Pod A 3rd Grade Buford Academy Curriculum Night 2014-2015

Ms. Smith 23rd year of teaching 1988 Buford High School Graduate Track and field Coach Birthday: January 1st Hobbies: reading, shopping, eating Favorite Stores: TJMaxx, Starbucks, Target Collects: Elephants

Mrs. Topham Grew up in Dacula, Georgia 4th year of teaching here at The Academy Before working at BA, I taught Spanish Birthday: December 20th Hobbies: Traveling, cooking, playing with my daughter Kolbie, and listening to Christmas music! Favorite place in the world: Disney World!

Mrs. Weeks 8th year teaching 3rd grade Birthday: September 18th Hobbies: spending time with family and friends, shopping, pedicures, church Favorite stores: Macy’s, Dunkin Donuts, New York & Company

Mr. West 29th year teaching at Buford Head Varsity tennis coach Birthday: July 20th Hobbies: Working in the yard, water gardening, tennis, stone carving, swimming, traveling Favorite store: Home Depot, Lowe’s, Cabos Mexican Restaurant Collects: plants and tools for the yard

Agenda Your child brings it home every night. They need to bring it to school everyday. This is used to: Check-out books (bar code) Communicate between parents & teachers. Tell your child if you write me a note. Record misbehavior Record assignments Important dates/events

Homework Language Arts & Spelling - Test every Thursday starting after Labor Day - Homework due on Thursday - Various writing assignments Math - Practice math facts-addition, subtraction, multiplication Reading Read at least 20 minutes each night. There are ebooks on the Gwinnett County Library site. The more you read the better you will do in ALL subjects. Send in your library books every day. Daily Reading Log starting the week of September 8th Social Studies & Science Look for study guides and other materials in the back of the gold folder.

How can I best help my child be successful? Encourage and praise your child! Have your child read. Go to the public library and attend iRead. Give your child a routine and structure. Have a set bedtime. Give your child household responsibilities. Did I mention “reading”? Limit absences and check-outs Have fun together!

Newsletter Updates from each teacher Important information and dates Emailed or a hard copy sent home on Friday or Monday Located on our class website

Gold Folders This will go home every day. Please remove your child’s: Graded work Graded tests Newsletters (if not emailed) Homework Important notes Please return homework and signed papers in the gold folder each day. Papers are taken out when they are due. (Not before.) Please do not throw any papers away without asking your child first if they are important!

Classroom Website Our classroom website is found on the Buford Academy website. Click on our pictures or go to http://quadpod.weebly.com Look at the website for announcements, fun links to learning, homework reminders, and more!!!

Daily Schedule 8:25 Tardy Bell 8:40-9:30 Flex time 11:20-11:50 Lunch 11:55-12:10 Recess 3:05- Bus Call

Snacks Please bring in healthy snacks Clear liquids with a lid Examples: granola bar, fruit, crackers, vegetables, yogurt, pudding No Takis, Doritos, or sticky foods Clear liquids with a lid Students may not share snacks unless there is enough for everyone

Behavior Plan Children Teachers Respect… Each other Self Property Environment Children Teachers

Behavior Plan Consequences: * laps at recess * letter home * silent lunch * phone call home

Common Core Most states are participating. Reading, Language Arts, Math, and Science Social Studies is still being developed by the local state. www.georgiastandards.org

Reading Author Studies Book Clubs Buddy Books Learning Stations Vocabulary Mini Lessons Reading Journals Close Reading Comprehension Builders GA Milestones Skills and Strategies

Language Arts/Writing * Writing – Writing Process & Traits of Writing * Grammar – incorporated into daily writings * Mentor Sentences * Literacy Stations * Spelling – Patterned words & high frequency words - Mastery of spelling is noted in daily writings!

Math Math Centers/Small Groups Manipulatives Units: * Number Sense: Place Value & Rounding numbers to the nearest 10 and 100, Addition and Subtraction, Multiplication and Division * Data and Graphing * Fractions * Geometry * Problem Solving

Science/Social Studies Science Units: Rocks and Minerals, Changes to Earth’s land, Magnetism, Heat and Energy, Habitats of Georgia, Adaptations of Living Things, Preserving Ecosystems Social Studies Units: Historical Figures, Mountains & Rivers, Economics, Government, Greece, map skills Tests after every unit. Study guides will be sent home…Students must study to be successful. Resources will be included on the website.

Grading Report cards are sent every nine weeks. Progress reports at mid-term. Look at PowerSchool- Call the office if lost. Children are graded based on: Formative (classwork)- 55% (except ELA 50%) Summative (assessments) 40% (except ELA 35%) Homework 5% Spelling 10% ELA only

Assessments Some test dates will be noted on the newsletter and others will be written in the agenda. Science & Social Studies study guides will be sent home prior to the assessment date Common Assessments Weekly Tests Spelling Multiplication (Beginning in October)

Testing ITBS and CogAT testing August 25th-28th * ITBS- Reading, Lang. Arts, Math * Cog AT- Cognitive abilities GA Milestones Assessment * Reading, Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies *** No more CRCT ***

Buford Academy Title I Parent/Student/Teacher Compact As a Parent I agree to... Be A proactive parent by encouraging regular school attendance and ensuring that my child is prepared for school each day. Be A supportive parent by ensuring time is made for nightly reading, homework completion, and reviewing school communication. Be A partner by supporting the school discipline plan and encouraging my child to make positive choices. Be An active participant by attending Open House, Curriculum Night, Parent Teacher Conferences, and other events throughout the school year. Be An encourager by providing a home environment that both promotes and motivates student learning.

Buford Academy Title I Parent/Student/Teacher Compact As a Teacher I agree to... Be A proactive teacher by partnering with parents to guide the individual learner for academic independence and success in all standards. Be A supportive teacher by providing instruction which makes connections across subject areas as we teach Common Core Georgia Performance Standards to en-sure student progress and individual achievement. Be A partner by implementing the school discipline plan and encouraging students to make positive choices. Be An active participant by providing frequent reports on student progress, holding parent-teacher conferences at least twice a year, and communicating regularly with parents. Be An encourager by providing a learning environment which promotes high expectations of students’ achievement and behavior.

Buford Academy Title I Parent/Student/Teacher Compact As a Student I agree to... Be A proactive student by attending school and being prepared each day. Be A responsible student by reading nightly, completing my homework, and studying for tests. Be A partner by following classroom and school rules, respecting others, and making positive choices. Be An active participant by asking questions when I do not understand, cooperating in classroom activities, and reviewing school communication with my parents. Be An example by modeling positive behavior and being a self-motivated learner.

V.I.P. Very Important Parents We need help in many different ways throughout the school year. Fall Festival pod basket (Oct. 9th) Parties * Winter - Dec.19th * Valentine’s Day - Feb. 13th * 3rd grade awards - Luau May 19th - Snacks & treats Helpers in the room

Email is the best way to communicate in a timely manner. Thank You! Our children are our future! If you have further questions, feel free to schedule a conference. lacrecia.smith@bufordcityschools.org ashley.topham@bufordcityschools.org shannon.weeks@bufordcityschools.org roger.west@bufordcityschools.org Email is the best way to communicate in a timely manner.