Mrs. Plott’s 3 rd Grade Class

Mrs. Plott’s 3rd Grade Class Welcome to Open House!

Welcome to Open House Mrs. Plott’s phone number: 832-484-7056 Email: kplott@kleinisd.net Conference Times: Monday, Tuesday, Friday: 8:30-9:15 Thursday: 10:45-11:30 Lunch 12:12 in the cafeteria Mrs. Plott’s website: http://classroom.kleinisd.net/webs/kplott

My Goals • To give your children the academic and social skills needed to progress to fourth grade. • To provide a supportive and fun classroom environment. • To help them make new friends and discover new interests.

Daily Class Schedule • 8:20 – morning announcements • 8:30 – 9:15 PE/Music • 9:15-9:30 Restroom Break • 9:30-11:30 Reading/Language Arts • 11:30-11:40 Restroom Break • 11:40-12:12 Writing Workshop • 12:12-12:45 Lunch • 12:50 – 1:10 Recess (weather permitting) • 1:10-1:50 Social Studies • 1:55-2:55 Eagle Hour All times are approximate. Schedule may change for time allotment or curriculum content purposes.

Testing Calendar • TAKS Test: Reading: March 3, 2009 Math: April 28, 2009 Students must pass the reading portion of the TAKS test to be promoted to 4th grade. • District common assessments and benchmark tests will be given throughout the school year. Students will be notified of these test dates.

Grading Guidelines • Reading: At least 3 major tests per grading period = 50% of nine weeks grade; 8 minor quizzes or independent class work = 40% of nine weeks grade; Homework Assignments: 10% of nine weeks grade; • Language Arts: At least 2 major tests per grading period = 50% of nine weeks grade; 1 major composition per nine weeks grade 8 minor quizzes or independent class work = 50% of nine weeks grade; Homework Assignments: 10% of nine weeks grade; • Social Studies: At least 3 major tests per grading period = 50% of nine weeks grade; 8 minor quizzes or independent class work = 40% of nine weeks grade; Homework Assignments: 10% of nine weeks grade; • Grading Scale: 90-100(A) 80-89 (B) 75-79 (C) 70-74 (D) 0-69 (F)

Grading Guidelines • Neatness is always assessed on all assignments. • Handwriting must be grade level appropriate including letter formation, size, and spacing between words and sentences. Points are deducted accordingly. • Correct capitalization is also required. Placing a capital letter incorrectly in a spelling word, for example, will result in a missed item. • Correct headings are required for full credit on all papers. Up to 4% will be deducted for improper or missing headings. • Complete sentences must be used on most assignments for full credit. • Correct spelling is required if the student has the word available to him (if the word is located on the page, in the question, or if an open book test is given, in the book) or if it is a word that should have been mastered by this point. • One percentage point(-1%sp) will be deducted. • A 70% is the maximum grade a child can receive on a retested item, such as correcting failing major test grades.

Reading/ ELA • We will be exploring different types of genre or literature including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and biographies. We will be learning many strategies to improve reading and thinking processes. • We will be preparing for the TAKS Reading Test in March. • We will be learning many new vocabulary words through Language and Word Study sessions.

Writing • We will be learning the different components of a sentence, as well as the different types of sentences. • We will be learning how to write a paragraph with strong main idea or topic sentences and supporting, elaborated detail sentences. • We will be learning how to write several types of compositions including narratives, biographies, and research papers.

Social Studies • We will be learning about communities, history, and important local and national leaders from both past and present. • We will learn how to use geographical tools, such as maps and globes. • We will learn how to collect, analyze, and interpret data from different sources. We will learn how to make graphical representations of that data.

Classroom Community • Our classroom is a family. In our family, we have rules that we follow. • We will continue to use the school’s weekly Social Skill as our focus and build our repertoire of well managed behavioral skills.

Behavior Guidelines • Appropriate behavior -- Students earn “Eagles” or coupons, which they accrue throughout the nine weeks. Students earning 50 eagles will participate in a special “board game” day on the last day of the nine weeks. Students with all or nearly all E’s will be considered for a special reward “Principal’s Club”. Students in grades 3-5 are eligible and will attend an afternoon learning session with one of the administrators. They can also earn free art time, “shoes off and relax”, or lunch with Mrs. Plott.

Behavior Guidelines • Inappropriate behavior -- Students will receive a yellow conduct slip for inappropriate behavior after a verbal warning is given. Conduct is tallied and recorded in the Tuesday folder. I use the Tuesday folder sheet to determine conduct grades for the nine weeks in each area. Excessive conduct slips can result in isolated lunch, a parent phone call, letter, or conference, isolation or removal from class, detention after school or an office referral. Consequences depend on the type and frequency of the behavior.

Behavior Guidelines Dress Code - KISD handbook pg. 29 Schultz staff will continue to strictly enforce the KISD dress code as printed in the student handbook. Please remember:Shorts, skirts, and dresses MUST be mid-thigh or below. Tattoos must be covered at all times.No low cut, see through, backless dress, tank top, may be worn. Shoulder straps must be sufficiently wide enough to cover undergarments. No inappropriate slogans, pictures, or suggestive material on clothes.No scarves or hair style/color that is distracting.Hair cuts such as mohawks or cut-ins are not permitted.No bike shorts are allowed to be worn during school unless worn under skirts/dresses.Appropriate footwear is required. Since the children participate in PE and recess, tennis shoes are preferred. Backless sandals or "flip flops" are not allowed. Parents will be called and asked to bring a change of clothes if students have dress code infractions. Thank you for your support!

Homework • Students will have about 45 minutes of homework every night. This includes 20 minutes of reading. • Please allow your child to have a quiet place at home to complete his/her homework. Homework is to be returned to school and will be checked on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. • Students receive a homework completion grade on their report cards. • Please see Mrs. Plott’s website: Classwork/Homework/Tests button for the daily assignments.

School hours • School starts at 8:10 a.m. daily. • Students are tardy at 8:21. After three tardies, a letter will be sent home to parents. After the 5th tardy, the student’s conduct grade drops one letter grade. • Please call the attendance office if your child is going to be absent. • School ends at 3:05 P.M.each day.

Make Up Days Due to Hurricane Ike • KISD will make up four (4) instructional days due to the hurricane. Please note these on your calendar.October 13, 2008 January 16, 2009February 16, 2009April 13, 2009

What Can Parents Do? • READ, READ, READ (ALOUD) WITH YOUR CHILD! • Sign the homework folder nightly. Help your child with homework. • Review Tuesday folder papers with students. • See the Parents Information Packet • Join the PTO: The PTO provides monies for tutoring students, playground equipment, supplies, and fantastic holiday parties! • Volunteer: at home and at school

Need dinner? Papa John’s is here! • Papa John’s Pizza is here selling individual (6”) cheese or pepperoni pizzas & drinks Pizzas = $4.00 each Drinks = $1.00 each

Cafeteria News Mrs. Boudreaux will be in the cafeteria from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. if you’d like to put money in your child’s lunch account.

Let’s Have a Great Year!

Mrs. Plott’s 3 rd Grade Class