Syllabus for Mrs. Key s Third Grade Class 2012-2013 Welcome Elementary School Room 236 ~ 355-3926 srkey@greenville.k12.sc.us
Mrs. Key s Daily Schedule 7:45 8:10 Morning Routine 8:10 8:30 Calendar Math/Math Games 8:30 9:20 Math 9:20 1:15 Literacy Block Working with Words Time with Text Guided Comprehension Writing 10:30 11:15 Related Arts Monday Music Tuesday PE Wednesday Computer Lab Thursday Media Center Friday Art 11:15 11:40 Recess 11:40 12:10 Lunch 1:15 1:45 Science/Social Studies 1:45 2:15 Science/Social Studies 2:15 Dismissal Preparation
Grade Level Standards A complete list of all third grade standards can be found at www.myscschools.gov As an overview, please use the Third Grade Long Range Plans as a reference. Included there are: Important Dates Math Social Studies Science Language Arts Grammar Writing Themes Writing Lessons Instructional Materials and Resources Novel Studies Best Christmas Pageant Ever Magic Tree House-Civil War on Sunday Magic Tree House-Revolutionary War on Wednesday Textbooks Math- Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Reading: Houghton Mifflin Social Studies- Scott Foresman South Carolina Science- Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Health- Harcourt Health and Fitness Additional Resources Dictionary Theasarus Approved Internet Sites Compass Learning Raz-Kids
Assessments and Grading Standardized Testing: We give two standardized tests each year at the third grade level. 1. MAP testing: This is a test given on computers twice a year; once in the fall, and once in the spring. This test shows the teacher how much the student has grown over the past year. 2. PASS testing: This test is administered in the spring and is the most important of the two tests. Grading Procedures: In each subject area, the teacher will assess the students in many different ways to accommodate all learning styles. This includes: teacher-made tests, textbook tests, projects, and daily assignments. All of this will count toward the students nine weeks grade. Schedule for Major Assessments In the areas of Reading, Spelling, Grammar, and Math, tests and quizzes will be given on a weekly basis. In the areas of Science and Social Studies, weekly quizzes will be given, along with unit tests which will be given at the conclusion of each unit. Generally, these units last 3 weeks, so you can expect a unit test at the end of the unit. Students will be given study guides for assessments whenever possible to help the child be successful on the assessments. Progress Reports and Report Cards Students will receive some type of report every 4 ½ weeks. Both type of reports must be signed and sent back to school the following day. Assignment Policy: All assignments are due the designated due date unless other arrangements have been made previously between the parent and the teacher. These arrangements should be discussed prior to the day the assignment is due. Homework Homework is assigned Monday-Thursday evenings. There is no homework assigned on weekends. Typically, homework consists of spending a minimum of 20 minutes reading and some sort of math practice assignment. There will sometimes be the need to review for a
quiz or test and/or go over word wall words. Students are to write homework in their daily agendas each morning during the morning routine. Students are expected to complete all assignments and bring the completed assignments to school the following day. Homework will be checked on a daily basis. Any student whose homework isn t complete or is left at home will complete the assignment after finishing lunch or during other free time. Grading Scale: 100-93 A 92-85 B 84-77 C 76-70 D Below 70 U 61 Floor Greenville County uses a grading floor of 61. Any score less than a 61 will be counted towards the child s grade as a 61. This is to ensure that students with failing grades will be given a fair chance to bring up any failing grades. Papers may still come home with actual scores so that parents know exactly how their child is doing academically, but the recorded score will not go below 61. Procedures for Non-Instructional Routines The flow of the classroom environment is dependent on efficient transitions and cooperation with all of the procedures. The following are procedures that are not posted as classroom rules. However, it is expected of all students that they follow these procedures. These procedures are drilled at the start of the year to ensure understanding by the students. Cooperation from the students in following these procedures will help to minimize disruptions and maximize instructional time. Early Morning Routine Students arriving at school before 7:25 AM enter the school building in the back and go directly to the cafeteria. Students are dismissed from the cafeteria to the grade level holding area at 7:15 AM. Morning drop off should begin no earlier than 7:15 AM. No one
is here to supervise your child before 7:15 AM, so please wait until then to drop your child off. Students who arrive after 8:00 will be counted tardy. These students cannot enter the classroom until they have checked in at the office and received a tardy slip from the office. Morning Classroom Routine Students begin arriving at the door at 7:40. As the students enter the classroom, we greet each other. The students have a Morning Procedures flow chart that they follow to prepare for the day. The steps include: 1. Enter the room quietly 2. Unpack your book bag 3. Write your homework in agenda 4. Use the restroom and get water 5. Get a sharpened pencil 6. Start your morning work Students are expected to complete morning work independently and silently unless otherwise instructed. Attendance Each morning attendance will be taken by teacher observation of the students. Students need to be here daily and on time in order to be successful in class. By state law, any days missed in excess of ten days require a medical excuse. Monday Papers Each student will be given a packet of graded papers each Monday. These papers are to be signed each week and returned on Tuesday. Review the papers with your child and sign the attached sheet. Parent phone calls, emails, or notes are welcome concerning anything sent home. I will also make contact as necessary. Restroom Procedures: We have one restroom in our classroom. Students are allowed to use the restroom while working independently during class. Students are also allowed to go to the restroom before related arts, before lunch and after lunch. Procedure for Sharpening Pencils: I have a container of sharpened pencils for students to use. This allows students to have an available pencil at all times. Students are also allowed to bring mechanical pencils or pop-a-point pencils if they are able to use these in a mature manner. Hand-held pencil sharpeners are also fine, as long as no shavings end up inside the desk or on the floor.
Lunch: Students will go to their assigned lunch lines quietly. After they have been through the line, students may sit down and begin eating. To ensure the students finish their lunch in the allotted time, the first ten minutes of lunch are silent. After ten minutes, the teacher will allow the students to whisper. Food is not to be taken out of the cafeteria and therefore lunches must be finished during lunch time. Traveling School Grounds: When traveling school grounds, the students line up in a straight, quiet line. Students are to walk two blocks from the wall in a straight, quiet line. We stop at selected points to help everyone stay together. If at anytime a student needs to travel the school grounds without an adult, they do travel with a buddy and proper hallway behavior is still expected. Turning in Assignments: After the students have checked over their work, they are allowed to get up and place their work in the designated spot. Students are to turn in work to be graded. Failure to turn in work results in having to take valuable time to complete it at a later time and shows a need to improve responsible work habits. Moving From Task to Task: Students are given ample time to complete tasks. The students are to quickly and quietly get organized and ready for the next task at hand at the time. This helps to cut down on lost instructional time. Absent Students: A make-up work folder is kept for students who are absent. Daily class work and assignments are recorded for that student by the teacher. Upon return to school, the absent student will be given deadlines for the missed work, depending on individual circumstance, length of absence, etc. After the allotted time, any unfinished work will result in a score a 0. Early Finishers: Students who finish their work early are allowed to do several things. First, students are to finish any unfinished work assignments. After those items are completed, students may read, study for upcoming tests/quizzes, or work on the computer if it is their day.
School Dismissal: Students follow the Afternoon Procedures to prepare to go home. The steps are: 1. Color in their behavior tracker 2. Pack books for HW in your book bag 3. Clean up the trash around your desk 4. Stack their chairs 5. Sit on rug At 2:25, students line up according to bus, walkers, and car riders. The teacher then walks the students, in a line, to their designated holding area. Tornado Procedure: The students will proceed to our designated area in the building. Students sit on their knees, lower their heads, and place their hands over their heads. They sit in this position silently until the teacher gives them other instructions. Fire Drill Procedure: The students line up quickly and quietly at the door. We walk in a straight, silent line to our designated area. Field Trips: We plan field trips for the third graders to enrich the curriculum and standards. These trips are listed below, but are tentative. I will send home a detailed schedule when I receive more details about the trips and dates. Peace Center Roper Mountain Science Center South Carolina Museum and State House Behavior Policies Students are expected to follow all written and non-written rules. This includes classroom and school rules. School Wide Behavior Expectations: S~ Show respect T~ Take responsibility A~ And be R~ Ready to learn S~ Success
At the beginning of the year, the students and I had many discussions about school expectations. As a class, we wrote Essential Agreements. We all agreed that these Essential Agreements would make the classroom the most effective and successful classroom experience. Essential Agreements: Listen to people when they speak Take responsibility of our own actions Care for others Be open minded to new ideas Participate to the best of my abilities Classroom Positive Behavior System: In my class, I give out tickets for good behavior. I am looking for students who are willing to help each other, show respect towards their classmates and adults, be ready to learn, follow classroom and school procedures, follow directions the first time they are given, try their very best on their assignments, etc. After 2 tickets, students move their clip up on the classroom Behavior Chart. Each Friday, the students are allowed to trade in their tickets for treats. I have 4 ticket boxes. Items may include the following: 1 Ticket Box silly bands, individual stickers, individually wrapped candy, mini erasers, etc. 5 Ticket Box decorative pencils, large erasers, coupons to sit near a friend in class or lunch, etc 10 Ticket Box fruit snacks, soft mini balls, bracelets, small plastic toy animals, etc. 25 Ticket Box small notebooks, jewelry, etc Classroom Behavior Chart: Color Codes: Purple- Role Model! Pink Super Student Blue Excellent Effort Green Ready to Learn Yellow Make Better Choices Orange Teacher s Choice Red Parent Contact These color codes are displayed on the behavior chart within the classroom. Every student will begin each day on green- Ready to Learn. Students have the ability to move
their clip up or down throughout the day based on individual behavior. At the end of each day, the students behavior will be displayed on their monthly behavior chart to be signed by a parent. Consequences: Consequences are based on individual student behavior. The teacher will choose a consequence that is appropriate for each individual student and the behavior displayed. These consequences consist of but are not limited to the following: loss of recess, silent lunch, cleaning cafeteria, changing of student s seat, and bounce back. Communication with Parents: I will be in contact with parents on a regular and consistent basis. We will meet for a conference in the fall and on any other necessary occasion. I will not hesitate to call parents when there is a problem in the class with behavior or academics. I will also write notes either in your child s agenda or on their Behavior Tracker. If you need to reach me, my contact information is as follows: E-mail: srkey@greenville.k12.sc.us Voicemail: 355-3926 I appreciate your trust and encouragement as we go through our year together. Thank you for the daily contribution you make to your child s school success and thank you for entrusting your child to me every day!