GREETINGS!

August 6, 2015

Dear Parents,
As we start this new school year together, I would like to express what a joy it is to be
teaching your child for the 2015 - 2016 school year! This welcome letter will help you
to better understand my expectations that I have for your child. I know that with your
support and cooperation, your child and I will accomplish many learning objectives and
goals and have a successful school year.
A LITTLE ABOUT ME:
I received my Bachelor of Science in Education from the
University of Georgia. My fathers military background has
privileged me to travel and live in many places. While in
college, I studied abroad in Ghana, West Africa. These worldly
insights have provided me with a vast knowledge of culturally
relevant and historically accurate lessons and ideas that I will
be incorporating in my instruction to engage and enrich your
child.

This semester, I will be implementing a behavior stick to indicate

behavior in and outside of the classroom. The behavior stick has five
colors:

BLUE
ORANGE
GREEN
YELLOW
RED

Outstanding Behavior
Excellent Behavior
On-Point Behavior
Unsatisfactory Behavior
Unacceptable Behavior

All students will start the day on GREEN (on-point behavior doing exactly what is
being expected of them). Throughout the day, students will be given many
opportunities to move their clip up to ORANGE (excellent behavior doing above what
is expected of them). On rare, but not impossible, occasions, students who display
outstanding behavior (doing above and beyond what is expected of them) can move
their clips all the way up to BLUE. If a student is not following instructions, he/she will

MS. JACKSONS Behavior stick

I taught third grade last semester here at Feldwood

Elementary. I have student-taught in a third grade classroom
that included many gifted students. In addition, the previous
semester, I completed my practicum hours in another third
grade class that was a special needs inclusion classroom.
These experiences have allowed me a greater understanding
of tailoring differentiated instruction to meet the needs of each
student.

move his/her clip down to YELLOW (unsatisfactory behavior), which is a warning that
his/her behavior is not where it should be. If your child continues to misbehave,
he/she will move his/her clip down to RED (unacceptable behavior), and when this
happens, expect either a note to be sent home or a phone call from me.
Parents, I believe its imperative to stay in constant contact with you. This is a team
effort! Please know that if your child is ever on YELLOW or RED, he/she has had
plenty of chances to move his/her clip back up to GREEN, ORANGE, or BLUE.
Along with the behavior stick, I will be implementing Our Class Economy System to
introduce the students to the (monetary) value of education and life. Students will get
paid $3 play money for coming to school each day. The economy system works handin-hand with the behavior stick. Students will understand the concept of revenues
when they receive their earnings based on the color they end the day on each day.

OUR CLASS ECONOMY SYSTEMPRIDE BUCKS*

BLUE
ORANGE
GREEN
YELLOW
RED

An
An
An
An
An

additional
additional
additional
additional
additional

$3
$2
$1
$0
$0

$5
$3
$1
$0
$0

Students will also learn the concept of expenses through fines for inappropriate
behavior, such as not turning in homework, talking in the hall, instigating/inciting, etc.
At the end of each month, each student must pay $25 rent money to cover the
cost of their education. In addition, students will learn the concept of budgeting and
saving. On specific Fridays, students will have the chance to buy rewards in the
classroom. The class will collectively decide on items to be fined and their costs as
well as appropriate rewards and their prices.
*Please note: Our Class Economy System is separate from our schools positive behavior incentive (PRIDE bucks).
However, our class will continue to participate in PRIDE bucks alongside Our Class Economy System. Students will be
able to redeem their PRIDE bucks whenever the Cougar Buck Bank Store opens.

Students will receive a homework packet every Monday consisting of Monday

through Thursdays assignments in Reading, Language Arts, Math, and Social Studies/
Science and will be due every Friday. Please check your childs homework folders
for homework assignments, communications from myself as well as the school, and
behavior updates each day.
I sincerely believe that every child can and will be successful this year. The keys to
being a successful third grader are:
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Knowing what you are supposed to do and keeping up with your own work
SINCERE EFFORT
Always giving your best
APPROPRIATE SUPPORT FROM HOME
Parents letting students do their own work, monitoring progress by
reviewing weekly papers, and helping students become competent problemsolvers by encouraging them
to work out problems and questions on their own whenever possible.

As partners in your childs education, open communication is essential to a successful

classroom experience for your child. Should you ever have questions, concerns, or
would like to volunteer to assist us, please do not hesitate to contact myself by phone:
404-765-2001, ext. 254 or via email: JacksonG@fultonschoools.org. I will return your
messages within 24 hours.
I am excited about all the great things I will teach your child and all the wonderful
events that will happen in our class this year!

Ms. G. Jackson