Third Grade Survival Guide
Limerick Elementary School
2009-2010
Dear Families,
This guide serves as a useful tool if you should have any questions about our third grade requirements and\or routines. If you should have any questions that cannot be answered in this packet, please feel free to contact me. I encourage open communication throughout the school year.
Sincerely,
Mr. Randle
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Special
Schedule
Day 1: Physical Education - please wear sneakers
Day 2: Music
Day 3: Library - please bring your books
Day 4: Art – please provide your child with an old shirt
Day 5: 1st Marking Period – Physical Education and Computer Lab
2nd Marking Period – Music and Computer Lab
3rd Marking Period – Library and Computer Lab
4th Marking Period – Art and Computer Lab
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Attendance
If your child is absent on a given day, please provide a written excuse for when they return. Absences exceeding three or more days require a written excuse by a doctor or physician. Please notify the main office to obtain the proper paperwork if a planned vacation is scheduled during the school year.
Birthdays
A letter will be coming home prior to your child’s birthday, or six month birthday, inviting you to bring in a snack to celebrate your child’s special day. This letter will include all the information you need concerning birthday treats. Please keep a lookout for this letter.
Classroom
Management and Incentives
Behavior is monitored and recorded using the following scale:
Step 1: Verbal warning
Step 2: 5 minute “chill out” in the room
Step 3: 10 minute “chill out” in another room and a written explanation
Step 4: Schedule a meeting with the principal (parents may be asked to attend if necessary)
*A step value will be determined depending on the severity of a situation.
For everyday your child makes good choices, they will place a "Good Choice Bug" on their displayed bug net. The following scale determines their earned incentives at the end of each week:
Collection of 5 bugs by end of the week: Participation in a Friday Fun activity and a prize choice from the treasure chest
Collection of 4 bugs by end of the week: Participation in a Friday Fun activity only
Collection of 3 bugs or less: Declined participation in Friday Fun activity and declined prize choice from treasure box. A letter will be written by the student in another classroom during the Friday Fun activity time. Parents will be required to sign the letter and return it to school after being reviewed.
Compass Computer Program
Once the program is up and running, your child may complete activities on the Compass website using their username and password from school. However, I strongly encourage that your child does NOT complete any math or language arts activities from home. These activities are to be completed at school ONLY, and serve a purpose during your child’s computer lab time and for test preparation.
Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences will be held in November and in the spring. Information regarding scheduling a date and time to meet will be sent home. If you cannot make a conference at the last minute, PLEASE call me or the main office.
Field Trips
A form will be sent home informing you of individual class trips, requirements, and volunteering opportunities.
Grades
Through the Skyward program, you will be able to check your child’s grades in all subject areas from home. Assignments, quizzes, and class work will be properly labeled for easy recognition. You can access the Skyward program by going to the Spring-Ford website at www.spring-ford.net. Click the “Grades” icon under the “Community” menu. If you need a username and password to access the site, please call the main office at 610-705-6007.
Homework
Daily assignments serve as practice and review of the skills your child learns each day in class. Please review homework with your child if they need help. If a question on an assignment comes up, please make a note in your child’s homework book. Homework will very rarely be assigned on weekends, with the exception of spelling if your child chooses to start it. Incomplete homework assignments will be completed during your child’s recess unless there is a written excuse. Please let me know in advance if your child will be absent for a trip. I will check and record homework completion on a daily basis.
Homework Book
Your child’s homework book serves as a means of communication for you from me, and vice versa. Any nightly assignments, important forms, and upcoming events or tests will be posted in this book on a daily basis by your child. Every week, your child will also write their spelling list for the week in case their original is misplaced. If you should ever have questions or comments, please feel free to write a note in this book.
Homework Folder
Any nightly assignments, announcements, and\or important forms will be placed in the left pocket of this folder. When assignments or forms are completed, please place them in the same pocket for return. Please place any money for lunch, field trips, or fundraisers (in a properly labeled envelope) in this folder as well.
Lunch Money
Please review the lunch menu prior to each school day if your child plans to purchase a school lunch. Notices will be sent home from the cafeteria if your child’s account is low. I encourage you to send lunch money in an envelope with your child’s name labeled on the outside.
Parent Volunteers
All
parents who express interest in volunteering will be contacted directly by the
Homeroom Parents with the exception of field trips. Please contact the main
office for clearances requirements. Parents or family members DO NOT
need clearances when visiting the classroom or an event. Any questions,
please contact the main office.
PSSA Testing
All information regarding PSSA testing will be sent home around early spring of the upcoming year.
Reading Log
Your child’s reading log can be found in the right pocket of the homework folder. It’s recommended that your child reads at least twenty nights a month. Assigned nightly reading assignments, or stories brought home from school, may count as well. Simply log any amount of reading done on the spaces provided (example: Magic Tree House pages 2 - 20, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Chapter 4, etc.) At the end of each month, your child’s reading log will be collected and replaced by a new one. Incentives and rewards will be given to students who complete at least 20 nights of reading.
Report Cards
Report Cards will be sent home four times during the course of the school year. They are to be reviewed and the outer envelope signed and returned.
Responsive Classroom
This approach to teaching in the classroom reinforces a friendly, positive, and engaging atmosphere to your child’s classroom. This technique is heavily used when strengthening your child’s social and academic skills. For more information, check out the Responsive Classroom website at www.responsiveclassroom.org.
Snacks
I encourage you to provide your child with a healthy snack for the afternoon hours. A sticker chart will keep track of healthy snacks that are brought in. If our class reaches 500 healthy snacks, we will throw a special celebration.
Spelling Folder
In the right pocket of this folder you will find your child’s weekly spelling list. In the left pocket you will find your child’s “Spelling Menu” for the week. This menu includes a list of nightly assignments that your child can pick from on specific nights. Once your child finishes an assignment, they should place it in the “Homework & Forms” pocket of the homework folder.
Star of the Week
Your child will have the chance to be our class’ “Star of the Week” during a week close to their birthday or six-month birthday. A letter will come home prior to the assigned week letting you and your child know what’s expected of them to make their week very special.
Test Envelope
This envelope will come home whenever I request you to review the development of your child’s skills in any of the subjects. It will come home frequently throughout the year. I ask that you sign the rubrics attached to the tests inside after they are reviewed. Please return the envelope with ALL the original paperwork inside.
Wednesday Folder
Information that is usually available in a "hard copy" form in the Wednesday Folder will now be posted on the Limerick Website. Please contact the office if you do not have internet access and they will be more than happy to accommodate you.
