WELCOME!
We have Kaila La Marche, a student teacher from Western Oregon University with us off and on through most of the year. She’s exited to learn and work with us. I know we’ll all benefit from her time at Forest Ridge.
Blog Site
Please check our classroom blog site frequently. I updated it at least weekly. The weekly parent note that comes home on Thursday is posted on the blog. I also take pictures periodically and post them. It’s also a great resource for both students and parents with the links that I’ve entered on it. If your child needs extra help, has a high interest, or needs/wants to practice a skill in a specific area, check out the links!
School Website: http://forestridge.salkeiz.k12.or.us/
Our Classroom blog site: http://forestridgec4.blogspot.com/
BIRTHDAYS
Parents are welcome to help celebrate their child’s birthday by bringing treats or a book to share to school. Please e-mail, call, or send a note with your child if you plan to do so. Birthday celebrations are generally held fifteen minutes before dismissal (3:00 pm).
BOOK ORDERS
Order forms will go home approximately every month. If you are interested in ordering books, please return your payment and completed order form. Remember to make checks out to SCHOLASTIC BOOKS, not Forest Ridge School! Book orders generally take 2 weeks to arrive.
HOMEWORK
Math homework is to work on math facts for about 10 minutes daily until mastered. My blog site has links to many different sites for practice. Flashcards are also a great way to practice the facts. Students need to begin with addition and subtraction the first couple of weeks of school, and then we’ll begin multiplication. I will also be sending a sheet home with a set of multiple choice questions that represent the types of questions that are asked on the state assessment that will be given in January for the first time. This will come home on Thursday and be due back on the following Wednesday.
Math games will be sent home periodically. Keep the games at home in a safe place for practice throughout the year. Reviewing the games periodically after a new game is sent home is an excellent idea! Practice the games several times a week. Your child will need an adult or older sibling to play the games.
Thursday I will assign a writing topic for a family writing activity. I’ve found that the students, who with their parents, participated in the weekly writing activity, showed remarkable gains in their writing. The family writing activity is due the following Wednesday.
A weekly language arts homework page will be assigned on Thursday and is due the following Wednesday. It is similar in format and skills to the Oregon Third Grade Reading Assessment. It will benefit your child greatly to complete it each week. PLEASE feel free to help your child with it, even on some of the reading, if necessary.
Approximately every 6 or 7 days a spelling homework sheet will come home. It is a review of the spelling concepts we’ve been working on. The sheet will help your child with the spelling check-up the following day. The spelling homework sheet is due the day after it is assigned.
Each day your child will bring home a book in a clear plastic folder with a “Read-At-Home” (RAH) log. This folder with the log card and book is due back the next day. Each student is expected to read for 30 minutes daily. Please sign the card with the number of minutes your child read each day. The card must be signed, or the child will be asked to call your home in the morning to ask for your assistance in reminding him/her to return the folder, book, and book log the next day.
Occasionally, other homework or “special projects” will be assigned. The due dates for these assignments will be indicated.
LIBRARY
We will have one scheduled library checkout time per week on WEDNESDAY. Please make sure that your child returns his/her books on TUESDAY, as that is the policy of the library.
LITERACY
The comprehensive literacy model used in the classroom to teach reading includes the following components: purposeful instruction, modeled reading, shared reading, guided reading, independent reading, and word study. The students will be using a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction texts throughout the year. There will be an emphasis on helping children find “Just Right” texts to be successful readers who increase their reading skills all year long.
P.E.
Your child will be attending P.E. class 3 days each week: MONDAY, TUESDAY, and FRIDAY. Students need to wear shoes and clothing appropriate for P.E. participation.
MATH
The core math program is Investigations. We supplement with Number Corner which complements Investigations well with lots of practice and games. Many concepts are introduced and reinforced during Number Corner.
SPELLING
The Rebecca Sitton Spelling and Word Skills program will be used. Instead of a “spelling list” going home each Monday with a test to follow on Friday, in class there will be daily work and instruction which is research-based to ensure that students learn to spell for writing. That is, to spell words forever, not just for a test. Assessment will occur in class, and students will bring home words they have not yet mastered. These words can be worked on at home and will continue to be used in the lessons at school.
SUPPLIES
You and your child are responsible for getting the necessary supplies to school. Please check with your child occasionally to make sure he/she has wide ruled notebook paper, #2 pencils (not mechanical), and erasers. Three ring binders are NOT needed in third grade. Pee Chee type folders with pockets at the bottom are GREAT place for neatly storing notebook paper in desks.
WRITING
The students will be provided instruction in many modes of writing, including narrative, imaginative, expository, and persuasive. We will focus on the structure of sentences, paragraphs, and multi-paragraph papers. Purposeful instruction will include modeled writing, shared writing, guided writing, and independent writing. The students will use writers’ notebooks and word processing.
VOLUNTEERS
I’ll let you know when I have a schedule ready. You might e-mail me with times that you are available if you get anxious to help!
You will get to work with individuals or very small groups of two to three students or perhaps help me prepare or organize materials.
Remember that all volunteers need to have a completed criminal background check on file with the office BEFORE volunteering. (This will apply to chaperoning field trips later in the year as well.)
You can reach me at:
503-399-5548 or e-mail ryan_ginny@salkeiz.k12.or.us
Mrs. Ginny Ryan
