1. How can I reach my child's teacher?
2. What is D.I.R.T.?
3. What is SME?
4. What is Reading Counts?
5. How will my child be graded?
6. What is the classroom discipline policy?
7. When is FCAT and what tests does my child have to take?
8. What is the Daily Report?

How can I reach my child's teacher?

You may call the school during school hours at 486-2110. Kindly leave a
message and I will return your call as soon as I possibly can.

OR, you may e-mail me anytime at theresa_butler@sarasota.k12.fl.us; you can
also e-mail me by clicking the icon on my website's home page.

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What is D.I.R.T.?

Daily Independent Reading Time. During this time, students quietly read a book
from our class library or a book he or she chose from the school's Media Center.

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What is SME?

SuccessMaker Enterprise. We visit the SME Lab twice per week. In the lab,
students supplement their classroom instruction by using an Instructional
Learning System in reading and math. The computerized exercises are
individualized to ensure that students work at a level that keeps them
challenged yet not frustrated. Student progress is recorded in a management
system that is networked and accessible to teachers for monitoring students'
improvement in reading and math.

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What is Reading Counts?

Garden utilizes the Scholastic Reading Counts program to motivate students to
discover the wonders and joys of reading. Students are rewarded with points
based on the difficulty of the book and their level of success when testing.
In our class, students are required to read at least 2 Reading Counts books
per week. Students in 5th grade should be reading chapter books exclusively.

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How will my child be graded?

Sarasota County uses a letter system to grade the areas of Reading, Language
Arts, Writing, Spelling, Math, Science, Social Studies and Specials. Work
Habits are pass/fail.

In class, major assignments/projects and assessments are also letter graded.
Writing is based on a 6-point rubric established by the school. Other work and
effort is graded with a 4-point rubric. The rubric corresponds with the grade
level curriculum standards and is as follows:

4 - Above Standard
3 - Achieved Standard
2 - Nearly Achieved Standard
1 - Below Standard

The rubric scores are then converted into letter grades and applied toward the
student's overall quarter grade. Homework is graded with a Zero (did not
complete), Check (completed with minor errors) and a Check Plus (completed
with no errors).

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What is the classroom discipline policy?

We utilize a Classroom Management Plan to recognize appropriate behavior and
apply corrective consequences when necessary. On the first day of school,
students develop and sign a "Behavior Contract" which includes the classroom
rules. They also identify rewards and consequences. Rewards include "class
cash" to be used at our Auction on Fridays, extra recess, computer time and
special parties. Consequences include warnings, time in the Peace Making area,
 time out with the Principal.

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When is FCAT and what tests does my child have to take?

FCAT is typically scheduled for March. 4th grade students are tested in
Reading, Writing and Math. 5th grade students are tested Reading, Math and
Science. Additional information can be found at http://fcat.fldoe.org/.

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What is the Daily Report?

At the end of each school day, the student and the teacher complete a Daily
Report which assigns a Zero, Check or Check Plus to various activities
throughout the day. Concerns and kudos are noted as well along with any notes
to the parent. Parents must initial the Daily Report each night and students
must return the report the following morning. Parents may also include any
notes or questions for the teacher on the report.

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