1. Welcome to Back To School
Introduction
My Philosophy
Curriculum
Classroom Management
Organization
Communication

2. Heather Cowan Always wanted to be a teacher!
Graduated from OSU with Elementary Ed. Degree
Working towards Masters in Library Science and another in Administration
Dual Certification
Taught 4th in Perry, OK before SE
3rd year at Southeast
Passionate about teaching and learning
Enjoy having fun, playing with students
I am strict but fair and that doesn’t always mean equal
Create a stimulating, comforting, and welcoming environment

3. Teacher Goals Support and Nurture Develop Talents
Meet Individual Needs
Integrate Learning Styles
Connect Curriculum to the Real-World
Challenge and/or Restructure
Stay Connected to Home

4. Student Goals Develop a Love of Learning Become Independent
Be Responsible
Be Compassionate
Be Resourceful and Flexible
Gain Knowledge in Variety of Areas

5. Group Interaction Class Structures: Simultaneous Interaction
Individual Accountability
Whole Group Activities
Equal Participation

6. Active participation

7. Differentiated Instruction
There are all levels of ability in this class. Our third grade classroom includes a cluster of identified gifted students. Identified students attend gifted lab twice weekly with our gifted coordinator, Mrs. Hodge.
Our school’s philosophy is to meet the varying needs of all students. I have attended and taught differentiated teacher training, and will continue to attend many training sessions on differentiated instruction.
In our class, I determine the readiness of students and vary assignments to move students forward from their own point of readiness. Students need to master foundational concepts before tackling more complex issues. Therefore, sometimes different students will be doing different assignments.

8. Curriculum Where does it come from?

9. Comprehension Toolkit
Reading
Comprehension Toolkit
*Reading as Thinking (metacognition)
*Time for shared reading, guided reading, independent reading, and collaborative discussion and sharing
* One-on-one conferences (CAFÉ menu)
*Variety of genres
* Students pick “just right” text to meet their individual needs
THINKING STRATEGIES
Monitor comprehension
Activate & connect
Question
Infer meaning
Determine importance
Summarize & synthesize

10. Language Arts Cursive (Zaner Bloser Text) Word Study/Spelling
Pre-assessment determines needs
Words organized by patterns and/or developmental spelling features
Weekly spelling dictation and test
Addition of other words (misspelled words in context, 500 frequently misspelled words, content words from core subjects)
Language Skills

11. Writing Process of writing Forms of writing
Prewriting, drafting, editing/revising, publishing
Forms of writing
Communicating through writing
Journal writing, personal narratives, poetry, story writing, expository writing, compositions, letter writing, persuasive writing, opinion writing

12. Writing Traits Ideas/Topics Organization/ Logical Order Voice
Interesting Word Choice
Sentence Fluency
Varied Structures

13. EVERY DAY MATH Content Strands: Themes Woven Throughout Each Strand:
Numeration
Operations & Computation
Data & Chance
Geometry
Measurement & Reference Frames
Patterns, Functions & Algebra
Themes Woven Throughout Each Strand:
Algorithmic and procedural thinking
Estimation skills and number sense
Mental arithmetic skills and reflexes
Problem solving

14. Every Day Math Problem Solving Critical Thinking Talking about math
Skill practice through routines and games
Topics revisited in EM Games
True to life application opportunities!
Pre/Post Unit Tests

15. Science and Health Science:
Students make their own discoveries. Knowledge is actively constructed by the learner. Hands-on experimental environment.
Units of study:
Sound
Plant Growth and Development
Rocks and Minerals
Health:
Harcourt Your Health
Focus Areas: Safety, Healthy Habits, Decision-Making Skills, Interpersonal Skills

16. Social Studies Integrated Units of Study: Global Communities
Communities Across the United States
Local Community
Economics
Map and Globe Skills
US Government

17. World Language Emphasis on the Spanish Language
Integrated into the curriculum
Quality video series to support classroom instruction
Develops awareness
Appreciation of other cultures
Cultural comparisons—similarities and differences

18. Technology Integrated into the daily routine of the classroom through:
Smart Board
Delivery of Lessons
Keyboarding
Research
Publishing
Presentations
Laptops
Computer Lab
Listening Lab

19. Classroom Management Tribes Four Agreements Mystery Motivator
Touchdown Chart
Marble Jar
High Expectations

20. Organization Yellow Folder--Homework/Agenda
Reading Minutes in Agenda and Yellow Folder
Binder
Cubbies
Monday Papers

21. How to be in the know! Yellow folder!! Monday papers
EMPTY and return every morning
Monday newsletter delivered by and on web site
Agenda notes
Projects linked on web site
me…

22. More Information…. Let’s take a look at the packet online……
Sign-ups before leaving:
Picture taker/Video maker
Fall Conferences
Reading Minutes
Science Set-up
Last Minute Items
Various Classroom Activities

23. Thank you! There is no greater joy, nor greater
reward than to make a fundamental
difference in someone’s life.
Sister Rose McGready

24. A Pat on the Back…
Please use the hand cut-out on your child’s desk to leave them a “pat on the back” for him/her to see first thing tomorrow morning.
Also…you may wish to respond to your child’s letter to you. 

25. Homeroom Moms