Mrs.

Mardis Fifth Grade Class

Hazel Green Elementary

About Mrs. Mardis

This is my sixth year to teach. I taught kindergarten Title I for one year. I also was a Special Education teacher in sixth grade one year. I have taught sixth grade Science/PreAP Science for two years. This is my second year teaching fifth grade Science and Language Arts at Hazel Green Elementary. I attended Copiah-Lincoln Junior College in Wesson, Mississippi and the University of Texas at El Paso. I graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education from Athens State University. I finished my teaching degree later in life after having my children. I was for many years a co-owner with my childrens father of a construction company and bull riding production company. I have also been a secretary, store manager and inside sales agent. I am recently remarried after several years of being a single mom. I was Mrs. Thomas and married the weekend before school started.

My Philosophy
I believe that education is the great equalizer in our society. I believe that all students can succeed. I have a never quit; never give up mentality. I cant is not an option. I encourage students to give it their very best every day in every thing. As long as you are trying to the best of your ability, you are a success. My goal for your child is to expose them to an environment and curriculum that allows them to go into the world with the mental and academic skills to do whatever they set their mind to do.

My Son, Kevin KT Thomas

My Daughter, Kacy Thomas

My Husband, Byron Mardis

Rules
There are four basic rules in my class that cover all behavior. They are posted on the closet. If a child breaks a rule they receive a cue from me visually or verbally. The second time I have to address the issue, the student will complete a Quick Think. If they continue to break the rule then I will speak with the student at length. If the misbehavior persist the student will be asked to write an honor code addressing the behavior and encourage them to think about the negative consequences of them breaking the rule. You will need to sign this honor code. You will be contacted by phone or email if it continues, and we may need to have a conference. Misbehavior that is not resolved after these steps will require the involvement of Mr. Looney and/or Dr. Jones. Out of school suspension is an option in severe cases of misbehavior.

Ticket System
Students are given 10 tickets on Monday. Students can earn additional points for good behavior throughout the day. Teacher rewards whenever you wishes. Never ask for reward! Students can purchase the following rewards: (all cost 10 tickets) Sit with a Friend at Lunch Pass Homework Pass (can only be used for one spelling activity) Use of the rollie chair for the day! One punch on your Smart Choice Card. After 10 punches on the Smart Choice card students can purchase items from my store. Items include things like cool pencils, little toys, bows and such. Misbehavior results in student paying me tickets.

More Information
Cell phones must be turned off and remain in lockers. If not, I will take them up and turn them into Mr. Looney. No toys are allowed in class. I will take up toys and return them at the end of the day. Parents may eat lunch with child after September 2. Prior permission needed for an extended absence Absence notes need to be into me within three days. Snacks are at 10:00 each day and a privilege because they have a late lunch time. Please communicate any change of transportation to me as soon as possible.

Schedule
Students will change classes and see three teachers each day. Math is with Mrs. Jones, Social Studies with Mrs. Quick, and Science with Mrs. Mardis. Your childs homeroom teacher will teach them Language Arts. A schedule is in your students take home folder. Please note that we run one schedule for Monday through Thursday. We run an alternate schedule on Fridays. We see our students in their content area for 80 minutes and incorporate 20 minutes of reading instruction into that time to allow for additional math time since the math is so rigorous this year. Please note that students attend Art first semester and Music second semester. Computer is every Friday. Library is fit in whenever we can find time, individually or small groups. Counseling is every other week. Small groups can attend counseling on the off weeks.

Common Core State Standards

The CCSS define the knowledge and skills students should acquire throughout their K-12 education careers in order to graduate from high school prepared to succeed in their postsecondary education and workforce pursuits. Currently, fortysix states and DC have adopted the CCSS. Four states, including Alabama, have state-developed College Career Ready Standards (CCRS). There is a 100% correlation between CCRS and CCSS. The only difference is that additional math standards were added to the high school span. The CCSS help to create cohesive and rigorous academic standards for the nation, allowing the students of Alabama and the U.S. to be more competitive around the globe. We want to see more critical thinking and reasoning through rigorous practices and using more informational text.

Homework
Spelling pretest given on Monday. Students can identify the words they need to work on the most. Students are to complete three spelling activities from the pink spelling activities sheet each week. These are due on Thursday. The spelling test is Friday. Reading homework is given periodically. Students can access Pearson website to practice reading the story or concepts for that week. Computer test on Friday. Science has little homework. It is usually study the notes, foldables or such from class activities. Test are as needed.

Homework
We try not to give much homework, but it is necessary. Students will receive grades for homework. Incomplete or not turned in homework assignments will affect their grade. There is no time in the day to do what was homework. If homework is not turned in on the day it is assigned, students can still turn it in the next day or even the next day. They will have points deducted for each day they are late. It is the students responsibility to turn in the missing assignment. I will not chase them down daily for missing assignments.

Grading
Graded papers are given to students by me. They are to put them in the Take Home folder so you may see them. Only return them if I have stamped with the Parent Signature stamp.
Reading: Language: 10% Homework 40% daily 50% tests

12.5% Language daily 37.5% Language tests 12.5% Spelling daily 37.5% Spelling tests

Science

10% Homework

40%Daily

50% Tests

Mardis Messenger
A weekly newsletter will be sent out by email on Mondays of each week. It will still come under my old email account of Thomas. Students who parents do no have an email will receive a hard copy of the newsletter. Please be sure you have joined ListServ so you may get all the announcements sent by Dr. Jones. Dr. Jones is preparing a parent room where parents can come in and us computers and supplies to access things like List Serv.

Lockdowns this Year

With the heightened awareness of schools under attack, we are preparing ourselves and students to be prepared to respond quickly and appropriately in case we are faced with an intruder situation. We want our students being proactive in their thinking regarding how to behave if that situation arises. Therefore, our school will have a lockdown drill this year that will be unannounced to anyone at the school. There will be police involved. Please do not try to come to the school if you see police outside. You will not be allowed to enter. It is a live drill. We have your childs safety as the utmost importance. We will do all we can to insure their safety!!!!!!

Changes you may see in your fifth grader this year are:
Biological changes due to brain development. (i.e. forgetfulness and disorganization) Hormonal changes due to puberty. (i.e. changing body images, noticing opposite sex more, sleepiness, mood swings) Social changes due to the approach of adolescence. (Ones friends take a priority in life over parents and family.) All of these changes can and do affect your childs academics. Do not be alarmed that your child may make their first B or C grade. The do recover. They do survive! You will survive as well!

New School at end of Walker Lane

Your child will leave Hazel Green Elementary and attend a new intermediate school being built at the end of Walker Lane. They will not go to the Meridianville Middle next year. The new school will be 4th, 5th and 6th grades. It is scheduled to open by August. We do not know who the Principal will be nor the name nor the mascot. This is a good thing!

Contacting Mrs. Mardis

Email is the best way. tmthomas@madison.k12.al.us Phone 256-828-6109 ex. 235 10:09-10:49 (students are at PE) After 3:00 p.m.
Please note that my phone is broken. They will have to get me through another teachers phone. They are trying to get the situation fixed.