Mrs. Williams’ 3rd Grade Class Information

West Elementary 2014-2015

• Please contact me if you have any questions. • 785-456-8333 ext. 3115 • E-mail at williams@usd320.com • Plan Time 8:10-8:45• 785-577-5819 (cell phone)

How to Contact Me

• Attendance Sheet• Classroom Parties• Parent-Teacher Conferences• Volunteers in Classroom• West Carnival

• Volunteers at class booths• Volunteers to bring bottled water or

cakes

Sign Up Sheets

About Me• Background

– Grew up in Texas– Moved to Western Kansas in 1997– FHSU Graduate– Masters as a Reading Specialist through FHSU- ESOL Endorsement

• Teaching Experience– 2004-2007 Deerfield, KS– 2007-Present Wamego

• Family– Husband – David– Braxton - 5 years – Parker - 17 months

• http://williams3rd.wordpress.com• Subscribe to email updates• Stay informed

• Homework• Study Guides• Daily Activities• Helpful Links• Resources

Classroom Blog

• I listen to students who raise their hand.

• I teach when there are no distractions or other problems.

• Feel free to do anything that does not cause a problem for anyone else.

• Please treat me with the same respect I treat you.

ClassroomExpectations

Clip Chart System• It is a system for promoting positive behavior in the

classroom.• Both positive and negative consequences are given. • Students can clip up or clip down throughout the day

based on their actions.• Logical consequences will be given whenever possible.

For example, if a student is bothering others while they are working, they might be moved to a different location to work.

Classroom Behavior System

• School rules against bullying are as follows:• We will not bully others.• We will try to help others who are being bullied.• We will make it a point to include students who are

easily left out.• When we know someone is being bullied, we will

tell an adult at school and at home.

The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program

• Arrival & Dismissal7:45 Breakfast8:00 First Bell8:05 Tardy Bell3:15 Bus Riders Dismissed3:20 Walkers Dismissed

• Changes In Going Home ProceduresPlease Contact Myself or the Office

• Note • E-mail• Telephone Call

Arrival & Dismissal

Student Binder• Your child’s binder will hold all-important

information that your student needs on a daily basis at school and home to complete given tasks.

• In the student’s binder will be: • Agenda

• Review and Sign Each School Night• Math and Reading Calendars• Spelling List• Pencil bag with math flash cards• Notes• Graded papers

Homework• Math Facts• Math Calendar

• Practice 5 minutes, 5 nights a week (25 min. a week)• Skill Homework (Do not need to do fact practice on these nights.)

• Reading• Reading Calendar

• Read 20 minutes; 5 nights a week• Kiwi Bag – this counts towards the 20 minutes of reading• Why Read Poster

• Handwriting• About one cursive page a night – four nights a week if not completed during

class time• Spelling

• Practice spelling words for test on Fridays• Spelling activities will be on back of list on how to practice words

• Science and Social Studies• Special Projects• Unit Tests – Study Guides sent home a week in advance

• If at any time you or your child does not understand the assigned task, please write a note and send it back to school the next day.

TIPS• Set up a homework area at home. • Try to have a consistent schedule on when

homework is to be completed.• Your child should be completing math facts,

reading, and spelling daily.

Homework

Stay Informed• Check Your Child’s Academic

Progress on Power School• Link to Power School on Classroom Blog• Link to Power School on USD 320 Website• Sign up for weekly email updates in Power

School• If you misplace your password please contact

the office.

Grades• Excellent/Satisfactory/Needs Improvement

• Specialized Classes (Art, Technology, P.E., & Music)

• Letter Grades• All grades will be based upon quizzes and tests

• Math• Language Arts• Spelling• Science• Social Studies

Grading ScaleA+ = 100 C = 76-73A = 99-93 C- = 72-70A- = 92-90 D+ = 69-67B+ = 89-87 D = 66-63B = 86-83 D- = 62-60B- = 82-80 F = 59 or belowC+ = 79-77

Grades• Reading and Writing Grades

• Reading and Writing grades will inform you of your student’s current level and expected performance level at the end of each quarter

• At the end of each nine weeks in reading you will be informed of your child’s current guided reading level, fluency rate, and accuracy level. In writing you will be informed of their progress of each writing trait we have assessed.

Absences• Notify the office when child is ill by 8:30• If you know in advance

• Write a note, email, or call

• Homework When Absent• Needs to completed in a timely manner• Parentally help will be needed• Bring back ALL materials daily – even if not

complete• Have students ask for clarification of directions

when needed

Snacks• Students May Bring a Healthy Snack Daily

• Snack Ideas• Dry cereal• Fruits/Vegetables• Cheese Sticks• Crackers• Granola Bars• NO cookies, candy, or chips

• Water Bottles• Important to keep hydrated• Prefer lids that students can sip out of due to accidents if tipped over

Celebrations• Birthdays

• Celebrated during juice and milk time in PM• May send treats in the PM• Any type of treat is welcomed• Summer birthdays can be celebrated at any time or

during students half-birthday

• Classroom Parties• Begin at 2:30• We promote healthy treats and drinks• NO Candy or Latex Balloons

Money for Office• Enclose the money in an envelope

• Write On Envelope• Child’s Name• Teacher’s Name• Purpose of the Money (ex. Lunches)

Students can take money DIRECTLY to the office in the morning

Library

• We will check out library books every Friday.• A great idea to ALWAYS have students keep

library book in their book bags.• Library Challenge• Literature Club

.ACADEMIC

AREAS

Spelling• Component of Daily Language Instruction

Program

• Spelling Tests on Fridays

• On the back of the spelling list there are ideas on how to practice spelling words.

• A Spelling List can be found in student’s agenda.

Spelling Test Consists of TWO Grades

Spelling GradeCapitalization and Punctuation Grade

Spelling Grade - includes any current spelling word or any past “no excuse” word on the test

Capitalization and Punctuation Grade - based on correct capitalization and punctuation of words and sentences on test

Spelling Grade

Math• Math Trailblazers - conceptual based math

program• Skills are imbedded in problem-based

situations • Spiraling program• If at any time, you and your child do not

understand the homework sent home, please send a note the next day.

Reading

• Two Main Components– Guided Reading – small group– Shared Reading – entire class

• Major Focus is on Comprehension – Strategies and Skills- embedded with

Kansas College and Career Ready Standards

• Students have “Learned to Read”• Now we are “Reading to Learn”

Guided Reading• Guided Reading Groups

• Students will be taught at their instructional level.• Groups are flexible• Students may not be taught by own classroom teacher

(like at Central).• Individuals Your Child May Have Groups With

• Mrs. Buessing• Mrs. Hallaq• Mrs. Hallberg• Miss Smith• Mrs. Wilber• Mrs. Williams• Mrs. Evans• Mrs. Paton• Mr. Robertson• Mrs. Herzog• Mrs. Ross

Reading GoalsReading Goals By Quarter• Reading Level

– 1st Quarter – Level M– 2nd Quarter – Level N– 3rd Quarter – Level O– 4th Quarter – Level P

• Accuracy – always above 95%• Fluency

– 1st Quarter – 80 WCPM– 2nd Quarter – 89 WCPM– 3rd Quarter – 98 WCPM– 4th Quarter – 107 WCPM

Science• Inquiry-Based Learning –Students are in

engaged in inquiry-based learning with a combination of reading and hands on activities.

• Unit Tests – study guides sent home a week in advance

• Units of Study• Forces and Interactions• Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems• Life Cycles and Traits – Plants and Animals• Weather Climate

Social Studies• Communities are the main theme in our

Social Studies curriculum. Students learn about their own community and other communities in the world.

• Units of Study• Civics/Government• Economics• Geography• History of Wamego

Writing Six-Traits Writing Model

• Ideas • Organization • Voice • Word Choice • Sentence Fluency • Conventions

Daily Language Instruction• Capitalization• Usage/Grammar• Punctuation• Spelling• Parts of Speech

Writing Process• Prewriting• Drafting• Revising• Editing• Publishing

How To Contact Me

Please contact me if you have any questions. • Voicemail ext. 3115 • E-mail at williamsk@usd320.com • Stay Informed through our classroom blog at

http//williams3rd.wordpress.com

I look forward to working with you and your child this school year.