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Third Grade with Ms. Radford

Fall 2009 – Spring 2010

+Open House 2009-Agenda

Introduction

My teaching philosophy

What your student will learn

Rules, routines, and procedures

3rd grade tests

Volunteer opportunities

+Introduction- WELCOME!

Please take a moment to write your child a letter. Some ideas:Your expectations for themHow much you care about themHow excited you are for their third grade

experienceA joke or favorite memory you have of

your childQuestions you have you for them

+Hi, I’m Jaimie Radford!This is my 2nd year teaching third grade at

Ephesus

I graduated from Michigan State, where I am currently pursuing my Masters in Curriculum and Teaching

I have a puppy named Simba who is about 1 year old now

I enjoy traveling and have been to South Africa, Australia, and Mexico

+My Educational Philosophy

I have 5 basic beliefs of what I believe constitutes good teaching. Good teaching: Uses a variety of strategies to teach and engage all

learners. Requires reflection and a commitment to professional

development. Uses collaboration between students and between

teachers. Involves building relationships with students and

creating a community of learners. Provides all students equal access to the curriculum

and requires holding high expectations for all students.

+Variety of strategies + engagement I believe students have different learning styles (Gardner’s

theory of multiple intelligences). Kinesthetic- learn best through movement Interpersonal- learn best by working with others Linguistic- learn best by reading, note-taking, discussions,

listening to lectures Logical- learn best through scientific thinking and investigation Naturalistic- learn best through collecting and analyzing, by

being outside Intrapersonal- learn best by working alone Musical- learn best by lecture and with music in the background Visual-spatial- learn best through mental manipulation and

visualizing

+Accommodating Learning Styles Kinesthetic- I provide high energy activities that require

movement (reader’s theatre, math Olympics, brain gym)

Interpersonal- Students work in small guided reading groups, science groups, small groups for mini-society, and pairs or small groups for the majority of math lessons.

Linguistic- Almost every lesson I teach has a short mini-lesson, which is typically in a lecture format. Furthermore, discussions are a prominent activity in my classroom.

Logical- During science lessons, students are regarded as investigators. I provide activities that students can explore together, while I facilitate their learning.

+Accommodating Learning Styles Naturalistic- The science units for third grade are Plants,

Soils, Human Body, and Earth, Sun and Moon. Thus, many lessons occur outside or involve interacting with nature.

Intrapersonal- After group work activities, students are often provided with independent practice activities. Furthermore, I occasionally provide students the choice of working with peers or working alone..

Musical- During writing, I play soft music in the background. Furthermore, during math lessons, the students create songs to assist them in memorizing.

Visual-spatial- During most math lessons, students are provided with materials they can manipulate.

+Engagement

I try to create real, authentic lessons that allow students to connect what they are learning to the real world. I use real examples that students can identify with in my

math problems. I use many games during my teaching to engage my

students. I use a lot of group work activities which tend to be

engaging in themselves. I use the SmartBoard and other technologies such as: Ipods,

digital cameras, laptops, the computer lab, video cameras, document cameras, and videos.

I use a wide variety and a lot of questions during lessons to keep my students on their toes!

+Reflection & Professional Development

Journal for reflection

Monthly SmartBoard training

Bi-weekly literacy and mathematics training

Weekly PLC (Professional Learning Community) meetings

Attend several conferences throughout the year

Pursuing a Masters degree in Curriculum and Teaching

Regularly read educational materials

+Collaboration

Student-Student Provide many group work opportunities for students

Pairs, small group Arrange desks to promote collaboration

Teacher-Teacher PLC Meetings Observations with feedback

School- Home Monthly newsletters Updated website

+Building Relationships & Classroom Community

I do not make decisions for the class, we make all decisions together. Students are given choices in my classroom.

Morning Meetings- allow us to discuss any happenings we have, and share important events in our lives. Team-building activities

Star of the Week

Classroom jobs

Peer teaching

+Equal Access & High Expectations

My expectations are consistently discussed with students. I hold the SAME and HIGH expectations for ALL students. I give students the opportunity to redo assignments that are

not of the quality I expect them to be at.

I do whatever it takes to provide all my students access to the curriculum. Tutoring Guided reading groups Culturally-relevant teaching examples Remediation Changing my teaching Classroom volunteers

+Curriculum Math:

Place value through 9,999. 4 digit addition & 4 digit subtraction (with and without regrouping) 1 digit multiplication (1-12) and division Data & probability Geometry (2-dimensional, 3-dimensional figures, polygons) Permutations & combinations Fractions through 1/16

Science: Soils Earth, Sun, and Moon Human Body Plants

+Curriculum Reading

Guided Reading Reader’s Theatre Book Clubs Friday Poetry Independent Reading Reader’s Response Journals

Writing Personal Narratives Research Report All About Book

Social Studies Mini Society

+Rules, Routines, Procedures PBS- Positive Behavior Support

Earn roadrunner tickets; goal-setting

Behavior Chart Blue- I did my very best! Green- I did good Yellow- I could do much better Red- I need to stop and change my behavior

Positive Reinforcement Individual rewards, group rewards, class rewards

+Rules, Routines, Procedures Tardy-

Your child will be considered tardy if they are not in the classroom at 7:50 a.m.

Absences- Call the school and leave a message Written documentation is required for every absence

Monday Folders- Important notes and papers will be sent home each Monday in a

Monday folder, check it daily

Planners- Students homework will be written in their planner as well as

notes for me, check it daily

+Rules, Routines, Procedures Homework

Will be given Monday-Thursday; no homework on Fridays I expect it to be turned in daily (part of grade) Math, reading, and writing/spelling everyday Spelling tests on Fridays Sign off that homework is completed in planner Students will be given one IOU per marking period 5 missing assignments student will eat lunch in the classroom

and complete the assignments

Snack Please provide your child a healthy snack EVERY DAY. Examples: granola bars, carrots, crackers, fruit, applesauce,

raisins

+3rd grade tests Naglieri

Will be given in January

End of Grade Test Will be given in May Reading & Math

Preparation Sample questions available online Consistent homework completion will help Comprehension reading passages & sample questions Student should ALWAYS show work in math Student should read 20 or more minutes each night

+Volunteer Opportunities Classroom Parent

Assisting with celebrations and holiday parties Silent Auction coordination

Classroom Helpers Read/work with students Aid in material preparation (copying, bulletin boards, etc.) Assist with classroom website

Please sign your name, write your phone number and your e-mail address on the sign-up sheet being passed around

+Questions?

+Thank you for coming!

My phone number: (919) 929-8715 ext. 245

My e-mail address: jradford@chccs.k12.nc.us

Please contact me ANYTIME!