Welcome to Back to School Night! I am pleased that you could be here.
Tonight I will give you a brief overview of the curriculum, school policies, and classroom procedures used in third grade Math class. If you have any general questions, then please write them on the index card provided with your name and your child’s name. However, any specific questions about your child can be discussed at conference time or you can schedule an individual meeting with me.
 Classroom Guidelines/Procedures
There is a procedure for nearly everything we do in our room. Your children are doing a good job learning these procedures. They help our days run smoothly and create an environment that is conducive to learning. In addition, I use Whole Brain Learning in my classroom. Please, see attached letter.
 Classroom Expectations
Below are my classroom expectations: o Follow directions quickly and quietly. o Raise your hand for permission to speak. o Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat. o Make smart choices. o Keep your dear teacher happy.
A list of expectations is posted in the classroom. We have also talked about what is expected and not expected behavior in different settings (i.e. when we are in the hallway, it is expected that we are quiet). Students who choose to follow the rules will be rewarded and students who do not will have consequences. We use Class Dojo in our classroom.
Positive Points are given for appropriate uniform, helping others, homework completed, listening and learning, on task, organized/neat, participating, peer recognition, persistence, roar-ing/character counts-like, SLANT, teamwork, and working hard.

Negative Points are given for bullying, disrespect, homework not completed, inappropriate behavior, off-task, stealing, talking/disrupting, unprepared, and un-roaring-ing/un-character counts-like.
-1 pt = warning
-2 pts = teacher’s choice
-3 pts = teacher’s choice and parent contact
-4 pts = teacher’s choice, parent contact, and possible discipline referral
I also have a class reward system. This is done through the use of a scoreboard. Students as a class get points throughout the day for appropriate and inappropriate behavior; smiley and frowny points.
At the end of the day if smileys are winning, the class gets a positive point added to their Dojos.
 Power Snacks and Water Bottles
Studies have shown that when students eat a good breakfast in the morning, they do better in school. I realize that some students have difficulty eating a good breakfast due to lack of time or lack of hunger early in the morning. Even those who do eat breakfast are eating early and we do not eat lunch until around noon. That is a long time to go without anything to eat! So, I would like to have a short power snack in the morning and a regular snack in the afternoon. The snacks need to be low-fat, healthy foods that can be eaten quickly and without much mess. No cakes, cookies, candy or brownies please! apples carrot sticks popcorn low-fat chips graham crackers crackers cheese
100 calorie packs raisins animal crackers grapes pretzels dry cereal dried fruits
I am allowing students to have water bottles with them throughout the day. If you have not done so, I highly suggest sending your child in with a reusable (preferably insulated) water bottle. It saves us time because we don’t have to leave the classroom when we are thirsty and water is good for the brain!! Please, no plastic disposable bottles. The only beverage that is allowed in the classroom is plain water.
 Continuous Grading
The CCS Curriculum Team has since completed a yearlong study of a cross-section of students from grades K – 12 and found that the grade results were more closely aligned with the students’ ongoing performance throughout the whole year.
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
This continuous grading system averages all of a student’s grades beginning on the first day of school and ending on the last day of school. Grades K – 6 receive paper reports of only the standards portion of the report card are sent home. In order to ensure frequent communication, teachers will continue to update their grade books every day six of the CCS cycle. Teachers will also be asked to inform parents of changes in student performance when appropriate.
Parents are encouraged to check PowerSchool on a regular basis to find the most current information on the performance of their child/children. Teacher comments will be posted chronologically for the entire school year so that parents, teachers and students have a record of student progress. If you do not have computer access, please contact the main office in your child’s building to set up an alternate system of communication.
** It is extremely important that your contact information stay current with your child’s teachers so that communication can stay open. If your phone number or email address changes for some reason, please contact your child’s teachers.
Math
CCS Math is now aligned with Pennsylvania’s Common Core Standards.
Standards of Mathematical Practice in 3 rd Grade:
Make sense of problems and persevere in problem solving.
Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
Model with mathematics.
Use appropriate tools strategically.
Attend to precision.
Look for and make use of structure.
Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
For more information on PA Core Standards, here are two website check out:
Core Standards Implementation- http://www.pdesas.org/Standard/PACore
Parent Road Map for Common Core Standards- http://www.cgcs.org/Domain/36
Global Vision: We use math in our everyday lives.
CMQ #1 : How do we use place value, addition, & subtraction
in our everyday lives?
CMQ #2 : How do we use data in our everyday lives?
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CMQ #3 : How do we use multiplication & division in our everyday lives?
CMQ #4 : How do we use fractions in our everyday lives?
CMQ #5 : How do we use algebra in our everyday lives?
CMQ #6 : How do we use measurement & time in our everyday lives?
CMQ #7 : How do we use geometry in our everyday lives?
Assessments
Tests and quizzes will be given regularly. It is often unnecessary to “study” for these tests and quizzes because the day to day practice we do in class should prepare the students for the assessments. Practice tests and/ or study guides may be given as homework for further review.
Key vocabulary may appear on tests and quizzes as well. Students will have vocabulary flashcards for each unit. These flashcards should be reviewed daily at home.
At Home Math Practice
Flashcards are an excellent way for students to practice their math facts. We will begin multiplication this year and students who regularly practice with flashcards are more likely to learn their facts. Flashcards can be found many places including the dollar store and Barnes and Noble.
Continued practice with addition and subtraction facts.
I strongly urge students to practice math skills on the math connects website. This website reviews what was learned in class as well as provides games and activities to reinforce learning. http://macmillanmh.com/math/mathconnects/grade3/sg3c1lesson1.html
Math Connects http://www.softschools.com/grades/3rd_grade/math/ http://www.adaptedmind.com/Third-Grade-Math-Worksheets-And-Exercises.html https://www.khanacademy.org/ http://www.math-play.com/3rd-grade-math-games.html http://www.multiplication.com/games
** Check out the internet. There are just too many websites and resources to list.
 Homework Assignments
Homework should typically take 30 mins each night (this includes LA, Math, and Social
Studies/ Science). Please let me know if you see homework is taking longer than this.
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
Homework is not mandatory for students with an 85% or higher in a subject. However, for students that have an 84% or below, homework is mandatory. It will need to be completed at recess if it is not done at home. Remember that independent practice at home helps increase student success in school!
Numerous missed homework assignments may result in loss of recess and completing missed homework in the recess room.
Please continue to encourage reading at home as much as possible and practice writing. The time spent reading is not included in the homework time.
Homework Club
Completion of homework on date due is required for your child to stay in Homework Club.
Record of who completes homework is taken. If a child has not completed their homework, that child is removed from the homework club; signified by the removal of their magnet when the completion rate of homework goes below the required 90%.
At then end of the month, a child is invited to Homework Club Lunch Bunch if they have maintained a 90% or above homework completion for the month. It is a small party during lunch where the students get to come and watch videos, listen to music, play games, and/or talk with friends.
Yearly Homework Club Lunch Bunch is similar but a child must get into all the Monthly
Homework Club Lunch Bunches from September-May to be invited. Pizza and a treat will be on me!
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Contact Information email: cperrino@ccs.us number: (610)903-1300 x7954 webpage: www.missperrino.weebly.com
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Team A
*Mrs. Kathleen Cortlessa (Room 972)
Mrs. Rachael Morganstern (Room 974)
Mrs. Christine Perrino (Room 954)
Mrs. Kristin Andrechik (Room 973)
Mrs. Kim Egolf (Room 976)
Mr. Brad Gubanich (971)
TEAM B kcortlessa@ccs.us rmorganstern@ccs.us cperrino@ccs.us kandrechik@ccs.us kegolf@ccs.us bgubanich@ccs.us
*Mrs. Kassaundra High (Room 902)
Mrs. Alicia Morriset (Room 901)
Ms. Kelly Moore (Room 975)
Ms. Rebecca Krueger (Room 905)
Mr. Kris Stevenson (Room 903) khigh@ccs.us asalemi@ccs.us kmoore@ccs.us rkrueger@ccs.us kstevenson@ccs.us
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