Back To School Night Presentation

Click HERE to View the Presentation

Book Talk & Hot Topic Presentation Schedule

For more information on what the Book Talks and Hot Topic Presentations are click the tabs above on this site and also view the directions packets listed below. 

Click HERE for Book Talk Directions Packet

Click HERE for Hot Topic Directions Packet

Please don't hesitate to email me with any questions you may have:

choffman@washoeschools.net

August Newsletter 2016

Math: We are exploring numbers and number sense. This includes place value and understanding the base 10 system. We are also going to work on addition, subtraction and multiplication and long division. The depth of these concepts depends on your child’s level and need. Small groups help assist in making sure they are learning what they should be. 

Reading: Identity is the overarching theme of the year so as students read various stories this month they are going to learn about their identity, as well as start to be able to explain the identity of others. We will use Accountable Talk and Text Citation sentence starters for holding them accountable for having professional class discussions. 

Science: FOSS Kit- Motion and Force. All hands on experiments learning about why and how force and motion effects our daily lives. 

Social Studies: Civics is the first major concept students will learn about this semester. They are going to learn about our US Government as well as the electoral process which is great to discuss this election year. They will get a first hand experience as we organize a class council. 

Social Emotional: There are many emotions SWAS students feel this first month. It is a big transition so we are going to work on learning about our brains and recognizing emotions. They will start to learn strategies for reacting to emotions they feel. 

Important Dates to Remember:

-Wednesdays 2:15 release

-Back to School Night Tuesday August 23rd:

Parent Play Time 6:00-6:30

Back to School Presentation 

6:30-7:00 

Things to Ask your Child: 

What is Accountable Talk? 

Can you tell me about place value? 

What are you loving most about class so far? 

If you have any questions please email me:

choffman@washoeschools.net

Or send me a message on Remind

Back to School Information

*This information will be coming home hardcopy as well*

Hello Parents!

Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year. I am very excited to have all of your children in my class this year. I wanted to send out some general information that will be helpful to you for getting the year started.

Communication:

Ways to get ahold of me:

Email: choffman@washoeschools.net

Phone at Whitehead: 626-5200 (before or after school hours)

Remind App: you can send as well as receive message from me

Class Website/Blog: www.whiteheadswas34.blogspot.com  Many helpful resources and links, pictures, newsletters etc.

 

Agenda Books:

Each student has an agenda book they will be writing their homework and project information down on daily. Each night you are to read their agenda to see what they have for homework and initial on the right hand side every night. Each morning students with a signed agenda book get a stamp. I count the stamps at the end for the week and those are used as a grade for responsibility. I am teaching them how to be responsible for managing their work.

Homework:

Students will have homework each week starting the week of 8/15/16. Homework will come home on the first day of the week (generally Mondays) and will be due the last day of the week (generally Fridays).  There will be 3 types of homework each week.

Reading Log: They are to read for 20 minutes nightly and work on part of their reading log for 5 minutes each night. By Thursday they should have the whole Reading Log complete and ready to turn in on Friday morning.

Math Fact Practice: They are to study multiplication facts through 12’s until fluent. They will have access to a site called XtraMath. There are apps you can download. This program is like a digital version of flashcards. They do not have to use XtraMath, they can use flashcards or worksheets as well. They need to be doing quick repetitive practice of the facts in order to memorize them. There will be a sheet they will fill in and you sign twice during the week. I want you to check their progress or quiz them two times during the week so you are aware of how they are doing.

Spelling: The students will have spelling lists on a site called SpellingCity. There are activities they will do online to help them practice their words. They will have a test at the end of the week on the words.

Class Behaviors:

Students will be rewarded for having expected behaviors. We talk often about having polite and professional behaviors in class. They know that they are practicing for being adults and they need to gain the skills now in order to be successful in the future. They can be rewarded several ways.

Class Cash: Students can earn money for displaying expected behaviors. Students will save the Class Cash and can purchase rewards from me. Rewards are things like: homework pass, prize box, free seating for the day, wheely chair for the day etc.

Class Dojo: We are using a digit behavior system as well called Class Dojo. You will be able to log in and check their progress at any time and get live updates when they are rewarded or deducted Dojo points.  Students will receive a weekly Dojo printout of their week long behaviors. You will sign the page and send it back in to class. The students will be rewarded for the amount of points they earned by having a signed and returned Dojo form.

Class Marble Jar: The whole class earns marbles in a jar for the whole class displaying expected behaviors. When the marble jar is full they can earn whole class prizes like; pizza parties, extra free time, technology time etc.  

If students are having unexpected behaviors they will have consequences for those choices. Consequences depend on the level of severity; loss of Dojo Points, loss of Class Cash, afternoon recess detention. I will always let you know if I have behavior or academic concerns about your child.

 

Volunteering:  You can sign up on Signup.com by Clicking HERE

There are many ways you can help in our classroom. I have set up a site called SignUp.com I will send out an email with a link to the site where you can sign up for classroom volunteering. Here are some of the ways you can help:

Class field trips

Classroom help- copying, making projects, light grading etc.

Classroom small group leader- during Reading or Math I can assign several students to your group and you can assist them with the work they are doing.

Public Relations J- I can always use help organizing field trips and guest speakers. I would love someone to help make calls and arranging extra-curricular activities for our class.

Party Planners- we have birthday parties monthly and holiday parties as well as they come up. I would love several parents to help organize and plan these events.

Communication Checklist

In order to communicate with you efficiently you will need to be logged onto several resources. Below is a link to the Checklist. Please initial next to each item when you have logged in to each resource. Your initials let me know you are on and can and will access information from these sites as necessary.

Click HERE for Communication Checklist

Parent Login and Password Sheet

To help keep you organized and able to remember all the logins for our class I've created a sheet for you to keep track of the login information for each site. The students have their own copy in their agenda books.

Click HERE for Login/Password Sheet

16-17 Schedule

Recess 11:30-12:00

Lunch 12:00-12:30 

Afternoon Recess 1:45-2:00

Specials: 

Note**Specials don't start until this Thursday 8/11/16

Monday: Music (Mrs. Fix) 9:45-10:15

Tuesday: Computers (Mrs. Wehking) 9:45-10:45

Wednesday: Library (new teacher) 9:45-10:15

Thursday: P.E. (Mr. Ramos) 9:15-9:45

Friday: Music (Mrs. Fix) 9:15-9:45