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Sturgeon Station. 2007-2008. to 3 rd Grade!. Routine is the first order of business. Once the students get the routine down then they are able to concentrate and know what to expect. The Rules are NOT difficult to follow. Respect pretty much covers it all.
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Sturgeon Station 2007-2008
to 3rd Grade! Routine is the first order of business. Once the students get the routine down then they are able to concentrate and know what to expect. The Rules are NOT difficult to follow. Respect pretty much covers it all. Third grade is known for a transitional year of where independent work and study begins. We will take what they have already learned and put it to practice. Their individuality will be expressed a lot in their reading and writing.
Mrs. Sturgeon I have been married to Bob for over 25 years. We have a son named Ben. He is married and is an Assoc. Pastor in Anderson. Our daughter Bethany is married also. She is a cosmetologist. I taught at a local Christian school before coming to Lapel. I have my Master’s Degree in Curriculum Design. I have an Early Childhood/Kindergarten Endorsement and Reading Specialist Certification, as well as special course work towards Children’s Writing. I am a child advocate for learning. I do a lot of differentiated lessons to include all learning styles. I facilitate and instruct on different levels to meet the individual learner.
Rules Honesty Routine Respect Responsibility
Homework Normal Week Schedule Monday: Read 30 min./story sent home, fill out entire reading ticket and Write Spelling Words 3 times each, (Cursive writing). Tuesday: Read 10 min. free choice. Reading vocabulary worksheet or vocabulary sentences (Cursive writing). Math practice worksheet Wednesday: Read 10 min. free choice, Write Spelling Word Sentences (Cursive writing). Math practice worksheet Thursday: Read 10 min. free choice, Build A Word- Must create no less than 20 words from the scrambled letters given. The more words the student creates the better! Math practice worksheet Friday: NO HOMEWORK!
Teaching Style I am firm, fair, consistent, dependable, and encouraging to everyone. We have a lot of work to do. I like to do different things to bring out individual learning styles. In third grade we all have to Read, Write, and do Math etc. but……. We can have fun doing all those things too. Sometimes the lessons aren’t fun but I will do my best for your child to have an enjoyable year as well as give them the best learning environment possible. Hands-on- learning centers, Reading & Math Buddies, etc. can be a way to improve social skills as well as academics and meet our state standards.
3rd Grade Goals Obey the 3 commands of 3rd Grade 1. Be respectful to everyone! 2. Do what you are Responsible for! 3. Confidence to be independent! Help make learning fun!
Communication! No News is Good News msturgeon@flcs.k12.in.us Newsletter sent home weekly Feel free to CONTACK ME IF YOU HAVE ANY concerns or questions. School Web Page-http/ www.ezwebsite.org/les 534-3101 Ext. 209 Behavior tickets
Questions and Concerns Please contact me if you have any issues, questions, or concerns. I cannot stress this enough! We can usually clear things up pretty quickly, if I know what you are thinking/feeling. Again, it’s important to follow the chain of command in order to get issues resolved. I do not bring homework lessons home with me. Please call another student OR there will be time the following morning to get your homework completed-just be sure to write a note in the assignment notebook. I welcome your talks of concern. You are your child’s biggest cheerleader. I want to hear what you have to say about your child. Remember I am a mom first before the professional!
Friendships and Classmates It’s important to build friendships! We do NOT promote boyfriend/girlfriends in 3rd grade! We suggest everyone being friends!
Dismissal Issues Please send a note to me telling me where you want your child dismissed to if it is different than the “normal” schedule. Your child will then be expected to tape the note to his/her desk as a reminder of the change of plans. If student walks to/from school, please let me know. I need your child’s bus number(s). If you pick your child up at the end of the day. please stay in your car and your child will find you promptly upon dismissal. If you need to see me please call ahead of time and we will work something out. I realize emergencies happen however this is for the “usual” circumstances.
Appointments • I know we all have to make appointments. If you need to pick up your child during the day please have the office call and I will see that your child gets to you as soon as possible. A note at the beginning of the day is best but I understand things come up during the day. If for some reason your child thinks they should NOT ride the bus home. I will try to call you but if the buses leave while we are trying to contact you, your child will be in after school care. This is to assure your child is safe and cared for.
GradingScale E=Excellent S=Satisfactory N=Needs Improvement U=Unsatisfactory A, B, C, D, F A=Awesome B=Bee-careful C=Careless D=Didn’t Understand F=Frazzled 90-100 A 80-89 B 70-79 C 60-69 D 59-Below F E, S, N, U Writing, P.E., Keyboarding, Computer Lab, Music, and Art,
ISTEP Students are assessed on a 6 point scale of 0 to 6. Students are to write to a prompt. They are assessed 2 different ways of writing development. The content of word choice and organization. Math and Reading are also tested. The ISTEP is a tool teachers use to help individualize instruction and compare students on a national level as well as locally. MAP NWEA Standardized Test use a rubric score of 1 to 4. This test is given at the beginning of the school year and again in the spring. We want to support the success your child is experiencing. This test reveals a comparison of where your child’s academic level is within the state and local schools. This too helps teachers to individualize grade level instructions. 2 Important Tests for 3rd Graders
Assignments Completed in Class We of course do a lot of practice before taking an actual grade. If you see a large smile, check mark or bumble bee on your child’s paper without a grade means this is practice or I didn’t take an actual grade. I do record in my records an opinion of how your child did on most papers. Sometimes I feel it is best they just receive a “Mark of Success” instead of a letter grade. Please trust me, I am watching your child’s learning behaviors. I usually have students grade their own spelling/dictation. Then I of course re-grade it. This helps improve editing issues in their normal everyday writing.
P.A.T. Earned I enjoy giving good rewards for a lot of reasons, especially good behavior. When behavior is under control then the learning can take place. I like to offer a “Free Day” as an award for good behavior. We will gather positive minutes each day and when we reach 6 hrs., we will plan a “Free Day” with learning games. This usually adds up to every six weeks. It depends on the class. The “Free Day” will be a time of hands- on-learning activities covering materials we have already learned in class. When students take an “active” part in learning something it remains in their long term memory longer due to working their minds as well manipulating their hands. Please trust me that a free day is always a learning day, just different than the typical day.
Assignment Notebook Students have the responsibility of filling out the Assignment Notebook everyday (except Friday), unless there is a “special assignment like a Wacky Weird Homework Assign..” Parents MUST sign the Assignment Notebook EVERYDAY! Your child gets a strike (Yellow Day Ticket) against their responsibility if YOU don’t sign it. PLEASE get into the habit of looking at your child’s Assignment Notebook every evening!
Journal WritingStory Bag We write everyday! Please make sure your child has plenty of pencils and story bag items! Story Bag Each student is expected to have at least 3 items inside the zip lock bag I have provided or a brown lunch sack that will be stored in their locker. This gives them something concrete to write about. This idea helps the reluctant writer to get started with their creativity with words. The student is responsible for replenishing their story bag each week. We will write descriptive, informative, persuasive, formal and informal letters, biographies, autobiographies etc.
Conferences NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS! I ENJOY THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRAG ON YOUR CHILD! I will call you if I feel we need to discuss your child’s academics or behaviors.
Grade bookMid-Term & 9 Weeks Report I send home Mid-term reports the first 9 weeks. The rest of the school year Mid-terms will be sent home to those who have had a decline in grades. All report cards will be sent home on the scheduled day according to the school’s main calendar. Watch for the news in the Paw Prints. Grades can now be observed by way of computer through STI. This is our grade-book system that allows parents to view assignments and grades online.
Practice Makes Permanent We will practice a lot of Math to build up to working with multiplication. Practice makes it more permanent. The more we practice the more concrete and faster they are with solving Math problems. Again, we will write everyday to build word usage and to improve our English skills as well as literature skills.
Responsibility of Student I will instruct the students on what they are responsible for. One cannot expect the responsibility of another if they haven’t been told what is expected of them. Taking care of their personal property, responsibility, manners, helpful and kind attitude, honesty, and obey the rules.
Respectful Being respectful covers a lot of issues in the classroom and the playground. It’s NOT too much to ask for everyone to try their best in getting along with each other. Sometimes things happen out of control for whatever reason, we still all need to be respectful in order to resolve an issue. BEWARE! Respect and honesty are my top requirements!
Routine I will express, show, tell, instruct how things should be done in the classroom. Students will be expected to have Names on papers, know where to turn completed papers in, know how to line up quietly and where. Our classroom schedule will be sent home as soon as possible. I know you mom’s especially think about your child and wonder what they are doing at a given time during the school day. Sooo I will try to send a schedule home as soon as I can.
Overall Behavior Good behavior is always expected. Sometimes kids need extra encouragement in self control. Some just have a little extra orneriness in them. Some well, let’s just say need the firm attention. I am aware of your child’s school needs. It is up to you to let me know any issues you feel that may be causing your child to have behavior issues. I don’t need to know family secrets but if there is turmoil in the household there is an impact on the children that may possibly come out at school. Please, for your child’s sake keep in communication with me. We all want what is best for your child.
Color Behavior Days • A GREEN DAY is a GREAT Day! • Keep up the great work! • A YELLOW DAY is a Tough Day! • Please talk to your child about their day! • A RED day is a BAD Bug Day! • WOW! Get this behavior Stopped! 3 Red DAYS = Visit Mr. Fields and a phone contact to parents!
Behavior Tickets Get the Bugs Out! Bee-careful! Yellow Day Red Day • Not following rules Continuous Misbehavior • Not staying on Task Dishonesty • Papers stashed in desk Belligerent/ Disrespect Poor Attitude/Actions Bullying/Fighting • Disrespectful Collection of Yellow Tickets • Disruptive/Talking • Recess Issues • Assignment NOT completed • Assignment Notebook not signed Do you need an attitude adjustment?
Before and After School Behavior Whatever happen during the Before and After School Program is out of my control. Please! If you have concerns contact the people in charge or the office. I don’t have any idea of what goes on there.
Recess is a privilege! • It’s a time to play and have FUN with friends. • It’s a break from school work. • Everyone needs time to rejuvenate.
If you choose to bring lunch from home, Please, take the lunch bag home each day! • Each student that brings their lunch money should have it in a marked envelope. They will place it in the office envelope first thing in the mornings.
We have a weekly Spelling Test on Fridays (Wednesday if it is a short week). I give a “trial” test on Monday. if they get a 100% then they may study the advanced list for the test on Friday. Their words are to be written 3x’s and their sentences for homework will be the advanced word list. Again, this is only if they got all the words correct on Monday’s trial test. The advanced test will be on Fridays (Wednesday if it is a short week). This will be graded. If the students gets 100% correct there will be A+ added to their spelling grade for that particular week.
Weekly Schedule of Specials I will send this information home as soon as possible!
All 3rd Grade Birthdays • Birthday treats must be in an individual take home baggy!
Christmas Party • We Do NOT exchange gifts. We exchange names to buy the name drawn their favorite drink and snack. • We will decorate a lunch bag to put the items in for the “party.”
Story Corner • I try my very best to encourage social skills as well as discuss the book read during this particular time. • Each student is asked to share something they did the night before. This is to promote a camaraderie with each other. • I do NOT support the talk of family secrets, negative responses towards someone, nor scary movies.
Life of a 3rd Grader at Lapel Elementary • State Standards and Curriculum • Field Trips, ISTEP, MAP Testing, • Age Appropriate Expectations • Rules/Responsibility/Respect • Social Skills
Substitute • When I am absent there will be a substitute to follow my instructions. • Rules, Respect, and Responsibility will remain the same! • If there is a dispute, I will handle it when I return to school!
School Supplies Please check periodically if your child has their supplies. You would be amazed at how fast the students use up their pencils. We don’t use munchkin size pencils in 3rd grade. Munchkin size is less than the width of the student’s fist. Please keep the pencils coming in!
Long Sleeve Shirt/Jacket Our classroom has a tendency to be chilly. A long sleeve shirt kept in the student’s locker all year helps a lot!
Emergency Numbers • A 3 X 5 card is expected to be filled out the first week of school. • I need ALL phone numbers possible in case of an emergency at school. • Bus number
Teacher’s Mail Students are asked to put ALL notes and important information in my mail box. This will insure proper care.
Attendance and Homework When I have a student with an excused absent due to illness, I prefer NOT to send homework home with a sibling or have you come to school to pick his/her school work up. When a child is ill they certainly don’t feel like completing a days worth of work crammed into an entire evening. I will allow two days for the work to be completed in order to receive full credit. Please don’t call the office for me to send work to you. My policy is the student will begin make up work when they return to school. Homework is all about routine and practice. The homework schedule is listed on the newsletters and is in the Back-To-School packet.
Lap Tops & Lab 2 computers will be in each elem. Classroom. I use the lap tops a lot for various activities. Each student needs to bring in a blank cd & case.
Wacky Weird Homework Assignments A monthly family assignment is due. Be watching each month for a special project the whole family can enjoy. They will be displayed in the showcase near the office or in the foyer next to the Kindergarten room. The students will use the Wacky Weird Project to write about. More info. later!
Wacky Weird Homework Assignments In class we will perform, present and write about the projects. September-Community Building (made out of boxes October-Scarecrow (min.2’tall) (please make with “stuff” you already have) November- Tepee (min. 1’tall) December- Christmas Stocking January- Snowman (min. 2’tall) February-Valentine Box (made out of a shoebox) March- Kite (min. 2’width & height) April- Bee Hive (min.1’ tall) May- Race Car (made out of a pop tart size box) Items will be displayed in the trophy cases near the main office (when available). Added activities to be aware of- more details later Math game Sock puppet Posters Personal timeline Valentine boxes Graph your favorite ____?___ Science project Word parade costume Miss Bumble Bee Visits your home Corduroy Bear Visits your home Make your own checker board and checkers Board game (must have written directions)
