Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions
of students and parents.
- What is the Reading Page?
- What is the Spelling Program?
- What are tickets and the drawing?
- What is the star student?
- What is the grading scale?
- When was this web-site last updated?
- Where can I get help with the Math homelinks?
- What is the Daily 5?
What is the Reading Page?
The reading page is a homework assignment that will come home
Monday through Thursday and helps children get
accustomed to writing about their reading. The reading page
requires that the student read 15 minutes and write at least
three sentences about what they read...preferably a couple of
sentence summaries, a prediction, and an opinion with a reason.
The reading page is to be completed as it is assigned.
What is the Spelling Program?
The program that has been adopted by the elementary school for
Spelling is called Spelling for Writer's. We have used this
program for awhile now. The program was developed by Mary Jo
Fresch and Aileen Wheaton. This program helps students make
generalizations about how words are constructed. It will help
the students apply these ideas to unfamiliar words, and to
transfer this knowledge to their reading and writing.
What are tickets and the drawing?
In order to reinforce the wonderful behaviors the children demonstrate in class
and at school we pass out tickets and we hold a drawing each Friday. The tickets
are given when students are caught following the rules, showing kindness, demonstrating
responsibility, and any other generous act. The student then writes their name/magic
number on the ticket and put it in a their ticket cup. They collect tickets in the cup and
can use them on Fridays when we have a drawing for prizes. Each winner gets a prize.
Prizes range from stickers to toys to anything that the children might like. It really seems
to work well! We also reward students with praise, lunch with the teacher, homework passes,
stickers, coupons, and certificates.
What is the star student?
Each week a student who has been setting a good example,
following classroom rules, and the class mission statement is
chosen to be the star student. The star student earns a
certificate and sticker. The student will be our
line leader for the week. They will also be the official "game
chooser" for the week!
What is the grading scale?
We use the school-board approved scale which runs from A+ at 100%
to F. Students may also receive a star for great work. A check
plus means very nice job. A check on a paper means good or viewed by the teacher.
A check minus means needs improvement. For handwriting the following
grades are used: O for oustanding, S+ for Super, S for
Satisfactory, S- for needs improvement and U for Unsatisfactory
work. We also use rubrics (check-lists) to help determine grades.
When was this web-site last updated?
We update the website on a monthly basis.
Where can I get help with the Math homelinks?
Each child can bring a Student Reference book (SRB) for
Math home in their bookbag along with their assignment book and
homework folder Monday-Thursday. The SRB is a very valuable tool.
We use this tool in the classroom on a daily basis. Students and
parents benefit greatly from having one to bring home as needed
to help with the homelinks.
Also at the start of every unit a family letter will be sent
home. The family letter includes all of the answers to the
homelinks and helpful tips to review the skills in that
particular unit.
You may also want to visit the Everyday Math website for help if needed.
What is the Daily 5?
The Daily 5 is a teaching method that utilizes modeling and practice to allow students to be
taught reading through flexible groups and on a more individualized basis. Students will have
books to read in class in their own personal book boxes. Each student will work independently
on reading assignments (at times) and in small groups at times. The teacher will use many daily
mini-lessons to guide whole class instruction in learning the third grade reading standards.
Students will leave the mini-lessons and then go off to work independently or in a small flexible
group to focus on their specific reading goals. Students will work in Reader's Notebooks and will
be doing many minutes of reading in class. As part of the Daily 5 the students will know the
purpose of their learning and be given choices to motivate them to take responsibility for their
reading skills. Students will not be working in centers but will choose from a list of 5 options to
emphasize during the mini-lesson intervals. The options are Read to Self, Read to Someone,
Listen to Reading, Work on Writing, & Work on Words. The teacher will meet with reading
groups and individual readers to help them focus on their personal needs. The Cafe is an addition
to the Daily 5 that will be added to the reading instruction as well. The Cafe is an acronym for
Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency, & Expanding Vocabulary. The teacher will help the student
identify their needs and the students along with the teacher will be able tailor their learning
styles to their area of need. This technique is widely popular and you can find more out about it
by reading The Daily Five or The Cafe books. You can inquire with our literacy coordinator to
learn more! We are excited to implement this technique at Fairbanks Elementary this school year!