Curriculum Night

1. Curriculum Night Third Grade Ms.Verstraete’s Class 2015 – 2016

2. Meet Ms. Verstraete– The Teacher • Bachelors Degree - Eastern Michigan University • Master’s Degree in Education – Marygrove College • 13 years teaching experience • I have taught both first and third grade at Mohawk, Miami and Ojibwa! • Co-Chair of our School Improvement Writing Goal

3. Meet Ms. Verstraete– The “MOM” • Live in Washington • 3 children – attend Chippewa Valley Schools • Karson 11, Preston 8, and Emerson “Emmy” 6.

4. My Family

5. Contact Information Ms. Mary Verstraete mverstraete@cvs.k12.mi.us 586-723-6477 www.verstraete.weebly.com My classroom newsletter comes home every 2 weeks A paper copy will come home as well an electronic emailed copy.

6. Sign up for REMIND text messages Receive messages via text by texting on your cell phone: TO: 81010 • MESSAGE: @msverstr

7. Classroom Facebook Page • Only Friends approved by me will be able to view • No student names will be used or tagged • I will be the only one allowed to post information • Why? Gives parents an idea/glimpse of what we are doing each day as well as reminders of upcoming events. • How to Join? Search: Verstraete’s Classroom and wait for me to accept your request!

8. Differences of Third Grade • Responsibility shifts more toward the learner • Letter Grades and Report Cards • M-Step (May 2016) • ELA , Reading, and Math – Evaluates computation skills as well as problem solving ability.

9. Ms. Verstraete’s Approximate Daily Schedule • 8:24 – 9:30 – Students enter - DMW/ Number Corner • 9:33 – 10:36 – Specials • 10:40 – Snack • 10:50 – 12:00 - Math Block • 12:09 – 1:05 – Lunch/Recess • 1:10 – 2:25 – Language Arts Block • 2:30 – Science/Social Studies • 3:00 – Begin Preparing for dismissal • 3:17 – All students have been dismissed

10. Specials Schedule • Monday – Enrichment • Tuesday – Gym • Wednesdays -Music & Library • Thursday – Art • Friday –Science

11. SNACK! • Please try to pack a HEALTHY snack for your child EACH and EVERY day! • We have a late lunch and the students have a hard time concentrating when they are hungry.

12. Ojibwa Elementary Grading Scale for Achievement Grades • 100% A+ • 99-93% A • 92-90% A- • 89-87% B+ • 86-83% B • 82-80% B- • 79-77% C+ • 76-73% C • 72-70% C- • 69-67% D+ • 66-63% D • 62-60% D- • 59-0% F

13. New Report Cards and New Marking Codes • No more 1, 2, 3, and 4 under each achievement letter grade Standards Marking Codes: • ES: Excels At Standard/Expectaion • MS: Meets Standard/Expectation • AS: Approaching Standard/Expectation • CA: Concern Area

14. Suggested Supply List • $10.00 donation for magazine subscritption and crafts • 1 clipboard (can be purchased at Dollar Store, Target, Office Max, etc.) • 1 – 1 and ½ inch binder (any color or trapper keeper) • 2 packs of standard yellow #2 pencils - we share pencils! • Scissors Crayons (Crayola preferred) 24 count maximum • Headphones • 1 Pencil box (8” x 5” x 3”) - MUST FIT IN DESK! • 2 large boxes of Kleenex • 1 Box of (2 Gallon) freezer zip lock bags • 2 erasers • colored pencils • 2 glue sticks • 2-3 different colored highlighters • 2 containers of Clorox or Lysol anti-bacterial wipes • 1 roll of paper towel • Bottle of hand sanitizer

15. Daily Agenda/O.W.L. Binder This serves to inform you of daily activities and upcoming quizzes/testsand/orevents. It is important for you to sign the agenda every night to demonstrate the relationship between home and school. Agendas and take home folders are always kept in the O.W.L. binder (please send in 1 and ½ inch binder or trapper keeper as soon as possible.

16. Daily Homework Your child should be completing “homework” of some kind at home each night. Possible homework could be: • Review Assignments in individual subject areas marked in agendas • any unfinished homework. • 20 minutes of reading per night and marked in monthly reading chart (due at end of each month with parent signature)**Raz-kids computer program can be used for reading log minutes** Homework will be highlighted or circled in the agenda each day. Homework should not exceed 30 minutes each night. If your child does not have class work for homework then reading should be considered the homework assignment.

17. The 3 “Hoots” Whoo’s safe? Whoo’s Respectful? Whoo’s Responsible?

18. Ojibwa Compact Creates a Home – School Connection Principal Signs Teacher signs Student Signs Parents sign Compacts are kept in the office

19. Behavior - Rewards and Consequences • Rewards • Hoot ticket • Fun Fridays • Extra recess • Consequences • Loss of Hoot ticket • Possible Missed Recess • Behavior Writing • Possible call/email home

20. Language Arts • Reading • Common Core Standards • Taught through whole group and small guided group. • Incorporates literature from the following genres: realistic fiction, folktales, fables, textbooks, and encyclopedias • Uses the Accelerated Reading program to encourage independent reading. • Writing • Taught through the Being a Writer program. • Supplemented with activities incorporating the 6 Traits of Writing. • D’Nelian cursive will be taught through daily practice worksheets and practiced through spelling assignments.

21. Spelling/Grammar • Spelling words and Grammar practice is rotate every other week. • Spelling words are taken from the Words Their Way program that focuses on spelling patterns and high frequency words • Grammar lessons are taken from Common Core Standards for 3rd grade.

22. Math • Bridges in Mathematics Series - Research based program that is inquiry based.  There are two components:  Bridges & Number Corner.  With the purchase of the program each classroom received new hands on manipulatives & each student will receive 3 consumable books.  • Includes timed math tests (addition, subtraction, and multiplication) • The series supports and follows the Common Core. • http://www.mathlearningcenter.org/ • Supplemented with IXL math (information to follow) • www.IXL.com/signin/ojibwa

23. Science and Social Studies • Science • Earth Materials, Change, & Resources • Force & Motion • Forms of Energy • Properties of Matter • Organization of Living Things & Evolution • Social Studies • History of Michigan through statehood • Geography of Michigan • Civics & Government • Economics • Public Discourse, Decision Making, & Citizen Involvement

24. Classroom Policies • Late work • An assignment (whether homework or classwork) that is not completed when it is due is recorded in my grade book as a Zero. That assignment will be accepted until the Friday of the week it was assigned but will drop a grade per day late. Students will not be allowed to have recess if homework is not turned in. • Birthdays • Please keep it simple and include napkins with any birthday treat. • Summer birthdays are celebrated all on one day. We have an ice cream sundae bar. All summer birthday students help and parents are invited. Date to be determined.

25. Scholastic News and Craft Donation Request We are asking for a $10.00 donation The money will fund all of these things: Scholastic News magazine ($6 per subscription) Holiday Party essentials Holiday project/crafts Graphing items (m&m’s, skittles, cereal, jellybeans, etc.) Craft items (wiggly eyes, felt, cotton balls, bells, etc.) Various other materials for projects/activities

26. Coming UP……. • Picture Day – Wednesday September 17th • Entertainment Book Sale (fundraiser!) • Walk for Funds – October 3rd. Information to come.  We are in need of new or gently used games for our game closet. 

27. Before you leave……. • Please fill out YELLOW information sheet • Please sign BLUE compact • Please let me know if you are interested on room parent/volunteer for parties/volunteer in classroom as needed. Please mark on yellow information sheet and I will contact you. I will choose room parents randomly if there is a high interest. 