1. Welcome to Buford Academy’s Curriculum Night Mrs. Ostoits and Ms. L. Smith

2. Fun Facts about Mrs. Ostoits The most exhilarating thing that I have done is skydiving! I am married & we have 2 little dogs (that are really like our children) I have taught here, at the Academy, for 8 years- 2 nd grade for 4 years, 3 rd grade for 4 years. Hobbies: reading, relaxing, hiking, white water rafting Favorite Stores: Dunkin Doughnuts, Target, Hobby Lobby Collects: Scented Hand Soaps

3. Fun Facts about Ms. Smith I decided to become a teacher the first day of kindergarten. 1988 Buford High School Graduate BMS track and field coach I have taught in west, south, and northeast GA. Birthday: January 1st Hobbies: reading, shopping, eating Favorite Stores: TJMaxx, Starbucks, Target Collects: Elephants

4. Attendance Improving attendance, tardies and checkouts is a school improvement goal of Buford Academy A written excuse within 2 days of the absence must be sent Absences of 10 or more days in a school year will result in contact from the school counselor or system social worker Students should not be checked out from 2:50-3:10 pm Students with perfect attendance each quarter are eligible for a reward (this is new this year)!

6. Weekly Newsletter The newsletter will be emailed weekly or a hard copy will be sent to those who request it. It is also on our webpage, just in case it gets misplaced.

7. Agenda Your child needs to bring it to school every day and home every night. It will be used for: –Communication between parents & teachers. (Tell your child if you write us a note.) –Record misbehavior –Record assignments –Record important dates/events –Study Guides will be stapled in agendas (PLEASE leave them in the agenda.)

8. Daily Schedule Tardy Bell: 8:25am Lunch: 11:52-12:17 Recess: 12:20-12:35 Bus Call: 3:10 Please try to keep Dr. appointments & missed days to a minimum.

9. Gold Folder Will come home every day. Please remove your child’s: –Graded work –Graded tests –Newsletters (if not emailed) –Homework –Important notes Please return homework and signed papers in the gold folder each day. Please do not throw any papers away without asking your child first if they are important!

10. Homework Reading Read at least 100 minutes each week. Reading Logs will come home on most Mondays. Complete reading responses and return on Friday. The more you read the better you will do in ALL subjects. Send in your library books every day. WE USE THEM IN CLASS!! Spelling - Test on most Fridays using Spelling City - Homework is to learn the words!!! Students will receive a spelling packet. - Begins Aug. 24 Math Study math facts every night ~ Occasionally there will be other homework assignments Science and Social Studies: Study guides ~ Occasionally there will be other homework assignments

11. Behavior Plan Respect… Each other Self Property Environment Children Teachers

12. Behavior Plan Rewards: Earn fun choice tickets, treasure box, candy box Consequences: Warning, Parent notification, Note in agenda Loss of recess, Laps at recess Please address any disrespectful behavior at home as well. If you are being notified, this is a problem.

13. Reading Taught using a variety of methods/strategies: Small group/whole group instruction Literature studies and stations Novel Studies Comprehension Skills Fluency Checks Cold Reads Close Reads Etc.

14. Language Arts Sentences Parts of Speech Spiral of Skills (LARS) Capitalization and Punctuation Cursive Writing Etc.

15. Writing Writing Process Personal Writing Narrative Writing Opinion Writing Informational Writing Letter Writing

16. Spelling Will begin on Monday, August 24 A packet will be sent home explaining how we will do spelling this year. Tests will be taken on ipads (Spelling City)

17. Social Studies Map Skills Ancient Greece 9 Historical Figures Government Economics

18. Math What we will learn in 3 rd grade: Place value, rounding, multi-digit arithmetic Multi-step word problems Multiplication & division (within 100) Fractions Measurement & Data (area, perimeter, volume, mass) Geometry

19. Science Scientific Method Rocks & Minerals Different types of soils Weathering & Erosion (Changes to Earth’s Land) Fossils Heat energy Magnets GA Habitats Adaptations of living things Preserving Ecosystems

20. Grading Report cards are sent every nine weeks. Progress reports at mid-term. Look at PowerSchool - Call the office if you need assistance. Children are graded based on: –Formative (classwork) 55% –Summative (assessments) 40% –Homework 5%

21. Assessments Assessments will include: Oral Online Written Multiple-choice Extended Response (open ended questions) Constructed Response (based on text evidence) Etc.

22. Fall Standardized Testing ITBS and CogAT testing Sept. 15-18, 2015 (No studying needed for these tests) ITBS: Reading, Lang. Arts, Math CogAT- Cognitive abilities Make sure students get a good night’s sleep and eat a nutritious breakfast!

23. Spring Standardized Testing GA Milestones We follow the Georgia Standards of Excellence www.georgiastandards.org Georgia Milestone Assessment System ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies Written responses in ELA/Math

24. BA Title I Parent/Student/Teacher Compact

25. As a Parent I agree to… Be an active participant attending Open House, Curriculum Night, Parent Teacher Conferences, and other events throughout the school year. Be a supportive parent by having my child read at least 20 minutes five nights each week to help increase their Lexile reading level, by assisting with homework completion, and reviewing school communication nightly. Be a supportive parent by practicing Math facts with my child at least 10 minutes two or three nights each week.

26. BA Title I Parent/Student/Teacher Compact As a Teacher I agree to... Ba an active participant by regularly updating PowerSchool and classroom websites, scheduling parent-teacher conferences twice a year, and consistently communicating through phone calls, email and newsletters. Be a supportive teacher by providing research based differentiated instruction that helps to ensure students can achieve their Reading Lexile goals. Be a proactive teacher by communicating with parents benchmark data to address standards and skills related to math.

27. BA Title I Parent/Student/Teacher Compact As a Student I agree to... Be an active participant by cooperating in classroom activities, asking questions when I do not understand, and completing classroom assignments. Be a responsible student by reading at least 20 minutes five nights a week, completing my homework, studying for tests, and reviewing school communication with my parents. Be a responsible student by practicing math facts at home for at least 10 minutes two or three nights a week.

29. Title I We need your input for Title Funds. Mrs. Pulley is open for suggestions on ways to best use Title funds to meet the needs of all students. You may email her at kaleen.pulley@bufordcityschools.org. kaleen.pulley@bufordcityschools.org Ways we currently use Title funds are: Technology, Paraprofessionals, Summer School, After School/Saturday School, and Professional Development for teachers. Title I We need your input for Title Funds. Mrs. Pulley is open for suggestions on ways to best use Title funds to meet the needs of all students. You may email her at kaleen.pulley@bufordcityschools.org. kaleen.pulley@bufordcityschools.org Ways we currently use Title funds are: Technology, Paraprofessionals, Summer School, After School/Saturday School, and Professional Development for teachers.

30. What can you do to support your child this year? Encourage and praise your child every day! Have your child read. Go to the public library. Give your child a routine and structure. Have your child read. Have a set bedtime. Give your child household responsibilities. Did I mention “reading”? Limit absences, late check-ins, and check-outs Have fun together!

31. All Pro Dads (September 15, November 17, January 12, March 8) PTO Family Involvement Night (September 17) Fall Festival (October 8) Run Raiser (October 30) Holiday Chorus Concert (December 3) Winter Social (January 22) PTO Science Fair & Bingo Night (January 28) Parent Conference Days (October 15&16 and March 17&18) Arts Night (March 29) Field Day (May 13) 3 rd Grade Awards and Talent Show (May 24)

32. We Need You! After Labor Day Volunteers will be needed to: Work with students Prepare classroom materials, Etc. If you are interested, please let us know, even if you already have We LOVE volunteers!

33. Thank you for coming! Questions? lacrecia.smith@bufordcityschools.org tessa.ostoits@bufordcityschools.org http://smithostoits.weebly.com/