Homework Rules and Tips, Sept. 2013

Homework Rules and Tips

September 2013

1)     Put your full name (first and last names) on one side of the paper.

2)    All work should be complete, neat, and to the best of your ability.

3)    Try to do all work, first, on your own!  If you have a question while doing work, circle it and ask a parent or older sibling for help.   

4)    Read and follow all directions.  Some problems have two or more parts so be sure to do all parts.

5)    Include labels when answering a math word problem.  As example, when asked how many students are in Ms. Coffman’s class the answer is “25 students” and not just “25”.

6)    Most work is due two days after it is assigned.  Try to do as much as you can the first night so that there is less to do the second night.

7)    Check your work when you are done (you may also see a sibling, parent, or friend to check). 

8)    Be sure to turn in all work on or before its due date.  Ms. Coffman will remind you to turn it in but it is your job to find it and turn it in.  Points will be taken off for late work.

9)    Doing nothing for homework is unacceptable.  If you forget an item, do not return to the classroom to get it.  Call a friend, look on our blog, or create your own homework.  Be creative to solve the problem on your own.  

10)   All homework is checked and is considered in the grading process. 

11)    See me, Ms. Coffman, if you are having difficulties with homework.  Homework should not be a stress.  It is an extension of our school day and should be a chance for you to show off what you have learned in our classroom.

I have read the rules above and agree to follow them this year.

Student signature                                           Date

Success in the Savanna, Week 1

September 6, 2013

Dear Parents,

 Here we are at the end of the first week of Third Grade!  The children all did a very good job transitioning back from the summer and seemed, for the most part, to be glad to be back at school.

          We spent most of the week doing some “Get to Know You” activities, taking care of housekeeping items, playing math games, and easing back into the daily routine of school. The children were excited to see old friends, and make some new ones as well. 

          Next week, we will devote time to labeling our materials and learning to use both our binders and assignment notebooks.  I suspect that the students will quickly adapt to this process and I will be checking their work each day.  Starting Monday, I ask that you too review the assignment notebook each night to be sure that they have completed all work and that it is in the binder for return to school.  After some time, you will be able to lessen your attention to this process.  Please do not remove any papers from the binders without asking your child if it is all right to do so.  Many of the papers will be used in class on multiple days and without them, your child will not be prepared for class.

          Speaking of homework, you have some to do this weekend.  I have included a parent survey in your child’s Friday Folder and would like for you to fill this out and return it to school before Back to School Night on the 17^th.  I would like to get to know them a bit better, and what better way than with your help.  Please know we will be able to talk more in depth as the year progresses and during Parent Teacher Conferences.

          Earlier this week I sent home a “Third Grade Procedures” packet.  One item, of particular importance, is the need to send a WRITTEN note in with your child should there be a change in dismissal on a given day.  While it may be easier to send an email, we have recently been experiencing up to a six-hour delay in the delivery of emails being sent to the APS server.  This has resulted in being notified of a change in dismissal after school has been dismissed.  While we do know mornings can be busy, until this issue is resolved, should you forget to send in a note, please call the office to let us know of the change. 

I also want to remind everyone of our annual Back to School Night on Tuesday, September 17th.  This will be an opportunity for me to share more specifics about the year ahead, and to answer any lingering questions.  I will also have sign up sheets available for fall conferences as well as volunteer opportunities. 

Thanks again for a great beginning to the school year.  I appreciate all you do at home and for sharing your children with me each day. I am looking forward to the year ahead.

                                                                   Sincerely,

                                                                   Theresa Coffman

                                                                   Theresa.coffman@apsva.us

Upcoming Events

Tuesday 9/17- Back to School Night- 7-9 pm

Tuesday 10/8- Field Trip- National Building Museum

Thurs./Fri 10/10-11- Parent Teacher Conferences

          Monday 10/14- Columbus Day- No school for students

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Coffman Cafe Celebration

Coffman Café Celebration

What: Our Last Day Luncheon

Who:  Ms. Coffman’s Class and Families

When: Friday, June 21 / 11:30-1:00

Where: Ms. Coffman’s Room, #105

Come join us to celebrate

a fabulous and fun year

together in 3^rd grade!

Ms. Coffman will provide a pasta and salad lunch with fruit and water.  All students and parents are welcome to attend and join in on this feast.  If you prefer, you may bring or buy your own lunch.  I will do my best to be sure that there is something for everyone to enjoy!

Final Note!

Dear Parents:

            Thank you to all the shoppers who came and supported the businesses of Tuckahoe Town today.  It is always fun to see our hallway transformed into a shopping mall with all the shoppers and this year was no exception.  The children all worked so hard leading up to this big event and did a wonderful job creating all their products and working with their partners.   From what I saw, I think we have several future entrepreneurs in our midst.

            Next week we will be taking time to look back on our year as well as to look forward to the year to come.  A portion of the week will be spent cleaning up our room, and sending things home for the year (please send in a grocery bag) and bringing closure to our time spent together this year. In addition, I am planning a special lunch for my students and families (a final Coffman Café) on Friday so your child does not need to bring a lunch.  We will be creating invites for this event early next week.  For planning purposes, we will be breaking for lunch set up about 11:30 and continuing until the end of the day.  Please remember that next Friday (along with next Wed.) is an Early Release day. 

            As we turn our attention to summer and all the fun and relaxing activities in front of us, I hope everyone will find a bit of time to read, write and practice math skills.  There will be information coming home about summer reading challenges, and math packets. A few minutes spent each day on these activities will help keep these skills fresh for the fall.

            It has truly been a pleasure being your child’s teacher this year.  They are each very special in their own way and as a class a very caring group.  As I have said before, thank you for sharing them with me each day.  I also want to thank you all for your support and thoughtfulness throughout the year.

 I hope everyone has a great summer.

                                                            Sincerely,

Ms. Coffman

Important Dates to Remember

Wed. June 19               Early Release   

Fri. June 21                  Last Day of School- 1:26 pm Dismissal

Report Cards Issued

Thurs. August 29          New Class Orientation 10-11 am

Tues. Sept. 3                First Day of School

Success in the Savanna, 6/7

Congratulations to all the children for the job they did on their first SOL tests!  We finished the Reading test on Wednesday, which concluded our assessments.  I am so proud of all the children on how they approached all these tests.  Each morning we tested the children were confident and at ease as we began.  They took their time and came out of the testing room feeling they had done their best.   With these tests finished, we can now turn our attention to end of the year activities.

The children have been working hard in their Tuckahoe Town groups creating their product.  It has been fun to watch their conceptual ideas come to life and watch as the kids make adjustments to their original thoughts.  Budgets have been set and the reality of how much things cost is beginning to settle into everyone’s thinking.  I hope you will be able to join us for some great shopping at Tuckahoe Town next Friday, June 14^th from 11:00-12:00.

The children have also been working on financial skills in Math, safety rules in Health, and writing in Language Arts.  Next week we will teach our Family Life unit. Mr. Grasso and Mrs. DiNardo will teach this preliminary discussion about how our bodies change during puberty in separated classes.  It is our hope that this discussion will be a jumping off point for further talks at home. 

We know this is a very busy time of year for everyone, and we appreciate all your help at home.  Below are important dates for the remainder of the year. 

June 11- Rising 4^th Grade Parent Orientation- 7pm

June 14^th- Tuckahoe Town/Class Picnic

June 19^th- Early Release

June 21^st- Last Day of School- Early Release

June 21^st – Coffman Café for Students and Families (details to follow next week)

Here is hoping for a strong finish to our year!