Frequently Asked Questions

What is your philosophy of Education?

I believe that students tend to learn more by becoming involved in an activity.  Concepts are often introduced during whole group instruction, practiced in hands-on station activities, and assessed.  I also believe that it is important for students to learn that there is often more than one way to solve a problem.  This is yet another reason why cooperative learning is encouraged during station time.

I believe that All students learn in different ways.  I am a big believer in Multiple Intelligence, as presented by Howard Gardner.  I use many approaches to teach the curriculum such as artwork, songs, games, other mnemonic devices as well as traditional assignments.

My curriculum is designed to accommodate a developmental process approach to learning.  In my classroom, Language Arts units correspond with the themes presented in the current reading series employed by the New Castle School Corporation.  Beside covering the traditional curriculum, these units are aimed at developing important skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, keyboarding, and computer literacy. Specific reading and language arts skills are integrated into the units and are aligned with skills covered in the state performance standards.

Do to time constraints I teach one science unit and one social studies unit per grading period.  the following table is a very rough estimate of the science and social studies units that are planned.

How do you handle Book Club orders?

I usually send home book orders once a month. Sometimes I will send home slips from two different companies. If this happens, please treat the orders as two separate orders. I will send home order forms on the first day of the week. They are due back by Friday. Students can bring the order forms back to me at any time during the week. Please make sure your child's name is on the order form. If you are writing a check, please make the check payable to the book company. Please put the order form and payment in either an envelope or a sandwich bag. If you are ordering from more than one company, please put each order in a separate envelope or bag. If you are sending cash, it is very helpful if the change is exact. Once the order has been placed it usually takes approx. three weeks for the books to come in.

How many field trips does your class take a year?

There is no set number of field trips per year. On average I would say that we take three class trips. I try to accommodate parents throughout the year. If a parent is unable to attend the first trip, then I try to schedule them later in the year. I realize that it can be disappointing to all when a parent wants to go on a class trip but can't due to numbers. Please try to understand that I will do what I can, but sometimes my hands are tied. 

What is the Accelerated Reader program?

The Accelerated Reader (AR) program is a reading incentive program. Books in our school library have been labeled as AR books, which means that a computerized test is available on that particular book. The library AR books are grouped together according to reading level. Students check out AR books as they would any other library book. Students then read the book and take a computerized test on the book. Students receive a percentage grade which is tracked in the computer. Students also receive points which accumulate. Students can earn things from me based on the number of points they have earned. Students are required to read a minimum of 1 appropriate level AR books for me per week. I will count the four highest percentage AR grades towards the student's reading grade.

What is your discipline plan?

Miss Hinshaw and I work together to enforce a card pulling system. If students break a rule such as not having his/her homework, then the student is asked to pull his/her first card. We believe that everyone deserves a warning, therefore the first card is a warning card. The offense is written on the card along with the date. The student is asked to pull a different card for each infraction of the rules. Cards are returned at the beginning of each week. The penalties for each card pulled is as follows:

Card 1 - warning card

Card 2 -   Student will write the broken rule five times.

Card 3 - Students will write a note home explaining why three cards have been pulled.  The note needs to be signed and returned to school.

Card 4 - Parents will be contacted by the teacher.

Card 5 -  A conference with Mrs. Kinnett will take place.

What is the Positive Action Program?

The Positive Action program is a character building program that teaches students to act in positive ways.  Students are given cards for these actions.  These cards are then traded in for incentives such as stickers added to a students "positive person" hanging in the library or Dessert at the Ritz.  Click on the link to learn more about how the Positive Action program has been reviewed.

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