1. Fifth Grade Field of Dreams

2. Mr. Espensen *From Chicago Area *Lived in Richmond 15 years
*12 years teaching in Henrico
*5th year at Three Chopt Elementary

3. Student Goals *The quality of an individual is reflected in the standards they set for themselves*
Organization
Raising our Hands

4. Schedule 7:20-8:00 Unpack and Morning Work 8:00-9:15 Reading 9:15-10:00 Writing 10:00-11:15 Math with Mrs. Hailstock 11:20-11:45 Lunch 11:45-12:45 Science 11:50-12:55 Social Studies 12:55-1:25 Specials 1:25-1:40 Social Studies 1:40-2:00 Recess 2:00-2:15 Pack up and Dismissal

5. Special Schedule Monday *Music Tuesday *Art *Chorus Wednesday
*PE (Bring PE shoes)
Thursday
*PE (Bring PE Shoes)
Friday
*Guidance (Every other week)
*Library (Every other week)

6. Rules
*Classroom Rules
*Cougar Pledge
*Code of Conduct

7. Discipline Color System Green-Great Day Yellow-Warning
Orange-Loss of Privilege
Red-Parent Contact/Referral

8. Incentives
Cougar Coins-Earned by the class and receive a reward when they reach a certain number
Cougar Cash-Earned individually to be used to shop each nine weeks
Tickets-Earned individually each day to go into a raffle drawing every month
Marbles-Earned by the class to receive a pizza or ice cream party
*Mix of individual and classroom

9. Homework Assigned each day
Written in Assignment Notebook (I check each student’s) & on the Blog
Make sure the correct folders are being brought home
Checked the next day for a completion grade
Homework completion becomes a letter grade at the end of each nine weeks
Example: 18/20 assignments were completed on time, so the homework grade is 90%
Needs to be done at home, not during morning work
Will be made up on own time if not finished

10. Morning Work Done each morning
Spelling Activities, Chapter Book Reading, Writing Activities, Math, Science
In Morning Workbook or Handout
Checked every 2 weeks (if not completed, will be made up on own time)
Must be organized (include date, not skipping pages, legible)
Even if you have a duty (friendly helpers, safety patrols, etc..), the responsibility is still yours to complete

11. Communication *Cougar Communicator (monthly newsletter)
*Three Chopt Newsletter
*Three Chopt Calendar
*Phone Calls
* s
*Class Blog
-Homework
-Fun Activities that we’ve done
-Student of the week
My contact information
Cell Phone: (804)
School Phone: (804)
Blog: blogs.henrico.k12.va.us/alespensen
Extremely crucial so everybody is on the same page. Don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.

12. Monday Folders *Sent home each Monday (Sometimes Tuesday)
*Return with student
*Please try to return by the end of the week so I can stuff them on Friday’s for next week
*$1 Cougar Cash if brought back the next day
*Please sign and return all graded papers (I will give them back to you every nine weeks)

13. Student of the Week *Will put a form in the Monday folder
*Each day will be something different
*Monday-fill out the board in class
*Tuesday-Bring in 3-5 pictures to share
*Wednesday-Would you rather
*Thursday-Compliments from the class
*Friday-Bag with 5 important things in your life (If you’re not sure what to bring, just contact me)

14. Technology *Only 1 computer cart
*Students will have username and passwords
*Will try to upload some fun projects in the blog
*Interactive Achieve Quizzes, Power points, Kidspiration, pixie are some of the things we will use with technology

15. Field Trips *Make sure you have a volunteer form filled out if you wish to be a chaperone
Science Museum of Virginia (tentative)
*Hopefully mid November
*More details to follow
Virginia Aquarium (tentative)
*Hopefully early spring
*More information to follow

16. Young Scientists Traveling Field Trips (Will come to our school)
4 of them
$5.00 each
October-Scientific Investigation
November-Rock Cycle
December-Oceans
March-Matter
Will send out permission slips and payment reminders as we get closer to each date

17. Volunteer Forms
*All parents must have a volunteer form to participate in any field trip
*Must be filled out at least 48 hours prior to the field trip
*Cannot be a chaperone until the form has been approved (not sent, but approved)
*Won’t accept any money until the form has been approved
*Must be done each year for each person

18. Final Thoughts
Attend school as much as possible so we don’t fall behind on the information
Heavy SOL testing grade, so we will have to be working towards achievement on those.
As we near SOL testing, please get on the Department of Education Web sites to practice
Please have your student read 15 minutes each night. The more fluent they get, the better they will comprehend information because their focus is no longer on decoding each word.
Please practice basic multiplication facts each night. These are the basis for many skills in math this year, so it will really ease the frustration of you child if they know these by heart. There is a website called Xtra Math that does a wonderful job testing basic math facts.

19. Mr. Espensen Contact Information
School Phone Number: (804)
Personal Cell Phone: (804)
Address:
Blog: blogs.henrico.k12.va.us/alespensen