Welcome to Third Grade at Magnolia Trace Elementary! I Am Extremely Excited to Be Your

Dear Parent(s), Welcome to third grade at Magnolia Trace Elementary! I am extremely excited to be your child’s teacher this year! We will have a fun and productive year together. I would like to take the time to tell you about my background, classroom philosophies, and classroom policies. My name is Stephanie Longman. I have a B.A. in Elementary Education, a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Southeastern Louisiana University. This is my 12th year teaching, and I am excited to be spending it with you and your child.

Weekly Overviews- Each Monday, I will send home a weekly overview title, “Peek at the Week.” This letter will give you an overview of what your child will be doing throughout the week in each subject. On the overview, I will list information concerning different subject areas and the homework for the week. I will also list reminders and important dates.

Homework Policy- Your child will have a “Take Home Folder.” On the “Peek at the Week,” you will find your child’s homework for the week. Please review the homework with your child. It will be your child’s responsibility to make sure that he or she has the needed materials to complete his or her homework. Homework will be assigned weekly; however, I suggest that you pace the homework throughout the week, instead of completing it in one night. You have the freedom to complete homework how you please throughout the week. Homework will be checked for completion on Friday. I will NOT accept late homework. Part of your child’s homework will be reading nightly. Please initial the homework contract daily, so that I can ensure your child is completing work at home that cannot be checked at school, such as reading. Your child will not receive credit for completing this work if you did not sign or initial their paper. It will be checked every Friday.

School/Class Website- I have a class website that you can visit through our school’s webpage. The school’s web address is http://magnoliatraceelementary.stpsb.org. If you click on about us, then faculty/staff, the link to our class website is under my name and picture. On the website, the “Peek at the Week” will be posted as well as important dates to remember, the assessment schedule for the week, and the homework. If your child misses a day, it would be a good idea to check the website for any important information he or she may have missed at school that day.

Assessment Philosophy- I believe in using a variety of assessment techniques to asses a child’s understanding. In addition to paper-pencil tests, your child will be completing a variety of assessments including performance tasks, presentations, at-home projects, in-class projects, journals, student-teacher conferences, graphic organizers, and learning logs. There will be a rubric or checklist sent home with every project. You will be notified of each assessment ahead of time and assessment dates will be listed on the “Peek at the Week” and on our class website. Graded Papers/Assessments- Graded papers and assessments will be sent home in your child’s V.I.P. (Very Important Papers) folder approximately every Friday. Please review the graded papers and assessments, fill out the attached log, and return the folder with any D or F papers the following Monday.

Discipline Philosophy- I believe in creating a classroom community where your child feels comfortable and welcome. I want your child to feel as though the classroom is his or hers and not just the teacher’s classroom. During the first week of school, we will discuss school and classroom rules, procedures, and expectations together. You will receive a letter explaining the discipline policy followed in the school and classroom. Please review this with your child.

Snacks- I will allow a snack time for students while we are completing work in class. Please make sure you send one, healthy snack with your child. We do not have a specific snack time scheduled in our day, and your child will be allowed to eat his or her snack while completing work. Therefore, please send a snack with your child that is individually wrapped or easy to eat while working. I will not be providing snacks for those students that do not have a snack. Dry cereal, fruit bars, pretzels, or raisins are suggested. Please so not send anything with peanuts, due to allergies, as well as sticky items, candy, or drinks.

I am confident we will have a GREAT year working together! I hope to see you at Open House. Please look for the date to be posted on the “Peek at the Week.” I am looking forward to meeting everyone there and explaining a little bit more about the upcoming year. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. You may send a note with your child, call the school (626-8238), or email me at [email protected].

Thank you,

Dr. Stephanie M.D. Longman, Ed.D