Dear Third Grade Parents,
Welcome to the beginning of a wonderful new school year for
you and your child. We are looking forward to seeing all of you again at
Parent/Teacher Conferences. Since there is not always time during the
orientation to cover everything, we have written a number of things down for
you to read. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these items please
feel free to contact us.
We feel that our foremost goal is to teach and reflect the
six pillars of character traits to your child. Each child is a precious gift
and we try always to remember this. It is important that your child come to
realize the Character Traits not only in our classrooms at school but also by
other learning opportunities at school. We encourage all of you to know,
understand, and use the Character Traits so we all can work together to instill
these important values and traits.
Our second goal is to teach needed skills in a safe
environment. This year can be an exciting experience and we hope you will see your
child progress in many positive ways during this coming year.
We consider our relationship a partnership between parent,
child and teacher working together with our character trait/values at the
center. Therefore, we ask for your cooperation and commitment to our classes.
Attendance and Tardy Policy:
In order for your child to achieve his/her academic
potential, it is crucial that he/she attend school every day, except when
genuinely ill. Even missing one day can cause your child to miss important learning
material. Completing missed assignments is helpful, but not as productive as
being in class.
Likewise, arriving late and/or leaving early also effect a
student’s learning potential. The instruction, examples and activities provided
in class cannot be duplicated, and a student misses optimum learning
opportunities when he/she misses a lesson.
School begins at 8:30 and ends at 3:15, everyday but
Wednesday, when school is finished at 11:30. Please try to schedule
appointments and vacations to occur when school is not in session.
Behavior:
We have these expectations of children in our classrooms.
- We expect them to show respect for each other, so there will be no physical or verbal fighting.
- We expect them to listen to the adult in charge the first time.
- We expect them to care for school property and their own personal property; so our classrooms and their individual desks will be kept neat and clean.
- We expect them to raise their hands before speaking out in class unless instructed
otherwise.
- We expect them to remain in their seat during instruction and work periods unless
given permission to do otherwise.
- We expect them to be quiet during study times, and to be working on assignments
during this
time.
- We expect them to complete all assignments neatly and on time.
Reward:
In our experience, positive reinforcement has often
eliminated the need to continue past the consequences for breaking rules. We
use a weekly token program which allows students to turn in tokens weekly for a
reward or save for a bigger reward. Five
tokens will be issued at the beginning of each week. At the end of each week,
tokens will be exchanged for items or privileges.
Additional rewards include but are not limited to:
-
Daily praise and positive feedback
-
Periodic notes home praising behavior
-
Classroom parties
-
Certificates and rewards
- A positive and
creative learning environment
Discipline:
Although our goal is to instill every student with internal
values, there will be external consequences to reinforce behavior. The
preceding expectations will be discussed with the students as we work together
using the six character traits to guide and establish our classroom rules.
Consequence for breaking the rules are as follows:
See attached letter on classroom management.
Homework/ Responsibility Grades:
Homework is not assigned simply to keep the student busy.
All assigned homework emphasizes lessons taught in class, and offer the student
the opportunity to apply new, and practice existing, skills and knowledge. During
the school day some study time is always given to the students so that they may
work on their assignments. Any assignments that they were not able to finish
during that time, we then consider as homework. Therefore, the amount of work
the child brings home will vary according to several factors: 1) the size of
the assignment; 2) the amount of study time given; 3) the speed with which your
child works (some very good workers take their time); 4) how your child uses
the study time (day-dreaming for instance) will slow progress.
Unless otherwise indicated, all assignments are due the day
after they are given. We will accept late assignments and there may be a
deduction in their grade. If the assignment is not turned in, the assignment will
receive a grade of “zero”. If you feel that your child is bringing home a lot
of assignments each night, please check with us about it. There will be no
makeup work for missed assignments so its important to turn in work even if
it’s late.
Unless indicated otherwise, each student is expected to read
for thirty minutes as part of his or her homework, Monday through Thursday.
Assignments:
There will be a homework daily schedule attached to homework
packets. At least you will know exactly what the assignments are. We
do ask that you sign the homework journal and have your child bring the journal
back Friday mornings.
Spelling:
The spelling follows the Phonics units. There can be a
pre-test with a final test every Friday. There is a spelling list which comes
home every Monday attached to our Monday Newsletter.
Graded Papers:
Graded papers will be sent home when graded or weekly.
Classroom Volunteering:
Adult family members or guardians of students are welcome
to volunteer in the classroom, on condition that prior notice is provided to
the teacher, and the visit is arranged at a time convenient to everyone.
Visitations are not to exceed a ½ hour, and no child may have more than 5
visits in a year. Although we encourage the interest of parents and guardians
in the child’s academic life, more frequent visits to the classroom would be
disruptive to the students.
Communication:
We truly wish to have an open and a consistent
communication with all parents and guardians. To that end, we encourage
everyone to contact us with any questions or comments. We can be reached by
email at Mrs. Felty: Tavia22@msn.com, Mrs. Marvin: cdzodzomenyo@lpatucson.org, and Ms.
Bidwell: hcbidwell@comcast.net or by the school office phone at 721-4205 where
a message can be left, and we will call you as soon as we are available. You
may also send us a note, or speak with us at a scheduled conference. In an
effort to keep everyone informed, the first day of each week we will send home newsletters
with information regarding upcoming classroom and school activities.
Field Trips:
There might be field trips throughout the year. They may be used
as supplemental rewards. Parents will be
asked to give permission for their child to attend. A signed permission slip acknowledges that
the parents understand that it is their responsibility to provide protection
for their child from the elements of the outdoors.
Parents will also be asked to drive on field trips. In order for parents to drive, they need to
have current insurance, registration, and driver’s license, which needs to be
on file with the office. If this is not
done, they will not be able to drive.
A Word About Third Graders:
We do not profess to be an expert on third graders.
Generally, this is a transition year. Academically, they
will be confronted with a lot of brand new material. For instance, they will
spend more time on multiplication and learn the division process; they will
begin to write things in cursive after the first semester; and there is a lot
more writing involved in Reading
If you have any questions or concerns during the school year
please feel free to contact us at the above contact information. We would be
most willing to set up an appointment with you for after school to discuss any
important matters. We have many exciting things to look forward to, and we are
very anxious to work with you and your child.
Sincerely,
Holly Bidwell
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Classroom Management
Dear
3rd Grade Parents,
I would like to take this time to
explain a little bit about my classroom management system:
Each day the students in our class start out on Green (think of a traffic light). Every day they start fresh on Green, no matter what the behavior was the day before. If they have a great day, follow directions when asked, stay on task during class work, are not talking when they should not be, etc. they will stay on Green for the day. If this is the case they will bring home a slip of paper stating that they had a great day and ended up on GREEN. Feel free to reward this behavior at home as well, so as to increase their motivation.
If
a student is talking when the teacher is talking or when they are supposed to
be working quietly, if they are shouting out in class without raising their
hand, talking back to the teacher, playing instead of working, etc. they may
get their color lowered to Yellow. This is a warning to the student that their
behavior is unacceptable. When this happens they will bring home a slip of
paper explaining that they ended the day on YELLOW.
If
the student has to be spoken to repeatedly (3 or more times), they will get
their name lowered to Red. When this happens they will lose their recess for
the day and will bring home a slip of paper stating that they ended the day on
RED. This will require a parent signature, and will need to be returned to me
the following day. Failure to return the Red signature will result in a call
home and after school detention.
If
a student continues to have problems after being lowered to Red, they will be
sent to “Think Time” in a kindergarten classroom where they will fill out a “Think
Time” sheet of paper. This will be sent home and will require a parent
signature as well. If behavior continues after this, the student will be sent
to the office
If
you have any questions or concerns about this new form of communication please
feel free to ask me at school, by phone, or by email.
Miss
Bidwell
hcbidwell@comcast.netmissbidwellsclass.blogspot.com
