MRS FOSTERS ACADEMY BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT 2016

MRS FOSTERS ACADEMY BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT 2016 -2017

CLASS SCHEDULE 8: 25 – 9: 00 Opening routines 9: 00 – 10: 00 Reading Lessons & Reader’s Workshop 10: 00 – 10: 35 Writing & Grammar 10: 35 – 10: 55 Recess 10: 55 – 12: 10 Math 12: 15 – 12: 55 Lunch 12: 55 – 1: 10 Read Aloud 1: 10 – 2: 00 Social Studies/ Science/ Art 2: 00 – 2: 30 Planners, catch up, closing routines 2: 30 – 2: 37 Clean up & dismissal P. E. M 11 -11: 30, W 8: 25 -8: 55, T & Th 10: 15 – 10: 35 Library: W 10 -10: 30 Chromebooks: M, T, Th & F

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT School Wide Positive Behavior Program (PBIS) The 5 B’s: Be safe, respectful, responsible, on task & kind Super Hero theme this year Class Dojo An online tracking system for classroom behavior & successes Rewards for Positive Behavior Shining Stars: School tickets to use at the Shining Star Store School wide Shining Star drawing by the Principal each Friday Ketchup & Relish

EXPECTATIONS Students are expected to: -Follow the Academy contract guidelines -Be on time to school, rested, nourished and ready to learn -Follow the dress code and all school rules -Be respectful to peers and all teachers/staff -Complete classwork and homework on time -Be responsible with class materials and school property -Listen attentively, work productively and play safely -Participate in opportunities for communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity -Make the most of their learning!

CLASSROOM INFO A $25 donation from each family to cover Time for Kids & supplies is appreciated! Adopt-a-class donations are also a wonderful help. Wednesday Folders are used to send home PTA & school info, class work & tests. Please return emptied by Friday each week. Please send a water bottle everyday. They should be kept outside the backpack to protect books. No open-top water bottles, please Please only send healthy morning recess snacks to school. Kindly avoid sending cookies, chips, candy or junk food. To purchase school lunches, take account payments to the office or online directly through EZ School Pay lunch program. Birthdays are honored with a song & a parent donated snack. Scholastic Book Orders: Your classroom teacher has an online code. It really is a good place to get reasonably priced books! Parent conferences and party sign ups will be done online via “Sign up Genius”.

LANGUAGE ARTS Newly adopted Common Core L. A. program: Benchmark Literacy Jr. Great Books Literature: selected 3 rd grade novels Reader’s Workshop Focus on Vocabulary & spelling from literature Grammar & Wordly Wise, Quizlet Time for Kids subscriptions Writing: Journaling, Writer’s Workshop & instruction for: Narratives, Informative & Opinion selections Handwriting; cursive & Keyboarding skills

MATH En. Vision fourth grade math curriculum (third year in adoption) M 3 units Hands on Equations Classroom games and videos to support topics Online programs with chromebooks: Sheppard Software Fact Monster math flashcards Kahn Academy Cool Math Games

SCIENCE Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Topics include Ecosystems, heredity, biology, Earth’s systems, motion & stability, engineering design Hands-on Science Activities and demonstrations FOSS & Teacher created materials Scientific Process & Science fair in Spring Science notebooks Mystery Science Project based learning Crayfish, land snails & Fish in the Classroom

SOCIAL STUDIES 3 rd Grade CA State Standards Topics include: Land & water, Regions, California Indians past & present, Communities, Rules & laws, Economics Scott-Foresman “Our Communities” curriculum Benchmark Reading curriculum is aligned with Social Studies standards Project based learning Field trips to support Social Studies

ART & PE FAME art program: Each class has a PTA sponsored art docent volunteer that highlights a composer and artist through 6 -8 mini lessons and a fun art project throughout the year. These focus on the elements of art and art standards. ** Classroom volunteers needed!** Several fine arts projects throughout the year include paint, watercolor, oil pastels, collaging, tear art, paper mache’, clay and modeling. P. E. standards are taught with Mrs. Bonnett for one hour a week. (two 30 minute sessions) Games, skill movement and walking club are practiced with the whole class 40 minutes a week. This ensures we meet the 200 minutes/10 days standard.

TECHNOLOGY Chromebooks Keyboarding Powerpoints Research Google classroom i-Ready lessons & assessments Accelerated Reader, STAR Various educational apps & programs

ASSESSMENTS Writing: Narrative, Information and Opinion rubric Math: beginning of the year placement, chapter tests, Standardized tests in spring, end of year test, math facts quizzes Science, Social Studies & Reading Unit Assessments Reading fluency checks for appropriate levels in reading and comprehension skills District Report Cards every trimester (Parent Conferences to be scheduled for November to go over your child’s Trimester 1 progress and the report card markings) i-Ready district assessments for reading & math

GRADING Assignments that are graded are due on the assigned date. If students are excused absent, they must still make up the work for credit and have one day per absence to do so, including homework. These are generally given a point value (5, 10, 25, etc) or a rubric (4 -1) and may translate to a percentage. Grades are coded on Gradebook and the report card as: M (meets or exceeds standards) 80 -100% A D (developing proficiency) 60 – 79% B L (limited proficiency) 59% and below Academic Expectations: It is the student’s responsibility to manage their time, complete assignments and stay organized. All work missed for leaving class for appointments or absences must be made up. All work is expected to be done with quality and care and have an overall neat appearance.

HOMEWORK Per district policy, homework this year will consist of: • Fifteen minutes daily reading. Record on reading log and do a nightly “making meaning” activity. Due Fridays Ten points possible: 2 for each activity and 2 for the log. • Daily math practice directly from lesson taught • i-Ready practice on computer -Homework is to be completed and ready to turn in each morning. Assignments will be recorded in their daily Theodore Judah planners. -Students should keep assignments in a folder to “keep it neat” & avoid losing it. -Homework is checked in on a daily basis

ACADEMY CONTRACT Each student and parent must read, sign and return the Academy contract. This contract highlights the standards and expectations for which a student can both academically and behaviorally succeed in the program. Please keep a copy for your records. We expect that students will self motivate, keep organized, present high quality work and be responsible for their materials and work with minimal teacher prompts. Things like remembering homework, due dates, turning in assignments, following procedures, etc. are vital to their success! Criteria for Academy placement: -i. Ready scores for math and ELA are on or above grade level -Writing assessments score a 3 or 4 on district rubric -Executive functioning skills are on or above grade level -Below grade level intervention will result in a core placement

ATTENDANCE Regular attendance and promptness is very important to your student’s success in the Academy. Please try to schedule vacations and appointments outside of school time. See the District Calendar to use as a planning guide. Please call in your absence to the office or email Mrs. Vanberg our attendance clerk at: dvanberg@fcusd. org Independent studies will only be given for a minimum of a five day absence due to a family emergency and must handed in on the specified return date. Otherwise grades will be affected and the absences will not be excused. Assessments may be given upon return to diagnose student learning while away.

VOLUNTEERS Opportunities for Parents to volunteer: Room Parents to plan parties & laison with PTA Wednesday Folder parents Field Trip Chaperones (see field trips) FAME (art program) P. E. Walking Club – Mrs. Bonnett needs recess volunteers! PTA opportunities Guest Speakers Classroom Parties: 1 per trimester Fall, Winter & Spring parties *All classroom volunteers must be Category 1 cleared with the office!

FIELD TRIPS 3 rd grade is asking for donations to cover trips. (Donations from the Adopt a Class also help offset the field trip costs as well) ALL parent chaperones interested in going on field trips must be Category 2 cleared through the office BEFORE signing up to volunteer. Start your application now! Possible field trips this year: Maidu Center, Green Acres Nursery, Fog Willow Science farm, Fish hatchery, play/performance, walking trip to old Folsom area, Academy of Sciences in San Francisco {San Francisco: This will require a larger financial commitment and be an all day, bus chartered event}

COMMUNICATION Email is the best, most effective way to reach us. Mr. Berry: rberry@fcusd. org Mr. Gallington: agallington@fcusd. org Mrs. Foster: jfoster@fcusd. org If you have a question or concern, please email or send a note rather than use our classroom instructional time for questions. We are very good at returning emails promptly! See the school website for our teacher websites We will be having parent conferences in November to go over your child’s progress for the first three months of school.

SAFETY CONCERNS Always drive SLOWLY in the parking lot!

FCUSD FOOD SERVICES WEBSITE

We will believe half of what they say about you if you believe half of what they say about us If you have questions, please ask! We will do the same for you ~

THANKS FOR COMING!