Welcome toMs. Roe’s

3rd Grade English Language Arts Class

Room E1082019-2020

Student and Parent Handbook

Teacher Contact Information:Lindsay Roe

Phone: (662) 890-9654Email: lindsay.roe@dcsms.org

Table of ContentsMeet the Teacher…3-42019-2020 School Calendar…5Daily Schedule…6Arrival and Dismissal…7Parent Communication…8Attendance and Absences…9Behavior and Discipline…10-11Grades and Curriculum…12Statewide Assessment…14Homework…15Teacher Website…16Snack…16Lunch…17Birthdays…18Parties/Special Occasions…18

Money…19Activity Schedule…19Recess…20Personal Items…20School Supplies…21Supply Fee…22Classroom Wish list…23

Meet the teacher

Dear Parents,Let me start by saying how excited I am to be your child’s 3rd

grade English language arts teacher. We are going to have a fantastic year! I feel so blessed to have your child in my classroom, and I would like to introduce myself to you.

I was born in Memphis, TN and raised in Olive Branch, MS. I graduated from Center Hill High School in 2015, and I attended Delta State University for one semester during the fall of 2015. After this, I transferred to the University of Mississippi and graduated from there with a Bachelor of Art degree in Elementary Education with a Special Education Endorsement. I am currently pursuing my master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Ole Miss. I plan to graduate with this degree in the spring of 2020.

This is my first-year teaching, and I am both ecstatic and humbled to teach your child all the skills that we will cover this year—reading, writing, speaking, listening, etc. We will learn all these skills with research-based approaches so that I can assure your child is learning and absorbing all of the knowledge they will be taught.

Whenever I am not teaching, I am spending time with my family or dog. My parents live in Olive Branch, MS along with my little brother. My older sister lives in Memphis, TN with her husband, and she works as an accountant. We value family time and like to spend time in the kitchen, spend time outdoors, and spend time with each other. While I was in college, I fell in love with a rescue dog and adopted her from Tunica Humane Society.

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Elsey is a 3-year-old mixed breed (I am thinking German Shepherd and Pitbull terrier), and she is my fur baby!

I am so looking forward to working with you and your child this year. I am also excited about meeting all of my students who will be rotating to me every day from Mrs. Giannini’s class for English language arts. Hopefully, this handbook will help everyone as we begin our partnership. The Desoto County School student handbook is very detailed, so this handbook should address any questions or concerns that pertain to individual class policies. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. I am looking forward to working with you and your child this year.

Sincerely, Lindsay Roe

2019-2020

School Calendar

August 2, 2019 Teachers’ First DayAugust 7, 2019  Students’ First DaySeptember 2, 2019  Labor Day HolidayOctober 14, 2019  Columbus Day HolidayNovember 5, 2019   Professional Development DayNovember 25-29, 2019 Thanksgiving HolidaysDecember 20, 2019 End First SemesterDecember 23, 2019 - January 1, 2020  Christmas Holidays

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January 2-3, 2020   Professional Development DaysJanuary 6, 2020 Students ReturnJanuary 20, 2020 Martin Luther King, Jr. HolidayFebruary 17, 2020 President’s Day Holiday

(Tentative)March 9-13, 2020 Spring BreakApril 10, 2020 Good Friday HolidayApril 13, 2020 Easter Break (Tentative)May 21, 2020 Students’ Last Day (Tentative)May 22, 2020 Teachers’ Last Day (Tentative)Tentative Make-up Days: February 17, April 13, May 22, and May 26

Daily Schedule

Roe E108

8:10-8:30 Arrival Procedures8:30-11:40 English Language Arts with Homeroom11:45-3:00 English Language Arts with Switch Class3:10-3:18 Dismissal Procedures

Breaks

9:35-10:20 Activity12:20-12:45 Lunch1:30-2:00 Recess

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Arrival and DismissalThe doors will open to the school building beginning at 7:55 AM.

Students will be prompted to enter the school, sit outside their homeroom teacher’s door, and be welcomed in at 8:10. Students who arrive after 8:30 are considered tardy and must check-in through the front office.

Car riders are dismissed beginning at 3:10PM and should be picked up by 3:30. The car rider line moves quickly after the first couple of weeks of school. Bus riders and daycare buses will load and depart by 3:18. YMCA students dismiss with bus riders and are escorted to the cafeteria.

Dismissal routines will be determined based off the information you provide on the transportation sheet. If your student will be leaving a different way than usual one day, please send a note in the child’s folder, and a text message follow-up would also help. You cannot be too vocal about dismissal changes. Mid-day dismissal method changes are STRONGLY discouraged, but in the event of an emergency, please contact the office AND send a message via school status directly to me, to ensure the change will be noticed.

Emergency closings may occur in times of inclement weather, natural disasters, etc. Parents will receive automated messages communicating these emergency closings. Please have a dismissal plan in place for your child in the event of an emergency closing and have all your contact information updated. You will receive a form later this year to help us document your dismissal plan.Parent Communication

A newsletter with general class communication about what we will be learning will be sent home each week. Mrs. Giannini and I will partner on this newsletter, so both of our classes will receive the same information. This will be in your child’s daily (green) folder. Daily information regarding academics, homework, and behavior will be communicated in your child’s planner. Having an agenda will help develop your student’s organizational skills. I ask that you sign the agenda every Thursday night to indicate that you have seen what your student is recording.

If at any time you would like to communicate with me other than email or text, please write me a note in the agenda and I will check

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them on Friday mornings. Class and school wide communication will be sent out via class dojo and/or school status. I will respond to any questions/concerns you have within 24 hours, with an exception for the weekend. If I receive any messages over the weekend, I will not respond until Sunday evening unless the message is urgent.

To set up a conference with me at any time during the year, please send a note with your child or message me to schedule our conference. I will require advanced notices for conferences so that your child and I can be prepared to address everything you would like to communicate during the conference.

Blue test folders will be sent home bi-weekly to communicate academic performance. They will include work from mine and Mrs. Giannini’s class. The purpose of sending folders home bi-weekly is so that I, you, and your child can note patterns of progress while identifying problems in time to reteach and provide additional support. I want you to see the leaps and strides your student is making, so I think that sending folders home bi-weekly will provide the best opportunity for reflection for me, you, and your student. Mrs. Giannini and I will attempt to send test folders home on the same day twice a month. You will be notified when test folders are sent home, and students will be given 3 days to bring home their signed test folders. Students will also receive an interim progress report and report card each nine weeks.

Attendance and AbsencesIf at all possible, please send a note, a text, or a school status

message if a student is going to be absent. Please see the school handbook for information regarding excused versus unexcused absences. If you know in advance that your student will be absent, please request work as far in advance as possible, and I will attempt to gather materials to send home. However, because so much of our learning happens in centers with hands-on materials, not all classwork can be completed outside of the classroom. For this reason, I want to encourage you to make sure your student exudes good attendance. Any ill students may return to school when they are fever and/or symptom-free for 24 hours.

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Behavior and DisciplineI believe that all students are capable of following our classroom

rules and practicing good behavior. A respectful, orderly classroom is absolutely necessary for productive learning. I expect students to act according to our school rules and classroom rules anytime they are in the building. In order to have a peaceful and respectful classroom, we will uphold “whole brain teaching” rules:

1. Follow directions quickly!2. Raise your hand for permission to speak.3. Make Smart choices.4. Keep our learning community happy!Mrs. Giannini and I will be using class dojo to keep parents and

students informed of behavior. If your student follows the rules and behaves appropriately in class, he/she will receive a dojo. This will apply for both classes, so students have the opportunity to receive a minimum of 2 dojos per day. If a child is breaking one of the rules, he/she will first receive a warning. If he/she continues to break a rule, then he/she will fill out a reflection slip. Students will be expected to take the slip home, have a parent/caregiver sign the slip, and then turn the slip in the next day to the teacher. If the reflection slip comes back the next day signed to show that you are aware of the misbehavior, the student will receive a dojo for being responsible. Thus, students will always have the opportunity for rewards! Mrs. Giannini and I hope this system will make students more accountable for their behavior at school.

Mrs. Giannini and I will have class-wide and individual rewards for dojo points. We uphold positive reinforcement, so we hope and know that encouraging good behavior and rule-abiding students will create a respectful classroom atmosphere.

If you choose to create a parent dojo account, you will be able to view reports, read and send messages, and view Story and Portfolio posts. Class dojo will send you an email every Friday (if there's new data available) to remind you to login to view your child’s behavior.

Students who display exceptional conduct will receive a “Pawsome,” which comes with positive public recognition and the potential for prizes.

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Discipline is generally progressive in our classroom. Struggling students receive a warning, a consequence (reflection slip), parent contact with potential for a conference, and then an office referral. Violent, threatening, or repeated disruptive behavior may be addressed immediately with an office referral.

The behavior management system may change based on the needs of the students. However, the expectation for appropriate behavior will not change.

Grades and CurriculumStudents in 3rd grade are graded based off the traditional A, B, C, D,

F grading system. The system is as follows: A: 90-100 B: 80-89 C: 70-79 D: 65-69 F: 65 and below

Grades consist of a combination of assessment grades and classwork grades. Students must maintain above a 65% average for the year to advance to 4th grade.

For third grade science and social studies, the following grading scale is used: S – SatisfactoryN – Needs Improvement U – Unsatisfactory

Curriculum in all of the third-grade classrooms follows the Common Core Standards. English Language Arts (ELA) Reading is the most important and perhaps the most challenging skill young children acquire. The primary focus in third grade reading

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instruction is to continue to build reading skills and increase fluency and comprehension using the common core standards.

1. Literature: Key ideas and details, craft and structure, integration of knowledge and ideas, and range of reading and level of text complexity.

2. Informational Text: Key ideas and details, craft and structure, integration of knowledge and ideas, and range of reading and level of text complexity.

3. Foundational Skills: Phonics and word recognition, and fluency. 4. Writing: Text types and purposes and production, distribution of

writing, research to build and present knowledge, and range of writing.

5. Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and collaboration, presentation of knowledge and ideas.

6. Language: Conventions of standard English, knowledge of language, and vocabulary acquisition and use

Science The Foss program provides a science curriculum which includes the

study of… Motion and matter Structures of life Water and climate

We will focus on the inquiry process of science and how to predict and record outcomes. We will practice organizing data and communicating results of an investigation.

Social StudiesThe 2018 Mississippi College-and Career-Readiness

Standards for the Social Studies is comprised of five (5) essential content strands: Civics, Civil Rights, Economics, Geography, and History. In third grade, the standards focus on citizenship in local government. We will use the standards to develop a more thorough understanding of what it means to be a citizen, and projects will be developed throughout the year to engage students as social learners.

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Statewide assessmentThe Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) measures

students’ knowledge, skills, and academic growth in grades 3-8. Assessments tell you about students’ progress on the path to future success, whether that’s the next grade or the next course. They measure what students know and can do based on learning goals for the grade or course.

Students in pre-kindergarten through grade 3 are assessed periodically to determine what help they need to develop early literacy skills. Grade 3 students take a test at the end of the year to qualify for promotion to grade 4.

Beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, a student scoring at the lowest two achievement levels in reading on the established state assessment for third grade will not be promoted to fourth grade unless the student meets the good cause exemptions for promotion as outlined in the Mississippi Literacy-based Promotion Act.Homework

Written homework will rarely be assigned for my English language arts classroom. Rather, students will be assigned to read for at least 20 minutes a night. If it becomes apparent to me that students are not reading or you think that your student needs more accountability, I will provide reading logs for students to document their reading and for you to sign off on. I require that your child reads 2o minutes a night based off the following data:

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Rather than assign written homework to your student each week, I will develop “Kids into Thinking” (KITs) for you to complete as a family. These will include family literacy activities to do at home that will help support learning for that week. The kits will include games and activities for your family to participate in, and they will help your child develop in the content they are learning at school. These are not required! They are simply encouraged

In addition to KITs, students can practice playing games and learning spelling words for the week on spellingcity.com. They will have a personalized log in once school starts, and this resource will also be linked on my website.

Teacher WebsiteOn the Pleasant Hill website, you can find a link to my teacher website (Lindsay Roe). Listed under my website will be our weekly newsletter as well as resources for you to look at if you think your child needs more help in what we are studying that week. I will also post any class wide announcements on the teacher website. This will be an excellent resource for you and your student, so feel free to utilize it.

SnackStudents are permitted to bring a snack that can be consumed

after they come back from activity. The Farmer’s Market sells snacks when the building opens and donuts are also for sale on certain days. The Farmer’s Market menu can be viewed on the school’s website. Students may also purchase Chick-Fil-A on Wednesdays. Chick-Fil-A money can be sent in on Monday’s or Tuesday’s.

I encourage students to bring spill-proof water bottles. Juice and dyed drinks are not permitted in the classroom, as these can leave a sticky mess or a stain when spilled. However, students will always be allowed to have their water bottles on/near them and be allowed to refill their bottles at scheduled times throughout the school day.

LunchOur lunch time is from 12:20-12:45. No visitors will be allowed

while students are learning the cafeteria procedures (typically, before

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Labor Day). The only exception to this rule will be if a student is celebrating his/her birthday in August. Students may have visitors during lunch time up to 4 times per month. This policy was put in place due to the growing student body and limited space in the cafeteria.

Students may bring lunch from home or purchase it from the cafeteria for $2.75. Milk can be purchased from the cafeteria for 50 cents. Mississippi is not an a la carte state, meaning students may not purchase any individual items besides milk. This includes any extras that the cafeteria sells (juice and chips).

You may pay weekly, monthly, or for the year. Payments can be sent in the child’s folder or can be paid online via credit card, debit card or online check by visiting www.desoto.k12.ms.us. You will need your child’s ID number to do this, which you can obtain through the office. Menus are posted online and can help you and your child plan for any allergy needs, dietary needs, or taste preferences.

BirthdaysParents are welcome to send a small treat for the class in honor

of their student’s birthday if they wish to do so. Children with summer birthdays may bring treats on their half-birthday if desired. Treats will be eaten during lunch time (12:40-1:05). Students will be eating lunch with their switch class teacher, not their homeroom teacher, so please notify the switch teacher in advance if you are bringing treats. We have several students with allergies and advanced notice allows us to make accommodations.

If your child is having a birthday party and wishes to pass out invitations at school, please note that DeSoto County Schools requires your child to provide party invitations for all students in the class. If your child fails to do this, I cannot allow he/she to pass out any invitations.

Parties/Special OccasionsThird grade is going to be celebration and party central! We will

have many events planned, all of which you will be notified of in advance. All parties and celebrations will be communicated electronically, through newsletters, and through notes in students’

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folders. For these events to flow smoothly, we may ask for volunteers or donations, which we will request in written notice. Thank you in advanced for all of your help on our celebrations!

MoneyAll money –whether it is for lunch, parties, field trips, ice cream,

fund raisers, etc. – should be sent to school in the child’s folder, along with a note with what the money is for. With the exception of money for donuts or Farmer’s Market treats (things purchased in the rotunda prior to coming to the classroom), please do not send any money in a student’s pocket or loose in their backpacks, as there is a lot of room for error in getting that money to its intended destination. Pleasant Hill accepts checks from our families.

In addition, once routines are established, students will be responsible for checking their folders and turning in any forms and/or money in to my basket when requested.

Activity ScheduleStudents participate in extracurricular education from 9:35-10:20 each day. Activity classes include:

1. Library (A)2. Music (B)3. Computer (C)4. Health (D)5. Art (E)6. Typing (F)7. P.E. (G)

A schedule will be sent home each month to help everyone remember which day we are on.

Students will visit the school library once every 7 school days. They will be permitted to check out books, assuming their previous book is returned. Pleasant Hill Elementary also offers Early Morning Checkout for those students who arrive early and who wish to change their library book. Please note that students will always have a book from my classroom library, so they will always have a text to read at school.

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Students are required to wear tennis shoes on P.E. and Health days. Students may leave a labeled pair in their cubby if this is easiest for our families. Those students without appropriate footwear may be excluded from physical activities and given an alternative assignment.

Recess We will go outside everyday unless there is precipitation, or the

temperature is above 95 or below 40. Please check the weather forecast each day to ensure your child has appropriate attire. The playground has gravel and dust, so old, closed-toed shoes are encouraged. If you choose to send tennis shoes to store for P.E., these could double as recess shoes.

Personal Items Personal items, including any toys or electronics that students

may use during before or after school care, must remain in backpacks during all instructional times. Students will receive a reminder about this rule upon the item’s first appearance. If the student chooses to again pull the item out of his or her backpack, I will keep the item until the end of the day and then return it during dismissal. You will be notified if the item becomes an issue during instructional time.

Parents are encouraged to label all personal items, including jackets, lunchboxes, etc. This helps us recover lost items more easily, and also helps us differentiate between items when two or more students own identical items.

School Supplies Cleaning supplies, paper products and plastic bags will become

community supplies. Students will be responsible with caring for and keeping track of their own school supplies. Students who lose, damage, or use all of their supplies will have a note sent home in their planner requesting replacements.

Folder colors ARE important because it allows for improved organization and speed when handling them. Please be sure the zipper pouch has a clear or mesh pocket. It will be secured in the child’s green daily folder, and all money and notes should be sent in this

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pouch and labeled. This will make it easier for students to pull out what needs to be turned in, secure it to their clip, and put it in my basket.

Supply Fee The 3rd grade supply fee for this year will be $31.00. This is in

addition to the supplies listed above, and covers things like Accelerated Reader, online skills practice, and instructional materials we buy from a vendor. Please send this fee back in the envelope provided in the folder.

Classroom Wishlist

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Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/XORJ196D9IV4?

ref_=wl_shareScholastic Book Club link:

https://orders.scholastic.com/VHBFXAll of these items are linked on my amazon classroom wish list (they will be removed once purchased from the list). Any contributions will

be GREATLY appreciated!If you would like to have items shipped to the school rather than

having your child bring something in, just have it shipped to the school with my name in the shipping address label.

For your students:o A pencil pouch for writing utensilso Headphones

For our classroom:o Flexible seating options, such as floor seats/cushions, story time

cushions, etc.o Tennis balls (for bottom of chairs/desks)o Heavy duty pencil sharpenero Essential oils for diffusero Supply Caddieso Small whiteboards o Expo markerso White board eraserso Cap erasers

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o Snackso Animal crackers, cheez its, fruit pouches, bottles of water,

etc. (things with a long shelf life) o Library items

o BOOKS! Our scholastic book club class code is VHBFX. I have a

wish list of books, but please do not feel restricted to this list. Feel free to shop around, donate old copies, or look at other resources. Shopping through scholastic just allows our classroom to receive more books as rewards because of your purchase.

o Pillows/Floor cushionso Bean bag chairso Saucer chairs

o Prize box itemso Candyo Stickerso Toys

Inexpensive items that your child enjoys, such as playdoh, jump ropes, etc. These rewards will be fairly easy for students to attain. The more difficult, higher-worth items will be geared toward behavior rewards (not wearing shoes during class, wearing a hat all day, sitting anywhere in the lunchroom, etc.).

o Educational Games Classwords Vocabulary Game, Grade 3 (grades 2-5 are

also welcome!) Educational Insights Blurt Game

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Puzzles Simple board games (child appropriate please)

o Post it noteso Post it pop up dispensero Flair pens o Sharpies

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