Hulstrom Options School

Young Scholars Program

Teachers:   2nd Grade    Mrs. Twele                              4th Grade     Miss Rasmussen

                   3rd Grade     Mrs. Carillo                              5th Grade    Mrs. Kusuno

Introduction
 

The Young Scholars Program is designed for those students who learn best in a structured, traditional classroom.  Students focus on the critical skills of reading, language, and math under the direction of the classroom teacher.  The instruction is logically sequenced, and expectations are clearly defined.  These students are taught using district and state standards in a manner supporting their instructional needs.  The program is decidated to:  

• Responsibility and independent thinking are emphasized
• Instruction occurs largely in self-contained classrooms
• Basic skills are emphasized and textbooks are used for sequential instruction
• Homework is purposeful and relevant to the program
• Appropriate behavior is expected of students
• A basal reading series is used with strong emphasis on phonics
• Language Arts emphasize composition, spelling, and grammar
• Proper penmanship is emphasized
• Proofreading skills are taught from second grade
• Critical math facts and application of the facts are emphasized
• Music, Art, Physical Education, and technology are highly valued to promote cognitive processing of knowledge and skills.

The Young Scholars Program started as the Fundamental Program in 1996 at Wyco Elementary with grades 3-5.  Northeast Middle School expanded the program in 1998 for grades 6-8.  The first and second grades were added in 1998 at Wyco.  The Young Scholars Program moved to Hulstrom in the fall of 2000 serving grades 1-5.  Kindergarten was added in 2002 and sixth grade was re-established in 2004.

Program Design for Young Scholars

Students who are most successful in the Young Scholars Program exhibit the following characteristics:

• Enthusiastic about academic learning
• Responsible for self and materials
• Practice - homework is a positive task
• Follows classroom procedures/rules
• Focuses on teacher direction
• Prepared to work on grade level and above
• Willing to work independently
• Is accountable for quality work

Teacher Characteristics

Certain characteristics and strengths are desired and/or needed to work successfully within this program.  An effective teacher of the Young Scholars Program often exhibits many of the following characteristics:

• Expects high quality work from ALL students
• Strives for excellence; high achievement
• Is enthusiastic about learning/teaching
• Can evaluate students objectively and honestly
• Recognizes and respects individual differences
• Can organize and deliver direct instruction effectively
• Uses best practices based on research
• Values professional development
• Reflects upon and refines instructional practices
• Creates and operates a structured, orderly classroom environment

                                                                       Parental Support

There are ways parents can help build positive relationships with all those involved in educating their children:

• Recognize and respect that you have different perspectives than the school and teacher, of your child.  While you may see a particular set of characteristics and/or skills in a one on one setting at home, the school sees your child in a classroom of 25 other individuals.  This may bring out different behaviors and/or characteristics.
• Facilitate your child's interests at home
• Provide a safe, uninterrupted location for child(ren) to focus on daily homework 

The Young Scholars Program have implemented the following guidelines for parents to promote success of your child(ren) in our program.  

• Please do not interrupt the learning process in the classroom.  If you need to speak to your child, the office will contact the classroom to send the child to the office.
• Please do not bring forgotten items (homework, lunch, planner) to the classroom.  Take them to the office and they will be delivered to the classroom in a manner that does not disturb instruction in progress.
• Call the office to make an appointment to meet with your child's teacher about any concerns you have.
• Please do not return to school after hours if your child has forgotten some homework or personal items.  We are aware this happens, however, we are trying to teach the students to double check before they leave for the day.  This is a life skill we are instilling in our students.
• When you wish to observe a classroom, the following guidelines apply:
  • Call and make an appointment for your observation time.  Please limit each visit to 20-25 minutes.
  • Please do not interrupt instruction to speak with the teacher.
  • Visit alone.  Please do not bring small children who might disrupt the classroom
  • Leave a note for the teacher if you have questions or wish to have a conference after the visit.

 Planners

To communicate effectively and to teach student to be responsible and organized, each student will fill out their planners daily. It may include the following

• What was done during the day
• Homework assignments
• Behavior and academic concerns
• Personal notes from the teacher

Parents are expected to sign the planner each day.  It is intended that communication be frequent and problems can be taken care of quickly.  Teachers will check the planner based on need, independence and responsibility of each student.

Homework

Homework is an integral part of learning.  You would never expect progress from a student who only played the piano at the time of the lesson.  The same is true for reading, math, or writing.  There must be time to practice.  Howework must be related to the daily lesson and not busy work or new concepts.  It should reinforce what the student is currently working on in classes.  The amount of time spent on homework may vary per student as some are more focused on the task than others and some simply work faster.   These guidelines need to be adhered to:

• Homework will be assigned Monday through Thursday
• On average, homework should fall into the following ranges:         
  • Second grade:  30 minutes homework, 15 minutes reading aloud
  • Third grade:  40 minutes homework, 15 minutes reading aloud
  • Fourth grade:  50 minutes homework, 15 minutes reading aloud, 10 minutes silent
  • Fifth grade:  60 minutes homework, 15 minutes reading aloud, 15 minutes silent

All students will be expected to read at home in addition to the homework time.  The books the students read should be at a comfortable level for them.  It should not ALWAYS be a book that is so easy that they know all the words. These favorite books can be read occasionally, but other books should be encouraged often.   One tip: The best time for this is when the evening is winding down, and you can sit and listen to them.

Grading

All students will earn letter grades on report cards. We will be using the District report card and grading scale.
Assignments that are incomplete or not turned in each morning will receive 50% credit. Handwriting will be given H,S,N, or U grades.  All students will be taught and expected to use correct manuscript and cursive writing in all their written work.

                   H = high quality    S = satisfactory work     N = needs improvement    U = unsatisfactory work 

DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES

The expectations for students will be to respect people and property whether it belong to themselves or others.  Behavior that interferes with the learning of any student including oneself will not be tolerated.  Using good manners and controlling one's conduct are the responsibility of the student.

If the student does not control his/her own behavior at school, the following steps will be taken:

Level I

1. The student will be given a verbal warning to correct the behavior.
2. If the behavior is not corrected, the student will receive a check mark at the top of the daily planner.  This check mark will let parents know that there was a behavior problem that day.
3. If the behavior continues, a second check will be put in the planner and the student will lose a lunch recess that day or the next day if the check was made after recess.

Level II

1. If poor behavior continues through the week, the child and parent(s) will be asked to come in for a conference after school that week.  A plan will be discussed to help the student correct the behavior.
2. The parent(s) and student will be required to have weekly meetings with the teacher to follow up on the behavior plan.  If the behavior improves and all involved agree, weekly meetings may cea

If the behavior of the student is dangerous to others or oneself, district guidelines and policy will be followed.

MAKE UP WORK

When a student is absent, it is her/his responsibility to check with the teacher to get the make up work.  Much work is done during the day, so students are required to do the class work assignments as well as any homework assignments.  Students will have the day they return to get the assignments, and one day for each day missed to get the work in for credit.  For example, if the child is ill for 3 days then upon return he/she would get the work and have 3 more days to get the work in.  If the work is not turned in on time, the missing assignments will be graded as zeros. 

Please do not drop in and ask a teacher to get makeup work in the middle of class.  Call the office by 9:00 a.m.and pick up the work at the end of the day.  The homework bin is located outside of the front office.

                                                INCOMPLETE HOMEWORK AND MISSING ASSIGNMENTS

Incomplete or missing assignments will be done at recess that day or the following days until the work is complete.  If it is completed by the next day, 50% credit will be given.  If the work is not completed by then, no credit will be given, however the work must be done.  The student must show that he/she is able to do the skill regardless of the credit.  If a student consistently does not have homework assignments done on time, a conference will be held. The student, parent(s), and teacher will meet after school that week to formulate a plan.

CHECKING HOMEWORK

Parents are encouraged to check homework for completion, it should be written neatly, and show understanding of the concepts.  However, parents should not do the work.  Encourage your child to tell you how he/she did the work at school.  If your child is stuck, or can't explain what is to be done, write a note on the planner, so the teacher can check on what the student understands the next day.  Encourage your child to "give it your best shot," ask questions, listen carefully in class, and to get help from the teacher.

HELPFUL HINTS

Homework should not take three to four hours!  Encourage your child to complete homework before supper.  We want you to maintain family time.  Some students will wait until you tell them what to do.  Talk to your teacher for hints to get time management skills working at home.

APPLE TRADING

Apple Trading is a reward system to encourage daily communications and good work habits.  Students receive a paper apple to apple for getting their daily planner signed, Wednesday folder signed, and getting other important communications home and back to school on time.

It is the student's responsibility to show the planner to their parent's everyday, to get it signed indicating all homework is completed, and to let the parents know if there were any behavior problems that day.

Parents should sign the planner indicating that they have seen the finished homework and the reading has been done.  Parents should sign the planner if there is a check, so teachers know that the parents are aware of any problems.  If a signature is not on the planner when checked each morning, the student will not receive an apple.  Teachers rely on the student's integrity to get all messages home to parents and vice versa.

Every other week for 30 minutes, students will apple trade. Students will trade their apples for an activity.  The price of each activity varies, and the student buys it with the apples.  Those who don't have apples will sit quietly and put their heads down.  Students behind on their work will be asked to complete the work before apple trading.

An apple may be charged when a student is not prepared for class or needs to borrow something that he/she should have.  For example, if the student does not have a red checking pencil, he/she will need to pay to borrow one from someone.

Students learn how to earn and save apples much the same way adults earn and save money.  Sometimes we get to buy things we enjoy and other times we pay for our poor choices.

                                                                Curriculum Used in Young Scholars

To be successful in the Young Scholars Program, your child should be able to do the following

Expectations for Incoming Second Grade Students

Language Arts:

• Writes a simple complete sentence
• Uses punctuation correctly-period, comma in date, question mark
• Neat legible manuscript handwriting
• Listens and follows simple directions
• Recognizes and writes rhyming words
• Recognizes and writes antonyms and synonyms
• Knows full name, address, phone number and parents' names
• Writes a simple story with beginning, middle and end
• Writes simple sentences from dictation
• Sequences pictures from a short story
• Can read the Dolch sight words orally

Knows the months of the year in order

Mathematics:

• Count to 100 by 1's, 2's, 5's and 10's
• Knows addition and subtractions facts to 18

Knows how to add and subtract 2 digit numbers with no regrouping

Recognizes fraction parts: quarters and halves

• Identifies parts of set
• Recognizes ordinal numbers-first, second, etc.
• Recognizes and knows the value of coins
• Counts and write the values of coins up to $1.00
• Knows the number of days in the week, month in a year
• Tell time to the hour and half-hours
• Recognizes simple number patterns: 1,2,3, 1,2,3

Expectations for Incoming Third Grade Students

Language Arts:

• Spell and read all high frequency words
• Knows multi-meaning words
• Able to read for meaning
• Able to read fluently orally
• Knows to use margins in compositions
• Writes complete sentences with good word order and ending punctuation
• Knows the structure of stories-beginning, middle and end
• Write a simple paragraph of related idea
• Knows to indent paragraphs
• Find words in the dictionary
• Alphabetize to the third letter
• Divides words into syllables

Mathematics:

• Reads, writes, counts and can sequence numbers through 1000
• Knows math symbols =,<,>,+,-
• Adds and subtracts 3 digit numbers without regrouping
• Knows multiplication facts 1's through 3's
• Adds and subtracts facts to 18
• Counts by 2's 5's, 10's, 25's, 50's, 100's, 1000's
• Recognizes fractional parts of halves, quarters and eights
• Tell time to 15-minute increments
• Problem solving-one step additional and subtraction
• Can count money to $5.00

Other Curriculum skills

• Knows the city, state and country

Expectations for Incoming Fourth Grade Students

Language Arts:

• Reads and understands written material at grade level
• Identifies literal and inferential meanings from reading
• Writes a complete paragraph with topic sentence, supporting details and closing sentence
• Uses context clues in reading for meaning
• Identifies parts of speech; noun, verb, adjective, adverbs
• Alphabetize to the third letter
• Uses the dictionary to find words, definitions
• Recognizes prefixes and suffixes
• Uses proper grammar in written and oral responses
• Writes legibly in cursive and manuscript
• Identifies the main idea of a paragraph

Mathematics:

• Has mastered the multiplication facts through 10's
• Has mastered addition and subtraction with five digit numbers with regrouping
• Knows the division basic facts through 9's
• Can make change with money up to $10
• Knows how to read and write numbers through 10,000
• Knows fractional parts of a polygon
• Can read an analog and digital clock to the minute
• Knows Roman numerals 1-10
• Problem solving-one step problems involving addition, subtraction and multiplication

Other Curriculum skills

• Knows the city, state and country

Expectations for Incoming Fifth Grade Students

Language Arts:

• Reads and comprehends at grade level
• Alphabetizes words to the fourth letter
• Consistently uses legible cursive and manuscript
• Writes 2-3 paragraphs with topic sentences, supporting details and closing sentences
• Uses correct capitalization and punctuation in all assignments
• Has an attention span of at least one-hour
• Possesses good organizational skills
• Writes complete sentences using a variety of sentence structures
• Uses the dictionary easily for spelling, definitions and pronunciations of new words
• Uses the encyclopedia to find new information
• Determines fact from fiction and opinion

Mathematics:

• Knows and can read numbers through 1 million
• Knows automatically all basic facts in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
• Adds and subtracts any problem using numbers through the millions
• Multiplies 3-digit numbers by 2 digit numbers
• Divides 4 digit numbers by 1 digit divisor
• Adds and subtracts fractions and reduce to lowest terms
• Knows Roman numerals through 50
• Can make change from any amount of money
• Gathers mathematical information from a graph or chart
• Uses the English ruler to the 16th of and inch  and metric ruler to the millimeter