Lion Folder
This folder will help students maintain organization throughout the school year and will also promote responsibility. The folder is a great way to maintain a home and school connection. Students will be responsible to bring their Lion Folder to and from school with them every day as well as keep it organized. These folders will contain weekly spelling/vocabulary lists, weekly newsletter, daily homework, lunch/school calendar, and important notes coming home. This folder will also serve as your take home and homework folder. You will also find homework helpers to use as you monitor and guide your child in completing his/her homework.
The back pocket of the folder will contain graded work from the week. My goal is to teach the children to take on more responsibility in order to get them ready for middle school. In addition, I believe children can learn from their mistakes, so I invite students to correct the papers in their LION Folder to work toward mastery These corrected papers will be due by the following Friday.
LION Folder Rules
Enjoy and care for your LION folder!
Communication: I believe parents, children, and teachers are a team when it comes to a child’s education. Communication is an important factor in every child’s academic and social success. Therefore, I feel it is important to have consistent communication with families throughout the school year. Please feel free to contact me regarding academics, behavior, health, and/or social/emotional issues your child may be dealing with both in school and at home. There are a number of ways to contact me. The easiest is through email ([email protected]). I check email daily and often. I can also be reached by phone (708-687-4763 x5341) or by writing notes in the assignment notebook or letters from home. I will also be using ClassDojo. This app is a great way for me to send reminders about homework, events, supplies, etc. to you by text or email. (Please send an email to find out how to sign up.) Through great communication, we can help your child be successful and happy together.
Behavior: Forest Ridge District 142 participates in PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Support).
Rewards: Students can earn paws for good behavior throughout the day and for finishing their work each day. These paws lead to special privileges and prizes. These can be for the teacher’s chair, a “No Homework” pass, extra recess, sit by a friend, homework pass, etc.… The class can also earn marbles that will lead to their choice of a movie, game/electronic day, or WII party. Remember, good behavior counts!!!
Homework: You can expect homework each night, Monday through Thursday. The homework will be an extension of the curriculum that is taught in class that week. If there is homework, it will be sent home that night in the LION FOLDER, along with any incomplete classroom assignments. Please check your child’s folder each night and discuss which work is homework and which work is classroom work they were unable to finish in school. If your child is bringing home too many unfinished classroom assignments, then perhaps your child is not using their time wisely. If this does occur, please contact me immediately and we will work together to make sure your child is successfully completing their work in school. Any homework and classroom work that goes home should be RETURNED the next day in their LION FOLDER. Missing homework slips will be given if your child has missed an assignment. The missing homework slip should be signed by a parent and returned along with the completed assignment on the next school day. Please check your child’s work each night to ensure that they understand the assignment, and that they are turning in their best effort.
Make-up work: Make up work should be completed in a timely fashion. Generally, if a student misses one day, he/she will have one day to make up the work. If a student misses two days, he/she will have two days to make up the work, and so forth.
Tests and Quizzes: There will be at least a three-day notice before a test is given and at least a one-day notice before a quiz is given. Every week the Language and Reading comprehension assessments and final Spelling tests will be given on Friday. Students receiving a D or U on Science, Social Studies, Math, Language, or Reading tests are required to make corrections at home and have the test signed by a parent.
Reading Workshop: Reading Workshop is a way of structuring the reading block so every student is engaged in meaningful literacy tasks. Students receive explicit whole group instruction and then are given independent practice time to read and write independently while I provide focused, intense instruction to individuals and small groups of students. We will spend our first weeks working intensely on building our reading and writing stamina, learning the behaviors of Reading Workshop and fostering our classroom community. I will also spend time learning about your child’s strengths and greatest needs as a reader in order to best plan for each student’s instruction.
One change you may notice is a direct decrease in the number of worksheets your child brings home. While worksheets keep students busy, they don’t really result in the high level of learning I want for your child. Instead, your child will be taught to select “Good Fit Books” or books they can read, understand and are interested in, which they will read during independent reading time. They will be spending most of their time actually reading, which research supports as the number one way to grow as a reader.
Math: The third grade math curriculum consists of Envision. This program offers an engaging and interactive approach to covering Common Core Standards. Its seamless digital path and Write-in Student Edition ensure that students can access content at appropriate levels of depth and rigor. In third grade, we will work on developing understanding of multiplication and division and strategies for multiplication and division within 100; developing understanding of fractions, especially unit fractions; developing understanding of the structure of rectangular arrays and of area; and describing and analyzing two-dimensional shapes. Student Login and Password information can be found in your student's Lion Folder.
Spelling Homework: In addition to nightly homework, the students will be responsible to complete their spelling homework each week at home. They will be given their leveled spelling lists on Friday.
Writing: We will be kicking off third grade with Narrative Writing! We will be diving into the writing process, which includes: brainstorming, first drafting, editing/revising, peer and teacher conferencing, and publishing! During the workshop this year, we will be focusing on expository, persuasive, and narrative writing.
Breakfast/Water Bottles: Students may purchase breakfast each morning as they enter school. They will be allowed to eat their breakfast when they first arrive, but will still be responsible to start their morning work. Students may bring a healthy snack and water bottle each day.
Birthdays: Birthdays are special and will be celebrated throughout the year. Anyone who celebrated a birthday over the summer will have the option to celebrate now or at the end of the year. District Wellness Policy: In order to promote a healthy lifestyle and ensure the safety of our Forest Ridge Elementary School District 142 students, no food is to be brought in for students during the school day to share with other students. This includes, but is not limited to, events such as classroom parties, birthday celebrations, or other celebrations. In the event there is an exception granted by the Superintendent of Schools or his/her designee, a parent permission slip will be required to be completed in order for a student to consume the food. As alternate options, students may bring in non-food items such as stickers, pencils, etc., and/or they may donate a book in their name to the classroom library. Alternative “movement break” activities can be done in the classroom to help celebrate special occasions, such as, but not limited to, a classroom game, dance party, or extra recess.
School Supplies: Please try to have all supplies as soon as possible. Please label everything and make sure to keep extra supplies at home for homework.
Cell Phones: I recognize that a cell phone is often a necessary means of communication before and after school between a parent and a child. If a cell phone is brought to school it must remain turned off and inside the student’s backpack until they have exited the building at the end of the day. All phone correspondence between students and parents during the school day must be made via the office or classroom phone.
I am very excited to be a part of your child’s learning experience, and I will do my best to make third grade not only educational, but also engaging and fun. I want the children to become lifelong learners, take what they’ve learned, and connect it to everything outside of school. Thank you for sharing your child with me every day.
This folder will help students maintain organization throughout the school year and will also promote responsibility. The folder is a great way to maintain a home and school connection. Students will be responsible to bring their Lion Folder to and from school with them every day as well as keep it organized. These folders will contain weekly spelling/vocabulary lists, weekly newsletter, daily homework, lunch/school calendar, and important notes coming home. This folder will also serve as your take home and homework folder. You will also find homework helpers to use as you monitor and guide your child in completing his/her homework.
The back pocket of the folder will contain graded work from the week. My goal is to teach the children to take on more responsibility in order to get them ready for middle school. In addition, I believe children can learn from their mistakes, so I invite students to correct the papers in their LION Folder to work toward mastery These corrected papers will be due by the following Friday.
LION Folder Rules
- Please do NOT draw or doodle in or on your LION folder. Treat it with respect. Take good care of your LION folder; you will have it all year!
- Use your LION folder! It is your useful, organizational tool. If you listen and put the papers and other items into the designated area, you will be organized! Every paper has a home...I shouldn't see your backpack a mess.
- When you receive a new item, such as a newsletter or calendar, remove the old item.
- Keep it clean. Try not to eat or drink anything near it (so that it doesn't get spilled on). Remember, this needs to last you the whole school year.
- Bring your LION folder home with you every night and bring it back to school every morning. When you have completed your homework at home, immediately put it back into your LION folder.
- Share your LION folder with your family every day. They will be so proud of your wonderful organizational skills!
Enjoy and care for your LION folder!
Communication: I believe parents, children, and teachers are a team when it comes to a child’s education. Communication is an important factor in every child’s academic and social success. Therefore, I feel it is important to have consistent communication with families throughout the school year. Please feel free to contact me regarding academics, behavior, health, and/or social/emotional issues your child may be dealing with both in school and at home. There are a number of ways to contact me. The easiest is through email ([email protected]). I check email daily and often. I can also be reached by phone (708-687-4763 x5341) or by writing notes in the assignment notebook or letters from home. I will also be using ClassDojo. This app is a great way for me to send reminders about homework, events, supplies, etc. to you by text or email. (Please send an email to find out how to sign up.) Through great communication, we can help your child be successful and happy together.
Behavior: Forest Ridge District 142 participates in PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Support).
Rewards: Students can earn paws for good behavior throughout the day and for finishing their work each day. These paws lead to special privileges and prizes. These can be for the teacher’s chair, a “No Homework” pass, extra recess, sit by a friend, homework pass, etc.… The class can also earn marbles that will lead to their choice of a movie, game/electronic day, or WII party. Remember, good behavior counts!!!
Homework: You can expect homework each night, Monday through Thursday. The homework will be an extension of the curriculum that is taught in class that week. If there is homework, it will be sent home that night in the LION FOLDER, along with any incomplete classroom assignments. Please check your child’s folder each night and discuss which work is homework and which work is classroom work they were unable to finish in school. If your child is bringing home too many unfinished classroom assignments, then perhaps your child is not using their time wisely. If this does occur, please contact me immediately and we will work together to make sure your child is successfully completing their work in school. Any homework and classroom work that goes home should be RETURNED the next day in their LION FOLDER. Missing homework slips will be given if your child has missed an assignment. The missing homework slip should be signed by a parent and returned along with the completed assignment on the next school day. Please check your child’s work each night to ensure that they understand the assignment, and that they are turning in their best effort.
Make-up work: Make up work should be completed in a timely fashion. Generally, if a student misses one day, he/she will have one day to make up the work. If a student misses two days, he/she will have two days to make up the work, and so forth.
Tests and Quizzes: There will be at least a three-day notice before a test is given and at least a one-day notice before a quiz is given. Every week the Language and Reading comprehension assessments and final Spelling tests will be given on Friday. Students receiving a D or U on Science, Social Studies, Math, Language, or Reading tests are required to make corrections at home and have the test signed by a parent.
Reading Workshop: Reading Workshop is a way of structuring the reading block so every student is engaged in meaningful literacy tasks. Students receive explicit whole group instruction and then are given independent practice time to read and write independently while I provide focused, intense instruction to individuals and small groups of students. We will spend our first weeks working intensely on building our reading and writing stamina, learning the behaviors of Reading Workshop and fostering our classroom community. I will also spend time learning about your child’s strengths and greatest needs as a reader in order to best plan for each student’s instruction.
One change you may notice is a direct decrease in the number of worksheets your child brings home. While worksheets keep students busy, they don’t really result in the high level of learning I want for your child. Instead, your child will be taught to select “Good Fit Books” or books they can read, understand and are interested in, which they will read during independent reading time. They will be spending most of their time actually reading, which research supports as the number one way to grow as a reader.
Math: The third grade math curriculum consists of Envision. This program offers an engaging and interactive approach to covering Common Core Standards. Its seamless digital path and Write-in Student Edition ensure that students can access content at appropriate levels of depth and rigor. In third grade, we will work on developing understanding of multiplication and division and strategies for multiplication and division within 100; developing understanding of fractions, especially unit fractions; developing understanding of the structure of rectangular arrays and of area; and describing and analyzing two-dimensional shapes. Student Login and Password information can be found in your student's Lion Folder.
Spelling Homework: In addition to nightly homework, the students will be responsible to complete their spelling homework each week at home. They will be given their leveled spelling lists on Friday.
Writing: We will be kicking off third grade with Narrative Writing! We will be diving into the writing process, which includes: brainstorming, first drafting, editing/revising, peer and teacher conferencing, and publishing! During the workshop this year, we will be focusing on expository, persuasive, and narrative writing.
Breakfast/Water Bottles: Students may purchase breakfast each morning as they enter school. They will be allowed to eat their breakfast when they first arrive, but will still be responsible to start their morning work. Students may bring a healthy snack and water bottle each day.
Birthdays: Birthdays are special and will be celebrated throughout the year. Anyone who celebrated a birthday over the summer will have the option to celebrate now or at the end of the year. District Wellness Policy: In order to promote a healthy lifestyle and ensure the safety of our Forest Ridge Elementary School District 142 students, no food is to be brought in for students during the school day to share with other students. This includes, but is not limited to, events such as classroom parties, birthday celebrations, or other celebrations. In the event there is an exception granted by the Superintendent of Schools or his/her designee, a parent permission slip will be required to be completed in order for a student to consume the food. As alternate options, students may bring in non-food items such as stickers, pencils, etc., and/or they may donate a book in their name to the classroom library. Alternative “movement break” activities can be done in the classroom to help celebrate special occasions, such as, but not limited to, a classroom game, dance party, or extra recess.
School Supplies: Please try to have all supplies as soon as possible. Please label everything and make sure to keep extra supplies at home for homework.
Cell Phones: I recognize that a cell phone is often a necessary means of communication before and after school between a parent and a child. If a cell phone is brought to school it must remain turned off and inside the student’s backpack until they have exited the building at the end of the day. All phone correspondence between students and parents during the school day must be made via the office or classroom phone.
I am very excited to be a part of your child’s learning experience, and I will do my best to make third grade not only educational, but also engaging and fun. I want the children to become lifelong learners, take what they’ve learned, and connect it to everything outside of school. Thank you for sharing your child with me every day.