Miss Casey’s 3rd Grade
Open House 2009/2010
Welcome to
3rd
Grade! We are going to have a great year!
Communication
Email- This is the best way to reach me.
Kelli.casey@cobbk12.org
If you have not heard back from me within 24 hours (MonFri) then please try my personal email kelrcasey@yahoo.com
.
Newsletters- On Mondays newsletters are sent from the
newsflash page on my website. If you have not signed up to
receive these please do so. Here is my website.
http://teacherweb.com/GA/EastsideElementary/Casey/
In addition to the newsletter there are many valuable tools
on this site. Links to our textbooks, links to websites
with educational games to support concepts learned in
class, scholastic links, calendar, etc.
Purple Monday Folders- These folders come home on Monday
and are to be signed, emptied, and returned on Tuesday. I
will communicate any behavior or responsibility issues on
the bottom portion and include a note about the child’s
previous week on the top section.
*Planners are also part of communication. They are
discussed later.
Curriculum
Morning Work- Every morning your child is responsible for
completing 5 questions related to Writing/Reading skills
and 4 Math questions. As long as they are here before the
7:50 bell they should have plenty of time to finish their
morning work. We go over morning work at 8:00. So everyone
has at least ten minutes to work. If they finish early they
can work on other work, go to the library, etc.
Reader’s Workshop- This year the county has a new Language
Arts adoption. We have a mini lesson on a strategy and then
the kids do a number of things. Depending on the day they
might be- reading independently, conferencing with me one
on one, working in a small group, writing in their TalkBack Journal, going to the library, or participating in a
center. After this time we will share how students used the
current strategy. During Reader’s Workshop your child must
be reading a Just Right book. They can read easier books,
harder books, comic books, etc during free time or at home.
Writer’s Workshop- This also is part of the new adoption.
It goes along with our reading series so children are able
to make meaningful connections. We will begin writing with
either a spelling or grammar lesson.
Words Their Way- This is our phonics and spelling program.
It uses sorting or grouping sounds to help students learn
words.
Math- Math is taught in several different ways. Usually the
students will have whole group lessons to introduce
concepts. Then they will be grouped based upon their
knowledge and understanding. Each group will be given
different hands-on tasks to complete or the same task with
varying levels of difficulty. This is referred to as Guided
Math Centers or Guided Math. The groups will change with
each concept. Students will take one timed Math Facts Test
a week.
Science/SS/Health- We will work on one unit at a time. Once
we finish a Science unit we will begin Social Studies and
so on. These units are integrated into the other subjects.
Planner/Homework- Planners help Third Graders learn
responsibility. You can help your child by checking their
planner nightly and going over their assignments with them.
In addition to the homework students are required to read
20 minutes nightly and practice math facts for 5 minutes. I
will be using a CRIP-QV log to monitor reading, which will
be due on Fridays.
I check every student’s homework, but I will not return it
unless there was difficulty with an assignment. Then I will
work with the student individually or in small groups. If
you would like all of your child’s homework to be returned
please let me know.
Journal Home- On Fridays your child writes you a letter
sharing some of the week’s happenings he/she found
important. Please take the time to respond to their letters
and return the journal with him/her on Monday. Please
respond in cursive.
Math Facts- Your child should be able to answer addition
and subtraction facts within seconds of seeing the problem.
If they cannot do this then practicing facts is a huge
priority. They cannot move on to learning multiplication
and division facts if they don’t have addition and
subtraction.
Cursive- East Side uses the Zaner-Bloser form of cursive
writing. See handout. Children are not allowed to write
assignments in cursive until we have learned all the
letters and their printing is neat enough to move on to
cursive.
Report Cards- Third Grade has moved to standard based
report cards! See handout.
Specials- We are on a 9-day rotation. Students write their
specials for the week (and the following Monday) in their
planner. We don’t have specials on Early Release days.
Please make sure your student is dressed appropriately for
PE.
Classroom Behavior
Class Rules- The class brainstormed all of the important
rules we follow at school. Instead of having hundreds of
rules to remember we condensed them into Respect,
Responsibility, and Relationships. We found that every rule
we thought of fell into one of these. East Side uses a
Positive Discipline behavior management system. This
emphasizes praising children who follow the rules and
giving them attention rather than providing negative
attention to those that seek it. We also use logical
consequences. (If you hit someone with a ruler you no
longer have the right to use a ruler.)
Rewarding Good Behavior- One of the ways I recognize
individual behavior is by giving out fish. When I see
students following directions, participating, etc. I will
give them a fish. They write their name on it and put it in
a bucket. At the end of the week I will pull out a fish and
that person receives a prize.
In addition to recognizing individuals I like to celebrate
when our class as a whole does exceptionally well. This
year we have a “buried treasure.” When the kids receive a
compliment from another teacher we will pull off a piece of
“sand” to eventually reveal a treasure!
Surfer of the Week- If your child is selected to be the
Surfer of the Week he/she will bring home a poster to fill
out. Please return this to school with a few pictures of
your child. Everything will be displayed in the classroom.
Your child will have some special responsibilities during
his/her week including blogging.
Important Info
Snack- PLEASE send a snack with your child everyday. We do
not eat lunch until 12:45. Kids are starving if they
haven’t eaten since breakfast! I encourage you to send in a
healthy snack with your child. Apples, bananas, crackers,
granola bars, etc are great healthy options. Please do not
send chips, cookies, sugary items, etc. Research (and my
own observations) shows that students who eat nutritionally
sound foods are able to focus better!
Absences- If your child is sick please KEEP THEM HOME!
Germs spread rapidly at school despite frequent hand
washing. Upon returning to school from being sick each
child will be sent to the clinic to make sure they are well
enough to return to school. Be sure to send in an excuse
for absences.
*If your child is absent for more than 2 days you may call
the office to request missed work. (You can always just
email me too! )
Please try to schedule appointments for after school and
take trips during school breaks.
Scholastic Book Orders- About once a month your child will
bring home a book order. Every online order gets us free
books for our class! Please see the letter with
instructions or go to my website and click on the
Scholastic link. Our username is mscaseysclass2 and our
password is bookorders. If you are unable to complete the
order online I will accept your paper order.
Birthdays- We will celebrate your child’s birthday with the
class. If you would like to send in a small treat with your
child please send it with them in the morning, and I will
distribute it at the best time. We have 20 students. Please
be sure to have enough for everyone! There are no food
allergies. If you child has a summer birthday we will
celebrate their half birthday.
*Birthday invitations are not allowed to be passed out
UNLESS you invite the whole class.
Extra Curricular Activities- I try to attend at least one
event for each student- sports, dance, birthday, etc, but I
need a schedule to know when to come! Please provide me a
schedule with dates, times, and locations.
Field Trips- Throughout the year we will schedule field
trips to enhance our curriculum. Permission slips and the
trip cost will be sent home prior to each trip. You will
need to send these back as soon as possible! Please have
your child wear their class t-shirt and comfortable shoes
on our field trips.
Dismissal- If your child has a change in dismissal you must
send a note every time. (If they go to Spanish (or any
other activity) every Monday you may send one note letting
me know they have permission to go every Monday until the
class is over rather than one every week.)