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

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

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!

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.

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

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

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

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!

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

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)

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.

Communication E-mail in the best and fastest way to reach me! E-mail address: cjevenhuis@lasdschools.org 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.

Sample of a Daily Schedule 8:30 - 10:10 a.m. Language Arts 10:10 - 10:30 a.m. Recess 10:30 – 12:10p.m. Math 12:10 - 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

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.

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

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

Curriculum Overview

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.)

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.

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.”

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!

Famous American Project The Famous American Project culminates with the Living Wax Museum in May. Information from 2012-13 can be found on the class web page.

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

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!!!

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

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

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

Volunteering In Room 5

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

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.

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

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

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!