Grade 3A - Mrs. Mary Ann May

Behavior Policy
Students are expected to pay attention and listen while I am teaching. Their behavior cards will remain green providing they are following the classroom rules. Students demonstrating excellent behavior will earn a color change to purple. A weekly behavior report will be sent home on Fridays. Please sign the report and return it on Monday. If a child chooses to break one of the classroom rules, the consequences are as follows:

1. WARNING - change their behavior card to yellow
2. LOSS OF RECESS TIME/TICKETS - change their behavior card to orange
3. PHONE CALL HOME/DETENTION - change their behavior card to red

Rewards for Good Behavior
The class has an opportunity to earn a class treat when they fill the marble jar. Reasons for receiving marbles are when the class behaves well in Mass, stays on task for the day, etc.
Individually, students have the ability to earn tickets for following classroom rules and being responsible. The tickets can be used for treats or privileges. We also will have a classroom auction at the end of the year. I also give lots of verbal praise and may send a positive note home or make a phone call to share good news.

THIRD GRADE CURRICULUM

Religion/Family Life
We have a school-wide religion/family life program focusing on liturgy, sacraments and the Church. We will also learn about saints, Christian Values, prayers and providing Christian service to others. Students can prepare for tests by taking the chapter review online at www.faithfirst.com. To find the reviews, click on Kids' Clubhouse, choose Legacy Edition, then Grade 3, and then the chapter. Room 9's weekly Mass will be held on Wednesdays at 8:30. Parents are welcome to join us.

Reading/Language Arts
Our Open Court curriculum includes student anthologies with quality literature and workbooks to reinforce reading, writing, comprehension and phonics skills. Students will also participate in the school-wide STAR/Accelerated Reading Program. Students will be given 30 minutes of class time each day for quiet reading time and testing in the library. Students are expected to read from their STAR reading book at home nightly(including weekends) for at least 20 minutes. There will be a biography report in the Spring that will include presenting an oral report. There will also be weekly spelling lists/tests, grammar, vocabulary, parts of speech, cursive writing and listening/speaking activities.

Math
We will be studying all operations(addition, subtraction, multiplication, division). Students should have flashcards at home for practice. Other math topics include time, money, place value, estimation/rounding, fractions and measurement. We also use the Accelerated Math program to reinforce skills and concepts. If you feel your child needs additional materials to review/practice at home, please let me know.

Social Studies
Units include Community and Geography, America's Early Communities, Community Government and Making Economic Choices.
Students will also become familiar with the basic geography of the United States and the world. There will be a monthly geography report due at the end of each month. Students will also participate in the Geography Bee in the Spring.

Science
Topics include physical, earth and life science, as well as the scientific method. Students will do hands on activities in class to reinforce concepts.

Physical Education
PE is every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Please be sure that the students have shorts to wear.

Computers
Computers will be on Tuesdays. Half the class goes for 45 minutes at a time.
Music
Music will be held on Friday beginning on September 14th.

Library
Students will have the opportunity to visit the library daily, both to test for Accelerated Reading, or to choose a book.

Homework
Homework is intended to reinforce the skills that have been learned during the school day. Students will be given homework daily(Mon-Thur). Third graders should spend approximately 45-60 minutes on homework each night. This includes the 20 minutes spent reading for the STAR/Accelerated Reading program. Late or missing homework will result in time out at recess and a pink Missing Assignment slip to be sent home, signed by a parent and returned. Multiple late/missing homework assignments will result in an after school detention. Parent's responsibility for homework is to check your child's work to make sure it is neat and complete. Please check the take home folders for any tests or papers requiring your signature.

Gradelink
Gradelink is an online resource that gives you the ability to view your child's progress in each subject. You can view the current grade for each subject as well as grades on individual tests and assignments at your convenience from your computer. You will receive a login and instructions on how to access your child's information. Grades are updates to Gradelink at least once a week.

Grading Policy
Students will be receiving grades (A, B, C, D, F) on their Student Learning Assessments this year. The grading scale is as follows:

A 100%-90%
B 89%-80%
C 79%-70%
D 69%-60%
F 59% and below

Students will have the opportunity to earn grades the following ways:

Language Arts - weekly comprehension tests, vocabulary quizzes, journal
writing, writing process assignments and classroom participation.
Spelling - weekly tests, homework, application to written work
Handwriting - practice book pages, assessments and application to
written work, demonstrated effort at neatness at both printing and
cursive
Math - quizzes and tests, homework, problem solving, class assignments
and class participation
Science - tests, reports, homework, experiments, class assignments and
participation
Social Studies - tests, monthly reports, homework and class participation
Religion - textbook activities, tests, participation in Mass, knowledge of
prayers, projects and modeling of Christian behavior
Art - following directions, individual effort, classroom participation and
completing projects

Other Classroom Activities
VIP of the Week - Each week during the school year, one member of our class will be featured as the Very Important Person. Your child may need help gathering pictures of special people, pets, places and/or events that are special to him/her. They will be asked to share these with the class. A reminder notice will be sent home with your child on Friday letting you know that he/she is the VIP of the week.

Parent Communication and Participation
You are more than welcome to contact me any time before or after school, providing that I do not have safety duty. During the school day, you may call the office and leave a message for me. If there is something specific you would like to discuss, please schedule an appointment with me. You may also send communication with your child. I can be contacted via email also at mrsmay@stischoolcypress.org . Please let me know if your child is having difficulty with a concept or if homework is taking too long so I can work with them more closely.

Please feel free to contact me any time throughout the year with questions or concerns. I look forward to a wonderful year with you and your child.

Thank you - Mary Ann May