Classroom Expectations
Your parents had expectations...look what they went through to get to school on time!!
We all have rules and expectations that we have to follow every day. Our classroom is no exception. The expectations are in place in order to ensure our class is a safe, productive, and enjoyable environment to learn in each day.
School should be fun....and we do have a lot of fun in class. Having high expectations for students regarding attendance, behaviour, schoolwork, and daily routines allows students to have quality learning times and get more work done at school.
Below are a few of the expectations for the students this year. It seems like a lot, but it is all important stuff and I keep adding as new things arise.
School should be fun....and we do have a lot of fun in class. Having high expectations for students regarding attendance, behaviour, schoolwork, and daily routines allows students to have quality learning times and get more work done at school.
Below are a few of the expectations for the students this year. It seems like a lot, but it is all important stuff and I keep adding as new things arise.
Student Behaviour:
It is expected that all students are at school on time each day ready to learn. I believe students need to feel safe at school for true learning to take place. Therefore, all students are expected to treat each other, as well as teaching staff, with courtesy and respect. If an issue arises for your child that
you feel needs to be addressed, please do not hesitate to contact me through the school.
Students are expected to give their best efforts in all areas of their school day. Grade sevens are the leaders of the school and should be demonstrating leadership, pride, and responsibility in all they do.
Attendance:
I cannot overstate the importance of students getting to school every day. Students that miss many days of school always struggle to keep up. There is not time in our short school day to go back and re-teach lessons to students that have been away. I will often give up part of my lunch break or some time after school to help students catch up, but this is clearly not ideal for everyone involved. I will, of course, be less inclined to give my free time to students with constant attendance problems
Also, students need to arrive at school before the bell rings. Students who are constantly late miss out on the start of the day and often disturb the class when they arrive.
Dress Standards:
With the weather getting colder, many students should be bundling up for the winter. However, towards the end of the year, students will start wearing summer clothing again. Typically, most of the cases of inappropriate clothing at school is regarding girls wearing clothing that is considered too revealing. However, there are other dress standards that we have at Park Ave and the rules apply to both boys and girls. Here are a few of the expectations for clothing while at school:
1. We do not allow clothing displaying or suggesting rude or inappropriate themes or language.
2. Clothing displaying any language or symbols representing discrimination against any individual, group, or class of people is not permitted.
3. Tank tops need to have wide shoulder straps. (We use the no to spaghetti straps, yes to lasagna straps).
4. Shirts and bottoms (pants, shorts, skirts) need fit in a way so that no undergarments are showing. Shirts need to be long enough that they meet the top of the pants even when seated and leaning forward the way student do at their desks.
5. Dresses and skirts, even when worn with tights or leggings, need to come down the leg to the length of your fingertips when your arms hang fully extended.
6. Please ensure students have appropriate and clean gym strip each day.
Homework:
All homework needs to be completed and brought to school by the due date. It is important that students do not fall behind so I can assess their learning and better plan for their needs. Often one day’s lesson leads to the next. If students do not have homework completed then they will not be ready to learn the next day’s information. If students are missing homework on a regular basis, I will contact you via their planner or a phone call.
I always give students lots of time to complete assignments in class and homework is what they did not get finished during the school day. Therefore,
if your student is bringing home a great deal of work each night then they may not be using their day effectively at school. I believe that if students, like adults, work hard during their day then they should not have to do extra work when at home. Hopefully this will free up some time for your child to do community sports or activities, or even help parents out with chores around the house..(we can hope!!)
Planner:
Our students have planners so that students can write down daily assignments and notices, so parents can see what work is being assigned, and so that we have a daily means of communication. Please check the planner each night and sign it so that we don’t miss any communications.
Daily Physical Activity:
All students will participate in daily physical activity as required by the Ministry of Education. Please ensure they have proper PE strip and athletic shoes at school each day. Many students suddenly claim to have random injuries when asked to participate in fitness activities. Sudden "injuries" will not release students from meeting Daily Physical Activity requirements. However, if your child has an injury please send me a note so we can have them sit out and stay safe.
Other Notes:
Please understand the importance of your child being ready to learn each day. Ready doesn't mean that they are simply at school on time each day. Here are some recommendations I have for all students in Grade 6/7.
1. Be in bed by 9:00pm and asleep no later than 9:30.
Many students arrive exhausted each day, and often end up putting their head down during work times and can't focus on the task the are working on.
2. Limit the amount of TV that your child watches.
On average, The amount of TV that kids are watching is going up substantially, and the content they are often watching is not particularly appropriate, especially later at night.
3. Limit the amount of Video Games your child plays....(This is a BIG one)
There is a direct correlation between the amount of time kids play video games and their academic achievement. PLEASE do not allow your child to play large amounts of video games each day. Each year I find that some students have hours each night to play video games, but do not have time to get homework done or participate in physical activities.
4. Social Media??
Things like Facebook does not really fall into our realm as teachers as we don't allow any use of social media while at school. However, if a problem starts on Facebook or other online media and it starts to affect the school day and learning of students, then we do get involved.
I can only offer advice based on my experience as a teacher since the boom of social media. I truly believe that Grade 7 students should not have access or accounts on these types of sites. Children lack the experience needed to make good choices regarding what to say or post on line, and they have trouble interpreting other people's comments, both good and bad. I would say most of the serious problems my former Grade 7s have had over the past years came from unsupervised on line chats and posting with friends. If you do allow your child on these sites, I highly recommend that you have access to their accounts to monitor activity and so you can talk to them regarding what they do on line.
Even though your child is in the top grade of elementary school, it is important to realize that they are still children. They are at the age where they will start to feel like they should be treated more like an adult. They actually need your guidance, your experience, and your direction more than ever. Please talk to your kids ab out their day, and ask to see what they are doing at school. They will love it...even if they don't act like it at first!
I love seeing students having fun as children, learning new concepts, and forming new ideas. They are only kids once...lets encourage them to enjoy it for as long as possible!
It is expected that all students are at school on time each day ready to learn. I believe students need to feel safe at school for true learning to take place. Therefore, all students are expected to treat each other, as well as teaching staff, with courtesy and respect. If an issue arises for your child that
you feel needs to be addressed, please do not hesitate to contact me through the school.
Students are expected to give their best efforts in all areas of their school day. Grade sevens are the leaders of the school and should be demonstrating leadership, pride, and responsibility in all they do.
Attendance:
I cannot overstate the importance of students getting to school every day. Students that miss many days of school always struggle to keep up. There is not time in our short school day to go back and re-teach lessons to students that have been away. I will often give up part of my lunch break or some time after school to help students catch up, but this is clearly not ideal for everyone involved. I will, of course, be less inclined to give my free time to students with constant attendance problems
Also, students need to arrive at school before the bell rings. Students who are constantly late miss out on the start of the day and often disturb the class when they arrive.
Dress Standards:
With the weather getting colder, many students should be bundling up for the winter. However, towards the end of the year, students will start wearing summer clothing again. Typically, most of the cases of inappropriate clothing at school is regarding girls wearing clothing that is considered too revealing. However, there are other dress standards that we have at Park Ave and the rules apply to both boys and girls. Here are a few of the expectations for clothing while at school:
1. We do not allow clothing displaying or suggesting rude or inappropriate themes or language.
2. Clothing displaying any language or symbols representing discrimination against any individual, group, or class of people is not permitted.
3. Tank tops need to have wide shoulder straps. (We use the no to spaghetti straps, yes to lasagna straps).
4. Shirts and bottoms (pants, shorts, skirts) need fit in a way so that no undergarments are showing. Shirts need to be long enough that they meet the top of the pants even when seated and leaning forward the way student do at their desks.
5. Dresses and skirts, even when worn with tights or leggings, need to come down the leg to the length of your fingertips when your arms hang fully extended.
6. Please ensure students have appropriate and clean gym strip each day.
Homework:
All homework needs to be completed and brought to school by the due date. It is important that students do not fall behind so I can assess their learning and better plan for their needs. Often one day’s lesson leads to the next. If students do not have homework completed then they will not be ready to learn the next day’s information. If students are missing homework on a regular basis, I will contact you via their planner or a phone call.
I always give students lots of time to complete assignments in class and homework is what they did not get finished during the school day. Therefore,
if your student is bringing home a great deal of work each night then they may not be using their day effectively at school. I believe that if students, like adults, work hard during their day then they should not have to do extra work when at home. Hopefully this will free up some time for your child to do community sports or activities, or even help parents out with chores around the house..(we can hope!!)
Planner:
Our students have planners so that students can write down daily assignments and notices, so parents can see what work is being assigned, and so that we have a daily means of communication. Please check the planner each night and sign it so that we don’t miss any communications.
Daily Physical Activity:
All students will participate in daily physical activity as required by the Ministry of Education. Please ensure they have proper PE strip and athletic shoes at school each day. Many students suddenly claim to have random injuries when asked to participate in fitness activities. Sudden "injuries" will not release students from meeting Daily Physical Activity requirements. However, if your child has an injury please send me a note so we can have them sit out and stay safe.
Other Notes:
Please understand the importance of your child being ready to learn each day. Ready doesn't mean that they are simply at school on time each day. Here are some recommendations I have for all students in Grade 6/7.
1. Be in bed by 9:00pm and asleep no later than 9:30.
Many students arrive exhausted each day, and often end up putting their head down during work times and can't focus on the task the are working on.
2. Limit the amount of TV that your child watches.
On average, The amount of TV that kids are watching is going up substantially, and the content they are often watching is not particularly appropriate, especially later at night.
3. Limit the amount of Video Games your child plays....(This is a BIG one)
There is a direct correlation between the amount of time kids play video games and their academic achievement. PLEASE do not allow your child to play large amounts of video games each day. Each year I find that some students have hours each night to play video games, but do not have time to get homework done or participate in physical activities.
4. Social Media??
Things like Facebook does not really fall into our realm as teachers as we don't allow any use of social media while at school. However, if a problem starts on Facebook or other online media and it starts to affect the school day and learning of students, then we do get involved.
I can only offer advice based on my experience as a teacher since the boom of social media. I truly believe that Grade 7 students should not have access or accounts on these types of sites. Children lack the experience needed to make good choices regarding what to say or post on line, and they have trouble interpreting other people's comments, both good and bad. I would say most of the serious problems my former Grade 7s have had over the past years came from unsupervised on line chats and posting with friends. If you do allow your child on these sites, I highly recommend that you have access to their accounts to monitor activity and so you can talk to them regarding what they do on line.
Even though your child is in the top grade of elementary school, it is important to realize that they are still children. They are at the age where they will start to feel like they should be treated more like an adult. They actually need your guidance, your experience, and your direction more than ever. Please talk to your kids ab out their day, and ask to see what they are doing at school. They will love it...even if they don't act like it at first!
I love seeing students having fun as children, learning new concepts, and forming new ideas. They are only kids once...lets encourage them to enjoy it for as long as possible!