Third Grade Handbook 2012-2013
School Phone: 214-495-6784
Email: teacher’sfirstname_lastname@allenisd.org
Welcome to Third Grade! Thank you for giving us the opportunity to work with your child. We appreciate the interest you have for your child, both at home and at school. We are very excited, and are looking forward to creating a positive school year for everyone.
Included in this packet are some guidelines and procedures that we will be following throughout the year. With over 20 years of teaching experience as a team, Third grade teachers have worked together to compile this information for you. Please read the student handbook for additional information. We strive to give you as much information as possible so that you are well aware of what is taking place in the life of your child. Any time you have any questions, please let us know. If you have access to email, this is typically the best way to get in touch with us. We can then respond by telephone or email, whichever is appropriate. Please understand that our priorities lie in the best interest of your child.
Please hold onto this newsletter as it is packed with many answers to questions that will come up throughout the year. It is a great idea to keep a folder or binder of this and other notes to refer back to as needed!
Thank you,
Third Grade Team
Behavior Guidelines:
Through both positive reinforcement and logical consequences we will strive to create a learning environment in which students feel safe and secure, and are able to focus and learn with minimal distractions.
Incentives:
Listed below are examples of some incentives that are used during the year. To keep students interested and engaged, we add new incentives on occasion.
Class Hundreds Chart
Each teacher is going to use a hundreds incentive chart. Each time a student is caught doing a great job or going above and beyond, they will sign a number on the class hundreds chart. When the hundreds chart is full, random numbers will be pulled and the students that signed on those numbers will get to choose a prize from the class treasure chest.
Word to the Third
Each class is going to work together to spell Word to the Third each 9 week period. Classes will earn a letter by doing an exceptional job as whole in class, receiving compliments in the hall or cafeteria and at the teacher’s discretion. Each class that has earned all the letters by the end of the 9 week period will picnic together outside. If weather is bad, students will get to eat in the classroom with their teacher.
Consequences:
The Third grade team will be utilizing a color system, similar to that of Second grade. If your child has his/her color changed, this will be noted in the Agenda.
Green: Good Day
Students will be given a verbal warning without consequence.
Yellow: students will walk 5 minutes of recess
Orange: students will complete a Think Sheet in a partner teacher’s classroom, and will be expected to walk all of recess.
Red: Office Referral
Blue: Occasionally, students go above and beyond by displaying excellent behavior and character. This students will be recognized in the classroom for their outstanding day.
Sometimes there are behaviors that need to be corrected, but are not serious enough to warrant a color change. Examples might be forgetting to raise hand during discussions, or talking/playing during work time. On these occasions, a “practice academy”, in which students practice desired behavior for a minute or two during recess might be sufficient.
Conduct grades will be given based on the number of incidents a student has to change colors. Here are the guidelines for conduct grades:
O (outstanding): a student has no color changes and frequently displays character that is above and beyond the expectations.
S (satisfactory): no more than 6 yellows or 1 orange in a 9 week period
N (needs improvement): 7-8 yellows or 2 oranges
U (unsatisfactory): more than 8 yellows, and/or 3+oranges, and/or any red
Homework:
**All assignments are given for reinforcement or practice. New material will never be sent home for homework.
Reading Logs:
We can never emphasize enough how important it is for your child to be reading in and outside of the classroom setting.
Students will have a reading log in their Take Home Folder. It will be their responsibility to read 20 minutes a night, Monday through Thursday. Reading logs will be checked for completion each Friday.
If your child doesn’t enjoy reading, please approach us in order to help find out how we can open his/her mind to the wonderful world of reading.
DOS(Daily Oral Science) and DOG (Daily Oral Geography):
The DOS/DOG study guide will be sent home each night in the green take home folder to review Geography and Science skills. These questions should be studied to prepare for a quiz which will be given on each Friday. More information will be provided during curriculum night.
Word Work:
Students will be given a list of 5 or 6 high frequency words at the beginning of each week. They will be responsible for studying these words and using each in a grammatically correct sentence. In addition, we will be looking at patterned word families.
Grades:
We are on a nine week grading schedule. On each Tuesday you will receive all papers that have been checked in the Tuesday Folder. Any assignments, including tests, which have earned less than 70%, may be redone. The grade can be raised to no higher than 70%. 10 points will be deducted each day for any late work on any assignment.
Bringing Things to School:
Students should not bring any toys, pillow pets, stuffed animals, etc. to school. Toys will not be allowed in the gym in the morning or outside during recess EXCEPT on days designated by your child’s teacher. Cell phones may be brought as long as they are off, and remain in backpacks during school hours.
Tuesday Folders:
Folders are sent home each Tuesday in order for parents to receive graded work and important notes. The empty folder needs to be returned on Wednesday with a signature in the designated location inside the folder to show that the information or papers were received. If any note or information needs to be returned to school, it should be sent back in the daily “Take Home” folder and given to the teacher.
Absences:
A note must be sent to the office upon return after your child has been absent. Your child will have 1 school day per day missed to complete missed work. Graded work cannot be sent home to be finished.
Medication:
A signed note must be sent from home for the office before any type of medicine will be given to your child. Children may NOT keep any type of medication with them including cough drops, sore throat spray, etc….
Recess:
Recess is a privilege for the kids. Again, our first focus is the safety of students. We will have recess rules in place and will be reinforced by active teacher monitoring every day. If a child has lost the privilege of recess due to a behavior issue or unfinished class work we will ask him/her to attend study hall inside one of our classrooms for that recess time.
Snacks:
Because our lunch will be late this year, students are encouraged to bring a snack. We request that snacks be nutritious. Please do not bring snacks that need spoons or are too messy. Water bottles should be non-disposable, and should not contain anything except water.
Take Home Binders:
Each night your child will bring home a take-home binder. You will find the weekly DOG/DOS study guides, the reading logs, communication, and Agenda in the take-home binder. Please make sure you check each night and have your child bring to school each day.
Agendas are new for Third graders. They include daily reminders, important messages from the teacher, or homework assignments. Please look over the Agenda Book with your child and place your signature in the designated location each night. This is also a great place to communicate with your child’s teacher, write notes to your child for reminders or to let your child know how they are getting home.
Parent Responsibilities:
Send a signed note to document after your child has been absent. The note will be sent to the office with the student the day they return.
Please check over any homework to further reinforce skills and assignments that have been reworked for 70%.
Follow your child’s progress with their reading log each week.
Communication – PLEASE share with us what is going on in the life of your child or family if it concerns or might influence your child. It is our job to do what is in the best interest of your child.
Look at the contents of the daily Take Home Binder.
Look at the contents of the weekly Tuesday folder.
After signing in with the office, you are welcome to enjoy lunch with your child in the cafeteria during our lunchtime.
Please don’t pull up alongside the playground in your vehicle or walk onto the playground for the safety of all students.
Grade Level and Class Websites:
Be sure to visit our websites this year! The grade level website, found under faculty websites on the Marion homepage, will include important dates, weekly newsletters, and reminders. There will be links to individual teacher websites also, which will include classroom blogs, showcase student work and other information, and provide technology links relevant to individual classrooms.
Thank you for your time. Although these guidelines are subject to change, we want you to be well informed. Please refer to the Student Handbook for additional information. We realize this is a lot of information; however, we think you will find it very resourceful throughout the year. Please keep this in a “safe” place to refer to as needed. Once again, please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns. We look forward to a wonderful year with you and your child!
Thanks,
Third Grade Team
