Curriculum Night 2014

Mrs. McClures 3
rd
Grade Class
Names to know:
Nicole Tjaden, Principal
Katie Ferguson,
Assistant Principal
Jade Wadding,
Secretary
Kim Hunt, School Nurse





Waukees Mission and
Vision:
Dedicating to
optimizing individual
learning and potential
for success in a global
community.
Classroom Blog
Classroom updates and important information can be found
on our classroom blog at
https://blogs.waukeeschools.org/amcclure
This is an excellent communication piece for what your child is
learning in 3rd grade!
Totem Tales is the building newsletter that will be sent via e-
mail on the 1st and 3rd Fridays. If you need a paper
copy, please let me know!

Classroom Blog
Twitter
Follow our classroom on Twitter @McClure3rdGrade

Specials


Day 1: Music (Miss Florke)
Day 2: Art (Mrs. Doud / Computers (Mrs. Jansonius)
Day 3: PE (Mrs. Arp)
Day 4: Music / Library (Mrs. Matlage)
Day 5: Guidance (Mrs. Bleckwehl) / Computers
Day 6: PE
Lunch/Recess
Lunch is from 12:15-12:35
Recess begins at 12:35 and ends at 12:55
Please let the office or myself know in the morning if you plan on eating
lunch with your child.
An adult lunch costs $3.35 this year
Water and Juice is $0.65
Extra milk in $0.45
Recess Clothing: As the weather becomes cooler, please send appropriate
clothing with your child. During the early fall days it can be on the chillier
side during our lunch recess. Please keep this in mind. Layers are the best
choice!
At or below 49: Winter-type coat
50-59: Sweatshirt/light jacket
At or above 60: Long sleeves, or appropriate clothing for
higher temperatures

Attendance

Attendance: If your child is going
to be absent or late please call the
office (987-5193) with that
information rather than
contacting the teacher
directly. This helps ensure the
accuracy of our attendance data
before phone calls are made.
How is your child getting home??
If your childs after school plans change please
let me know as soon as possible via a phone
call, e-mail, or note. I cant allow a student to
inform me about a change in plans due to
safety concerns.


Planners
This is an excellent school to home connection. Your child
will complete this everyday by recording any homework and
various school reminders.
I stress that this is the childs responsibility to get out and
show you each night
This is the first year 3
rd
graders have had this type of planner.
Please be patient as our communication style may change
throughout the year to find one that works best.
Planners
Things may change, but for now here are the planner expectations:

Student needs to get an adult signature every night.
Please record nightly reading minutes in the reading section (needs
to written by an adult).
I will check weekly minutes each MONDAY morning. I will be
looking at the total from Monday through Sunday. Our first weekly
goal is 60 minutes. This will increase as the year goes on.
The same system will be used for weekly math fact practice. Our
first goal is 20 minutes per week.
Practice flashcards or write/solve facts. Please start with
addition/subtraction facts for now.
Homework will be written in as assigned.
Once per 6-day cycle, your child will write their new Word Work
words down so they can practice at home.
Feel free to communicate through written notes in here as well.

Planners
Snacks
Your child may bring a snack to school everyday. Snacks
should be healthy, such as crackers, fruit snacks, fresh fruit,
granola bars, raisins, cheese, etc.

No peanut productsplease check the labels when choosing
a snack to send.

If your child wants to celebrate their very special birthday or
birthday with our class, they are welcome to bring
packaged treats to share. It is a Waukee policy that peanut
products are not permitted in the classroom. We currently
have 22 students in our class.
Leadership Club
In an effort to motivate and encourage good behavior, as a third grade we do Leadership Club.
This is a time where students are rewarded for being respectful, responsible, safe, and caring as
well as for displaying the 7 habits.
Leadership Club will most often take place on Fridays, at the end of the day for about 15-20
minutes.
There will be activities such as: class/grade level games, dance party, video, extra recess, etc.
Students who do not qualify (see criteria below) will go to the designated work room to finish
work and/or take part in a re-teaching of behavior expectations.
Students will need to...
-Meet their weekly reading goal and weekly math goal.
(As soon as time is made-up, they may join Leadership Club)
-Get their planner signed nightly
-Have turned in all math homework by Friday
-Get 5 or less behavior tallies for the entire week. Warnings are always given first.
(categories are: Interactions with Others, Follows Directions, Line Basics, Body Basics,
Problem Solves)
-There are instances where students will automatically not be allowed to go
(example: physical aggression or office visit)
Please help encourage great behavior and responsibility at home!
Leadership Club Note
Reading Minutes
60 minutes of reading per week. The amount of time
will increase 5 minutes every month as the year
progresses. (October 65, November 70, etc)
I will check reading minutes from the previous week
(Monday-Sunday) on the following Monday.
Please help your child get these reading minutes in.
10 minutes a night before bed time is an excellent
routine to start! (see handout)

Math Fact Minutes
20 minutes of math facts per week. The amount of
time will increase as the year progresses.
I will check math fact minutes from the previous week
(Monday-Sunday) on the following Monday.
Please help your child get these math fact minutes in.
3-5 minutes a night before bed time is an excellent
routine to start!
Begin with addition and subtraction facts and then we
will move to multiplication and division as the year
progresses.
Reading
Daily 5:
Read to Self
Work on Writing
Read to Someone
Listening to Reading
Word Work

CAF
Comprehension
Accuracy
Fluency
Expanded Vocabulary

Reading
Expected benchmark
levels
Fall: Level M
Spring: Level P


Skill Focus:
Active word solving
Fluency
Summarizing
Compare/Contrast
Questioning
Characters
Topic, Main Idea, and
Details
Determining Word
Meaning
Writing
Informative/Explanator
y
Narrative
Opinion
Short Research
Purpose
Editing
Revising

6 +1 Traits of Good Writing
Ideas
Organization
Voice
Word Choice
Sentence Fluency
Conventions
Presentation
Science & Social Studies
Science Units of Study: Structures of Life, Physics of Sound,
Water, and Weather.
Social Studies Units: maps, communities, economics,
landforms, natural resources, government and citizenships,
identify major land and water explorers, and individuals who
had a great impact on History.
Everyday Math
Unit 1: Routines, Review,
and Assessment
Unit 2: Adding and
Subtracting Whole
Numbers
Unit 3: Linear Measures
and Area
Unit 4: Multiplication and
Division
Unit 5: Place Value in
Whole Numbers and
Decimals
Unit 6: Geometry

Unit 7: Multiplication and
Division
Unit 8: Fractions
Unit 9: Multiplication and
Division
Unit 10: Measurement and
Data
Unit 11: Probability, End of
Year Review
Watch for skill IPPs,
Checking Progresses, and
various assessments to
come home and show
youre your childs
understanding.


www.everydaymathonline.com
Main Page
Your Name Here!
Word Work
We use the program Words Their Way.
This allows us to give individualized
spelling lists geared towards each
students needs.
Through the word sorts associated with
Words Their Way, students will learn the
rules associated with the English language
rather than memorize their spelling
words.
Spelling lists will be written in your childs
planner at the start of each new list.
GOAL SHEETS
Students will . . .
be active participants in their goal work
interact with reading, writing, and math goals
work on their goals through individual tasks,
small group work, and whole group lessons
have access to their goal sheets, to help guide
their learning on a daily basis
GOAL SHEETS
Assessments
Benchmarking will be done three times throughout the year
to determine Independent and Instructional reading levels.
MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) is made up of two
computer-based tests (Reading and Math)
Iowa Assessments (formerly known as Iowa Test of Basic
Skills) will take place in February.
Watch for reminders of upcoming tests in their planners.
Communication
It is very important to keep the lines of communication open
between school and home. Communication is the key to a
successful school year.

Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions,
concerns, or comments via email at
amcclure@waukeeschools.org, phone at 987-5193, your
childs planner, or through a note.

Having fun in 3
rd
Grade!!
THANK YOU FOR COMING!!!!
I am looking forward to a fun
and exciting year teaching
your child!