Welcome Back to School

1. Welcome Back to School Third Grade 2013-2014

2. Harrisburg Academy Mission Statement • Harrisburg Academy offers an academically challenging and globally minded liberal arts education that encourages each student to reach his or her full potential. In our commitment to excellence, we provide tools and teach skills that will prepare students to thrive and succeed in college and in their future endeavors.

3. Meet the Teachers Mrs. Robertson Mrs. Quigley I graduated from Shippensburg University with a degree in Education and a minor in Early Childhood Ed. This is my 9th year at the Harrisburg Academy teaching 3rd grade. My husband and I have 3 children, Taylor, 14, Tyler, 11, and Nathan, 5. Tyler and Nathan attend the Academy and are in 6th grade and JK. In my free time, I enjoy attending my children’s sporting events and being outside. • I spent my undergraduate career at the University of Virginia, took my Masters in English at the University of Nebraska, and earned my Pennsylvania certification at Susquehanna University. • This my 2nd year teaching 3rd grade at Harrisburg Academy. I have been teaching since 1994. • My husband and I have an Alaskan Malamute named Seamus whom we enjoy hiking with. I also enjoy reading and watching movies.

4. Attendance • Students are expected to arrive at school by 8:00 am each day, but no earlier than 7:30 am. We will begin our day promptly upon being dismissed from the Gallery. If your child arrives after 8 am, please sign them in at the front office. • If your child is ill or has an appointment during school hours, please notify the main office or Debbie O’Day. You can call or send an e-mail. If we receive this information, it will be passed on for attendance records. • If you are planning an educational trip, please fill out an “Excused Absence” form prior to your trip. You may get this in Mrs. O’Day’s office. Please note that we may send some work for your child, but our policy is not to send work in advance, so your child will have make-up work upon return.

5. Class Rules • Be responsible and safe • Treat others the way you want to be treated • Be responsible with classroom tools and materials

6. Our Daily Schedule: Mrs. Robertson Mrs. Quigley • Day 1: Music, Spanish, Health • Day 2: PE, Science, Art • Day 3: Spanish, PE, Computer • Day 4: PE, Library (book day) • Day 5: Chorus, PE • Day 6: Music, Spanish, Computer, Science • Day 7: Chorus, PE, Library, Art • Day 1: Spanish, Library • Day 2: PE, Computer, Art • Day 3: Spanish, PE, Science • Day 4: PE, Music • Day 5: Chorus, PE, Computer, Library (book day) • Day 6: Spanish, Health, Science • Day 7: Chorus, PE, Art

7. Homework Policy • Students will receive homework most nights, with the exception of weekends and special nights (school concerts and other school functions). Homework is due the next school day, unless otherwise stated. • All homework should be copied from the Smartboard into your child’s school agenda. You may check this nightly to see assignments for the night. • Homework should be completed in pencil by your child. Parents may help, but if your child is having difficulty with a concept, please let us know, so we can go over this concept with your child in class. • A typical night’s homework will usually be a math sheet (usually double sided) and another subject. Students are also expected to keep track of their reading for the week on the Reading Log. They are required to read at least 120 minutes or 2 hours per week (Monday –Sunday). Parents should sign the reading log as well. • Homework should take between 30 and 45 minutes. If you notice that it is taking longer, please let us know so we can discuss options with you and your child.

8. Curriculum In third grade, students continue making a journey toward independence. They do this through learning to manage their homework, work time in class, and take responsibility for asking questions when they have them. The students share ideas with each other using scaffold support. Through this process, they learn to become better readers, writers, and critical thinkers.

9. Math We use the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt series titled Math Expressions. This is a comprehensive math program that offers new ways to teach and learn mathematics. Math Expressions use objects, drawings, conceptual language, and real-world situations to help students build mathematical ideas that make sense to them.

10. Reading Third grade uses a number of resources for instruction. We use the Junior Great Books series. This program is designed to introduce students to shared inquiry discussions. Through a variety of stories, the children write and reflect on what they have read. Students also have shared reading experiences by reading common chapter books. In addition to these shared experiences, students are offered choices in reading for Literature Circles and partner reading.

11. Language Arts We use a variety of different teaching materials to teach students spelling, phonemic awareness, writing, and grammar. Over the course of the year, the children learn about the interdependent nature of reading and writing. Third grade is also a period during which students learn different approaches to each step of the reading process through mini-lessons, discussions, and practice. Students learn about grammar in the context of both reading and writing.

12. Spelling Spelling in third grade is differentiated and integrated into their reading and writing instruction. Students will learn about the various ways to spell the forty-four sounds, or phonemes, in the English language. Therefore, the spelling lists will focus on multiple spellings of a sound each week. The children sort the words into columns for each spelling. They are also taught to seek out the spellings for the sound in their reading and writing thereby connecting reading, writing, and spelling.

13. Handwriting Students will be guided through cursive handwriting using the Zaner-Bloser Handwriting program. Students will complete all cursive letters by winter break and be expected to write most work in class, and for homework, in cursive after returning from break.

14. Social Studies Students in third grade will study Pennsylvania. We are using Our Pennsylvania Story and Women of Pennsylvania. These books will cover topics such as geography, history, natural resources, and government. Students will also be creating a Pennsylvania Scrapbook Project to demonstrate their understanding of several aspects of our state’s history, geography, and influential people. Much of this project will be completed in class. This project also serves to prepare students for future long-term projects including the States’ Fair project they complete in fourth grade.

15. Europe Third grade studies the continent of Europe. Over the course of the year, we will examine a number of European countries through conducting research about the culture, geography, and literature of each.

16. Field Trips • We will take 3 standard field trips: Ft. Hunter in the fall, The Hershey Story in the winter, and the Capitol in the spring. • We also take a field trip in the spring to an art museum with Ms. Phillips (details of this trip will come at a later date). • Parents must adhere to the “Chaperone Guidelines” found on our class website.

17. Class Parties and Parent Volunteers • Fall Harvest Party • Winter Holiday Party • Valentines Day Party Sign-up sheets will be available for volunteers after the presentations.