Mrs. Hill’s 3^rd Grade Spanish Immersion Syllabus

Third grade will move at a quicker pace than the primary grades. We will spend a brief period of time at the beginning of the year reviewing and strengthening skills learned last year. Then, we will move on to higher reading and writing requirements. I set high standards for each of my students based on his or her needs. Each student will be challenged at the appropriate level so that everyone can reach his or her utmost potential. I cannot wait to see the growth each of our class members makes this year!

Communication

The best way to contact me is through email or text via Remind101. You can also send notes with your child, but please remind them to give me the note. You can call me during the day at school, but if I am teaching, I may not stop to answer the telephone. If there is an emergency (transportation change or family issue) you can leave a message on my telephone or with the school secretary. My direct telephone number is 381-4979 ext. 23074. If you would like to set up a meeting anytime, just email me and we can arrange one to fit our schedules. My email address is kelly.hill@fayette.kyschools.us. I am always available to help meet your student’s needs.

Other types of communication you can expect between the school and the classroom include:

• Newsletters will be sent via text every month. They will contain a small summary of the events in the different subject areas, upcoming information about our classroom and our school, and pictures of our classroom activities.

• Student binders/planners: daily news and homework will be written here so you can see what our classroom is doing. Behavior will also be recorded daily with a brief description about your student’s day. You may also write me any notes regarding your student, and I will respond the next day. PLEASE SIGN THE PLANNER AT THE VERY BOTTOM EACH NIGHT.

• 1 parent/teacher conference is required each school year. We will do our best to make these as convenient as possible for you.

• PTA newsletters and School flyers

• Sign up for Liberty Updates on the school webpage: http://www.liberty.fcps.net/

• Take home/homework/graded work folder

• Classroom Blog: https://sites.google.com/fayette.kyschools.us/hill/home (Students update daily with class news)

Grades:

I give grades for three subjects: Reading, Language Arts, and Social Studies. Reading and Language arts will be broken into three categories of assignments. Projects/Tests=45% of total grade, Classwork/Assignments/Participation=45% of total grade, and Homework=10% of total grade. The grades I write on assignments will be a percentage out of 100. The lowest grade is dropped in each section.

In Social Studies, grades will come from Scholastic News and worksheets at the end of lessons. If a student does not do well on an assignment, it will be sent home for them to correct and return.

Graded papers will be sent home every week in the student’s binder. Report cards are sent home three times a year. You can monitor your student’s grades by logging on to Infinite Campus Parent Portal (a sheet detailing how to do this will be sent home later).

If your child scores below a C on any class assignment, they may return the work corrected so that they may receive a possible 82 on it.

Grading Scale:

100-92 A

91-83 B

82-74 C

73-65 D

64-0 F

Projects/Tests

– Reading: We will have a reading test at the end of each unit. A study guide will be sent home prior to the test.

Students will also be responsible for reading a longer book (preferably a chapter book) each month starting in September and completing a Monthly Book Report project to present to the class. A choice board and the scoring rubric will be sent home as each project is assigned.

– Language Arts: We will have a spelling test and vocabulary test at the end of each week. Vocabulary tests are 14 questions (7 multiple choice, 7 yes or no) that require students to analyze which situation best uses the vocabulary word.

Classwork/Assignments/Participation:

– Reading: If a student is unable to complete an assignment during class, it will be sent home to complete and due the following day.

– Language Arts: Spelling sort, vocabulary sheet, writing assignments, and grammar activities/sheets make up this section.

I believe spelling is most effectively taught in a way that helps students to study and analyze the word parts, syllables, and meanings. My method for accomplishing this may be challenging for students initially. However, through continued support and teaching, they will begin seeing patterns in words, which will help improve their spelling.

On Monday, students will be pulled in small groups to learn their spelling pattern through a spelling sort. Students who do not finish in class will take this home to complete by the following day (a note will be written in their planner as a reminder).

While students wait for their small group to be called or after they finish their sort, they will be working on the weekly vocabulary sheet. This will be due the following day as well, so students who do not finish it in class will take it home.

Homework

Homework for me consists of studying spelling and vocabulary words, and completing a reading log (which students have a week to complete). However, if a student does not complete an in-class assignment, it will be sent home to complete that night and due the next day. I will not accept a late reading log/spelling homework. I will gladly answer/help with any questions. Feel free to text me or write a note about any trouble your student had with the work, and it will be taken into consideration.

– Spelling: Students will have a list of 10 spelling words every week with three bonus words (taken from the vocabulary list). Students also have spelling homework (assigned at the end of the week and due at the end of the next week). Spelling homework will be on the front of the reading log next to the spelling words each week. Students will be taught the pattern of their spelling words on Monday and will then need to find five other words that fit this pattern to analyze in the space provided (I give them 3 examples they may use on Monday). A great source of words for the spelling homework is the spelling sort we do on Monday.

– Vocabulary: On the same sheet as the 10 spelling words will be 7 vocabulary words for students to learn the definitions. Vocabulary tests will be given after spelling tests. These tests require students to apply their understanding of the words to different situations.

– Reading Log: Reading Logs go home at the end of the week and are due at the end of the next week. Unless specifically marked by Mrs. Hill, students are required to read 20 minutes five nights a week. The title of the book and a 1-2 sentence response to what was read should be recorded on the reading log along with a parent/guardian’s signature.

– Monthly Book Reports: Described in detail above, these projects are to be completed entirely at home (but you will always have a month to complete it). Don’t forget to practice the presentation, as that is a large part of the grade. Make sure to also use the book for your monthly book report on your reading log.

Classroom Rules

1. Keep your hands, feet, objects, and inappropriate comments to yourself at all times.

2. Follow directions the first time.

3. Come to class prepared.

4. Respect yourself, others, and their property.

5. Start and finish each task promptly.

6. Follow all staff and school rules.

Behavior Plan

A colored check (detailed below) will be recorded in planners every day to monitor good behavior for rewards.

Please check your child’s planner each day for a colored check to tell you about his/her day and sign the bottom. Students will write a brief note describing how they felt the day went. If behavior was a concern, there will also be a note from the teacher.

Blue Check Mark

Student had a wonderful day. He/she completed work, was a cooperative classmate, and frequently participated in class discussions. Student exceeded expectations.

Green Check Mark

Student had a good day with no re-teaches. He/she completed work and participated in class.

Yellow Check Mark

Student received one re-teach after a warning today. He/she walked 3 minutes during recess and has corrected the behavior.

Red Check Mark

Student received two or more re-teaches after a warning today. He/she walked 3 minutes for each re-teach received and has a note from the teacher about the behavior for the parent to sign.

Rewards for Good Behavior

Individual

· Achievement necklaces

· Hawk feathers (for Liberty Café with friend or to “buy” things in Mrs. Hill’s Market)

· Treasure box

· Good behavior cone (2 hawk feathers and cone for the day)

Whole Class

· Compliment link (25 links=class chosen reward)

· Stars earned from other teachers (popcorn party every 100 stars)

· Lunch bunch (eat in class and watch a movie)

· Class picnic

· Read outside of the classroom

Tables also compete to earn the most compliments in a week for a chosen surprise.

Achievement Necklaces

Students will receive a necklace at the beginning of the year that will be kept at school. Students will wear these everyday to showcase their accomplishments. Every Friday, we will combine both classes for the presentations of the Students of the Week. After presentations, Srta. Lucia and I will hand out the charms and beads earned that week.

Student of the Week

Srta. Lucia and I will choose a student every week from our homerooms to be the Student of the Week. We base this off of in-class performance, behavior, and interactions with classmates. Every student will be chosen once. When selected, students will create an “About Me” presentation to give in Spanish. Presentations will be on Fridays from 10:45-11:15. Family members are welcome to come to class on the day their student is presenting.

Consequences

This year, students will receive a re-teach for any misbehavior. A re-teach involves discussing with the student at recess why the misbehavior occurred, why it was inappropriate, and how to prevent such behavior in the future. If a student continuously receives re-teaches, they will be asked to complete a “Re-teach Reflect” sheet that allows the student to reflect on their misbehavior through writing and think of ways to avoid this in the future. Repeat offense consequences are as follows:

Verbal warnings are given frequently to help students become aware of their behavior prior to re-teaches.

1^st Re-teach: practice appropriate behavior and discuss broken rule, walk 3 minutes at recess

2^nd Re-teach: practice and discuss broken rules, note in planner from teacher, walk 6 minutes at recess

3^rd Re-teach: practice and discuss broken rules, note in planner from teacher, walk 9 minutes at recess

4^th Re-teach: practice and discuss broken rules, note in planner from teacher, walk all of recess/complete “Re-teach Reflect” sheet, and a phone call home by the student to discuss behavior

5^th Re-teach: practice and discuss broken rules, note in planner from the teacher, complete “Re-teach Reflect” sheet, phone call home by student, office will be notified; student may be sent to complete some assignments in a different classroom

6 or more Re-teaches in one day: student will be sent to the office to complete schoolwork