Welcome to Meet the Teacher Night!

August 15, 2017

Sign in at the table and sign up for a conference while you’re there!Sign up to be a Room Parent or Library Volunteer.

Please find your child’s desk. You can begin filling out the forms in the file folder.

Mrs. Maxon• I have been teaching for twenty-three years, eighteen of them

in Third Grade!• I am also a wife and mother. I have been married to Bill for 17

years and • We have two amazing children – Madeline, who is 13 and in

eighth grade, and William, who is 10 and in fifth grade.• We have a golden retriever named Hunter and a tuxedo cat

named Kitty.• I love my job!• I think third grade is the BEST grade!• I believe learning should be developmentally-appropriate.• I don’t believe learning should be stressful.• I love to have fun with the students!

Academic SubjectsReading

• Whole Group – Theme, Genre, Strategies, Skills, and Vocabulary presented at a challenging level

• Small Group – a closer look at the whole group instruction presented at each student’s level of need

• Independent/Reading Workshop – student choice• Centers – differentiated activities in the areas of Comprehension,

Fluency, Phonics, Word Study, and Reading/Writing

• Weekly Vocabulary Quiz• Weekly Comprehension Quiz• Unit Test

Third Grade Reading Guarantee(TGRG)

• State-Mandated – passed into law – schools have no control.• All students must score at a certain level of proficiency on an assessment in

order to be promoted or placed into fourth grade.• Any student not scoring at a proficient level will be placed on a Reading

Improvement and Monitoring Plan (RIMP) detailing their instruction. Their progress will be monitored closely.

• The tests used to determine proficiency are:~AIR-English Language Arts (given to students statewide) administered in the fall and spring~MAP-Reading (given to students district-wide) administered in the fall, winter, and spring

• You will be notified of your child’s performance on these tests, and whether or not their current performance meets the state criteria.

• Your child only has to meet criteria once, though we hope that their scores show progress through the year.

Academic SubjectsEnglish Language Arts

• Spelling/Phonics – Unit Test• Grammar – Weekly Quiz• Writing – Three types of writing: Opinion/Persuasive,

Informative/Explanatory, Narrative – at least one graded piece per type per quarter

• Writing Process – 5 Steps: Prewrite, Draft, Revise, Edit, Publish

• Independent/Writing Workshop – student choice

Academic SubjectsMath

• 6 Areas: Numbers and Operations in Base Ten, Numbers and Operations with Fractions, Operations and Algebraic Thinking, Measurement and Data, Geometry, Standards for Mathematical Practices

• Intense focus on Multiplication and Division• Fact Fluency is IMPERATIVE! Students should come to

Third Grade with Mastery of Addition and Subtraction facts and should leave Third Grade with mastery of Multiplication and Division Facts. What is Mastery? Instant Recall, or 95 problems completed correctly in 5 minutes or less.

• Mid-Chapter Quiz• Chapter Test• Every Other Week Fact Test

Academic SubjectsSocial Studies

Taught by Mrs. Maxon

Theme: Communities Past, Present, Near and Far

• Four Units: History, Geography, Economics, Government

• Graded Class Projects• Graded Class Assignments• Unit Quizzes• Possible Unit Tests

Academic SubjectsScience

Taught by Miss Laseak

Theme: Interconnections Within Systems

• Four Units: Scientific Inquiry and Application; Earth and Space Science-Earth’s Resources; Life Science-Behavior, Growth, and Change; Physical Science-Matter and Forms of Energy

• Graded Class Projects• Graded Class Assignments• Unit Quizzes• Possible Unit Tests

ConferencesFall Conferences

• Held for EVERY student• Get the best choice of date/time and sign up

tonight!• Fill out a slip with your date and time, but don’t

worry – I’ll send you a few reminders!

Mid-Year Conferences• Held for only those students who are struggling to

progress academically, socially, or behaviorally• I’ll send you a form noting whether I require a

conference or not

• IMPORTANT! Don’t wait for conferences – contact me any time with questions or concerns!

Discipline Policy• It is my commitment to create in my classroom a

safe, warm, and inviting atmosphere for all children. I believe that a positive class community provides a solid foundation that learning is built on. We become like a school family.

• I believe that discipline can be maintained and mutual respect earned by providing a structured environment in which everyone is familiar with the classroom procedures and expectations.

• We spend a lot of time at the beginning of the year, and throughout the year as needed, establishing our classroom routines.

Discipline Policy• Our school uses a behavior chart system. • All students begin the day green – Ready to

Learn. • When a student chooses not to follow rules

or procedures, they will progress down the chart.

• Upon exhibiting appropriate behavior, they can progress back up to green.

• Behavior that goes above and beyond expectations allows students on green to progress up the chart.

• The goal is for every child to maintain or attain green.

• Students will note their color for the day in their assignment book.

Homework Policy• Homework may be assigned Monday through Friday. • Students should be able to complete homework with

little or no adult assistance• It is expected that a parent will check the

homework for neatness and accuracy before it is returned to school

• If your child is struggling to complete paper-pencil homework in less than 30 minutes, please let me know.

• 20 minutes of reading each night • 10 minutes of math fact practice each night• Monthly Book Report Project

Homework Policy• It’s important for students to develop and practice

organizational skills. • New to Third Grade is an assignment book that will be sent

home each evening noting the homework. • Initial each box in the assignment book after you review the

corresponding activity. Assignments will be checked for completion.

• Homework is sent in a “Homework Folder”. Please have your child return their work to this folder and bring it to class each day.

• Remember - the assignment book lists test dates, project due dates and other important information in addition to the daily homework assignments!

• Incomplete assignments will be stamped in the assignment book.

• It is helpful for children to enlist the help of a “study buddy”.

This and ThatABSENCES• Call in any absence to the school office attendance line at 975-3837 before

8:30 • If absent for two days or more, you can request their missed work on the

second day. Work can be picked up or sent home with a sibling. • Work not requested will be sent home when the child returns to school and

should be completed at home and returned by the date noted. • If your child will be on an extended absence due to a family vacation, you

must request forms from the office and turn them in prior to the absence.STUDENT WORK/TAKE-HOME FOLDER/HOMEWORK FOLDER• Graded student papers are sent home every Friday in the Take-Home Folder• Work that has been completed and/or checked together in class is sent

home daily • Please check and return this folder daily as it may contain test notifications,

newsletters, permission slips, or other important and timely information. • Any correspondence from home should be sent in the Take-Home Folder• The Homework Folder should only be used for homework assignments SUPPLIES

• When students run low on supplies, they will bring you a notice informing you of what needs to be replenished

This and ThatBIRTHDAYS• Student birthdays are announced in the morning • Students receive recognition from the principal and the teacher• If you would like, you can send in a treat in the morning for your child

to share at lunchtime. • Send any treats such as cookies, brownies, a crispy treat, or candy

portioned in individual serving sizes • We can not accommodate cakes or other items that are not in

individual sizes. • Non-food treats such as pencils, erasers, or small crafts are always a

great idea• Summer birthdays are recognized at the end of the school year

BIRTHDAY PARTY INVITATIONS• At Edison, we do not allow party invitations to be passed out at school. • Soon after the school year begins, I will send home a Class Roster of

names and addresses of students in the class. • Please refer to the class roster to send party invitations

This and ThatCHANGE IN AFTERNOON TRANSPORTATION• MUST BE IN WRITING!• ONLY CALL THE SCHOOL OFFICE IN THE EVENT OF AN

EMERGENCY!• If you will be making frequent changes, please ask me for a set of

convenient forms• Please remember - these guidelines are for your child’s safety!!!

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LET’S STAY IN TOUCH!We are partners in your child’s education!

• Class Website www.mrsmaxonterrificinthird.wordpress.com

• Twitter @RuthMaxon• E-Mail ruth.maxon@weschools.org• VoiceMail (440) 283-4421

• I e-mail every Monday afternoon to give families a quick snapshot of what’s happening in class.• I e-mail a monthly newsletter and Other newsletters about important information on an as-needed basis.