Assignment Notebooks All assignments are written on the board each day for the students to copy into their assignment notebooks.  It is the responsibility of each student to copy their assignments as soon as they arrive in the classroom.  In order to keep up with your child's assignment, please check their assignment notebooks on a regular basis.
	Homework Assignments are given daily in most subject areas.  As a rule they are due the next day unless otherwise noted.  Any assignment not finished in class is considered homework.
	Late Assignments Assignments not completed on the day due are considered late.  They will be accepted the next day for 10 points off the final grade.  Assignments that will be two days or more late are not accepted and a grade of zero will be entered.  The only exception to this rule is make-up work.
	Assignment Guidelines First and Last name on all papers.  Papers with no name will not be accepted and the student will need to redo the assignment. Date, Subject, and page number of assignment on all papers Legible handwriting is important.  If I can't read it, I can't grade it.  The assignment will be returned and the student will be asked to redo it. Complete sentences when appropriate. All completed assignments may be kept by the student or turned into a folder located on the bookcase.
	Grading Policy All work completed will be graded.  If it was important enough for me to assign, then it is important enough for a grade.  Most daily assignments will be graded by the students.  Each student will grade their own work.  I feel that when a student grades their own paper, they can learn from their mistakes.  After all, it is only a mistake if you refuse to correct it.  All tests will be graded by me.

Grading Scale 90-100    A 89-80      B 79-70      C 69-60      D 59-0        F

Any student receiving a grade of D or F has the right to redo that assignment.  When a child does poorly on an assignment, it is for one of two reasons.  One, they didn't understand or two, I didn't explain it well enough.  It is their responsibility to ask me for help.  I am available before school, during lunch, and after school for extra help.  After the assignment has been done over, I will average the grades from the first assignment and the 2nd assignment.  That grade will be the one that is recorded.

The Great Expectations method is an approach to teaching that includes the very best of what is known about teaching today.  GE teachers use whatever it takes to teach students.  The basic tenets of the GE method are:
  

	All children can learn
	High expectations
	Building self-esteem
	Climate of Mutual Respect
	Teacher Attitude and Responsibility
	Teacher Knowledge and Skill

GE teachers believe that "all children can learn" regardless of background, race, disability... The job of the GE teacher is to find a way to teach that child and to believe in that child's ability to learn.  "Building self-esteem" is key in helping these students believe that they are capable of learning and motivating them to try.  Students must see that we have "high expectations" of them.  When we set high expectations, they will respond by reaching upward to those goals.  If we set low expectations, they will respond by doing nothing.  The GE teacher will show the child the respect that they desire to receive.  Modeling is a very important part of this method.

The following is a brief overview of some of the practices found in a Great Expectations classroom.
  

	Life Principles Life principles are character traits that we would like students to begin "living".  Developing character in students can be done through the use of classic literature, poetry, quotations, words of the week, or as themes.  We will cover the 17 Life Principles as words of the week throughout the school year.  For example, a word of the week might be courage.  During that week, we would talk about what courage is, how we show courage.  We would hope that as your children begin to recognize that trait, they would also begin to "live it".
	Rise and Shine Rise and Shine is a way to create a fresh beginning EVERY day.  At Mills we have a school-wide Rise and Shine assembly every Monday morning to start off the week.  The rest of the week Rise and Shine is done in the classroom.  Rise and Shine is an opportunity for students and the teacher to celebrate excellence and begin each day on a positive note.  In my classroom, students are responsible for conducting our Rise and Shine.  This provides them with an opportunity to speak in front of a group, be a leader, and make decisions. Our Rise and Shine ceremony includes:    The Pledge of Allegiance A patriotic song Our class creed Class Announcements Quote or Poem of the Day Lunch Menu Celebration Word of the Week (Life Principles)
	Magic Triad The "Magic Triad" is a smile, a kind touch, and a kind word.  These have a powerful effect on children and adults alike.  The smile, touch, and kind words bring people closer together, create a caring atmosphere, and reduce discipline problems tremendously.
	Celebrations Good feelings come from the positive impact of others.  One way to have this positive impact is to cheer students to success.  Celebrating little successes are important ways to create a "specialness" within a child.  Why do we celebrate students?    It builds self-esteem. It shows appreciation for accomplishments made. It helps students learn to appreciate others. It creates a feeling of "specialness". It encourages children to take risks. Ask your child to show you their favorite celebration.  I bet it will make you feel good, too.

Quotes Quotes are used in the classroom to give the teacher and students a new way of communicating with each other.  Rather than the old way of saying, "Please finish your work.  It was due yesterday,"  you could say, "No bees, no honey.  No work, no money."  In doing this you have changed the dialogue of the classroom.  The students don't feel put down.  Teacher and student are happier and enjoy one another because of the refreshing change in the talk. The man who removes mountains begins by  carrying away small stones  - Chinese proverb

Monday	12:08
Tuesday	12:05
Wednesday	12:00
Thursday	12:05
Friday	12:00