Mrs. Gilbert’s Globe Travelers

Class Handbook

All You Need to Know From A-ZWelcome to third grade! I am very excited to have your child in my class.

We will be building a community within our classroom and experiencing what it feels like to try our best everyday. Your child will be building upon knowledge from previous grades and learning many new skills that will encourage your child to take steps in their learning they may never have taken before. I look forward to being a part of your child’s educational journey and to our partnership.

Communication between parent, teacher, and student is very important and this handbook will help answer many questions you may have throughout the coming year.

Agenda

Your child will write daily homework assignments and reminders in their agenda, which is provided by the school.

Any notices of dismissal changes need to be written on a separate piece of paper since these notes need to be sent to the office.

Assessments

DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment) is given up to three times a year (fall, winter, spring). This assessment gives valuable information regarding the reading comprehension and fluency skill levels of your child. It also is used as a factor in determining your child’s reading level.

PALS (Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening) can also be given up to three times a year. This screening gives insight to your child’s knowledge of important literacy fundamentals.

SOL s(Standard of Learning Test) are given in May. Students are tested in reading and math. These are untimed tests and they test concepts learned throughout the school year.

Student will be assessed throughout each unit, however, the final assessment will be a unit test. Students can use their interactive notebooks as a study tool. Grades will be sent home in a timely manner.

Birthdays

Your child’s birthday is a very special time for them. You are invited to donate a book to the classroom library or come into the classroom to read a special story to the class. The Liberty handbook states that parents may not bring in treats for the class. I appreciate you respecting this request.

Contact

The best way to contact me is through e-mail. My e-mail address is leah.gilbert@lcps.org. I typically respond to any questions or concerns within 24 hours. If it is an urgent matter, please contact the office.

Field trips

Field trip information will be sent home at a later date.

Fun Friday

Every Friday from 2:00-2:20, students have the opportunity to participate in Fun Friday. In order for a student to attend, all work for the week has to be completed and turned in. Also, the student must have $4.00 for the week in the first quarter and $4.25 the rest of the school year.

Grading

Students will receive number grades on their classroom assessments and assignments.

4 Exceeds standard3 Meets standard2 Progressing towards Standard1 Below standard

The grading system for the report card is as follows:

A- OutstandingB- Very GoodC-Satisfactory

D- Needs ImprovementF- Not Performing

Letter grades will be given in the core subject areas on the report card, however they will receive number grades on all class assessments. A student who is meeting the state standards will receive a 3 on their assessments. In order to receive a 4 students must be able to go above and beyond the state standards. They must be able to apply more complex concepts of a level 3. Students will also be able to earn “pluses” on their classroom assessments (ex. 3+), which means they are between levels.

Homework

Homework will be given most nights and should take the child no longer than thirty minutes to complete. If your child has been diligently working on the assignments for over thirty minutes, feel free to use your judgment and stop their work. Please make a note on the paper alerting the teacher to this decision.

Interactive Notebooks In the content areas students will keep an interactive notebook. The

purpose of the Interactive Notebook is to help students learn and remember important concepts. The Interactive Notebook uses the right and left brain hemispheres to help students sort, categorize and be creative with the content they are learning. Notebooks will often be sent home as a study guide to review material or prepare for tests. Parents are more than welcome to come in to class to view these notebooks at anytime.

Interims

Interims will be sent if your child is in jeopardy of receiving below a 2 or a D in one or more areas for the upcoming report card. If no interim is received you can assume your child is performing at or above grade level expectations.

Lunch

Lunch is every day from 12:15-12:45.

Money

Please send all money to school in an envelope. Mark the envelope with:

o Your child’s nameo The amount of moneyo Purpose of money (lunch, field trip, book order)o My nameo If writing a check, make sure your student’s id number is written on

the memo line This helps me and reduces the likelihood of errors.

Quarter sheet

Each student will have a weekly quarter sheet glued into their agenda. Students will lose or gain quarters based on behavior. Parents should review the agenda and initial the quarter sheet each night.

Reassessment

A student that receives a 1 or 1+ on a unit assessment will be given a mandatory retest. A note will be stapled on the original test with the retest date and suggested study materials.

A student that receives a 2 or 2+ on a unit assessment may request a retake form to fill out and return the day of the test.

There will be no retests for word study tests or unit quizzes. A student may receive no higher than a 3 on a retest.

Scholastic

Scholastic book orders are a great way to add to both your child’s home library and the classroom library. Book orders are sent home monthly and will be marked with the due date for that month. Only checks made out to Scholastic will be accepted.

Snack

Students are responsible for bringing their own daily snack. Extras will not be provided.

Snacks need to be healthy. Yogurt, fruit cups, carrots, or celery sticks are all great items to bring. If a student brings a snack that is not healthy, they will not be able to eat it. If the snack requires a spoon, please make sure it is included. Students should be able to open and eat their snack independently.

Please do not send any snacks that include nuts or have been processed on machines that could have come in contact with nuts!

Specials Schedule

Monday: Art Tuesday: Music Wednesday: PE and Library Thursday: PE, SEARCH, and Guidance Friday: Music

*SEARCH is every other week*Guidance is every three weeks

Thursday Folders

Each Thursday your child will bring home a Thursday folder. The folder will contain important PTA information, along with any notes or

newsletters from myself or the third grade team. Please return the Thursday folder each Friday only with paperwork that

needs to be returned. Student work may stay at home.

Website

Please check the third grade Liberty website for important dates, nine week plans, and educational resources. To reach the third grade section of the Liberty website go to the homepage at http://cmsweb2.loudoun.k12.va.us/liberty/site/default.asp , highlight the tab labeled classrooms and select third grade. Additional learning links and SOL resources can be found by highlighting the tab labeled for students and selected either 3-5 learning links or SOL Preparation.

Weekly Updates

Weekly Updates will be e-mailed on Fridays. Please inform me if you need a paper copy. The memo will contain information on what we have done during the week, what units are coming up, and important dates.

Word Study

Students will have ten words they are responsible to learn each week. They are also responsible for learning the patterns. Students will work with their words and patterns in class, as well as at home. In order to receive a 3 on the word study quiz they must be able to spell and sort their words. Students who wish to receive a 4 on their quiz must spell two bonus words correctly and sort them into the correct word study pattern.