Welcome

1. Welcome Ms. Ramirez 4th Grade vramirez@wvusd.k12.ca.us

2. A Little About Me • Education • Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies (Cal Poly) • Master of Arts in Education (Pepperdine) • GATE certificate (UCR) • Life • Have one three year old child • Sixth year working for Walnut Valley Unified • Third, Fourth, and Fifth grade experience

3. Philosophy • All children are individuals and all children are gifted • High yet achievable goal per student • Students are expected to give 100% of their effort

4. Combination Class Advantages • Develop responsible work habits • Access to positive role models • Develop team work skills • Participate in smaller grade level groups • Opportunities to preview and review concepts • Opportunity to reinforce and extend learning • Develop independent learning skills • Develop interpersonal skills • Exposed to a broad and varied learning environment

5. Curriculum (4th & 5th) Language Arts • Spelling- Spelling & Vocabulary Website: SpellingCity • Writing • Literature-http://www.arbookfind.com/ • Grammar • * Fourth grade students will be taking a state writing test

6. Curriculum (4th & 5th) Math • Problem solving • Addition/subtraction • Multiplication/division • Measurement • Fractions • Decimals • Geometry • Graphing • Pre-algebra

7. Homework Policy • Homework will be assigned Monday through Thursday • Students are to record assignments in their student planner provided by CRCC • Parent signatures will NOT be required • Nightly Homework = 45 - 60 minutes (excludes reading) • Students who miss homework will receive a deficiency notice • Multiple missed assignments in any particular subject will result in an overall trimester drop

8. Weekly Folders/Communication • Check and Sign your child’s weekly folder on Fridays • Completed work, test, school and community information, and important updates • Sign and Return test that have received a grade lower than a C • Review papers with many errors = REDO • Report any concerns in the comment section • Progress reports will be sent three times a year • First conference will be held in Fall. Please sign up for a scheduled time before you leave today.

9. Grading • Tests, projects, and written assignments will receive a percentage and a letter grade. 100-98 % A+ 98-93% A 92-90% A- 89-88% B+ 87-83% B 82-80% B- 79-78% C+ 77-73% C 72-70% C- 69-68% D+ 67-63% D 62-60% D- 59% or below U

10. Absent Work • If your child is absent, please call the office for missed work by 10:00am • Absent work needs to be turned in with ABSENT written on all papers

11. Classroom Management • Learnball International will be used for classroom management • Teaches team building skills • Makes students accountable for their behavior • Accountability • Students have designed their own classroom rules under my guidance based on the IB attitudes • Positive: Points are awarded to opposing team • Shoot out: Ensures the tournament is NEVER over • Classroom Jobs = Responsibility

12. Class Rewards & Discipline • Rewards • 1. Individual rewards = Tickets (Prize box on Fridays) • 2. Group reward = LearnballPoints (Shoot Out!) • 3. Whole class = Paper Clips (Student Choice) • Consequences • 1. Broken rule=Warning • 2. Broken rules=Making Better Choices Notice/Parent Signature • 3. Broken rules= Call home to Parents • 4. Broken rules= See Administrator

13. Tentative Daily Schedule • 8:15 - 8:40 Morning Work (MM, ML, DOL, Cursive, SSR) • 8:40 - 10:00 Math (4th & 5th)-IB • 10:00 - 10:15 Recess • 10:15 - 10:25 Physical Education • 10:25 - 11:15 Language Arts, Grammar, Writing (4th)-IB • 11:15 - 11:25 Recess • 11:25 - 12:30 Language Arts, Grammar, Writing (5th)-IB • 12:30 - 1:15 Lunch • 1:15 - 1:30 Homework (4th & 5th) • 1:30 - 2:30 Social Studies/Science IB Rotations • 2:30 - 2:35 Pack-up, clean-up, and shoot-out

14. Additional Classes Monday: Computer Lab (4/5) 9:00 - 9:30 Library (4/5) 9:30 - 10:00 Tuesday: Spanish (4/5) 1:20 - 2:05 Thursday: P.E. (4/5) 1:15 - 2:15 Friday: Music (4th) 10:45 - 11:15 Music (5th) 1:55 - 2:35 Science Lab(4th) 1:55 - 2:35 Science Lab (5th) 9:15 - 10:00

15. Birthdays • Wellness Policy: cupcakes, juices, or food treats are not allowed • If you would like to celebrate your child’s birthday, donate books, pencils, etc. • In class celebrations are not allowed by our administration. We ask that invitations be mailed and not delivered at school

16. Snacks • Breakfast • Benefits: More likely your child will stay on task • Snack • Fruits • Vegetables • Dry Cereals • Additional half sandwich

17. WVUSD Volunteer Application • Policy to ensure the safety of your child • Volunteers at WVUSD will be screened • Levels of Volunteers • Category 1-One time visit with teacher notice • Category 2-Occasional, non-scheduled or frequent contact with students under the supervision of certificated staff on campus • Submit a completed application • Provide a copy of California Drivers License or ID • Clear Tuberculosis Test-Fees paid by applicant • Undergo background check using Megan’s Law each year

18. Important Information Castle Rock Phone Number: 909.598.5006 Ms. Ramirez’s Email: vramirez@wvusd.k12.ca.us Castle Rock Elementary Thank you for coming!!!