3 rd Grade Curriculum Night

1. 3rd Grade Curriculum Night Caleb’s Creek Elementary School September 2014

2. Mrs. Bowman, Mrs. Ferguson, Miss Barnhardt, Mrs. Schoonover, Mrs. Marotz, Mrs. Palmore, & Mrs. Hentz 3rd grade team

3. Assessments/Grades DIBELS Next Formative and Summative Assessments End-of-Quarter Assessments Quarterly Writing Benchmarks The Writing Process EOG Testing Transition from 2nd to 3rd Letter Grades!! We are on a 7 point scale 93-100 = A85-92 = B77-84 = C – This is AVERAGE!! 70-76 = D 69 ir below = F We are looking for EFFORT not Perfection!

4. Expectations and Character Day

5. Homework Policy Homework in 3rd grade is very important and is reflective of what we do in the classroom.  Math sheet due Friday Read 20-30 minutes nightly Spelling- 4 activities due Friday *Check your child’s agenda nightly for new assignments or classroom news. Please work with your child to ensure that homework is done neatly and to the best of their ability.  If you don't understand, please write a note to let me know so I can work with your child the next day for maximum understanding. *Homework is due on Friday. Your child can adjust their schedule as needed!

6. Field trips • 1st quarter- Kersey Valley (October 10th) • 2nd quarter- Mrs. Hanes Cookie Factory Jan 14th- Hentz, Ferguson, Schoonover Jan 15th- Barnhardt, Bowman, Marotz • 3rd quarter- Discovery Place in Charlotte (March 26th) • 4th quarter- In school speakers/End-of-Year picnic at Triad Park *Chaperones must fill out online volunteer form and pay at the field trip.

7. Staying Informed • Wednesday packet • Parent/Teacher Conferences • Contact your child’s teacher via e-mail • Reminder 101 Text Messages • Emails • Newsletters • School and class webpage • School telephone: 336-703-6757

8. Strip of paper? Please use this to record any questions you have and drop them in the bucket before leaving. We will answer them in a FAQ brochure in an upcoming Wednesday packet.

9. North Carolina Read to AchieveA Guide for Parents to House Bill 950

10. What Is Read to Achieve? • Read to Achieve is part of the Excellent Public Schools Act • It became effective 2013-2014 school year • The law can be accessed through http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/PDF/H950v7.pdf

11. What is the Goal of Read to Achieve? “The goal of the State is to ensure that every student read at or above grade level by the end of third grade and continue to progress in reading proficiency so that he or she can read, comprehend, integrate, and apply complex text when needed.” (Excellent Public Schools Act, NC HB 950/S.L. 2012)

12. Facilitating Early Grade Reading Proficiency • K-3 students will be assessed using the mCLASS Reading 3D assessment system • The data helps teachers plan appropriate reading instruction for each student • All parents/guardians will receive a Home Connect letter three times a year showing their child’s progress along with activities that can be used at home to support reading

13. End of Social Promotion • Third graders will complete the EOG for reading • If they are proficient, they are promoted to 4th grade • If they are not, they may qualify for a good cause exemption and be promoted to 4th grade • The legislation identifies five good cause exemptions

14. Good Cause Exemptions • Limited English Proficient students with fewer than 2 years of instruction in ESL • Students with disabilities with IEPs who are working 2 or more grade levels below • Students who demonstrate reading proficiency appropriate for 3rd grade on an alternative assessment (Read to Achieve Test) • Students who demonstrate reading proficiency through a student reading portfolio • Students who have received reading intervention and previously been retained more than once in prior K, 1st, or 2nd

15. End of Social Promotion • If students do not qualify for a good cause exemption then they may take a retest of the EOG or the Read to Achieve test • If they are proficient on one of these assessments they are promoted to 4th grade

16. Summer Reading Camp • If students do not qualify for a “good cause exemption” they are then enrolled in a Summer Reading Camp • Summer Reading Camp is the parent’s decision. If the choice is not to enroll, the student is retained to a 3rd grade classroom

17. Summer Reading Camp • Summer Reading Camp includes 72 hours of intensive, research based reading instruction • Dates and times for Summer Reading Camp will be determined by Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System

18. Summer Reading Camp Students attending Summer Reading Camp will have two opportunities to be promoted to the fourth grade: • The student scores proficient on the alternate reading assessment (Read to Achieve Test) • The student’s reading portfolio demonstrates reading proficiency

19. After Summer Reading Camp Students who are not promoted after Summer Reading Camp: • Student is placed into a fourth grade with a “retained” label and receives intensive reading instruction • If student has already been retained once, the district/school shall provide a plan for reading at home, which will include a contract with the parent/guardian

20. Parent/Guardian Notification of the Retention Process • Teachers will meet with parent/guardian as needed to discuss student’s reading progress • Written notification of retention will be sent to the parent/guardian of a student not demonstrating reading proficiency by the end of third grade. • Parent/Guardian will be notified in writing of the reason the student is not eligible for a good cause exemption

21. Parent/Guardian Notification of the Retention Process • Parent/Guardian of a student who is retained shall receive at least monthly written reports on the student progress toward reading proficiency • Teachers and Principals shall provide opportunities to discuss the notifications with parents/guardians

23. What Can Parents Do to Help? • Find some time for reading every day. Reading before bedtime is great, but any time is a good time for reading • Be sure to read books that your child enjoys • Even 15 minutes a day will make a big difference in your child’s achievement and enjoyment of reading • The more you read together, the more fun ways you will find to enjoy reading

24. For More Information • Visit the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County home page’s link to Read to Achieve at http://wsfcs.k12.nc.us/Page/71144 • Contact your school’s principal and/or child’s teacher