Welcome to 3rd Grade!

Mrs. Geller & Dr. Whittaker’s Class

B-15

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All About Mrs. Geller

• Central Bucks High School East

• University of Delaware– Elementary/Special

Education• Holy Family University

– Reading Specialist• 8th year teaching at

Hillcrest

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All About Dr. Whittaker

• B.S. in Psychology from William Smith College

• Ed.M. from Boston University in Special Education

• Ed.D. from Arcadia University

• Educator since 1973• At Hillcrest for 20 years• Love Music and Theater

All About Mrs. Montemarano

• Holy Family UniversityElementary/SpecialEducation major graduating in December

• Community volunteer working with children in Lower Bucks County since 1990.

• I love my family. Married for 25 years and have 3 sons, whose lives have led me to pursue a teaching career.

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Our Goals• To create a classroom

environment in which students are comfortable and safe

• To help students develop a love of learning and enhance self confidence and responsibility.

• To provide opportunities for– Creative thinking– Problem solving– Positive peer relationships– Positive communication skills– Asking questions– Thinking critically– Teamwork– Differentiated

instruction/activities

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Our Schedule8:55-9:10 Homeroom9:10-9:20 Lunch Count/ Morning Work9:20-10:20 Math10:20-10:35 Snack, Read Aloud, Bathroom10:35-11:45 Language Arts11:45-12:25 Special12:30-1:30 Recess/Lunch1:30-2:00 Language Arts2:00-2:30 Social Studies2:30-2:45 Recess2:50-3:30 Science3:30-3:40 Pack Up/Dismissal

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Math• Spiral Curriculum, a

lot of new material building upon familiar concepts

• Quizzes, chapter tests, district tests, performance tasks

• Homework every night reinforces what was learned in school!!

Math• New math program –

Envision• Resources on the

internet – for review and practice www.pearsonsuccessnet.com

– Username: Student ID #– Password: password

• District letter regarding math program – Click here

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Language Arts• Reading

– 25 books read– Reading Logs – 60 minutes

per week, signed by parents!!! Due every Friday.

– Must read a variety of genres as listed on the paper in students hw folder

– When students finish a book, they are to complete a summary card for bulletin board

– Instruction in vocabulary, comprehension and fluency

– Listening and responding to text

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Language Arts• Writing

– Graded on 5 domains – Focus, Content, Organization, Style, and Conventions

– Narratives, friendly letters, directions/ instructions, research, persuasive writing, poetry

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Language Arts• Spelling

– weekly quizzes (Thursdays)

• Daily Language Review– Quick daily grammar

activity• Cursive Writing• Typin’ Time

– Keyboarding skills

Spelling• Weekly spelling lists • Pre-tests on Friday

– Homework due the following Thursday (must choose one activity from the list in their journal)

– Tests the following Thursday

– Challenge words – take the challenge only if you have 3 words or fewer wrong on the pre-test

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Social Studies• Current Events• Topics

– Communities– Government– Geography– Citizenship

• Quizzes, chapter tests, quarterly tests, research project

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Science• 3 main topics

– Earth Materials– Sound– Plants

• Lessons in personal safety and AIDS – Second Step lessons on

getting along with others• Group Work• Teacher prepared

quizzes, performance tasks, and lab reports

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Homework• Math • Reading (60 minutes

per week)• Spelling• Occasionally

science/social studies/studying for tests

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Homework• 3 assignments missed –

parents begin signing hw record sheet

• We encourage parents to work with children and check to make sure hw is complete each night

• Please sign the assignment book each night

• Questions on hw??? Come see Mrs. Geller or Dr. Whittaker first thing in the morning or at clinic.

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Very Important Person• Each week a person will be

nominated as the Very Important Person.

• We will let the person know a week ahead of time so they are prepared.

• They may hang their things and present on their given Friday will take their things home the following Friday.

• They should fill out the poster provided and can bring in photos and keepsakes that are special to them to present to the class.

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Report Card• The 3rd Grade Report

Card is different from 2nd. Students will be graded in all marking periods using 4, 3+, 3, 2, 1

• Here is a link to the 3rd Grade Report Card

3rd Grade Report Card

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Grading

• 94%-100% 4 (Advanced)• 90%-93% 3+ • 80%-89% 3 (Proficient)• 70%-79% 2 (Basic)• >69% 1 (Below Basic)

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Snack/Recess• Snack – We encourage

healthy snacks. Only have about 10 minutes so should be something quick and easy.

• Recess is usually outside – students should dress for the weather

• Clinic available most days for make up work and extra help.

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Music Lessons / Recorder

• Students are responsible for the work they miss when they are out at music lessons.

• Recorder will be used in music. Students are expected to have it each Tuesday and should practice at home.

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Birthday Parties/ Invitations

• Students are welcome to bring in birthday treats to celebrate their birthdays. We have no known allergies in our class at this point.

• Please do not bring birthday party invitations to school unless you plan to invite the entire class.

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Absent Notes/ Tardiness

• Please send in absent notes when your child is absent

• Hillcrest emphasizes promptness. Children should be in school by 9:10 and should sign in at the office if late.

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Communication• Please contact us

anytime. Email is quick and easy. Please give us 24 hours to return emails and phone calls.

• Emergencies should not be left on teacher voicemails or emails. Call the office and leave a message with them.

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Communication• E-Folders – In an effort to go

paperless, many forms and papers will be available on the internet. If you don’t have computer access, please let us know and we will have papers available. All trip papers and papers deemed high importance will be sent home.

• Website – Can check for announcements. – Go to Hillcrest Website– Click on classrooms and click

on 3rd Grade. Click on Mrs. Geller & Dr. Whittaker.

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In Conclusion• Success will be achieved

when the teacher, parent, and student are all working together.

• If you ever have any questions or concerns, please contact us and we will be happy to help in any way that we can.

• Let’s make this your child’s best school year yet!!!• Any Questions???

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Check out our room!

• Look at how many books we have read on our reading chart.

• Check at our neat desks. • Look at our narratives and

self portraits hanging in the hallway.

• Write a note to your child (on the back of their note) for them to read when they come in tomorrow. Leave it on their desk.

• Leave yellow survey forms on your child’s desk.