About Mrs. Cao

I would like to welcome you to EPIC for another great school year! My name is Mrs. Cao and I am very excited to be your child’s teacher. I’ll start by telling you a little about myself. This is my fifth year teaching at EPIC and I must admit; I am extremely excited! Prior to teaching at EPIC, I attended the California State University of Sacramento where I received both a Bachelor’s degree in Child Development and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. I have also recently completed my Masters of Arts in Teaching and Learning.

Your third grader is in store for many meaningful and challenging experiences. I feel strongly that in order for the school year to be successful, it is necessary for the child, teacher, and parent(s)/guardian(s) to work closely together throughout the school year.

I would like you to know that I have high expectations for each student. I want to nurture each student’s love of learning. I will strive to provide a positive and safe environment that is conducive to learning by creating a social contract with our class and encouraging all students to live by this contract. Because communication between school and home is extremely important for your child’s success, your child will bring home a weekly newsletter; in this letter you will find all important information pertaining to that week of school. Homework for third grade will be sent home on a nightly basis. All homework must be returned to school the following day. These assignments will be graded; and it is necessary for your child to complete all assignments in order for your student to be ready for their weekly tests.

Your child will also bring home a daily agenda that serves as a homework log. Please review it nightly to see if your child does/doesn’t have homework and sign/initial that you have seen it. This agenda will travel from school to home and vice versa everyday.

Besides building on previous knowledge this year we will be introducing a lot of new topics. A few of our main math topics are: multiplication, division, Geometry, measurement, fractions, and place value. Our English Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies lessons will be taught together using an amazing approach to instruction adopted by EPIC known as G.L.A.D. (Guided Language Acquisition Design). We will also continue to move forward in our implementation of the International Baccalaureate curriculum model this year. Our units will be taught according to the following themes: where we are in place and time, who we are, how we express ourselves, how the world works, how we organize ourselves, and sharing the planet. A few important changes that you will see with this new approach are a focus on concepts rather than topics and a pursuit for global awareness and freedom of choice when completing unit projects. As always our units of study will be standards based and are designed to meet the needs of all students.

Please remember that your thoughts, concerns and questions are always important to me. Please do not hesitate to email me at: Ashley.Cao@gcccharters.org. For those of you who do not use email I am available before and after school by appointment.

I am excited to help your child grow as a learner and can’t wait to see what exciting experiences this year holds for us! I am looking forward to getting to know you and your family.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Cao