miss peterson 2016-2017

CONTACT INFORMATION Marisa Peterson 425.454.3977 x229 [email protected] Class Website: http://bit.ly/1dDRpyy Conference Sign-Ups: http://signup.com/go/2NSEJF

If you need to get a message to the classroom before the end of the day, send a message by phone or email before 11:00am. If sending an email be sure to cc: [email protected]. After 11am, please phone the office and they will ensure the message gets to the classroom before the end of school that day. [email protected] 425.454.3977 Attendance Line: 425.454.3977 x225 (use only if child is absent that day)

Philosophy of Education Each child is a treasure, created in the image of God. As a Christian and an educator, I have the incredible privilege of sharing with my students my love for Jesus and the opportunity to teach them about His glorious creation. As a Christian teacher, it is my desire to help my students recognize and develop their God-given gifts and talents. It is also my responsibility as a teacher to impart to my students skills that are necessary for them to achieve their fullest potential in the Lord. I believe the element that sets Christian education apart from secular education is a firm commitment to engage every academic discipline from God’s perspective. By viewing all curriculum through this lens, students will be able to leave the shelter of our classrooms and step confidently into a world often hostile to their faith. It is my job as a Christian educator to be God’s instrument in the development of my students, preparing them to live for Him and confidently proclaim His Word to the world. It is my prayer that God will use me as one of the many influences in my students’ lives that helps them to become the men and women He created them to be.

Units:

Good Morning! Daystarter Every morning there will be a prioritized list of activities on the board. The students are expected to read the board and follow the directions. Each morning there will be a specific activity for the students to work on. The activities reinforce what we are working on in class and may include math, language, grammar, journaling, following directions, or spelling. This should become routine for the students and helps us use our morning time to get settled.

The Christian Life Prayer Old Testament Review/Overview A Savior is Born Jesus Begins His Ministry Jesus Preaches Miracles of Jesus Parables of Jesus The Beginning of Passion Week Easter Early Church Paul’s Missionary Journeys Paul’s Trip to Rome Christ’s Promised Return

Time Line: Mostly Biblical Order (OT then NT)

Memory Verses: Responsible for several verses each month Practice at home and at school Be able to recite verses without help Sign and return the verse sheet by end of each month

abcdefghijklm Beginning with the lowercase letters we will learn cursive this year. We will study the letters in groups that have similar form and practice proper pencil grip. Once we learn a letter, I have the students write that letter in cursive in all their writing. Eventually, all our letters will be in cursive. I am also asking the students to refrain from writing any letters in cursive other than those we have practiced in class.

Our spelling program is embedded in our Reading and Language Arts curriculum. The students will receive a list of spelling words to study at home each week as part of their weekly homework packet. In class we will not only work on spelling those words but will also work on recognizing and generalizing spelling patterns. The students will be assessed on Fridays by writing the words in isolation and also in the context of dictated sentences. Student spelling will be evaluated in three categories: Spelling Words “sw” (these are the words your child will bring home to study), Other Words “ow”, and Capitalization and Punctuation “cp”.

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* Flexible Reading Groups * Basal Reading books & Novel Studies Variety of stories Phonics & Whole Language Instruction * Skill Practice: Basal Reader Activities Phonics Packets Literature packets for novel studies * Read-Alouds * D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything and Read) * Accelerated Reader

Forms: Sentences & Paragraphs Stories — Narratives & Fairytales Opinion Informational Letters

Skills: Six Traits of Writing: Ideas & Content Sentence Fluency Word Choice Conventions Organization Voice Letter Formation, Size, & Spacing Spelling Parts of Speech

Activities: Journaling & Story Writing Writing within units Grammar lessons

Science Social Studies Unit Assessments Accelerated Math Time Tests Manipulatives Kuske Math Patterns

Concepts: Number Sense Addition & Subtraction: Within 20; Two & Three Digit Patterns Problem Solving Graphing Time Money Geometry Measurement Fractions Basic Multiplication & Division

We study science or social studies, but not both simultaneously. Here are the units we will cover:

Insects Thanksgiving Germany Weather Martin Luther King, Jr. Presidents Mapping Skills Sea Life Centers

Snack

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Lunch

Art: We have art on Thursdays. We will also do art projects in class. Please make sure your child wears appropriate clothing for art on Thursdays.

Music: We have music twice a week, Tuesday and Friday, with Mr. Cox.

Library: Library is on Monday with Mrs. Fawcett. NUTRITIOUS SNACK fruit, granola bar, veggies, raisins MEALS EATEN IN CLASSROOM MILK AVAILABLE DAILY ordered for the year through the office HOT LUNCHES offered daily, order online MICROWAVE USE morning sign-up: first come, first serve please try to limit microwaving to a few times per week

Please help your child remember to return their library books that day so they may check out additional books. They may check out two books if they do not have any others out.

P.E. The students have P.E. with Mrs. Bengelink on Monday and Wednesday. They should wear appropriate shoes and clothing so they are able to participate.

Computers: We have computers once a week on

Friday with Mrs. Valantine. hey will begin to learn keyboarding skills and use various computer programs.

Spa nish: The students will learn on Friday with Mrs. Holmgren.

Counselor: Our school counselor, Mrs. Dalgelish,

visits our class frequently and will be teaching lessons on friendship, cooperation, and other topics as needed.

Management Behavior Cards: Each student has a gr een, yellow, and r ed “Reminder” card in a pocket on their desk. If they make a choice not to follow our class rules or to participate in other inappropriate behavior, they will be asked to “pull a card.” They take the appropriate card and place it in a basket by my desk. There is a consequence connected to each card. 1st Card (Green): Lose 5 minutes of recess. Following the recess time, the student has a conference with me to discuss their choice and think of more appropriate choices. 2nd Card (Yellow): Lose 10 minutes of recess. Following the recess time, the student has a conference with me to discuss their choice and think of more appropriate choices. 3rd Card (Red): Lose 15 minutes of recess and write a letter home about the inappropriate behavior. The letter home is designed for the student to reflect upon their choices and develop a plan to make better choices in the future. This letter must be signed by a parent. Inappropriate choices after losing a red card will result in a visit to the principal’s office. The goal is for the students to keep their green card, symbolizing good choices and behavior. Each day a student keeps their green card, it will be stamped at the end of the day. Once a student receives 20 stamps on their green card, they will receive a certificate and prize to take home. Gumball Behavior: Each time the class r eceives a compliment from a specialist, walks in line well, or deserves a reward, they will receive a gumball. The gumball is placed on our gumball machine at the front of the classroom. When the class earns 40 gumballs, we will vote as a class on a reward. Rewards may be a movie, class game, extra recess, etc.

Daily Work and Tests: Students will be evaluated on their daily assignments to monitor their progress. Grading will be based on a combination of daily work, homework, tests, individual assessments, observation, and class participation. Progress Reports: At the end of each tr imester , a progress report will be sent home with your child. Students will be assessed in the following way: Excellence (“Above and Beyond,” “+”): The student demonstrates superior performance and skills appropriate to content and grade level. The student consistently goes beyond requirements in subject areas. Competence (“You Did It,” “”): The student demonstrates solid performance appropriate to content and grade level. The student applies skills in a variety of situations. Competence is a strong grade. This communicates that your child is performing at and meeting the expected grade level requirements. Development (“You’re Almost There,” “”): The student demonstrates partial accomplishment of knowledge and kills in specific situations or with support. The student is showing progress over time. Concern (“Let’s Work on This,” “”): The student demonstrates minimal progress or achievement. There is little evidence of knowledge or skills.

considered part of the student’s homework, as is their monthly Bible Memory work and Book-It reading.

School Start: Our day begins at 8:30 with the school bell. I will open the door at 8:25. It is helpful to have your child arrive on time and be ready for class. Communication: Ever y Fr iday I will send home a weekly newsletter by email telling you what we have covered that week in class. It will include the subject areas we are studying so you know how to best help your student. The newsletter will also include upcoming events and announcements. When sending money to school, please place it in an envelope and write your child’s name, teacher’s name, and the intended use of the money. In the event that your child is doing something different in the way of transportation after school, it is important that I have a note or email so that I can best direct them at the end of the day. Homework: Included in your child’s Friday folder will be their homework packet for the coming week. It will include a daily list of expected homework. All homework is due on Friday with a parent signature on the homework sheet. Please try as much as possible to complete the homework on the day assigned as the homework assignments directly relate to what the students learned in class that day. Any “Please Correct & Return Work” is

Desk Folder: Each student will use one of the folder s they brought with their school supplies as their desk folder. Papers that are not completed or will be used at a later time are kept in this folder to help with organization and to keep the papers neat. Backpack Folder: This folder will “live” in your student’s backpack for the year. This will be used for occasional midweek announcements or papers. Friday Folder: This br ight yellow folder is used for home-school communication. All school mail, corrected papers, and homework packets will be sent home each Friday. Please take the time to check through your child’s work and read the announcements. This folder needs to be returned the very next school day with a parent signature and any comments. Birthdays: You and your child are more than welcome to bring (gelatin-free) treats in for the class. Please let me know of your plans ahead of time so that I can plan the schedule accordingly. If you would like to send invitations home in student backpacks please make sure that all the girls or all the boys are invited. Field Trips: When asking for volunteer s to accompany us on field trips I will rotate parents to make sure that everyone who wants to come has an opportunity.

I teach the class to practice good habits such as washing their hands before eating and after using the restroom. If your child becomes ill, here are some things to remember when considering if you should send them to school. If your child shows any of the following symptoms, please do not send him/her to school for 24 hours or until seen by a physician. 1. Above normal oral temperature 2. If your child looks or acts differently; awake at night and crying, unusually tired, pale, lack of appetite 3. Colds with excessive cough, sore throat, yellow/green nasal discharge 4. Vomiting 5. Diarrhea that is not related to medication or food reactions 6. Any undiagnosed rash, other than a heat rash You may send your child back to school: 1. If the child has been taking an antibiotic for 24 hours and has no fever or other symptoms 2. If no vomiting, diarrhea, or temperature above normal for 24 hours 3. Communicable diseases: a. Chicken pox — all lesions are dry and crusted b. Strep throat — if on antibiotics for 24 hours and no fever c. Measles, German Measles — rash and fever gone d. Mumps — swelling and temperature down e. Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) — at least 24 hours after start of medication f. Head Lice — until no nits are found, checked in the office for 5 subsequent days g. Fifths Disease — after fever is gone