Make sure your child is using these strategies at home!

Here are some pictures from our classroom.  Please encourage your child to read over the Holidays and use the strategies to become better readers!  I've included our CAFE board, which includes strategies we've learned to improve our Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency, and Expanding our vocabulary.  Ask your child about these, expect your child to use these, etc.  

As your child chooses book to read over the break, please make sure they are reading Good Fit Books.  Here's our poster to help with choosing the right book!

Wish List items for our classroom

Thank you for being interested in donating items to our classroom!  Here is a list of ideas:

• new books for our classroom library (easy reader books are great, harder picture books, short chapter books, informational text, biographies, etc.)
• iTunes gift cards for ebooks/apps on the class iPad (we use games and ebooks a lot in our classroom!)
• playground equipment (colored jerseys for organized sports, soccer/basketballs/footballs, velcro toss, a new mesh equipment bag, etc.)

There will be many more items that will come up when specific projects are planned.  Be on the lookout for an updated list!

THANK YOU!!!!

How Can I Help at Home?

With Thanksgiving Break approaching, I have a lot of parents ask what their child can work on over breaks to make sure they stay "sharp" with their reading and math skills.  Over the upcoming breaks, please make sure your child continues to read each day (a variety of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, etc.) and have discussions with each other about the main idea, the important information, new vocabulary, the characters, the significance to our own lives, etc.  Make visits to the public library so that your home (and car rides!) are filled with new books for your child to enjoy! 

For Math, an easy thing to work on over break is learning their multiplication facts!  I've seen flashcards in the dollar bins at Target, and they're also available at Dollar Tree and stores like that.  Make learning the math facts fun by making it a game!  The more fluent your child becomes in his or her multiplication facts, the easier their math work will be.  The break is a great time to work on this!! 

Thank you for an interest in making sure your child stays "on top of it all"! Happy Thanksgiving!! 

My Family: Tucker, Mr. Whiskers, and Philip

B.O.G. Test

You might have read about our Beginning of Grade test that we administer in 3rd Grade.  This test will not affect your child's grade.  Instead, it gives us a baseline of where they are starting the year so that we can compare it to their End of Grade (E.O.G.) test performance and monitor their growth.  Throughout the year, we will be learning how to tackle a standardized test by learning and practicing strategies that will help us do our best.  Our practice B.O.G. will be given on Thursday, September 5 to familiarize the students with the format of the test.  The actual B.O.G. will be given on Wednesday, September 11.  Both tests will be administered at 9:30am, so please make sure your child is here on time those mornings!  Again, this test is not stressful in any way.  It is being used to see where they are in reading at the beginning of this year.  Thank you for your help in getting your child to school on time those mornings! 

Reading Log

During Quarter 1, your child is required to read at least 20 minutes for homework.  They have a Reading Log in their green HW folder which needs to be filled out BY THE STUDENT and then given to mom or dad for a signature to verify the time they read.  The box at the top is hard to read due to copying issues, so here's what it says:

 

Students are required to read for at least 20 minutes each night for homework.  This can be done independently or as a shared reading with an adult.  Parents, please sign this reading log each night and be sure to ask your child questions about what they read.  Try to dig deeper than, “What was your book about?”:  ask about the problem in the story and how the character(s) solved it, summarize the story, the lesson or message, sequence of events (What happened before __? What happened after __?), cause and effect, inferences, etc.  These kinds of discussions are what make students accountable for their reading and help them better comprehend the text!

Your child will be learning about Good Fit Books and how to use the IPICK strategy to find them.  Please read more about this in the Daily Five Overview letter that was in your Meet and Greet packet. 

Grading

Elementary Report Cards

WCPSS uses standards-based grading for report cards that are provided at the end of each quarter (nine weeks) of instruction. The purpose of the report card is to inform students and parents about a student’s performance on the grade level standards in all content areas.

Starting in the 2013-14 school year, WCPSS will not use 3* for the elementary standards-based report cards. Student performance will be shown with levels of 1 to 4 to indicate whether the student has met the expectations set by the state in the Standard Course of Study and to indicate whether the student has the necessary skills and concepts to be successful in the next quarter or next grade. The descriptors for each level have been aligned to the expectations of the new Standard Course of Study (Common Core State Standards and Essential Skills) for all content areas.

                       

Level	Descriptor
4 - Exemplary	Student consistently demonstrates an in-depth understanding of the standards, concepts, and skills taught during this reporting period.
3 - Proficient	Student consistently demonstrates an understanding of the standard, concepts, and skills taught during this reporting period.
2 – Approaching         Proficiency	Student is approaching an understanding of the standards, concepts, and skills taught during this reporting period.
1 – Non-Proficiency	Student does not yet demonstrate an understanding of the standards, concepts, and skills taught during this reporting period.

Work habits and conduct will receive performance indicators separate from the content area.  The following indicators will be used:

Level	Descriptor
3	Meets expectations
2	Inconsistently meets expectations
1	Does not meet expectations

Your student will also receive a report of the student’s progress in the specials (Art, Music, and PE) at the end of each semester.  The report is provided by the Specialist teaching that area.

In the comments section, the teacher will share information related to growth, strengths and needs of the student.

Parents may request a conference with the teacher to discuss their student’s progress and ways to support their learning in and out of school.

Daily Schedule

9:15               Tardy Bell Rings (students may start entering classroom at 8:45)
9:15- 9:35       Morning Meeting
9:35- 11:00     Reading
11:00- 11:45   Writing
11:55- 12:20   Lunch
12:20- 12:50   Recess
1:00- 2:00       Math
2:05- 2:50       Science/ Social Studies
2:55- 3:40       Specials

Important Info on Dismissal, Birthdays, and Recess

Please make sure you talk to your child about how they're getting home on the first day of school (and every day!).  If they are a carpooler, please help them learn their number so that we can expedite the carpool line.  If they are a bus rider, please make sure they know their color and where they'll get off.  If there are any changes in how your child will get home, send in a note to me in the morning so that your child and I can work together to remember that change. 

Douglas Elementary has changed its policy regarding treats for birthdays.  If you'd like to send in a treat, please email me at msherrill2@wcpss.net before your child's birthday and let me know what you'd like to pass out to your child's classmates.  Treats must be HEALTHY (healthier) this year!  No cupcakes and ice cream type desserts.  Ideas for healthy snacks include: granola bars, fruit, cracker packs, fruit snacks, etc.  We will pass them out at recess time, not during our lunch period due to limited time in the cafeteria.  Once I'm made aware of any classroom allergies, I will be sure to let you know so that we can plan appropriate snacks accordingly.  Sorry for any inconvenience!  Again, this is a change in the schoolwide policy.  Thank you for understanding!

Please make sure that your child does not wear flip flops to school.  If they wear sandals with a heel strap, please consider having them bring sneakers for recess.  Also, students need to be aware of the weather and dress appropriately.  Once it starts getting chillier, please make sure your child comes to school with a jacket.  These things will keep us safe and comfortable.  Thank you!

Welcome to Our Class!

I am so excited to start a new school year with you!  Parents and students, this is a webpage that you should add to your favorites and visit often.  It'll give you calendar updates, important information for our third graders, curriculum help, websites, reminders, etc.  I will also be using www.signupgenius.com a lot this school year for sign ups for volunteering, donations, and things like that.  Please be on the lookout for emails from me about signupgenius later!

This school year marks my 7th year of teaching third grade, and I'm happy to spend it with you and your child!

Thank you for visiting- come back soon!!!
Mrs. Sherrill