1. Welcome to Third Grade FSA Informational and Curriculum Night

2. Schedule
Bell Work 8:15-8:25 Morning Announcements: 8:25 Reading/Language Arts 8:30 – 10:55 Specials: 10:55 – 11:45 Science/Social Studies: 11:45 – 12:15 Lunch: 12:15 – 12:45 Recess: 12:45 – 1:05 Science and Social Studies: 1:05 – 1:30 Math: 1:30 – 3:00 Dismissal 3:00

3. Snack Time
Students can pack a healthy snack to eat mid-morning.

4. Why do I teach? To empower others KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

5. Nuts and Bolts Curriculum/Textbooks
Lake County’s curriculum can be found at lake.k12.fl.us on the Curriculum Department page.
Reading and Language Arts – Wonders by McGraw-Hill
Math – Envision Math by Pearson
Science – HMH Florida Science
Social Studies – My World by Pearson

6. Student Responsibilities
Come to school on time eager to learn and do your best work possible.
Be prepared with your materials.
Don’t get behind. We have found that those who got behind, continued to get further behind.
Students should write in the agenda daily.
Nightly homework needs to be completed and should include studying for weekly tests.

7. Classroom Expectations
Show respect to others and to school property.
Participate in class activities with a good attitude.
Stay seated and no chatting while the teacher is talking.
Take your turn to speak.
Follow directions and school rules.
Work hard and do your very best.
Absolutely NO BULLYING .

8. At-home responsibilities:
Your child should be bringing home his or her Orange Folder nightly so you can review and check work.
Spelling Words, Vocabulary Words, and the Timed Multiplication Tests are in the folder to practice nightly. New lists are given out on Mondays.
Students need to read 20 minutes .
All informational material should also be found in this folder.

9. Seminole Springs Elementary's Web-site
Click on “Teachers” to find me and updates about what is happening in our classroom.

10. State Testing
What will the FSA, Florida Standards Assessment, require my child to do?
Information can be found at the Florida Dept. of Education’s
Website ( in the “Online Portal and Resources
for the Florida State Assessments” link.

11. Newsletters Newsletters go home at least every other week.
Included in the newsletters are spelling words and vocabulary definitions as well as the skills of the week.

12. Reading Incentives Superintendent's Reading Challenge:
Students who read 25 books before March will receive recognition from the Superintendent.
The recommended books read for the challenge is 1/3 of the books should be Fiction, 1/3 of the books should be Non-Fiction, and 1/3 Student’s Choice.
Students can keep track in their
agendas or at home.

13. Curriculum Expectations
Florida Curriculum is Common Core based.
Tests are more complex and challenging due to an emphasis on higher rigor.
We are trying to move to a paperless system. What does this mean?
1. Students will be required to do more writing.
2. We will not use many worksheets to
teach/practice/learn skills.
3. Students will use Thinking Maps and Journals.
4. Children will be learning how to work in teams in
order to explain their thinking or learn from each other.
- 5. They will present their work to class to explain, answer
classmates’ questions and refine their thinking.
- 6. However, they will be graded on their individual work.
3rd

14. 3rd Grade is a Pass/Fail Grade
State Testing Format
H.O.T Text questions (higher order thinking)
Multi-Select Questions:
Requires students to select all applicable words or phrases.
Example: Select ALL words or phrases from the text.
Open Response: Short response
, Text Evidence: Proof written
from the text.

15. Accelerated Reader (AR)
Based on student’s level of reading. Book levels are derived from the STAR Reading Test
Used as a guide to help students find books to read independently and books to share with you
Don’t stop reading with your child; that is how they learn new words and new ideas -from you
talking with them.

17. My Teaching Philosophy
The potential for greatness lives in each of us. Wilma Randolph
All children can succeed beyond expectations.
The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are, first, hard work; second, stick-to-itiveness; third, common sense.” Thomas Edison
We learn by doing, and we move forward from our mistakes. The learning is in the struggle.
It is important to teach for understanding and the ability to solve real problems using skills and concepts.
It is fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure. Bill Gates

18. The Heart of my Classroom
Don’t be afraid to try
Keep going even when it’s hard
Take pride in your work
Be kind to others and respectful of all creatures
Be trustworthy
Be an active participant

19. Child/Parent Responsibilities
Support and guide your child, don’t do it for him or her. (Backpacks, homework, snacks, etc)
Show mom and dad what you can do on your own.
Always remember: No harm has ever come to a child who forgot their homework, folder or library book.
(The first few times)
Child/Parent Responsibilities

20. “StudentSpeak” Translations
THIS is too Hard.
I’ll never get it.
Student Means
I don’t feel like doing this right now.

21. She didn’t tell us what to do!
Student Says…
She didn’t tell us what to do!
Student Means Actually she did tell us what to do, but there may be a slight chance I wasn’t listening. So could you just tell me?

22. Saturday and Sunday: Read and practice math multiplication facts
Homework Policy
Monday-Thursday. If a student misses an evening of homework, please send in the incomplete work so they have it if we go over it the next day.
Saturday and Sunday: Read and practice math multiplication facts

23. Expectations Always Remember You’re Braver than you seem, Stronger than you feel, and Smarter than you think Christopher Robin

24. Be curious. Read widely. Try new things
Be curious. Read widely. Try new things. What people call intelligence just boils down to curiosity.” Aaron Swartz

25. Let’s Have a Great Year Together!