1. Curriculum Night 2014-2015 Third Grade Teachers

2. Start Time: Please have students here by 7:30 each morning if they are going to eat breakfast in the cafeteria. Class begins at 7:45.

3. If your child is not following his or her normal dismissal routine, please notify the teacher in writing or by calling the office. Notes should include date, first and last name, the new mode of transportation, and parent signature.

4. Visitors: All visitors must check in at the office before visiting a classroom. The office will be using a driver’s license check-in system. Please bring your driver’s license with you to be scanned. Visitors will be required to wear a visitor sticker that must be visible at all times. If you would like to join us for a field trip this year or work with students in the classroom, you will be required to complete the Background Check Form. The check takes about 10 days, so please complete it in advance.

5. If absent, students have 3 days to send a written note stating the reason they were absent. If a note is not received, it will become an unexcused absence. A phone call is wonderful, but must be accompanied by a written note per state guidelines.

6. Have materials daily Turn assignments in on time Follow directions Work hard Respect others and property Rewards Silver Spur

7. Planners: Students need to bring planners to class every day. Planners must be signed daily. Students will write down assignments to include “I will’s” daily. The envelope stapled in the back will contain homework and reading logs.

8. Class Web Pages Please check out our class web pages for updates and important information. www.nisdtx.org Select Schluter Elementary Select Staff pages Click on teacher’s name

9. Thursday folders will go home each Thursday with graded work and important notes from the school. Please take out graded papers each week. Please send these folders back each Friday. Thursday Folders

10. Report Cards Progress reports and report cards will be electronic this year unless other arrangements have been made. Please make sure to update your e-mail address and other information with the district.

11. Online Grade book You are able to check your child’s grades 24/7 Set up username and password then you can receive e-mails and alerts (Check with the office for this) Home Access Center

12. Read each evening and track on the reading log (four nights a week)due each Friday. Million Word Challenge Spelling Words - Test on Fridays, new words given on Fridays and can be found on ELA/SS teacher webpage Math- Starting the week of September 8th. 1 assignment each week - Due on Friday

13. Reading Writing Spelling Social Studies

14. Reading State Assessment STAAR (April 22, 2015) authentic readers class book clubs should look and sound like adult book clubs workshop model (opening, work period, closing) 30-40 minutes daily of independent reading time to build stamina Reading Homework – help your child build the habit of reading every day, creating life-long readers use reading log to document texts read

15. 2014-2015 “Million Word Challenge” 4 Picture Books = 1 Chapter Book; 1 Chapter Book = 150 pages Turn 1 October 3 – 6 Chapter Books Turn 2 November 14 – 12 Chapter Books Turn 3 January 15 – 18 Chapter Books Turn 4 February 27 th -24 Chapter Books Turn 5 April 24 th -30 Chapter Books Million Word Challenge – 30 books per school year home and school reading logs mid-year check points, ensuring on track to complete yearly goal end of year celebration for those who met the 30 books per school year goal.

16. Writing State Assessment STAAR (4 th grade – Writing Genres Personal Narrative and Expository) authentic writers that can express themselves clearly workshop model (opening, work period, closing) 30 minutes daily of independent writing time to build stamina Multiple Writing Genre Studies Instruction is individualized per student need Writing Diagnostic BOY and EOY scored with 1-4 Stage Writing Rubric (3 rd grade EOY expectations Stages 2) large group, small group, one-on-one instruction We will goal set according to Writing Strategies: Ideas Organization Word Choice/Voice Conventions

17. Words given on Friday – test following Friday per six week period, all spelling assessments equal 1 formative grade very little, if any time allotted in class for study words are posted on the E.L.A. teachers website Spelling

18. 3 rd Grade Big Idea integrated into Reading Workshop via literature/textbook: People work together and independently to contribute to their community.  People move from one community to another to improve their lives.  People work together to shape their community.  Individuals shape their community.  Change impacts citizens individually and as a community. Map Skills Work

19. Math Investigations: Wo rkshop model (opening, work period, closing) explore problems in depth. find more than one way of solving many of the problems they encounter. reason mathematically and develop problem-solving strategies. explain and examine their mathematical thinking and reasoning. represent their thinking using models, diagrams, and graphs. make connections between mathematical ideas. prove their ideas to others. develop fluency - efficiency, accuracy, and flexibility - with mathematics. develop proficiency with arithmetic. choose from a variety of tools and appropriate technology, work in a variety of groupings - whole class, individually, in pairs, and in small groups.

20. First 20 days/Problem Solving- In the first 20 days of the school year we will be following the NISD Math curriculum. The purpose of First 20 Days is to build and establish Math expectations for problem solving and collaboration. The purpose of this is to deepen student understanding and engagement in mathematical understanding. Students are expected to explain their thinking verbally and in writing. Our new Origo textbook lessons begin the week of September 8 th.

21. Math State Assessment (STAAR)-  April 21, 2015 Fact Fluency- Practice Makes Perfect  15 minutes of daily practice  Goal setting  Addition facts to 20 within a snap  Multiplication facts

22. Science Inquiry and PBLs  The Inquiry Learning model takes advantage of students’ natural curiosity.  It requires well-developed questioning skills.  It helps students to develop strategies and processes for collecting and evaluating information.  Students are given topics and then allowed to explore.  2 nd annual Science Night of no Limits will be in the Spring!

23. Last 10 minutes of the day No goodie bags please Cannot hand out invitations to parties in class Birthday Celebrations

24. The money goes to sponsor events such as field day, treat parties, field trip scholarships and much, much more! The PTA invests a lot in your child’s education. If you can help by making this donation, it will be greatly appreciated and put to good use. PTA Membership

25. Box Tops for Education are being collected. Please collect those at home and send them to school to help earn our school purchase new items for the students.

26. http://www.nisdtx.org/cms /lib/TX21000351/Centricity/ Domain/24/Elementary%2 0Education.pdf Elementary Education Brochure

27. Thank you for coming! Please make sure you signed in, received the curriculum brochure and recess permission form. Sign up for your October conference Thank you!!