Ms. Herbert Ms. Warek Mrs. Teal Mr. Hunter Ms. Snedeker - UMD Student Teacher

1. Ms. HerbertMs. WarekMrs. TealMr. Hunter Ms. Snedeker - UMD Student Teacher Welcome to the 2010-2011 Back to School Night!

2. Third Graders SOAR! • Safe • Organized • Accountable • Respectful This year, students are aiming to SOAR all around the school. If they break a classroom rule, they will earn the letter that the rule corresponds to. So, running in the classroom would earn an S. Not turning in homework earns an A. Students are keeping track of their daily SOAR progress. Please look for written letters in their student planners daily. "It Pays to Behave" - Positive behavior will earn students "Falcon Bucks". Students have the oppotunity to earn 1 "Falcon Buck" per day; with each letter (SOAR) being worth 25 cents. "Pay Day" will be on Fridays.

3. Typical Day in 3rd grade • 8:45 - 9:10 Arrival and morning work • 9:10 - 10:20 Math • 10:20 - 11:15 Reading • 11:15 - 12:00 Art, Music, P.E. (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) or Reading continued (Tuesday & Thursday) • 12:00 - 1:00 Lunch/Recess • 1:05 - 2:00 Writing/Science/Social Studies • 2:00 - 2:55 Writing/Science/Social Studies • 2:55 - 3:00 SOAR reflecting and Homework recording

4. What you need to know about....MATH • Each student has a math homework folder. • Quizzes will be given every other week. • Homework will be sent home Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. It is due the next day. • A problem of the week will be sent home weekly, on Thursdays. It is due the following Monday. • Please review basic facts with your 3rd graders! Also, use the reference journal to help your child prepare for quizzes.

5. A Typical 70 Minute Math Block: • Warm-Up/ Review Homework:10 minutes • Whole Group Lesson:15 minutes • Small Group Lessons/ Independent Practice/ Math Centers:40 minutes • Closure/ Pass Out Homework/ Exit Cards:5 minutes

6. What you need to know about....Reading and Writing • Students will be given small group instruction based on current reading levels. These groups are fluid and can change at any time. • Please make sure your child is reading 20 minutes each night. Have them read aloud from time to time to ensure they have chosen an appropriate book. • Please see your Back 2 School Night Packet for suggested discussion questions. ­ Students will be assigned a weekly Quick Write. It will be given on Thursday and is due the following Monday. They are to write for at least a FULL 15 minutes. • Additional reading/writing homework will be assigned in class. Please check the student planner nightly to check for these assignments. Books that come home in bags are to be returned the next day in the same bag.

7. What you need to know about....Spelling • Twice a month a pre-test will be given on the specific spelling pattern to determine students' proficiency. Their spelling words will depend on how they perform on the pre-test. • In addition to the spelling pattern words, students will have 5 high frequency words to study each cycle. • Students will use their Spelling Menu to practice their words at home. Encourage your child to try different activities each week. • The test will be given on the Friday of the second week. Students will be required to use their words within the context of a sentence. They will be graded on capitalization and punctuation and will only be graded on the words they studied, even though they may have to write other words.

8. Homework • Please check student planners daily for homework assignments, long term projects and important announcements. Students are expected to get their planners signed EVERY NIGHT! • Reading: Students are expected to read any grade appropriate book of their choice for at least 20 minutes each night. Occasionally, students will be assigned additional reading assignments directly correlated with reading instruction from the day (check planner). • Math: Students will receive a nightly math assignment directly correlated with math instruction from the day (check planner). • Spelling is completed in two week cycles. The first week is when words/patterns are introduced in class, and the second week is when the words are practiced at home for homework. Contracts will be sent home every other Tuesday. Students use their contracted words to complete 30 points from the Spelling Menu in their Spelling Journal, due on the Thursday of the second week. Spelling tests will be given every other Friday. Test results will be sent home and corrections will be assigned on the following Monday. • Problem of the Week & Quick Writes are assigned every Thursday, and they are due by Monday, or he first day of the week. Students are expected to complete these assignments in the corresponding journals.

9. Ways that we communicate! • E-mail - Please look for your child's teacher's E-mail in the packet. Please allow us 48 hours to respond, as we are busy bees! Please check out our websites: • www.msherbert.yolasite.com • www.mswarek.yolasite.com • www.mrstealswebsite.yolasite.com • Student planners - Students will be responsible for writing homework assignments each night in a planner. Please review the planner with your child and sign it nightly. We may, and you can use the planner to send notes and updates occasionally. • Friday Folders and/or Homework Folders - Announcements and graded/checked work will be sent home in weekly Friday Folders. Nightly homework will be sent home in the homework folder. Please review and empty with your child each night. • Please send a note or call the office (last minute) if your child is going home a different way than usual. Don't rely on e-mail for playdates and change of transportation.