Mrs. Sims' class

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to third grade! We are off to a great start this school year!

I believe communication is the key to a successful classroom.  Please feel free to contact me anytime by e-mailing me at esims@ecusd7.org or by calling (618) 655-6150.  If I am unavailable, I will e-mail you back or return your call as soon as possible.

Third grade is such an exciting grade.  In third grade, students will begin to accept more responsibilities.  This includes getting notes home, writing down homework assignments, and having the necessary supplies for home study and schoolwork.  Please set aside 15-30 minutes each day for homework.  If your child’s work was completed at school and he/she has no homework, use the time for reading special books together, practicing math facts, or studying spelling words.  Each evening, children need to know they have time built into their schedules to do schoolwork.  In addition, self-esteem is so important at this age.  Please praise your child when you review his/her school papers, and show your interest by asking what he/she is studying in school.  

The items below are a few of my classroom procedures.  Please take time to read through them. 

• Take Home Folders and Planners: Students will take their red folders home each night.  Inside this folder will be homework, along with any notes that are sent home for the day.  Please check through the folder and remove anything that does not need to be returned the next day.  In the clear sleeve, you will find your child’s reading log.  Please keep this paper in the plastic sleeve so it can be easily accessed throughout the year. 

• Homework: Homework is a very important part of your child’s learning.  Homework is used as a way to for the teacher to assess a student’s understanding of a concept.  Homework is checked in by the teacher and may be reviewed as a class, for a grade or as an informal assessment gauging the students understanding of the concept. Please make sure that your child completes all homework that is assigned.  Check your student’s planner each day for the assigned homework.  Homework is due the day after it is assigned unless otherwise noted.  If a child is absent, homework can be requested by calling the office and can be picked up after 3:30 p.m. in the main office.  All students in the class will participate in homework club, a reward system for turning in homework on time.     

• Projects/Long Term Assignments: From time to time, your child will be assigned long-term assignments or projects.  These are viewed as any other homework assignment in terms of parental assistance and due date.  However, because more time is spent on the project, a higher quality will be expected.  These projects are due on the date specified.

• Reading Logs: Reading logs will be kept each month.  Please make sure your student is reading every day and recording it on his/her reading log.  Reading logs should be kept in the plastic sleeve in the folder so that it can be easily accessed and checked at school.  They are due to the teacher on the first school day of every month.  We will begin our first reading log in September. 
   

• Math Facts: Gaining automaticity of math facts is an important component in being successful in math.  As a way to help students learn the basic math facts, students will complete timed math facts quizzes (sometimes called “Mad Minutes”) in class.  Students who do not finish in the allotted time or answer a problem incorrectly will receive math facts homework.  This homework is used to guide the students in practicing their math facts at home and to help them gain mastery of the facts. 

 

• Tuesday Folder: Your student will bring home his/her graded work every Tuesday in a GREEN folder.  Please review the assignments and sign the folder log.  Folders will be collected and checked for a signature each Wednesday.
   

• Birthday: We will celebrate birthdays one day each month.  On that day, students can bring in a small nonedible gift for their classmates.  This could include pencils, small erasers, stickers, glow sticks, small party favors or a book to donate to the classroom library.  A note will come home each month to let you know what day we will be celebrating birthdays that month.  Please, do NOT send birthday invitations to be passed out at school unless all children in the class are invited.

• We will have daily silent reading.  If your child has a book he/she would like to bring to keep in his/her desk for this reading time, please feel free to send one to school.  I also have many books to choose from in my classroom.

A classroom is a community where students should feel safe and excited about learning.  I believe that there should be mutual respect between all students and teachers.  This respect will allow each child to feel safe in the classroom.  Along with following all of the school rules, students are expected to follow our two classroom rules “work hard” and “be kind.”  This can be done by doing their personal best and being respectful to all others in our school.

Consequences:             

1. Verbal warning
2. Think About It note must be filled out.
3. 10 minute loss of recess and Think About It note
4. Loss of recess, Think About It note and phone call home.
(Any severe disruption will result in being sent to the office and/or a referral.)

Students will also receive reward periodically for showing good behavior such as:

• Praise

• Class Rewards

• Students can earn tickets for showing good behavior, hard work, or showing good character.  Tickets will be drawn weekly to earn prizes such as rewards such as class coupons, prizes or treats.

• Behavior Bingo- as class students will work to earn a BINGO on the Behavior BINGO board.  When a BINGO is earned there will be a class reward.   

 

 

Thank you for taking the time to read about some of our classroom procedures.  I look forward to working with you this year. 

 

Respectfully,

 

Mrs. Erin Sims

Third Grade Teacher

Albert Cassens School

 

 

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