September

 

Welcome students and parents to Grade 3/4. I am so excited to be teaching Grade 3/4 this year.

 

My first goal is to create a comfortable and caring classroom environment in which learning can take place this year.  The following are some housekeeping items that will help make the beginning of the school flow more smoothly for you and your child. 

The Grade 3 and 4 curriculum will bring so many themes to explore and discover. The children are going to be working hard, doing research and projects as well as exploring materials in the classroom.  While it is always the goal to complete classwork in class, it is expected that students will complete any unfinished school work at home for homework. In accordance with District guidelines, students can expect to receive up to 30 minutes of homework nightly.  This may include spelling practice, reviewing and studying for quizzes and tests and unfinished work from the day.  Homework will be recorded by students in their agenda daily.  Homework will not be given over weekends and holidays.

 

They will be using their agendas daily, so please help your child by reading and signing the agenda nightly and returning it to school. This is an excellent way to keep track of what is going on in the classroom and at school.

 

This year our home reading will be Early Readers or novels (chapter books), depending on each child’s reading level. The children will need to read at home.  I encourage them to read a minimum of 20 minutes, 20 times a month at home.  For math, it would be helpful for your child to continue doing basic math facts, both adding and subtracting and multiplying at home as well.

 

We will be silent reading in class. Your child may bring a book from home that can be left at school or choose one from our in-class library.  Once we start going to the library, they can choose to keep a book from the library at school for silent reading, read a book from our in-class library or continue to read a book from home.   

 

Students will be expected to work more independently and in groups during class, be respectful and cooperate with others in class and on the playground, and be an active member in our class activities.

 

In addition to using student’s agendas to send home notes to parents and guardians, I will also use the stop light shown each day in student’s agendas to communicate if students followed classroom rules.  If the green light is checked, all rules were followed by that student throughout the day.  If a rule is broken once, I will give a verbal reminder to that student.  If two infractions occur, I will check off the yellow light in the student’s agenda with a note explaining the infractions that occurred.  If three or more infractions have occurred, I will check off the red light, again explaining what has happened.  If red lights are checked off frequently, I will request a parent/teacher conference.  Parents are also welcome to request a parent/teacher conference if they are concerned with their child’s agenda messages.  This procedure will be explained to the class on the first day of school and reinforced in the days to follow.

 

Classroom rules are as follows:

1.   Listen when others are speaking.

2.  Raise your hand and wait for permission to speak.

3.  Keep your voice at an indoor working level.

4.  No put downs of classmates.

5.  Keep hands, feel and objects to yourself.

 

We will have a classroom celebration for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter and End of the School Year.  You are welcome to send a snack on these days for the class to share.  A message will be written in each student’s agenda advising guardians as to when the celebration will take place.  On the morning of your child’s birthday, you are welcome to send a snack to be shared with the class.  Please keep in mind that there are peanut allergies within our school community.

 

To contact me, I recommend writing a note in your child’s agenda, as I check agenda’s daily.  For longer messages, please feel free to contact me by email at Kathryn.korbaylo@cssd.ab.ca.  I will do my best to respond within 24 hours.  I am also available to meet with parents in person.  Please arrange a meeting with me by email.  Please feel free to contact me with any comments, questions or concerns you may have.

We have a fantastic group of children in this class.  I look forward to a rewarding school year with your child at St. Stephen’s School.  With your help, we can make it happen.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Kathy Korbaylo