1. HOMEWORK:
Homework is assigned nightly, Monday through Thursday, with some exceptions to ongoing projects over the weekends. It is expected that third graders do approximately 30 minutes of homework each night. Homework assignments are written on the board each day along with special reminders for students to record in their “Agendas” (assignment book). Agendas are special notebooks that each student in my class will be given on the first day of school. It is VERY IMPORTANT that students have these Agendas with them AT ALL TIMES. Your child should bring the Agenda to school each day and to take it home at the end of the day. The Agenda is also a great tool for parents and teachers to communicate by writing important notes/information. Please refer to their agenda each night for homework assignments.
Typically, homework will consist of two/three subjects a night such as a math, reading and spelling assignment. (There may be occasional exceptions.) These assignments are due the day after they are listed in the agenda, unless specifically noted otherwise. At times, there will be projects assigned that will have a future due date. Students will be able to work on these assignments at their own pace based on their organized timeline. This way, you and your child can decide when it is most convenient for them to complete it.
Written homework should take approximately 30 minutes each night (in addition to the 20/30 minutes of reading). That is, your child should spend 30 minutes of concentrated effort on their work. If your child ever works this hard and yet finds they are having extreme difficulty finishing a given assignment, please have them stop. Then, send me a note explaining the problem.
Nightly Reading (every night & 7 days a week):
Students are expected to read orally or silently at home every night for 20 (30 minutes for the 2nd half of the year). This is in addition to the homework assignments. Please encourage your child to read something on their reading level. I try to encourage creative ways to incorporate reading into their daily lives. You can read to your child. They can read to you. They can read to a young sibling or vise versa. There are books on tape, fun magazines subscriptions and great chapter books! I encourage children to take books on car rides to the doctor’s office or when they are picking up their sister at dance class. I weekly trip to the library can be a sought after tradition for years to come.
I will also offer a monthly Scholastic Book Club order through our classroom if you are interested. This is a great way to get kids excited about books and pick themes of interest!
2. CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS:
Our classroom must be one with harmony and respect to all persons and property. Harwinton Consolidated School operates under a set of four school-wide positive expectations:
1. Respect others
2. Respect property
3. Be responsible
4. Be safe
These expectations are taught and modeled in all areas of school-life. Students are able to earn Husky High Fives when demonstrating these positive behaviors and earn rewards that reinforce positive choices.
Our class also has a whole class reward system. As we work together throughout the day the class can earn "letters" to a hidden mystery word or words (much like Wheel of Fortune). This hidden word is actually the words of the reward. When all of the letters have been shown, the class earns that reward! This is a fun way for us to work together as a team. Students enjoy earning the mystery letters and figuring out the mystery reward!
3. CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION SYSTEM:
I would like to explain our classroom behavior modification system. A traffic light hangs in our classroom. On the perimeter of the traffic light poster are clothespins with each student’s name on them. Every student starts the day off on the green light. The green light symbolizes expected behavior. If the students are not following the classroom/school expectations they move their own names up to the yellow light. This yellow light is a warning light. Students will write a note that explains the incident for you to sign and return. If the student is still not following class expectations they will move themselves to the red light. In this case a phone call / email will be made to explain the incident and discuss consequences. If you have any questions please contact me.
4. PERSONAL BELONGINGS:
To help lost items find their owners more quickly, please label ALL of your child’s things including backpacks, lunch boxes, sweaters, hats and jackets. Also, please remember that toys, electronic devises, etc should not come to school according to the HCS Handbook. This includes Bakugan, WebKins, Pokemon and any other item that can be lost, broken or misplaced.
5. SNACK:
There will be time provided each day for a working snack. I would like to encourage a nutritious snack, e.g. a piece of fruit, vegetable sticks, cheese, crackers, popcorn, granola bars, etc. at this time. This snack will be eaten while working, so the easier to be eaten, the better. (Fruit cups with syrup are often messy, so I would like to discourage them.) PLEASE do not send in a drink for snack time.
6. BUSES/DISMISSAL:
Buses and dismissal schedules have been sent in and set up with the main office over the summer. I will post a classroom list of dismissal procedures. Should there be a variation to the regular dismissal plan, please send a note/email with details of the change or you may contact the office.
7. BOOK ORDERS:
I will be sending home book order forms from Scholastic Book Club for any families who are interested in purchasing great books throughout the year. This is a wonderful (and cost effective) way to build up your child’s library. It also encourages children to pick books of interest to them. Students are so excited to look through the book selections and even more excited the day the books arrive! Please make checks are payable directly to Scholastic Book Club. Stay tuned for the first order! Also, if any parent is interested in helping out by coordinating the classroom book orders please let me know.
8. BIRTHDAYS:
We would love to celebrate your child’s birthday! If you would like to send in cupcakes or a small snack for the entire class in celebration, please notify me at least two days in advance due to the restrictions that some students may have with food. If your child has a summer birthday, we will celebrate his/her birthday at the end of the school year.
If you would like a creative alternative to cupcakes or food, some parents have opted to come in a read a story to the class and donate the book to our class library in honor of their child. Other options would be play a game or do a craft with the class and donate that game/craft to the class. If you would like to try one of these options, please let me know at least a week in advance due to the demanding schedule of third grade. Thank you in advance for your treats, the students really appreciate them.
9. OUR CLASS MASCOT:
Our class has adopted a classroom husky puppy (stuffed animal). Last year our students had a writing contest to find a name for him. We voted on Balto Jr. Students will be able to ‘puppy sit’ our class mascot over the weekends. Students can sign up for a particular weekend that works best for you and your family. The puppy comes with a backpack, books about Husky dogs, and a journal. Students will read what other people did on their weekend adventures with Balto Jr. and write about their own adventures. Students are encouraged to take pictures of places they go with the puppy and attach to our class journal! I hear Husky dogs like to go on ski vacations and local fairs! Read about where our family found this lost dog and who he has already met with the O’Connor family last summer! *Each student must sign up for at least one weekend with our mascot. A year calendar will be place in the classroom where students can pick a fun weekend that works for you and your family!
10. SCHOOL SHOPPING:
Children often enjoy shopping for new school supplies. Although I will provide pencils, the “Agenda”, crayons, glue, scissors, dry erase markers, single subject notebooks (to start the year off), folders and pencil cases for the children to use/share, your child may bring in his/her own special supplies to keep inside his/her desk. If you are shopping we use lots of single subject notebooks throughout the year. I find that single subject notebooks work the best for organizing subjects and tasks. Pocket folders are also a great way to stay organized throughout the year. The above items are used frequently in Third Grade. (I prefer not to have large binders in the desks because they take up too much room.)
Classroom donations: If you would like to donate an item to the classroom during the year Ziploc bags, glue sticks, dry erase markers are always appreciated. We are also always looking for unwanted/used/old games for indoor recess. I also like to keep a craft bucket for indoor recess (buttons, felt, string, fabric, etc.). If you would like to get rid of any of these items our class can always use them!
11. COMMUNICATION/PARENT RESOURCES/ VOLUNTEERS:
I feel parents are a great resource. If you have a special interest, hobby, job etc. that you would like to share with the class, please let me know. We would love to have you share your knowledge with us! As soon as we settle in, I’ll be looking for some parent volunteers. I can always use an extra pair of hands for special activities, to change a bulletin board and other classroom tasks such as stapling books or putting other materials together. If you are able to and would like to help out, please let me know. I will have a volunteer sign up sheet available at our Meet and Greet and Open House.
Each day please look for your child’s agenda to find homework assignments, spelling words and special events such as class store and Spirit Day. This is also a good vehicle for you to send notes to school for me. If anything out of the ordinary happens that you feel may influence your child at school such as an ill family member, the death of a pet, any new additions to the family or even a late night out please let me know.
In closing, I would like you to know that my classroom is always open for a visit. Also, no question is ever too small. PLEASE feel free to contact me if you have questions or comments. I may be reached by email at o’connorr@region10ct.org or by phone here at school. The number is 485-9029. You can always send a note in, as well. Thank you! I look forward to working with you and your child this year.