Classroom Expectations

Italic Handwriting

Third grade students learn and  are expected to use Italic cursive handwriting for all assignments. While this may be challenging at first, it will pay off for them in the future. Studies show that, once mastered, italic handwriting is faster than printing and more legible than “loopy” cursive. If your student struggles with cursive writing, please let me know so that I support them.

Pencil vs. Pen

Students will use a ballpoint pen for most assignments (even math!). Inevitable mistakes can be neatly crossed out. Our aim is to show process rather than perfection. Final drafts of projects and writing assignments will be in pencil or typed.

Homework

Students will have nightly homework. This year I’m trying to reduce the amount by having students do parts of both Riggs and math in class. For Riggs, missed words and sentences will be completed during Word Work in Daily 5. Students will need to practice new words each night.  In math, students will get 15-20 minutes in class to begin the homework. Most students can get 10-15 problems (out of 30) finished in that time, cutting homework in half. There will occasionally be history reading or other work started in class to complete. On these nights, I will do my best to balance the “extra” homework with the regular nightly assignments. Students are also expected to read 20 minutes per night aloud. Third grade students should be spending around half an hour per night on homework in addition to the reading. If your child is spending more than 45 minutes on average, please let me know so that we can work together to find ways to support the process.

Behavior Policy

It is important that all students are able to engage and learn in the classroom. Fifth graders are expected to follow instructions and conduct themselves in a manner that supports their own learning and that of others. We will teach students the importance of the Falcon Five (being respectful, responsible, resourceful, compassionate, and safe) in the hopes that they will show strong character at school and in the community.

If a student’s behavior infringes upon their own or others’ ability to learn, they will be verbally reminded and their color on the classroom behavior chart will be changed. While the color chart is used throughout the school, it is applied in an age-appropriate manner in light of their responsibilities and needs as third graders.

Green- Ready to learn!
Yellow- Reminder of class expectations
Orange- Reminder of class expectations
Blue- Take a break to reflect and "reset"
Red- Take a break in another room to reflect and problem solve with an adult. Parents will be contacted and the student will be given a logical consequence.
Hot Pink- Student will be removed from the classroom. Parent, teacher, and administrator will meet to discuss needs and  options to better support the student when they return to class. 

Steps in the disciplinary process may be skipped due to the severity of misbehavior.

While I am happy to discuss with you any specific or general classroom concerns please remember that the discipline proceedings for other children are confidential and the law requires that I maintain student privacy.