INTRODUCTION

I am very excited about teaching your child this year and want this to be a happy and rewarding one for both you and your child.  Please feel free to ask questions and become involved in your child’s education.  I will be available for conferences with parents, but I prefer advanced notice so that a convenient time can be arranged.

You will be amazed at how much your child will grow this year.  He/she has the seeds of reading and writing planted, and during third grade those seeds will grow and blossom making your child a successful reader and writer!  The change will be dramatic – just compare a tiny seed to a full-grown sunflower!  That’s the kind of growth you’ll see this year!

I thought that since I will be spending every day with your child you might want to know a little bit about me.  My husband and I both graduated from Knightstown High School.  I have a Bachelor’s Degree from Indiana University and have been teaching 6 years.  My husband, Drew, is a postal carrier in Greenfield.  We have a little boy named Jameson. We live in Knightstown.

WAYS TO HELP YOUR CHILD BLOOM

The key to a successful year is to talk with your child. The monthly letter and monthly calendar will make you aware of what we are doing in the classroom and will help initiate conversation. 

Another way to stay involved is to check your child’s Backpack Folder every evening.  You’ll usually find it packed with homework papers, teacher notes, and office notes.  As daunting as it may be, try to sort through them and read each one.  They often contain important information and reminders.  Your child should come to school every day with an empty folder – just homework and notes to me!

“WEED-FREE” PROCEDURES

Belongings

To avoid conflict, no toys are allowed at school.

Bookstore

We do have a bookstore in the main hall where students may purchase pencils, glue sticks, erasers, etc.

Lunch

It is helpful for you to send in a larger sum of money at a time.  The office will let you know when your child runs out of money.  He/she has to go to the cafeteria in the mornings during class time to turn in the money so the less your child has to do this, the more he/she is in the classroom.  (Please label outside of lunch boxes.)

Parents may eat lunch with your child.  If you want a tray lunch, you can send me a note so that I can add it to the morning lunch count.  Please stop by the office to check in and meet us at the cafeteria at 11:20.  Lunch ends at 11:50.

Communication
You will receive frequent letters and monthly calendars that indicate the homework your child will have.  They will let you know the skills that we are working on so that you can practice at home.  The calendar will also keep you informed of any important events going on at school.

You may send me notes in the Panther/Homework Folder.  I also check my email frequently.  If I do not reply to your email, I have not read it yet.  I will reply to every email so that you know that I have received it.  Here is my contact information…

            During School Hours -                          After School Hours –

         kcrawford@cabeard.k12.in.us             kristin_crawford@comcast.net

Class Website- www.cabeard.k12.in.us/kes/kristin/index.htm

Picking Up Your Child

If you need to pick up your child before the end of the school day, please report to the office and sign your child out.  The secretary will call your child to the office to meet you.  FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS, ANYONE COMING INTO THE BUILDING MUST REPORT TO THE OFFICE BEFORE COMING TO THE ROOM.  If your child is riding the bus home, you will need to pick him/her up at the main hallway doors by the office or pull your car forward AFTER THE BUSES HAVE LEFT.  YOU MUST SEND A NOTE OR CALL THE SCHOOL AND TELL THE SECRETARY IF THERE IS A CHANGE IN TRANSPORTATION HOME.  Your child’s safety is our TOP PRIORITY!

 Clothing –

Whenever possible, we will be going outside to play.  Please have your child dress accordingly.  We will not go outside if it is too cold, raining, snowing, etc.  Please put your child’s name in his/her outer clothing.  Send a note if you are missing an item of clothing at home and we will search for it.  We have gym class on Tuesday.  Your child will need to wear tennis shoes and dress so that he/she can participate in gym activities.  (Please put your child’s name on all school supplies.)

Class Rules

My main goal is to have a classroom that is happy, comfortable, and disciplined.  The general rule for getting along is to respect the rights of others.  Your child will be punished for breaking the rules…

1.        Warning – pull name card.

2.       Miss 5 minutes recess.

3.       Miss 15 minutes recess.

4.       Miss all recess.

5.       Note home.

I will send you a note if your child is experiencing some behaviors that we need to get changed.  Please understand that students are learning appropriate behaviors as well as learning academics.  Thanks for your cooperation.

CURRICULUM

Standards

The state of Indiana requires all students to be taught specific standards in all subject areas for each grade level. 

Math

We will be learning Math every day with EnVision.  Students will have homework Monday through Thursday only if they did not complete their assignment in class.  There will be no homework on Fridays.  Please review class work/homework every night and make sure your child understands the concepts we are learning.  If you do not understand the concepts, please send me a note.     It is your child’s responsibility to return homework daily.  Not returning homework will affect your child’s Math grade.

Reading and Language Arts

Our reading series is from Scott Foresman. You can access the reader online also at www.pearsonsuccessnet.com.  We basically read a story a week from the readers.  The monthly calendars and letters will let you know words that we are learning to read that will help your child read the story and complete the story test successfully. If your child brings a reader home, IT MUST BE RETURNED THE NEXT DAY.  I only have one reader per student and if your child doesn’t have a book for class, he/she will miss out on reading instruction that day.  We have workbooks that reinforce the skills that we are teaching. Spelling lists are from the Reading program. The monthly calendars and letters will keep you informed of Spelling lists and Spelling tests.

Your child will complete worksheets that have incorrect sentence structure, Math problems, etc. on them.  In the beginning, we will complete these sheets together with me instructing from the overhead and chalkboard.  Your child should complete these sheets correctly because we are going over them together. 

Handwriting

Our school teaches the Zaner-Bloser style of handwriting.  I will be emphasizing correct letter formation and neatness. 

Social Studies, Health, and Science

We have books for all three subjects.  Your child will receive Scholastic News each week and we will discuss the contents of it in class.

Evaluating and Grading

Report cards will be sent home every nine weeks.   Progress reports will be sent home midway through each grading period. 

Specials

Monday – Library

Tuesday – P.E. 

Wednesday – Art     

Thursday –

Friday – Computer Lab/Music