SHANNON PARK ELEMENTARY Parent Information Handbook Grade 3 Dear Parents, The third grade teachers would like to take this opportunity to welcome your family to a new school year at Shannon Park Elementary. The purpose of this booklet is to describe the third grade educational program at Shannon Park and to answer some of the more commonly asked questions. We hope this will be informative, but we invite you to call if you have any other questions. We believe the education of your child is a tremendous responsibility and is achieved best in partnership between parents, teachers, and students. We consider it a high calling to be teachers, and we hope this will be a great year for your child. We are prepared to challenge each student with a year of learning and personal growth. It is our desire that each student reaches his/her full potential. We’re looking forward to a successful year for all of us. Sincerely, The Third Grade Teachers SHANNON PARK PHILOSOPHY We believe that academic achievement begins with positive self-esteem, self-responsibility, and self-discipline. Our vision is to provide opportunities that encourage and foster feelings of self-worth and educational achievement, with a focus on the needs of the whole child. We will promote the shared responsibility of learners, parents, staff, and community in nurturing students to fulfill their unique potential. MISSION “TEAMING FOR GROWTH” SHANNON PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS Strive for your best achievement. Students are urged to try hard to do their best in all school endeavors. Students will be supported and encouraged to reach their goals. By putting forth maximum effort to meet the social, academic, and physical challenges that school offers, each child will continue a lifelong quest of reaching his or her full potential. Be responsible for your own learning. Students are expected to come to school prepared with the proper materials and with a positive attitude. By getting organized and ready for the responsibilities of the school day, each child will be supported to achieve optimal learning in their own personal development. Be cooperative. Students are expected to work together with staff and peers to provide a positive learning environment. Students will be encouraged to realize they contribute in a significant way. By developing cooperative skills, each child will strengthen his or her motivation to cooperate and learn. Treat others and property with respect. Students are encouraged to demonstrate self-control and display empathy when relating to others. Students will also respect and take care of personal and school property. Each child will be supported in his or her effort to feel capable of working toward this expectation. Meeting these goals will maintain a caring, safe, and aesthetically pleasing environment. SHANNON PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RULES Be kind to others Being kind to others involves recognizing and showing understanding of other’s feelings. Being kind to others involves using self-control, negotiating in an honest, cooperative manner and apologizing when necessary. Being kind verbally and physically will promote positive feelings to make learning fun and fair. Be safe Students learn best in a physically safe environment. Being safe involves using selfcontrol and following rules. Unsafe behaviors will be redirected to promote safe and positive alternatives. Listen Students are expected to listen and pay attention to staff and students. Appropriate listening involves looking at the speaker, being quiet, thinking about what is being said, and taking turns talking. Follow directives The students will listen to and comply with the requests of a person in authority. Following directives involves listening carefully, asking questions, and repeating instructions if necessary. Use time wisely Students will develop age appropriate skills reflecting good time management during structured and independent activities. Students will check to be sure they have finished all assigned work and choose an activity that will allow others to remain on task. GRADE THREE SUPPLIES 1 pkg. #2 pencils (yellow) please bring sharpened 3 pocket folders (1 ea. black, yellow, purple) 3 spiral notebooks wide-lined(black, yellow, purple) ink pen for correcting (red or blue) 2 large glue stick 1 small bottle of glue eraser (1 large) crayons 1 yellow highlighter 1 large box of tissues to share non-marking soled tennis shoes-NO slip on markers set/8 black, fine tip flair marker black sharpie type permanent marker whiteboard eraser or tube sock 2 whiteboard dry erase markers colored pencils ruler scissors Post It Notes Zip Lock Bags optional donation: watercolor paints optional donation: disinfecting wipes Please LABEL all supplies Reading Some components of the reading workshop include independent reading, guided reading, read aloud, shared reading and literature circles. We will also provide many opportunities for children to read for pleasure in the classroom. In addition, we read to the children daily and try to convey the value of reading as a lifelong skill. Writing Teachers will be using the writing workshop model focusing on personal narratives, essays, and fiction. Word Study Word Study includes spelling, cursive, phonics, language and vocabulary development. Handwriting Zaner Bloser Both lower and uppercase cursive letters are introduced. Concepts covered include letter shapes, spacing, slant and line quality. Students are provided with a consumable text to ensure first hand practice. Art Art will be taught by an art specialist. Math The elementary school mathematics curriculum is based on the Minnesota Academic Standards in Mathematics. The curriculum builds students’ mathematical understanding, skill and proficiency at each grade level within the strands of number and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis and probability. Science Third grade science concentrates on a hands-on learning approach. The students work in cooperative groups to investigate, observe and record data. Topics covered include: Physics of Sound/Light, Structures of Life, and Space. Social Studies Grade three social studies broadens students’ awareness about the local and global communities in which they live. They learn the basics of geography in order to locate communities on a globe. They learn about different cultures and public service roles. The material to support the third grade social studies curriculum are titles: Social Studies Alive! Our Community and Beyond and are published by Teachers’ Curriculum Institute (TCI). Health Third grade health units are designed to motivate children to learn about health and to develop sound health habits. Computer The students will be involved in a 50 minute computer experience each cycle. A variety of programs will be used to reinforce the different curriculum areas. They will also continue keyboarding as well as word processing. BOOK ORDERS Some 3 rd grade teachers participate in Scholastic book orders. Generally, they arrive around once a month. Please send book orders with a check made out to the book company in an envelope with your child’s name on it. Thank you. *********************************************************************** Party Dates Fall Party: October Winter Party: December Valentine Party: February *********************************************************************** BIRTHDAY TREATS District policy is that students are not to bring birthday treats of any kind. SNACK We encourage the students to bring a healthy snack to be eaten mid-morning. LUNCH PROGRAM 2014-2015 School Lunch Prices Student Full Price Lunch $ 2.30 Milk $ .40 Adult Lunch $ 3.50 Prepayments will be accepted daily at school. Prepayments can also be mailed directly to the Food Services Office. If sending a check, please write the student’s full name and lunch identification number on it. NO CHARGES FOR SCHOOL LUNCH OR MILK WILL BE ALLOWED. Students with no lunch credits will be offered a cheese sandwich only. Please keep track of your child’s lunch credits. Your account balance can be checked by calling your school cafeteria or the Food Service Office at 683-6958. Applications for free and reduced priced meals are available at your school office or at the Food Services Office. Dear Parents, We look forward to working with your child this year. We feel good communication between home and school is very important. If we can be of help at any time, please call, send a note, or contact us by e-mail. Sincerely, The Third Grade Teachers