Welcome Third Grade Families

1. Welcome Third Grade Families Parent Partnership Night 2011-2012

2. Third Grade Team: Kristin Carlile- ELAR/SS Melony McClendon- Math/Science Callie Howell- ELAR/SS Kirsten Wilson- Math/Science Emily Rivera- She DOES it ALL!! 

3. STAR Binders • “Students Taking Academic Responsibility” • You will find: • Assignment book – please sign each night • Behavior Log – check and sign each night • Goal Setting – under construction • Work in Progress – *Morning work, homework, classwork. • Please don’t take out the work until it is due! • Resources – spelling words, etc. • Graded Work goes home as returned to the student – Work below 75 may be corrected

4. Homework & Reading Log • Each child is expected to fill out their assignment book, which is kept in their STAR binder. • Morning work will be collected each Friday. • At the moment, we’re not doing reading logs – however, it is still important students read each night! • “Among all the ways children spend their time, reading books is the best predictor of several measures of reading achievement, including gains in reading achievement between second and fifth grade.” (Anderson, Wilson, and Fielding) • Show graph/chart

5. 3rd Grade Schedule • Morning Work: Begins when the students get to school in the morning, and is due on Fridays. • Target the Question (Math) • Vocabulary Work (Language Arts) • Keep in their STAR binder behind “Work in Progress” section and/or “Work in Progress” folder • Students have morning time and mid-day flex time to complete their morning work

6. Language Arts/Social Studies • Reading Workshop: Students are expected to log their reading, keep their books in the browsing boxes updated, and respond weekly in their reading journals. • Writing Workshop: Students will work on several pieces of writing, and will be expected to keep up with their drafts as we work. After going through the writing process, students will then produce a final copy. It is very important students keep up with their Sourcebooks. • Social Studies – integrated into the readers/writers workshop • Word Work • Vocabulary • Spelling –Tests are on Tuesday • Grammar • Cursive - Be sure to practice their cursive at home!

7. Math and Science • Things We Do In Math Target the Question 10 Minute Math Temperature Tracker Fact Fluency We discuss new concepts and have a variety of strategies to solve problem. We practice math skill by using different games. Talking about math is very important and relating it to everyday life. • Science Inquiry Science is very hands-on! We begin with physical science and throughout the year, we will cover Earth science and life science. Our journals are filling up!

9. This would now be an expectation for 3rd graders! 1989 1980 This would now be an expectation for 2nd graders!

10. 2010 10

11. Will measurestudent performanceANDacademic growth Grade 3-8 STAAR tests in Reading and Math will be linked (from grade to grade) to performance expectations for • English III STAAR and • Algebra II STAAR

12. TAKS • Did I learn what I was supposed to learn in 3rd grade? STAAR • Did I learn what I was supposed to learn in 3rd grade? • Am I ready for 4th grade? …Am I on the right track for 5th grade?…and 6th grade?

13. 3rd & 4th Grade: Math-April 3; Reading-April 4 4th Grade: Writing-March 27 & 28 (2 days) 5th Grade: Math-March 26; Reading-March 27; Science-April 26 • Performance Standards will be determined in October of 2012…next year! • (NO SSI for 5th graders this year.)

14. Three Levels of Performance Level III: Advanced Academic Performance (TAKS-“Commended”) Level II: Satisfactory Academic Performance (TAKS-“Met Standard”) Level I: Unsatisfactory Academic Performance (TAKS-“Did not Meet Standard”)

15. Please join us February 7th for a STAAR Information Night

16. Lunch & Conference Period • Lunch – 11:30-12:00 • Recess – 12:00-12:30; please, NO flip flops! Your child cannot run and play at recess if they are wearing flip flops (send a change of shoes). • Specials/Conference period – 9:50-10:45. Please call or email to schedule conferences during this time. Please give as much advance notice as possible.

17. Specials: • Specials (PE, Music, Art) • Appropriate clothing and shoes are a must for PE • Snack Time • Must be healthy and not a distraction or messy. • Water ONLY in a bottle with a lid allowed all day.

18. Eagles in Flight To be eligible for EIF, a student must: • Still have one or more letters NOT crossed out in “EAGLE” on the bottom of the behavior calendar. • No more than five UNEXCUSED absences • No missing work

19. Good Behavior Incentives • “Earning Stripes”: students may earn “stripes” in each class, which may then be redeemed for prizes of their choice (chosen in pods). • “Popcorn scoop”: when a class receives a whole-class compliment, earns a scoop. When the jar is full, the class earns the prize of their choice (decided in pods).

20. Million Word Challenge • Our goal for 3rd grade is to read 30 chapter books this year. • 80 pages = 1 chapter book or • 4 picture books = 1 chapter book • Students will be responsible for tracking their reading at HOME and at SCHOOL in the goal section of their STAR binder (coming soon).

21. Meet Us At the Movies! • We will be reading Winter’s Tail in class, and will be having a Meet Us at the Movies • Sunday, September 25, early afternoon (detailed time to come). • Dolphin Tale!!! • Keep an eye out for details to come!

22. Volunteers • We love any help you want to offer. • Contact your homeroom teacher. • Don’t forget to complete this year’s background check! • Website

23. Communication • Please contact us with concerns or questions! • Email us: sometimes emails get stuck in quarantine – please call and leave a message should we not reply to your email within 24 hours. • Call us • Schedule a conference (9:50-10:45). • Teacher web pages (sign up for the e-alert!) • Monthly newsletters will be online this year, posted on our team webpage.

24. ONLINE GRADES • Progress Reports and Report Cards are online only • You can set up for grade and email alerts • Demonstration

25. Thank you for all of your help and support! Questions & Answers

26. Now For “Mini-School” • Normally at the beginning of the day your child drops of their things in their homeroom and heads to their first block. We will not do that tonight. Instead… • First, you will go to your child’s first block (NOT their homeroom). • Then, you will switch to your homeroom where your child ends their day.