Mrs. Vettel's
Classroom Policy


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Homework

Reading - Approximately 15 minutes per day

  1. Phonics Homework Practice Sheets will be sent home for extra practice and reinforcement after each vowel sound is taught. These sheets should be signed by you and returned, after your child has practiced the sounds with you. Directions for using these sheets will be at the top of each sheet.
  2. Reading sight vocabulary word lists will be sent home as your child adds new words in his or her reading group at school. You may cut these words apart and use them as flash cards at home. Then, have your child make sentences with these words. They are very important to your child’s reading progress.
  3. Informal reading readiness homework activities may include finding something at home that is purple or any other color and bringing it to share with the class, finding something that begins with a "d" or any other beginning sound and bringing it to share with the class, etc.

Writing

Writing practice sheets are sent home with children who need extra practice in the correct formation of their manuscript letters in writing. This is done on an individual basis as needed.

Spelling

Spelling homework is added during the first semester. I will send home a note when we begin spelling. Children are given weekly lists of words to take home and master for the weekly spelling test.

Math

Math homework sheets, for those students who are in my math group, will be sent home daily, as each new concept is presented and developed (e.g., telling time). These sheets will give you information about our current areas of study in our math program. The sheets must be signed by you and returned on the next school day. Math flash cards will be sent home for reinforcement of number facts from 1 - 10 in addition and subtraction. Extra practice sheets will be sent home with students having difficulty with a math concept. This will be done on an individual basis. Math homework should take no longer than 15 minutes per assignment to complete.

Social Studies, Science, Health and Safety

Assignments for homework in the above subject areas will depend on the topics of study. An example might be to cut out pictures of food from magazines to demonstrate a good breakfast. Another example might be to keep a record of brushing teeth for a week. The time spent would depend on the motivation of the individual student.

Discipline

I try to use a behavior modification system in our class. There is a large chart with each student’s name on it. Each day, stars are placed beside the names of students who have remembered to follow our classroom rules and have completed their daily assignments. These students receive stars or smile stickers to wear home.

Our Three Main Rules are:
  1. We raise our hand to talk.
  2. We take turns.
  3. We work quietly.

At the end of each month, students with the most stars on the chart, for that month only, receive surprises. A new contest begins the next month. If a student has much difficulty remembering our classroom rules, his/her parents will be notified and the problem discussed, as conduct is an area which is graded for each subject on the report card.

Additional Suggestions

  1. Please review all corrected work papers that your child brings home from school. Have your child correct any mistakes and/or complete any papers marked incomplete. If you have not been receiving your child’s corrected work papers from school, please notify me!
  2. Please see that your child gets to bed early on school nights; 10-12 hours of sleep is suggested for a six year-old.
  3. Help your child get a good head start for the day by seeing that he/she eats something for breakfast.
  4. Be sure that your child has the correct amount for his/her lunch if he/she is buying lunch or milk. Place the lunch or milk money in a large envelope or change purse with his/her name on it.
  5. Be sure that your child has all of the school supplies he/she needs, especially scissors and paste or glue.
  6. Unless your child is ill, try to have him/her miss as few days as possible, as we cover many new skills each day.
  7. Please be sure that your child arrives at school on time (before 8:30 a.m.) each day.
  8. Take time to read aloud to your child or have him/her read aloud to you as we progress through the school year.
  9. Take out all checked papers, notices, etc. from your child’s backpack and/or folder each day. This helps your child to be more organized.
  10. Give much praise if you notice improvement in your child’s school work and encourage your child to discuss his/her school activities at home.

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