Welcome to the Marlin Elementary School Intermediate STAR Program.  I am looking forward to working with you and your child(ren) to provide rewarding learning experiences during this year.  Only a partnership between home and school will provide the atmosphere necessary to ensure each child gains the most from this school year.  I plan to communicate with families as often as possible and in as many ways as possible.  I will mostly use newsletters, assignment books, e-mail, and telephone to keep in contact.  Conferences may be scheduled as needed.  Feel free to contact me via e-mail or voice mail.  I can be reached at earmstro@mccsc.edu or 330-7750 ext. 224.

DAILY SCHEDULE

     Here is a general schedule of our day in room 11.  This is tentative based upon units and projects the class is working on during the year.

 

          DEAR/Read aloud

         Reading

          Spelling

          Specials

          Break

          Language (3 times per week)

          Science (2 times per week)

          Lunch/Recess

          Math

          Social Studies or Health

          Dismissal

GENERAL INFORMATION

Assignment Book:  This year your child will be using an assignment book every day.  The purpose of the

book is to assist your child in becoming more organized.  It also promotes efficient communication

between a student, parents, and teacher.  Each day your child will write down assignments in the book. 

The book will be quickly checked at the end of the day for accuracy and completion.  As a parent, please

look through all assignments each night to see that they are complete.  If your child has worked diligently

for approximately an hour and the work is not complete, write a note stating this and points will not be

lost for the assignment being incomplete.  Each night, when you see all the assignments are finished to

the best of your child’s ability, sign the line in the yellow box at the bottom of the page.  If you see a

high-lighted assignment, it means the work is late.  At the bottom, you will see teacher comments in the

yellow box.  Each day, your child will receive a stamp for good behavior choices.  If there is an r or note,

please talk with your child about choices he/she made during the school day.  Feel free to write any

questions or comments you have in the book.  I will do my best to read the assignment books daily.

 

Homework:  Students will have homework most nights.  This work may be class assignments, reading

independent books, text books, studying for tests, or working on projects.  Work is expected to be turned

in on the date due.  Late assignments may be accepted, but the grade will be affected.  The amount of

time spent on homework will vary depending on the specific projects we are working on and how quickly

your child(ren) works. 

 

Take Home Folders:  Every evening, students will take home their Take Home Folder.  This folder will

contain homework assignments.  The folder should be returned the next day with assignment completed.

 

Friday Folders:  Every Friday, students will take home their Friday Folder.  This folder will contain any

graded assignments from that week.  Please take the time to look through the folder and sign the gold                          

sheet.  This will keep you continuously updated on your child(ren)’s progress at school.  If you have any                       

questions about grades, please call as soon as possible.

 

Attendance:  It is very important that each student attends school every day.  Attendance is the number

one determiner of school performance.  If a child is not here, he/she does not have the opportunity to

learn. Please try to schedule appointments outside of the school day.  If your child(ren) must miss a day

of school, please contact me or the office to let us know.  Your child(ren) has as many days to make up

missed assignments as he/she was absent. Thank you for your help and support.                          

MORE INFORMATION

          Behavior:  In the classroom, we expect ourselves and others to be safe and respected.  When a student

makes a choice that causes these expectations to be threatened, we follow this behavior plan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

READING, LANGUAGE, AND SPELLING

         Reading:  In reading, we will be using the Scott Foresman reading series on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  From the reading book, we will focus on comprehension and vocabulary.  Each week, we will take a test to evaluate each student’s understanding of the story and vocabulary.  On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, we will read and discuss our novel, Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse.  Please take a little time to ask your child about the novel as we read it.  There will be times your child will need to reread the novel at home.  The students will also be writing a book report about an independent book.  The book report is due on MARCH 8^TH.  Please help your child choose a fiction book at the appropriate reading and interest level.  Book selections must be approved by the teacher before beginning the book.  Book reports will be shared with the class and are designed to show the student’s knowledge of the book.

 

          Language:  In language arts, we will study noun and pronouns.  You will find work coming home in which the students will be responsible for identifying, naming, and writing nouns and pronouns.  We will also use our language skills to focus on story writing.  Students will complete this story and type it at school.  Please ask your child about the story writing and help with editing when needed.

 

          Spelling:  You will find the spelling lists for the entire grading period on the back of the reading calendar.  Each week, we will take a pretest on Wednesday and final test on Friday.  Spelling practice will be done at school and home.  Please remind your child to practice spelling words each night.  Fourth grade students will be responsible for spelling #1-15 on the list.  Fifth graders will spell #1-20 on the list.  Sixth graders will spell #1-25 or 26 on the list.