Before we begin. . .• Please take time to read “Why Can’t I Skip My

Twenty Minutes of Reading Tonight?” and “The Leader in Me” parent handout.

• Please take the Parent Homework home to complete and return.

Curriculum Night 2015

Mrs. McClure’s 3rd Grade Class

Names to know:

• Nicole Tjaden, Principal• Matt Robie, Assistant

Principal• Liz Seib, Secretary• Kim Hunt, School Nurse • Waukee’s Mission and

Vision: “Dedicating to optimizing individual learning and potential for success in a global community.”

Classroom Blog…• Classroom updates and important information can be found

on our classroom blog at https://blogs.waukeeschools.org/amcclure

• This is an excellent communication piece for what your child is learning in 3rd grade!

• Totem Tales is the building newsletter that will be sent via e-

mail on the 1st and 3rd Friday’s. If you need a paper copy, please let me know!

Classroom Twitter!

• When Mrs. McClure returns she will be starting to post things every day on the classroom Twitter account. Eventually our Technology Leaders will update it with new things we have learned. She will also post pictures occasionally. This is a great tool to keep updated on daily events in our classroom!

• Please follow our class: @McClure3rdGrade

Twitter Account

Specials

• Day 1: Guidance (Mrs. Lightfoot)/Computer (Mr. Dean)• Day 2: PE (Mrs. Arp/Mr. Dreyer)• Day 3: Music (Ms. Thomas) / Media (Mrs. Matlage)• Day 4: Art (Ms. Walck) / Computer• Day 5: PE • Day 6: Music

Lunch/Recess• Lunch is from 12:00-12:20• Recess begins at 12:20 and ends at 12:40• Please let the office or myself know in the morning if you plan on eating

lunch with your child. – An adult lunch costs $3.45 this year– Water and Juice is $0.65– Extra milk in $0.50

• Recess Clothing: As the weather becomes cooler, please send appropriate clothing with your child. During the early fall days it can be on the chillier side during our lunch recess. Please keep this in mind. Layers are the best choice!

– At or below 49°: Winter-type coat– 50°-59°: Sweatshirt/light jacket– At or above 60°: Long sleeves, or appropriate clothing for

higher temperatures

Attendance

Attendance: If your child is going to be absent or late please call the

office (987-5193) with that information rather than contacting

the teacher directly. This helps ensure the accuracy of our

attendance data before phone calls are made.

How is your child getting home??

• If your child’s after school plans change please let me know as soon as possible via a phone call, e-mail, or note. I can’t allow a student to inform me about a change in plans due to safety concerns.

Planners• This is an excellent school to home connection.

Your child will complete this everyday by recording any homework and various school reminders.

• I stress that this is the child’s responsibility to get out and show you each night

• Feel free to communicate through written notes in here as well. For example: change in transportation for the day, being picked up early, etc.

PlannersPlanner expectations:

• Student needs to get an adult signature every night.• Please record nightly reading minutes in the reading section

(needs to written by an adult).• I will check weekly minutes each MONDAY morning. I will be

looking at the total from Monday through Sunday. Our first weekly goal is 60 minutes.

• The same system will be used for weekly math fact practice. Our first goal is 20 minutes per week. – Practice flashcards or write/solve facts.

• Please complete the corresponding HL as the lesson is taught each day. Your child will write the lesson in their planner each day.

• Once per 6-day cycle, your child will write their new Work Work words down so they can practice at home.

Planners

Snacks• Your child may bring a snack to school everyday. Snacks

should be healthy, such as crackers, fruit snacks, fresh fruit, granola bars, raisins, cheese, etc.

• No peanut products—please check the labels when choosing a snack to send.

• If your child wants to celebrate their very special birthday or

½ birthday with our class, they are welcome to bring packaged treats to share. It is a Waukee policy that peanut products are not permitted in the classroom. We currently have 25 students in our class.

Leadership Notebooks• These are similar to the portfolios we have used

in the past with a few changes. These changes will allow you to check in with your child on their goals, progress, and celebrations more frequently rather than just at conferences.

• Part of being a Leader in Me school is the sharing of data between school and home.

• Leadership Notebooks will include 2 goals (personal & academic).

• Leadership Notebooks will make an appearance at home more frequently.

Leadership Notebook

Leadership Club• In an effort to motivate and encourage good behavior, as a third grade we do Leadership Club. • This is a time where students are rewarded for being respectful, responsible, safe, and caring as

well as for displaying the 7 habits.• Leadership Club will most often take place on Fridays, at the end of the day for about 15-20

minutes. • There will be activities such as: class/grade level games, dance party, video, extra recess, etc. • Students who do not qualify (see criteria below) will go to the designated work room to finish

work and/or take part in a re-teaching of behavior expectations.• Students will need to...

-Meet their weekly reading goal and weekly math goal. (As soon as time is made-up, they may join Leadership Club)

-Get their planner signed nightly-Have turned in all math homework by Friday-Get 3 or less behavior tallies for the entire week. Warnings are always given

first. (categories are: Interactions with Others, Follows Directions, Line Basics, Body Basics,

Problem Solves)-There are instances where students will automatically not be allowed to go

(example: physical aggression or office visit)• Please help encourage great behavior and responsibility at home! We are excited about this!

Leadership Club Note

Name ____________________ Date_____________________ I did not make it to Leadership Club this week because of the following reason(s): ________ I did not meet my at-home math goal. ________ I did not meet my at-home reading goal. ________ I did not get my planner signed 4/5 days.

________ I had a difficult time following directions. ________ I had a difficult time completing work. ________ I was distracting others. ________ I was physically aggressive. ________ I did not treat others respectfully. Notes:

Parent Signature: ___________________________

**Please return to school**

Please have a discussion with your child about the importance of following these expectations. Thank you!

Reading Minutes• 60 minutes of reading per week. The amount of time

will increase as the year progresses. • I will check reading minutes from the previous week

(Monday-Sunday) on the following Monday. • Please help your child get these reading minutes in.

10 minutes a night before bed time is an excellent routine to start! (see handout)

Math Fact Minutes• 20 minutes of math facts per week. The amount of

time will increase as the year progresses. • I will check math fact minutes from the previous week

(Monday-Sunday) on the following Monday. • Please help your child get these math fact minutes in.

3-5 minutes a night before bed time is an excellent routine to start!

• Begin with addition and subtraction facts and then we will move to multiplication and division as the year progresses.

Reading

• Daily 5: – Read to Self– Work on Writing– Read to Someone– Listening to Reading– Word Work

• CAFÉ– Comprehension– Accuracy– Fluency– Expanded Vocabulary

Reading

• Expected benchmark levelsFall: Level MSpring: Level P

• Skill Focus:– Active word solving– Fluency– Summarizing– Compare/Contrast– Questioning– Characters– Topic, Main Idea, and

Details– Determining Word

Meaning

Writing

• Informative/Explanatory• Narrative• Opinion• Short Research• Purpose• Editing• Revising

• 6 +1 Traits of Good Writing• Ideas• Organization• Voice• Word Choice• Sentence Fluency• Conventions• Presentation

Science & Social Studies• Science Units of Study: Heredity & Survival (animals),

Weather, and Forces & Interactions. **NEW**• Social Studies Units: maps, communities, economics,

landforms, natural resources, government and citizenships, identify major land and water explorers, and individuals who had a great impact on History.

Everyday Math• Unit 1: Routines, Review, and

Assessment• Unit 2: Adding and

Subtracting Whole Numbers

• Unit 3: Linear Measures and Area

• Unit 4: Multiplication and Division

• Unit 5: Place Value in Whole Numbers and Decimals

• Unit 6: Geometry

• Unit 7: Multiplication and Division

• Unit 8: Fractions• Unit 9: Multiplication and

Division• Unit 10: Measurement

and Data• Unit 11: Probability, End of

Year Review• Watch for skill IPPs,

Checking Progresses, etc. to come home and show your child’s understanding.

www.everydaymathonline.com

Main Page

Your Name Here!

Word Work• We use the program Words Their Way.

This allows us to give individualized spelling lists geared towards each student’s needs.

• Through the word sorts associated with Words Their Way, students will learn the rules associated with the English language rather than memorize their spelling words.

• Spelling lists will be written in your child’s planner at the start of each new list.

GOAL SHEETS

Students will . . .• be active participants in their goal work• interact with reading, writing, and math goals• work on their goals through individual tasks,

small group work, and whole group lessons• have access to their goal sheets, to help guide

their learning on a daily basis

GOAL SHEETS

Assessments• Benchmarking will be done three times throughout the year

to determine Independent and Instructional reading levels. • MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) is made up of two

computer-based tests (Reading and Math) and will be administered three times throughout the year.

• Iowa Assessments (formerly known as Iowa Test of Basic Skills) will take place in February.

• Watch for reminders of upcoming tests in your child’s planner.

Communication• It is very important to keep the lines of communication open

between school and home. Communication is the key to a successful school year.

• Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions, concerns, or comments via email at amcclure@waukeeschools.org, phone at 987-5193, your child’s planner, or through a note.

THANK YOU FOR COMING!!!!

• I am looking forward to a fun and exciting year teaching

your child!