Welcome to Third Grade 2009-2010

1. Welcome to Third Grade2009-2010 Mrs. Marshall’s Class

2. Mrs. Marshall’s Quick Fact Sheet I was born in Alabama and grew up in Vestavia. I received my undergraduate degree from Samford University and my Master’s degree from UAB. I earned National Board Certification in 2002 and certification in Educational Leadership in 2008. This is my 20th year to teach school. I have experience in grades 3, 4, 5, and 6, but eleven of my years of teaching have been teaching 3rd grade. I am married to Rod Marshall, the director of counseling for Pathways Professional Counseling which is a part of the Alabama Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries. We have 2 children: Daughter- Anna Leigh Marshall who is beginning her Freshman year at Samford University and Son- Will Marshall who is a senior at Hoover High School.

3. Teacher Goals • I strive to foster a love of learning in all my students. •  I plan reading experiences that will help my students become life-long readers. •  My students have opportunities for collaboration and teamwork so they will learn to work with others. • I work to help students learn to communicate effectively in writing, speaking, and listening. • My students develop knowledge of basic facts and skills in order to learn more about the world. •  I want my students to be capable of finding information by using resources such as reference books and the Internet, so they can begin to learn independently and become life-long learners.

4. Third Grade- A Time of Transition Third grade is a distinct time in your child’s education. I know that you will see many changes this year. The children will be moving from primary learning to the higher levels of learning of the upper elementary grades. During this time children, as well as parents, will be adjusting to many new things. Some of these things include: a new grading system, nightly homework, assignment books, and increased difficulty of the content area. As parents and teachers, we will need to encourage students to become responsible third graders. This is to ensure that the transition to the upper grades is a smooth one.

5. Tools to Support Responsibility Binder- This should come home every day. Parent Pocket- Kept inside the binder to house notes to and from school. Assignment book- This should be kept inside the binder and have written assignments for you to view nightly. Please sign this when your child has completed his or her homework and return it each day. Take Home Folders – Each week, students will bring a folder home for you to view. This folder will contain class work, tests, notes, etc…. Please sign items in the “Sign and Return” portion and keep the other items at home. Go over everything in your child’s take home folder Please take notice of any notes I have written on their graded papers and review these with your child. I encourage you to write any comments, concerns, or suggestions on the pages behind the evaluation sheet. Parent Letter Notebooks- These will come home most Fridays. Please take time to read your child’s letter. You may sign it, or write a letter back to your child when you can.

6. Third Grade Curriculum

7. Reading Reading is a major part of the third grade curriculum. Reading at least fifteen minutes every night in the fall and twenty minutes after Christmas is required. We will build reading skills through reading conferences, shared class sets, real-alouds, written reading responses, self-selected reading, literature circle discussion groups, vocabulary studies, author studies, integrating reading throughout the other subject areas, phonics focus lessons, literacy centers and shared reading strategies. Grades will come from all of these components.

8. Language Arts English and Writing Workshop are other key elements in the third grade curriculum. Students work on basic written communication skills through editing daily oral language, writing conferences, and English focus lessons. Writing is taught through a workshop approach allowing students to write stories in which they are interested. My purpose is to make writing meaningful to students by allowing them as much choice as possible. We also develop writing through parent letters as well as incorporating writing in other areas of the curriculum. Grades come from daily work, unit tests, and participation in writing workshop, and various writing projects.

9. Spelling Students will have 20 spelling words a week. Fifteen of these words will come from the textbook and focus on specific spelling patterns. The other words will come from other content area in the curriculum such as science or social studies. After the first nine weeks, students who need an extra challenge will be accelerated. They will have spelling bee words and more challenging vocabulary words for their weekly spelling lists in addition to the content words. Grades will come from weekly work and tests. Spelling tests will be given on Fridays.

10. Mathematics Third grade math skills are taught through number talks, partner and small group investigations, math games, daily instruction, problem solving, sharing strategies, and skill practice. I will address students’ individual needs by strengthening basic third grade skills and providing challenges for students when appropriate. Math grades will come from daily work in the math journal, participating in homework, chapter tests and quizzes.

11. Science Science instruction will revolve around the following main units of study: plant development, weather, the human body, and rocks and minerals. We will also address science throughout other areas of the curriculum. Students will be actively involved in using science process skills. They will have opportunities to question and experiment. Many hands-on learning experiences will be incorporated into science. Grades will come from science journals, study sheets, participation, tests, and quizzes. Please send a “ lab coat” ( a man’s old white dress shirt you don’t mind them getting dirty)with your child by September.

12. Social Studies Social Studies will involve studying the early history of North America including the prehistoric Indians, historic Native American cultures, early explorers, and early settlement. We will also focus on map and globe skills throughout the year. We will also be completing some research and projects on important landmarks around the world to build research and global awareness through our “Where in the World” emphasis. Please refer to the handout with the assigned projects. Students are encouraged to bring in any items to share that will enhance our unit of study. Grades are based on daily class participation, projects, tests and quizzes.

13. Technology There are technology standards for third graders. Students are to be introduced to keyboarding, Microsoft Word, presentation software, ( PowerPoint or Photo Story) and the use of a digital camera. Technology is also used to enhance learning throughout the curriculum. Technology equipment available in the classroom for lesson presentation and student use consists of: Light Smith Projector Laptops Desktop computers i-pods Digital cameras Video camera Listening center with books on tape and CD

14. Class Field Trips Friday, October 9th- Children’s Theatre- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Friday, November 13th- Third Grade Native American Field trip to World Song Friday, February 26th- Music Field Trip – Peter Pan Friday, March 5th- DeSoto Caverns Tuesday, April 16th - Children’s Theatre- The Wizard of Oz Tuesday- Thursday, April 27, 28th,and 29th-one day with another third grade class to Vulcan Materials

15. Oops Cards Oops Cards- Each child is given a set of four different cards. Anytime during the course of the week that a student fails to follow a class or school rule, they will be asked to pull an oops card and write what happened in the oops book. Green Card- Warning Card Yellow Card- Lose 5 minutes of recess Blue Card- Lose all of recess Red Card- Parents called Cards are returned each Monday.

16. Rewards Marshall Bucks (individual rewards)- Students can save toward different prizes of their choice. Stars (class rewards)- Students earn stars as a class for working as a team and receiving compliments from teachers and other adults. Students suggest and vote on a class reward to earn.

17. Other Details Lunch Monday- Please send it in an envelope marked with your child’s name marked lunch money. Snacks- Please send a healthy snack and drink each day. Absences and Tardies- Please keep absences and tardies to a minimum. When your child has to miss school, please send a written excuse within two days of their return to school. If you child is out just one day, we will make up work upon return, but please have them work on anything he or she knows would be normal work. If they are out more than a day, please e-mail me or call for make-up work. Please allow me time to write up assignments and gather their materials.

18. Other Details Continued Room Mothers are: Cathy Bearden and Tracy Estes Parties- Christmas, Valentine’s, End of the Year, but special snacks if anyone wants to provide those for other occasions Birthdays- Students may bring a treat to share, but please keep it simple . Book Orders- I will send these a few times during the year. Please write checks to Scholastic Book Clubs. Return the order form and check in an envelope with your child’s name marked book club.

19. Final Details Dress Code- Please make sure your child dresses according to the dress code. Dismissal- If your child has to go home another way than normal, please send a note that morning. If you don’t find out until late in the day, call and leave a message at the desk. Lunch Visitors- If you come and are planning to eat with us, send a note or let your child know what you plan to have, so we can make sure enough food is prepared. Class Schedule and Homework Suggestions- see attached handout

20. How to Reach Me lmarshall @hoover.k12.al.us Notes in the parent pocket, assignment pad, or in the take home folder School- 439-2800 – during school hours- Monday- Thursday 10:00-11:00 , Friday 10:00-10:30, or right before or after school Emergency- home – 823-2173

21. Things You Can Do Sign up to volunteer Be a field trip chaperone Send requested items for parties and SAT snacks Read to our class- in person or on Skype Speak to our class if you have a job or hobby that relates to our units of study Donate supplies- see yellow forms