5th Grade has always been my favorite, both as a student and an educator. I believe it is a year of growth, educationally and physically. That being said, my classroom management is based on student-centered learning and choice. The first day of school, we will sit down as a class and decide together what our classroom rules are and the expectations the students feel are most important for them and their classmates should be held accountable for. The expectations will be agreed upon in a class-created contract and posted in the classroom so students and myself can refer to for the rest of the year. Studies show that when students are included in creating classroom expectation, they feel a sense of value, greater concept of collaboration, and an increased understanding of the expectations.

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School-Wide PBIS 

Here at Saunemin we practice Positive-Behavioral Intervention & Supports (PBIS). We are currently in our third year implementing this program and students and staff have reaped the rewards. This framework provides a continuous evidence-based interventions and utilizes positive talk and actions to improve school safety and student success by eliminating challenging behaviors and teaching students pro-social skills. Our school's four expectations include:

• S- Be Safe

• O-Be Organized

• A-Always Be Respectful

• R-Be Responsible

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ClassDojo

To award and track students positive behavior, we utilize a digital program known as ClassDojo. This program allows us to provide students with instant feedback and award them with points. These points can then be spent in our school score, The Eagle Emporium. Every Friday students are given their totals and as a class are taken to The Eagle Emporium.

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As a parent, you are able to check in on your students progress through the ClassDojo app or on the website. You will be given our class code at Back to School Night. If you have any questions about registering please do not hesitate to ask. I also use this program daily to post class announcements or message parents directly with questions or comments about your child. ClassDojo is the quickest and most reliable way to contact me as well. 

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Homework and Test Policy

In 5th Grade I value the opportunity for students to demonstrate their responsibility for their education, as well as giving them choice. While the content may be significantly more difficult in 5th Grade than 4th Grade, I still provide students with ample class time to work and ask me questions. If students use their time and resources wisely in class, I guarantee their homework will be minimal. However, if class time is not used wisely, students will be responsible for finishing work at home. 

 

In the past, I've had students who struggle with understanding concepts at home on their own. I understand that this can be frustrating for both parent and student. Therefore I do allow students to come to me in the morning with questions about the homework, if they have showed an adequate attempt in working through the problems themselves first. My teaching philosophy is rooted on trial and error and learning from mistakes, therefore if students have first worked through the problems themselves I can help them identify their misunderstandings.

 

This year I've decided to change my testing policy. Instead of requiring students who receive a low test scores to retake a test, I will leave that choice to the student. As mentioned before, school is all about building students responsibility, therefore students need to take ownership of their own learning. I will have a stack of retake test forms in the classroom that students are welcome to take when they wish to retake a test. Students will need to write a sentence or two explanation about their previous test score and how they are better prepared to retake the test. There is also a spot for both a parent and student signature. The previous score and retake score will be averaged and that average will be the new test grade. Students are allowed to retake a test up to a week following the original test date. 

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If you are wishing to view or print the test retake form you can find the link here.