WELCOME TO
SHAFER ELEMENTARY
3rd Grade Curriculum Night
2015-2016
MR. & MRS. SHAFER
LANGUAGE ARTS
 Your child will be taught Reading and Writing using a balanced
literacy approach. This includes: read alouds, mini lessons, guided
reading, independent reading, shared writing, and independent
writing.
 The structure for this will be built around a Reading Workshop
and Writing Workshop.
WORD WORK
 The goal of word study is to enhance a student’s reading ability,
written language, and vocabulary skills. Teaching spelling through
word study enables students to not only be able to spell words but to
apply and transfer spelling skills to reading and writing, which requires
more complex thinking and understanding.
LANGUAGE ARTS
Big Ideas for 3rd Grade
Narrative Study
Expository Text
Narrative Writing
Expository Research
Drama/Fables/Myths/ Legends
Assessment as a Genre
Literary Nonfiction
Persuasion
Writing About Reading
On Going Word Study
Poetry
SOCIAL STUDIES
 Students will be creating an interactive notebook to encourage and
reinforce their knowledge, concepts, and skills.
Big Ideas for 3rd Grade
Classroom Community
Economics & Entrepreneurs
Map Skills
Communities (past and present)
Landforms
Innovators
Government & Elections
Space Pioneers
Early American History
Celebrating Cultures
MATH
 Guided Math (students grouped based on data and student needs to extend
or enrich). Students who are not being pulled for small group at that time are
doing independent work, differentiated math stations, fact fluency or menus.
Big Ideas for 3rd Grade
Place Value
Graphing & Probability
Addition & Subtraction
Measurement
Multiplication & Division
Geometry
Money
Fractions
FACT FLUENCY
Homework- practice 15 minutes 3 times per week
(computer games, apps, flash cards, plus parent resources
will be sent home also)
One graded assessment at the end of each 9 weeks.
The goal is to complete 25 facts in 1 minute 40
seconds.
SCIENCE
 Students will experience hands on exploration to extend and enrich
knowledge and vocabulary.
Big Ideas for 3rd Grade
Health
Earth
Body Systems
Organisms & Environment
Physical Properties
Solar System
Force, Motion, & Energy
STAAR INFORMATION
Math STAAR May 9, 2016
Reading STAAR May 10, 2016
STAAR are 4 hour timed tests that assess students
knowledge.
PLANNER/TRACKER
 Homework information will be written in the planner daily, along
with reminders and important information.
 This is seen as a valuable tool in daily communication between
home and school, so please check your child’s planner/tracker daily
for information.
BIRTHDAYS
 We look forward to helping your child celebrate their special day with their
classmates. This will take place at the end of lunch.
 We ask that the treat be something that is individually wrapped and/or
separated (i.e. cupcakes, cookies, donuts) and store bought.
 Please send with your child to the nurse’s office to be approved in the
morning.
 Check in with your child’s homeroom teacher to schedule a day to bring in
birthday treats.
COMMUNICATION
 We believe that communication between home and school is a vital
part of children’s educational success. We look forward to working with
you as a team.
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Friday Weekly Email
Daily Folder
Expectation Card
Planner
Website
EXPECTATION CARD
 The Expectation Card is used as a means of communicating with
parents/guardians about behaviors which need improvement.
 Teachers will record misbehavior(s) on the school wide Expectation
Card. The card will go home in the Daily Folder each day. A mark will be
given if the card is not signed and returned the next day.
 Detentions will be assigned as a consequence when a student receives
7 marks or 5 tardy days.
ATTENDANCE
Daily attendance is vital to a smooth day and successful year for
each child.
 Students must be seated in their homeroom desk at 8:20am
 5 tardies = after school detention
 Tardies will be recorded on the student’s expectation card
CONFERENCES
 We look forward to meeting with each family to discuss your
child’s accomplishments, strengths, and overall progress.
 We will send home emails for conference signups.
 You may request a conference with your child’s teacher at any time
during the year by contacting them.
DISMISSAL
 Dismissal is at 3:40 p.m. Early dismissal is at 12:40.
 All changes in transportation must be in writing and received by the
office before 3:00. Emails are not accepted.
 Biker/Walkers will not be released if we are having severe weather at
3:35. Students will be release if it is lightly raining. However, we will not
release biker/walker students if it is lighting in the vicinity of Shafer.
Parents need to let homeroom teachers know how they would like their child
dismissed in case of severe weather.
HOMEWORK
 Each night students are asked to read at least 20 minutes to help build their
reading stamina. Please record the reading on the reading log.
 On Monday, a reading passage will be assigned. Students are asked to show their
“work,” and the passage will be due Friday morning.
 On Monday, Fact fluency and a Math assignment will be given and expected to
be worked on nightly and turned in completed Friday morning.
 On Monday, a Writing/Word Work assignment will be given and will be turned
in completed Thursday morning.
 Homework is due at 8:20 am. Homework delivered to the office after that, is
considered late.
MONEY
 All money needs to be sent in an envelope that is labeled with your
child’s name, student ID #, the homeroom teacher’s name, and what
the money is for (i.e. lunch money, spirit wear, etc.).
NURSE
 Please inform Mrs. Sosa (our wonderful nurse) of any special
needs your child has.
 State law prohibits teachers from giving medications to students at
school. All medicines (including cough drops) must be sent to the
clinic and administered by the nurse with written permission from the
parent. All medications must be in the original container for the nurse
to dispense to the student.
GRADES AND HOME
ACCESS CENTER(HAC)
 Students will be assessed on 4 grading periods that are each
approximately 9 weeks long.
 Parents are encouraged keep up to date with their child’s
progress using the Home Access Center. Parents can see grades,
assignments, and test scores. More information can be found at
katyisd.org under the parent tab.
 HAC has an app available that will send updates and
notifications.
RETEACH/RETEST POLICY
 Major Test (x2) concepts will be retaught if a child scores below
70%. The child will have the opportunity to retest 1 week later. The
scores from both tests will be averaged together. The final grade for
the retest will be the average of the 2 grades and it will not exceed
70%.
 If a student’s retest score is lower than the original test score, the
student will not receive a grade lower than the original test grade.
SNACKS
 Students will have snack time at 10:00 a.m. each day.
 We ask that students bring snacks that are healthy and can be eaten
easily. Some examples include fruit, carrot sticks, granola bars, pretzels,
goldfish, etc. Snacks that will not be permitted include chips, candy,
cookies, etc.
 Students may bring water bottles to school each day. Please make sure
it is labeled with your child’s name. To reduce spills, we ask that the water
bottles have sports lids or flip tops.
WE HOPE YOU’VE ENJOYED
THI S PRES ENTATI ON!
WE ARE LOOKI NG FORWARD
TO A SHI NI NG YEAR WI TH
YOUR SI LVER KNI GHT!