1. Welcome! Ms. Keen’s Classroom 3rd Grade
Please find your child’s desk. Feel free to leave a note for him or her!

2. Curriculum Night
I’m glad you’re here!

3. Ms. Erin Keen Educational Background: Experience: Family:
BS in Elementary Education (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
Master’s in Education—Professional Development
(University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse)
Experience:
Beginning my 25th year of teaching--19 years in Wisconsin, 2 years in Raymond, WA and 3 years in Issaquah at Sunset Elementary
Levels: Early Childhood, K-3 Cognitive Disabilities, Elementary, Middle School, Columbia Virtual Academy (online school) for grades K-12
Family:

4. Volunteer opportunities:
Art Docent
Auction Project Coordinator
Library Volunteer
Room Parent
Dads at Recess
First one is Oct. 7—must submit volunteer application by September 23
Salmon Hatchery fieldtrip chaperone
Classroom Volunteer

5. Sunset PTA – Please Join Us!
Membership Benefits
Student Directory – family contact info, class lists, PTA event calendar, etc.
Discounts – Great Wolf Lodge, KeyArena/McCaw Hall, Wild Waves, etc.
eSplash – optional weekly with key events and information
Stronger Voice – influence use of PTA funds and focus
Volunteer Opportunities
Participate in your way, on your time
Event and program design, prep and staffing
Art docent
“General Help”
Sign up on Sunset PTA website
Check out our Sunset Elementary PTA Facebook page too!
Questions or comments? us at

6. Schedules Daily Schedule: Specialist Schedule AM: Math, Writing
PM: Reading, Science/Social Studies, Specials, Read Aloud, Snack
Specialist Schedule
Monday: Music
Tuesday: PE
Wednesday: Music
Thursday: PE
Friday: Library

7. Class management tools
Sockeye Expectations
1. Be Respectful.
2. Be Responsible.
3. Be Safe.
4. Be Caring.
Class management tools
Sensational Sockeyes (individuals)
Cube Jar – class reward tool, fill the cube jar and earn rewards
Table Group Chart
Take a Break (individuals)
Behavior Chart (individuals)

8. Homework Reading: 20 minutes per night Math: Nightly homework (M-Th)
Should take no more than 10 minutes
Homework is flexible, see me to adjust, write a note or when having difficulty, it is meant to be meaningful practice and to teach responsibility. Students should be able to do the homework on their own.

9. Reading Curriculum Balanced Reading Program
Read To (teacher reads aloud and models skills)
Shared Reading (students and teacher read together)
Guided Reading (small group instruction with students reading text at the correct level of difficulty)
Independent Reading (students mostly reading in “just right” books
Comprehension / Vocabulary/ Phonics & Decoding
Making Meaning
Teaching comprehension strategies using picture books to explicitly model comprehension strategies.
Books related to our themes of instruction
Native Americans, Pioneers, Rocks & Minerals
Reading Skills
Examining Characters, Setting, Plot, Problem / Solution, Point of View, Infer from Text, Predict, Compare & Contrast, Fact vs. Opinion, Main Idea, Supporting Details
Reading at home (20 minutes M-Th)
Eager Reader Program - PTA

10. Written Language Units of Study / Writers’ Workshop model
Explicit instruction on various forms of writing: narrative, informational, and opinion. Students will practice the new skills, teacher will confer with individual students or small groups, and students share writing.
Focus is on the writing process: ideas, draft, proof read & edit, final copy.
Language Arts:
Spelling and grammar instruction is embedded in our writing program
Cursive Writing

11. Eureka Math Intended to develop strong conceptual math understanding
How Parents Can Help
Understand that students are learning math in a way that will prepare them for the higher demands of college and careers today and in the future – focused math skills and real-world, challenging problems
At the beginning of each module, read the Parent Tip Sheet to get an overview of the topics your child will be learning and how you can support this learning at home
Understand that this approach can be unfamiliar to those of us who grew up memorizing mathematical facts and formulas

12. Science / Health Salmon / Salmon Life Cycle
F.I.S.H – Salmon Hatchery Field Trip
Science Kits
Salmon
Weather
Earth Science / Rocks
Science to Go Program
Animal Life Cycles & Characteristics
Forms of Energy
Fossils Comparison: Past & Present
Ethnobotany
Health
Nutrition & Food, Body Systems, How to Stay Healthy, Stress Management, Risk Related to Drug Use, Changes in Families, Self Empowerment, and Conflict Resolution

13. Social Studies Pacific Northwest Native Americans Potlatch celebration
Ohop Indian Village
Potlatch celebration
Northwest Pioneers
Lewis and Clark
Westward Movement
Pioneer Life
Pioneer Farms Field Trip
Map skills

14. Technology Basic Operations and Concepts Productivity Tool
Integrate technology with our daily work
Library search for books
Find information
Reinforce Learning
Brain Pop
Oregon Trail
IXL Math
RAZ Reading

15. Field Trips & Activities
F.I.S.H. / Fish Hatchery – September 15th
Science to Go
Animal Life Cycles
Forms of Energy
Fossil Comparisons
Ethnobotany
Pioneer Farms – June 2

16. Attendance
Regular and punctual attendance is important. Please arrive to school on time and avoid signing your child out early.
When your child returns from an excused absence, He or she will have a reasonable amount of time to complete missed work.
I do not supply work for planned absences, such as family vacations.

17. Parties Fall Harvest / Halloween Valentine’s Day End of the Year
Birthdays
Birthday are recognized in class but without food treats: card from teacher, name on calendar
Rewards

18. Classroom Website Specialist Schedule Newsletter
Curriculum Night Presentation
All-group

19. Bits & Pieces
Sign-up for conferences will be done on-line – information will be sent out by the ISD
Bus Passes – Please send notes with children or before school
Lunch Money– Please label envelope or Ziploc bag with child’s name and grade
Sunset Web Site –

20. Communication Sunset Office (425) 837-5600
Direct line to the classroom: (425) (8:00am-9:00am and 3:40-4:00pm)
(easiest way to contact me during the day and quickest way for a short response)

21. Questions?
Thank you for coming!