Back to School Night 2014-2015

Back to School Night2014-2015 Mrs. Bowden 3rd Grade - A Track 2014-2015 Please sign in at the back counter!

Mrs. Bowden’s Contact Info cbowden@egusd.net www.schoolrack.com/cbowden 714-5588 (before or after school)

Classroom Priorities • Be Responsible • All of us can learn! • All of us can allow others to learn! • Be Respectful • All of us can respect ourselves! • All of us can respect others!

Curriculum

Common Core State Standards: How Will This Affect My Child in Grades 3-6? • Greater percentage of informational text as opposed to narrative or “stories” • Greater emphasis on writing: narrative, informational, and persuasive

Reading Students will be continuing the Open Court Reading Program. To match the new CCSS, we will be replacing some of the literature stories with expository lessons from our social studies and science text books. Writing This is a BIG focus in third grade! Complete and extended sentences! Paragraph writing (topic sentence, at least three detail sentences, and a concluding sentence) Grammar and punctuation, emphasized by “Daily Paragraph Editing” 6 + 1 Writing Program English Language Arts

Classroom Structurefor ELA Daily 5 • Read to Self • Read to Someone • Listen to Reading • Work on Writing • Word Work CAFÉ • Comprehension • Accuracy • Fluency • Expand Vocabulary

GO MATH! – Includes a softbound textbook (in a Math Textbook Folder), a soft bound workbook, and online assignments and activities. All students must know their multiplication tables with automaticity by June! We will be supplementing the math program using district created materials, timed tests, and drill practice in order to reach mastery of the students’ basic math facts. Math

California Science, by Macmillan/McGraw-Hill The series includes both a hard bound and soft bound interactive textbook. The program also offers an student edition online. Information about this interactive website will be sent home in the next few weeks! Three main units: Life Science (including a fun research project and presentation!) Earth Science (including another exciting research project and presentation!!) Physical Science Science

Reflections by Harcourt Publishers Students will learn about the significant people, places, and events that have shaped California and the entire country. Geography American Indians in CA Government Social Studies

Our new and improved online version of AR Enterprise is up and running! Students will have access to over 14,500 quizzes Parents will have online access to check their child’s quiz progress, check their points and goals, etc. More information to come soon! AR Enterprise

Accelerated Reader • STAR Reading assessments will be administered the 2nd week of school. • Your child’s most current ZPD (which is your child’s reading range) will be sent home in the Friday Folder next week. • Quizzes – 2+ per week is goal • MinimumGoal= 20 points per trimester • 35 points or more earns a special reward party with us!

In 2009, the state of California mandated that 30 minutes of instruction a day be devoted to English Language (EL) instruction. During this time, EL students will receive a small group instruction. English Only (EO) students will participate in Accelerated Reader. WIN (What I Need) Time

Classroom Management Procedures • Praise • Clip Chart (focuses on positive reinforcement) • Well established classroom procedures • Respect

Other Important Areas • P.E. - Often! So, all students MUST wear running shoes daily! We will have PE activities on Mondays and Wednesdays. • Library ~ Thursdays • Computers ~ Fridays • Cursive handwriting • By the third trimester, some assignments will be done in cursive, although we will begin the learning process right away :o)

Grading • All work/homework is turned into the Inbox first thing in the morning • Late work may be completed at recess or lunch for ½ credit. • Each absent day is worth one make-up day • Work will be graded with a check plus, check, check minus, letter grade, or stamp

Grading • A percentage scale will be used for all grading. All grades will be based on assessments, quizzes, and selected work. • 90 -100% = A • 80 – 89% = B • 70 – 79% = C • 60 – 69% = D • 59% & below = F

Homework • EGUSD standard for 3rd grade = 45 minutes each night (which includes reading for 20 mins!) • In addition to the reading, most nights will include the following homework: spelling, math workbook page, or a reading comprehension worksheet. • When your family is busy, or your student is struggling with the assigned skill, stop and take a deep breath! Write a quick note or send a quick email. Remember, your family needs ALWAYS come first!

Friday Folder • Goes home on Friday with both your child’s completed work and class/school information. • Remove all the contents of the folder and review any important papers/graded work • Folder needs to be returned on the following Monday. • Parent signature required

In the Spotlight • Each student will be featured “In the Spotlight” once during the year. • Information will be sent home the Friday before it is your child’s turn. • The activities are optional, but most children really enjoy being able to share information with the class, as well as participate throughout “their” week.

Field Trips • Nature Exploration Walking Field Trip • EGUSD Food Processing Center • Theatre production • Sheldon HS Play • Discovery Museum 6. Bowling – end of year

No money to handle—parents use credit cards online! You can combine and submit paper and online orders We receive a $3 coupon every time a parent orders online YOU receive a $5 coupon for a future order We earn Bonus Points with every order, which helps to buy books for our classroom!!! Books are delivered to our classroom- can be a secret!  Scholastic Online Book Orders!

Hot Lunch • If your child received a free lunch last year, you need to fill out the paperwork again. Last year’s applications expire on September 27th. It takes 2-4 weeks to process your application so get it in ASAP. (Green application)

Volunteers Needed! • We welcome parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc. to help in our classrooms with: • Help in the classroom after lunch (1:00 – 2:00PM is best). • (weekly, monthly, or as available) • Complete projects at home • Mad Minute Math/Banana Split Correctors (home) • Field Trips • (sometimes the number of chaperones is limited) • Art Docent (Friday afternoons are best!) • PTA Liason: Please complete form • Room Parent – help organize parties and special • events in the classroom.

Back to School Night 2014-2015