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Mrs. Toto, 3rd Grade |
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FAQOne way to learn about somebody new is to ask a lot of questions. This page may give you a head start!
What is Mrs. Toto's favorite grade to teach? Wow, that's a hard one. I've taught 3rd, 4th and 5th grade at Crompond School and there's something special about each grade. I'll tell you a couple of things that make each grade unique. Third grade is special because I loved teaching about butterflies and participating in Around the World Day. Fourth grade is awesome because you get to take part in live event learning experiences like visiting Van Cortlandt Manor and dressing like you were part of Colonial Times. Fifth grade is fantastic because you participate in the school's science fair and prepare for your middle school experience through many wonderful learning opportunities. Whew, to be honest I really can't pick just one grade but I'll tell you my favorite place to teach is Crompond Elementary School. Our school is simply a great place to be! Can you tell me something about your family? Of course! My husband's name is Tommy and we have two sons, Ryne and Kevin. Tommy is a NYPD detective, Ryne is in 10th grade and Kevin is in 8th grade. My husband has a large family so we're always busy celebrating birthdays, apple picking or going on vacation together. It's a lot of fun! Do you live in Yorktown Heights? No, but I live about 10 minutes away from Crompond in Mohegan Lake. But, I certainly enjoy being part of the Yorktown community and I often see many of my students with their families around town. It's so great to see your wonderful smiles and enthusiatic waves - I sometimes feel like a celebrity! Will we be reading a lot this year? I love to read and I'm always on the look-out for books I think my students will enjoy. We will be reading a variety of different books this year in class. I like books with strong characters, detailed settings and interesting problems. Mysteries, folktales and fables are some of my favorites. We'll also explore many non-fiction texts as well such as biographies and information about science and social studies topics. Absolutely! Writing is an excellent way we can communicate our ideas and thoughts to each other. Our writer's notebook will be filling up with our very own personal stories and we'll even be using our imagination to create our own unique fiction stories as well. We'll also be doing some research on non-fiction topics which will lots of fun too! Is learning to write in cursive hard? Sometimes, yes and sometimes, no. We will certainly be practicing cursive writing this year and I want you to try your very best so that you can become the best cursive writer you can. They'll be lots of adults to help you and I know that you can do it with practice, patience and a smile on your face! How much homework should I expect to get? Generally, expect to get some Math and Language Arts homework on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. In addition, I require all my students to read at home for 10 to 15 minutes at least five days a week. You'll be recording your own independent reading progress monthtly (title of the book you're reading, how many minutes you read, how many pages you read) and an adult must sign your reading log too! You might also get assignments in either Social Studies or Science on any of those nights as well! It's best to find a quiet place in your home to complete your homework. Certainly, I encourage an adult to review your work before YOU return it to your backpack for its trip back to school! Developing good homework habits and a homework routine that fits your family's schedule is part of being a responsible third grader!!! What kinds of books can I use for the weekly Reading Response? You may choose any type of book you wish that fits your independent reading level - meaning read books YOU enjoy and are very comfortable reading! It can be a chapter book, picture book, or even part of a non-fiction book; it is YOUR choice. Do I have to read the WHOLE book if I pick a chapter book or non-fiction book? You need to be reading at least 15 minutes each night for you Reading Log. Chances are, if you choose to read a chapter book, you should be able to write about at least three to four chapters for your weekly assignment. If you are reading part of a non- fiction book, say on tigers or snakes, you should be able to finish one section about that topic for your weekly Reading Response. How often should I be reading independently at home? I need you to read at least 15 minutes a night on your own, at home. Certainly, if a family member needs to help you with a word here or there, that's okay. If the words are too hard (you can't pronounce five or more words on a page) then it's time to switch your reading choice to another book. If you really want to read the more challenging book, bring it in and we'll talk about what you can do. |
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