Class Information

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT

As you know, we are committed to excellence at Orange Hunt Elementary. To have instructional excellence, we need to have strong systems of management and routines. We are also committed to creating a joyful, safe, and consistent learning environment. To accomplish this, every student’s social and emotional wellbeing is a top priority. To that end, we use the Responsive Classroom (RC) program to build strong relationships in our classes that instill a positive classroom culture.

The Responsive Classroom approach to teaching is comprised of a set of well-designed practices intended to create safe, joyful, and engaging classroom and school communities. The emphasis is on helping students develop their academic, social, and emotional skills in a learning environment that is developmentally responsive to their strengths and needs.

• Interactive Modeling—An explicit practice for teaching procedures and routines (such as those for entering and exiting the room) as well as academic and social skills (such as engaging with the text or giving and accepting feedback).

• Teacher Language—The intentional use of language to enable students to engage in their learning and develop the academic, social, and emotional skills they need to be successful in and out of school.

• Logical Consequences—A non-punitive response to misbehavior that allows teachers to set clear limits and students to fix and learn from their mistakes while maintaining their dignity.

•  Interactive Learning Structures—Purposeful activities that give students opportunities to engage with content in active (hands-on) and interactive (social) ways.

We will also be using a classroom economy system to track your child’s behavior throughout the day. Each day students will start with a paycheck of $10. Throughout the day, if students are not following instructions, after warnings, they will receive a logical consequence and a charge from their paycheck. Each student gets multiple reminders and redirections prior to a consequence. Students can earn bonus Timbucks for making good choices throughout the day to make up for lost money.

As your student adjusts to third grade and a new classroom, please be prepared to possibly receive phone calls or texts from me about this during the first few weeks of school. Your support with classroom behavior will help our community develop high level systems and a strong sense of community.

Extreme behaviors do not follow the same consequence system. The following behaviors will be referred immediately to administration:

• Hitting/Kicking/Biting/Spitting/Extreme Aggressiveness

• Inappropriate touching

• Leaving without permission for long periods of time

• Unmanageable tantrums for long periods of time

• Cheating on major assessments

• Profanity or other extreme language against others

COMMUNICATOR (Tuesday Folder)

Every Tuesday your child will take home his/her Communicator. Please check this each week and return it empty. It contains important announcements and flyers, checked homework packets, and graded work. It is very important that your child brings these back to school each Friday. This will help to create a routine and continue the communication between home and school.

INDEPENDENT READING & BOOK BAGGIES

Research shows us that the best way to become a better reader is to read, read, read. We have a wonderful classroom library available for students to choose from and the ability to check them out and take them home. Accordingly, all students are expected to carry at least 5-6 books in their book baggie. Most of these books should be appropriate for their reading abilities, and a few from above or below the level are appropriate also for fun. We will use our Book Baggies every day in class, so students must bring their Book Baggie with their books inside to school each day!

Students should be reading at home each day. Please encourage your child to talk about the books they are reading to monitor if books are comprehendible. Reading very easy books, although enjoyable, does not help the student grow. Reading too difficult his or her lability is also not helpful and creates unnecessary struggle. All types of reading are encouraged - graphic novels, newspapers and magazines, audio books, picture and chapter books, online read alouds, and even adding captions to your favorite tv show all support reading skills.

NIGHTLY HOMEWORK

There is 30 minutes of required homework each night in 3rd grade. This year the homework will be broken down into these categories:

• Reading - 15-20 minutes

  • weekly activities can include independent reading, fluency practice, grammar, reading comprehension, and word study

• Math - 10-15 minutes

  • weekly activities can include math facts flashcards or practice sheets, study guides, and review problems/activities/games
    
    

Homework should require little parental involvement and should not take long at this level, so allow your child to complete the homework independently. If your child finds any activities difficult, step in to support or stop the work and text me of the difficulty so that I can address it in class.

Your cooperation is essential in developing a positive homework habit. First and foremost, you can encourage your child by showing interest and demonstrating helpful attitudes toward homework.

Some additional suggestions for homework:

• Provide a noise-free, well-lit place to work

• Establish a regular "homework time" in the home and have a special place free from excessive noise.

• Encourage your child to ask for help when he/she doesn't understand something or is frustrated.

• Decide if it becomes too frustrating of a task to stop and take a break. Any work done under duress or frustration is not a positive or healthy learning experience.

**If your child is absent, please still have them read at home and study their math facts. Students will have a Math Facts assessment each week to measure homework skills.

ARRIVAL AND ATTENDANCE

Our doors open at 8:30 am. This gives each family a 15-minute window to get their student to school on time by 8:45am. On–time arrival is extremely important because not only does it create good habits for adulthood and shows how important attending school is, but we start instruction promptly at 8:50 am. Students who come late usually miss instructions, feel rushed to join the group, are more nervous and anxious, and do not feel as a part of the group as if they arrived on time. Students should arrive to school by 8:45 am to avoid a “tardy” on their attendance log.

If your child is absent or will be tardy, please let me know my texting me through Talking Points. If you contact the attendance line, that message does not come to me so I will not know who is absent until after arrival. This helps me plan for the day and when your child is not here, I miss them and want to know what happened! 

If you are planning a family vacation, have fun! There is no need to ask for make up work. I want kids to enjoy their families and the vacation destination. Have your child read and practice their math facts. Take a photo and send It to me. I also collect refrigerator magnets from all the places my students go.

TOYS/GAMES & CELL PHONES

Toys, games, cell phones, and other personal valuables should not be brought to school. If they are, they are at school at the student’s risk, and should always be kept in the backpack. If personal items are brought into the classroom and cause issues, I will take them, and a parent will have to get them back for your child.

BREAKFAST / LUNCH

Students have healthy school meals for breakfast and lunch, and families can provide an afternoon snack. Students are welcome to bring their own food items if they are healthy. Please avoid sweet or dessert-type foods for breakfast. Please feel free to join us for lunch at 11:45, but please remember fast food should not be brought to school for lunch.

WATER BOTTLES

Water bottles are allowed in the classroom! Please remember the bottle should have a lid that can be closed and latched to prevent spilling. Only water should be brought in the bottle. Please do not add mixes or juices to the bottle as this leads to sticky spills (and bugs). 

SNACK TIME

There is no designated snack time in 3rd grade. I do allow students to have a quick snack during our pack up time right before specials. If you choose to send in a snack, please make sure it is something that your child can eat in 3-5 minutes. **Please avoid snacks that contain nuts as we do have some extreme nut allergies in our class.  

TYPICAL DAILY SCHEDULE

8:50-9:15 Morning Meeting

9:15-9:45 Close Reading

9:45-10:00 Word Study

10:00-10:15 Grammar

10:15-10:45 Independent Reading/Work time

10:45-11:15 Writing

11:15-11:45 Recess

11:45-12:15 Lunch

12:15-12:45 Small Group Time

12:45-1:45 Math

1:45-2:20 Science or Social Studies

2:20-2:30 Pack-up

2:30-3:30 Specials (M-Art, T/W-German & PE, Th- Library & Music, F- Music & PE)

GRADING SCALE

The follow scale is used throughout the year to determine students' scores for the grade book and progress reports.

4 - Exceeding Grade Level Expectations (100-90%)

3 - Meeting Grade Level Expectations (89-70%)

2 - Approaching Grade Level Expectations (69-60%)

1 - Below Grade Level Expectations (59-0%)

Student grades are not averages of all their scores, but looked at more holisitically to determine whether they are meeting the ned-of-year standard. Students can start the year performing lower In certain standards since they have not been taught that standard yet and as the year progresses, scores tend to rise. When looking at your child's progress report, final scores are what's most important. Remember, a score Is based on how your child is performing in that end-of-year standard at that point in the year.

BIRTHDAYS

We all love to celebrate birthdays, but interrupting learning for cupcakes just doesn’t work so well. At Orange Hunt, sweets or goodie bags are not allowed for birthdays. We also do not have birthday parties in the classroom. We do however celebrate all kids’ birthdays for each month on the first Friday of the following month. Students will receive a “birthday shirt” and some other gifts to honor this special day.

TEACHER CONTACT & CONFERENCES

I am here to answer any questions you may have and to work with you to make sure we have a successful year. All calls, both from you and me, should be returned in 24 hours. If I do not answer, please leave me a message. Talking Points is also the quickest way to get in contact with me. You can also use our Facebook group to communicate with me.

Informal conferences are both welcomed and encouraged. I am always open to meeting with you to talk about your child’s success. Do not feel hesitant to schedule a time to meet with me. You do not have to wait until official conference days. I am usually free on Mondays after 2:30pm. If you would like to come in and talk, just send me a quick message on Talking Points. 

Thanks for all you do to support your child! Let's have a great year together.

Christopher Timberlake

Message me on TalkingPoints

Cell & Texts: 757-310-7375   

E-mail: cwtimberlake@fcps.edu