Kimberly J. Smith

About the Teacher:

Welcome to my fifth grade class. My name is Kimberly J. Smith. I am married with two sons that attend Cooper in grades 1^st and 5^th. This is my 17^th year of teaching. I hold a Master’s Degree and a Specialist Degree and I am presently working on my Doctorate Degree in Education. I have taught grades 2^nd thru 6^th and this is my 10^th year in 5^th. Besides my education and teaching experience, I want you to know my philosophy of teaching children.

Ø I believe children deserve respect and should not be humiliated, hurt, or embarrassed.

Ø I believe my job is to teach until a child learns while nurturing their self-esteem.

Ø I want your children to enjoy the learning process, and I want to help them develop their own motivation for learning. I hope to do my best to encourage your children to succeed in their attempts to learn.

About the Program
8:20 - 8:50  -  Morning Work/Announcements

9:00 - 9:20  -  Calendar/Exemplars
9:20 - 10:20 -  Math
 10:20 - 11:10 - Social Studies/Science
11:14 - 11:44  - Lunch
 11:48 - 12:00 - Read Aloud
 12:00 - 12:30 - Recess
12:30 - 2:00  - Language Arts
2:00 - 2:45  - Specials
  2:45 - 3:15   - Review Morning Work
  3:15 - 3:30   - Dismissal                   

 See your child's AKS booklet for specific skills we will be working on. All students need to know their multiplication tables to be ready for the fourth grade math curriculum. The fourth grade team looks at several "pieces" to the best instruction. These include scores on standardized tests, as well as pre and post tests given at Cooper.

All spelling words for the year are taken from the Rebecca Sitton List.  This list can be found in your child's "Word Work" folder, their assignment book, and the AKS booklet you received on Curriculum Night.

Language Arts - Students will be taught Reading skills through small reading groups and independent centers.  They are assessed weekly.  Grammar and Writing will be taught through Writing Workshop and mini-lessons throughout the year.

Expectations & Communication:

My objective is to provide a safe and respectful environment that is both challenging yet non-threatening, where all students have equal opportunity to learn and are inspired to do so daily.  I expect each of my students to set challenging personal goals for themselves and I plan to challenge them each myself.  I believe that I will only get from my students what I expect 
from them therefore, I will expect their very best.  My desire is for them to blossom and to believe in their ability!

"Our greatest natural resource is the minds of our children." 
     - Walt Disney

~MY DOG ATE MY HOMEWORK~
My dog ate my homework.
That mischievous pup
got hold of my homework
and gobbled it up.

My dog ate my homework.
It's gonna be late.
I guess that the teacher
will just have to wait.

My dog ate my homework.
He swallowed it whole.
I shouldn't have mixed it
with food in his bowl.
--Kenn Nesbitt

Homework Policies
*****************
Homework is written daily on the board.  Students are expected to write their assignments in their agenda.  Assignments, unless otherwise stated, are due the next day.  Incomplete/ homework do not just "go away".  It will result in a mark of NHI in the grade book must be completed and turned in to have it removed.  Students lose 20 pts for assignments turned in 1 day late. After 2 days of not having the assignment, the highest grade that he/she can receive for that assignment is 70%. Please check Agenda nightly and sign that you are aware the homework assignments.

Together we can develop those all important "time management skills" we all 
need to be successful!!   :)
*****************
~Homework is practice at home that helps to reinforce skills and concepts learned in the classroom.  Your child will be responsible for nightly homework that is due back on the following day, unless otherwise specified.  All daily homework assignments will be communicated in their agenda books.  They will also be expected to read nightly for at least 20 minutes.
~Special Projects will be assigned periodically throughout the school year in addition to the weekly homework.  These projects will be given with ample time to be completed.

What is the best way to contact you?
You can send a note with your child to school, you can e-mail me at Kimberly_J_Smith@gwinnett.k12.ga.us, and you can also call and leave a message for me at the school (the phone number is 770-554-7050).

Can I bring birthday treats?
Please let me know before the day you wish to send them.  You may send any appropriate treat with your child in the morning or bring it to your child during lunch at school.  Remember to send something to cut with and plates or napkins to serve the treat on.

What is your policy for make-up work?
All make-up work will be given to the student at the time they arrive back to school.  An exception to this is extended illness or recovery time for a student's health that is beyond three days.  Students who leave for trips with family, except in the case of a death in the family, will have an unexcused absence.

How many times a year are parent/teacher conferences?
Conferences are scheduled twice a year, but a conference can be arranged at any time if needed.

Can the students bring a snack?
Students can bring a healthy snack and water to school daily.   Snacks may be eaten while students are working, so please make the snack appropriate for working.

Do you allow extra credit assignments?
No, students are encouraged to do their very best the first time on assignments.  They may redo assignments and turn them in to aid in their learning of the AKS, however grades will not be changed from their original scores.  Extra effort toward redoing assignments will likely increase scores on later tests and assigned tasks.

How will I be informed about my child's progress?
You will receive Friday folders each week with graded papers.  A grade report in all subjects will be given bi-weekly throughout the grading period. A report card will be issued at the end of each nine week grading period.