Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions
of students and parents.
- What should I do if I am going to be absent?
- How is AR used in enrichment reading?
- Am I allowed to borrow books from the classroom library?
- Do we have weekly folders in this class?
- How can I contact the teacher?
- What is the discipline policy for our class?
- Is it possible to get Extra Credit in the class?
- How will my grades be determined?
- How do journals work?
- What are the procedures for nightly reading?
- How do I manage my planner?
- What do I need to know about weekly vocabulary tests?
What should I do if I am going to be absent?
Please try to attend class every day. If you are sick or absent
for any other reason, I will prepare a packet of work for you. A
parent can pick this up after school, or I will send it home the
following day. Make-up work should be completed by the following
school day except in unusual circumstances. When we are reading a
class novel, it is very important that you keep up with the
reading, even when you are absent.
How is AR used in enrichment reading?
You will have the opportunity to take AR tests during quiet
reading time at the beginning of class and during DEAR time. If
it is one of these times, and the computer is free, you do not
need to ask to take a test; just do it. Sometimes I will require
everyone to take an AR test on a book that we have read in class,
and this score will be put in the grade book as an assessment
grade.
Am I allowed to borrow books from the classroom library?
You are welcome to borrow books from the classroom library as
long as you promise to treat them with respect and return them in
a timely manner (within 2 weeks). You will need to sign books out
on the notepad designated for this purpose. When you return a
book, please put it back in the proper place and mark your name
off the sign-out sheet. You will be held responsible for any lost
or damaged books. You may check out no more than two books at a
time.
Do we have weekly folders in this class?
You will have a blue folder that will go home each Friday.
Sometimes it may be sent home on other days as well. On the night
that the folder is sent home, you should have a parent go through
the folder. Stuff on the KEEP side can be kept at home. Stuff on
the RETURN side is due back the next day. Folders MUST be
returned on the next class day after they are sent home,
usually Monday.
How can I contact the teacher?
There are several ways of contacting me. The easiest way to reach
me is via e-mail at geigercl@gm.sbac.edu. You can also call and
leave a message with the office staff at Talbot (955-6716). I do
not mind if students e-mail me regarding classroom issues or
needs. Please do NOT forward me a bunch of cutesy jokes, etc. I
don't have time to read them.
What is the discipline policy for our class?
While I know it will be unnecessary :), I have the following
procedures in place for discipline. If you are disruptive and/or
off-task, you will be given a private verbal warning. If your
behavior does not improve, you will be given a five-minute in-
class time-out. Upon returning to the group, if your behavior
does not improve, you will be sent to another classroom for
time-out, and your parents will be notified either by note, e-
mail, or phone. If this occurs, your parents and I will decide
together what the next step in the discipline process should be.
It is imperative that every student's learning time is respected
and protected. Therefore disruptive behavior will be dealt with
speedily and consistently. Successful students are RESPONSIBLE,
RESPECTFUL, and ENGAGED.
Is it possible to get Extra Credit in the class?
From time to time there will be opportunities for extra credit.
Often I will send home notices about events or exhibits that are
taking place in the community that I think would complement the
classroom curriculum or simply provide an enriching experience
for students. If you choose to participate in one of these
events, you may receive extra credit by writing a QUALITY two-
paragraph response to the activity. The first paragraph should
briefly summarize the event; the second paragraph should provide
a reaction to the event (i.e. how it made you feel, what caught
your attention, what it brought to mind/connections). Reflection
papers should be neatly handwritten or typed with the elements of
excellent writing in mind, and they should demonstrate deep
thinking about the event experienced. Extra credit points are
added to the lowest assessment grade at the end of the grading
term.
How will my grades be determined?
There are three areas that I consider when calculating grades.
The first component is the nightly reading completion. Because
this nightly practice is critical to build fluency and practice
independent comprehension skills, 20% of your grade will be based
on this factor. The second 20% of the grade is determined by
vocabulary tests, special homework assignments and other class
work. The last portion (60%) consists of assessment measures.
These are given at the end of a series of lessons to see if you
have mastered the objectives. These assessments may be in the
form of a test, an FCAT-like passage with questions, or some
other type of summative evaluation (i.e. presentation, project,
etc.) Remember, the work we do in enrichment reading is designed
to challenge you. It will not be easy, and if you have always
gotten "A"s while working on grade-level reading tasks, it may be
a little disconcerting for you to suddenly have to put forth more
effort in reading. Just keep trying your best. You will grow as a
reader and thinker, but only if we stretch out of that "comfort
zone" a bit. The grading scale for our class is:
A 90-100 C 70-76
B+ 87-89 D+ 67-69
B 80-86 D 60-66
C+ 77-79 F 0-59
How do journals work?
One of the goals of my class is to help you learn to live
"wide-awake lives." I want you to begin to notice things going on
around you in your community as well as the world. I want you to
become thoughtful observers of natural phenomena as well as other
people and their actions. I also want you to learn to be
introspective, thinking deeply about your own ideas, feelings,
and thoughts. Your journal will be a repository for these
musings. I will be further explaining the purpose and use of the
journal in class. We will be "Writing to Tell" in class at least
once per week, and we will share our writings.
What are the procedures for nightly reading?
You are expected to read for at least 30 minutes each night on
Monday through Friday. This practice has been proven to increase
reading achievement. It also helps you develop responsibility,
independence, self-discipline, and the life-long habit of
reading. I do not accept excuses for incomplete nightly reading
except in the case of emergencies. In the event of such an
emergency, you must bring a note from a parent. You can then read
additional minutes on the following nights to make up for the
missed reading time. After reading, you should complete the
Reading Log which is stapled into your planner each week. Old
logs are removed and new logs clipped in each Friday. This
Reading Log will be checked by me each day, and in order to
receive credit for the reading homework, I expect each section of
the Log to be completed thoughtfully. Reading summaries and/or
reflections should contain quality writing. Completion of nightly
reading comprises a weekly homework grade and impacts overall
report card averages. Any reading holidays will be announced in
advance. A Weekly Reading Percentage report will be sent home
each week in the communication folder. Geiger Greenbacks may be
used to replace a night's reading assignment. To use a Geiger
Greenback for this purpose, it must be attached to your reading
log BEFORE you come to class.
How do I manage my planner?
Fourth graders will have planners which are to be checked nightly
and signed by parents. In the planner you will list class
assignments and homework responsibilities. Homework assignments
should be highlighted. Unless otherwise noted, homework is due on
the following day.
What do I need to know about weekly vocabulary tests?
We will emphasize improving written and spoken vocabulary skills
throughout the year. You will have weekly vocabulary tests
covering a list of words sent home on the previous Friday. I
suggest that you make index cards over the weekend to practice
throughout the week. There will cumulative exams of the
vocabulary, so you should keep all lists and cards and review
them frequently. Cumulative quizzes will be announced and noted
in the planner. Because a "word bank" is provided on the tests,
you are expected to spell words correctly on all tests and
quizzes; points will be deducted for misspelled words. You should
study your vocabulary words for a few minutes each night.
