Creating a Classroom Community 

Part 1: Developing a Classroom Community 

Classroom Expectations 
In my classroom we will focus on these positive expectations that students will learn on 
the first day of school. They are: 
- Always be supportive of other students 
- Positive Comments, Helpful Comments 
- Always show your work and show your thinking 
- We focus on revising our answers and how to improve it, not just saying it is a wrong 
answer 
- Be respectful — I disagree with your thinking because…. 
- Think about how we can grow from our mistakes 
If students are not meeting these expectations, I will meet with the student and discuss 
with them how to create a plan to improve. 
Absences and tardies will follow the school’s policy to contact the office immediately 
about an absence. Students will also ask a friend and collect materials on the days they missed. 
Notes will be uploaded online so students will get notes online. Tardies will be excused after 
two times but will be unexcused and require a note after those two times. 
Work will be two submissions. They will be submitted online through the online portal 
and then the students must bring a hard copy to class. Then, the students will grade the hard 
copy in class and then submit it to the bin. 
For late and missing work, students will have the opportunity to submit late work for half 
credit. Missing work can also be submitted by the end of the unit for half credit as well. For 
students with a verified absence, they can submit the work for full credit. 
Routines and Procedures 
Our daily routine will include greeting every student as they come in through the door. 
Then, the students will settle down and go over the homework. Students will be checking their 
answers with the provided answers on the board and then submit their homework into a turn-in 
bin in the back. These will be graded for completion and neatness. We will also introduce a 
number talk and pose an open-ended math question related to our content area of focus. After 
the number talk, we will transition into our lesson. At the close of the period, the students will 
begin to start homework in class or fill out an exit slip helping them transfer their ideas. 
Our procedures for group work will be that students will work in their groups of four. 
Students will respect each other’s thoughts and make sure that each person will talk. In their 
groups of four, every person will have a role. Each person in their roles must fulfill the group role 
and contribute to the discussion. Everyone needs to be collaborating and making sure that every 
person will have a role to share with the class. 
Similarly, our procedures for transitioning and moving will be conducted in groups. In 
such transitions such as pencil sharpening and getting supplies, there will be a designated 
person in each group to obtain materials. This person will obtain the supplies and materials 
needed for each group. For bathroom visits or other out-of classroom visits, there will be a hall 
pass that the teacher will sign off and verify that the student left. They will get four passes every 
quarter. Students are encouraged to use their passes sparingly to not run out by the end of each 
quarter.  
Students will have several opportunities to request help. During the time we grade 
homework, it is encouraged students ask questions that they were stuck on. Students will also 
have collaborative work everyday and during this time, students can ask for help from the 
teacher or from their peers. The students can also come into the classroom during Break and 
request help there. They can also ask for help during after-school tutoring which will take place 
twice a week, for an hour. During this time, students are encouraged to come and ask questions, 
do work, and support their learning. 
 
   
Part 2: Letter to Parents and Guardians 
About Me 
I am Quinn Tran. I received my Bachelors in Child Development with an emphasis on 
Adolescence from California State University, Fullerton in 2017. I also got my Single Subject 
Foundational Level Math from CSUF in 2020.  
I was an AVID tutor for two years with Garden Grove Unified School District. I also did my 
student teaching in La Mirada with Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District. 
 
 
Teaching Philosophy 
My teaching philosophy is that all students can learn and that there are always multiple ways 
to get an answer. As long as we are able to prove our answer, students are valid in their 
thinking and their creation of the solution. 
It is also important to me that students are developing a growth mindset -- I want to never be 
satisfied with just an answer. Students should always be reviewing their answers and seeing 
how it can be improved and developed upon. All students can learn and grow -- thus, all 
students can learn math and grow from learning to think like a mathematician. 
 
 
Course Overview 
Students will be working in collaborative work that engages all students. You will see your 
student working in a role in each group to support everyone. Students will continuously be 
working with one another. They will also be engaged in mathematical discussions to provide 
evidence of their thinkings 
 
 
Contact Info 
I can be contacted through my email at qnqtran@csu.fullerton.edu 
 
I can also be contacted through the remind app if you download the app to login with the code 
ABCE​ and you will be able to receive messages from me about upcoming events in the class. 
 
 
Invitation 
I invite you to join the classroom and meet me during Back to School Night on September XX.  
 
I also am inviting you to fill out this form titled G
​ etting to Know Your Family​. Your student will 
have received a similar version titled ​Getting to Know You​ where they will fill out information 
about their personal lives. Your form will be asking for more information about your family 
and how I could help support your student.