Classroom+Information

__Daily schedule: __ 8:00 Bell rings 8:10 Grammar/Spelling/Handwriting 8:45 Writing 9:20 Specials: PE, Music, Art 10:10 Recess 10:30 Math 11:45 Recess/Lunch 12:30 Reading 1:30 Read Aloud 2:00 Science/Social Studies 2:50 Dismissal

Welcome to 3rd Grade! 3rd grade is a very exciting, new and transitional year in school. As 3rd graders, students are in a new part of the building, will be the “older buddy” with Mrs. Hammill’s kindergarten class, will learn cursive writing and multiplication and division, spend Field Day in May at the high school track, and will take TCAP for the first time in February and March. Also, all three 3rd grade classes will go to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science for an overnight fieldtrip in May!

I am Amy DeLarm, and I will be your child’s teacher this year. I have been teaching 3rd grade at Manitou Springs Elementary since 2008. I have also taught 2nd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and Title I in other schools/districts. I am originally from Wisconsin, got a B.A. in Business in Illinois, and worked in the corporate offices of a retail chain (16 years!) in Iowa. Iowa is also where I got my B.S. in Elementary Education. We moved to Colorado in 2005. We live in Woodland Park, which is also where my children go to school (5th grade, 9th grade, 10th grade). I tell stories about my children quite often, so your children will get to know them very well! We are very busy in sports (all), and Scouts (Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts). As a family, we love to bike, hike, vacation, watch movies, play games, read. We are big supporters of the Brewers and the Packers :)


 * ** How to contact me: **

School office: 685-2024 Classroom: 685-2190

Email: **adelarm@mssd14.org**


 * Email is the best way to get a hold of me.
 * I only check messages before and after school.
 * If you need to contact me or your child during the day, please call the school office ||


 * The school will send, or email, a newsletter every month.
 * I send home classroom newsletters most Fridays (“The DeLarm Alarm”).
 * Students will also communicate with you every day through their planner. We will fill it out in the classroom everyday with what we have worked on. Sometimes I will write notes in the planner. You may write notes to me through the planner also.


 * As per our school-wide policy, please only bring **party invitations** to school if they are for the whole class. If you are just inviting a few friends, then please mail them. We want to avoid any hurt feelings when you aren’t able to invite everyone.

Students will have time in mid-morning for a snack that is brought from home. Please make sure that the snack is a healthy one… no candy, cookies, etc. Students may have a water bottle with water on their desks throughout the day… no other liquid please (no juice, Gatorade, soda, etc).
 * Snacks: **

I welcome volunteers in the classroom. In the past, I have mainly had volunteers help with Science labs, fieldtrips, and reading and math practice. We do have a district-wide process that involves background checks.
 * Volunteers: **


 * Curriculum: **
 * __Math:__** We group the students between our classes so students can learn with other students near their own abilities. We use our text book most days, mixed with a lot of hands on activities. Students work independently, with partners, in small groups, and with the whole class. We do a lot of fact practice. This will be a big part of homework and classwork. Some students will also use Accelerated Math, an independent math program.


 * __Specials:__** PE, Music and Art will rotate every third day for the students, with each class being 55 minutes. Please make sure students have tennis shoes for PE days.

1st semester: Life Cycles (plant and animal) unit, Health Unit 2nd semester: Chemical Tests Unit, Space unit (includes Space Night which displays at home projects)
 * __Science:__** Science is very hands on with many labs to learn through. I will need volunteers to help out during this time.


 * __Reading__**: We use the text book, and chapter books. Students will learn in whole class instruction, small group discussion, partner reading, and individual work. Students will show their understanding through discussion, written answers, and multiple choice questions (text book and Reading Counts computer quizzes). We will also work with our “National Geographic” monthly magazine.


 * __Writing:__** We will write everyday in class: some short responses, some longer assignments, some partner writing, and some independent journaling. I take writing grades once a week: some of these will be sent home, others kept for their writing portfolio. The rubrics I grade from can be accessed through our school website.


 * __Spelling:__** We use the Rebecca Sitton Spelling program. This program does not work with memorized lists, but instead focuses on how students spell through their writing. Through this program, I will create individual spelling lists that the students will work on throughout the week at school and at home. Their words will be listed in their planner.


 * __Social Studies:__** The main areas we work on are Geography (reading maps, learning continents and oceans); government levels (presidential historical project; different cultures and Community (part of which we do a community project on Manitou Springs). Our class also reads and discusses “Scholastic News” every week with current events.

I send home a homework packet every Friday, to be turned in the following Friday. This packet has approximately 4 days worth of homework, about 30 minutes a night. The intention is for students to do a little of the packet each night. I send it home weekly, as I understand that occasionally you will have a very busy night or week-end. This way, you and your child can plan the best time to work on the packet. The homework is all practice, nothing new that your child would not already be able to do. Math homework will come home every night.
 * Homework: **

The packet will usually include:
 * A reading log (100 minutes per week)
 * A spelling sheet to be done with parents
 * Literacy sheets (usually a story with questions, or grammar page)
 * Math flashcard practice (5 min./ day)

For the past 7 years, the entire 3rd grade has gone to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science for their overnight Camp-in program. We will start the trip with a visit to the Denver Zoo. Once we are in the museum, we are busy until we leave! In the past we have made rockets, drawn pictures with an artist, attended a Health game show, dissected a sheep heart, watched a planetarium show, worked with robotics…. it is a full 24 hours. The cost of the trip is $60, which can be paid in monthly installments (scholarships are available). We can take up to 10 parents per classroom with a paid ticket. Past years have had 2:1 student to adult ratios.
 * Denver Museum of Nature and Science: **


 * Throughout the Year…. **
 * Our school still collects __ Box Tops for Education __ . I will send reminders when there is a contest going, but we do take them anytime.
 * My Girl Scout troop in Woodland Park collects __ pop tops for the Ronald McDonald House __ in Colorado Springs. Feel free to bring those in as well.
 * I will send home __ Scholastic Book orders __ every month or so. Do not feel obligated to purchase any books. This is just a good way to purchase books for your child at a good price.

This will be a great year! You will be amazed how quickly it will go!