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Changes

• Shawnee Mission is going through some very serious changes this year – from Ipads to copiers to grades.

• Please have patience! I will do my best to answer your questions, but I will not have an answer for all of them.

• The theme of this presentation is “I will let you know when I know.”

TOO MUCH! SLOW DOWN!

• I am about to slam you with information. Please note that all information including this Power Point will be on my website. See my business card.

• (That will be changing soon, too.)

About Me

• I am a K-12 Shawnee Mission graduate from the South area.

• My husband and I both attended KU. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education.

• I have a Master’s from Rockhurst in Elementary Education.

• This is my ninth year at Westwood View.

• I LOVE WWV and teaching 3rd grade.

More About Me

• I have a 5 year-old named Ollie and a 2 year-old named Penny.

• We live up the street across 47th. You will see me jogging down Belinder or Mission. DON’T honk – it scares the daylights out of me.

Curriculum

Our theme is Connecting Communities or more simply Cities.

We start locally with Westwood and branch out to Kansas City, Washington, D.C., Paris, and Tokyo.

We try to connect all areas including science, math, spelling, and reading to our Cities theme.

Please see the website under documents for our Curriculum Map.

Transitional Year

3rd grade is the transition from little kid to big kid. This is a year of many firsts:

Reading to Learn – instead of learning to readCursiveMultiplication/DivisionMile RunUpper playground both recessesReal Textbooks and notebook paperBike riding to schoolAnd Standardized Testing….

Testing

3rd grade is the year of testing.We take the following tests:The new Common Core test (formerly the Kansas Assessment) for Math and Reading in March and April.

MAP testing – Math and Reading in the fall and spring (maybe).

Dibels and DAZE reading tests are done quarterly.Pentathlon math competition is taken 5 times a year, but is not for a grade.

Second Step

• We have a new program to help students understand how an active learner looks/acts and the traits of being a good friend.

• Our weekly goals will be based on our this program. Please ask your student about the goal of the week (when you remember).

Discipline

• We have 2 rules: Self Control and Respect.

• Students who are struggling with either rule will pull a ticket and follow the consequences.

• If a student has to pull 3 tickets in a day, they will fill out a think sheet after school. I will always let you know if your child has a think sheet, but ask them if they are late after school.

Birthday Treats

There are to be no birthday treats sent with your children. We are working on healthy eating and active lifestyles.

My personal opinion:

- As a teacher – Happy Face!

- As a parent – Sad Face!

No! No! No!

General Info

• If your student is too sick for recess, they are too sick for school.

• No exceptions. • The best way to reach me is email! • As always, third grade is going

GREEN, so please sign up for dish washing duty for any of the parties.

Folders and Homework

• 3rd graders should be reading 20 minutes every night. Their reading logs (the green folder) needs to be filled out by them every night.

• The blue and silver folder is for Monday Mail and graded work. Please go over the work with your student.

• They should be spending 10 minutes or less a night working on their homework packet. It is due on Fridays.

Grades

• So as previously sent to you in an email, our grading system is changing.

• We will now have a x, ^, - system. The percentages for each “grade” have not been established yet. I will let you know as soon as possible. Please think on an A, B, C, D, and F scale for now.

• You will soon have access to grades, but please have patience – if you see a zero, give me (and your student) a day or two before panic!

Correct and Return

• In 3rd grade, we require that any score 69% or below must be corrected and return.

• A correct and return paper will look like this:

Points

• After work is returned and graded again, the students will receive half the points missed back.

• A corrected paper will look like this:

AR

• In 3rd grade, we are working toward a point goal of 8 first quarter. We do not have a “scheduled” time for AR. They have to be responsible for their own, but I will give them frequent reminders. You can check on AR from home using https://Hosted144.renlearn.com/197767/HomeConnect/Login.aspx

• AR will be available to them on their iPad, but I will let you know when I know if they can take tests at home.

More AR• There will be no more paper AR test copies

sent home. You will need to sign up for the email alerts.

• Please see letter. Here is a website with more AR info for parents:

• http://www.renlearn.com/lp/AROpenHouse/default.html .

• Points and AR level can be found on AR book finder on my website under Language Arts/Reading.

Ipads

I’m not sure you have heard, but WWV is getting Ipads for each student.

We are very excited to:

1.Use less paper – I’m annoyingly green.

2.Have a new means for learning. The technology allows for different types of learners to achieve.

3.Keep pace with modern teaching/learning practices.

4.Teach responsibility!

Things to think about

• We ask that when your student brings home the iPad that you do not connect the Apple ID to a credit card or install any apps. Please give us time to problem solve how this will work.

• Also, no matter how much begging happens, refrain from buying a new case for now. We don’t yet know what the district’s position on this will be – Sorry to spoil anyone’s plans.

• Please send the pink card with their Apple ID back with your student as soon as possible.

More things to think about

• If you have an extra pair of ear buds or a stylus at home, please set them aside with the thought in mind that your child might need them later in Ms. Blizzard’s class.

• You DON’T need to buy these items as of right now.

• The district/EEF/PTA/private company might be providing these items.

• If I do need them, I will let you know!

Ipad Concerns

•I am a mom and have similar worries – privacy, screen time, radiation, cyber-bullying are among a few.

•There will be mistakes made. We will learn from them.

•Please note that we must work together as a team. Communicate with me about your concerns so we are all on the same page.

Now it is time for me to step onto my soap box.• The wise philosopher, Dr. Phil,

once said, “You teach others how to treat you.”

• I am now going to teach you how I want to be treated.

The Self Reliant Child

• Both third grade teachers are committed to helping students help themselves. Students are to responsible for their own actions and work.

Expectations

I am a “guide on the side” – meaning we are here to help your student become independent. This also means that students will be EXPECTED to:

- handle minor friendship issues- complete their work on time- listen to directions and follow

them- do their own work- think for themselves

Help Us Create Independent Students and (Eventually) Citizens

• In order to succeed in teaching self reliance and independence, we need your help!

• There are 2 large at home project this year (1st and 3rd quarter). They are to be completed by the students!! You may edit their work for grammar and spelling ONLY. You have (hopefully) already passed 3rd grade.

The Most important slide in this Power Point!!!• Do not “rescue” your child. If you

notice they did not fill out their reading log, remind them – don’t fill it out for them! Ipads will be a great platform to teach responsibility.

• Third grade consequences are designed to help promote independence.

Another wise man

• Part of life is learning from mistakes!

• Mr. Watson always says “6th grade mistakes are CHEAP – 12th grade mistakes are EXPENSIVE.” 3rd grade mistakes are even CHEAPER!!

• Please let them work out academic and social issues for themselves with the adults as the GUIDE.

Mean things I will make your child do!

• Thank you notes! If you choose to bring in homework, projects, or other items that for which they should be responsible – they will write you a thank you note on their time.

• Think/talk/write about his or her feelings.

• Try new things! We are here to explore.

Down from the Soap Box, Ms. B!

• Please know that as a parent, I understand the need to be needed.

• Thank you for listening.

Volunteer!!

Please sign up using the Sign Up Genius for field trips, parties, and conferences.

www.signupgenius.com

User email: volunteerwwv@gmail.com

I also love parents in the classroom to help all my students, so please sign up for a parent helper slot if you are able at the back table.

Website

Finally, our classroom website is a tool for your and your student. Please refer to it for homework info, class calendar and schedule, and online sites to help you study. THIS WILL BE CHANGING TO SKYWARD SOON!

http://www4.smsd.org/rebeccablizzard

Thank you!

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