Third Grade Disclosure English - Backman Elementary School

3 rd Grade Disclosure
2013-2014
801-578-8100
Welcome to the Third Grade at Backman Elementary School! We are
looking forward to a great year of adventure, discovery and academic success
with our wonderful third graders! Here is some information for you about this year.
Please read and discuss at home, then sign and return the class form. Thank you!
Classroom Environment
We expect the students to come to class each day prepared and ready
to learn. Students should remember to respect themselves and others at all times,
and to work hard on their class work and homework to the best of their efforts.
Utah has developed a Common Core Curriculum which outlines standards of
learning that are essential for all students at each elementary grade level. The
curriculum includes ideas, concepts, and skills to provide a foundation on which
subsequent learning may be built. The curriculum for each grade level can be
accessed on the Utah State Office of Education’s website at
http://www.schools.utah.gov/curr/core.
Intended Learning goal is for each student to be:
• A complex thinker and problem solver
• An effective communicator
• A cooperative group participant and leader
• A contributor to the community
• A quality worker and producer
• A self-directed learner
Instructional Practices and Materials
Reading
Reading is one of the most important skills a child learns in school that will last a
lifetime! The more a child reads, the more they understand, the better they learn.
We will be using reading skills in all of our class instruction and lessons this year.
Students will be reading as a whole group, in small groups, and by themselves.
We ask that you encourage your child to read every night and follow the third
grade reading expectations weekly. Reading can be a great activity for your
child to do alone, or a fun experience reading to a brother or sister. Ask your
child to read their stories aloud to you and discuss their thoughts on the story. This
is a great way to help them be a better reader, and also a fun way to connect
with your family every night. Children like to read about what they are interested

in. A great way to find books that they are excited about is to make regular visits
to the public library. Library cards are free. Our local library is the Day Riverside
Branch Library which is located at 1575 W. 1000 N. The library has sections
specifically for beginning readers. Also, encourage your child to read things they
see at home too, newspapers, magazines and recipes are all great examples of
at home reading.
Spelling
The third grade spelling list comes from the Harcourt Storytown (2008 Harcourt,
Inc.) basal series. We will send home the words to study on the first day of the
week. Work with your child and practice the words at home. We will also
practice at school doing various activities. On Fridays (or the last day of the
week) the students will take a spelling test.
Writing
Each day your student will be writing. Daily writing will be based on
comprehension and framework that correlates to the weekly story which ties into
an essential theme in our Storytown Language Arts program. There will also be
times when the students will be given a topic that will be based on personal
opinion or narrative, or to enhance their imagination and creativity. The teacher
will not correct all errors unless the piece will be published. All writing will be
collected in a student writing portfolio and published works will be graded with
writing rubrics to assess progress. Students will be graded based upon their efforts
and progress throughout the year.
Math
This year we will be using a math program called Math Expressions
Common Core. This is a hands-on math program. Students will be graded
on in-class participation, daily assignments and tests. Math homework will
be sent home every day excluding Friday and will be due the following day at
school. Please assist and discuss homework with your child.
Homework
Homework will be sent home with your child every day, excluding Fridays. This will
consist of daily math, language arts, and reading. Homework is always due the
following school day with the exception of weekly reading. It is very important for
your child to complete and return his/her homework to ensure that they are
successful.
Reading Homework: Reading is very important! Your child needs to read for at
least 30 minutes each night. Students can read to themselves, to a family
member, or sometimes listen to a story read to them by a family member. A
combination of all makes for a lifelong love of reading and expands children’s
knowledge! Students are accountable for logging weekly reading minutes on
their Reading logs and returning to school every Monday. Please sign student’s
weekly reading logs. *If a book is sent home, the book needs to be returned to
school each morning.

Course Requirements
Students are expected to attend school regularly, be on time, come
prepared to learn and to hold and achieve high expectations of their
personal academic success. They are also expected to complete, and return
all homework, as well as to read each night for a minimum of 30 minutes.
Discipline
Our classroom rules:
1. Follow directions the first time given.
2. Keep hands, feet and other all objects to self.
3. Be kind to others in speech and actions.
4. Be on time, and be prepared.
4. Do not bring things from home. (Ex. toys, pens, markers)
In addition, our students are expected to follow the Four Be’s of Backman
Be Safe.
Be Here.
Be Respectful.
Be Responsible.
Students will be expected to always do their best and follow the rules. There
are both positive rewards and consequences for classroom behavior. We will
follow a chart system of consequences.
1. Green- On task with classroom behavior
2. Yellow- Verbal Warning- stop and think
3. Orange-Buddy Room (Student sent to another room with reflective writing)
4. Red- SERIOUS! Call home to parents, and/or referral to office
‣Severe Behavior such as fighting, vandalism, or defiance will result in
an immediate office referral.
‣Frequent trips to the Buddy Room will result in calls home or an
office referral.
Grading Procedures
Clear standards and expectations are established for all students at each
grade level. To be on grade level, students are expected to be able to
demonstrate knowledge for the information that has been taught with
minimal assistance from the teacher. Homework is a required part of the
coursework.

Tentative Class and Activity Schedule
Each day students will work in small group and whole group settings. In
addition to their classroom teacher, your student may work with
paraprofessionals and other third grade team teachers. We will have
between 150-180 hours of literacy, 60-90 minutes of Mathematics, and 60
minutes of English Language Development (ELD) daily. In ELD class we teach
using the Santillana Spotlight on English Program (2008, Santillana USA).
Field Trips
We will plan to go on at least two field trips during the school year. Our goal is
to visit places that provide an enriching and educational experience for the
class as well as support our core curriculum standards. Due to tentative
scheduling and availability we will send home field trip information right
before scheduled trips.
Our goal is to help your child learn in a supportive and nurturing way. The
best way to do this is to work as a home and school team. Please let us know
if you have any questions or concerns and keep open communication with
us throughout the year so we can make sure that this is a very successful and
fun year for your child!
The 3 rd Grade Teachers
Mr. Colvin kody.colvin@slcschools.org
Ms. Guzman miriam.guzman@slcschools.org
Ms. Zuchetto marissa.zuchetto@slcschools.org

Student’s Name (please print):
Please sign and return this page!
Does your child have any food allergies? □YES □NO
If yes, what are they? _______________________________________
Can you volunteer in the classroom? □YES □NO
When?_____________________________________________________
I have read and I understand the 3 rd Grade disclosure letter.
Parent/Guardian:
Print Name_____________________________
Date __________________
Signature ______________________________