Welcome Parents

1. Welcome Parents Ms. Newman’s Third Grade Class!

2. Welcome to Third Grade! • I will introduce you to third grade and to our classroom. • If you have any questions during my presentation, please don’t hesitate to ask.

3. About me! • I grew up in Windermere. • I got my Bachelors degree from the University of Florida in Environmental Science. • I got my Masters of Elementary Education from UF also. • This is my second year teaching third grade at Lost Lake. • I love third grade!!

4. My Goals • To give your child the academic and social skills they be successful this year, and in the future • To provide a supportive, cooperative, and fun classroom environment • To help your child develop a love of reading and writing • To strengthen your child’s understanding of math concepts while keeping it fun and enjoyable

5. Class Subjects • The subjects we study during third grade are: • Reading • Language Arts & Writing • Math • Science • Social studies • Cursive • Character education • Steps to Respect

6. Accelerated Math Accelerated Reader Steps to Respect Science Fair STEM Bowl Challenges to Excel

7. Reading • Compare/contrast • Author’s Purpose • Plot Development • Context Clues • Figurative Language • Cause & Effect • Main Idea & Details • Narrative Elements • Text Features

8. Reading Grade Break Down • Tests-35% • FCAT style Wonders assessment by benchmark • Cold Reads-45% • Short portfolio pieces • FCAT Mini Achieves-10% • 5 question quizzes by benchmark • Classwork-10% • Center work • AR test on weekly story

9. Language Arts &Writing • Narrative Essays • Expository Essays • Descriptive writing • 6 Write Traits • Cursive Handwriting

10. Language Arts & Writing Grade Break Down • Writing-30% • Classwork-35% • Grammar skills • Spelling-35% • Weekly test

11. Math • Number Sense • Multiplication • Division • Geometry • Fractions • Data analysis • Algebraic Thinking • Time

12. Math Grade Break Down • Tests-55% • Quizzes-35% • Mid Chapter Checkpoint • Mini Achieves-10%

13. Science • The Practice of Science • Living things • Florida Wildlife • Space-The Universe • Matter, Heat, Energy • Weird Science Wednesdays!

14. Science Grade Break Down • Test-50% • Open book • Quizzes-30% • Lesson Checks, about 3 per chapter • Classwork • Labs and other projects

15. Social Studies • Geographic Information (maps, globes) • Contributions of Citizens who defended American Principles • Exploration of the Americas • The foundations of Government • Basic Principles of American Citizens • Government • Economics- Goods/ services

16. Organization • Third grade is a big year for your child to develop their independence! • I ask students to be responsible for… • Having the correct materials in class and at home • Knowing what their nightly homework is • Keeping their desks and backpacks organized • Turning in assignments on time • Asking for something that they need

17. Policies and Procedures Respectful Responsible Reliable Ready to Learn

18. School Wide Reward System • Pink Lion Loot-Cafeteria • Given only by lunchroom assistant • Earn loot as a class • Must follow posted lunchroom behavior • Reward once a month for top class from each grade level and top class overall • Blue Lion Loot-Specials • Given only by a special area teacher • Earn loot as a class • Follow the rules for special areas • Reward once a semester • Establish own guidelines for Lion Loot day

19. Classroom Incentives • Fuzzies- Good for You chart • “Clean” Behavior Sheets • Lunch and a movie • A-Math Objectives • Accelerated Reader points • Shining Star • Fun Friday!

20. Fun Friday!!! • Shine Folder • Record classroom infractions and dates • This includes missing or incomplete homework! • Two marks for the week means that the student will miss 5 minutes of fun Friday. • Three or more marks means that the student will miss all of fun Friday. • If behavior continues to be an issue week after week, I may send this behavior folder home to be signed. • Fun Friday is either extended recess, or a game/craft session inside. 

21. Homework Folder • This is where I will send all important papers and information home to you. • It contains... • Reading log • Literature Response questions • Vocabulary words • Spelling words • All usernames and passwords for at home websites • It is the students’ responsibility to bring this folder to and from school daily!

22. Homework • Students will have 20 minutes of reading and a reading log entry to do nightly. • They will also have math practice pages that correspond to our lessons. • On nights before tests students will bring home materials to study from. • It is the students’ responsibility to study spelling as often as they need for the weekly test. • **Please note: Having the agenda and reading log signed each night is also part of your child’s homework.

23. FCAT • 14 tested reading benchmarks • 17 tested math benchmarks • Window: April 22-25 • Practice throughout the school year • FCAT explorer • Cold Reads • Mini Achieves • Tutoring • Level 1 Law • Good Cause promotion • Come to our FCAT night in late fall!

24. FCAT: Practice At Home! • Read, read, READ!! • Build stamina • Read outloud • Ask questions and discuss what your child read • Complete and understand the daily math homework • Underline key words and numbers • Show work • FCAT Explorer

25. Some Odds and Ends • Parent Volunteers (9:00 – 2:30)‏ • New online form! • Field trips • Tuesday School

26. Lunch • 12:09-12:39 • www.mylunchmoney.com • Hand stamp • Pink Lion Loot! • Enrichment • 10:20-11:05 • 8 day rotation

27. Water Fountain Please send in a water bottle with your child daily. We do visit the water fountain after recess, but having one in the classroom will limit wasted time going to the water fountain.

28. Communication I welcome and encourage parent communication! You may contact me through— • Agenda • Parent Conference • Email • newmank@lake.k12.fl.us

29. ANY QUESTIONS?