Welcome to 3rd Grade! Parent Orientation

Meet Ms. Arbour

Reading Instructional strategies may include whole class lessons, guided reading, strategy groups, reading conferences, reading responses and book clubs. Benchmarks are given throughout the year to assess student progress. Reading STAAR (State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness) will be given in April.

Writing Instructional strategies include whole class lessons, writing conferences. Writers Notebook for collecting ideas Using the writing process 6+1 Writing traits for instruction and assessment Grammar instruction will be embedded into the writing process 3 rd grade introduces the structure of 4 th grade writing.

Math Instructional strategies include whole class lessons, strategy groups, math conferences, explicit vocabulary instruction. Problem Solving - Students are expected to show efficient strategies when problem solving. Students will share strategies with each other in class. Computational fluency (strategies for learning math facts). Hands on activities (games). Students are required to recall multiplication facts through 12X12. Benchmarks are given throughout the year to assess student progress. Math STAAR will be given in April.

Science/Social Studies Hands-on activities Cooperative learning is emphasized in these content areas. Common assessments are given at the end of each unit.

P.A.W.S. PBIS Tiger Tips/Tiger Treats CHAMPS

Let’s look at grade level information, policies and procedures…

Daily Schedule 7:45 - 8:35 Writing/Language Arts 8:35 - 9:40 Tiger Time 9: :30 Specials 10: :45 Snack/Reading 10: :15 Language Arts 11: :35 Recess 11: :05 Lunch 12:05 - 1:05 Math 1:05 - 1:50 Science 1:50 - 2:35 Social Studies 2:35 - 2:45 Dismissal *Library: Tuesday at 8:00 *Specials: Differ each day depending on child’s color group *Computer: Fridays at 1:30

Communication Planners and home folders (red) will be sent home for daily communication. Home folders will include important daily notes and homework. Tuesday folders (blue) will be sent home each week and will include district/school information and graded work. Check teacher web pages for classroom updates

Homework IS: To promote growth To improve learning gaps To build home-school connection To catch up/finish up assignments not completed in class IS NOT: Busywork Something extra Punishment Homework will be sent home weekly on Monday to be returned the following Monday.

Grades ●Grades can be checked online. ●Report cards will be percentage grades and sent home every nine weeks. ○90-100%=ATests will be 50% ○80-89%=BDaily Work 40% ○75-79%=CAnd Homework 10% ○70–74%=D ○69% or lower=F ●Students have the opportunity to redo assignments and earn up to 70%. ●Common assessments will be taken by the whole grade level. ●Progress reports will be sent as needed.

Tiger Team Intervention Monday-Friday Small groups to work on targeted TEKS- may work with another teacher during this time Discovery Referrals Referral forms are in the front office or on the Discover website. They are due by September 30, 2014 (Rm. 21). Testing will begin October 6th. This is the only window for testing this school year.

Behavior Class social contract Positive reinforcement Logical consequences Communication between parent and teacher

Technology ●Smartboards ●Chromebooks ●Computer lab ●Library database ●Embedded into content areas ●Publishing, collaborating, online instruction, games, videos, etc.

Miscellaneous Information Please send a healthy snack and a water bottle with your child each day. We are a nut-free class! We will celebrate birthdays on the last Friday of each month. Summer birthdays will be celebrated in May. Please only send birthday invitations to school if you are inviting the entire class. Otherwise please send invitations via or snail mail.

Thank you for coming! Please consider: ●Ordering your class t-shirt ●Volunteer sign-up ●Conference times ●Sweet Note ●Donation Cards