Welcome to Back to School Night! Mrs. Flanagan September 1, 2015

Agenda  About Mrs. Flanagan  Goals  Curriculum  Field Trips  Daily Schedule  Specials  Communication  Dismissal Changes  Homework  Grading  Cabinet/IST process  Management  Extras  Conferences  Questions

About Mrs. Flanagan  Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Early Childhood, Kutztown University  Master’s Degree in Elementary Education, Wilkes University  16 th year at Gayman, 2 nd, 4 th,and 3 rd grades  Cold Spring Elementary, 3 rd grade  School District of Philadelphia, K-5  2 daughters

Goals  Safe, happy, respectful people  Confident, reflective, life-long learners  Responsible and organized  Build classroom community  Work together to achieve these

Curriculum  Reading o Whole Group Reading, Guided Reading, Independent Reading, Inquiry Project  Language Arts o Writing, Grammar, Spelling, Cursive Handwriting  Mathematics o Everyday Mathematics, cyclical  Social Studies o Communities, Geography, Economics,  Science o Life Cycles, Solar System, Motion (Third Grade Assessment)  Technology o Samples shared in portfolio

Field Trips  Honey Hollow Nature Center, October 8, 9-12  Learn about insect life cycles and adaptations  Franklin Institute, Spring 2016  Tour the science exhibits  Chaperones, with appropriate clearances, will be needed for off-site trips. More information to come!  In school Activities  Embryology Unit: chicks due to hatch on October 5  Star Lab: on-site inflatable planetarium, winter 2016

Daily Schedule Morning Routine/Meeting Math Snack Reading Language Arts Recess (11:50 – 12:20) Lunch (12:20 to 12:50) Read Aloud Writing Specials Science/Social Studies Pack Up/Dismissal

Specials  MondayPhys. Ed., Mrs. Hendershot  TuesdayQuest, Mr. Shaw  Wednesday Computer Lab; Art, Mrs. Alderfer  Thursday Music, Mrs. Volpe  FridayLibrary, Mrs. Thomas

Questioning & Understanding through Engineering, Science, & Technology

Communication  Thursday Folders  Tell Me sheets  Updates  Contact me: o Call Gayman (267) 893 – 4350, x 1430 Write a note o me:

Dismissal Changes  Send a note in the morning with your child  Call the office, , before 2:30  Early pick up by 2:45 with ID, or wait for car riders  If going with another friend, please be sure a note is sent by both families

Homework  Assignment books o Signed and checked each day  Homework folders  30 minutes per night, reading and Xtra math  Establish a routine  Missing Assignments Slips o Must be signed and returned o 4 is the magic number  Absences

1. Purpose: Promote student growth and reinforce what is learned in the classroom. Students independently practice what they learned as well as their time management skills. Homework Gayman's Five Beliefs 2. Assessment: Homework is not graded. However, students will be held responsible for completing all assigned homework. 3. Time Allotment: Homework is assigned Monday through Thursday. No routine weekend or holiday assignments will be made. As a rule of thumb 10 minutes per grade level will be assigned. For example: at 6th grade, 10 x 6 = 60 minutes.

Homework Gayman's Five Beliefs 4. Differentiation: Homework can vary depending upon the specific needs of students. This may include time, amount and purpose of homework. 5. Long-term Projects: Long-term projects are directly related to the curriculum. Such projects require children to use secure skills only. Expectations are clearly defined and timelines are established and published.

Grading  Online Standards-based reporting system  Success Standards: 3 (consistently), 2 (often), 1 (rarely)  Learning Standards: Reading, Writing, Math: E (exceeding), M (meeting), A (approaching), LP (limited progress)  Assessments o math unit packets, LEAD 21 unit assessments, oral reading, reading responses, weekly spelling tests, graded writing pieces, science/social studies unit tests  Study guides provided, in-class reviews  All major assessments to be signed  Portfolios of student work

Administrative Cabinet  What?  A team that meets weekly to discuss student issues and concerns, and brainstorm ideas of how to meet a child’s needs in the classroom.  Who?  Your child’s teacher  Principal (Mr. Testani)  Student Support Counselor (Ms. Vass)  School Psychologist (Mrs. Moran)  Reading Specialists (Mrs. Kehoe or Mrs. Sauers)  Other school personnel (as needed)  What do they discuss?  Any issues that your child may be having in the classroom.  Examples: Behavioral, Emotional or Social Concerns, Enrichment Opportunities, Academic Concerns, Fine Motor Skills concerns, Developmental concerns  How will you know?  Your child’s teacher will communicate to you that they are going to bring these concerns up at a cabinet meeting to get some ideas for the classroom or next steps. The teacher will follow up with you after meeting with the team.  If further action is recommended, such as an IST meeting, you will be contacted by Ms. Vass

IST Process (Instructional Support Team)  What?  A team that meets twice a month to review data, create goals and brainstorm interventions to meet a child’s needs in the classroom.  Who?  Parents  Your child’s teacher  Principal (Mr. Testani)  Student Support Counselor (Ms. Vass)  School Psychologist (Mrs. Moran)  Reading Specialists (Mrs. Kehoe or Mrs. Sauers)  Other school personnel, as deemed necessary  What will happen?  Once the team has determined goals and interventions, an Action Plan will be developed and implemented. A follow-up meeting will be scheduled to review the effectiveness of the plan and determine a further course of action. Outcomes could include:  Interventions are effective; continue those strategies in the classroom.  Some modifications to the interventions are necessary. Revise the Action Plan and schedule a second follow-up meeting.  Interventions have resulted in limited improvement. An educational evaluation may be recommended (requires parent approval).

Management  Class Rules  Their Gift/Ripple Effect/Bucket Filling emphasis  Gotchas, Mustang Motivators  Class Points, Table Points  Class Money/Color system  Note or phone call home  Behavior Communication Form, logical consequences  Conference with parents

Extras  Menus – check online  Birthdays – non-treat items, 19 children  Book Orders – monthly or so, checks or online  Physicals/Dentals - 3 rd grade dental forms due by Oct. 15!!!!!  Concert: October 27, 2015 at 5:45, vocal only  Start saving recyclables for Junk Bugs, week of October 12

Conferences  Goal setting: November 23 rd and 24 th (early dismissal days)  Portfolio: March 24 th (no school for students)  Students are invited to attend both conferences

Questions? Feel free to leave questions for me in the basket on the way out. Thank you for joining me at Back to School Night!