Housekeeping - Classroom Updates

Just wanted to share a few updates now that we are up and running on the school year!

Grades:
Skyward online grade books are not 100% completed yet.  Our language arts classes still need to be set up.  Due to this delay, I have not posted any grades yet.  When my grade book is up and ready to go, I will post grades for you to view.

Language Arts:
We started switching teachers for Language Arts this week.  If you are unsure of your child's language arts teacher, feel free to email me.  For those students in my LA class, we will be taking our first tests tomorrow.  My language arts class is co-taught with Mrs. Pratt, who will return from maternity leave next week.  When she returns, we will be sending home additional information on our class and expectations.

Math:
Math class tends to generate the most questions from both students and parents.  In my math class, I use guided math groups that help introduce the lesson to students at a level and learning style that is appropriate for your child.  I meet with 3 different groups for 10 minutes at a time.  We use items such as manipulatives, number lines, place value charts, and technology.  While I am working with a small group, the other groups are completing the following activities:

Paper/Pencil Group - this group works on the Problem of the Day and the Reteach page.  Every lesson has a problem of the day.  These are solved independently and glued into math journals.  At the end of each chapter, I collect journals and assign students a grade for the problem of the day.  The reteach page from the previous day's lesson is also completed independently at this time.  Students turn this in for a classwork grade when they are finished.  Corrections on the reteach page will not change the grade, but can be done for learning opportunities.  The reteach page helps me understand whether or not the students remembered and can still do what we learned the day before.

Technology Group - this group uses technology for some type of math review.  The type of technology varies depending on our lesson.  Sometimes students will be working on a practice quiz using the website www.thatquiz.org.  I typically don't assign grades for these quizzes, but use them to track progress on math fluency and skills.  We also use MangaHigh.com to play interactive math games.  I assign specific games based on the skills we are working on in class.  With our Go Math series, we also have access to Animated Math Models and Soar to Success lessons.  If lessons have a coordinating Animated Math Model, students will work on that.  Soar to Success lessons are based on your child's performance on the beginning of the year testing.  Specific lessons are assigned based on your child's individual needs.

After math groups, we have approximately 60 minutes left of our math block for instruction.  Students are given a packet to complete with blue and white pages (lesson) and one black and white page (homework).  I project the blue and white pages, and we solve these together in class.  Students are expected to follow along, and record all information in their packets.  We don't always have time to complete the entire packet, and anything left blank does not need to be finished.  Within that blue and white packet is a section called "On Your Own."  This section appears near the end of the lesson, when students should be able to work independently.  Students complete this section on their own, and receive a classwork grade for the work.

The black and white page for each lesson is your child's homework.  Most of the time, we try to get this finished in class.  If students receive a D or F grade on this assignment, corrections can be made, which will raise the homework grade to a C.  (Note:  If there are 10 or fewer problems, missing only a few can result in a D, so in those cases, corrections are not allowed).  These corrections will be made during Academic Study Hall at recess, or during study hall with teacher assistance if needed.

Science/Social Studies:
We are preparing to take our first science test on Friday.  All of my science and social studies tests are open book, and I provide the page numbers for students to find the answers.  I believe it is more important in 3rd grade to show kids how to find answers, rather than how to memorize answers.  Learning to use textbooks is a new thing in 3rd grade, and it will take us awhile to get used to it!  If students receive a D or F, corrections needs to be made during Academic Study Hall at recess, or during classroom study hall.

Reading Logs:
September reading logs will be going home with students on Friday.  I explained these at Back to School night, but if you were unable to attend, please remember these are optional.  Initial one picture for every 20 minutes that your child reads.  At the end of the month, if your child has filled the reading log, they can have lunch with me in the classroom!