Happy New Year Parents and Students,
I hope that everyone has enjoyed your time together as a family and your time to sharpen the saw. We are going to start this year with a bang! I know that with joint efforts we can have a fantastic rest of the year.
The homework percentages this last quarter were rather low and we are going to change it this next semester. Homework is not just for busy work. I choose homework that reinforces what is being taught in the classroom and it is also used as a review. For instance I might throw in a page of addition or subtraction when we are learning division that week. The students need extra practice with reading at home. I have plenty of books the students can choose from if they don’t have enough books. Spelling helps our students become better readers and writers. Writing in a planner and getting it signed teaches the students putting first things first and responsibility. It is the student’s responsibility to ask you to sign the planner. The students are learning how to plan their day. When the students have completed an assignment they get to check it off. If the homework takes you longer than an hour let me know. The reading should take about 20 minutes, spelling about 10 minutes, math should be at the most 30 minutes, and planner takes 20 seconds to sign.
We are going to try to get our homework percentages up to at least 80% this semester and I can guarantee the students will be better at reading, spelling, math, and become more responsible leaders. I know that each of us can be stars and we will each be able to put a starburst in our jar on Friday after ALL of the homework is completed. Please understand that you can email or contact me if there are any problems that week such as emergencies, etc. I am hoping that all of our percentages will rise and that the students learn how to be proactive and responsible.
I look forward to this fresh new start and for all of us to turn over a new leaf. Please see if your child is in need of a new red folder and some fresh new pencils. We are starting to get low on hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and dollar items for my treasure box. Lots of students moved on the rainbow before Christmas Break. Many students are on round two of the rainbow.