Hello Room 18 Families,
Welcome to 3rd grade and to the 2019-2020 school year! We have had an exciting and amazing start of the year so far. We have spent a lot of time getting to know each other and getting used to being a Room 18 Superstar. Below you will find information that will be helpful for the year ahead.
If you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to me by email, phone, or by stopping by the classroom before or after school. I am looking forward to a fantastic year full of learning, growing, and fun!
Regards,
Josha Potter
Here are some things we need in our class right now:
(Throughout the year, I am always happy to accept an Amazon Gift cards for books and materials, or I may ask for items like Lysol wipes, hand sanitizer or tissues. Thank you in advance for your generosity.)
Fall Conferences: November 19, 21, 22, 25, 26 (Daily dismissal at 12:20)
Spring Conferences: March 10, 12, 13, 16, 17 (Daily dismissal at 12:20)
10/22/19
9:00am - 2:00pm
*travel by school bus; chaperones needed
Folger Stable - Interactive outdoor history lesson
2/14/20
9:00am - 1:30pm
*parent drivers and chaperones needed
CuriOdyssey - Wildlife Presentation: Here, There Habitats are Everywhere (March 2019)
(date TBD)
*parent drivers and chaperones needed
Shoreway Environmental Center - Tour of Facility + Solar Jitter Bug Activity (April 2020)
(date TBD)
9:00am - 12:00pm
*travel by school bus; chaperones needed
8:25-9:00 Daily Language and Math/Morning Work/Homework Check/Circle Time
9:00-10:00 Writer’s Workshop
10:00-10:30 P.E./Rotations
10:30-10:45 Snack Recess
10:45-11:45 Math
11:45-12:30 Reader's Workshop
12:30-12:45 Homework
12:45-1:30 Lunch
1:30-2:30 Science/Social Studies/Chromebooks
2:30-2:35 Pack up/Dismissal
(Wednesday dismissal is 12:20)
Monday
Healthy Kids P.E. - 10:00
Tuesday
PE/GrooveFit – 10:00
Thursday
Library - 10:45
Art in Action is not yet scheduled. I would like to schedule it on Friday mornings, if possible.
Buddies with Ms. Grabowski's TK class on Wednesdays.
Whenever you are on campus during the school day, please check in at the office and get a badge.
A Volunteer Form on file with the office before volunteering in the classroom or on a field trip.
This includes a TB certification and fingerprinting and screening by the Department of Justice.
We will need drivers for some of our field trips, so please get above documentation submitted plus:
a current copy of your driver’s license and current proof of insurance must be on file in the office. (not the card, a copy of policy is needed)
-Room Parent(s)
-Friday Folder helper
-Art in Action docents
-Help with making copies, take home work and other tasks as needed
-Multicultural Event Representative to coordinate our activity
Extend, practice and review skills; communicate the content we are currently studying.
Serves as an informal way to check that a student can do the work independently.
-About 30 minutes per night on homework (not including reading)
-Math Homework Book needs to be returned every day
-Reading for at least 30 minutes
-Reading Log
-Other short term or long tern projects
-When an assignment is explained in class, make sure it is understood – they should ASK questions at school.
-Work should be completed neatly by student.
-Student Planner to be signed by parent or other adult to verify that he/she completed their homework and has read for at least 30 minutes.
The students will keep their homework in the silver homework folder. Homework assignments and due dates will be recorded in the planner. Please check the planner regularly and make sure your child checks off assignments as they are completed.
If the time spent on homework is too long or the assignments are causing a parent/child struggle, please feel free to write a note on the homework or your child may write “see me” on the paper for extra help.
Have your child read the directions or the written work aloud to you; Edit together; Discuss the assignment; Check for neatness; Find things you like and praise them – a sure way to see it again! Each assignment is explained in class and if your child is unclear, please have him/her send me an email with the question. To encourage responsibility, please do not take it upon yourselves, but have your child contact me. I often remind them that it is their homework, not mom’s and/or dad’s!
Thank you for supporting this!
We have a few longer projects in third grade: Ohlone diorama, Biography Report, Wax Museum, and others TBA. When these are assigned, daily homework will be reduced.
We will regularly be using Chromebooks in third grade. Your child will be immersed in a variety of apps and programs that will enrich and support their learning.
This year, your child should consistently practice keyboarding skills. In the spring, we will take the Smarter Balanced Assessments which is done on a Chromebook. We will spend some time in class working on keyboarding skills but this should also be practiced regularly at home. There are many free online programs to choose from and we will also work on in class writing projects in Google docs.
We have a couple of positive behavior reinforcement systems in our classroom. We use STAR Cards to acknowledge STAR behaviors. We have our Happy Points system where the students earn points as a class towards a preferred activity, like extra recess, lunch with me, and movie time. We also have our Clip Chart and Credits and Debits system where each individual student can earn $$ towards Piperville. We also emphasize very important behaviors and life skills, such as, having a Growth Mindset, mindfulness, responsibility, respect, effort, and integrity.
Our classroom has "Flexible Seating". Students will choose a seat each week that works best for them. They are also able to move around and work at different work areas if needed. Students are able to make these "smart" choices but considering what works best for their mind and body to help them focus and stay on task.
The intention of "Flexible Seating" is to promote a sense of empowerment, community, collaboration, comfort, physical health, open communication, and a commitment to learning.
As a supplement to our Social Studies curriculum, the entire third grade will be transforming into “Piperville,” a community that will be completely run by the citizens (students). There will be six businesses per class, running simultaneously: Government, Ohlone Trading Post, Pioneer Store, Newspaper, Tavern, and the Bank.
Piperville sessions will be held every other Thursday, beginning in the end of September and will run throughout the year. Specific dates will be listed on the third grade website and through student planners. Students will apply for a job in class, although government jobs are elected positions. They will have the opportunity to work in three different Piperville businesses during the course of the year.
Each business is unique in both the job training required and the daily tasks they will tend to. Please be aware that some jobs may require help at home, although most do not.
We believe it is important to incorporate authentic learning opportunities, and Piperville is the perfect outlet to do so. Some of the key social studies concepts focused on during our simulation include: citizenship, Ohlone/Pioneer community life, government, production & sale of goods/services, money/time management, and also team building skills.
We will be using Seesaw this year to share with you some of our work and projects. Please read the attached flier at the back of this handbook and create an account. It’s a great way to utilize technology and keep in touch with what’s going on in the classroom.
Please visit https://sites.google.com/site/sandpiper3rd/home for helpful information and important updates.
ALLERGIES - There are a few students with severe to moderate food allergies so please remind your child to NOT share food during snack or lunch and to sit at the appropriate tables during lunchtime. Thank you!
Birthdays - no food or goodie bags; students will get extra recess/special tasks/privileges
Class Parties – organized by Room Parent and other volunteers help
Student Council - 1 class election; 2 representatives and 1 alternate
Water Bottles on desk - go home Friday for washing
Wednesday Walk to school
Scholastic Book Orders - only online: Class Code Q7GZF