Class Policies

Classroom Policy 2014

Room 15 Year 1

Teacher: Miss Melissa Russell

Education Assistant: Miss Jaimi-Lee Dengate (Monday & Tuesday)

I aspire to create a safe and supportive learning environment that enables all students to develop and grow academically, socially, emotionally, physically and creatively. In addition, I aim to provide each child with an enjoyable and positive school experience where students will be eager to learn and actively involve themselves in the learning process.

Overall, I hope to enhance and foster each student’s self-esteem and academic abilities, which will encourage independence and confidence in their own ability to achieve all that they set their minds to.

Classroom Expectations

• All students will be encouraged to take pride in their work and maintain a high standard of presentation.  It is anticipated that all students will work to the best of their abilities in all set tasks
• All students will be encouraged to actively participate and work co-operatively in different group situations.  (i.e.: small group, whole group, individually, on excursions and with different teachers/education assistants that enter the classroom)
• All students are encouraged to show respect to not only themselves but their teachers, education assistants and class mates
• All students will be expected to complete all set tasks in the classroom.  Students can expect to feel safe and secure at all times and thus will be able to work to the best of their abilities in all learning areas
• Students’ work will be shared and displayed in the classroom.  Work displays will be rotated on a regular basis to establish and maintain the classroom as a colourful, vibrant and dynamic learning space
•  All students are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions and decisions in both classroom and play ground situations to develop problem solving skills in everyday situations.  Similarly, students will be aware of the consequences for their actions
• All students are encouraged to bring their homework folders to school every day, where they will read their sight words and change their reading books
• All students will handle the classroom materials and resources with care.

Behaviour Management

My behaviour management motto is ‘firm but fair’.   I encourage all children in my class to be kind, caring and considerate of others feelings, academic and physical abilities and possessions.  Expectations and classroom rules will be established and introduced early on in the year. It is anticipated that such rules and behaviour expectations will encourage all students to make responsible choices about their behaviour, attitude and work ethic. 

East Kenwick Primary School Overarching School Rules

• Be Responsible
• Be Respectful
• Be Caring
• Be Your Best

Room 15 Classroom Rules (developed with student input) 

•         We use our inside voices 
•     We use our listening ears
•          We use our walking feet
•          We put up our hand up to speak
•          We keep our hands and feet to ourselves
•          We look after our classroom books, games and equipment

Positive consequences

• Positive praise
• Stamps and stickers
•  Get chosen for important jobs.  (E.g.: lunch order helpers, library helpers,  messengers etc)
• Honour certificates
• Prize box
• Free time and games
• Group Points
• Achievement Certificates
• Excursions

Negative consequences

• 1, 2, 3 Magic (whole school approach). Chart displayed on wall at all times

-          3 warnings then 5 minutes in time out.

-          After 3 time outs in one session, reflection sheet has to be complete in buddy class.

• Miss out on their favourite activity/game.

-          (E.g.: SMART board interactive games, free play, outdoor games, etc)

• Apologise
• Parents will be notified.

Classroom Structure

Room 15 is a classroom of 23 year 1 children with different learning abilities.  It is anticipated that throughout the year we will provide your children with an age and developmentally appropriate, well rounded educational program.  I endeavour to implement a variety of teaching strategies (whole group, small group, peer learning, independent work) to cater to the various ability levels and learning styles within the classroom. 

The SMART board will be used on a regular basis across all learning areas to reinforce the chosen topic, expand upon learning opportunities for students and enhance student learning.

Learning areas:  Literacy Block (English), Numeracy Block (Mathematics), Art, Health, Science, Society and Environment (S & E) and Physical Education (sport).  Technology and Enterprise will be integrated into all other learning areas when the opportunity arises. 

Classroom Routine

Preparation:

It is encouraged for all children to be in the classroom from 8.35am to prepare for the start of the day; which includes:

-          Homework folder: reading their sight words and home reader books

-          Put their drink bottles in the white trays

-          Unstack their chair

-          Do their morning task (written on inside whiteboard)

-          Ordering lunch

Phys Ed/ Sport:

Students will participate in Phys Ed once a week, on Wednesday mornings, with Mr Davenport.  It would be appreciated if students are reminded to wear the appropriate clothing on these days including hats.

Morning Fitness will occur on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 9.00 – 9.20am. 

Library:

Students will visit the Library once a week, on Thursday mornings, for book borrowing and returning.  Please ensure each child has an appropriate and labelled library bag each week and return their book borrowed from the previous week.

Homework:

All students can benefit from extra practise at home.  If each child were to read and practise writing their sight words, this would help with their daily activities.  Spending 15-30 minutes on these basic skills will improve results as well as reinforce your interest in your child’s progress.

Homework book/Sight Word Lists

·         There is a “guideline for homework” in your child’s homework folder. Basically, it is just practise sounding out the letters of the alphabet or reading the sight words.  Your child is able to practise the words on a piece of scrap paper at home.  Please leave the ticking to staff members.

Home reader

·         Read with your child every night.  Once your child has read with a family member, please sign in the little brown book. Home Reader will begin in Term 1.

It would be greatly appreciated if parents could volunteer an hour of their time on Wednesday – Friday mornings (9.00am – 10.00am) to complete the homework folder system, as there will be no Education Assistant in the room on those days.  A parent roster will be on our notice board.  Please put your name down on the day/days you wish to come in. 

Superstar of the week:

Each week there will be a class ‘superstar’.  Every child will get an opportunity of being the superstar of the week.  Throughout the week, the class superstar will be the special helper, will share information about themselves with the class and at the end of the week will be presented with a book about them made by their peers.  I have introduced this concept to reinforce our Term 1 health topic of ‘emotions and compliments’ and to help enhance each individual students self esteem, self worth and self confidence. 

News:

News telling will begin in Term 2, 2014.  Each child will be assigned a news telling day.  This will be displayed on a chart in the classroom.  A note will also be sent home to let you know of your child’s news day.  A different news topic will be discussed each week (e.g. My favourite toy, ‘On the weekend I...’ etc.)  A note will be sent home at the beginning of each term to inform parents of the news topic for the term.  Depending on the news topic of the week, children will be invited to share either showing or telling news. 

Marking procedures:

It is anticipated that all work/tasks in the classroom will be marked on completion every day. 

Others

•  Please make sure your child has a hat every day.  (i.e.: No hat no play policy)
• Your child needs a water bottle every day.
• All children will have their own individual recess.  It can be chopped up fruit in a Tupperware or a healthy snack.
•  Please clearly explain to your child what food items are for RECESS and LUNCH.
•  In the mornings, wait at the front of the school.  Proceed to classroom when siren goes at 8.35am.
• Early Close is every Wednesday.  The bell will ring at 2.30pm.  It would be appreciated if all parents are prompt to collect their children on a Wednesday as all staff members are required to attend a staff meeting.
• Suitable attire for school is school uniform and sneakers or joggers.  Uniforms can be purchased from the P&C room.
• All children are responsible for their belongings.  It is their responsibility to put their hat and lunch boxes into their school bags at the end of both recess and lunch. 
• Crunch ‘n’ Sip.  Please provide your child with a healthy snack every day.

ALLERGY AWARE policy:

At East Kenwick Primary School, we are an allergy aware school.  There are students in the school that are severely allergic to nut and egg products.  Kindly check your child’s recess or lunch.  If you are unsure, feel free to check with me or a staff member.  (Labels stating “products that are process in the same line/factory that contain nuts” are NOT ALLOWED.  Labels stating “products MAY contain traces of nuts” are alright to bring to school.

Conclusion:

If you have any further questions, or wish to arrange parent/teacher meetings, please feel free to organise a meeting time with me after school hours.  You can contact me on Melissa.Russell@education.wa.edu.au or on 9459 1251.

I look forward to a great year!