LES Home
Welcome to Ms. Baitz's
Class Page
"It must be remembered that the purpose of education is not to fill the minds of students with facts...it is to lead them to think...and always to think for themselves."
Robert Hutchins

THE ABC's OF MS. BAITZ'S ROOM
A is for Assessment
Multiple assessment strategies will be incorporated throughout the year.

B is for Bill of Rights
Students will be responsible for reading a variety of genres and authors throughout the school year.

C is for Cooperation
Cooperation is essential to create a "community of learners" that encourages and learns from one another.

D is for Discovery
Students will experience and make choices about their learning through hands-on activities, projects, etc.

E is for Expectations
Students will have a clear understanding of my expectations as I share, model, and demonstrate what will be expected of them.

F is for Feedback
Feedback about student learning will be on-going and timely.

G is for Goals
Students will generate goals each trimester. During the trimester, students will gather evidence for documentation and share this information with their parents at their student-led conferences.

H is for Homework
Students will develop the homework policy for the classroom that will become "golden" and will be adhered to throughout the year.

I is for Independence
Students will strengthen their existing skills, develop new skills, learn to trust their own instincts, and in the process, they will become independent learners.

J is for Journals
Journal writing is an integral part of daily instruction.

K is for Knowledge
Knowledge will be gained through goal setting, community building, skills, projects, field trips, etc.

L is for Listening
Listening is a life-long skill that is critical for learning and the coherence of a "community of learners."

M is for Morning Meetings
Three times a week for approximately ten to twenty minutes, we will meet as a "community of learners" for personal sharing, important events, activities, etc. As the year progresses, students will take charge of Morning Meetings.

N is for Nutrition
Healthy snacks are encouraged each day. Please--no junk.

O is for Ownership
Students will learn "how-to" take ownership of their learning.  This is a process that will evolve over the course of the year.

P is for Personal Choice
Students will have opportunities to research topics of personal interest.

Q is for Questioning
Meaning is built when students learn to question what they are reading, discussing, etc.   Questions are encouraged. 

R is for Risk-Taking
Students will strongly be encouraged to take risks in their learning.  Tickets will be given at the beginning of the year to build confidence in those students who need it and to foster an environment where all students feel safe and supported.

S is for Student Voice
Strengthening and honoring student voice is always a goal of mine. Students will have input regarding many facets of the classroom.


T is for Technology
Technology is a tool that will be integrated in the curriculum and will be used to support learning.

U is for U-CAN-DO-IT!
A healthy, positive attitude is a must!

V is for Vermont Framework of Standards
The Vermont Framework is an outline governing student performance. 

W is for Writing
Students will be keeping a working, as well as permanent, writing portfolio. Students will be writing daily to ensure that the state requirements governing portfolios will be attained. As parents, you are welcome to view their portfolios at a time that is convenient for everyone.

X is for X-tra Mile
Students will be reinforced for their efforts and going the X-tra Mile.

Y is for You
The person responsible for your goals, achievements, and learning, is YOU!!

Z is for Zest
My goal is to have all students leave grade 5 with a zest for learning.


 HOMEWORK POLICY
The criteria for homework is six hours per week. Students have elected to have homework 1-1/2 hours per night, Monday through Thursday, allowing them to be homework-free on Fridays.


GOALS FOR THE YEAR
To create a comfortable and enriching environment that focuses on each child as an individual with high expectations for all.

  1. To create a partnership for learning between students, teachers and parents.
  2. To create a community of learners that encourages and learns from one another.
  3. To have fun!

 OUR PLEDGE

"We pledge to respect ourselves and others, always give our best, come to school prepared and ready to learn, and have a positive spirit each and every day."


Who dares to teach must never cease to learn."
John Cotton Dane

Baitz@ludlowelementary.org

LES Home