Our Classroom

On this page you will find information on the following items:

Behavior Management Plan
Classroom Policy & Procedures
Our Classroom's Reading Log

Behavior Management Plan

I will be monitoring each student's behavior using a color card system. Each student will have four colored cards with a different kind of facial expression on each. Each time a rule is broken, the student will need to change his/her card to show a new color and facial expression. I will know by the end of the day how many rules were broken when I look at each student's card. The following is a list of the consequences for each facial expression:

	Great Week! Treasure Box!
	Needs Improvement
	Does not get a reward
	Call home

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Classroom Policy & Procedures

Reading
Language Arts
Writing
Math
Social Studies
Science
Newsletters
Homework
Homework Folders
Homework Chart
Grading
Absent Students
Behavior
Behavior Chart
Weekly Folders
Birthdays
Book Orders
Webpage
Contacting Me

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READING

We will be using Guided Reading this year. This is the same program that was used in second grade. The students will be broken down into groups of 5-8 students. Each group will meet with me every other day. When groups are not meeting with me, they will be working independently on book reports, vocabulary posters, comprehension activities, skill sheets, or center activities. Another big part of reading this year are our reading logs. Your child should be reading a minimum of 60 minutes every week, and they should be recording which book(s) they read on the form I provide them with each week. They should be striving to read chapter books. We will also be introducing and developing reader response questions, a skill the students will need to become familiar with for FCAT test in March.

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LANGUAGE ARTS

This block will be composed of Grammar, Spelling and Writing. As for Handwriting, it is important to practice cursive handwriting, and we will be doing that by working on worksheets, writing letters, etc. As long as your child is trying and doing his/her best, their grades will reflect that.

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WRITING

We will be doing a lot of work with the five step writing process. Students will have writing folders where they will be keeping rough and final drafts. Not all students will be on the same step at the same time, which will help me to conference with more students each day. I hope to have copies of this on the classroom webpage, along with the proofreading marks. Also, we will be setting up correspondences with other classes in other schools, so letter writing will be a large part of our writing experience in third grade. We will be doing journal writing every day, where students can free write about anything they wish. As part of our writing block, we will incorporate grammar lessons on such things as nouns, verbs, quotation marks, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, and complete sentences.

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MATH

We will be doing a lot of work this year on Place Value, Addition and Subtraction with regrouping, Multiplication, Division, Time, Money, Measurement, Graphing, Geometry, Fractions, Problem Solving, and Open Ended Questions. There are wonderful websites you can go to for practice that are linked through my webpage, and there are also many resources at Walmart, K-mart, Staples, etc. such as flash cards and workbooks. One math worksheet will be given for homework each Monday through Thursday that will reinforce the concepts we are learning in class.

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SOCIAL STUDIES

This subject will be taught with such topics as Communities, Customs, Government, Cultures, and Mapping Skills. A culminating project may be given at the end of each unit. Students will have a folder in their desk specifically for this subject. They will keep papers we do each day in class in this folder and may take the papers home at the end of each nine week marking period.

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SCIENCE

This subject will be taught with such topics as Agriculture, Rocks and Minerals, and Sound. We will also do a health unit on Dental Health/Nutrition. A culminating project may be given at the end of each unit. Students will have a folder in their desk specifically for this subject. They will keep papers we do each day in class in this folder and may take the papers home at the end of each nine week marking period.

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NEWSLETTERS

As a class we will create a Classroom Newsletters that will be sent home on a monthly basis. The newsletter will highlight special events that take place in our classroom. Students work may be showcased on the newsletter. I will always have these newsletters on the classroom webpage, also. Their purpose is to let you know what we will be doing in the classroom in each subject, along with any special projects/announcements.

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HOMEWORK

Homework will be given each night of the week except for Friday. I want the students to be able to relax and spend time with family over the weekend. Homework will be a review of concepts that are taught in school each day. If your child does not turn in homework, they will not be reviewing and reinforcing the skills that we work on in class. The outcome of students who do not complete homework usually results in lower test scores at the end of the week. Therefore, it is my recommendation that the students put forth maximum effort in applying themselves and completing their homework.

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HOMEWORK FOLDERS

All assignments will be written down in the student’s agenda book (student planner). Please sign the bottom of the column each night to let me know that you have seen what is for homework and also to let me know that your child has completed all assignments.

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HOMEWORK CHART

I have a homework chart hanging near the back of the room that is used to reward students that are finishing their homework every night. If a student completes all assignments given during a week, they will receive a sticker next to their name. This sticker earns them an ice cream Sunday party at the end of the quarter.

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GRADING

I will very rarely give grades for homework, although it may happen on occasion. The majority of my grades will come from class work and quizzes/tests. If you ever have concerns about your child’s grades or progress, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.

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ABSENT STUDENTS

If your child becomes ill, please keep him/her home from school. I will write down all of the day’s work, and when your child returns to school, I will have their assignments in a folder on their desk. I need you to please sign the bottom of the sheet and return it along with all of your child’s work. Please remember to complete and send in an absence excuse. If you do not turn in an absence excuse within three days of returning from an absence, it is counted as unexcused.

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BEHAVIOR

I will be monitoring behavior using a card system. Each student gets four colored cards. Each time a rule is broken, the student will need to take one of their cards away. I will know by the end of the day how many rules were broken when I look at each student's card.

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BEHAVIOR CHART

I have a behavior chart hanging near the back of the room that is used to reward students that are exhibiting good behavior every day. If a student does not have to pull any cards during the week, they will receive a sticker next to their name. This sticker earns them two tickets.

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WEEKLY FOLDERS

These will be coming home with your child every Monday. The sheet on the left will show your child’s behavior for the past week. All papers from the previous week will be on the other side. Every 2-3 weeks, I will have your child’s grades up to that point in all subjects. Please sign and return this sheet in the folder.

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BIRTHDAYS

Birthday Parties are not allowed on school grounds for students in grades K through 5th.

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BOOK ORDERS

We will be doing book orders from Scholastic or Troll once per month, or once every other month. I will give orders out on a Monday and orders will be due on or before Friday of that same week. I can then take time over the weekend to add up the money and call to place the order. Please make sure you put your child’s name on the order form and return it to me with your money in a sealed envelope with your child’s name on it.

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WEBPAGE

Our classroom webpage will be updated on a weekly basis, so please check it regularly to view important information each week.

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CONTACTING ME

If concerns ever arise about your child’s academic or behavioral progress, I will be more than happy to meet with you. It is easier for me if you schedule a time to meet with me in advance since I am usually running around the building in the mornings and afternoons taking care of technology problems, making copies, attending grade level meetings, etc. Therefore, if you need to contact me to schedule a conference, during the day is the best time for me. You can reach me at school by leaving a message with the secretaries and I will return your call during a break.

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Our Classroom's Reading Log

The following PDF file is a copy of the reading log my students use in the classroom. This reading log addresses the Reading benchmarks for Main Idea and Author's Purpose, which are tested on the FCAT. Students complete this form after they finish reading a book. They are required to list the book's title, author, and illustrator. Then they proceed to circle the author's purpose in writing the story and write a sentence describing the main idea. Click on the link below to download a copy of this Reading Log.

READING LOG (PDF FILE)

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