Diagnostics have been scheduled as followed - cloudfront.net
Welcome to Third Grade Parent Night! Thomas Elementary
August 25, 2011
Grade-level Teachers •Ayanna Black •Melissa Jaye •Stacey Martin •Natalie Reeder •Connie McClure* •Alejandra Paniagua (Bilingual) •Fannysteen Mays (Special Education) (* Team Leader)
Arrival • First bell rings at 7:30 • Tardy bell rings at 7:45 – Truancy is reported to the office. – 3 tardies = 1 unexcused absence
Absences • If a student is absent, parents have 3 days to send a handwritten note with a signature to their teacher to be considered an excused absence. • No phone calls or emails will be accepted.
Dismissal
• We dismiss school at 2:45. • Students must be picked up promptly. This is for their safety. • Carpool children will meet in the gym and be called to their cars like last year. • PASAR students will be taken to their designated areas. • Kindergarten and students with siblings in kindergarten, will be picked up in back of the school on Blue Ridge. • All other students meeting siblings and parents will meet in the front of the building near the flagpole. • Grades 3,4,& 5 walkers, and bikers not meeting siblings or parents, will exit out of the side of the building on Montana. • Daycare and bus students will exit from the 2nd grade hallway.
Dismissal
• Greeter and carpool are different! -Make sure that if you are meeting your child after school on foot that you park and pick your child up in front of the building—not at the gym doors. • Teachers will escort all children to the doors for dismissal. Please do not send older siblings to get younger siblings from their classrooms. They will make it where they need to with teacher help. • A note or phone call to the office is required if your child is going home a way other than what was originally specified. Please note that classroom teachers are not always able to check voicemail once the day has started. It is important that we document any changes in order to ensure your child’s safety going home.
Daily Schedule • 7:30 – 7:55 • • • • • • •
7:55 – 9:15 9:15 – 10:10 10:10-11:55 11:55 – 12:25 12:25 – 12:55 12:55- 2:35 2:35-2:45
Math Warm-Up & Announcements Math Specials Language Arts/Writing Lunch Recess Integrated Curriculum Dismissal
Curriculum Language Arts •Guided Reading on your child’s reading level. •Guided Reading promotes flexible grouping to meet individual students’ needs. •Weekly spelling lists will allow students to focus on a pattern of study. •Reading textbook is used for shared reading.
Curriculum Language Arts Writing is incorporated as a part of the Language Arts curriculum. Writing instruction is based on 6 writing traits: Ideas/Content
Organization
Voice
Word Choice
Sentence Fluency
Conventions
Curriculum Math •Emphasis on problem solving UPSL-Understand, Plan, Solve, Look Back
Multiple Ways to Solve Problems •Curriculum Guide—skills are reinforced and reviewed throughout the year •Both whole group and small group instruction to meet students’ needs. •Focus on real-life applications for math.
Curriculum Integrated Curriculum •Integrates Science, Social Studies, and Health •Overarching Concepts/Organizing Ideas
•Many hands-on activities, multitasking, and visits to the science lab to meet individual students’ needs •Science Boxes (Will be going home with students.) •Science Fair coming in November more details soon.
Homework • Homework is a review of skills covered in class and should be something students can complete with minimal assistance. • Monday-Reading, Tuesday-Writing, Wednesday-Math, Thursday-Spelling • All Homework is due back the next day • A homework grade is averaged into math and language grades. Failure to turn in completed, quality homework on the morning of the due date will cause the homework average to drop.
Grading Policies •Nine-week grading system •Progress Reports will be sent home during the fifth week of the nine weeks. •Spelling grade will be included with Language Arts grade. •Science and Social Studies, are combined for an Integrated Curriculum grade.
Parent Viewer
Online access to view your child’s grades and attendance is available on the Parent Viewer web site http://parentviewer.pisd.edu . Reports available online will enable you to view details such as assignments, quizzes and tests along with the grade, score weights, due dates, and maximum values. Missing assignment reports are also an option for you to view. You will also have the ability to sign up for automatic email subscriptions and will be able to schedule a variety of reports. New users may register for this service online at the Parent Viewer website. Grades will be updated every Monday, and attendance on a daily basis. Questions regarding the service may be e-mailed to [email protected].
Diagnostics
•Diagnostics have been scheduled as followed: MAP tests will be given as followsReading/Language Arts: September, January, May Math: September, January, May Science: September, January, May •Information from diagnostic tests show students’ strengths and areas for growth. •Teachers use this information in planning instruction for the class and individual students. •Formal Running Records are given in September, January, and April to assess students’ reading instructional level.
STAAR Expectations This year third graders will take the STAAR test. More information coming soon.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS! • Right Choice Lessons • Positive Behaviors • Right Choice Worksheets • Self-Managers
SIX PILLARS OF CHARACTER Responsibility Citizenship Respect
Fairness Caring Trustworthiness
Birthdays • We will recognize each child’s birthday.
• Students may bring a treat to share at the end of the day. • Summer birthdays may be celebrated at the half-birthday or in May.
Recess • We go outside everyday, weather permitting. • Please check the weather report and dress your child appropriately.
• LABEL COATS AND JACKETS. • Due to variations in the indoor and outdoor temperatures, we suggest that your child bring a jacket or sweatshirt to leave at school.
Cell Phones • Students may use cell phones before or after school, outside the school building. • Students may not use phones during the school hours and inside the school building. – First offense: cell phone will be picked up from teacher and returned by the end of the day. – Second offense and beyond: parent will pick up the device from the school office.
Communication •Grade-level and PTA newsletters go home once a month with grade and school-wide news. •Feel free to e-mail teachers or leave a voice-mail message (calls and e-mails will be answered within 24 hours but you may not get a response until after school hours.) •Urgent messages should be left with the front office, as teachers may not be able to check voicemail until after students are dismissed. •Visit the Thomas web site. •Sign up for ENews.
Thank you for coming tonight!
August 25, 2011
Grade-level Teachers •Ayanna Black •Melissa Jaye •Stacey Martin •Natalie Reeder •Connie McClure* •Alejandra Paniagua (Bilingual) •Fannysteen Mays (Special Education) (* Team Leader)
Arrival • First bell rings at 7:30 • Tardy bell rings at 7:45 – Truancy is reported to the office. – 3 tardies = 1 unexcused absence
Absences • If a student is absent, parents have 3 days to send a handwritten note with a signature to their teacher to be considered an excused absence. • No phone calls or emails will be accepted.
Dismissal
• We dismiss school at 2:45. • Students must be picked up promptly. This is for their safety. • Carpool children will meet in the gym and be called to their cars like last year. • PASAR students will be taken to their designated areas. • Kindergarten and students with siblings in kindergarten, will be picked up in back of the school on Blue Ridge. • All other students meeting siblings and parents will meet in the front of the building near the flagpole. • Grades 3,4,& 5 walkers, and bikers not meeting siblings or parents, will exit out of the side of the building on Montana. • Daycare and bus students will exit from the 2nd grade hallway.
Dismissal
• Greeter and carpool are different! -Make sure that if you are meeting your child after school on foot that you park and pick your child up in front of the building—not at the gym doors. • Teachers will escort all children to the doors for dismissal. Please do not send older siblings to get younger siblings from their classrooms. They will make it where they need to with teacher help. • A note or phone call to the office is required if your child is going home a way other than what was originally specified. Please note that classroom teachers are not always able to check voicemail once the day has started. It is important that we document any changes in order to ensure your child’s safety going home.
Daily Schedule • 7:30 – 7:55 • • • • • • •
7:55 – 9:15 9:15 – 10:10 10:10-11:55 11:55 – 12:25 12:25 – 12:55 12:55- 2:35 2:35-2:45
Math Warm-Up & Announcements Math Specials Language Arts/Writing Lunch Recess Integrated Curriculum Dismissal
Curriculum Language Arts •Guided Reading on your child’s reading level. •Guided Reading promotes flexible grouping to meet individual students’ needs. •Weekly spelling lists will allow students to focus on a pattern of study. •Reading textbook is used for shared reading.
Curriculum Language Arts Writing is incorporated as a part of the Language Arts curriculum. Writing instruction is based on 6 writing traits: Ideas/Content
Organization
Voice
Word Choice
Sentence Fluency
Conventions
Curriculum Math •Emphasis on problem solving UPSL-Understand, Plan, Solve, Look Back
Multiple Ways to Solve Problems •Curriculum Guide—skills are reinforced and reviewed throughout the year •Both whole group and small group instruction to meet students’ needs. •Focus on real-life applications for math.
Curriculum Integrated Curriculum •Integrates Science, Social Studies, and Health •Overarching Concepts/Organizing Ideas
•Many hands-on activities, multitasking, and visits to the science lab to meet individual students’ needs •Science Boxes (Will be going home with students.) •Science Fair coming in November more details soon.
Homework • Homework is a review of skills covered in class and should be something students can complete with minimal assistance. • Monday-Reading, Tuesday-Writing, Wednesday-Math, Thursday-Spelling • All Homework is due back the next day • A homework grade is averaged into math and language grades. Failure to turn in completed, quality homework on the morning of the due date will cause the homework average to drop.
Grading Policies •Nine-week grading system •Progress Reports will be sent home during the fifth week of the nine weeks. •Spelling grade will be included with Language Arts grade. •Science and Social Studies, are combined for an Integrated Curriculum grade.
Parent Viewer
Online access to view your child’s grades and attendance is available on the Parent Viewer web site http://parentviewer.pisd.edu . Reports available online will enable you to view details such as assignments, quizzes and tests along with the grade, score weights, due dates, and maximum values. Missing assignment reports are also an option for you to view. You will also have the ability to sign up for automatic email subscriptions and will be able to schedule a variety of reports. New users may register for this service online at the Parent Viewer website. Grades will be updated every Monday, and attendance on a daily basis. Questions regarding the service may be e-mailed to [email protected].
Diagnostics
•Diagnostics have been scheduled as followed: MAP tests will be given as followsReading/Language Arts: September, January, May Math: September, January, May Science: September, January, May •Information from diagnostic tests show students’ strengths and areas for growth. •Teachers use this information in planning instruction for the class and individual students. •Formal Running Records are given in September, January, and April to assess students’ reading instructional level.
STAAR Expectations This year third graders will take the STAAR test. More information coming soon.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS! • Right Choice Lessons • Positive Behaviors • Right Choice Worksheets • Self-Managers
SIX PILLARS OF CHARACTER Responsibility Citizenship Respect
Fairness Caring Trustworthiness
Birthdays • We will recognize each child’s birthday.
• Students may bring a treat to share at the end of the day. • Summer birthdays may be celebrated at the half-birthday or in May.
Recess • We go outside everyday, weather permitting. • Please check the weather report and dress your child appropriately.
• LABEL COATS AND JACKETS. • Due to variations in the indoor and outdoor temperatures, we suggest that your child bring a jacket or sweatshirt to leave at school.
Cell Phones • Students may use cell phones before or after school, outside the school building. • Students may not use phones during the school hours and inside the school building. – First offense: cell phone will be picked up from teacher and returned by the end of the day. – Second offense and beyond: parent will pick up the device from the school office.
Communication •Grade-level and PTA newsletters go home once a month with grade and school-wide news. •Feel free to e-mail teachers or leave a voice-mail message (calls and e-mails will be answered within 24 hours but you may not get a response until after school hours.) •Urgent messages should be left with the front office, as teachers may not be able to check voicemail until after students are dismissed. •Visit the Thomas web site. •Sign up for ENews.
Thank you for coming tonight!
