T & P Team

Language Arts and Social Studies

Brooke Tassa btassa@pausd.org

Math and Science

Sarah Pierce spierce@pausd.org

Communication

We are committed to maintaining open channels of communication with each of you this year. The best way to contact us is via email, but additional communication may take many forms and is not limited to:

• Email
• InClass - online homework and grades posting (a link and help can be found through Jordan Middle School's homepage)
• Computerized print-outs and grade reports
• Progress reports for students performing below average/typical mid quarter (sent home)
• Individual conferences available by request and by appointment
• Quarterly report cards mailed home
• Notes, phone calls, appointments
• Other letters/noties/polices etc. sent home with students

Schedule

Your student's schedule is determined by his/her advisory class. If your student has Mrs. Tassa as his/her advisory teacher, your student will bring home a schedule the first day of school labeled Mrs. Tassa's Core. If your student's advisory teacher is Ms. Pierce, your student will likewise bring home a schedule entitle similarly. The two teacher's will mirror each other, then the students will disperse into music, Wheel, and PE classes. The first day of school, your students will create a student-friendly schedule to be followed the remainder of the year.

Terms to Know

When listening to the students, words or abbreviations never heard before. If they are speaking about school, there are definitely terms they may be using which are defined below:

• Binder Reminder (a.k.a the BR) - An agenda or spiral planner where students record their homework, assingments, and projects for the week. We request that parents inital or sign the planner every eveing upon completion of homework. The entire class will be required to do this the first 4 weeks of the school year.
• Team - (not to be confused with T.E.A.M.) Team refers to two or more "core" teachers who share students. Teachers on a Team communicate regularly regarding curriculum planning, student performance, fieldtrip coordination, other projects, and etc.
• T.E.A.M. - (Tutoring, Enrichment, Activities, Make-Up) This is a preiod of time on Monday, Tuesdays, and Thursdays (although the T&P cores will secretly have it on Wednesdays and Fridays as well) from 2:55pm-3:05pm when teachers are available in their classrooms to provide additional support to students. This can include clarifying assingments, providing make-up work, and light tutoring. Students are required to attend T.E.A.M. the day after an absence to obtain any missed notes/work.
• Wheel - Wheel is a term used in the sixth grade program to refer to the elective subjects. Sixth grad studetns cycle through 6 electives subjects for 6 weeks each. This provides the students the opportunity to explore a variety of elective courses and make more informed decisions about what electives to choose in seventh and eighth grades. Wheel classes include art, computer keyboarding/explorations, drama, guidance, home economics, and industrial technology.
• Core - Core refers to the "core" subjects of math, science, English, and social studies. Students in our classes may say they are in the "Tassa-Pierce" core team.
• Core Teacher - In 6th grade, a teacher typically teachers two core sujects to the same 2 groups of students. While a 6th grader has two teachers teaching him/her the core subjects, it is the "Core Teacher" that teachers the students during the 1st period of teh day. A student's "Core Teacher" in the 6th grade also typically serves as their advisory teacher. If a parent has a general question and isn't sure which teacher to ask, a good place to start iw with his/her student's "Core Teacher". Tassa's and Pierce's cores will be referred to as the monkeys and the frogs, respectively (jungle theme).
• SSR and Advisory - SSR means Sustained Silent Reading. It occurs on Wednesday afternoons for 20 minutes (1pm-1:20pm). The entire school, students and staff alike, meet in their advisory classes and quietly read a book. We require each student to have a reading book of his/her choice with him/her everyday. Following SSR, 6th graders meet with their "Core Teachers" for Advisory. Advisory is a "home base" for every student at Jordan and provides students the opportunity to make an informal, adult-student connection. A lot of important communication about schoola activities and events occurs in Advisory.

Homework & Classwork Policy

Why Give Homework?

Homework is important!  It supports and enriches the school program and links home and school in a wonderful way. Homework reinforces the ideas, facts, and skills learned during class time.   It also teaches children the value of time management and aids in the development of important study skills.   Furthermore, homework helps to develop responsibility.  Remembering to pick-up homework, making time to complete the work, asking for help when needed, and bringing work back to school the next day will build responsibility over time.

Homework Will Consist of:

• Specific lessons assigned by the teacher
• Classwork requiring completion
• Review for a test/exam
• Specific projects or written reports

How Much Time Should My Child Spend on Homework?

Students will have homework Monday through Thursday, except in the event of a “No Homework Night.”  On average, they should expect to work from 1 to 1 1/2 hours each night, depending on the nature and extent of the assignments.  Projects may require effort on the weekends.  We encourage you to check your child’s Binder Reminder, email updates, and InClass to help your child keep up with all assignments.  If your child is working on homework for a solid 60 minutes for each core teacher and is getting frustrated, please write that core teacher a note (in the BR or attached to the assignment) explaining that the assignment could not be finished and have your child turn it in as is.  While experiencing a challenge is good to a point, we do not want students feeling discouraged or frustrated by homework.

Help with Homework

If a student needs help with homework, they should first come to Mrs. Zabel or Ms. Pierce during T.E.A.M. In addition, there is an after-school help center that sixth graders can utilize:

The Homework Center* at the Jordan Library: The Homework Center is a place for Jordan students to work and get help on assignments and is staffed by Jordan teachers and volunteer tutors from the community.  It is held in the library from 3:00pm  - 4:30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

*The Homework Center usually opens the 2nd or 3rd week of school.

Teachers Will:

• Assign homework as a follow up or as supplementary work to reinforce skills that have been taught.
• Review the study process with students prior to assigning homework.
• Clearly explain homework assignments to students while allowing time for questions.
• Correct and record homework promptly.
• Assign homework on Monday through Thursday.
• Notify parents of students who do not complete homework assignments.  Three missing assignments will result in an e-mail message home and a detention slip to attend an after school homework center (location to be determined by teacher).

Students Will:

• Remember to take home assigned homework and work independently to complete assignments.
• Clearly understand homework assignments prior to leaving school.
• Be held responsible for completing all assigned homework and returning it to school on the following day.

Guidelines for Late and Missing Work

• All work must be turned in on time for full credit unless:
• The student was absent and received an extension during T.E.A.M.
• The student spoke with the teacher before the due date and was given an extension.
• Late/Missing work will only be accepted with an application, which may be found on InClass or in the classroom.

Guidelines for Absences

1. The day the student returns to school, the student must check in with Mrs. Zabel and Ms. Pierce before school, at brunch, and/or during T.E.A.M. During this time the student should turn in past assignments, ensuring s/he understands new assignments and due date extensions for the amount of time absent.
2. If the student should miss a quiz or a test, s/he should be prepared to take it the day s/he returns to school.

Discipline Policy

Lifelong success depends on self-discipline. The following classroom discipline plan affords every student the opportunity to manage his or her own behavior. Our students deserve the most positive educational climate possible for academice growth, therefore, this plan will be in effect at all times.

Classroom Rules

This year the classroom will focus around the themes of Safety, Respect, and Responsibility. Some examples of approrpiate behavior are below:

Safety

• Walking in all classrooms and hallways on campus.
• Falling bike and skateboard safety guidelines set by the school.
• Being aware of who and what is in the space around you.

Respect

• Follow directions the first time they are given.
• One person speaks at a time during lectures and discussions.
• Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.

Responsibility

• Bringing all required supplies daily to class
• Being on time to class
• Turning in completed work on time
• Visiting a teacher a team if a student was absent or needs to speak with the teacher
• Keeping toys, gum, food, and drinks other than wather out of the classroom
• Turning off cell phone at 8:05am and keeping it out of sight

Discipline Steps

If a student chooses to break a rule, the following steps will be taken:

• Step 1 - Verbal warning and/or sign the violation binder
• Step 2 - Sign the violation binder
• Step 3 -Parent contact and detention (after 3 violation bingder signings)
• Step 4 - Go through Steps 1-3, if behavior persists referral to Assistant Principal

**Some behaviors may skip consequence steps depending on the severity.**