Welcome to Our 3 rd Grade Classroom **PLEASE SIGN UP FOR A CONFERENCE DATE **

September / It is very early in the school year / Still learning the students / Still practicing routines / Assessments will be starting soon / DRAs / Math / It is very early in the school year / Still learning the students / Still practicing routines / Assessments will be starting soon / DRAs / Math

About Miss DiFiore / Fourth year teaching at West End / Graduate of West Chester University with a degree in Elementary Education / Received a certificate in Special Education from Kean University / Fourth year teaching at West End / Graduate of West Chester University with a degree in Elementary Education / Received a certificate in Special Education from Kean University

About Mr. McClellan / 10 th year teaching in North Plainfield / Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education and Communication from College of St. Elizabeth with concentration in Special Education / Master’s Degree in Curriculum Instruction and Assessment from Walden University / 10 th year teaching in North Plainfield / Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education and Communication from College of St. Elizabeth with concentration in Special Education / Master’s Degree in Curriculum Instruction and Assessment from Walden University

Math Curriculum / We use the Everyday Math series. / The curriculum includes: / Mastery of addition and subtraction facts / Multiplication and division concepts and fact practice / Continued addition and subtraction practice of larger numbers / Making and reading graphs and charts / Place value in large numbers and decimals / Measurement / Geometry / Problem solving strategies / Fractions / We use the Everyday Math series. / The curriculum includes: / Mastery of addition and subtraction facts / Multiplication and division concepts and fact practice / Continued addition and subtraction practice of larger numbers / Making and reading graphs and charts / Place value in large numbers and decimals / Measurement / Geometry / Problem solving strategies / Fractions

Language Arts Curriculum / Afternoon Block / Includes daily writing, whole-group instruction, guided reading, and independent reading, and word study / Students will learn and practice a variety of reading strategies to improve decoding, fluency, and comprehension skills. These include activating background knowledge, questioning, determining importance, visualizing, summarizing, understanding story elements, and vocabulary strategies. / Students will listen to and read a variety of fiction and non-fiction stories and books. / Afternoon Block / Includes daily writing, whole-group instruction, guided reading, and independent reading, and word study / Students will learn and practice a variety of reading strategies to improve decoding, fluency, and comprehension skills. These include activating background knowledge, questioning, determining importance, visualizing, summarizing, understanding story elements, and vocabulary strategies. / Students will listen to and read a variety of fiction and non-fiction stories and books.

Language Arts Curriculum / Daily 5 / Goal: students will become better readers by engaging in independent literacy activities / Read to Self / Raz-kids and Compass Learning / Word Work / Work on Writing / We are working on building stamina / Daily 5 / Goal: students will become better readers by engaging in independent literacy activities / Read to Self / Raz-kids and Compass Learning / Word Work / Work on Writing / We are working on building stamina

Word Study / Students will study a new unit of words each week that focus on a particular spelling pattern. / Students are given a Spelling Menu each week which contain various activities that are to be completed during the week to learn and reinforce phonics rules and vocabulary. / Students are tested both formally and informally each week. / Students will study a new unit of words each week that focus on a particular spelling pattern. / Students are given a Spelling Menu each week which contain various activities that are to be completed during the week to learn and reinforce phonics rules and vocabulary. / Students are tested both formally and informally each week.

Handwriting / The students will learn cursive writing this year. / The students are graded on handwriting through various tasks and assessments. / The students will learn cursive writing this year. / The students are graded on handwriting through various tasks and assessments.

Social Studies / United States and Regions / Immigration / Government / Economy / United States and Regions / Immigration / Government / Economy

Science / Climate and Weather / Eating, Breathing and Growing / Energy / Forces and Motion / Solar System / Climate and Weather / Eating, Breathing and Growing / Energy / Forces and Motion / Solar System

Technology / Microsoft Office: Powerpoint, Word, / Blogs / Keyboarding / Internet Safety / Classroom laptops / Raz-kids / Compass Learning / PARCC practice / Microsoft Office: Powerpoint, Word, / Blogs / Keyboarding / Internet Safety / Classroom laptops / Raz-kids / Compass Learning / PARCC practice

Homework Why: to support learning at home Each week night: / Math: HomeLink, occasional workbook page, practice math facts / Word Study: 1 menu assignment each weeknight / Vocabulary: definitions, sentences, and story / Unfinished classwork / Monthly Reading Log **Math facts need to be memorized this year** Why: to support learning at home Each week night: / Math: HomeLink, occasional workbook page, practice math facts / Word Study: 1 menu assignment each weeknight / Vocabulary: definitions, sentences, and story / Unfinished classwork / Monthly Reading Log **Math facts need to be memorized this year**

Homework /. Please check your child’s agenda daily to help him/her ensure that all assignments are completed. It is also important that you sign the agenda each day.

Homework Policy / Homework is not an option / No homework = no recess / Missing/Incomplete homework will be sent home to complete / Consistently missing homework will result in after school detention ** If your child does not understand a part of the homework, send in a note and we will go over it. They must try it at home. They are not to come in with a blank homework. / Homework is not an option / No homework = no recess / Missing/Incomplete homework will be sent home to complete / Consistently missing homework will result in after school detention ** If your child does not understand a part of the homework, send in a note and we will go over it. They must try it at home. They are not to come in with a blank homework.

Specials / Monday: Health and Library / Tuesday: Music / Wednesday: Art and Computers / Thursday: Physical Education / Friday: Physical Education and Book exchange / Monday: Health and Library / Tuesday: Music / Wednesday: Art and Computers / Thursday: Physical Education / Friday: Physical Education and Book exchange

Classroom Management / Color Chart / Super Improver / Color Chart / Super Improver

Class/School Rules / We are a Whole Brain Class! / 1) Follow directions quickly! / 2) Raise your hand for permission to speak! / 3) Raise you hand for permission to leave your seat! / 4) Make smart choices! / 5) Make your dear teacher happy! / We are a Whole Brain Class! / 1) Follow directions quickly! / 2) Raise your hand for permission to speak! / 3) Raise you hand for permission to leave your seat! / 4) Make smart choices! / 5) Make your dear teacher happy!

Class/ School Rules / These are the five school rules that West End will be following this year. Your child should be able the recite and demonstrate these for you. Please go over them and practice them with you child. The more they are discussed the better the behavior in school!

Behavior Clip Chart / This is the classroom behavior chart. Everyone starts on green each day. They will move up or down depending on their type of behavior. Up for good behavior, and down poor behavior. They can also move back up for good behavior through out the day. This will be used school wide, meaning for specials, lunch and recess, and in the hallways. Look for your child's color of the day each night in their Homework Journal! They should be able to explain the reason(s) for color changes. Any questions about your child's behavior please contact me through , phone, or note in the Homework Journal.

Yearly Goals for Students / Independence / Responsibility / Life Long Learning / Avid Reader and Writers / Independence / Responsibility / Life Long Learning / Avid Reader and Writers

Class Trip / Wightman’s Farm in Morristown / Pumpkin picking / Snack / $7.50 and permission slip / Wightman’s Farm in Morristown / Pumpkin picking / Snack / $7.50 and permission slip

How to Reach Me/ Communication Information / Call the school / Send a note to school with your child / Write me a note in your child’s Homework Book / me at: / WE Webpage / Call the school / Send a note to school with your child / Write me a note in your child’s Homework Book / me at: / WE Webpage

Thank You for Coming! Please make sure you have signed up for a conference date