Ms. Short’s Third Grade Syllabus 2019-2020
Welcome to Third Grade!
Mission Statement: West View Elementary School, in partnership with its entire community, will educate each student by providing a positive, challenging, and enriched learning environment that enables each student to become a life-long learner and a responsible citizen in an increasingly global society.
Classroom Rules and Expectations
Rule 1: Follow directions quickly.
Rule 2: Raise your hand for permission to speak.
Rule 3: Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat.
Rule 4: Make smart choices: Glorious Kindness, Leadership, Courage, Invincible Grit, Creativity
Rule 5: Keep our dear learning community happy!
Expectations and discipline are an essential part of a healthy learning environment. Your child’s safety and overall well-being are of great concern to me. Therefore, students are expected to follow all classroom and school rules.
Consequences
1st time – 1st Warning
2nd time – 2nd Warning and negative Dojo point
3rd time – Parent Contact (Class Dojo, call, or email)
4th time – Contact with Administration
Class Dojo
Class Dojo is a web based program which allows teachers to track students’ behaviors (positive AND negative) easily and efficiently as well as communicate with parents. The program is based on points, and students can be given positive points for things like being on task, helping others, participating, or working hard. On the other hand, points can be taken away if students are off task, talking out, or unprepared. Students who behave appropriately will be rewarded with points and points can be used to earn student prizes and rewards. Students will be able to cash in their points and transfer them to their Dojo Credit Card every other week.
Class Dojo is also my main form of communication with parents. For up to date information about your child and our class please join our Class Dojo community. Download the Class Dojo app and use your unique code given to you at Meet the Teacher on August 15.
Parent Folder
Your child’s graded work will be sent home every Friday in their yellow folder with their name on it. In addition to a graded packet, each Friday students will receive the next weeks’ newsletter which has their list of spelling words, what we are learning, as well as upcoming important dates and other things going on at WVES. Any papers that are on the Leave at Home side of the folder are to stay at home with you. Any lunch money, field trip money, t-shirt money, absent or dismissal notes, or book orders is to come back to me in the Bring Back to School side of the folder. I ask students every morning to check their folders and look for anything that they may need to give me.
Homework
Homework will be written in the student’s agenda daily. Please check their agenda every evening to make sure they are completing all homework assignments. Some homework assignments will be completed on a weekly basis. A newsletter will be sent home each Friday with the spelling word list for the next week and other assignments.
Reading Homework - Students are to read independently or with a parent each night for at least 20 minutes. Reading choice boards will be sent home each week. Students must complete three activities in a row for the entire week. It is important that they work on this throughout the week and respond from their independent reading at home.
Spelling Homework – Spelling lists are sent home on the weekly newsletter, and spelling tests will be given every Friday. Spelling homework is in the form of a choice board and will be collected and stapled to the spelling test each Friday.
Math Homework- Math homework will be given daily and will be a review of material learned in class.
Tests and Grades
Study guides are given when necessary. Study guides share with you the majority of tested information, along with any important information you may want to review with your child.
Math quizzes/grades are usually taken each Friday and are on the current topic studied. Previously learned material may be included. The homework given in the homework binder throughout the week will give you a strong indication of the material that will be graded and tested that week.
Missed Work/Make-Up Work
It is the responsibility of the student to ask me what classwork they might have missed if they are absent. I will try to remind the student, but I need their help too. I have an absent folder and I will always keep an extra copy of classwork or assignments in that folder for any child that is absent. The student will be able to take home the absent folder which will contain information about due dates.
Birthdays
You are welcome to send in a pre-packaged treat for your child’s birthday for the class to eat during our scheduled lunch
time. (Please include a list of ingredients or any significant allergy information such as peanuts, dairy, etc.) Thank you for helping to ensure the health and safety of our children!!
Lunch/Snack
Our class will eat lunch from 11:45-12:10. Feel free to join your child for lunch. (Note: I do not hold parent conferences during this time). Each morning around 9:30 we will be taking a short snack break. Children are welcome to bring in clear water and a healthy snack to have at this time. Please do not send in large chip bags as a snack.
Related Arts Block: 10:40-11:25
Closing
I consider it a privilege to work with such wonderful students, parents, faculty, and staff. I am taking this opportunity to let you know how happy I am to have your child in my class this school year. I am dedicated to making this a busy, productive, and terrific year for all of my students. I will be communicating with you often about my classroom plans, your child’s progress, school events, and other activities as they arise. I am looking forward to sharing this year with you and your child.
Sincerely,
Kayla Short
Mission Statement: West View Elementary School, in partnership with its entire community, will educate each student by providing a positive, challenging, and enriched learning environment that enables each student to become a life-long learner and a responsible citizen in an increasingly global society.
Classroom Rules and Expectations
Rule 1: Follow directions quickly.
Rule 2: Raise your hand for permission to speak.
Rule 3: Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat.
Rule 4: Make smart choices: Glorious Kindness, Leadership, Courage, Invincible Grit, Creativity
Rule 5: Keep our dear learning community happy!
Expectations and discipline are an essential part of a healthy learning environment. Your child’s safety and overall well-being are of great concern to me. Therefore, students are expected to follow all classroom and school rules.
Consequences
1st time – 1st Warning
2nd time – 2nd Warning and negative Dojo point
3rd time – Parent Contact (Class Dojo, call, or email)
4th time – Contact with Administration
Class Dojo
Class Dojo is a web based program which allows teachers to track students’ behaviors (positive AND negative) easily and efficiently as well as communicate with parents. The program is based on points, and students can be given positive points for things like being on task, helping others, participating, or working hard. On the other hand, points can be taken away if students are off task, talking out, or unprepared. Students who behave appropriately will be rewarded with points and points can be used to earn student prizes and rewards. Students will be able to cash in their points and transfer them to their Dojo Credit Card every other week.
Class Dojo is also my main form of communication with parents. For up to date information about your child and our class please join our Class Dojo community. Download the Class Dojo app and use your unique code given to you at Meet the Teacher on August 15.
Parent Folder
Your child’s graded work will be sent home every Friday in their yellow folder with their name on it. In addition to a graded packet, each Friday students will receive the next weeks’ newsletter which has their list of spelling words, what we are learning, as well as upcoming important dates and other things going on at WVES. Any papers that are on the Leave at Home side of the folder are to stay at home with you. Any lunch money, field trip money, t-shirt money, absent or dismissal notes, or book orders is to come back to me in the Bring Back to School side of the folder. I ask students every morning to check their folders and look for anything that they may need to give me.
Homework
Homework will be written in the student’s agenda daily. Please check their agenda every evening to make sure they are completing all homework assignments. Some homework assignments will be completed on a weekly basis. A newsletter will be sent home each Friday with the spelling word list for the next week and other assignments.
Reading Homework - Students are to read independently or with a parent each night for at least 20 minutes. Reading choice boards will be sent home each week. Students must complete three activities in a row for the entire week. It is important that they work on this throughout the week and respond from their independent reading at home.
Spelling Homework – Spelling lists are sent home on the weekly newsletter, and spelling tests will be given every Friday. Spelling homework is in the form of a choice board and will be collected and stapled to the spelling test each Friday.
Math Homework- Math homework will be given daily and will be a review of material learned in class.
Tests and Grades
Study guides are given when necessary. Study guides share with you the majority of tested information, along with any important information you may want to review with your child.
Math quizzes/grades are usually taken each Friday and are on the current topic studied. Previously learned material may be included. The homework given in the homework binder throughout the week will give you a strong indication of the material that will be graded and tested that week.
Missed Work/Make-Up Work
It is the responsibility of the student to ask me what classwork they might have missed if they are absent. I will try to remind the student, but I need their help too. I have an absent folder and I will always keep an extra copy of classwork or assignments in that folder for any child that is absent. The student will be able to take home the absent folder which will contain information about due dates.
Birthdays
You are welcome to send in a pre-packaged treat for your child’s birthday for the class to eat during our scheduled lunch
time. (Please include a list of ingredients or any significant allergy information such as peanuts, dairy, etc.) Thank you for helping to ensure the health and safety of our children!!
Lunch/Snack
Our class will eat lunch from 11:45-12:10. Feel free to join your child for lunch. (Note: I do not hold parent conferences during this time). Each morning around 9:30 we will be taking a short snack break. Children are welcome to bring in clear water and a healthy snack to have at this time. Please do not send in large chip bags as a snack.
Related Arts Block: 10:40-11:25
- Monday: Music
- Tuesday: PE/Health
- Wednesday: Library
- Thursday: Global Studies and Art
- Friday: Computer Lab
Closing
I consider it a privilege to work with such wonderful students, parents, faculty, and staff. I am taking this opportunity to let you know how happy I am to have your child in my class this school year. I am dedicated to making this a busy, productive, and terrific year for all of my students. I will be communicating with you often about my classroom plans, your child’s progress, school events, and other activities as they arise. I am looking forward to sharing this year with you and your child.
Sincerely,
Kayla Short