Field Trip to the Guard Pig Farm in Field Trip to the Guard Pig Farm in Lafayette IndianaLafayette Indiana

Mini Mall Economics DayMini Mall Economics Day Chocolate DayChocolate Day Rube Goldberg Science Rube Goldberg Science

Project/PresentationProject/Presentation Pioneer Unit and Pioneer DayPioneer Unit and Pioneer Day Field Trip to Conner Prairie Living History Field Trip to Conner Prairie Living History

MuseumMuseum

Color Poetry WritingColor Poetry Writing Recycling ProjectsRecycling Projects Exploding Science ExperimentsExploding Science Experiments Thanksgiving FeastThanksgiving Feast President Book Reports/PresentationsPresident Book Reports/Presentations Daily Fun Activities that make Daily Fun Activities that make

learning enjoyable.learning enjoyable.

DifferentiationDifferentiation Three Separate Groups designed to meet each third grader Three Separate Groups designed to meet each third grader

at their level of understanding in math and reading with the at their level of understanding in math and reading with the goal of achieving the greatest strides in learning.goal of achieving the greatest strides in learning.

Mrs. Bayer, Mrs. Guard, and Mrs. Miller will each take an Mrs. Bayer, Mrs. Guard, and Mrs. Miller will each take an ability group and gear activities to meet each child’s needs.ability group and gear activities to meet each child’s needs.

No child will be “stuck” in a particular group.No child will be “stuck” in a particular group. Assessment will be ongoing throughout the school year with Assessment will be ongoing throughout the school year with

special assessment happening during NWEA in late special assessment happening during NWEA in late September and the spring, I-Step+ testing in the spring, September and the spring, I-Step+ testing in the spring, and Dibels testing at the beginning of the second semester and Dibels testing at the beginning of the second semester and again at the end of the year.and again at the end of the year.

Our goal is to see that each child is receiving instruction Our goal is to see that each child is receiving instruction that will make them successful, helping them to learn in a that will make them successful, helping them to learn in a way most profitable to them.way most profitable to them.

Each child will take a spelling pretest on Monday morning. Each child will take a spelling pretest on Monday morning. Based upon their score, the children will either continue to Based upon their score, the children will either continue to practice the regular spelling list (List B) or will be given a practice the regular spelling list (List B) or will be given a challenge spelling list (List A).challenge spelling list (List A).

Mrs. Guard and I found that many of the students already Mrs. Guard and I found that many of the students already knew how to spell many of the words and were not being knew how to spell many of the words and were not being challenged in the area of spelling and so we developed challenged in the area of spelling and so we developed Spelling Packets and the differentiated spelling lists.Spelling Packets and the differentiated spelling lists.

Spelling Packets will be due each week on Thursday. The Spelling Packets will be due each week on Thursday. The children will have a chance to choose from several ways to children will have a chance to choose from several ways to practice their spelling words.practice their spelling words.

On option is Spelling City. At www.spellingcity.comOn option is Spelling City. At www.spellingcity.comthe children can find their spelling list for the week and the children can find their spelling list for the week and choose from many different games to study their words. choose from many different games to study their words. Please sign your child’s Spelling Packet to indicate their Please sign your child’s Spelling Packet to indicate their score and which games your child chose.score and which games your child chose.

Spelling

Discipline PolicyDiscipline Policy I use a color, card system to keep track of student behavior. I use a color, card system to keep track of student behavior. Each child begins each day with a green card signaling that they are ready to Each child begins each day with a green card signaling that they are ready to

go for the day.go for the day. Students can “Pull a Card” for various reasons (not having materials for the Students can “Pull a Card” for various reasons (not having materials for the

day ~planners signed, homework completed, etc.) and also for behavior day ~planners signed, homework completed, etc.) and also for behavior issues (being disruptive or distracting in class, not treating another with issues (being disruptive or distracting in class, not treating another with respect). respect).

A Yellow Card is a warning. The student needs to slow down and prevent this A Yellow Card is a warning. The student needs to slow down and prevent this issue from happening again. A Red Card indicates that things are not going issue from happening again. A Red Card indicates that things are not going so well, and we need to STOP the behavior now. A Blue Card indicates that so well, and we need to STOP the behavior now. A Blue Card indicates that things are beginning to get out of hand. I will be calling you and also having things are beginning to get out of hand. I will be calling you and also having a discussion with Mr. Walker about the situation at this point. A Purple Card a discussion with Mr. Walker about the situation at this point. A Purple Card is a Free Pass to the office. While there, the student will have a discussion is a Free Pass to the office. While there, the student will have a discussion with Mr. Walker and myself that will include a call home from the child with Mr. Walker and myself that will include a call home from the child describing the problem that has caused the need for the visit.describing the problem that has caused the need for the visit.

The Discipline Cards also provide the students with a means to earn money The Discipline Cards also provide the students with a means to earn money to be used in Classroom stores and Mini Mall. Each day that a child has a to be used in Classroom stores and Mini Mall. Each day that a child has a green or yellow card, they earn a dollar toward classroom spending. The green or yellow card, they earn a dollar toward classroom spending. The children will be given opportunities to make spending choices on a regular children will be given opportunities to make spending choices on a regular basis. The children will also be given check books and will complete banking basis. The children will also be given check books and will complete banking transactions weekly during our economics unit in November and December.transactions weekly during our economics unit in November and December.

How You Can Help!How You Can Help!

Volunteer your time for Special Events ~ Field Trips, Theme Days, Mini Mall, etc.Volunteer your time for Special Events ~ Field Trips, Theme Days, Mini Mall, etc. Sign your child’s planner each night and check to see that ALL homework has been Sign your child’s planner each night and check to see that ALL homework has been

completed.completed. Be sure that your child arrives at school each day on time (No later than 8:20 a.m.)Be sure that your child arrives at school each day on time (No later than 8:20 a.m.) Actively communicate with me about concerns/questions that you might have regarding Actively communicate with me about concerns/questions that you might have regarding

things going on at school. Those things do not have to be limited to academic things going on at school. Those things do not have to be limited to academic concerns, but can also include social interaction or spiritual matters, as well.concerns, but can also include social interaction or spiritual matters, as well.

Keep your child home, if they are sick! Keep your child home, if they are sick! Check Net Classroom each evening for new announcements, new grades, or special Check Net Classroom each evening for new announcements, new grades, or special

activities related to school.activities related to school. Encourage your child to show you our two class websites. They are very excited about Encourage your child to show you our two class websites. They are very excited about

the opportunities to post their work and will be thrilled when you show an interest in the opportunities to post their work and will be thrilled when you show an interest in what they are doing online.what they are doing online.

Start saving your trash! Start saving your trash! During December, we will be completing a recycling project During December, we will be completing a recycling project that will repurpose materials. We will need newspaper, empty cans, empty water and that will repurpose materials. We will need newspaper, empty cans, empty water and 2L bottles, paper towel/toilet paper rolls, and any other material that could be 2L bottles, paper towel/toilet paper rolls, and any other material that could be repurposed into something useful for the children.repurposed into something useful for the children.

We desperately need a Heavy Duty, Continuous Use Pencil Sharpener for our classroom.We desperately need a Heavy Duty, Continuous Use Pencil Sharpener for our classroom.

Service OpportunitiesService Opportunities Our Compassion Child ~ Austin from KenyaOur Compassion Child ~ Austin from Kenya Caring Bags to be distributed through the New Witham ER Caring Bags to be distributed through the New Witham ER

in Anson funded by a grant from Boone County Youth as in Anson funded by a grant from Boone County Youth as Resources.Resources.

Operation Christmas Child Boxes ~ Boxes filled with Operation Christmas Child Boxes ~ Boxes filled with inexpensive toys, school supplies, medicines, and socks inexpensive toys, school supplies, medicines, and socks that are distributed to orphans and poor children all over that are distributed to orphans and poor children all over the globe. Each box will contain a note written by our class the globe. Each box will contain a note written by our class expressing our love and prayers for the needy child.expressing our love and prayers for the needy child.

A spring service opportunity still to be decided. I would A spring service opportunity still to be decided. I would love suggestions, if you know of a need that we could meet.love suggestions, if you know of a need that we could meet.

Wiki SpacesWiki Spaces http://http://

www.mrsmillersclasstpca.wikispaces.cwww.mrsmillersclasstpca.wikispaces.com/om/

Safe, Internet Environment for children Safe, Internet Environment for children to share projects, writing, and video to share projects, writing, and video with parents, relatives, and friends.with parents, relatives, and friends.

Open only by Invitation. Mrs. Miller Open only by Invitation. Mrs. Miller has the control of accepting or has the control of accepting or denying any user applying to use the denying any user applying to use the site.site.

The children are so excited about The children are so excited about integrating technology into our lessons integrating technology into our lessons and cannot wait to begin sharing their and cannot wait to begin sharing their projects with you.projects with you.

Each family will receive a detailed Each family will receive a detailed copy of the requirements/parameters copy of the requirements/parameters for using the wiki.for using the wiki.

EduBlog EduBlog http://thethirdgradegazette.edublogs.orghttp://thethirdgradegazette.edublogs.org

Educational, blogging website open to Educational, blogging website open to teachers and schools.teachers and schools.

Open only by invitation. I have the Open only by invitation. I have the ability to accept or deny any comment ability to accept or deny any comment that is placed on the blog.that is placed on the blog.

A real, world writing opportunity for A real, world writing opportunity for each child to share the exciting things each child to share the exciting things that they are learning in the classroom that they are learning in the classroom each week.each week.

Each child will have an opportunity to Each child will have an opportunity to share their writing and receive share their writing and receive comments from teachers, family, and comments from teachers, family, and friends.friends.

Graduate of Johnson Bible College with a major in Graduate of Johnson Bible College with a major in Elementary Education and BibleElementary Education and Bible

This is my 6This is my 6thth year with TPCA year with TPCA Wife to Scott for 10 yearsWife to Scott for 10 years Mother to Megan and HannahMother to Megan and Hannah In April,2008 our 8 year old daughter, Megan passed away. In April,2008 our 8 year old daughter, Megan passed away.

We are doing our best to handle the grief and still function We are doing our best to handle the grief and still function day to day, but some days are a struggle. Being with the day to day, but some days are a struggle. Being with the children helps to ease some of that pain and allows me to children helps to ease some of that pain and allows me to “mother” them while they are with me.“mother” them while they are with me.

I absolutely LOVE teaching and could not imagine myself I absolutely LOVE teaching and could not imagine myself doing anything else. I love to see the excitement on the doing anything else. I love to see the excitement on the children’s faces as they “get” a new concept and love to children’s faces as they “get” a new concept and love to make the learning process fun for them when at all make the learning process fun for them when at all possible.possible.

I know that we are going to I know that we are going to have a great year!have a great year!

Thank you all for Thank you all for coming!coming!