Back to School Night

1. Back to School Night 3rd Grade 2014-2015

2. Classroom Expectations • Always try your best! • Be prepared/responsible • Be kind/respectful • Be safe • Raise your hand and wait to be called on • Push in your chair • Be honest • Enter the classroom only when a teacher is present

3. Positive ReinforcementPositive reinforcement is a large part of our classroom environment. It allows children to be successful and to manage their own behavior. By choosing appropriate behavior, each child will have many opportunities for academic and self-growth. Raffle Tickets No Homework Pass Occasionally students will earn a “no homework pass.” The pass must be pre-approved by a teacher before it can be used on a homework assignment. Each day children have many opportunities to earn raffle tickets. These tickets are collected in a jar. At the end of the week, I will pull 6-8 tickets out of the jar. Students that have their ticket pulled from the jar will go to our class prize box!

4. Classroom Management System • In case a student needs a reminder to stay on task or follow classroom rules… • First, a verbal warning/reminder will be given • Then, he or she may lose a raffle ticket. • Finally, the student will complete a “time-out” letter, which will be sent home, signed, and returned the next day. (In some cases, an additional consequence maybe added.)

5. Grading Key

6. Portfolios Each student will keep and maintain a portfolio showcasing work throughout the year. These portfolios will be the main discussion at our Open House which will be student led at the end of the year.

7. Curriculum • Reading Workshop • “Just Right” books • Guided Reading Groups • Reading Strategies (Visualizing, Questioning, Inferences, Summarizing, etc.) • Writing Workshop • Personal Narratives, Informational Writing, Fiction • Formal Writing: paragraph structure, friendly letter • Words Their Way (Spelling) • Grammar • Everyday Math • Problem Solving Math Journals (once a week starting in Oct.) • Fact Fluency Tests • addition/subtraction to 18 (5mins, 4 mins, 3mins) SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER • multiplication to X12 (5 mins) JANUARY – MAY

8. Curriculum Cont.. • Social Studies- Community • Signature Project The 3rd Grade signature project theme is Native Americans. Students will be creating art projects, learning music and researching different aspects of Native American tribes. • Science- Life, Earth, Physical, Health • Robotics with Mr. Kaitz • Garden • 3rd Grade Essential Question: • How does environment shape life?

9. Enrichment Curriculum • Physical Education–Coachie (Mr. Hernandez) • Music-Mr. Forest • Library- Mrs. O’Callaghan • Spanish-Senorita Arevalo • Computers - Mr. Kaitz • Art-Ms. Singletary

10. Weekly Homework Packet • Students in third grade receive approximately 30-45 minutes of homework each night. The Homework Packet will be given each Monday and must be returned each Friday. • Math is given on a daily basis and should be returned the next school day. Show your work when possible! • *If your child is struggling to complete a specific assignment, please notify us by writing a quick note on the cover sheet of his or her Homework Packet. We will go over the assignment with them during recess or after school. • No homework on Fridays! • If your child forgot his or her homework, he or she will receive a “H.A.M.” This is a letter notifying you of late or missing homework. Please sign the H.A.M. and return it with the completed homework the next day.

11. Homework Schedule Monday Grammar Worksheet: #1 Writer’s Workshop: write for 10 minutes in notebook Read for 15 minutes Math Homework Tuesday Science/Social Studies Reading Comprehension Read for 15 minutes Math Homework Wednesday Grammar Worksheet: #2 Writer’s Workshop: write for 10 minutes in notebook Read for 15 minutes Math Homework Thursday Writing Prompt: Write at least 5 sentences responding to the writing prompt. Read for 15 minutes Math Homework ***Homework will be modified for short weeks.

12. Guessing Jar Each week a student will bring home the class “Guessing Jar” to fill with objects. Please write down how many objects are in the jar and place in a sealed envelope. Please write if you’d like the small objects back or if the students can keep them. *No nuts

13. Service Learning Project The 3rd Grade Service Learning Project this year is centered around the Gentle Barn which is a organization that rehabilitates animals and brings them together with at-risk youth. Book Reports/Projects Throughout the year, students will complete either book reports or special projects at home. The directions and expectations will be given well in advance. Time will be given in the homework packet in order to complete the project. Field Trips – ✓Gene Autry Museum - Signature Project! ✓The Gentle Barn- Service Learning!

14. General Info. • Lunch • 12:15 p.m. -1:05 p.m. • Recess/Snack • 10:30 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. • Birthday Celebrations • If you would like to send in treats with your child on their birthday to share, please send us an email in advance so we can plan for it. Please note we do have nut allergies in the classroom! • Teacher Webpage • Homework Reminders • Due Dates for Projects • Important Class Information • Test Dates: no tests on Mondays eheneveld@wesleyschool.org mnieves@wesleyschool.org lwestercamp@wesleyschool.org

15. Parent/Teacher ConferenceSign-Up