Third Grade Student/Parent Handbook

Third Grade Student/Parent Handbook

Ms. Tesa Matthews

E.B. Ellington Elementary

2015 – 2016 School Year

Note: This handbook provides information on curriculum study areas, policies, procedures, and expectations for the new school year. Please ensure that you read all of the content to better understand my class. Thank you!

A Letter To Students

Dear Students,

I hope that you are as excited about all the possibilities that this year will bring as I am! We have so much to learn and discover, and it all starts with you! This year we will be learning many new things in Reading, Writing, Math, Social Studies, and Science. Learning new things can be hard work, but it can also be a lot of fun.
We will go to Music, Computer Lab, Physical Education, Art, Drama, and the Media Center every week. In addition, you will also participate in Spanish lessons from our school’s Spanish teacher weekly. You will develop skills to help you become a global citizen of the 21st century.

There are some things that I expect from you while you are in our class. First, I expect you to be ready to learn everyday! It’s easy the first few weeks of school … everything is new and exciting. The real trick is to keep the excitement going after the thrill of the newness has gone away. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth the effort you put into making everyday your best.

Secondly, I expect you to be attentive, cooperative, and friendly to all. We certainly can’t be learning anything worthwhile if problems develop! Next, attendance can make or break how much you learn and as a result your grades can be affected. It’s important that you are in class as much as possible! Finally, I expect nothing less than your best! I expect you to ask for help or questions in general when you need to. You know better than anyone else when you are unsure about something. Unfortunately, I won’t always know when to help you if you don’t ask. Don’t be afraid to ask! In conclusion, I don’t ask much of my students, so I expect them to adhere to my expectations.

What can you expect of me? For starters, you can expect me to care about you! I love teaching third grade. I’m skilled at delivering the instruction needed to move you towards being a proficient/advance learner. Also, you can expect me to be clear about the expectations and requirements of this class. No one in my class will be caught saying, “I don’t understand what I need to do!” unless they weren’t paying attention. If by chance you really didn’t get it, remember to ask questions! Finally, you can expect to walk away from this class at the end of the year with a better understanding of third grade standards and being well-prepared for fourth grade. You will have grown tremendously and will be feeling excited that you made it!
Together, along with your parents, I hope we make this a great year for you!

Ms. Tesa Matthews

A Letter To Parents/Guardians

Dear Parents,

You really can’t imagine how excited I am about the upcoming year! We are going to have a great time in this class, and we are going to learn a great deal together. When I say together, I mean all of us …your child, you, and me! We will be working together as a team with a common goal. The goal is to educate and nurture your son or daughter. I firmly believe that we must all work together if the children are to succeed. I can’t do it alone; you can’t do it alone; certainly the students can’t do it alone.

Please be involved in your child’s studies. The rewards for active participation in your child’s education are sometimes hard to see on a day-to day basis, but they will manifest themselves down the road.
I pledge to you that I will do my utmost for your child’s education! I will diligently work to make him/her a better person – more responsible and more educated! I will continue with my high level of instruction geared towards excellence. Your child will arrive at the end of this year with a better understanding and appreciation of grade level standards. The bottom line is that your son or daughter will be well – prepared for the fourth grade.

My philosophy is that there can be no learning without discipline in the classroom! The classroom environment must be conducive for learning and this environment must be maintained to ensure the growth of all my students. Yes, there will be students that demonstrate inappropriate behavior. Please understand that as your child’s teacher any unacceptable behavior will be dealt with. I will not allow any student to disrupt the learning of others. I will be fair and open about problems. Rest assured, that I will inform you immediately of any problems that may arise with your child. I ask that you swiftly handle the problem as to minimize any reoccurrence of it happening again. Our time spent in the classroom with so many things to be covered during the course of a day is too precious to be wasted on foolishness! Wouldn’t you agree?

I want to do what is best for your child while he/she is in my care. Let’s work together to make this a great school year! The lines of communication will always be open on my end. Guaranteed!

Ms. Tesa Matthews

Curriculum Overview

English Language Arts

Students are exposed to a variety of literature throughout the year. Students are taught to interpret accurately and support interpretation with references in the text. They learn to draw inferences and comparisons. Students also learn to form critical judgments, analyze literature, and engage in open-ended discussions. Every night, students are also responsible for reading at least 20 minutes. In addition, students will be taught to be a Reading Detectives. Being a Reading Detective is a strategy that is taught to better assist students with comprehending what has been read in order to answer questions about the text.

Many opportunities for writing are provided in our class. Students are exposed to a variety of writing forms including creative writing, poetry, math/science journals, research, and other writing formed based upon the third grade coherent curriculum.
The writing process involves prewriting, drafting, editing, revising, and publishing. Students will also develop their understanding of ideas, organization, voice, sentence fluency, word choice, conventions, and presentation.

Opportunities to develop oral language skills are provided. Students will present oral presentations individually as well as with a group. Further more when students speak they are always instructed to speak in complete sentences.

Mathematics

The mathematical program in our class extends problem-solving skills and builds connections between new concepts and those taught in previous grades. The children continue to develop basic number sense from the ones to the millions place. Multiplication and division are extended through 12 as a factor and divisor. The study of fractions is extended to include equivalent fractions, addition and subtraction of fractions with like denominators, and finding fractional parts of a whole number. Operations of fractions are developed from concrete and pictorial representations. The children practice estimations skills and they learn to round numbers. Work with decimals includes addition and subtraction, rounding, comparing mental computations, money, and estimating.

The children will measure in metric and customary systems. The students will be involved in hands on measuring experiences. Geometric concepts include volume of rectangular solid along with areas and perimeter of simple plane figures. The children also work with points, lines, planes, polygons, circles, angles, congruent figures, line of symmetry, and simple coordinate graphing. Statistical concepts include gathering data, creating graphs, interpreting graphs, and computing the mean, mode, and range.

Students will be expected to explain and show their calculations and problem solving strategies. Students will maintain a math notebook. Teacher generated assessments are used to assess state standards along with teacher observation.

Science

The science curriculum investigates animal and plant adaptations, microscopic life, weather, earth sciences, and electricity. Each unit is based on the scientific method of inquiry and develops the students’ abilities to formulate questions, hypothesize, test, collect data, predict, draw conclusions, and evaluate. Students will maintain a science notebook. Teacher generated assessments are used to assess state standards along with teacher observation, individual projects, and group presentations.

Social Studies

Our social studies curriculum covers South Carolina history. Students will be involved in enrichment projects and/or research for many topics of discussion.

Class 3-1’s Policies and Procedures

Important Note: Just like the city, state, and country in which we live, a classroom cannot run properly without some rules. All of the policies and procedures of our room exist so that we can learn as much as possible this year AND are safe while doing it!

When You Enter The Room In The Morning

* If you arrive to school before 7:50 go directly to the cafeteria and until its time to pick up for breakfast and move to class.
* Unpack from your backpack only what you need in your desk. (Items that should have been left at home or in the backpack DO NOT take out.) Coats and backpacks are not allowed at your desk.
* Turn in your Homework Folder on my table neatly. (Make sure your homework sheet is inside along with homework, any notes from parents, and other important papers.)
* Eat your breakfast. Breakfast ends at 8:20.
* Complete your Morning Work assignment. Assignments must be turned in no later than 8:30.
* Remember, you should be unpacking, eating, and completing morning work during this time. Time goes by quickly! DO NOT waste time talking!

IF YOU ARE TARDY (LATE)

* It is important that you get to school on time, so that you will have enough time to eat your breakfast and complete your morning work.
* School begins promptly at 8:00.

* When you enter the room you must give me the tardy slip you received from the office.
I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO (Morning/Afternoon)
* When you get confused about the morning procedures, look for the chart located on the front wall that clearly tells you step by step what you are expected to do. For the afternoon procedures, look for the chart on the side wall.
WHERE DO YOU PUT COMPLETED PAPERS?
* All completed assignments will be placed on the math table unless otherwise told by me.

WHEN I’M TEACHING THE WHOLE GROUP OR YOUR GROUP
* You are not allowed to leave your seat unless you are ill or given permission from me.
* Remember to use the correct hand gesture (located on the front wall) to sharpen your pencil, add to class discussion, go to the restroom, or ask a question.
* DONOT lean back in your chair. (Keep the chair on all four legs)
* NO gum is allowed in our classroom.
* ONLY breakfast/snack itemswillbe eaten in the classroom. There will be times when certain food items will be given as incentives. I will inform you if these items can be eaten in class.

* Pay close attention to what is going on and being said.

WHEN YOU ARE WORKING IN A GROUP OR WITH A PARTNER

* Stay focus and on task
* Talk quietly
* When you have completed your task, double check your work, and read over your notes in that particular subject.
YOUR WORK WILL:
* be turned in on time. Work will not be accepted after the designated time.
* be on regular size notebook paper. (wide or college ruled paper)
* be neat and legible.
* be in pencil. Any work completed in pen will not be graded. NO EXCEPTIONS!
* observe margins as they appear on your paper.
* have correct heading. 1st – name, 2nd – date, 3rd – subject, and skip a line
(see below and also look at the sample on the wall)

<Left Hand <Right Hand

Complete Name
Date
Subject/Page
/ ***SKIP THIS LINE***
(Begin work here!)

* not have rugged edges as with spiral notebook paper.

* not have doodling and decorations on it.
DO YOU HAVE HOMEWORK?
* Homework is given every night, Monday – Thursday, without fail.
* Every Monday, you are given a homework sheet. The homework sheet already has your assignments written out. Vary seldom will you have to copy your assignments off of the board.
* Homework is to be completed each night, at home, as assigned.
* Homework is due the morning after in your Homework Folder along with signed homework sheet.
* Each evening a parent/guardian or some other adult must sign your sheet for that night only. They cannot sign for any other day except for the day assigned.
* By signing thehomework sheet,parents are acknowledging that you have reviewed and assistedtheir child with his/her homework.
* Homework is checked and returned to students daily.
* Getting homework sheets signed is the students’ responsibility. Students who return to school with sheets not signed will have 5 minutes off of recess.
* Remember each day Monday – Thursday homework sheets must be signed.
* If you have questions about the homework, please contact the school and schedule a conference with me.
* The homework sheet also has space provided for other teacher notes involving discipline and other miscellaneous notes.
* By writing your name on your homework sheet by the time I check homework folders on Tuesday morning, you will be given an extra 5 points on one of your Friday assessments.
* You will have an assignment in most of your subject areas. (Reading, Math, Science, and Social Studies)
* If a student is absent the day of the assignments, he/she will not be held responsible for completing the written portion of the work. (THEWRITTEN PART ONLY)
* Homework is very important in reinforcing the day’s lesson.
A.When working on your homework, I expect each student to:
1. do their best job on the assignments,

2. be neat, not sloppy, (Sloppy papers will be deducted by 10 points.)
3. have your paper headed correctly, (Papers not heading correctly will be deducted 3 points.) and
4. do the work on their own. (Students can ask for help ONLY after they have given it their best effort. You cannot learn if others in your home are doing for you! It shows when assessments and other class work are given at school. You can pass the homework, but not work given in school. If I suspect that this is happening, I stop giving credit to that student for homework assignments.)
B. A student whochooses not to do his/her assignments:
1. will lose minutes off of recess privileges and
2. receive a grade of 0% - F on the assignments.

CHEATING POLICY

Cheating is not permitted. If you are found to be cheating on a test or classroom assignment, parents will be notified and you will receive a 0% - F for the test or assignment. If this problem continues by that student, the above procedure will be followed with a referral to the office.
COMMUNICATION ABOUT STUDENT PROGRESS
* In order to achieve maximum success, a good parent-teacher relationship is necessary.
* Throughout the year, I will communicate through notes, telephone calls, letters, and conferences.
* I encourage you to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have. You can write a note on your child’s homework sheet in the appropriate section or call me at the school (889-9411) and I will return your call.
* Be sure to sign your child’s homework sheet daily and review assignments. Please ensure that your child has completed all assignments.
* Every Friday, your child’s weekly assessment report is sent home. This report provides you with your child’s grades on Friday’s weekly assessments, weekend homework assignments to prepare for the upcoming week, homework and behavior status for the week. In addition, your child’s performance on his/her morning work will be provided.
* Parents are expected to review the weekly assessment report with their child, sign, and return the report the following Monday in their child’s homework folder. NO EXCEPTIONS – students who return on Monday without his/her report signed will not be allowed recess.
* In regards to morning work, students who pass will have their papers placed in their envelopes located outside of the classroom. Students who fail their morning work, will have their papers given back to them. They are expected to practice the skill until they have mastered it.