WELCOME I hope you enjoyed your summer! I am delighted to have your child in my classroom. I look forward to developing a strong partnership with you to provide the best education for your child. The entire staff at Shepardson is happy to have your child here and all of us want to help you in any way we can.

CONFERENCES I look forward to conferencing with you during the week of August 30^th. If you haven’t already signed up for a conference, please be sure to call the school office soon to schedule a time to meet with me. At this early conference we will have an opportunity to discuss goals, desires, special concerns and individualization for your child this year.

UNITS AND A BRIEF YEARLONG SCHEDULE Our third grade theme for the year involves a trip around the world. Units of study will be organized around social studies and science topics, and reading and writing will become an extension of the study. Whenever possible, students will work on skills within the context of these themes.

The year will begin with a review and extension of Map Skills. Early in the school year we will begin our "trip around the world." We will be visiting the continents of South America, Asia, Africa, Antarctica, Australia, and Europe. During the study of each continent we will learn about the geography and emphasize a particular region, area, or country. Students will learn about different cultures through reading, writing, research, and projects. Students will be comparing and contrasting the features, structures of life, and characteristics of each continent. I hope that any of you who have interest or expertise in certain areas will share with us. In science, your child will study Space, Water, Physics of Sound, and Life Structures.

SCHEDULE I have included a copy of our tentative weekly schedule. Children are to arrive on the school grounds no earlier than 8:20. Children will enter the building through the East Pod doors when the 8:30 bell rings. School is out at 3:00 p.m. Before and after school supervision on the playground is provided from 8:20-8:30 a.m. and 3:00-3:10 p.m.

SNACK You are welcome to send in a light healthy snack, as we will take a morning snack break daily. Disposable water bottles are welcomed as well.

READING In reading, we will focus on individual needs to help each student grow as a reader. Students will have the opportunity to read in many formats; small group, with a partner, one-on-one with a teacher, in a book club, or as a whole class. Each student has the opportunity to select books for novel studies throughout the school year and we also work on skills included in our district adopted reading program, Open Court.

GUEST READER Each week your child will read aloud to a small group of children for ten minutes. You can help your child prepare for this weekly event by selecting a book that is at his/her reading level. The reading should be practiced at home until your child is able to read the selection proficiently. Books selected can be from home, school, or the library. Your child will be assigned a day of the week. This will be his/her guest reader day throughout the first quarter of the school year. He/she should come ready to read aloud on his/her designated day.

BOOK TALKS Your child will be required to do three book talks this school year. The book talks include an oral report, a short written report, and a small project relating to the book. A handout with specific requirements and a bibliography of appropriate books from which to choose will be sent home approximately five weeks before your child’s book talk is due.

ACCELERATED READING Our school library has a reading program called Accelerated Reading (AR). When your child reads an AR book from the library, they will have the opportunity to take a comprehension test after reading the book. You may see results from these tests coming home periodically.

MATH Math instruction will emphasize the 6 "strands": Number Sense; Patterns, Functions, and Algebra; Measurement; Geometry; Probability, Data, and Statistics; and Computation. We will be using our district adopted curriculum, Everyday Mathematics, as well as other resources to provide lots of opportunities for hands-on exploration. Students will also have weekly math fact tests, called Mad Minutes, beginning in mid-September.

SPELLING During the first few weeks of school, students will be working with the third grade priority words. These words are ones that young writers use most frequently in their writing and for which they will be held accountable . A list of priority words is enclosed. Words #1-75 are priority words for the first semester, and words #1-100 make up the second semester list. In addition to priority words, students will be working on spelling skills and rules in the Spelling Connections workbook. Look for your child’s spelling list to come home each Monday. Students are expected to keep a "recycle" word list. These words are ones that they have misspelled in their daily writing. A recycled word sheet is stapled in the back on your child’s steno/homework folder. This is where your child should write recycle words each week. These words may be included in your child's spelling list in future weeks. Students may need help from parents to write these words correctly on their recycle list.

CURSIVE HANDWRITING Third grade students will learn the modern cursive alphabet. Two lower case letters will be introduced each week. When students have learned these, upper case letters will be introduced and practiced. Students will receive a Handwriting workbook to practice their newly acquired skills. Homework will include practicing the newly learned letters.

LUNCH Lunch will begin at 12:05. Students will need to bring a cold lunch or $1.75 for hot lunch. An emergency envelope with $1.75 kept in the backpack or desk might be a good idea for those days when things get hectic and a child forgets his/her money or lunch. Children can charge for lunch and pay the money back the next day. Lunch is followed by an outdoor recess break.

BIRTHDAYS These are such special days! Students will be given a poster to decorate prior to his or her upcoming birthday. The birthday child gets to share the poster with classmates and then hang the poster in our pod hallway. You are welcome to send in treats. Please keep in mind that the state health department requires that treats be store bought and individually wrapped. Summer birthday children may wish to celebrate on their half birthday.

HOMEWORK FOLDERS Homework folders will come home each day. Each day students are responsible for writing assignments and reminders in the folder. It is your child’s responsibility to bring the folder back to school the next day. Your child’s graded work and school news will be sent home in this folder daily. The homework folder is intended to keep the lines of communication between home and school open, so please sign the folder each night and include any notes to me. I will make every effort to check your child’s folder each day.

HOMEWORK Third grade students are required to read each school night for 20 minutes. An at-home reading record sheet will be sent home at the beginning of each month. These sheets are to be turned in by the due date listed on the monthly sheet. Students should spend an additional 20 minutes, completing the homework packet, studying math facts, and/or studying spelling words each school night. Occasionally, a child may be required to complete an assignment that s/he has not completed in class.

ABSENCES We keep a folder of missed work when a student is absent from school. This folder should come home with your child upon his/her return to school. Students are expected to take responsibility to get the work completed and returned in a timely manner. When a student is going to be absent for an extended period, I appreciate advanced notice.

BOOK ORDERS Book order forms will be sent home approximately once a month. This is a great way to build up your child’s home library. Please remember to make checks out to the book club listed on the order form. Please do not send cash to pay for your book orders.

CLASSROOM NEWSLETTER You will receive my parent newsletter, THIRD WORDS, every other Friday throughout the year. Please read this in a timely manner, as it will contain information that may need your attention before your child returns to school on Monday. Newsletters will not be sent home when there are short weeks or conferences. It will also be posted on our classroom website.

FIELD TRIPS These are always highlights for the students during the school year. More information will be sent home as these trips draw near.

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT We use a school wide program to teach and reinforce positive behavior in the classroom, hallways, lunchroom, and on the playground. This program is called Shepardson STARS Shine. I also work to reinforce positive behavior by recognizing children who make good choices in my classroom.

REWARD BASKET Students will be recognized for outstanding behavior and schoolwork throughout the week. I will ask your child to put his or her name in our "reward basket" when I see him/her exceeding classroom expectations. We have a drawing each Friday and three students will be rewarded.

REWARD TIME Friday morning we will have a "reward" time for those students who have completed all of their daily assignments, and have turned in homework on time. Homework is due Thursday unless otherwise directed.

CLOSING I am excited about the school year. Personal growth, cooperative skills in work and play, setting and reaching individual goals, and learning responsibility will be the focus for this school year. If you have questions before meeting with me, please give me a call at 226-6370 (school) or 221-1713 (home) or write a note in your child's steno. I also check my email regularly at cdelmont@psd.k12.co.us. Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you will refer to it for needed information throughout the year. I look forward to working with you and your child this year!