Mt Laurel Elementary School 2011-2012

1. Mt Laurel Elementary School2011-2012 Welcome to Mrs. Brekle’s Third Grade Class

2. Daily Schedule • 7:30-8:00 Morning Work • 8:00-8:40 Language Arts • 8:40-10:35 Reading • 10:35-11:00 Lunch • 11:00-11:20 Recess • 11:20-12:45 Math • 12:45-1:15 Science/Social Studies   • 1:15-1:35 Language Arts/Handwriting • 1:35-2:05 P.E. • 2:10-2:40 Specials • Monday- Computer; Tuesday- Music; Thursday-Guidance (every other week), Friday-Art

3. Arrival Procedures Students who arrive before 7:30 should report to the lunchroom where they may eat breakfast. Students who arrive after 7:30 should report to their classrooms. Students must be in their classrooms by 8:00 am to avoid being counted tardy. Parents must walk students into the office when they arrive after 8:00 am. I would LOVE for all students to arrive in class by 7:45 each day if possible.

4. Dismissal Procedures • All parents who drive through the car rider line must have the car rider tag in their front window on the driver’s side. • Student check-out is not permitted once dismissal has begun in the afternoons (after 2:30). • All transportation changes must be made in writing (no emails) • Stick to severe weather dismissal plan. • Procedure for severe weather: I will email to let you know about early dismissal. Please respond ASAP to let me know you received the email. Safety parent will call parents that did not respond to email.

5. Organization of Supplies • Red Communication Folder- 2 Pockets: Sign and Return/ Keep • Newsletters- emailed on Fridays; hard copy comes home on Mondays. • Graded papers go home on Wednesdays. Please return them by Friday. • Binder • Assignment Pad, Homework, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Fluency • Please clean out binder after you have received and returned corresponding tests.

6. Homework • Assignment Pad- please look at and sign nightly • 20 minutes of reading each night (or 80 minutes a week): • Record books, minutes read, and brief reflection on reading log • Turn in reading log (yellow folder) every 2 weeks • Expect math 2-3 nights a week (DMR homework is due on Fridays) • Study for tests

7. Tests **Tests are always announced in weekly newsletter • Daily Math Review test each Friday • No spelling tests (Students will write sentences using phonics skill)

8. Tests • Science and Social Studies unit tests every few weeks • Alternate Daily Science and Daily Geography-test on Thursday • Students use map for Daily Geography test • Students may use notes for Daily Science test

9. Projects/ Special Assignments Students may be assigned special projects during the school year. Students will always be given plenty of time (2-3 weeks) for these assignments. I will always send home any instructions and grading criteria for such projects in the red communication folder.

10. Reading • Goal for 3rd Grade- Students should find entry point into literacy: • Students should find a particular genre, author, or series that he/she really enjoys. • Genre Studies each month • Students will choose a book to read from that genre, and complete a project (most of it will be completed in class). • Book Buddies with Mrs. Johnson’s 1st Grade Class

11. Reading • 80 min. of Reading Homework each week • Complete Reading Log • Read aloud a few nights (self selected books, poems from fluency section of binder, fluency packet) • Reading level and test results letter each 9 weeks: • DIBELS (fluency-words per minute) • Rigby (reading level) • STAR (vocabulary)

12. Math • Practice addition/subtraction facts at home. • Students should know facts automatically, not counting on fingers • Use flashcards, websites, practice quizzes • We will start multiplication around November/December. • Activities: Daily Data, Estimation Jar

13. Writing • Writing notebook- 2 sections:Journal and Process Writing (stories) • Collage

14. Science and Social Studies • Projects • Science experiments • Integrated into reading (students will read nonfiction books about topics)

15. Conduct • When students choose to misbehave, learning time for all students is affected. • Student behavior will be monitored using conduct cards. • If students pull their card, they fill out a “Stop and Think” sheet that goes home in Red Folder

16. Conduct Consequences • 1st Offense- verbal warning • 2nd Offense- change card to yellow, fill out Stop and Think sheet, and sit out from recess for five minutes • 3rd Offense- change card to orange, letter or email sent to parents, sit out from recess for 10 minutes • 4th Offense-change card to pink, sit out for entire recess, parents contacted by phone, possibly sent to office • Severe clause – student immediately sent to office for fighting, disrespect, profanity, or any other serious offense

17. Conduct Rewards Recognitions Compliment Parties Tickets for Treasures Table Points

18. Routines Newsletter- emailed on Friday, hard copy goes home on Monday Graded papers- sent home on Wednesday Star Student Poetry Circle Author’s Chair Estimation Jar

19. Snacks Students may bring a nutritious snack and drink each day. Snack time will be at 8:45 am each morning. Please supply items such as plastic spoons for your child as needed for their snacks. Parents who wish to celebrate their child’s birthday may send in nutritious snacks to share with the class.

20. Field Trips • We will go on five field trips this year: 4H, Nutcracker (Music field trip), Bowling (P.E. field trip), Desoto Caverns, Jones Valley Urban Farm • We will have a limited number of chaperones for each field trip. Volunteer names will be drawn out of a hat. • Please allow your student to wear the class field trip t-shirt, another sky blue shirt, or MLES shirt.

21. Communication Conferences- any day from 1:35-2:05, or after school Email is the best way to get in touch with me: kbrekle@shelbyed.k12.al.us Please send any notes in the red communication folder

22. In Need Of: • Safety Parents (at least 2) • Composition Notebooks (22) for reading response notebooks

23. Help is Needed • The State Department of Education is not providing any money for instructional supplies, common purchases, technology, or professional development this year. • Your donations are desperately needed more than ever. Your $60 donation money will go towards: • Salaries for school secretary and computer aide • Instructional supplies • Additional $8 requested for: • Scholastic News Magazines • Handwriting workbooks

24. Additional Information • Refer to handbook for additional information: • Daily Schedule • Star Student Schedule • This Powerpoint is posted on our class blog for future reference

25. Thanks for coming today! Let’s have a GREAT 3rd grade year at MLES!