Welcome to Curriculum Night

1. Welcome to Curriculum Night Third Grade 2013 - 2014 Mrs. Shankles

2. READING • Stories from anthologies • Reading comprehension tests • Leveled Readers/Reader’s Workshop (reading groups) • Reading Skills • Chapter Books • Book boxes with varied genres

3. Writing/Grammar • Grammar Skills taught through Mentor Texts • Whole Group Mini Lessons for both grammar and writing skills. • Writer’s Workshop Independent Writing Conferences-individual and small group Writing instruction for different genres Personal Narratives, Opinion, and Informational

4. Word Study Word Study Components • Phonics • Spelling (informal grades taken through authentic writing samples – no formal spelling list) • Cursive Handwriting • Vocabulary

5. Math • Math Textbook/Workbook • Emphasis on Problem Solving • Building on what was learned in 2nd grade. • Going deeper and applying learned math to real life experiences • Whole group mini lessons • Guided math groups/stations • Numbers and Operations, Geometry, Fractions, Measurement

6. Social Studies Map and Globe Skills • cardinal and intermediate directions • keys and symbols • map scale and grid systems • cultural, natural and political features • longitude and latitude United States • Roots of Our Democracy • Our Economy/Personal Finance • Americans who have contributed to our democratic heritage.

7. Science Life Science Habitats, Pollution Earth Science • Rocks and Minerals • Soil • Fossils Physical Science • Heat • Magnets

8. Daily Schedule • 7:45-8:15 Morning Work • 8:15-8:20 Restroom • 8:20-9:15 Specials • 9:15-9:20 Snack Time • 9:20-9:40 Word Study • 9:40-11:00 Reading Workshop (10:50-11:00/Sharing) • 11:00-11:10 Teacher Reading • 11:10-11:15 Restroom/Wash hands for lunch • 11:16-11:46 Lunch • 11:46-12:16 Recess • 12:20-12:50 Writing Workshop • 12:50-1:50 Math • 1:50-2:40 Social Studies/Science • 2:40-2:45 Dismissal

9. Specials Schedule • Specials: 8:20-9:15 • Week • 1 Science • 2 PE • 3 Art • 4 PE • 5 Music

10. County-wide Grading Scale • A (100-90) • B (89-80) • C (79-74) • D (73-70) • U (69 and below)

11. 3rd Grade Testing • Cognitive Abilities Test September 16-18 • Iowa Test of Basic Skills October 21-25 • Criterion Referenced Competency Test April 23-25 and 28-29

12. Communication • Weekly folder & bi-weekly newsletter • Report cards – Go Gwinnett portal as well as end of 9 weeks report cards • Please sign communication card and return with folder on Monday. • Papers with an average of 73% or less require parent signature. Return these papers on Monday. • Parent/Teacher Conferences (Early Release dates) September 25, 26 and February 26, 27 lisa_shankles@gwinnett.k12.ga.us

13. “Raise the Responsibility” System • Level 4 • • Shows self-control • • Shows kindness to others • • Respectful • • Responsible • • Trustworthy • • Good citizenship • • Does good because it is the right thing to do • • Meets classroom standards independently • Level 3 • • Considerate to others • • Listens • • Practices • • Cooperates • • Follows directions • • Meets classroom standards with encouragement • (cont’d.)

14. “Raise the Responsibility” System • Level 2 • • Bosses others • • Bothers others • • Needs adult supervision • • Breaks classroom standards • Level 1 • • Noisy • • Out of control • • Unsafe • • Physical • • Rude • • Breaks classroom standards

15. ‘Classroom Behavior Procedures‘ • Rewarding good behavior! • Filling our Bucket :) • Classroom Behavior Bucks • Pulling Strips/Writing on Communication Card

16. Absences **Please send a note with your child regarding the reason for an absence. Excused absences include: personal illness, death or serious illness in the immediate family, recognized religious holidays observed by your faith, absences mandated by order of governmental agencies, conditions which render school attendance impossible or hazardous to health or safety

17. Late Work Policy • Work that is not turned in on time is recorded as a NHI (Not Handed In) in the gradebook. It has a “zero” value. Students are required to complete this work in class and will be given two days to do so. If a student does not finish the assignment after extra time has been given, he or she will have to turn in what he or she has completed and the teacher will grade the total assignment. Parents will be notified via the Communication Card if their child has late work.

18. Newsletter I will post an updated class newsletter on my class website every other week to help keep you informed of our curriculum news, upcoming events, student news, etc. PLEASE read this and keep it for reference. It will contain very important information and deadlines.

19. Homework Your child has an agenda which we complete daily in the classroom. Please review it with your child each evening. Typically, your child will have 30 minutes of homework almost every night except Friday. The homework assignments will reinforce skills taught in class. If there is no assigned homework they are still to be reading 20 minutes in a chapter book and record it in their Reading Log located in their STAR binder.

20. Snacks We will have a short snack time in the morning. Snacks must be nutritious. Please, no messy snacks, candy, or cookies. Water bottles are allowed.

21. Birthdays If your child would like to celebrate their birthday at school a treat is welcome. If you chose to send a treat, please leave it in the office the day of the birthday and the office will send it to our classroom. Please make sure the treats are individually cut or wrapped!

22. Transportation Bus passes cannot be issued for play dates, birthdays, Girl/Boy Scouts, weekend sleepovers, or any other reason except for an emergency as determined by a school official. To obtain a temporary bus pass for an emergency situation, parents must notify the school in person and/or in writing . Phone messages about transportation changes will not be accepted.

23. Book Orders Approximately once a month I will place an order for books from a book club. We add new books to our classroom library with the bonus points earned from each order. Do not send cash.Send a check made out to the book club along with the order form. As always, purchasing products from these clubs is voluntary.

24. Essential Information • Please give school updates for phone numbers/addresses immediately. We may need to get a hold of you in case of emergency. • In order to communicate with a step parent, the school must get a notarized letter from the parent/legal guardian giving permission. • Latest check out time is 2:15. • Drop items for classroom in office, please as classroom “drop-offs” cause a learning distraction.

25. Thank you so much for coming tonight!! We are going to have an AWESOME year!!