ROUTINES & PROCEDURES
Routines and procedures are essential for a successful classroom.
One of the most important parts of third grade is learning to be
organized and responsible for yourself. We will devote considerable
time, especially the first few weeks of school, to explaining and
practicing these skills, routines and procedures. It is imperative that you
reinforce this at home each and every day. Therefore, I recommend that
the following information be reviewed by all primary caretakers. This is
very important to your child’s success in third grade.
HOMEWORK:
Homework will be assigned regularly, Monday through Thursday.
Homework in third grade usually consists of a reading assignment,
math assignment (which includes nightly drilling of math facts), spelling,
(Some long term projects are in addition to these assignments and may
involve the need to work on weekends.)
Assignments should be written down in the Student Agenda every day.
A parent’s initials acknowledge that the student has completed the
assignments INCLUDING THE NIGHTLY READING AND MATH FACTS PRACTICE.
As you probably know by now, parents are expected to be involved in
the Everyday Math homework. The nightly home links specify exactly
what this involvement should be. Please participate in this important
nightly activity.
All homework should be brought home and returned to school in the
“DON"T FORGET FOLDER”. Assignments should be complete and in
the student’s possession when he or she walks into class each day.
PARENTS MAY NOT FAX OR BRING HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS TO
SCHOOL WHEN A STUDENT FORGETS.
In my class, we have a very structured routine for copying down our
homework and preparing to go home. During this time, there is no
talking as all students copy the assignments from the homework board.
Homework is a very important part of your child’s school experience.
Every child is expected to complete all assignments every day. Students
should have a regular place to do homework. This place must be free
from distractions and interruptions.
If your child is sick or for some legitimate reason is unable to
complete this work on a given day, please send me a note explaining
the circumstances and they will not receive an “X” . Please do not do
your child’s homework for him or her and do not sit beside him or her as
they complete their assignments. In third grade it is my expectation that
students will accept this responsibility.
I highly recommend that students pack up immediately after completing
their nightly homework assignments. Their book bag can then be
placed by your morning exit door, making departure easy.
Homework is checked at school but not graded. However, points
are awarded for completed assignments and loss of those points will
affect a student’s grade.
MORNING ROUTINE:
When students arrive at school, they will sign in, select their lunch
choice, unpack, and begin their morning work, which consists of Daily
Language Review, one other assignment, and/or time to catch up on work which
has not yet been completed.
WEEKLY WORK FOLDER:
Under normal circumstances, weekly papers are sent home on
Thursdays in the Weekly Work Folder or WWF. Please KEEP the weekly papers
and review them with your child. He or she should return the empty folder
on Friday.
GRADES:
Student's grades will be kept in a computer grading program (as well as
backed up in my conventional grade book). APS is planning to make
these grades accessible to parents from their home computers. More
information about this will be forthcoming.
DAILY CONDUCT GRADES:
The first week of school we compose our Essential Agreements, and students
are obliged to follow them. If agreements are not followed, students lose a
“stick”. (A warning is given first.) When we copy down our homework,
students are given a DCG (Daily Conduct Grade). (No sticks lost = E, 1
stick lost = S-, 2 sticks lost = N, 3 sticks lost = U) Should a student lose
3 sticks, they will have to complete a “Think” letter which will be sent
home for parent signature and review. When a student has accumulated
30 “E”s in their agenda, they will earn a homework pass. Please look for
the DCG box on your child’s agenda homework page each day.
It will take a little while for students to get in our routine, but it will
help them immensely if you initial their agenda page, look in the “Don’t
Forget Folder” each night, and urge them to pack up as soon as they finish
their homework assignments.
I also urge you NOT to continue bringing your child back to school to
get items they forget. Doing this once is okay but your child will NOT
benefit from your "saving" him or her regularly. When we copy down
homework, as well as when we pack up to go home, our classroom is
completely quiet. Students have every opportunity to get their
assignments and materials in order. When you continue to bring your
child back to school to get the things they forget, or allow them to call
classmates to get homework assignments, they do not learn this
responsibility. Let them learn this valuable lesson now, in third grade.
It is less "painful" to learn now than later.
SNACK:
We are able to have one snack a day, which should be something
healthy. Please DO NOT SEND CANDY, CHIPS, TWINKIES, ETC.
Only water is permitted in our classroom, no juice or gatorade please.
We do not stop to eat our snack, so it should be something your child
can eat while working.
CONTACT ME:
You can contact me by sending a note to school with your child or by
telephone or email.
My contact number is:
(404)583-2020 cell
My email is:
kkaczay1216@yahoo.com (fastest) OR
kkaczay@atlanta.k12.ga.us
Your involvement in your child’s third grade experience is very
important and vital to his/her success this year. When the necessary
effort is made in third grade, it pays off for years to come. I look
forward to working with each and every one of you. We will have a wonderful
year together.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Krista Kaczay
