Welcome to our classroom

1. Welcome to our classroom • I am so glad that you are here this evening. • Please complete the Parent Information sheet that is on your child’s desk. • Sign up for classroom volunteers if you are interested. • Also at the back of the room, you will find Ms. Brown’s “Apple Wish List.” If you would like to donated something for the classroom, please take an apple home with you. Thanks n

2. Mary Beth BrownMbrown01@bluevalleyk12.orgClass Phone: 239-3380 Communication • An email will be sent every Friday giving information regarding the upcoming week’s learning targets. • Student Planner: Will list homework and will be sent home each evening, PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN. • Best way to reach me is via email. I will contact you as soon as I am available.

3. UPDATE Daily Schedule 8:25-8:45 Daily C.C. Review/News Show/Morning Meeting 8:50-11:05 English Language Arts 11:10-11:40 Lunch 11:55-12:15 Recess 12:25-1:25 Specials 1:25-1:35 Ten Block 1:35-2:35 Math 2:35-3:30 Science/Social Studies 3:30-3:35 Student Planner, please sign each night 3:35 Dismissal begins At home Read 15 min./evening Practice math facts Assigned Homework

4. Classroom Expectations • We are supporting our school wide expectations of.. -Be Safe -Be Respectful -Be Responsible • Students will earn TICKETS for making positive choices and using Blue Valley Virtues throughout the day. Tickets are redeemed for prizes/activities on Buy Day!

5. Ready to Learn Behaviors

6. Flexible Seating • Allows for individual learning styles • Children take ownership of learning • Variety of choices daily • Encourages flexible minds and bodies • Student choice/teacher discretion

7. Writing Workshop(part of English Language Arts) The writing process and skills will be taught through mini lessons. Students will then be given the opportunity to apply “tips” to their own original writings. At times students will be given a focus or theme for their writing. Students will also be given the freedom to write about topics/themes of their choice. During writing workshop students will be in various stages of the writing process, including peer and teacher conference. Not all student writing will go through the entire writing process for each piece. *The writing process includes: brainstorming/prewriting, drafting, revising, editing and publishing. *The writing genres include: personal narrative, realistic fiction, informational reports, procedural texts, and persuasive letters.

8. Benchmark Reading • Newest program on the market • More rigorous, complex text, interactive, engaging and modern • Magazine like text to allow for student annotation (yes, they write in their book!) • Three week units • Integrates social studies and science • Differentiated readers • Large variety of reading levels Components: • Word study/spelling • Language • Vocabulary • Research and writing • Fluency and phrasing • Essential questions • Metacognition • Comprehension skills & strategies

9. Resources for students: All students will receive login information for an account on www.pearsonsuccessnet.com ~This will give students and parents access to online games, daily visual learning bridge animation that reinforce the skills of the daily lesson, and a daily quiz that allows teachers to assess students learning. After completing that assessment students are provided with leveled homework based on the score of their assessment: Re-teaching, Practice and Enrichment

10. Daily Lesson Outline: Consists of four parts: -Part one: Daily Review -Reviews key concepts from the previous day’s lessons in a variety of ways with 3-4 questions -Part Two: Problem Based Interactive Learning -Students are engaged in mathematical conversation by interacting with peers based on a question provided from their teacher, creating questions, using manipulatives, and using the mathematical practices.

11. Daily Lesson Outline: Part Three: Visual Learning, Guided Practice, Independent Practice and Problem Solving -Students can see and watch the visual learning animation to expand on the concept and then are guided through practice problems with the help of their teacher. Students are then asked to independently solve problems. This includes questions expanding on the days topic. PartFour: Close and Assess, Differentiated Instruction, and Leveled Homework -Students are assessed by their teacher and k-2 students move to centers which 3-5 students move to leveled homework. Guided math takes place.

12. Social Studies Our Community and Beyond • The Hometown Community • The Local Community • Economics and the Community • Communities within the state and nation • The Global Community

13. Science • Environments and living things • Forces and Motion • Weather and Climate • Lifecycles and traits

14. Technology • Please sign the technology guideline agreement form and leave it on your child’s desk, he or she will sign it in the morning.

15. Testing in Third Grade • MAP Measures of Academic Progress will be given in the fall and spring. • Reading Progress Assessments will be used to assess reading fluency and comprehension. • Quarterly Benchmarks will be used to assess reading and math progress. • State testing will be administered in the Spring.

16. Homework All assignments should be easily understood, as they will reflect activities previously covered in class. If you encounter a problem, please send a note to school with your child or email me. If your child has unfinished class work you will see that in the homework folder. It will also be noted in the assignment notebook. Generally, homework will be assigned on Monday and due the following Monday. Nightly homework includes reading a minimum of 15 minutes a night and reviewing multiplication facts.

17. Grades Students will receive report cards at the end of each quarter.  With the availability of the electronic grade book, students will be assigned letter grades reflective of their individual academic progress.  The grading scale will be consistent in each of the third grade classrooms across the district.

18. Daily Snack All classes take part in a daily snack to help students focus and participate in class. All snacks need to follow the district approved guidelines for being Nut-Safe - Snacks need to come directly from the list or have a clear and concise label stating the item is considered peanut andtree nut free -Please pay specific attention to brand names and flavor options when selecting snacks that are nut-safe -Should you decide to provide a special treat on your child’s birthday, please refer to this same list and guidelines -The Nut-Safer list can be found on the school website and weekly newsletter - For questions please contact Nurse Meghan 913-239-3313 or mboehm@bluevalleyk12.org

19. Thank You • Thank you for taking the time to come to Back to School Night. • I look forward to a wonderful year filled with many fun learning experiences for your child!