Welcome to our 3rd Grade Back to School Night!! Ms. Diehm Welcome to our 3rd Grade Back to School Night!!

Our First Few Days Here are a few of the things we have done so far this year: Started building our community and learned about each other Created our classroom expectations Collected data to build bar graphs Started math talks Read several books and discussed character traits, lessons to be learned, and story elements Started bicycle safety

Teacher Webpage On the teacher webpage you will find several different pages with additional information about our class. Teacher Biography A link to the Food Service Page Our daily schedule Classroom News Volunteering Changes in dismissal routines Visiting during the day Birthday celebrations Online book orders

Reading Students will be assessed using the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmarking Assessment System (BAS) throughout the year which will provide information about each student’s Independent and Instructional levels of reading. Reader’s Workshop: Teacher models reading skills/strategies so that students can then apply them during small group or independently. Book Clubs: Students read independently & together, record their thinking, and discuss their books with members of their club. Book Conferencing: Discussion with student over their self-selected book in order to gather data and provide individual teaching opportunities.

Writing Objectives this year Types of Writing: Narrative Writing (Personal and Fairy Tale) Opinion Writing Informational Writing Through these types of writing, we will work on: The writing process Conventions of language: grammar, usage, & mechanics Cursive Word Study/Vocabulary

Math objectives this year Math is our building focus starting this year. We will be implementing new strategies in order to meet the needs of the students. We will be implementing a framework called CGI (Cognitively Guided Instruction). Through this framework we will be able to meet the Iowa Common Core Standards in the areas of: Data and graphing Shape characteristics Telling/elapsing time Measuring with a ruler and in grams/kilograms/liters Multiplying and dividing Perimeter and area Solving word problems Fractions Place value

Math Example Savannah asked ___ students her graphing question of, “Would you choose a cupcake or ice cream for dessert?” ____ students answered cupcake. How many students answered ice cream? Number Choices: (15, 7) (10, 3) (27, 19) (71, 34) Before lunch, Seth collected data for his graph from ____ students. After lunch, Seth collected data for his graph from ____ more students. How many students was Seth able to collect data from? Number Choices: (3, 8) (24, 18) (54, 87)

Science Objectives this year Bicycle Safety Survival of living things States of matter Light as energy Our Solar System

Social Studies Objective This year Analyze the past using historical thinking Geographical representations Human to human interactions United States Government Rights and responsibilities as American citizens Economics (supply/demand) Finding alternative solutions to problems within our world (example: pollution)

Student Planners Homework Each student has a student planner. Students will fill out their planners each day with homework expectations and other important reminders (picture day tomorrow, dress-up day tomorrow, etc.) Homework Students are expected to read for 15 minutes each night and record the book they are reading in their planners. After spring break in March, reading minutes will increase to 20 minutes. Students will be asked to share a summary about the book they have completed and if they would recommend the book to their classmates. Currently, there will be no math or word work homework. If this changes, I will include this information in our classroom newsletter.

Behavior We expect our students to be respectful, responsible, and safe throughout their school day. There are several supports that we have in place to help our students be successful in meeting these expectations and fostering the kind of school environment we find so important for the learning of all students. PBIS: Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports Individual, Classroom, and School Wide Incentives for positive behavior choices  Observation Deck A place for students to take a few minutes to think about the choices they are making in class. Students may be asked to go to the observation deck by the teacher or go on their own. Students are still observing what is happening in the classroom. The time here is short and sweet, allowing students a few moments to refocus. Think Spot: “Collect Your Thoughts” A place away from the group where students can take a break and reassess behavior without distractions of the class. Students are directed to the think spot by the teacher. After a student has taken a break, the student and teacher will conference about the behavior and the students choices. The think spot is for everyone.

Behavior: Work Habits Every 4 weeks, students self-reflect on our work habits and set goals. These reflections then come home in our “Data Binder” for parents to review with their child.

Data Binders About every 4 weeks, your child will bring home their “Data Binder” with data for you to review and return to school. For parent/teacher communication, please sign the Data Folder Signature Page. Why is a signature required? It’s just our way of insuring that you were able to review these items prior to them being returned to school by your child. Data for review will often be common formative assessments. These common formative assessments are not a final grade, but are used to determine how material is being understood by your child and assist in re-teaching and re-evaluation when necessary. Students will also be doing self-reflections this year on different pieces of work in their data binder. You will find them on ½ sheets attached to the corresponding work.

Field Trips/Concerts Nutcracker: December 15th (students only) Science Museum (TBA) – parents may attend Smoke House visits East in May (students only) ** Watch monthly newsletters and look for field trip notes for dates.

Visiting East Elementary The safety of our students is our top priority. All visitors must check in to the East Elementary office to receive a visitor badge containing your identification and information (as a first time visitor this requires a valid state issued identification card such as a driver’s license). With this visitor’s badge, you may only eat lunch with your child. For safety reasons, parents will not be allowed on the playground. With a visitor’s badge, a completed volunteer handbook, and an approved background check, you may also attend recess, classroom parties, field trips, and volunteer as classroom needs arise. All visitors are required to check in and out of the office.

Conferences You will soon be sent a link through e-mail to sign up for fall conferences. Fall Conferences will be the week of October 16th-20th Spring Conferences will be the week of February 26th –March 2nd