Welcome! Back To School Night 3rd Grade Welcome! Back To School Night

Agenda Teacher Introduction Classroom Expectations Class Schedule Nine Weeks Plans Homework Policy Grading in 3rd Grade Contact Information LCPS Policy Reminders Questions and Answers

Classroom Expectations Students arrive promptly and begin morning work Students are to stay on task and not disrupt the learning process for others Students need to be prepared, independent and ready to learn Students are responsible for their own behavior and are expected to follow the school and class rules * Students will copy their homework in their agenda and hand in completed homework in a timely manner * Students will collaborate to create our class expectations

Our Class Expectations The students will help create our list of class expectations. At CCE, it is our top priority to create a happy, safe learning environment. We will start each day with a Morning Meeting, and we will talk about what behaviors create a caring, positive classroom community!

Behavior Management Plan Class Morning Meetings PBIS (Positive Behavior & Colt’s Compliments) Think Sheets Individual Behavior Charts & Rewards

3rd Grade Team & Teaching The third grade team plans together on a weekly basis. We teach the same subjects during the approximate same time each day. We will give common assessments-- This helps us monitor which skills students have mastered and which skills we may need to reteach. We will work hard to communicate with you about assignments and due-dates. Please check the third grade webpage often! Our team will be flex-grouping for math instruction this year. We will be pre-assessing each topic, monitoring continuously, and readjusting as needed. We will finish topics with a common assessment. This will help us better meet the needs of every student by meeting them where they are beginning.

A look at the first nine weeks in Math: Telling time to the nearest quarter hour, half hour, and minute Calculating elapsed time one hour after or before a set time Reading a thermometer in both Fahrenheit and Celsius Graphing skills Place value and rounding of digits Addition with and without regrouping Subtraction with and without regrouping Inverse relationships: Addition & Subtraction

More about Math Our County-Wide Math Goals: Problem Solving Research into how children learn, not just in mathematics, shows that the WAY students learn the content standards plays a vital role. NCTM has outlined these five process standards to help guide our planning of effective lessons. Problem Solving Communication Mathematical Reasoning Connections Representations We try to utilize many different techniques to increase the quality and relevance of our math instruction. Our goal is to increase the rigor of our instruction to raise the level of critical thinking in our students.

*What are some strategies you know for starting this problem?   Problem Solving The ability to build mathematical knowledge, adapt strategies, reflect on strategies, and apply them to real world contexts. *What are some strategies you know for starting this problem? *What is another situation where you might try that kind of strategy? Reasoning and Proof The ability to make and investigate conjectures and to develop and evaluate arguments and proofs. *Why do you think that’s true? *Can you show your neighbor why your answer has to be correct? Communication The ability to communicate mathematical thinking clearly and to analyze and evaluate others’ thinking and strategies. *Explain to me how you got that. *Could you explain how a classmate’s strategy is different than yours? Connections The ability to make and recognize connections among mathematical ideas, including the ability to recognize them outside of the classroom. *How is that answer like the one you modeled yesterday? *Where have you seen that before? Representation The ability to use numerous representations to organize or communicate a mathematical idea, including representation of real world phenomena. *Can you show me how to solve that another way? *What would that look like if you solved it using _____?   REPRESENTATIONS I use pictures, numbers, and words to show my thinking. COMMUNICATION I use math vocabulary to explain my thinking to others. MATHEMATICAL REASONING I describe why I think my strategy makes sense when solving a problem. CONNECTIONS I show how the problem is like something else I already know. PROBLEM SOLVING I use effective strategies to solve a problem.

A look at the first nine weeks in Science: Scientific Investigation Matter Water Cycle Natural Cycles (Sun, Earth, & Moon)

A look at the first nine weeks in Social Studies: * Government & Citizenship * Maps & Globes, Location, & Map Skills * Continents & Oceans

A look at the first nine weeks in Language Arts: * Use effective communication skills in group activities * Identify fiction and nonfiction * Apply word-analysis skills when reading * Use strategies to read a variety of fiction and nonfiction materials * Read and demonstrate comprehension of fiction * Write descriptive sentences and paragraphs * Edit writing for correct grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling

Homework Students will receive approximately 30 minutes of homework every night Homework will be written in student agendas daily. Parental supervision of agenda use is strongly encouraged. According to LCPS policy, homework will not be graded, but should reflect a high level of quality and effort. Students will be expected to have access to the Internet for homework assignments posted online later in the year. (Please see your child’s teacher if the Internet is not accessible at home.) Students are encouraged to make reading a part of their routine every night.

Grading in 3rd Grade Teachers will use the following grading scale for student work: Progress Indicators 4 = Exceeds Standard 3 = Meets Standard 2 = Progressing Towards Standard 1= Below Standard ● = Denotes knowledge or skill not assessed at this time On the report card, you will see averaged letter grades. A – Outstanding B – Very Good C – Satisfactory D – Needs Improvement F – Not performing (As teachers, we do not focus on letter grades. We care if the student is meeting the standards!)

Grading Example Partial Topic Statement 1: Below Standard 2: Progressing Towards Standard 3: Meets Standard 4: Exceeds Standard Edits writing for punctuation Few or none of the sentences have correct punctuation Some of the sentences have correct punctuation Many of the sentences have correct All of the sentences have correct punctuation

Third Grade Snack Notes If you choose to send in a snack for your child, please try to make it a healthy snack. We are asking that we have no nut-product snacks this year in any third grade classrooms. LCPS does not permit parents to bring treats in to celebrate student birthdays. You may discuss options for recognizing birthdays with the classroom teacher. Water bottles are allowed in our classrooms, but please make sure they don’t leak.

Contact Information Please feel free to contact me via: Phone (703) 957-4480 Letters sent in with your child in the homework folder Emails (the best way to contact me) Will respond within 24 hours Do not email confidential info No grades No emails about behavior issue

Questions & Answers What questions can I answer that will help better prepare you for a great third grade year of learning?