Personal Responsibility
What is a PR point?
Personal responsibility is taking charge of one’s own learning and actions. It implies completing assignments on time and performing to the best of one’s ability. Personal responsibility recognizes the importance of parents and teachers as learning partners, but puts the student in charge.
PR Point Areas: Classroom misconduct, outside classroom misconduct, incomplete/late assignments, unprepared for class.
Each child begins the trimester with zero PR points.
A reward activity will be earned by not receiving 8 total PR points or 6 points in one area, per trimester. A suspension results in automatic disqualification. Students who do not receive too many PR Points each trimester, and make their comprehension and point goal for AR will get to participate in the trimester reward (ex. movie, roller skating, and inflatables).
We will be using Ocean Bucks and SOAR slips this year to encourage and promote appropriate school behavior. Students will be given Ocean Bucks throughout the day for exemplary behavior and for other positive actions, such as meeting our weekly AR goal, showing kindness to classmates, etc. These Ocean Bucks can then be used at our class store for small prizes, snacks and classroom coupons or they can be traded in for SOAR slips to use at the school store.
Homework and Assessments
Homework
Your student will generally have a spelling, math, grammar, ELA and morning work/handwriting page daily Monday-Thursday. There may occasionally be a math page on Fridays but I try to avoid this if possible.
Students have time to work on these items during class but whatever they do not finish will need to be completed at home or during the after school program. Students will also be expected to read for 20 minutes each night to help them reach their AR goal for the trimester.
To help students practice responsibility, they will be completing a planner Monday-Thursday and occasionally on Fridays. Failure to complete the planner may result in a PR Point. Missing or incomplete homework will result in a PR point. Each student starts the year with three oopsies that roll over to the next trimester if they do not use them. After those have been used, students will receive a PR point for each day they do not complete homework.
Assessments
All grading is based on assessments. Spelling, grammar, and ELA assessments are generally given on Fridays while math, science, and writing assessments may be given any day of the week.
Grades will be posted on Aeries within 2 weeks of the test being given. Paper tests will be sent home every two weeks after Parent - Teacher conferences. If you have any questions about their test, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Accelerated Reading (AR)
Purpose: To motivate and reward students for developing individual reading habits.
Each trimester students will take the STAR reading assessment. Using this assessment, they will be given an individual point goal based on their independent reading level. Everyday students will be given time in class to take quizzes on books they have read in school and at home. In order to meet this goal, students should be reading 20 minutes a night as is listed on their planner.
If a student reaches their point and comprehension goals by the end of the trimester, they will be eligible to attend the AR/PR reward trip as long as they have less than 8 PR points in total or 6 in one category.
Goals per Trimester:
First Trimester: 100% of their point goal and comprehension at 70% or above .
Second Trimester: 100% of their point goal and comprehension at 75% or above.
Third Trimester: 100% of their point goal and comprehension at 80% or above.
AR Awards
Students that reach the trimester AR goal will receive a certificate in class and will be given recognition at the award assembly.
Students that reach their point and comprehension goals all three trimesters will receive a special award at the end of the school year.
Technology
Third grade will use technology on a daily basis as we have been lucky enough to receive one to one Chromebooks in our classrooms!
Throughout the school year, students will expand their knowledge of how technology can be used constructively in their daily lives. Students will create PowerPoint presentations, complete online research, and much more! This year we will also be focusing heavily on the importance of digital citizenship. Digital citizenship focuses on making smart choices such as staying safe and appropriate online, protecting private information, saying no to cyber bullying, and using technology for educational purposes only while at school. Misuse of technology will result in a PR point and loss of privileges.
Parent Volunteers
We would love to have you join us on our field trips this year! If you did not go through the new clearance process with Raptor last year, you will need to complete it in order to come with us. Please reach out to the office staff to learn more about the process.
Academic Awards
District wide there has been a change in academic awards. Below are the new ranges.
Gold= 4.0
Silver = 3.5-3.99
Bronze = 3.0-3.49