1. Open House 2014-2015 Grade 3 – Track 4 Hosted by: Mrs. Sheila Cole Please sign up for “Going Green” on our school website at the beginning or end of this session

2. Common Core Curriculum- Adds rigor to today’s learning! Reading (Heavy on nonfiction) Writing – Narratives, Opinion Writing, Research Word Study (Root words, suffixes, prefixes, grammar and spelling) Math (Area & perimeter, irregular shapes, etc.) Science Units (Objects in the Sky, Human Body, Changes in Matter, Soil and Plants) Social Studies (American Revolution/Branches of Government/Economics and Financial Literacy)

3. Standard Based Grading Level 4 Extends targeted grade level standards “Since I can do/get this, I can figure out new things!” Level 3 Extends targeted grade level standards “Since I can do/get this, I can figure out new things!” Level 2 Needs support to meet targeted grade level standards. “I almost get it but I need help.” Level 1 Insufficient performance of targeted grade level standards. “I don’t get it yet. I need help.” “P” This work is not being assessed. I am practicing a new skill.

4. Assessments are today’s means of understanding how to modify tomorrow’s instruction! BOG – August 11 promptly at 8:00. BOG (Beginning of grade) test used to measure growth from beginning to the end of the year. Mclass Reading 3D – A reading program that tracks students’ reading fluency and comprehension. Students are assessed in the beginning, middle and end of the school year. Home connection reports will be sent home to show your child’s progress. Case 21 – Quarterly benchmark assessments that track students’ academic progress and provide data that identifies their strengths/weaknesses. This data is then used to guide teachers’ instruction.

5. Read To Achieve The Read to Achieve program is a part of the Excellent Public Schools Act which became law in July of 2012 and applies to all schools at the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year. The law can be accessed through this link, http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/PDF/H950v7.pdf This program will start later in the year. Please attend the Parent Literacy Information Night for further information. You can attend September 11 or October 16 from 6:30 – 7:45. Read To Achieve The Read to Achieve program is a part of the Excellent Public Schools Act which became law in July of 2012 and applies to all schools at the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year. The law can be accessed through this link, http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/PDF/H950v7.pdf This program will start later in the year. Please attend the Parent Literacy Information Night for further information. You can attend September 11 or October 16 from 6:30 – 7:45. http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/PDF/H950v7.pdf Read To Achieve The Read to Achieve program is a part of the Excellent Public Schools Act which became law in July of 2012 and applies to all schools at the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year. The law can be accessed through this link, http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/PDF/H950v7.pdf This program will start later in the year. Please attend the Parent Literacy Information Night for further information. You can attend September 11 or October 16 from 6:30 – 7:45. Read To Achieve The Read to Achieve program is a part of the Excellent Public Schools Act which became law in July of 2012 and applies to all schools at the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year. The law can be accessed through this link, http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/PDF/H950v7.pdf This program will start later in the year. Please attend the Parent Literacy Information Night for further information. You can attend September 11 or October 16 from 6:30 – 7:45. http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/PDF/H950v7.pdf

6. Attendance/ Tardies Attendance is crucial to your child’s success as a third grader. Please be advised that students will receive “Absentee” letters after being absent as follows: 3 days, 6 days and 10 days. Parents should send in or email an “Excuse” letter. After 20 consecutive absences, an official doctor’s note will be required. In order for students to be marked as “Present,” students must be in school/class for 3 hours and 15 minutes. Students who leave before that length of time will be marked as “Absent.” School opens at 7:15 and ends at 2:15. Class begins at 7:45. Please make sure that your child arrives to class on time so that he/she does not miss out on morning work which usually reinforces what is being taught in class. Students who arrive after 7:45 will be marked as tardy and will be expected to complete their morning work during “down time.”

7. Homework Assigned Monday – Thursday Read for at least 20 minutes daily. Parents, please initial your child’s agenda daily for verification. Spelling HW 2x per week Math homework (double) sheet 2x per week Occasionally a science, social studies, or other type of homework will be assigned. Homework should be written in agenda weekly. Check my website if unsure. No HW is assigned when there is state testing.

8. Baggie Books “Wake Up and Read” 3 rd graders will be assigned Baggie Books that will contain books for students to take home and read daily. These books may be books that we read as a class or books chosen by your child. All books will be on your child’s independent reading level. The purpose behind the baggies is to provide your child with ample reading material, help foster the love for reading, and provide a means of helping your child strengthen reading fluency as well as comprehension and retelling skills. My overall goal is to help YOUR child grow as a reader!

9. School Projects Science Webquests: http://www.questgarden.com/author/create/preview.php?u=137326&l=137 326-111218130148&pt=student&p=introduction http://www.questgarden.com/author/create/preview.php?u=137326&l=137 326-111218130148&pt=student&p=introduction Virtual Research Poster (Fall) Powerpoint presentation/Discovery Boards (Winter/Spring)

10. Home Support Read with your child daily and ask him/her questions about their reading. Hand-Outs will be in baggies to support this. Help your child generate “thick/thin” questions about what’s being read. Make sure that your child is completing his/her homework. Homework is practice and reinforces what has been taught in class. Homework is not graded but marked with a “P” for practice. Help your child study his/her multiplication tables 0-12. Doing so, will make it easier for your child to learn multiplication, division and fractions. Help ensure your child is completing projects and turning them in on time!

11. Code of Cooperation S how self-control O perate safely A ct responsibly R espect myself and others PBIS-Positive Behavior Intervention System Silent Zones (Anywhere in building when you leave a room)

12. Class Management System Falcon Tickets Marble Jar Home & office referrals will be given to those students who choose to break class & school rules. Please remember that rules are in place to keep students safe and ensure that learning is always taking place!

13. Tentative Field Trips Morehead Planetarium (Earth, Moon, Sun & Stars- Science) High Tech – High Touch (Plants/Soils- Science) Play Outing (Language Arts)

14. Transportation There is a no walk zone for NFP due to the 5 lane road and the bridge that is to the left of the school. Any student who has walk zone indicated on the AP Bus list, may receive bus transportation. The student will need to request it and will be assigned a courtesy stop. Some parents walk to school to pick up their children and walk them home. Parents must sign their children out in the main office. Please confirm how your child is to go home every day! If your child is leaving early (for an appointment) or going home with a buddy, a note or email should be sent notifying me of such a change. If no note or email is received, your child will be dismissed as usual and will be expected to follow the normal dismissal routine.

15. COMMUNICATION Monday Folders Newsletters on my webpage Principal’s Newsletters via internet PTA Flyers via internet Students’ Agendas Daily Class Website Report Cards & Interims Mclass Reading 3D Home Connect Reports NFP School Website Email: scole5@wcpss.netscole5@wcpss.net Phone: 919-570-2220

16. Classroom Volunteers Classroom Parent Monday Folders Copies Math Keys (Begins after 1 st quarter) KITS Disclaimer: A volunteer’s role is to be supportive and assist the students & teacher. Volunteers should not serve as a distraction. If your child or other students are distracted by your presence, it will have an impact on their instruction and learning. If this happens, I will kindly ask that you volunteer “outside” of the classroom by making copies or assisting in other ways (i.e., Special Projects, Events, Math Keys, etc.) I begin accepting volunteers in mid-August. This gives me some time to get to know my students and help them adjust to my expectations, class rules, routines and procedures.

17. Cole’s Cool Cats ! We are partners (Accountability). Please work with your child at home. Let’s Continue Open Communication. I look forward to a fantastic year! Thanks for coming to Open House! Notes of encouragement