The ABCs of Third Grade

1
The ABCs of Third Grade
Ms. Kruegers Class
2
is for your childs Agenda Book. This is inside
their work folder. Your child will fill it out
each morning. They will bring it home each night
for you to see what we did in class each day.
You will need to sign the agenda each night as an
indication of knowing what is going on. Please
make them responsible for this. I expect them to
be responsible and so should you. They can also
access the agenda through my website from home to
see what they may have missed if they are absent.
If their agenda isnt signed for two days in a
row they will be put on yellow for that day.
3
is for Book Reports and Balanced Literacy. We
will be doing balanced literacy this year. We
will use literature books as well as books from
the Reading A-Z program as reading books. The
students will be grouped into small reading
groups according to level. The components of
balanced literacy include reading, writing, and
spelling. I will assign book reports. To
receive a Reading Circle certificate at the end
of the year third graders must complete 16 book
reports (11 fiction and 5 nonfiction). A
schedule of when their book reports are due has
been placed on the back cover of their agenda
folders. I have forms I want the students to use
for their report. Please make sure they have one
to do their report on.
4
is for the Content Curriculum your child will be
learning. We will be doing Social Studies,
Science and Health. Growing with Math will be
used. In Science we will focus on Sates of
matter/Water Cycle, Food chains, Plants and the
Sun, Earth, and Moon. In Social Studies we will
discuss Economics, Constitutional Democracy, and
Geography. In Health we will study Body Systems,
Disease/Germs, Nutrition and Safety. In Math we
will focus on basic math facts. It is very
beneficial for your child to memorize these.
Please practice these at home with your child.
5
is for discipline. A verbal warning will be
given for misbehavior. Repeated misbehavior will
result in moving to yellow and, if the behavior
continues, to a red. If the misbehavior continues
an office referral or call home will be made. If
the student has a late assignment they will go to
yellow.
6
is for eMINTS and expectations. We will be an
eMINTS room (1 computer per 2 students,
smartboard, scanner, camera) and will be doing
much of our work on the computer and using the
internet with inquiry learning. The computers
are not used for playing games. Im very excited
about this opportunity. Third grade
expectations are much different than the grades
before. We expect our students to be much more
independent and responsible. We do less group
work and the students will receive less
one-on-one with the teacher. This is one of the
hardest things for third grade students and
parents to adjust to.
7
is for Food. We are scheduled to have lunch at
1215, so please be sure they eat a good
breakfast. We do have breakfast available here
every day.
8
is for the grading. The school district has
adopted a new report card. Things will look
different than previous report cards.
9
is for Homework. Your child may or may not have
daily homework. The only homework they will have
will be work they do not finish in class or an
occasional long term assignment. You will know
about these long term assignments and their due
dates. Any homework should be completed and
returned the next day. Do not remove any work
from their folder. If the work is not completed
and turned in the next day it will be
considered late. Any student with late work will
owe recess until the work is turned in and go to
yellow. I will notify you of any late work via
a note in their agenda.
10
is for Internet. We will use the internet on a
daily basis. It is mandatory that you sign and
return their internet permission form. It is
also very beneficial, but not mandatory, that you
have the internet at home. If the class is
working on a project on the internet and you
dont have it at home, you can access the
internet at the public library. I also have a
class web site that they can access. My web
address is www.central.fhsd.k12.mo.us/wkrueger.
There are many sites included there that they can
use. Please look at it to see what I have linked
to it.
11
is for journal writing. We will be doing journal
writing during writers workshop. You will need
a composition book for this.
12
is for Kaleidoscope. If you are new to our
building and are looking for us there are stained
glass panels hanging at the beginning of all the
hallways. Look for the kaleidoscope design.
That is our hallway. We are in room 601, third
door on the left.
13
is for Late Work Policy. All third teachers
expect their students to complete all their work
on time. If any work is turned in late they will
go to yellow and owe study hall to complete their
work. A note will be written in their agenda if
they have late work.
14
is for MAP. In third grade we will do the MAP
(Missouri Achievement Program) test in April
after break. We will test in Communication Arts
and Math. We will be working very diligently to
prepare for the test. The students have never
done a test like this so we will teach them to
take the test as well as teaching them the
content that will be covered on the test
15
is for New Things. This is my 29th year of
teaching. I have taught 5th grade for 12 years,
junior high and high school music, 3rd grade for
five years and privately. I am a going to be
teaching your child many new things this year. I
strive very hard to teach my students not only
academics, but life skills, social skills, and
compassion for others. I try very hard to teach
them to respect themselves and others. I expect
them to be responsible, respectable, and
cooperative to and with their peers and any adult
in charge. In third grade we are teaching them
to be more independent learners. At times it
might seem I am expecting too much of your child
but please keep in mind I am trying to help them
to be responsible, productive citizens. Enabling
them only hurts them in the long run.
16
is for On Time. School starts at 820 AM. Your
child needs to arrive at school on time and ready
to learn. Students that consistently arrive late
start their day running behind and often never
feel like they can get caught up. We also begin
our day at 830 and if I need to stop to get a
late students caught up, it is unfair to the rest
of the class. Along these same lines, students
should not arrive at school before 800 AM
(unless they are attending vacation station,
tutoring, or other prearranged activities) as
there is NOT supervision for the children. Those
students that arrive before the 805 AM bell
should wait quietly by the office doors until the
bell rings. Students arriving after 820 AM must
be signed in at the office by a parent or
guardian.
17
is for PTO and Class Parties. We have an
awesome PTO that is incredibly generous to the
staff and students in our building. Any support
you can give them would be appreciated by so
many. Please look for information regarding
upcoming meetings and different ways you can
help. Sign up for class parties is
available. You can sign up for one or all the
parties. You can be a party planner, send
donations, or help out at the parties. They are
always fun and are important memories for your
child. If you can support the PTO or class
parties please sign up or let me know and I will
get you the information you need. THANK YOU!
18
is for Questions. I am sure you will have
questions throughout the year. I am usually at
school between 730 and 330. You may call
851-5587 which is my direct line. I usually have
it on voicemail, so just leave a message and I
will get back with you as soon as I am able. You
may also communicate with me via your childs
agenda book - as I will be looking at them daily.
Another way to contact me is via e-mail. My
address is wendy.krueger_at_fhsdschools.org I
check it often during the day and will try my
best to return your e-mail asap. Feel free to
send a note, e-mail, or call at anytime and I
will be happy to answer your questions to the
best of my ability.
19
is for Reading. We will be reading every day. I
love to read and will share that love of books
with your child. They will be exposed to a
variety of books. Please sit and read with your
child each night. They learn so much more from
this experience. By third grade they should be
reading at least 20 minutes each night at home.
This will increase their comprehension and
vocabulary. As you read, ask them questions about
the story and point out unfamiliar vocabulary.
In third grade we divide our classes into
ability groups. This means that each child will
be reading with other students who read at their
level. This allows us to focus on skills that
each level needs.
20
is for Student of the Day. I will pick one
student each day to be my helper for the day.
They will have many different things to do
throughout the day.
21
is for Tuesday Folders. Communication is very
important between parents and teachers. On
Tuesday your child will bring home a folder with
their work from the previous week, notes from the
office and other important information. Please
review these papers, sign the folder, and return
it to school by Thursday. If the folder is not
turned in by Thursday with a signature they will
be put on yellow.
22
is for Understand. It is important to me to know
anything about your childs circumstances
(separation in family, a death, illness, etc.)
that may effect their emotions, etc. at school.
If you can think of anything I need to know to
help make your childs learning experience more
positive, please share it with me. My focus is
on what your child can and should be learning. I
cannot do it without your help. If anything ever
comes up that I can help with please let me know.
I will be sure to do the same with you.
23
is for Volunteers. Parents are welcome in our
classroom anytime. If you would like to
volunteer, please let me know. You will need to
fill out some paperwork in the office to be able
to come into the classroom to work with the
students or to go on field trips. The district
requires a background check for this. Please be
aware that you cannot go on field trips or work
with the children without this completed first.
24
is for Writers Workshop. Students will
participate in writers workshop. We will work
through the writing process. Mrs. Klopstein
will be their writing teacher this year.
25
is for x-citing! This year will be very x-citing!
is for You. You are a very important part of
your childs education. Without your positive
support in academics and character, your child
will not be successful. He/She needs you
involved and caring about what is happening in
his/her life.
26
is for Zillions! Im sure you have a zillion
more questions that havent been answered in this
handbook. Please feel free to ask me - I am
looking forward to getting to know you and your
child.