Parents and Students,
If you are interested in a way to practice getting better at reading, this is a great website to practice at home:
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/skills-3rd-langbuilders.htm
It will help with all the third grade reading skills.
Mrs. McRae
Pikes Peak Elementary
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Good Morning Third Grade Parents,
We are off to a rocking start in third grade. We have been reviewing expectations, building teamwork, and starting into working routines.
This coming week in reading, you're students will be learning the following things:
Story Elements: Characters, Setting, Problem, Solution, Plot,
How to retell a story
Compound Words (downstairs, fireman, firestation)Practicing with CVC words (cat, hat, hen, pen) if needed.
In Science, we will be studying the properties of matter. Color, size, shape, volume, are properties of matter. Matter is anything composed of a solid, liquid, or gas.
Homework will start this August 16th! In reading, students will be required to read 20 minutes a night. Please sign the planner every night to indicate they have read. The planner will come home in the Tiger notebooks.
Planning ahead, students will be bringing home information for their first book report. This is due September 24th. They can bring a book home from the library. They must create the project at home!
Ways to support your student this week:
Mrs. McRae
We are off to a rocking start in third grade. We have been reviewing expectations, building teamwork, and starting into working routines.
This coming week in reading, you're students will be learning the following things:
Story Elements: Characters, Setting, Problem, Solution, Plot, How to retell a story
Compound Words (downstairs, fireman, firestation)
Homework will start this August 16th! In reading, students will be required to read 20 minutes a night. Please sign the planner every night to indicate they have read. The planner will come home in the Tiger notebooks.
Planning ahead, students will be bringing home information for their first book report. This is due September 24th. They can bring a book home from the library. They must create the project at home!
Ways to support your student this week:
- Ask them to retell a story they read for homework. Make sure they include characters, setting, problem, solution.
- Make sure they know the three different types of matter: Liquids, Solids, and Gases.
- Make sure they read 20 minutes and sign their planner!
Mrs. McRae
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Third Grade Specials Schedule
| Specials Schedule 2010-2011 | ||||||||||
| Times | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | ||||||
| 8:15-9:40 | ALL SPECIALS TEACHERS | PUSH IN | PUSH IN | PUSH IN | PUSH IN | |||||
| 11:10-11:50 | PE | Callaghan | PLAN | Weisen | McRae | |||||
| MUSIC | PLAN | Callaghan | McRae | Weisen | ||||||
| ART | McRae | Weisen | Callaghan | PLAN | ||||||
| LIBRARY | Weisen | McRae | PLAN | Callaghan |
Friday, August 6, 2010
Welcome to Third Grade
Dear Parents and Guardians:
It is with great pleasure that we become your student’s new third grade teachers. We would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves:
TEACHERS:
For fun, I love to go backpacking and camping with my wonderful husband in Colorado’s beautiful outdoors. Also, I love to preserve our outdoors memories in scrapbooks. My husband, Sean, and I were very fortunate to go to Cancun, Mexico for a vacation this summer. We loved seeing the old Mayan ruins. The picture shows us at Chichen Itza in front o f a breathtaking pyramid. In addition, we spent lots of wonderful time relaxing on the beach, snorkeling, shopping, and eating!
Ms. Callaghan--I am originally from Texas where I went to college at Texas A&M University. I moved here two years ago and began teaching at Pikes Peak. I absolutely love Colorado! This summer I spent many days hiking in the mountains with my dog, Addie. I also got to see my family in Texas where we had a wonderful time making barbecue and celebrating my nephew’s first birthday. I am very excited about this school year. I know it’s going to be great!
Ms. Weisen—I received a dual Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education from Wayland Baptist University. This is my second year at Pikes Peak Elementary, where I am the Third Grade Math teacher. I am a gifted specialist and have taught kindergarten, first. third, and fourth grade. My strong passion to educate young minds was recognized when, in 2007, I earned the Past State President’s Innovative Teacher Award. The integration of Science and Literacy is an integral part of my teaching strategy. I am certified as a Regional Teacher Trainer for the Step-Up Science and USTARS programs. I was selected to participate in the Northrop Grumman Weightless Flights of Discovery program where I conducted science experiments while in a weightless environment. In my role as a Space Foundation Teacher Liaison, I have enriched the lives of my students as they have attended the National Space Symposium on numerous occasions. I have conducted numerous enrichment activities to include Math Boot Camp, Science Olympiad, Science Club, Spelling Bee, and Battle of the Books. I am enthusiastic about math, and have earned Stand Out Math certification. I employ a range of instructional strategies to match the variety of children I teach. I command a range of instructional techniques, including using kinesthetic movement, to enhance student learning. I incorporate the prevailing theories of cognition and intelligence in my classroom.
This summer, my children (Arianna and Clayton) and I enjoyed lots of fun days in the sunshine! We traveled to San Antonio, Texas where we went tubing down the Comal River. My family enjoys outdoor activities, including hiking, running, volleyball and hitting the ski slopes. We also love watching sports-- especially our favorite football teams-- Air Force Falcons and Denver Broncos!
I am so excited about this year! As we "Strive for Excellence", our 3rd Graders are going to rock!!
Third Grade Classroom Procedures
Discipline:
TEAM Pikes Peak
• Based on individual student
• Consequences that are effective for the student or appropriate for the infraction
• Positive Outcomes- these include feeling good about doing the right thing, earning handshakes, or high-5’s, setting the example for others, etc.
• If a behavior problem or infraction occurs:
o Yellow= Fair Warning, think about how to change the behavior and write it on a post-it note, and get back to business
o Red= Another opportunity to think and write about how to change the behavior. Write the solution in your TIGER notebook.
o Severe interruptions will result in office referrals, phone calls home, and/or conferences.
Classroom Behavioral Expectations:
Students are expected to follow school rules and adult directions at all times; be prepared; and to behave in a manner that is safe. The students will begin each leveled group on Green and proceed down if they make poor choices. They will move a clip that has their student number on it if they make a poor choice. They will color in the block on their discipline sheet according to their color at the end of the leveled group. The sheet will be located in their TIGER notebook. When the student has an "All Green" week, he/she will earn an Extra Recess during Access on Friday. If they do not earn an All Green week, they will stay inside and miss out. When the student does something exceptionally wonderful, they will receive a Silver Star ticket. They will fill out their Silver Star ticket and put it in a Silver Star container. When they earn 2 Silver Star tickets by the end of the quarter, they will earn a ticket to the Reward Party.
Classroom Organization:
What are the morning procedures?
1. Enter the classroom quickly and quietly. Students will be marked tardy if they arrive in the classroom after 8:10. If you arrive later than 8:10, please proceed to the office to get a “tardy slip”.
2. Take EVERYTHING out of your backpack that you will need for the day.
3. Place backpack, jacket, hat, etc. in assigned tub.
4. Place your lunch (if you brought one) on the counter.
5. Take your TIGER notebook with you and proceed to your assigned Block 1.
What is a TIGER notebook?
Each student will have a 3-ring binder (TIGER notebook) that will have two pencils, student planner, lined paper, homework folder, and discipline sheets in it at all times. The student will bring the TIGER notebook home Monday-Thursday. They will have it with them during all content instruction.
What if I forget my supplies?
Be prepared. In the event you are not, you may borrow supplies from the teacher. You will need to bring your supplies the next day.
What if I forget something in my backpack, in another room, or at home?
You may not go back to another room or back to your backpack during class time. Plan ahead. If you do not arrive to class with your homework, it is considered late. If you forget something, you will have to make do without it.
What if my pencil breaks? What if I’m thirsty?
You may sharpen your pencil or get a drink of water from the fountain in the classroom during independent time… not while the teacher is teaching, speaking, explaining directions, etc. You should have several pencils in your TIGER notebook at all times. Be prepared.
What is “Access”:
"Access" will consist of a daily student-centered choice time in which on-level or advanced students will sign up to go to any of the classes for additional time, instruction, etc. Below-level students will not have a choice of which class to attend... they must go to the class that they have the most significant deficit. The teacher can require the student come to a specific Access time, if needed, although it is purposeful for students to gain independence and accountability in their education.
How did the students get placed in their learning group?
Students of all abilities will be leveled for Reading, Writing, and Math content instruction based on DIBELS and CBM data. Students will be in heterogeneous groups for Science instruction. Since student "buckets" will be based on DIBELS, DIBELS ORF scores are the primary driving force for placing students in the leveled groups. Most students will remain with their leveled group throughout the day. We will continue to discuss "outliers" on a case by case basis. The students are in three heterogeneous groups (Homerooms) for Science/Specials/Assembly/Lunch. The GT students are clustered together and will be in Ms. Weisen’s homeroom.
What will happen when a student is identified gifted during the school year?
A student who is identified as GT throughout the year will remain in the originally assigned homeroom for the rest of the year. Any newly identified student will cluster with the other GT students for their content instruction.
How do new students get assigned to a learning group?
Students who are new to the school will have a maximum two-week assessment period where they will rotate with the lowest learning group of students. They will move to another learning group by the end of the two week period, if the data shows that they belong in another group. During that two-week assessment period, the homeroom teacher will review cum file and collect available existing data. Teachers will collect "pre-assessment" data (such as administering an Aims Web probe and/or Dibels) and decide the proper group for the student as a team.
What if I have to go to the bathroom?
Get permission before leaving the room for any reason. The signal to let the teacher know that you need to leave the room to go to the bathroom is to silently cross your fingers with your hand raised. You will receive a response of either shaking hand up and down (means “yes”) or back and forth (means “no”). You may ask to leave the room when the teacher is not speaking, teaching, explaining directions, etc. Follow the procedure discussed in class when you “sign out” and “sign in” and place a stuffed animal at your seat. Then, take the bathroom pass, go quickly, and return promptly.
How will teachers improve parent communication with parents?
We will have a 3rd Grade parent communication tool in the form of a blog, with a password protected login. Above grade-level students will be on a team that will update the blog. We will have a student or two who will be assigned as a content specialist(s) in each content, and they will update the blog with anything of interest in their assigned content. The students will use "Access" time to work on the blog. All students/parents will receive a password to the blog and can use the Success Maker lab to access, if needed.
How will we conduct Parent Teacher Conferences?
Parent Teacher Conferences will be completed as a collaborative effort for all students who are below Benchmark in any content area. Students who are at or above Benchmark will have a conference with the homeroom teacher.
What will Spelling consist of in 3rd Grade?
Spelling will take place during Writing, with spelling lists comprising of Star Word lists and CSAP vocabulary words. Spelling homework will be a student choice board.
What’s for Homework?
• Writing: Will include a writing prompt per week.
• Reading: Will consist of 20 minutes of reading per night and a Summary prompt per week.
• Math: Will consist mostly of open-ended questions and the EnVisions homework piece.
How will my child be rewarded for Perfect Attendance?
We will have a celebration for the students who have perfect attendance on the day of the assessment set and CBM testing. The students will vote on what they would like to have as a reward.
What should the heading of my paper look like?
All student work will have a consistent heading.
Name/Number
Date
Subject
Assignment Title
How will student grades be done?
We will have a consistent grading schedule for all student work. A=90-100 P=75-89 PP=60-74 U=60 and below.
When will progress reports and report cards come home?
Your child will have a progress report approximately every three weeks. Report cards will come home quarterly.
When will students take tests?
We will have major testing done in the content areas on different days of the week, whenever possible. No major tests will be administered on Mondays or Fridays (if possible). Tuesday- Math; Wednesday- Writing; Thursday-Reading. Assessment sets and CBMs will be administered in the classroom during the regular assigned time, if possible.
What test taking strategy should be used?
The students will write TARGET at the beginning of the passage/question.
T Think about it/ Tattoo the title: Make a prediction/Ask a question
A Analyze the Question
R Read and reread
G Get evidence
E Evaluate answer choices (Equal Sign/Not equal Sign)
T Think about it- Does it make sense (Check your work)
Discipline:
TEAM Pikes Peak
• Based on individual student
• Consequences that are effective for the student or appropriate for the infraction
• Positive Outcomes- these include feeling good about doing the right thing, earning handshakes, or high-5’s, setting the example for others, etc.
• If a behavior problem or infraction occurs:
o Yellow= Fair Warning, think about how to change the behavior and write it on a post-it note, and get back to business
o Red= Another opportunity to think and write about how to change the behavior. Write the solution in your TIGER notebook.
o Severe interruptions will result in office referrals, phone calls home, and/or conferences.
Classroom Behavioral Expectations:
Students are expected to follow school rules and adult directions at all times; be prepared; and to behave in a manner that is safe. The students will begin each leveled group on Green and proceed down if they make poor choices. They will move a clip that has their student number on it if they make a poor choice. They will color in the block on their discipline sheet according to their color at the end of the leveled group. The sheet will be located in their TIGER notebook. When the student has an "All Green" week, he/she will earn an Extra Recess during Access on Friday. If they do not earn an All Green week, they will stay inside and miss out. When the student does something exceptionally wonderful, they will receive a Silver Star ticket. They will fill out their Silver Star ticket and put it in a Silver Star container. When they earn 2 Silver Star tickets by the end of the quarter, they will earn a ticket to the Reward Party.
Classroom Organization:
What are the morning procedures?
1. Enter the classroom quickly and quietly. Students will be marked tardy if they arrive in the classroom after 8:10. If you arrive later than 8:10, please proceed to the office to get a “tardy slip”.
2. Take EVERYTHING out of your backpack that you will need for the day.
3. Place backpack, jacket, hat, etc. in assigned tub.
4. Place your lunch (if you brought one) on the counter.
5. Take your TIGER notebook with you and proceed to your assigned Block 1.
What is a TIGER notebook?
Each student will have a 3-ring binder (TIGER notebook) that will have two pencils, student planner, lined paper, homework folder, and discipline sheets in it at all times. The student will bring the TIGER notebook home Monday-Thursday. They will have it with them during all content instruction.
What if I forget my supplies?
Be prepared. In the event you are not, you may borrow supplies from the teacher. You will need to bring your supplies the next day.
What if I forget something in my backpack, in another room, or at home?
You may not go back to another room or back to your backpack during class time. Plan ahead. If you do not arrive to class with your homework, it is considered late. If you forget something, you will have to make do without it.
What if my pencil breaks? What if I’m thirsty?
You may sharpen your pencil or get a drink of water from the fountain in the classroom during independent time… not while the teacher is teaching, speaking, explaining directions, etc. You should have several pencils in your TIGER notebook at all times. Be prepared.
What is “Access”:
"Access" will consist of a daily student-centered choice time in which on-level or advanced students will sign up to go to any of the classes for additional time, instruction, etc. Below-level students will not have a choice of which class to attend... they must go to the class that they have the most significant deficit. The teacher can require the student come to a specific Access time, if needed, although it is purposeful for students to gain independence and accountability in their education.
How did the students get placed in their learning group?
Students of all abilities will be leveled for Reading, Writing, and Math content instruction based on DIBELS and CBM data. Students will be in heterogeneous groups for Science instruction. Since student "buckets" will be based on DIBELS, DIBELS ORF scores are the primary driving force for placing students in the leveled groups. Most students will remain with their leveled group throughout the day. We will continue to discuss "outliers" on a case by case basis. The students are in three heterogeneous groups (Homerooms) for Science/Specials/Assembly/Lunch. The GT students are clustered together and will be in Ms. Weisen’s homeroom.
What will happen when a student is identified gifted during the school year?
A student who is identified as GT throughout the year will remain in the originally assigned homeroom for the rest of the year. Any newly identified student will cluster with the other GT students for their content instruction.
How do new students get assigned to a learning group?
Students who are new to the school will have a maximum two-week assessment period where they will rotate with the lowest learning group of students. They will move to another learning group by the end of the two week period, if the data shows that they belong in another group. During that two-week assessment period, the homeroom teacher will review cum file and collect available existing data. Teachers will collect "pre-assessment" data (such as administering an Aims Web probe and/or Dibels) and decide the proper group for the student as a team.
What if I have to go to the bathroom?
Get permission before leaving the room for any reason. The signal to let the teacher know that you need to leave the room to go to the bathroom is to silently cross your fingers with your hand raised. You will receive a response of either shaking hand up and down (means “yes”) or back and forth (means “no”). You may ask to leave the room when the teacher is not speaking, teaching, explaining directions, etc. Follow the procedure discussed in class when you “sign out” and “sign in” and place a stuffed animal at your seat. Then, take the bathroom pass, go quickly, and return promptly.
How will teachers improve parent communication with parents?
We will have a 3rd Grade parent communication tool in the form of a blog, with a password protected login. Above grade-level students will be on a team that will update the blog. We will have a student or two who will be assigned as a content specialist(s) in each content, and they will update the blog with anything of interest in their assigned content. The students will use "Access" time to work on the blog. All students/parents will receive a password to the blog and can use the Success Maker lab to access, if needed.
How will we conduct Parent Teacher Conferences?
Parent Teacher Conferences will be completed as a collaborative effort for all students who are below Benchmark in any content area. Students who are at or above Benchmark will have a conference with the homeroom teacher.
What will Spelling consist of in 3rd Grade?
Spelling will take place during Writing, with spelling lists comprising of Star Word lists and CSAP vocabulary words. Spelling homework will be a student choice board.
What’s for Homework?
• Writing: Will include a writing prompt per week.
• Reading: Will consist of 20 minutes of reading per night and a Summary prompt per week.
• Math: Will consist mostly of open-ended questions and the EnVisions homework piece.
How will my child be rewarded for Perfect Attendance?
We will have a celebration for the students who have perfect attendance on the day of the assessment set and CBM testing. The students will vote on what they would like to have as a reward.
What should the heading of my paper look like?
All student work will have a consistent heading.
Name/Number
Date
Subject
Assignment Title
How will student grades be done?
We will have a consistent grading schedule for all student work. A=90-100 P=75-89 PP=60-74 U=60 and below.
When will progress reports and report cards come home?
Your child will have a progress report approximately every three weeks. Report cards will come home quarterly.
When will students take tests?
We will have major testing done in the content areas on different days of the week, whenever possible. No major tests will be administered on Mondays or Fridays (if possible). Tuesday- Math; Wednesday- Writing; Thursday-Reading. Assessment sets and CBMs will be administered in the classroom during the regular assigned time, if possible.
What test taking strategy should be used?
The students will write TARGET at the beginning of the passage/question.
T Think about it/ Tattoo the title: Make a prediction/Ask a question
A Analyze the Question
R Read and reread
G Get evidence
E Evaluate answer choices (Equal Sign/Not equal Sign)
T Think about it- Does it make sense (Check your work)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)