Before We Begin… Welcome! Please get started on the following: 1. Find your child’s desk, read the letter from your child and write a response. 2. Create a 2-sided bookmark for your son or daughter while I speak- make sure to write their name on it! Supplies located in caddy on desks ! 2. Create a 2-sided bookmark for your son or daughter while I speak- make sure to write their name on it! Supplies located in caddy on desks ! 3. Take a guess at the Estimation Jar- don’t forget your name/child’s name.

Welcometo Curriculum Night! Curriculum Night! Mrs. McAllen 3 rd Grade

Born, Raised, and Lived in NJ until last August About Me Two Teachers + Two Kids= Fun Summers ?!?!? Have taught Kindergarten, Third Grade and Fifth Grade over the past 13 years Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Seton Hall University Bachelors Degree in Communications from Stockton University in New Jersey

Communication Classroom: Connect: Go to the Apollo Website and click on “Room 206 Rockets” (last one on the list on the left sidebar) Classroom newsletter Occasional s or paper notices

Be RespectfulBe ResponsibleBe Safe Treat Others Nicely Follow Directions Use Polite Language Take Care of our School Solve Problems Make Good Decisions Give Best Effort Respect the Learning Environment Keep Hands and Feet to Yourself Ask Permission to Leave any Setting Make Good Choices Use Tools & Equipment Appropriately

Class Expectations Respect Others Respect Others Positive Attitude Positive Attitude Listen Attentively Listen Attentively Follow Directions and Procedures Follow Directions and Procedures Work Independently Work Independently Materials Ready Materials Ready Complete All Assignments Complete All Assignments Self-Control Self-Control Develop strong organization skills! Develop strong organization skills!

Classroom Management School-wide program: Students can receive “Rocket Recognition” for great behavior. On Fridays, names are announced over the loudspeaker and their photo is taken for display on the board in the hallway! School-wide program: Students can receive “Rocket Recognition” for great behavior. On Fridays, names are announced over the loudspeaker and their photo is taken for display on the board in the hallway! Classroom positive reinforcement: Whole class: marble jar Small groups: table points Individuals: “Rocket Slips” Negative consequences: Warning Loss of privileges Apologies

Homework Assignment sheet with homework & reminders- parent initials and returns on Friday Assignment sheet with homework & reminders- parent initials and returns on Friday Reading: 20 min, 4 times per week and response log Reading: 20 min, 4 times per week and response log Math: Home Link usually Monday – Thursday Math: Home Link usually Monday – Thursday Interactive Journal- your homework! Goes home Friday due back on Monday Interactive Journal- your homework! Goes home Friday due back on Monday *If your student works and cannot finish, just write me a note telling me why it is not complete. We don’t want homework to become overly frustrating.

THIRD GRADE IS A BIG STEP BECAUSE…..  We work for longer periods of time.  We read for information.  We read longer and more varied text.  We use problem solving strategies.  We explain our understanding orally and on paper. orally and on paper.  We write for a variety of purposes.  We are becoming independent learners.

 Typical Daily Schedule 8:30- 8:50 Check-in, Morning Work, Community Building 8:50 – 10:00 Math Block 10:00 – 10:10 Snack 10:10 – 10:55 Writing Workshop 11: :40 Recess and Lunch 11:45- 12:25 Reader’s Workshop 12:25 – 12:55 Specialists 12:55 – 1:25 IDR 1:25 – 1:55 Read Aloud /Cursive 1:55 – 2:15 PM Recess 2:15 – 2:45 Sci/SS 2:45- 2:55 Pack up/ Homework and Dismissal Mondays: PE and Computers Tuesdays: Library and Music Thursdays: PE Fridays: Music

Birthday Policy Issaquah nutritional policy is much stricter than in recent times Issaquah nutritional policy is much stricter than in recent times intended to assist students in making healthy and responsible choices when it comes to food. intended to assist students in making healthy and responsible choices when it comes to food. The birthday child’s chair gets the birthday seat cover and they receive a birthday bookmark from me. We watch a special gonoodle birthday clip, and we sing to them. The birthday child’s chair gets the birthday seat cover and they receive a birthday bookmark from me. We watch a special gonoodle birthday clip, and we sing to them.

G.L.A.D. G.L.A.D. Guided Language Acquisition Design Guided Language Acquisition Design Cooperation, active learning, accountability, literacy, academic language Cooperation, active learning, accountability, literacy, academic language Desks in groups, charts on walls Desks in groups, charts on walls Used throughout the year and across all subjects Used throughout the year and across all subjects Great for language immersion Great for language immersion I spent 2 weeks this summer at intensive GLAD training sessions I spent 2 weeks this summer at intensive GLAD training sessions

Curriculum Reading Reading Writing Writing Cursive Cursive Spelling/Vocabulary Spelling/Vocabulary Mathematics Mathematics Science Science Social Studies Social Studies Technology Technology Health Health Art Art

Reading Making Meaning Making Meaning Focuses on comprehension Focuses on comprehension Aligns with the Common Core State Standards Aligns with the Common Core State Standards Fountas and Pinnell Fountas and Pinnell Running Record assessment two or three a year, to determine reading level Running Record assessment two or three a year, to determine reading level Reader Workshops– “Fur & Feathers” and “Myths & Legends” Reader Workshops– “Fur & Feathers” and “Myths & Legends” Guided Reading Groups Guided Reading Groups

Comprehension Strategies from “Making Meaning” Making Connections Making Connections Visualizing Visualizing Making Inferences Making Inferences Wondering/Questioning Wondering/Questioning Analyzing Text Features Analyzing Text Features Determining Important Ideas Determining Important Ideas

Writing District adoption of Common-Core aligned “Lucy Caulkins Units of Study”: District adoption of Common-Core aligned “Lucy Caulkins Units of Study”: Narrative Writing Narrative Writing Information/Expository Writing Information/Expository Writing Persuasive/Opinion Writing Persuasive/Opinion Writing Fairy Tales Fairy Tales Frequent revisits of all genres of writing Frequent revisits of all genres of writing I spent a week this summer at The Writing Institute to refine my instruction across all genres I spent a week this summer at The Writing Institute to refine my instruction across all genres

Word Work and Cursive  Vocabulary: Students are taught how to learn words and how to remember words. Strategies for learning vocabulary include : context clues, root words, prefixes and suffixes.  Cursive - “Handwriting Without Tears” workbook  Spelling: Spelling will be integrated with writing instruction, with an emphasis on application in students’ daily writing. Spelling tests and observations of daily work conducted throughout the year to assess

Mathematics Everyday Mathematics curriculum A problem-solving approach based on everyday situations A problem-solving approach based on everyday situations An instructional approach that revisits concepts regularly (spiral theory) An instructional approach that revisits concepts regularly (spiral theory) Frequent practice of basic skills, often through games Frequent practice of basic skills, often through games Everyday Math Online Everyday Math Online Reference Book Reference Book Family letters for each unit Family letters for each unit Homework answers Homework answers

Mathematics cont’d Problem Solving Incorporated with EDM curriculum Incorporated with EDM curriculum “Exemplars” problems “Exemplars” problems Problems in math journal on Fridays Problems in math journal on FridaysIXL A website that Apollo subscribes to – students log in A website that Apollo subscribes to – students log in Has different areas of practice Has different areas of practice Great for basic fact practice Great for basic fact practiceMobyMax A website for which I purchased a subscription A website for which I purchased a subscription Fact Fluency as well as other areas of curriculum

3 rd Grade Math Components  There are many components to our math assessments. This allows for a more complete understanding of each students’ ability. The components are: content, mathematical practices, fluency, & problem solving.  Our math components are graded using rubrics, which details the actions and thinking required to meet or exceed standard.

Science Life Science: Animal Life Cycles: Salmon Animal Life Cycles: Salmon Earth Science: Water and Weather Water and Weather Physical Science: Properties of Matter: Rocks and Minerals Properties of Matter: Rocks and Minerals

Social Studies  Pacific Northwest Native Americans  Pioneers / The Westward Movement  Democracy/Citizenship Social Skills/Anti-Violence -Weekly Guidance Lessons with Mrs. Holsather, with Mrs. Holsather, School Counselor School Counselor

Technology  Computer Lab once a week  Classroom stations  Keyboarding “Type to Learn”  Activeboard  End of Year Assessment (SBAC) is on the computer so….. Practice, Practice Practice!!!! Practice, Practice Practice!!!!

Read-aloud books and classroom discussions Topics include: Changes in Families Self-Empowerment Conflict Resolution Managing Stress/Understanding Emotional Health We are What we Eat! GLAD Nutrition Body Systems Non-Communicable Illness Smoking and Drugs Health

Art  Art docent projects (PTA funded)  Other occasional art lessons in class  Clay Salmon  Remember to sign up for Artsonia

Other fun things we do  Go Noodle  Estimation Jar  Star of the Week

Your Role As Parents

What does grading look like in 3 rd grade?

Grading Scale Report cards are standards based. Report cards are standards based. Math, science, social studies, and writing: average of the whole trimester Math, science, social studies, and writing: average of the whole trimester Reading on grade level : a report of where they are at the end of the trimester Reading on grade level : a report of where they are at the end of the trimester Categories: Categories: 4: Exceeds grade-level expectations 4: Exceeds grade-level expectations 3: Meets grade-level expectation = TARGET /GOAL for students 3: Meets grade-level expectation = TARGET /GOAL for students 2: Approaches grade-level expectations: Needs additional practice 2: Approaches grade-level expectations: Needs additional practice 1: Below grade-level expectations: Area of concern 1: Below grade-level expectations: Area of concern *The scoring guide is available on the district website under report card parent resources

Students who exhibit “exceptional” work can receive a 4 in some content areas. Exceptional work looks like…  Consistently performing beyond expectations  Seeking opportunity to go further  Demonstrating depth of thought and application  Connecting knowledge or skill to another area  Applying knowledge for a new purpose  Analyzing concepts  Showing multiple applications and/or perspectives Exceptional work does not look like…  Being fast  Producing simply neat work  Being ‘accelerated’  Answering all of the questions  Using ‘one’ correct strategy  Doing extra work for extra points  Getting all the right answers

Let’s make sure homework is a positive experience Ways to individualize for your child :  read it to her  write for him  shorten the assignment  replace the assignment  Stop after minutes!!!!! If he or she gives you grief:  set expectations together by Including your child in deciding when and where they’ll do the homework  establish a routine- same time and place each night Homework completion is a major factor in the ‘Responsibility’ grade on the report card in 3 rd grade and completion will be noted accordingly.

Conferences and Report Cards Conferences: Signups will be on Skyward Report Cards Trimesters: December March June

Be a part of PTA greatness. Sign up for YOUR Apollo Elementary PTA today at: apollopta.org or by completing a membership form today. When you do, you are supporting the nation’s largest volunteer advocacy group for children in this country. The PTA brings together parents, teachers and students to support the Apollo staff, provide curriculum enhancement opportunities for every student, and build a strong, welcoming school environment.

 Class Dismissed! Class Dismissed! Class Dismissed!