- What homework can I expect my child to bring home?
- How can I volunteer?
- Can I send my child in with a water bottle?
- What snacks are OK for morning break?
- What are Eagle Points, PAWs for Praise, and Think-it-Over sheets in Mrs. Simons class?
- Why does my child talk about body movement?
- How do you integrate the arts?
- How do you use technology in the classroom?
- I hear there is a third grade blog. Is it password protected?
What homework can I expect my child to bring home?
The purpose of homework is to reinforce skills taught in school, and it is another form of data to help
me see where students are struggling. Students are to complete a math sheet each night and practice
math facts for five minutes. Each week, students need to study their spelling and vocabulary words
for a test on Fridays. It is expected that they read twenty minutes a night. Periodically, project based
homework will be sent home with extra time to complete. I do not assign homework on the
weekends, as I know this is your time to spend together.
How can I volunteer?
Classroom help: Third grade is a time when students work towards becoming independent
learners. They are held responsible to complete assignments during the writing and reading
blocks, while I am working in small groups. At times, I will need parent volunteers. However,
volunteers will not be needed as much as in the primary grades.
Field trips: Currently, we are signed up to visit the Sandy Point Discovery Center to learn about cultural
history in the fall and ecology of the Great Bay Region in the spring and the Seacoast School of
Technology to film our natural disasters weather production. We will replace the Jefferd’s Tavern
fieldtrip with a trip to Strawberry Banke to learn about immigration. We will need drivers and
chaperones. Parents interested need to complete a volunteer and driving form.
Crafts: During the holidays, both third grade classes spend a morning in centers creating crafts
that parents direct. If you like art projects and are willing to teach a simple craft lesson, we would
appreciate your time. Ideally, we would like some projects that focus on holidays that are
celebrated around the world such as Hanukah, Kwanza, etc.
Clerical work: I am able to spend more time on planning differentiated lessons, researching best
practices, and integrating technology and the arts when I can spend less time on classroom
preparation. Once a week, a volunteer would photocopy, laminate, organize projects, and
assemble bulletin boards.
Research: Later in the year, we will study weather and natural disasters. We will conduct
research, write scripts, and act as weather reporters on location around the world. Research
conducted in the classroom and computer lab requires additional help.
Scholastic book orders: Throughout the year, I receive Scholastic book orders. The orders
need to be compiled on a single order form, money organized, and called in.
Additional Expertise: I love to invite professionals from the community to share their
expertise related to the third grade curriculum. Currently, we have visitors that include
an audiologist, dentist, water conservationist, electricity specialist, police officer and
an ophthalmologist. If you, or someone you know, have an area of expertise that
supports our classroom studies, please let me know.
Can I send my child in with a water bottle?
Yes, please! Water consumption is the key to improving mental performance including memory,
attention, and concentration by up to 10%! It would be greatly appreciated if you could send your
child to school each morning with a reusable water bottle. Having water on hand helps settle
students into the learning environment by preventing the need for hallway trips to the water
fountain.
What snacks are OK for morning break?
Healthy snacks are perfect to eat during morning break. Fruit, veggies, cheese, meats, or
whole grains help keep students mentally and physically active. We will have a long morning
due to a later lunch period. Junk food or sweets will not tide students over until lunch at 12:10.
Please refrain from packing nuts due to food allergies.
What are Eagle Points, PAWs for Praise, and Think-it-Over sheets in Mrs. Simons class?
In class, each student will learn to take responsibility for his or her actions rather than just ‘obey’
me as the authority figure. It is my goal that children think independently about the results of
their actions. The outcome of all actions may be good or bad, but I find it important to help
students be the judge. All actions are measured to our class motto:
“Today, at Greenland Central School, I will be respectful, responsible, caring, and safe to help
teachers teach and students learn. Make it a great day!”
I use Paws for Praise and Eagle Point slips as an extrinsic reward for great choices. At the very
least, it is my goal to follow the 5 to 1 practice, five positives to one negative. Think-it-Over
sheets coincide with their stoplight clips. The sheet provides a time away from the situation for
the child to reflect on choices made. No child is ever bad, but we all can make poor choices. We
just need to learn by them.
Why does my child talk about body movement?
Children, like adults, can have trouble sitting for too long! So, to get blood flowing, brain waves
pumping, and the busy bodies out, we will have body movement throughout the day. The type of
movement ranges, but is quick, purposeful, and fun. Students that struggle beyond that have
preferential seating and can stand during instruction as long as it does not interrupt others’ learning.
Additionally, kinesthetic learning is incorporated regularly.
How do you integrate the arts?
Art projects and acting activities, used as a teaching tool, help build comprehension skills and
improve aspects of writing. We will use tableaux to help build deeper understanding of their reading.
Tableaux is when students create visual pictures with their body, emphasizing key details and
relationships from text. They work in small groups to create a slide show of key scenes.
How do you use technology in the classroom?
Technology is integrated into all subject areas for twenty-first century learning. I use a document
camera and projector throughout the day as a teaching tool and present United Streaming videos
to support the curriculum. Vocabulary will be introduced each week with a PowerPoint presentation.
We will conduct Internet research with pathfinders and use various website activities to aid in
learning. Students will create two types of computer animations to support the reading and science
curriculum. I use our class ipod to take videos of students learning and post them on the third
grade blog. Students will also learn to type during our weekly typing block.
I hear there is a third grade blog. Is it password protected?
Yes, there is! It is called Life as a Third Grader. All the videos and first names are password protected.
The blog is a place to share our class videos and digital projects with family and friends of our
students. The class website provided by the school reserves only 100 megs of server space.
Each video is about 30 megs, therefore, I do not have close to enough space. Last year, I purchased
the blog which is geared towards schools and educators and allocates 10 gigs of space. The blog will
allow us to share videos and the learning targets of life as a third grader. The address will not be
shared with anyone other than families and school employees. Last names are never mentioned.