Newsletter 3, 15-16

Dear Families,

 

I like the four-day weeks to start. It lets us build stamina slowly. We are spending time getting used to each other and getting used to our 3^rd grade routines. This letter has some of the same information as the last, just in case you missed it.

Snack

We eat lunch at 1:00; that's four hours after school starts. It's a long time to go without food, so please consider sending snack—either daily just for your child, or once in awhile to share with others who would rather do it that way. I'll get a rough count on who prefers what once we start.

The best things to send are healthy, and easy to distribute evenly. No peanuts please.

Music and P.E.

We have Physical Education with Mrs. Smith and Music Education with Miss Olds on Mondays and Fridays.

Homework

We want homework to be accessible to all kids at their learning level. And, we want it to focus on what we consider the most important skills to learn in elementary school: enjoying reading and becoming a fluent reader with strong comprehension!

So, our policy is as follows:

1.   Four days/week (Monday-Thursday) the students will bring home a math exit slip. It is a two-sided half sheet that allows them to practice the skill we targeted in class that day, and to review a skill that was already taught.  Students should return it to school the next day.

2.   Each day they will practice their multiplication and division math facts for 5 minutes. This can be done independently and sometimes they can have a partner test them.

3.   Each day they will read to themselves. Each day they will have an adult read to them! This includes the weekends!

4.   They will be given a reading and math log each month to keep track of their math fact practice and reading. Both student and adult initial the boxes to show what they did each day. They keep the log in the back of their red folder.

5.   We will use the monthly logs and the exit slip returns for the homework grade on the report card as follows: 6-7 times per week=Meets Expectations; 5 times per week=Approaches Expectations; less than 5 times per week=below expectations.

Please email or call if you have any questions!

--

Jeff

3rd, BDE