Before We Begin…

Welcome! Please get started on the following:1. Sign in that you are here (side table by sink)2. Put on a nametag (side table by sink)3. Take a volunteer form if interested (on back

table)4. Take a wish list “apple” if interested (on easel)5. Find your child’s desk, read the letter from

your child, and write a response. Writing supplies in desk!

Welcome to Curriculum Night

Miss Cress3rd Grade

2015-2016

IntroductionAbout me:• Born and raised in

Issaquah, WA. Attended Sunset as a student!

• Graduate of Biola University in La Mirada, CA. • BA degree in Elementary

Education, MA degree in Teaching

About Me Continued…• CA teaching experience:

Substitute & long-term substitute

• Things I enjoy: reading, photography, wakeboarding, SAMBICA, Disneyland, family, friends.

Communication• Main Office: (425) 837-5600 • My voicemail: (425) 837-4000, extension 5635• Direct classroom line: (425) 837-5635 (before & after

school only)• Email: cressc@issaquah.wednet.edu• Website on Connect:

http://connect.issaquah.wednet.edu/elementary/sunset/staff/miss_cress_site/default.aspx

• Monthly newsletter• Occasional emails or paper notices

Sockeye Expectations

1. Be respectful2. Be responsible3. Be safe4. Be caring

Class Expectations

•Respect Others•Positive Attitude•Listen Attentively•Follow Directions and Procedures•Work Independently•Materials Ready•Complete All Assignments•Self-Control•Develop strong organization skills!

Classroom Management

• School-wide program: Students can receive a “Sensational Sockeye” card for great behavior. One winner per class per week gets a prize from the office and their photo on the board in the atrium!

• Classroom positive reinforcement:• Whole class: marble jar• Small groups: table points• Individuals: “Cress Cash” –related to clip chart

• Negative consequences:• Warning• Loss of privileges• Apologies

Homework• Assignment sheet with homework, reminders, and

behavior report (color for that day)• Reading: 20 min, 4 times per week• On calendar: Parent initials and length of time on days read• May increase 5 minutes per trimester

• Math: homelink usually Monday – Thursday• Cursive worksheets – usually once a week• Progress Reports – Sent home Friday, due signed

Monday*If your student works and cannot finish, just write me a note telling me why it is not complete. We don’t want homework to become frustrating.

Specialist Schedule

Monday Tuesday Wednesday

Thursday Friday

PE Music PE Music Library

Daily Schedule  Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

9:15-10:45 Math Math Math Math Math

10:45-11:00 Recess Recess Recess*10:50-11

Recess Recess

11:00-11:55 Writing Writing Writing* Writing Writing

      *11:25 PE    

11:55-12:40 Lunch & recess

Lunch & recess

Lunch & recess *until 12:30

Lunch & recess

Lunch & recess

12:40-1:00 Read aloud Read aloud Read aloud Read aloud Read aloud

1:00-1:30 PE Music Cursive Music Library

1:30-2:45 ELA ELA ---------------- ELA ELA

2:45-3:30 Sci/SS Computer lab 2:30-3:30

---------------- Sci/SS Sci/SS

Birthday Policy•Federal & district laws on nutrition and the impact on schools•Recent Issaquah nutritional policy is much stricter than before

•The laws impacts school lunches and snacks and are intended to assist students in making healthy and responsible choices when it comes to food

•Sunset Staff voted in support of the Federal laws; student birthdays will continue to be recognized and honored in the classroom as each teacher decides.

•My class: they receive a card, birthday sticker, and homework pass from me. They get to visit the treasure box, have the “birthday bear” for the day, and we sing to them.

Misc. Info• Lunch money• Cash: send in envelope or baggie with child’s name, lunch

number (if known), and teacher’s name. Check: put child’s name and lunch number in the memo spot. Student should give to teacher 1st thing in the morning.

• Bus passes• Please write a physical note or send an email by 9:30am if

your child needs a bus pass. Include: child’s name, who they’re going with, the bus number, and the date. *No passes for Route 42 as it is full

• Binder organization• Please don’t take papers out of rings at home. We clean out

sections as needed in class.

More Misc. Info• Classroom book check out• Must be stored in provided Ziplock bag

• Class parties:• Harvest Party, Valentine’s Day, End of Year• Focus on healthy snacks due to district nutritional policy.

• Conference Signups• Will be online

• Absences• Illness- X days to make up hw for X days absent• Prearranged- fill out district form; see hw info in packet

G.L.A.D.G.L.A.D.• Guided Language Acquisition

Design• Cooperation, active learning,

accountability, literacy, academic language

• Desks in groups, charts on walls• Used throughout the year and

across all subjects

Curriculum•Reading•Writing•Cursive•Spelling/Vocabulary•Mathematics•Science•Social Studies•Technology•Health•Art

Reading• Making Meaning• Focuses on comprehension• Aligns with the Common Core State Standards

• Fountas and Pinnell• Running Record assessment two or three a year, to

determine reading level. Results sent home to parents in October and February.

• Reader Workshops– “Fur & Feathers” and “Myths & Legends” in late winter & spring.• Guided Reading Groups

Comprehension Strategies from

“Making Meaning”• Making Connections• Visualizing• Making Inferences• Wondering/Questioning• Analyzing Text Features• Determining Important Ideas

Good Fit Books• Use the I PICK acronym to help pick books

I – I choose a bookP – Purpose: Why do I want to read it?I – Interest: Does it interest me?C – Comprehend: Am I understanding what I

am reading?K – I Know most of the words

• 5 Finger Rule for “A Good Fit” – count number of unknown words on a page; should not exceed 5.

Writing• Recent district adoption “Lucy Caulkins Units of

Study”:• Narrative Writing• Information/Expository Writing• Persuasive/Opinion Writing

• Class Newspaper project- later in year• Monthly narrative writing

Cursive• “Handwriting Without Tears” workbook• Homework each week

Spelling / Vocab• Word Study program• No spelling tests• Integrated into morning “Daily Oral Language”

(DOL) time and writing time.

Mathematics• Everyday Mathematics curriculum• A problem-solving approach based on everyday

situations• An instructional approach that revisits concepts

regularly (spiral theory)• Frequent practice of basic skills, often through games

• Everyday Math Online• https://www.everydaymathonline.com• Online games• Reference book• Family letters for each unit • Homework answers

Mathematics• IXL• A website that Sunset subscribes to – students log in• Has different areas of practice• Great for basic fact practice

• Problem Solving• Incorporated with EDM curriculum• “Exemplars” problems• Problems in math journal on Fridays

Science• Life Science:• Animal Life Cycles: Salmon (fall)

• Earth Science: • Water and Weather (winter)

• Physical Science:• Properties of Matter: Rocks and Minerals (spring)

• “Science To Go” lessons (throughout the year)

Social Studies• History• Northwest Native Americans (winter)• Pioneers (spring)

• Civics (fall/winter)• Citizenship• American symbols

Technology• Computer lab time: Tuesdays from 2:30 - 3:30

• Focus on keyboarding and word processing.

• Students will be using Microsoft Word and web programs such as IXL, RazKids, and more.

Health• Read-aloud books and classroom discussions.• Topics include:• Nutrition• Body systems• Emotional & social health• Allergies

Art• Art docent projects (PTA funded)

• Other occasional art lessons in class

Grading Scale• Report cards are standards based.• Math, science, and writing: average of the whole trimester• Reading: a report of where they are at the end of the trimester

• Categories:• 4: Exceeds grade-level expectations• 3: Meets grade-level expectation = TARGET/GOAL for

students• 2: Approaches grade-level expectations: Needs additional practice

• 1: Below grade-level expectations: Area of concern

*The scoring guide is available on the district website

Field Trips• Issaquah Salmon Hatchery – Tues, Sept. 29• Permission slips, bus cost, & chaperone info

coming soon!• I will send out an email when I am ready for

chaperone volunteers to start signing up. Will have a time frame for expressing interest; I draw names from a hat if there are more people interested than we can take.

• Pioneer Farms trip in May or June.

Volunteers• Room parent(s)• Art docent(s)• Library volunteers• Special events• class parties• field trips

• General classroom volunteers • usually once or twice a month

VolunteersClassroom Volunteer Guidelines:• Complete the ISD online volunteer form before starting and

be on clearance list (may take up to 2 weeks to process).• Sign in at the front office and get a visitor badge each time.• Your child should understand that you are at school to help

the class and after greeting you, he or she should continue to work independently.

• Please remember that any information you learn about other students should remain strictly confidential.

Volunteers• Volunteer tasks will vary from time to time, but will most likely

include the following:• A 30-minute or 1-hour time slot• Working with small groups of students or one-one-one with

students: listening to reading or helping with math or writing• Assisting with classroom displays or preparing for classroom

projects• Using the copy machine

• I make a proposed schedule based on availability for each month. If you are unable to make your scheduled time, please let me know.

• If you are unable to volunteer during regular school hours, I occasionally have things I can send home for a volunteer to work on at home and return. Additionally, PTA volunteer opportunities for after school events will be available throughout the year.

Before you leave…

1. Write your child a response to the letter they wrote to you (leave on desk).

2. Fill out volunteer info form if interested (on back table).

3. Take a wish list “apple” if interested (on easel).