Tarver Elementary
Samantha Brown
2014-2015
Welcome to a new and exciting school year! This is my fifth year at Tarver
Elementary and 7th year to teach. I describe myself best as a motivating teacher.
I expect each student’s best, but I also understand that they are eight and nine
years old. We will practice social skills every day and work towards creating a
learning environment where each child excels and each child feels safe.
We have an outstanding third grade team of teachers. We will work together to
ensure that each child is successful. That being said, we also celebrate the fact
that we have autonomy in our individual classrooms, i.e. we have our own
expectations, class rules and procedures, discipline policies, etc. that fit within
the guidelines of Tarver.
Third grade will bring many new responsibilities and challenges for the students.
This will be the first year your child will take the STAAR tests, but that will not
take place until April, and your child WILL BE prepared!
Due to our busy schedule, there are procedures and routines that need to be
established from day one to help the teacher’s and student’s day go smoothly.
Please read the following routines and procedures that we will have this year.
TAKE HOME FOLDER
This folder contains everything the teacher/child/parent needs to effectively
communicate what is going on at school.
The left pocket is labeled “Please Return and Notes for Teacher”. This will
include any forms that need to be returned, notes for me or the office, and
obviously, homework. This year I will be using my teacher site as a way of
communication. I will post a weekly newsletter as well as home assignments.
I will also send a minimum of 2 weekly emails.
The right pocket is labeled “Stays at Home”. This will include information for you,
completed assignments, etc.
HOMEWORK
I expect homework to be turned in on time. If this becomes a problem, I will deal
with the situation then. Research recommends that a child in 3rd grade spend
approximately 20-30 minutes nightly on homework (excluding reading time). If it
is taking your child longer than that to complete homework, please let me
know and we will discuss the situation. I truly believe that fair is not always
equal.
Spelling – Students will have word work at least two nights a week. Spelling tests
will be given on Thursdays. If a student does poorly on the test, he/she will
retake it on Friday.
Math- Homework will be assigned as needed. There will be times your child brings
home math games we have played in class to play at home, and then there will be
times it will be paper and pencil work.
Reading – It is my desire to create in each child a LOVE for reading. I NEVER
want a child to view reading as a punishment. Your job at home is to create an
environment where your child can read comfortably and quietly. Your child may
enjoy sharing a book with you, and it is still okay to read to your child!
Research has shown that the best way to improve reading skills is simply to READ
more! Please encourage your child to read between 20-25 minutes each night.
Your child will have a reading log in his/her Take Home folder. He/she will need
to record their personal reading time on the log and you will need to initial the log
nightly.
Science/Social Studies – There will be several projects during the year that will
be assigned for homework.
ABSENCES AND TARDIES
If your child is absent from school, please send a note of explanation for
documentation. All homework and class assignments must be made up within two
days. It is important that your child have very limited absences. We do a lot of
activities in class that are difficult to make up.
It is equally important that your child is at school on time. We start our day
as soon as we enter the classroom.
PARENT COMMUNICATION
If you would like to meet with me, please send a note with your child, e-mail, or
call the school at 215-3800 to make an appointment. The best times to meet with
me are during my assigned conference period: 1:30-2:20, or, immediately after
school. Our principal, Mrs. Tish, has asked that you schedule a conference with
your child’s teacher if you have any questions or concerns, because it is your best
chance at having these things addressed and will create a trusting relationship.
She also asks that you only schedule a conference with an administrator if
problems/concerns are not addressed to your satisfaction during our parentteacher conference. Your child is my number one priority and I want to be aware
of anything that concerns you so that I can address it as quickly as possible and
answer any questions you may have.
E-mail is a wonderful way for us to stay in touch. If you do not have a
computer or internet access at home, please let me know. My e-mail address is:
samantha.brown@bisd.net.
Parent Connection is a tool you can use to check your child’s grades and progress
throughout the year. To access, please go to www.bisd.net, click on the parents’
section and register. You will need your child’s social security number and school
ID which your child should know.
Water
Your child may bring a water bottle to keep at his/her desk. This will need to be
taken home and returned daily.
And, last, but not least:
DISCIPLINE
I believe in positive reinforcement first and foremost. Good deeds and positive
attitudes will NOT go unnoticed! The behavior management system in our
classroom will be in the form of a “clip chart”. Please read the letter in your
child’s Take Home folder detailing the chart process.
Each day the students will document how their day was, using the Behavior
Calendar in their Take Home folder. Please initial each night.
I look forward to a great year! Please keep this handbook in a safe place for your
reference during the school year. Also, please sign the attached page confirming
that you have received and read through the handbook.
Miss Brown’s Class Handbook
I have read and understand the rules, procedures, and routines and have
discussed these with my child.
Parent signature _______________________________
Student signature ______________________________
Date _________________________________
Any questions or comments:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________