check your child’s backpack and read any notes so that you will know about any upcoming events and/or important information from the office or our classroom. On Thursdays a folder will be sent home with your child’s graded work for the week and their Weekly Conduct Report. Please look over the graded work and keep it. You will also need to sign the Weekly Conduct Report.
We will try our best to send home all notes from the office on Mondays (Monday Folders or E-Backpack). However, there are times when notes will go home on other days. Please take a few minutes each day to check your child’s backpack and read any notes so that you will know about any upcoming events and/or important information from the office or our classroom. On Thursdays a folder will be sent home with your child’s graded work for the week and their Weekly Conduct Report. Please look over the graded work and keep it. You will also need to sign the Weekly Conduct Report.
Birthdays
The school birthday celebration policy has changed this year. If you would like to bring a treat for the class in honor of your child’s birthday, there are some new rules. All treats must be healthy. No cakes, donuts, cupcakes, ice cream, etc. will be allowed. Treats must be sealed from the store they were purchased from (i.e. fruit cocktail cups). Any approved treats brought for birthdays will be passed out at the end of the day and eaten after school. A list of suggested treats will be posted as soon as it is provided to the teachers. More information will be provided at Back to School Night.
If a child is having a party at home, invitations may be sent out from school only if the child will be inviting the whole class. If you only plan to invite some students, please mail the invitations from home so that there will not be any hurt feelings at school. As you well know, children of this age find if upsetting to be “left out”. Thank you for your cooperation with this.
If a child is having a party at home, invitations may be sent out from school only if the child will be inviting the whole class. If you only plan to invite some students, please mail the invitations from home so that there will not be any hurt feelings at school. As you well know, children of this age find if upsetting to be “left out”. Thank you for your cooperation with this.
Book Orders
During the year, I will send home book club ordering forms from Scholastic Books. Please know that participation in the book club is purely optional. Because the books are so reasonably priced, I feel it is worth offering them to those families who wish to participate. Online ordering is now available. This way your child does not have to bring money to school.
Computer Lab
We visit our computer lab once a week. We learn typing skills, how to use Microsoft Word (including drawing), and how to use the Internet. This year we have added Computerwise Kids to our technology plan. More information will follow soon.
Discipline/Behavior
Dearborn has implemented a school wide behavior plan. Information will be sent home from the school office. We will be having an assembly to inform the students of the rules, expectations, and consequences. The following are the 4 rules that the plan is built on:
Students will be expected to follow these rules in the classroom and on the yard.
To encourage students to follow our rules, I will recognize appropriate behavior with praise and rewards. However, if a student chooses to break a rule, the infraction will be noted on their Weekly Conduct Form. The Conduct Form will be sent home every Thursday for consistency, communication between school and home, and accurate record keeping to track behavior. If you have any questions regarding your child’s behavior, ask your child first. If you need further explanation please feel free to contact me.
- Be safe.
- Be respectful.
- Be responsible.
- Be your best.
Students will be expected to follow these rules in the classroom and on the yard.
To encourage students to follow our rules, I will recognize appropriate behavior with praise and rewards. However, if a student chooses to break a rule, the infraction will be noted on their Weekly Conduct Form. The Conduct Form will be sent home every Thursday for consistency, communication between school and home, and accurate record keeping to track behavior. If you have any questions regarding your child’s behavior, ask your child first. If you need further explanation please feel free to contact me.
Early Pick Ups
If you need to pick up your child before the regular dismissal time (2:15), please stop by the office. You will need to sign your child out. The office will contact me, and your child will be sent to the office. Please do not come directly to the classroom.
Field Trips
We will take several field trips during the school year. In order to make field trips a safe, enjoyable learning experience for all students, there are several things that I will ask of my parent chaperones.
*All Dearborn volunteers & chaperones will need to have a current TB test on file in the school office.
*In order to give the students proper supervision, younger siblings may not attend field trips (district policy).
*If you planned to go on a trip but need to cancel, please let me know as soon as possible so that I am able to make other arrangements for the group of students that you would have supervised.
*If you plan to go on the field trip with us you will need to supervise other children in addition to your own.
*In order to make everything fair, please do not purchase souvenirs, extra activities, food, etc. for your child or any other child in your group.
*Field trips often involve securing reservations for a specific number of students and chaperones. Please do not plan to come on a field trip with our class unless you have spoke to me first.
*All Dearborn volunteers & chaperones will need to have a current TB test on file in the school office.
*In order to give the students proper supervision, younger siblings may not attend field trips (district policy).
*If you planned to go on a trip but need to cancel, please let me know as soon as possible so that I am able to make other arrangements for the group of students that you would have supervised.
*If you plan to go on the field trip with us you will need to supervise other children in addition to your own.
*In order to make everything fair, please do not purchase souvenirs, extra activities, food, etc. for your child or any other child in your group.
*Field trips often involve securing reservations for a specific number of students and chaperones. Please do not plan to come on a field trip with our class unless you have spoke to me first.
Fluency
Fluency is the ability to read a text quickly,accurately, and with expression. When fluent readers read silently, they recognize words automatically. They group words quickly to help them gain meaning from what they read. Fluent readers read aloud effortlessly and with expression. Their reading sounds natural, as if they are speaking. Readers who have not yet developed fluency read slowly, word by word. Their oral reading is choppy and plodding.
Fluency is important because it provides a bridge between word recognition and comprehension. Because fluent readers do not have to concentrate on decoding the words, they can focus their attention on what the text means. They can make connections among the ideas in the text and between the text and their background knowledge. In other words, fluent readers recognize words and comprehend them at the same time. Less fluent readers, however, must focus their attention on figuring out the words, leaving them little attention for understanding the text.
During a fluency test, the students will be asked to read a passage that he/she has never seen before. The student will have one minute to read as many words as possible correctly. At the end of the test the teacher tallies the number of words read correctly for the fluency score. The students will also have to retell the story using as many details as possible. I will keep you updated on fluency tests and goals.
Fluency is important because it provides a bridge between word recognition and comprehension. Because fluent readers do not have to concentrate on decoding the words, they can focus their attention on what the text means. They can make connections among the ideas in the text and between the text and their background knowledge. In other words, fluent readers recognize words and comprehend them at the same time. Less fluent readers, however, must focus their attention on figuring out the words, leaving them little attention for understanding the text.
During a fluency test, the students will be asked to read a passage that he/she has never seen before. The student will have one minute to read as many words as possible correctly. At the end of the test the teacher tallies the number of words read correctly for the fluency score. The students will also have to retell the story using as many details as possible. I will keep you updated on fluency tests and goals.
Grading Policy
The following is an explanation of the grading system used in LAUSD.
Achievement score indicates student progress towards achievement of grade-level, state and District learning standards.
4 Advanced Exceeds the standard
3 Proficient Meets the standard
2 Partial Proficient Partially meets the standard
1 Not Proficient Unable to meet the standard
Achievement score indicates student progress towards achievement of grade-level, state and District learning standards.
4 Advanced Exceeds the standard
3 Proficient Meets the standard
2 Partial Proficient Partially meets the standard
1 Not Proficient Unable to meet the standard
Homework
Homework will be assigned each night every Monday through Thursday. It will be sent home in a folder, and it will be due in class the following morning. Regular homework assignments are worth 3 points. If it is turned in complete and on time, your child will earn all 3 points. If the homework is turned in late, one point will be deducted for each day past the due date it is submitted. Points will be deducted for incomplete homework. Learning to be accountable and responsible for homework is extremely important. This will help your child be more prepared for the demands that he/she will face in the years to come. Students will be expected to complete and return all homework. In addition to the regular homework, each student should be spending at least 20 minutes reading every night. Research has shown that there is no other factor which is more helpful to beginning readers than constant exposure to quality literature, at home as well as at school. Please take time to listen to your child read every night.
Labeling
Please label all jackets and sweaters. These items are frequently left on the playground and in our classroom closet. It makes it much easier to find the owner of the item when it is labeled. Every year several unclaimed jackets and sweaters are sent to the lost and found after months of being left in our classroom closet.
Library
We visit our school library every other week. The students get to choose one book at an appropriate reading level. The students have the choice to bring their books home to share with you. If your child decides to bring their book home, please make sure that they bring it back on the day that we visit the library so they can return their book. If a book is lost, your child will have to pay to replace the book before he/she will be able to check out a new book. You can check to see when we visit the library by looking at our class schedule page.
Parent/Teacher Communication
,Parent involvement and communication is very important to me. It is one of the reasons why I decided to build this website. In addition to report cards and conferences, I am always available to meet or speak with you. If it is not urgent, please write a note or email and I will respond as soon as possible. I usually check my email every day. If you want to ensure that I will receive the message that day, please write me a note. If it is urgent, you may call the school office, or stop by before or after school to see me. In return, I will contact you by note, telephone, or email if there is something that I would like to discuss. I also use the Remind app to send out reminders about important events and links to website updates. Instructions on how to sign up for these reminders can be found on the Handouts page of this website.
Report Cards/Low Grade Notices
Three report cards will be given out during the school year. The first report card is given out at the parent conference (usually in late November or early December - please see the calendar for more specific dates). The second report card is usually given in March. The last report card is handed out on the last day of school.
In between report cards, low grade notices will be given to those students that are in danger of not meeting grade level standards.
In between report cards, low grade notices will be given to those students that are in danger of not meeting grade level standards.
Snacks
Please make sure your child brings lunch and a small healthy snack (or money to buy one) each day. It is a long time from the breakfast table to our lunch period (12:25 - 1:00) and children are often hungry by recess time. Snacks will be eaten at recess (10:00).
Visitors/Volunteers
In second grade, students are now cutting and gluing their own projects. Therefore, I usually don't need regular volunteers in the classroom. However, sometimes we have special projects where extra help is needed. In this case, I will send out an email to see if anyone is interested or available to help. We also need help from parents on field trips. If you are interested in volunteering on a regular basis, check in with the Parent Center in our school office. They are always in need of extra help! All volunteers (even field trip chaperones) are required to have a current TB test and Volunteer Application on file in our school office. If you had a TB test and Volunteer Application on file in our office last year, please check with them to make sure it is still current.
