Third Grade with Ms. Radford

1. Third Grade with Ms. Radford Fall 2009 – Spring 2010

2. Open House 2009-Agenda • Introduction • My teaching philosophy • What your student will learn • Rules, routines, and procedures • 3rd grade tests • Volunteer opportunities

3. Introduction- WELCOME!  • Please take a moment to write your child a letter. Some ideas: • Your expectations for them • How much you care about them • How excited you are for their third grade experience • A joke or favorite memory you have of your child • Questions you have you for them

4. Hi, I’m Jaimie Radford! • This is my 2nd year teaching third grade at Ephesus • I graduated from Michigan State, where I am currently pursuing my Masters in Curriculum and Teaching • I have a puppy named Simba who is about 1 year old now • I enjoy traveling and have been to South Africa, Australia, and Mexico

5. My Educational Philosophy • I have 5 basic beliefs of what I believe constitutes good teaching. Good teaching: • Uses a variety of strategies to teach and engage all learners. • Requires reflection and a commitment to professional development. • Uses collaboration between students and between teachers. • Involves building relationships with students and creating a community of learners. • Provides all students equal access to the curriculum and requires holding high expectations for all students.

6. Variety of strategies + engagement • I believe students have different learning styles (Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences). • Kinesthetic- learn best through movement • Interpersonal- learn best by working with others • Linguistic- learn best by reading, note-taking, discussions, listening to lectures • Logical- learn best through scientific thinking and investigation • Naturalistic- learn best through collecting and analyzing, by being outside • Intrapersonal- learn best by working alone • Musical- learn best by lecture and with music in the background • Visual-spatial- learn best through mental manipulation and visualizing

7. Accommodating Learning Styles • Kinesthetic- I provide high energy activities that require movement (reader’s theatre, math Olympics, brain gym) • Interpersonal- Students work in small guided reading groups, science groups, small groups for mini-society, and pairs or small groups for the majority of math lessons. • Linguistic- Almost every lesson I teach has a short mini-lesson, which is typically in a lecture format. Furthermore, discussions are a prominent activity in my classroom. • Logical- During science lessons, students are regarded as investigators. I provide activities that students can explore together, while I facilitate their learning.

8. Accommodating Learning Styles • Naturalistic- The science units for third grade are Plants, Soils, Human Body, and Earth, Sun and Moon. Thus, many lessons occur outside or involve interacting with nature. • Intrapersonal- After group work activities, students are often provided with independent practice activities. Furthermore, I occasionally provide students the choice of working with peers or working alone.. • Musical- During writing, I play soft music in the background. Furthermore, during math lessons, the students create songs to assist them in memorizing. • Visual-spatial- During most math lessons, students are provided with materials they can manipulate.

9. Engagement • I try to create real, authentic lessons that allow students to connect what they are learning to the real world. • I use real examples that students can identify with in my math problems. • I use many games during my teaching to engage my students. • I use a lot of group work activities which tend to be engaging in themselves. • I use the SmartBoard and other technologies such as: Ipods, digital cameras, laptops, the computer lab, video cameras, document cameras, and videos. • I use a wide variety and a lot of questions during lessons to keep my students on their toes!

10. Reflection & Professional Development • Journal for reflection • Monthly SmartBoard training • Bi-weekly literacy and mathematics training • Weekly PLC (Professional Learning Community) meetings • Attend several conferences throughout the year • Pursuing a Masters degree in Curriculum and Teaching • Regularly read educational materials

11. Collaboration • Student-Student • Provide many group work opportunities for students • Pairs, small group • Arrange desks to promote collaboration • Teacher-Teacher • PLC Meetings • Observations with feedback • School- Home • Monthly newsletters • Updated website

12. Building Relationships & Classroom Community • I do not make decisions for the class, we make all decisions together. Students are given choices in my classroom. • Morning Meetings- allow us to discuss any happenings we have, and share important events in our lives. • Team-building activities • Star of the Week • Classroom jobs • Peer teaching

13. Equal Access & High Expectations • My expectations are consistently discussed with students. I hold the SAME and HIGH expectations for ALL students. • I give students the opportunity to redo assignments that are not of the quality I expect them to be at. • I do whatever it takes to provide all my students access to the curriculum. • Tutoring • Guided reading groups • Culturally-relevant teaching examples • Remediation • Changing my teaching • Classroom volunteers

14. Curriculum • Math: • Place value through 9,999. • 4 digit addition & 4 digit subtraction (with and without regrouping) • 1 digit multiplication (1-12) and division • Data & probability • Geometry (2-dimensional, 3-dimensional figures, polygons) • Permutations & combinations • Fractions through 1/16 • Science: • Soils • Earth, Sun, and Moon • Human Body • Plants

15. Curriculum • Reading • Guided Reading • Reader’s Theatre • Book Clubs • Friday Poetry • Independent Reading • Reader’s Response Journals • Writing • Personal Narratives • Research Report • All About Book • Social Studies • Mini Society

16. Rules, Routines, Procedures • PBS- Positive Behavior Support • Earn roadrunner tickets; goal-setting • Behavior Chart • Blue- I did my very best! • Green- I did good • Yellow- I could do much better • Red- I need to stop and change my behavior • Positive Reinforcement • Individual rewards, group rewards, class rewards

17. Rules, Routines, Procedures • Tardy- • Your child will be considered tardy if they are not in the classroom at 7:50 a.m. • Absences- • Call the school and leave a message • Written documentation is required for every absence • Monday Folders- • Important notes and papers will be sent home each Monday in a Monday folder, check it daily • Planners- • Students homework will be written in their planner as well as notes for me, check it daily

18. Rules, Routines, Procedures • Homework • Will be given Monday-Thursday; no homework on Fridays • I expect it to be turned in daily (part of grade) • Math, reading, and writing/spelling everyday • Spelling tests on Fridays • Sign off that homework is completed in planner • Students will be given one IOU per marking period • 5 missing assignments  student will eat lunch in the classroom and complete the assignments • Snack • Please provide your child a healthy snack EVERY DAY. • Examples: granola bars, carrots, crackers, fruit, applesauce, raisins

19. 3rd grade tests • Naglieri • Will be given in January • End of Grade Test • Will be given in May • Reading & Math • Preparation • Sample questions available online • Consistent homework completion will help • Comprehension reading passages & sample questions • Student should ALWAYS show work in math • Student should read 20 or more minutes each night

20. Volunteer Opportunities • Classroom Parent • Assisting with celebrations and holiday parties • Silent Auction coordination • Classroom Helpers • Read/work with students • Aid in material preparation (copying, bulletin boards, etc.) • Assist with classroom website • Please sign your name, write your phone number and your e-mail address on the sign-up sheet being passed around

21. Questions?

22. Thank you for coming! • My phone number: (919) 929-8715 ext. 245 • My e-mail address: jradford@chccs.k12.nc.us • Please contact me ANYTIME! 