Ms. Cooper’s
(Mrs. Welling after Fall Break )
Classroom Information
Contact me
The best way to contact me is email Rhonda.Cooper@gilbertschools.net. Please
include your child’s name as the subject. I will do my best to check my email
throughout the day. I am most likely to receive and respond before or after school. I
am here from 7:30AM-4:00PM M-F. Contact me with any questions or concerns you
may have. The better we communicate the better for our third graders
Daily Homework Folders
Please help your child get in the routine of showing you any work in his/her daily
homework folder. Important information goes home in these folders, please check
them daily. Please send notes and/or lunch money in these folders as the students
check them every morning.
Homework
A new homework log is sent home on Friday and is due the following Friday.
Weekend reading/math practice is optional and class credits may be given for this.
There will be at least 2-3 at home projects the children will be assigned in addition
to daily homework later in the year.
There are 3 parts to daily homework;
1. Unfinished work from class or additional practice needed on certain concepts.
These assignments will not be every night but when are sent home they are due the
NEXT school day. These assignments should be found in the homework folder on the
"right back to school side."
2. Be sure your child is reading 20 minutes every night. It also counts if you read
with or to them. While reading have the child ask you questions about the text. Or
you can ask the child about the text. This will deepen their understanding of what
they are reading and they will grow as readers. Practicing sight words also counts
for this time. (List provided at curriculum night.)
3. Be sure your child is practice math 20 minutes every night. For the first semester
this will include studying both multiplication and division facts. The goal is they
have this mastered by winter break. Next semester I will provide which concepts in
math that need to be practiced.
A.R. (Accelerated Reader)
The 2nd part of homework is our A.R. reading. Students are required to read 20-30
minutes each night. Continued reading (even of the same text) will increase fluency,
comprehension, build good study habits and hopefully foster an interest in reading.
Students may take their library books to and from school in their backpacks so they
have them to read at home and at school.
Each student has a new A.R. goal each quarter, which is determined by individual
reading levels based on results from the STAR Reading Test and personal
assessment. Goals are point based. Points are earned when students read books
and take computerized quizzes based on those books. Students earn points to reach
their goal by passing tests on books they read. Books vary on point level. Students
are to read books within their own A.R. colors. As students perform well within
their assigned A.R. color, they will have the opportunity to move up to higher colors
throughout the year.
To find quiz numbers, book levels, or point values, parents and students can log on
to www.arbookfind.com. This site can be accessed from home when attempting to
identify A.R. books from your personal or public library. You may also sign up for
Home Connect online, this will give you access to your child’s AR progress.
Being Absent
When a student is absent, he or she is responsible for making up any missing work.
Third grade is fast paced and any time out of the classroom puts the student at a
disadvantage. Work must be completed in the same amount of time the student was
absent. If you know your child will be absent due to vacation, family obligations, etc.
please notify me as soon as you know the dates. I can compile assignments, but
need an appropriate amount of time to organize/copy the work.
Late Work
Late work will be accepted up to one week after the original due date. Notices and
reminders will be sent home to both student and parent(s) via our online grade
book or teacher email.
Study Hall
When students are missing work, have incomplete work, or are behind on their A.R.
goal, they will be sent to study hall instead of recess. In study hall, students will be
given an extra fifteen minutes to complete unfinished tasks. Parents will be notified
if needed. This may also be a time for students to reflect on behavior if needed.
Grades
Grades will be found on our online grade book. The district has recently changed
third grade to rubric based grading. (Similar to last years grading.) If a child does
poorly on an assignment (less than 70% equivalent to a 2 on rubric), a student can
choose to redo the assignment. The highest grade a student can earn for a redone
assignment is 3. Due to their nature, orally given tests (ie: Fundations) cannot be
retaken.
Specials- Mon- Music, Tues-Art/Comp, Wed- Changes , Thurs.- Lib., Fri-P.E
Students need to be prepared for special classes. Gym shoes are a requirement for
P.E. participation. During art, children use paint, clay, etc. Please wear appropriate
clothing on art days. Ms.Dees, our librarian, requests library books be returned (or
renewed) at each library class. Students must come to library with a book. You are
responsible for any late or lost books.
Lunch
Our scheduled lunch is from 12:20-1:00. Please send any lunch money in the Daily
Folder. Money can be added to a student account by visiting
www.mylunchmoney.com (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED). If you send cash with a
student, please write the students’ name on the bag/envelope.
Snacks/ Drinks
Snacks are allowed during our classroom snack time. Please make sure snacks are
an easy clean-up and a healthy choice for your child. I will not accept candy.
Students are only allowed to bring water as a classroom drink. The water must have
a lid (to avoid spills). No soda, juices, or flavored waters will be accepted in the
classroom. Please label the water with the students’ name to avoid mix-ups.
Birthdays/Star Week
Each week a child is selected to be the star student. At this time they will share their
star student poster and be treated as a V.I.P. On the Friday of a student’s star week
they are allowed to bring in a treat to share. This serves as their birthday treat. Star
weeks are scheduled as close to birthdays as possible (see attached schedule.) This
also works great for our summer birthdays. All treats must be store-bought.
Transportation
If there is ever a change in transportation, please send a note in with your student or
email me. If a child is going home with someone different than usual, please notify
me so I can be aware of these changes. If your child is riding the bus, please submit a
permission form. Without permission, your child cannot ride another bus.
Scholastic Book Orders- Class code:
HVF46
Book orders will be sent home throughout the year. By sending in a book order, we
earn points to receive free books for our classroom library. Take a look! The books
are often cheaper than most bookstores. You are also able to order online at
scholastics.com use class code above.
Tax Credit Money
Tax credit money is used in the classroom for additional supplies, field trip
opportunities, and much more. If you are able to donate money, please use a tax
credit form. Additional forms can be found in the front office.
Box Top/Soup Labels
Please send in box tops with your child as often as possible. Our PTSO uses the
funds generated from Box Tops and Soup Labels to purchase things for our
classroom. Additionally, after earning 800 points, our classroom earns a party!
Spirit Days
Students have the opportunity to dress up and show their Meridian pride each
Friday. They can wear Meridian colors (blue, black, silver) or a Meridian T-Shirt,
which can be purchased from the PTSO. This is also good attire for field trips.
3rd Grade Curriculum- COMMON CORE STANDARDS
Math- - Math Curriculum is taught in a whole-group setting. I plan for small group
instruction and specialized groups. Practice skills include:
* Place Value
* Add and Subtract 3-digit numbers
* Model multiplication and division
* Add and subtract fractions (halves, thirds, fourths, eighths, and tenths)
* Add and subtract money through $20.00
* Estimate length and weight
* Addition and Subtraction facts to 18 (100 in 5 minutes)
* Multiplication and Division facts through 9 (untimed)
* Understand graphs and line plots
* Geometry
Reading- Reading instruction includes reading, phonics, and grammar through
Harcourt, CAFE and Daily 5 (see handout.) We use guided reading groups,
Fundations, and whole-group instruction. Additional practice skills include:
* ABC Order to the third letter
* Understanding synonyms, antonyms, and homonyms
* Accurately using a dictionary
* Reading grade-level text with 90% accuracy
* Identify and compare parts of a story (text, plot, setting, and characters)
Writing- Write from the Beginning is a program used in my classroom to help
students organize writing and master story, paragraph, essay, and report writing. It
includes strategies for reading comprehension, confidence in public speaking, notetaking skills, vocabulary, and creative writing. Practice skills include:
* Narrative writing* Expository text * Letters, invitations, envelopes * Informational
report writing * Persuasive writing * Poetry, skits
Science- Science curriculum is taught and integrated through specialized units. We
focus on three main units:
* Plant Growth and Development * Rocks and Minerals
* Sound
Social Studies- Social Studies units include:
*Geography Map Skills * Ancient Civilizations (Greece and Rome)* Civics and
Government * Economics * Explorers * America’s Freedom Timeline