Mrs. Paulson's Class Syllabus Third Grade

Mrs. Paulson’s Class Syllabus

Third Grade Mountainside Elementary School Class Time: 7:30 – 2:25 Location: Room #201 Classroom Teacher: Mrs. K. Paulson Email: [email protected] Location: Room # 201 Phone: 719-382-1430 Afterschool hours: 2:30- 3:10 (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday).

What can you expect from your third grader? We here at Mountainside knows that a quality that tends to show up in a third grader is positive energy. Most third graders are usually always willing to try something new, and they are truly excited about the idea of learning new things. Interestingly enough this same never ending energy is also a third graders biggest challenge. They often love new ideas and projects but they don’t have the attention span to complete the project or often loose interests or become overwhelmed by the project. Although this is often the case, you must remember that every student is unique and all develop at their own pace.

A Third Graders Typical Characteristics: Socially you can expect your third grader to enjoy making friends and doing group projects. They are often concerned with fairness and justice. Physically you may notice that your third grader has a lot of energy, play hard and tire out quickly and often seem in a hurry. Academically your third grader may become captivated by an activity or topic. They enjoy using hands on activities to learn new concepts or explain their ideas. The will often ask a lot of questions focusing on the process and the product, and they are often enthusiastic for peer or adult approval. They really enjoy learning how the world around them works. They love to talk about things they have learned and really want to explain their ideas to families and friends.

I look forward to a positive year for your child as he/ she learn new things in third grade. With home and school working together, your child’s academic and social skills will become even stronger throughout the year.

Mrs. Paulson’s Class Syllabus

Academic Course Requirements This school year students will spend some time reviewing skills they've learned prior to 3rd grade. However, children are expected to be able to focus for longer periods of time and work on the following Third Grade skills:

Reading, Writing, Communications Textbook/ Programs: Reading Street, Step-Up to Writing, Daily Lang. Instruction., Language Arts Reading and Writing Skills Your 3rd Grader Will Work on This Year * Read grade-specific material confidently and for fun * Reading Fluently (100 words per minute by May) * Reading with expression * Demonstrate comprehension strategies such as: Making Connections Summarizing Predicting Outcomes Clarifying text that does not make sense Asking Questions Visualizing Adjusting Reading Speed * Comprehension Skills such as: Identify Main Ideas Supporting Details Author’s Point of View Fact and Opinion Compare and Contrast Cause and Effect Drawing Conclusions Making Inferences * Self-select and Read a variety of fiction and nonfiction books * Recognize parts of speech such as: Noun Regular verb/ irregular verbs Adjective Adverbs * Use capitalization and punctuation correctly * Write in complete sentences. Simple sentences Compound sentences Complex sentences * Write for a variety of purposes (That includes a topic sentence, key idea, supporting details and a conclusion). : Opinion Narrative Informative/ Explanatory Poetry * Edit and proofread writing

Mrs. Paulson’s Class Syllabus

Mathematics Textbook/ Programs: McGraw- Hill, My Math Math Skills Your 3rd Grader Will Work on This Year: * Place Value * Addition/subtraction facts with and without regrouping * Multiplication * Division * Fractional Parts of a Whole * Telling time to the hour, half hour, 5 minute and 1 minute intervals * Be able to calculate elapsed time (e.g. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) * Collect, sort, and interpret data in various graphs * Geometry * Properties and Equations * Measurement * Perimeter and Area

Science Textbook/ Programs: Pearson, Interactive Science Science Content Your 3rd Grader Will Work on This Year: Science, Engineering and Technology The nature of science Technology and Design Process Life Science Plants Living Things Ecosystems Earth Science Earth and Weather Earth and Our Universe Physical Science Matter Energy and its Forms Forces and Motion

Mrs. Paulson’s Class Syllabus

3rd Grade Projects

Projects – All projects will require students to have a final product (including a Tri-fold Project Board) that they will oral present to the class. Literacy Fair- The purpose of this project is to provide students the opportunity to share their favorite fictional book through a tri-fold board display. The implementation of the new Colorado Academic State Standards stresses the importance of a student’s reading of a complex text at Quarter 2 grade level. The goal of the literacy fair is to enhance and encourage reading and to allow students to share with their peers. Ultimately, as a result of participating in this project, students will experience a deeper enjoyment from reading and continue to develop a lifelong love of reading. Social Studies Fair -The purpose of this project is to provide students the opportunity to research historical topic and share their research. They may compare past to present, create a Quarter 3 timeline, and interpreted information they have researched. This gives students a chance to practice learned skills such as note taking, outlining, creating a bibliography and producing a project based on research.

Science Fair - The science fair project requires students to use the skills gained in Social Studies, English, Math, Technology, the Arts, and the Sciences, making a science fair project an Quarter 4 interdisciplinary activity. A science fair project allows you to pose your own question and answer it. Doing a science fair project involves developing and “owning” the question; researching; forming a hypothesis; designing an experiment; gathering and organizing the data; analyzing, graphing, and discussing the data; making a conclusion; writing the literary and research reports; and making an oral and visual presentation.

Daily Work/Homework

Every day your child will need to bring their planner to school and take their planner home each night. Your child will have approximately 30 minutes of homework every night.

Why do I assign homework?

• To provide students with a chance to practice newly taught skills. • To provide feedback to me so, that I can enhance instruction or reteach the concept or skill. • To improve life skills such as time management and responsibility. Literacy homework may vary, depending on the specified reading needs of your child. Types of reading homework may include: Reader’s Theater, timed fluency passages, reading skill sheets. In addition, reading homework ALWAYS includes 15- 20 min. of reading EVERYNIGHT! Your child will also have math homework each night. Math homework will vary depending on standards being taught each week.

Please remember that it is class policy that late homework will result in a “0”, unless there are special circumstances. IF your child is having a special circumstance please email or write me a note.

There may also be additional assignments and projects for language arts, science, or social studies, but these will not be on a consistence basis. One project that you can look for is for your child’s week to be our class STAR STUDENT.

I know that I am asking for a lot of work, but this is an essential part to advance your child’s educational growth. Inside your child’s planner there is a section each day where your child will write down their homework. Also, if you have any questions/concerns that require my attention, the daily box would be a great place to write those down. Email is also a quick way to reach me. 4

Mrs. Paulson’s Class Syllabus

Grading System

Your student’s final letter grade is calculated based on the weighted percentage listed below:

Homework is weighted at 10% of the overall grade. Classwork is weighted at 30% of the overall grade. Assessment is weighted at 60% of the overall grade.

Your student will also receive a proficiency grade for effort, the categories for proficiency grades are:

ADV = Advanced P =Proficient PP = Partial Proficient U = Unsatisfactory

Guidelines for Achievement

1. Be on time 2. Come ready to learn. 3. Respect your rights and the rights of others to learn. 4. Work at learning. 5. Ask for support. 6. Observe “Code of Conduct” and all other school guidelines and procedures.

 In an effective, successful classroom there is not room for behavior issues.  Third grade is an intense year and your child’s academic growth will suffer if behavior issues occur.  Consistent problems will result in consequences that could include contact with the parent, loss of recess, referral to our administrators, or after school detention. o Behavior Process is as follows: . The child is given a chance for the misbehavior to be corrected. • If the behavior continues, the child will earn off track “2” behavior corresponding with the behavior rubric. The child will owe 4 laps around basketball perimeter on the blacktop. This will be done in a walk for safety. District 8 recognizes the importance of physical activity for optimal health. This consequence supports the District’s state requirements for wellness. • If the behavior continues, an off track “1” behavior will be placed in the planner and the child will owe 8 laps around basketball perimeter on the blacktop.

Mrs. Paulson’s Class Syllabus

• If the behavior continues, a “think sheet” will be given to the child to complete, plus 8 laps. This sheet will be completed in another classroom and sent home to be signed. The reason the child is sent out of the classroom is because they are considered a disruption to others’ learning and the classroom environment. . If the child chooses to continue to be disruptive that same day, the student will receive a referral to the office, the think sheet and previously mentioned consequences will be included on the office referral. . This process will be followed unless the student is behaving in an unsafe manner. If the student is behaving in an unsafe manner he/she will be automatically sent to the office with a referral. . When the child has behaved their way out of the classroom and they feel they are ready to return, the teacher will respond with: “Welcome back! I am excited to see you are ready to learn.” . It is the Third Grade Teachers’ expectation that planners are checked and signed five days a week. Please contact your child’s teacher with any comments, concerns, or questions.

 We will be using the Positive Habits Rubric when awarding the students with certain awards at the end of the quarter. ( shown below)

3. Satisfactory ( Proficient) 4. Excellent ( Advanced) • Most work completed correctly and neatly • All work completed correctly and neatly • Was focused and on task most of the day • Was focused and on task all day • Showed a positive attitude ( majority of the time) • Showed a positive attitude • Followed directions( majority of the time) • Followed directions • Followed rules and procedures( majority of the time) • Followed rules and procedures • Was respectful to others • Was respectful to students and adults

2. Needs Improvement ( Partly Proficient) 1. Unsatisfactory (Unsatisfactory)

• Did not completed majority of the class work • Did not completed any of the class work • Consistently asked to focused and on tasks • Was off task and unfocused on tasks throughout the throughout the day. day • Consistently asked to followed directions, rules • Did not follow directions, rules or procedures and procedures • Did not show respect to others • Was reminded to be respectful to classmates and adults

 Our goal is for all students to be working within the proficient or advanced portion of the rubric, which will be in the student planner.

Mrs. Paulson’s Class Syllabus

Additional School and Classroom Policies

School Board Policy

This policy is to encouraging students to have more opportunities to learn how to make healthy food choices that are low in fat, sodium and added sugars during the school day. There are some restrictions as to what teachers can allow in the classroom for any special events. This includes birthday parties, classroom parties and any club events that might be taking place during school hours or before and after school. In addition, there is a new state law that prohibits schools from making available to students any food or beverages that contain any amount of industrially produced trans fats. This applies to all food and beverages available on school grounds during the school day, which includes classroom parties. It is because of this state law that Home-made baked goods cannot be served to students during the school day or at after school student activities. Soda or diet soda may not be served to students during the school day under and circumstances.

Birthdays or Classroom Parties

Birthdays will be recognized with a pencil or bookmark and a song! Party invitations may not be passed out unless there is one for each child in the classroom. To protect the health and safety of all students in class I encouraged parents to provide sealed, store-bought baked goods or other trans-fat free items for celebrations. In order to address any known allergy concerns, a label listing ingredients should be affixed to the package.

Many food items may or may not contain trans-fat depending on the brand. PLEASE check the label of an item before your purchase it for a school event, remember it has to be trans-fat free.

Cell Phones Students may have cell phones at school, but it is require that students keep their cell phones in their backpacks and turned off during the entire school day. Please understand that I cannot be responsible for missing, broken, or stolen cell phones. If you need to reach your child during the school day, please call the school (382-1430) and the office can relay a message to your student.

Disclaimer

The school and teacher reserves the right to make modifications to this information throughout the school year.