Important Info

        Mr. Ashcraft/Third Grade/2016-2017

What we are doing...week of May 1, 2017

Homework:

  • Daily: Read for 20 minutes and fill out the reading Log; this is due on Friday!

  • Monday: Math Page

  • Tuesday: Read the Weekly Reader: LBJ

  • Wednesday: Read the story of the week (large RW textbook); test on Thursday

  • Thursday: Math page 

    What we are learning this week:
  • Math: Year in review/step up to 4th grade.
  • Reading Wonders: Genre: Myths/Plays
  • Writing: Informational
  • Social Studies: Lyndon B. Johnson
  • Science: Preserving Ecosystems
  • NEW 2017 Parent Letter:
  •  Dear Students and Parents,

              Welcome Back!  In this New Year I want to make some positive changes that will help your child be successful.  I have some fun and engaging ideas that I want to put in place as well.  The following are some new procedures and expectations for the second semester:

    • Homework: A minimal increase in homework. I would like students to complete couple of math pages per week.  Mostly: READ! (Reading Wonders textbooks/Georgia Weekly Studies).  Students will be required to write down their homework assignments  You will see a new homework page come home today.  There are still several students that do not return notes and Reading logs.  There will be a consequence for students not turning in Reading logs. 
    • Organization: We will work on organizational skills in class, but ultimately it will be the responsibility of the student to keep up with assignments, reading logs, and notes.
    • Multiplication Facts: Timed multiplication test. These will not be high pressure and will be based on individual students’ levels.
    • Weekly Reading Logs will count as a Reading grade. I want to teach the students the responsibility of keeping up with something for an entire week.  Students need to have this on Friday morning; with an entry for each day (M, T, W, Th) and completed by the student before class begins.  I will put a consequence in place for not having the homework page/reading log.
    • Reading test: The Reading Wonders Reading test for the second semester is much longer.  This is to build stamina in reading and comparing passages.  On average these will happen every other week.  I will send one home so parents and students can see the format and length.  I will announce the test date a week in advance.  My plan is to have the test on Thursdays so I can return the graded test on Friday (and a more timely manner for students and parents:)  There will be other comprehension and vocabulary assignments each week as part of the overall Reading grade.
    • Attendance: We are looking to have perfect attendance the month of January so I am thinking of some sort of incentive if we make this goal (along with bragging rights of the ENTIRE school!) One of the goals of our School Improvement Plan is to improve attendance.
    • Communication: In an effort to have more communication between home and school, I will begin requiring that students get all science and social studies study guides signed. This will be a grade for that subject!
    • Independent Work: During the second semester, I will expect students to work independently. What this looks like in the classroom is when I work with a small group I expect students not at my table to do their assignments.  Students need to learn this work ethic now because in fourth grade the classes may be a bit larger and they will begin changing classes, therefore students will need to be as efficient as much as possible, not interrupt others, and not waste time.  
    • Indoor Garden Project : I am most excited about beginning a class project this semester.  This will be done in class.  The overall theme is gardening and I will use it to motivate and engage students while bringing in several standards in an authentic hands-on project.  Later, I may ask for a few donations for this project but it will be minimal.