1. Welcome to Third Grade in Room 5!
Your kids are awesome!
Thanks for sharing them with me!

2. Agenda for Tonight I. Introduction Meet Ms. Evenhuis
I. Introduction 
Meet Ms. Evenhuis 
My Teaching Philosophy
Teacher Expectations
Goals for Your Child
II. Room 5 Overview and General Information
Room 5 Tour
Learning Environment
Organization
Communication Between School and Home 
Daily Schedule 
Birthday Celebrations

3. III. Curriculum Overview IV. Volunteering/Parent Involvement
Reward Systems
Homework
III. Curriculum Overview 
IV. Volunteering/Parent Involvement
Meet our wonderful room parent!
V. Conclusion
Packet on the Web Page
Thank Yous!

4. Additional Questions? No Worries!
Since we have a great deal to cover, I have provided paper for any questions you may have. If I don’t answer your specific question, just jot it down, and I’ll get back to you right away with an answer.

5. Meet Ms. Evenhuis Born and raised in Palo Alto
Two children, one a senior in high school and a sophomore in college. Also Paco and Penny (dogs), and Skrilly (Bearded Dragon)
Started teaching after 12 years in corporate world
BA in Speech Communication, Teaching Credential from USF, Administrative Credential, Masters Degree in Applied School Leadership
My 14th year teaching (both upper and primary grades)
School Site Council, Writing/Six Traits Committee Lead, District LA/Writing Committee Member. Student Council Advisor, Admin Designee, SST Facilitator

6. My Teaching Philosophy
Get to know your child
Every child is unique and special
Instill a love of learning and exploring
Provide opportunities for students to connect with their personal interests and explore them
Explain why what they are learning is important

7. Teacher Expectations
Student comes ready to learn, ask questions and explore
Student demonstrates respect at all times
Student is responsible
Work is neat and complete
Student participates and cooperates during group projects
Assignments and homework are turned in on time
Student makes good choices
Student gives best effort on a daily basis

8. My Goals for Your Child
To gain independence, perseverance, and learn to accept responsibility
To learn organization strategies
To participate in positive cooperative learning projects and become supportive classmates for each other
To develop a love of learning and quest for knowledge
To have fun!

9. Learning Environment PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
Provide opportunities to investigate and explore, especially in group settings
Build a safe and welcoming community to encourage risk-taking and new ideas
OK not to know – How do I need to explain it differently? How can you figure it out on your own? Can we try it in another way?
Teach them perseverance and taking responsibility for their actions
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING

10. Feeling Safe
Most important thing is their safety, both emotional and physical.
Class Rules - Respect, Responsibility,
Safety (Students created and signed)
Rules of Cooperative Learning
(Also student created and signed)

11. Organization Organization is a huge part of our day.
We have routines which help to keep the class organized. This is VERY important!
Students have a folder/journals for everything. Teaches organizational strategies and responsibility.

12. Communication E-mail in the best and fastest way to reach me!
address:
Classroom Web Page:
teacherweb.com/CA/GardnerBullis/Evenhuis
I POST IMPORTANT DEADLINE AND EVENT INFORMATION THERE AS WELL!
Student Work Packets will be sent home for parent on Thursdays. Often I include work to be signed and returned.
Use Yahoo or Google group as much as possible this year! I send out important notices and summaries in lieu of newsletters.
Parent/Teacher Conferences will be scheduled in mid-October. Since the focus is goal-setting, your child will be invited to attend.

13. Sample of a Daily Schedule
8: :10 a.m. Language Arts
10: :30 a.m. Recess
10:30 – 12:10p.m. Math
12: :55 p.m. Lunch
12:55 – 1:15 p.m. Cursive
1:15 - 1:45 p.m. Workshop (DEAR and small group instruction time)
1:45- 2:20 p.m. Science/Social Studies/Writing
2:20 - 2:25 p.m. Homework Assigned
2:30 p.m. Dismissal

14. Birthday Celebrations
No food items, please
Non-food items are welcome but certainly not necessary.
We always sing and the student get a visit from the Birthday Bear!
Those students with summer birthdays are welcome to celebrate a half birthday with the class if you chose.

15. Behavior Rewards Marble Jar Evenhuis Bucks
Patrick – Keep Clean, Please!

16. Homework RED folder! Nightly Monday-Thursday
Students write homework down in planner
Completed and returned on the due date
How much help can I give my child?
Returned only if there is an issue
Assignments posted on the class web page
If your child is spending more than 25 minutes, let me know.
Homework requests when student is sick

17. Curriculum Overview

18. Language Arts Houghton Mifflin – Themes in anthology
Important focus for year: Learning to reading non-fiction!
Supplement with core literature sets and Literature Circles
Accelerated Reader (AR) and RazKids
Spelling homework Monday and Thursday nights- Activities and words on web page.
One book project is due each trimester.
Grammar skills are introduced and reviewed weekly. Each story has a corresponding practice packet that covers many different skills and higher-level thinking challenges. Additional instruction and practice during centers. (Parent volunteers to assist.)

19. Accelerated Reader & STAR
Accelerated Reader assesses comprehension. The weekly stories, as well most books from home or the library, have quizzes that accompany them. Reports are printed out weekly and sent home in Thursday Folders to show parents what their child has been reading and his/her comprehension of the materials.
STAR Test is not the state test, but the assessment component of Accelerated Reader program. Based on questions and passages generated by the student’s responses, STAR will identify an optimum reading level based on the student’s understanding of vocabulary words and reading ability.

20. Writing Narratives, descriptive, informational paragraphs and letters
Focus on idea development and planning this year!!!!
Daily “Quick Write”
Writing across the curriculum
Six Traits – The Language of What Makes Good Writing
Ideas • Organization • Fluency • Voice • Word Choice • Conventions
Step Up To Writing: uses color-codes to construct and write cohesive paragraphs easily.
Writing prompt assigned on Mondays and due on Fridays. They share what they have written with a “buddy.”

21. Social Studies The main focus of the curriculum will be:
Native American Tribes
Government
Economics
Community History
Geography/Mapping Skills
LIVING WAX MUSEUM IN THE SPRING!

22. Famous American Project
The Famous American Project culminates with the Living Wax Museum in May. Information from can be found on the class web page.

23. Science The subjects to be explored this year are:
Physical Science/Energy and Matter
Earth Science/Astronomy
Life Sciences/Organisms & Environment
The Scientific Process/Investigation

24. Math Program covers all the CA State Standards
My focus is on challenging the students to develop strategies for solving math problems instead of just rote memorization.
Students practice the topic skill during class time and then have the opportunity to move on to challenge activities if appropriate - May Do Math Center
MATH FACTS ARE EXTEREMLY IMPORTANT!!!

25. Art/Music/Drama/Movement
This will be provided by Starting Arts this year on Thursdays at 1:55.
Thank You, PTA!!!

26. Technology Students will explore: Word processing (Word)
Basic internet research and projects
Inserting graphics
PowerPoint
Video editing
Plus STEM!

27. P.E. P.E. will be Wednesdays and Fridays
Wear appropriate shoes to school for P.E.!!!

28. Volunteering In Room 5

29. Opportunities to Help This Year
Library – Tuesdays at 10:30
Centers - Thursdays at 8:40
Garden lessons
Art Docent lessons
Field Trip Chaperones

30. Field Trips
We are in the process of finalizing the schedule for the year. A letter will go home as soon as we have all the details for you.

31. Thank you for taking on this important job!
Meet Our Room Parent!
Courtney Copeland
Thank you for taking on this important job!

32. PDF for BTSN on Class Web Page: Things to Help Your Child at Home
Homework Overview
Daily Reading Suggestions
Book Project & Daily Reading Log
Weekly Spelling Activities
Grammar Standards
10 Step Writing Process
Seven Tips to Help your Child Learn
Seven Styles of Learning

33. Thank You!
Thanks to the PTA and LAEF for all they do. We couldn’t do this without your support!
I appreciate you being here tonight and working with me to provide the best third grade experience possible for your child!