1. Welcome to Parent Orientation September 14, 2010 Third Grade Rocks!

2. Our New PTO Website! Check out Deretchin’s new PTO website where you can learn more about our awesome PTO and become a part of its efforts: http://www.deretchinpto.org/

3. Student Information If you do not wish for your child’s photo or information to be in the yearbook, on school websites, in the newspaper, in the Deretchin directory, etc. We must have a hand written note from the parent indicating that by October 1st. If students are excluded from one thing, they will be excluded from all.

4. Class Expectations Be respectful Be responsible Be safe Show your Dragon Pride!

5. Rewards Individual Rewards - Tickets - Sticker charts - Coupons

6. Daily Consequences 1 st offense- students will be given a warning 2 nd offense- students will receive a conduct mark 3 rd offense- five minutes off recess 4 th offense- parent contact 5 th offense- principal office E= Excellent- 0-1 S=Satisfactory- 2-3 NI=Needs improvement- 4-5 U=Unsatisfactory-6 or more

7. Homework Monday- Word Study, Reading, or L.A. Tuesday- Math Wednesday- Word Study, Reading, or L.A. Thursday- Math Read 30 minutes every night Please refer to your child’s student planner for specific homework assignments.

8. General Front Office Procedures Always check in at the front office when entering the building. Always wear a visitor’s badge.

9. Changes in Transportation New: Transportation Tags We must have a written letter for any change in transportation It must be hand delivered or faxed. No phone calls or emails, please. If a student is riding a different bus, parent needs to notify the bus barn. Bus barn- 832.592.8800 Deretchin- 832.592.8700 Deretchin Fax- 832.592.8780

10. Attendance If your child arrives: 8:06 – 9:00 they will be marked as tardy After 9:01 they will be marked as absent If your child arrives to school after a doctor’s visit, a parent needs to bring the child in with a doctor’s note and ask for an HCP (Health Care Provider) form to complete.

11. Birthdays You are welcome to send treats to school for the entire class for your child’s birthday! Please contact the teacher first to get an updated count of students and to check to see if the day will work. Treats are given out the last ten minutes of lunchtime only. We love to celebrate ½ birthdays too!! Invitations given out at school must be given out to the whole class, or all boys or girls. We cannot give out class lists, but we can provide you with an updated count of students in the class.

12. Healthy Snack Students may bring a healthy snack such as fruit, cheese sticks, pretzel, carrots, etc. Please do not send any chips, cookies, fruit roll ups, candy. Students are also encouraged to bring a water bottle with their name labeled clearly.

13. Lunch Students will have a lunch card this year. Drop off table for forgotten lunches is by the front entrance. Your child will be provided a delicious cheese sandwich if no lunch or lunch money. Due to school policy, parents are asked to not take pictures at lunch.

14. Library/Computer Lab Schedule * Two week rotation: Week 1- Library lesson and check- out Week 2- Computer and quick check- out Our Library Day will be on Monday. On Monday holidays, library day will be on Thursday.

15. Grades All work given in class is designed to assess the students’ knowledge of skills. Students are expected to complete work independently in order to provide us with the best feedback possible of their understanding. No make-up work will be given in advance. The number of days missed is the number of days allowed to complete the make-up work. Five points will be deducted for missing names on all work. If a child receives below a 70, they will be expected to correct the work, get it signed by a parent, and return it to school. Progress reports will go home with every child at the halfway point of each nine weeks. Our philosophy is that every child can be a successful learner in our room. The best learning environment is one where mistakes can be made, then discussed, and logic is drawn from that experience.

16. Grading Policies Major=50% Daily=45% Homework=5% Home Access Center- (HAC) Please register for an account through the Conroe ISD website using your child’s 6 digit ID number.

17. Language Arts Grade Reading– 7 daily, 2 major Writing- 7 daily, 2 major Writing grades may be derived from the Six Traits model involving ideas, organization, sentence fluency, word choice, voice, and conventions. Spelling is incorporated into the daily writing grade. Spelling should not comprise any more than 1/10 of this grade. This is approximate and not intended for the assignment to be “weighted” at 10%. Our new report card will reflect one Language Arts grade comprised of the following:

18. Spelling and Word Study Spelling and Word Study continue to be an integral part of the CISD READS curriculum. According to research-based best practices, providing students with daily opportunities to explore high frequency words as well as investigate and understand patterns in words will be build word knowledge that can be applied in reading, spelling, and writing. Students will continue to receive grades in spelling as part of their writing grade. The assessment will be based on student knowledge of word patterns and high frequency words rather than the ability to memorize single word lists.

19. Parent Conferences Check with your homeroom teacher about signing up for a fall conference. Throughout the year, please call ahead or email us to schedule a conference.

20. Our Schedule 8:00-8:05- Announcements 8:05-10:25- Instructional Block #1 10:25- Class Change 10:25-10:40- Instructional Block #2 10:40-11:10- Lunch 11:10-11:40- Recess 11:45-12:45- Fine Arts and P.E. 12:45-2:50- Instructional Block #2 2:50-2:55- Class Change 2:55- Dismissal

21. Parent Communication Please visit teacher websites for current information. School newsletter is online. School information, graded papers, notes and conduct sheets will go home in the Tuesday Folder. Email is probably the fastest way for us to communicate with you. Please remember our email system is NOT confidential. Please schedule a conference if it is a sensitive issue.

22. Math Place Value Rounding Time Measurement Geometry Multiplication Fractions Probability Division Money Estimation Charts & Graphs Multiple step word problems

23. Math Problem Solving Strategies Make a table Make an organized list Guess and check Work backwards Logical reasoning Act it out Make it simpler Find a pattern

24. Science Process Skills Matter Simple Machines Inventors Health Earth’s Forces Rocks & Minerals Space Plants Habitats

25. Social Studies Map Skills Government Explorers Immigration Celebrations Economy Heroes & Citizenship Communities

26. Language Arts Daily Language Review Writer’s Workshop Six Traits of Writing Class novels New reading series!

27. “Give me five!” Strategies to Reading Success 1. Read the passage and think about what it’s about. 2. Underline the important words in the question. 3. Kick it to the curb! 4. Underline key words to prove your answer. 5. What paragraph # did you use to find your answer?

28. Testing April 26 - Math TAKS Test April 27 - Reading TAKS Test Throughout the year students will be taking various benchmarks to assess progress.

29. Early Release Days October 22 March 25 Students will be dismissed at 12:00. Students will be eating lunch at school on that day.

30. Our Goals To give your child the academic tools they need to progress to 4 th grade. To provide a supportive learning environment. To have fun while we learn. To make new friends and discover new interests. To make your child accountable and responsible!

31. Class Content We will cover all the subjects and topics that the state requires students to learn during 3 rd grade. The state’s standards and objectives can be found at the following we address: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/teks