JUST FOR FUN: Homework policy Here is an explanation of my homework policy: Students should not spend more than 90 minutes per night. This time should be budgeted in the following manner: 15 minutes looking for assignment 11 minutes calling a friend for assignment 23 minutes explaining why the teacher is mean and just does not like children 8 minutes in the bathroom 10 minutes getting a snack 7 minutes checking the TV Guide 6 minutes telling parents that the teacher never explained the assignment 10 minutes sitting at the kitchen table waiting for Mom and /or Dad to do the assignment   LONG TERM ASSIGNMENTS: These are given the night before they are due. This explains the name ‘long term’. It is a long term commitment to time that begins at 9:30pm and ends at 11:50pm- or later. It is important that the whole family is involved in the project. It is also imperative that at least one family member race to Walmart/Target for poster board, and that at least one family member ends up in tears (does not have to be the student). One parent needs to stay up and complete the project. The other parent needs to call the school and leave a message that the student is out sick. It is not necessary to have the student’s name on the assignment.

Welcome to Open House! 5th Grade Miss Stacey Belnap

My Family

This year we’re departmentalizing! Miss Belnap teaches Language Arts and Social Studies. Mrs. Worrell teaches Math and Science.

Daily Schedule 8:25-8:40 Morning Work 8:40-9:45 Language Arts ‘A’ 9:45-10:15 Social Studies ‘A’ 10:15-11:00 SPECIAL AREA 11:00-11:15 D.E.A.R. 11:15-11:45 Intensive Block ‘A’ SWITCH 11:45- 12:15 Intensive Block ‘B’ 12:15-12:24 12:24-12:49 LUNCH 12:49-1:50 Language Arts ‘B’ 1:50-2:30 Social Studies ‘B’ 2:30-2:50 Clean-up/D.Play

Special Area Day 1: Media Day 2: PE Day 3: Art Day 4: PE Day 5: Music

Homework Expectations Assignments should be written daily in planner Approximately 45 minutes each night Study for tests/quizzes Daily Homework (Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Health, Projects, and Reports) AR Reading Remember: Homework is your child’s responsibility! (Encourage independence, although you can help or students can come in early/after school to get additional help.) It is CRUCIAL for students to learn responsibility and organization BEFORE middle school.

**Please sign and return Friday Folders Look for these items each week: -Student work (You may keep.) -Biweekly Newsletter and other flyers -Weekly evaluation of behavior and work/study habits **Please sign and return folders each Monday.**

KLES Rules: Keep hands, feet, and other objects to yourself. Listen and follow directions at all times. Expect and give respect to people and property. Stay focused by taking responsibility for your learning and behavior.

Discipline Goals: Be positive! Follow through to complete all jobs. Become independent by carefully following all written and oral directions. Become self-confident by giving yourself your best effort in all you do. Set goals appropriate to your needs and abilities. Develop strategies to use throughout life

Beliefs: Every child can learn. We all have strengths. Real-life problems and parallels are the key to making connections with students. Mistakes and adversity are a given. We must grow from them. Personal pride is one of the greatest motivators.

Homework /Practice Assignments (Usually graded together in class) Grading Scale Homework /Practice Assignments (Usually graded together in class) + Great Good - Okay/Keep Trying REDO Oops! (Correct & Return)‏ Tests, Quizzes and Projects 90-100 A 80-89 B 70-79 C 60-69 D 0-59 F

Reading Main Program: Open Court/ Imagine It. On-line Emphasize writing to explain using examples from the text to support Reading skills taught and emphasized through all subject areas SRA used for skills practice Supplemented with extra work in higher order skills such as cause-effect, main ideas, etc AR is used for independent practice Success Maker Lab

Accelerated Reader **AR is used to encourage independent reading. PRACTICE = IMPROVEMENT! **Students and teachers set point goals TOGETHER based on reading level. These are reviewed each nine weeks. **Students who receive an 80% or higher on an AR test will be given the opportunity to win a free book during our K.L.E.S. AR drawings on Fridays. **Our main goal is to LOVE READING.** (One way to help your child achieve his/her goal is to have in mind that students should average 10% of their goal each week. )

Book Level Score Title Book Level Score Average % correct % of Goal

Writing Students go through the editing/revising process with their chosen writings in social studies, science and math. Monthly WUR, including 4 quarterly WUR on documented report cards **Last 2 of year must be an average of 3.5 for promotion**

Fifth Grade Social Studies Units Colonial Period American Revolution Government & Constitution Presidential Election Westward Movement Heritage / Immigration

Snack Please send in healthy snacks with your child each day. We have a very long and productive morning, and they are in need of some serious “brain food.” Crackers, cheese, and fruit (pre-cut, etc) are an excellent choice. Water and juice are also a great substitute to sweet drinks.

Birthdays We love cupcakes and birthday celebrations. Just give a little advance notice, and we can help your child celebrate the big day at snack time. If you decide to bring in a special treat, please remember to include napkins and make sure the servings are ready for easy distribution. **Please don’t send party invitations to be passed out at school UNLESS you are inviting the whole class** Students have feelings that get hurt easily when watching some people get invitations…and they aren’t invited. Thank you for your understanding.

Please meet us at the cafeteria on Thursdays and Fridays. Lunch (12:24-12:49) Please put any money in an envelope labeled with: Child’s Name What the money is to be used for (lunch/milk)‏ Keypad Number $8.75…per week $1.75…one day Lunch Bunch Please meet us at the cafeteria on Thursdays and Fridays.

To get to my website, go to the KLES homepage and under school info select Class/Programs. Click on 5th grade and then select my name.

Money, money, money! (Behavior Management) Belnap’s Bucks Bonuses for Good choices On-time assignments Acts of kindness Superior work 1st Semester Salary of $200 Fines and Bonuses of $20 2nd Semester Salary of $300 Fines and Bonuses of $50

Activity Period / Study Hall Students will go to study hall on Friday if they have missing assignments (in class or homework) OR if they earn 3 strikes for… Needing to work on making better choices Planner not signed Talking or off task during instruction Students may choose to go to study hall on Friday if…… They choose to study or “get ahead” Want to spend time working on their AR goal Students with all assignments in on time, and who have made good choices during the week, will go outside on Friday for 30 minutes of playtime.

Report Cards/Conferences Report cards are sent home each 9 weeks. (Progress alerts will be sent home as need after the 4th week of a 9 week period.) Conferences are held with each parent during the first semester, and on an “as needed basis”. If your child is in my homeroom, please sign up for a conference before you leave this evening.

Changes to Promotion and Retention Materials from the county office can be found at the following site: http://www.planning.leon.k12.fl.us/Policies/415.htm State Testing No more NRT (National Percentile) Only SSS in math (MC), reading (MC), and science (MC) No more CORE benchmarks Students must master 100% of all benchmarks at 70% or better in reading, language arts, math, science, and social studies. Links to SSS: http://www.floridastandards.org/Standards/FLStandardSearch.aspx

And finally: Champions : PE department will be in the cafeteria with answers and applications (6:30-7:45) Strings: Tuesday and Thursday mornings Science Fair: Tuesday, November 2nd. Entry forms due September 15th – no exceptions. Science Fair packets will go home September 21st. Agrirama Fieldtrip: Thursday, November 4th Chaperones wishing to participate must drive separately to Agrirama. Sea World: Wednesday, May 25th There will be about seven slots available for the Sea World trip. Parents who are interested in being a chaperone will be contacted later in the year.

Thank you!! The transition this year has been more difficult for some than others but all are finding a niche in class. The key is to give the responsibility to the student and allow them to rise to the occasion.