Willow Creek Elementary Third Grade Gonzales & Herriman

1. Willow Creek ElementaryThird GradeGonzales & Herriman 2019-2020

3. Tiffany Gonzales: Language Arts/ Social Studies

4. 8:10– Bell rings to open doors • 8:40-Tardy bell rings, instruction begins • 8:40-11:10 Instruction • 11:10-12:10 Specials • 12:10-12:20 Switch Classes • 12:25-12:55 Lunch • 12:45-3:20 Instruction • 3:20-3:25 Pack up • 3:25-3:45 Recess • 3:50 Dismissal • **Thursdays are different: Specials is 2:50-3:50

5. Academics • Grading scale • A, B, C, D, or F • Late work: 1 day late: -5 points, 2 days late: -10 points, etc. • Make up work: number of days absent plus 1 (we work with the students to give them plenty of time to catch up!) • Absent/tardy work will be completed during Study Hall. We work with the students to try and get it done without using recess time, but in some cases recess time is unavoidable.

6. Homework • Language Arts • Reading nightly is expected. No reading log to sign. • Spelling: TBD. We will keep you updated through Edlio! • Will start reading passages in the second semester. • Watch Edlio for all updates. • Math

7. Reading will be taught through Reader’s Workshop. • (Mini lesson, Strategy groups, Independent reading, Conferencing) • The following skills will be covered: • Fiction (plot: characters, setting, problem, solution) • Informational Text (text features) • Poetry • Biographies • Plays • Making Inferences • Sequencing • Context Clues (vocabulary meaning) • Summary • Main Idea • Author’s Purpose

8. Writing will be taught through Writer’s Workshop. • (Mini lesson, Independent writing, Conferencing) • The following skills will be covered: • Personal Narratives • Imaginative Writing • Poetry • Research • Expository Writing • Revising/Editing Writing • Grammar • ** We will use INBs (Interactive Notebooks) in almost every subject. Students may bring these home, if you like, as long as they bring them back EVERY day. We use these in class DAILY! Sometimes even for open note tests!

9. Spelling Changes in third grade • The district made changes: spelling tests are no longer required; set lists are no longer given. • Most grade levels at WCES have adopted Words Their Way. This is a program that allows students to understand spelling patterns, not just memorize a list of words. • We are all learning this new program. We will update you through Edlio as changes are made. • There will be no tests for now.

11. Every time I see a math word problem it looks like this: If I have 10 ice cubes and you have 11 apples. How many pancakes will fit on the roof? Answer: Purple because aliens don’t wear hats.

12. Math and science • ● Place Value through hundred thousand place • ● Comparing whole numbers • ● Addition/subtraction • ● Problem solving (2-3 steps, extra information) • ● Multiplication/division • ● Fractions • ● Geometry • ● Measurement/ perimeter and area/telling time • ● Data and graphs • ● Financial literacy • Safety • Matter • Energy • Space • Forces and motion • Earth's Resources • Weather/ Water Cycle • Plants and Animals/ Ecosystems

13. Math & Science • Math concepts will be taught in computation and • will be applied in rigorous word problems. Some • word problems are 2-3 steps. • Math warm-ups are very important in my class. It • gives the students a constant spiral of all the Math • concepts. We check them together and the students • make corrections. • Timed tests will begin September 21st and the first one • will be addition and subtraction mix. • Homework: • Study guides will come home before tests. • Math facts are to be studied each night.

14. We are working on our beginning of year testing and screeners. Parents of students needing intervention in either Math or Reading will be notified by the end of October. Students identified as having a need, will receive intervention either with the classroom teacher or an interventionist for 30 minutes 3-4 days per week. No before or after school tutoring is offered at WCES, until we get closer to STAAR. A list of tutors for hire can be obtained from the counselor.

15. Students will use Chromebooks in the classroom several times per week. • Expectations will be reviewed with all students. • Send headphones if your child does not already have a pair at school. They must have a pair at school to participate in many of our computer activities.

16. Parent Communication and student Conduct • Wednesday Notes, Communication, and Paperwork • Wednesday folder: Return EVERY Thursday. • Online BLT-in your child’s gradebook. Teachers (including Specials) will communicate all conduct marks here. You will receive an email if a behavior note has been added to your child’s BLT. Please read it. • Communication card in Wednesday folder: No news is good news. We will only write on it if there is something you need to know. • Progress Reports-every 3 weeks • Grades and behavior can be checked online at ANY time • Homework folders-to home and school daily • Planners-to home and school daily • Our primary forms of communication: Edlio Posts, Wednesday folder and communication card, email, BLT, online gradebook (Wednesday folder and online gradebook are how we communicate grades), and phone.

17. Our library day is Monday. Library books can come back and forth from school to home, but books MUST be brought every Monday, even if rechecking. Kids can take AR tests as they wish.  I do not require AR tests, nor that they must check out a book on their AR level.

18. Behavior/ Expectations • Positives • Rewards • Cat Cash • Passes • Good Phone Calls • Ice Cream passes

19. Attendance and Transportation • Transportation Changes • All changes made by 3:00pm. • Signed note sent with student. • No Calls or emails to teacher. Only Faxes with a copy of ID to front office. • Rainy Day dismissal-call made by 3:00pm. • Attendance • Please come, unless you are sick! • Send a note for absences.

20. School Policy • Parent Volunteers • All MUST fill out background check form on the TISD website EVERY year (Watch DOG, field day helper, party helper, Run Wild at the Creek helper, field trip chaperone, etc.). • Visitors • MUST have photo ID. • Ring doorbell and show ID to camera. • Sign in and get a badge. • Lunch 12:25-12:55 • Sit at the parent table. Your child/children only. • Money- Send in a labeled envelope for safety or add money online.

21. Students are allowed to bring a snack each day. • Snacks must be a healthy choice. goldfish, pretzels, carrots, apple slices, etc. (no sticky foods or desserts) • We highly encourage everyone to bring water every day! Students may bring water only. Be sure your child’s name is on their water bottle.

22. Birthdays and Conferences • Conferences • October (please sign up using the Sign Up Genius link that will be e-mailed home through our Edlio pages) • Phone conferences can be made to accommodate schedules. Birthdays • Invitations for the entire class may be passed out at school. • If you are going to do lunch treats, an adult must come to school pass them out (12:25-12:55). • Ice Cream Passes may be purchased for the entire class.

23. Math STAAR – May 12th Reading STAAR – May 13th Please try not to schedule absences on these days.

24. We are not able to discuss individual student progress tonight. If there is an issue, you will hear from us. Otherwise, we will discuss your child with you at the Fall conference after we have had a chance to get to know them and their abilities! QUESTIONS ???