Contact Mrs. Langham

Last Updated:
September 9, 2008

DEAR
(Drop Everything And Read)

• Your child should have a copy of the DEAR Expectations sheet in the front of his/her DEAR Journal Folder. You can also view and print a copy by clicking on Page 1 or  Page 2
   
• I check DEAR journals two or three times a month.   I try to return the journals the next day.  If for any reason your child does not have his/her DEAR journal, the entry can be written on a piece of binder paper and put into the journal later.
   
• Grading:   Journals are not given a letter grade. I write comments in the journals praising students for things they are doing well and giving them ideas to improve future entries. I expect students to read these comments and to work on the suggested area in their new entries. I keep a record of my comments and use this information when marking the report cards.
   
•  Click here to see samples of student journals.

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Spelling

• Each week there are three spelling pages in our reading program’s Practice Book. All three pages are due on Thursday. If a child is absent, it is his/her responsibility to still do the pages and turn them in when he/she return to school. Students can not write in the Practice Book. The answers must go on binder paper. These practice books are used for several years.

• I am happy to help students during the week if they are having problems with a section of the homework. Therefore, it is best if they start work on the pages before Thursday night in case they need assistance.

• Spelling Tests are given on the Friday of a Review Week.   Each mistake takes the grade down one notch.
  0 wrong = A; 1 wrong = A-; 2 wrong = B; 3 wrong =B- etc.

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Math

Math homework will usually be given on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I am always available right after school on these days to help students get started with the homework. It is very important that math homework is completed on time. The work is corrected in class the next day. This is the time I can give additional support and instruction. If work is turned in late, this opportunity is lost.

Homework may be in the math book or on worksheets. In either case it is a good idea for your child to bring home the math book in case they need to review. Knowing how the text book is set up will help you and your child find help when necessary. The first page of each lesson has a purple circle at the top. The first number indicates the chapter and the second is the lesson number. For example, 3-1 means the third chapter, first lesson. The first few pages of the lesson explain the skill being taught. The worksheets also have this number at the top. If you want to review what the homework is about, look at the number on top of the worksheet and turn to the matching chapter and lesson in the text.

There are three types of worksheets. The R page is called Re-teaching. This page gives instructions for completing the problems. The H page is the homework page. It has problems to practice the skill. The third type of page is E. This is the enrichment page and challenges the students to go deeper in their thinking. This page is usually optional for most students. It gives them a chance to stretch their mathematical understanding and skill.

History and Science

We will usually be studying either a History unit or a Science unit. This way we can focus more class time on one area to get a deeper understanding. There will be occasional homework for both subjects.
Each student has an Interactive Science Text Book. This is basically a workbook. We have been told that we will get a new set of these each year, so students CAN write in them.

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Writers Workshop

Students will frequently be assigned homework in their Writers Notebook.  Usually this homework will be to continue to add entries or reflections to practice whatever lessons are currently being taught during class time.  Students are encouraged to take their Notebooks home every night and add to them any thoughts, memories or observations that may help them in their writing. 

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