1. Curriculum Night 2017 3S

2. Best way to reach me is email. scottbw@unit5.org
Typically the shorter the the quicker the reply.
Home phone
Class website

3. Class make up this year 28 students 15 boys 13 girls
Student Teacher- Ms. Peterson
2 students are with us only some of the time.
Mrs. Clement or ? will join us for class when they visit.

4. Personal Beliefs/goals for third grade students
Respect and polite to all
Learn organization skills
Learning is fun and ongoing
Find inner drive/self motivation
Goes well with “Get your Armorrr on”- (Respect, Responsibility, Ready)

5. 3rd grade
One of the great things about 3rd grade is that everything students learn, they will learn again.
Everyone grows at learns at a different pace.
All people think different. Some students take a different “route”.
We are building the base of the pyramid.
Lots of fact based learning moving toward developing deeper thinking skills.
They are growing up in a world that allows people to have a computer in their pocket.
Memorization not as important as locating and using the information.
We hope spur a lot of curiosity.

6. Homework We will have some– Likely not too much
Enough to create good organization habits and enrich classroom learning
If you find your student spending too much time with it, let me know
15 minutes of reading every day
IXL incentive

7. Assignment Notebook We will do this daily
Students have the responsibility to get their assignment notebook signed.
Signing it means you have communicated with your child about their day and assignments.
Hopefully it’s a match to what you see on our web page.
Feel free to leave a note.

8. Handwriting
We will be practicing cursive handwriting throughout the year– now a state law that children learn it in second grade.
Students are encouraged to use cursive.
I will not be grading handwriting practice sheets but usually review them.
I occasionally give out a “cursive writing bonus”.
Please encourage your student to write neatly and use cursive.

9. My Philosophy on Grades (from 2015)
What students know is the most important.
Encourage and praise effort.
Grades are not perfect– likely will doing away with grades in the next couple years
I believe skills are more important than grades

10. Standards Based Report Card
Report cards have changed.
We will use a 4, 3, 2, 1 scoring system.
This is relatively new to all of us.
I’m going to do my best to be as accurate as I can be.

13. Teacher Ease I will try to update it frequently.
Check it every couple weeks or so, but don’t micro manage.
Don’t panic if you see a score of a 2. The goal is to know the skills by the end of the year.
If I know I will be assessing the skill again, I tend to lean toward the lower score if they are on the edge.
Scores don’t reset each trimester. They continue on.

14. Math Often do math stations– really it’s math workshop
Pretest to see where students are at. We are encouraged to enter a skill grade for the pretest.
We often group similar students.
Encourage students to engage in a variety of math activities- miscellaneous math.
Requires a lot of self-discipline.
We will use math journals daily.
Home Links often- sometimes in class, sometimes for home
I encourage you to assist them– but please let me know if they are not grasping a skill or concept.
Mastery of multiplication facts 0-12 is expected in third grade
Games
SRB (Student Reference Book) Page number won’t match this year.
Flash Cards are great!
Connect Ed

15. Reading 60 minutes a day. We are using a workshop approach.
Requires a lot of self-discipline.
Assessing reading can be challenging.
I’ll read out loud to the class often to model and discuss attributes of reading and writing.
Lots of small groups.
Hopefully move into “book clubs” or Lit. circles
Always assign 15 minutes to read– adjust as necessary.
I used to let students take my books home, but I don’t any more– causes a lot of wear and tear and several are missing. If you find books with my name on them at home, please make sure they are returned.

16. Reading Continued Hoopla app Audio books Books on devices
Good readers need reading role models
Let them see you read
Read together, discuss books

17. SWORD 30 minutes a day for SWORD time.
Students Working On Reading Development
Strategic grouping
Intervention time– mandated by the state.

18. Writing Writing is often a challenge for several students
Using a workshop approach– sort of…
several district assigned projects
Most of the projects will be done at school, but research outside of school is sometimes necessary
Will ask for parent help at times– usually toward the end of a project
Goals:
Make it fun
Help students generate a lot of ideas
Understand that writing is a process– even the best writers complete several drafts before they are “done”
Teach students about plagiarism and tips for avoiding it. Writers Notebook
Many students can decorate theirs if they choose to.

19. Writing continued Projects for the year Memoir Personal narrative
Non-fiction writing- animal is encouraged
Multi-genre writing
Persuasive writing- movie and book review
We will use google classroom for many of these.
Weekly Newsletter – more to come about that.

20. Spelling
Words There Way
A word study
Learn about letter patterns

21. Science/Social Studies
Extension of reading
Social Studies- Good mix of geography, history, economics and government
Science- new materials last year- no student book.
Hope to make both fun and interesting!
We will do most days. Our inclusion group comes in for this each day.

23. Areas Music- with Mrs. Ogdon Tues. and Friday 10:25-10:50
Art- with Mrs. Cunningham Thurs. 7:45-8:35
P.E.-with Mrs. Leake Daily 9:15-9:40
I.M.C.- Ms. Norton Wed. 10:10-11:00
SWORD- daily 12:30-1:00
Lunch/Recess daily 11:30-12:20

24. Let’s work together for success
Keep me posted as to struggles, difficulties, emotions, etc.
If something happens that you think might carry over into the school day.
If your student is being difficult with you about something school related, let me know.
Keep me informed of major life changes.

25. Newsletter Try to write a weekly newsletter
Students will do writing and eventually the typing.
Hopefully it will improve throughout the year.
Student perspectives are very interesting (I’ll believe part of what they tell me about you if you believe part of what they tell you about me).
We started last week. They will partner write the first few times then move to self writing.
Almost all classroom written communication will come through s.
Try to it out on Friday afternoons– sometimes not until after school.

26. Classroom Discipline Stop Signs/ Warning Signs Positives: add a penny
Get your Armorrr On!!
Tickets, drawings, store, auctions

27. Peanut Free Classroom
We have two peanut allergies to be aware of, and large number of students have peanut, nut, and other allergies school wide.
We do have a student how needs to eat gluten free.
Please make me aware of any special needs your student may have.
Please be conscious of this with holiday classroom parties.

28. Snacks BYOS– Bring your own snack
Fruits, vegetables (NO DIPPING SAUSES).
Yogurt or cheese sticks also okay
Remember to send a spoon if necessary.
Please keep it to a snack- should be able to be eaten in about 5 minutes.

29. Rusty We watch Rusty almost every day.
He gives tips and reminders on how to be a good student and citizen.

30. Odds and Ends Assignment Notebook $6—everyone has one!
Time for Kids (TFK)/ National Geographic/ Scholastic News
Calculator (optional)
Book orders once a month— first one due tomorrow. Class code: FMPPC
Water container– with lid.
3rd grade computers
Passwords- inside the front cover of ANB
Google Classroom
Room is often cool– students can leave sweatshirt/sweater here

31. Odds and Ends continued
I let the students pass around a digital camera. One student takes three pictures each day.
Our camera is on it’s last leg.
Camera- any one willing to donate or loan a digital camera?
Laffy Taffy, Blow Pops, Tootsie Pops
Student Council paragraphs due next Friday, please have them turn in their paragraph with their permission slip.

32. Information about conference will be coming out soon.
Also sign parent contact sheet.

33. 3S Codes
A star or P= paper was reviewed but not taken for a grade. Often I’ll spot check just one problem.
Happy Face= paper was reviewed but not taken for a grade. Often I’ll spot check just one problem.
C & R= Student should correct and return

34. Anything I need to know?
If there is anything I need to know about your student- anxiety, allergies, needs, please make me aware of it as soon as possible.
Feel free to leave your child a note.

35. Good night! It’s going to be a great year! Thank you for coming out.
Thank you in advance for all your support