Welcome to Third Grade!
Welcome to third grade! I am so excited to be your child’s teacher and I am looking forward to getting to know you and your family this year. During the first few weeks of school we will be working on a smooth transition to a new grade, new friends, new teacher, new rules, new procedures and a new schedule. Please keep this welcome packet and refer to it throughout the school year for classroom and school information. I am looking forward to a wonderful year with your child! I believe that by working together we can ensure your child has a successful third grade year. If at any time you have any questions, please contact me by email at [email protected], a written note or phone at school (919-562-3555) so that we can arrange a time to talk. Thank you in advance for a great year!
School Hours
Our hours are 9:15-3:45. Students may begin arriving at 8:45. If your child enters the classroom after 9:15, he/she will be marked tardy. Please send in a note if you child needs to leave early. For safety reasons, you must go to the office to check your child out. The office will then notify us and we will send your child to meet you there. In order to preserve instructional time, we will not send students to the office to wait for parents to arrive.
Transportation
We need to know your child’s regular means of transportation as soon as possible. Please notify us in writing if, there is a change in transportation. Occasionally, you may need to have your child go home by a different means than usual. Please be sure to send in a note or call the office by 2:00 on these occasions. If you do not notify us and we cannot reach you, we have to send your child home by his/her regular means. Please do not email me transportation changes the day of the change, as I cannot guarantee that I will receive it in time.
Attendance
Students need to bring a signed note stating the reason for absence as soon as they return to school. This allows us to correctly record the absence as excused or unexcused.
Monday Folders
Each Monday your child will take home a folder that is created to help you stay informed of your child’s progress. This folder will include their work from the previous week, a classroom newsletter, and any important information from the PTA and office. It is crucial to look through this folder to see your child’s progress and any areas which may need extra practice. The contents of the folder are to be kept at home unless otherwise requested. Please make sure to initial the Weekly Work Habits and Conduct Report attached to the Monday folder and send the folder back to school on Tuesday.
Nightly homework will consist of:
Reading:
Students should read nightly to help build stamina. Some reading homework will include paper and pencil questions, vocabulary TIPS charts, or reflection questions, while other assignments are completed online using EPIC!, Big Universe, or Readworks
students should be able to……
*Read at least 20 to 30 solid minutes, uninterrupted for the 1st and 2nd qtr each night
*Read up to 30 to 40 solid minutes, uninterrupted for 3rd and 4th qtr each night
Spelling:
Spelling skills are embedded in our Literacy program.
Math:
Each night, students will have daily assignments that cover the day’s objectives or previous objectives. Some math homework will be paper and pencil, while other assignments might be completed online using Freckle, Moby Max, or another online site.
Please return all work the day after assigned. Homework will be checked or reviewed the next day in class. Math study guides will be provided as needed depending on topics of study. While studying multiplication, students will keep track of their practice on a math log and they are expected to practice every single night.
Homework could sometimes consist of:
Fluency or Comprehension:
Students that show a need for reading / fluency / comprehension practice will be given resources nightly or weekly to practice.
Science:
Study guides provided for tests as needed per quarter.
Social Studies:
Study guides provided for tests as needed per quarter.
TESTING for Third Graders (as of August 2021)
Third graders have several tests that are given to help assess their current performance levels as well as help qualify them for special services. The North Carolina BOG (Beginning of Grade) reading only will be administered during the first few weeks of school (exact date TBD). This assessment will give us a baseline of reading performance. Scores will be distributed as soon as they are received. I will be giving different school based assessments to update you on your child’s performance levels. Third graders will also take the Cognitive Abilities Test and the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. These tests serve as one factor in the placement of Academically Gifted classes starting later in third grade (exact date TBD). Finally in June, the students will take the EOG assessments or the North Carolina End of Grade test in Reading and Math. Throughout the year, I will teach and review test taking strategies to get ready for the EOG.
Conferences
I will also contact you during the first and third quarter for a conference. If you would like to schedule a conference at any other time during the year, please feel free to contact me at school so we can arrange a meeting.
Medicine
Completed medicine forms must be on file in the office for your child to receive any medications (prescription and non-prescription) at school. Students are not permitted to self-administer any medications (prescription and non-prescription.) Be sure we are aware of any allergies (including food) or medical concerns for your child. This information should be provided on the attached Student Information Sheet.
Snack Time and Birthdays
Please provide a healthy snack for your child each day. We will have a snack around 10am.
If you would like to provide a special treat for your child’s birthday, I must be notified a week in advance so that I can ensure that students with allergies are able to participate as well. All snacks and treats for birthday celebrations must be store bought, packaged, and unopened per Wake County Rules! I will notify you in upcoming weeks of any food allergies or diet restrictions in our class. All treats will be passed out during lunch only. With all this being said, I am a huge supporter of non-food treats for students! Consider donating a book to our classroom or school library in your child's name, come to eat lunch with our class, or even just send in some birthday pencils. Thank you!
Postcards
As you or your family members travel out of town during the school year, please consider sending us a postcard! We will locate the place the postcard originated from on the map and display it in the room. Plus, the children love to get mail. The school address is:
Wakefield Elementary School
2400 Wakefield Pines Drive
Raleigh, NC 27614
Attention: Mrs. Kudla’s Class
Volunteers
Please fill out the volunteer information sheet if you are interested in volunteering. All volunteers must be approved each year by Wake County before they are allowed to begin. Volunteer registration must be done on site. There are computers available at our school for this. Instructions are at the computers. THANK YOU!!!
Behavior Management Plan
*In an effort to ensure good citizenship in our school environment, and subsequently the community, our classroom management system is as follows:
Whole Class Rewards: As an incentive for excellent whole group behavior, we will have a class bee in the classroom that we will add flowers to recognize positive behavior. When the bee is filled, the class will celebrate their accomplishments with a classroom celebration!
Individual Rewards: New to our class this year….SOUR cards!! Each student will have a SOUR card posted in the classroom. The SOUR card will be used to track the student’s positive behaviors and to recognize these actions with a small celebration.
*****Lunch with a friend and the teacher, sit where you want to for the day, play a game with a friend and/or extra computer time are just a few examples of these small celebrations.
Welcome to third grade! I am so excited to be your child’s teacher and I am looking forward to getting to know you and your family this year. During the first few weeks of school we will be working on a smooth transition to a new grade, new friends, new teacher, new rules, new procedures and a new schedule. Please keep this welcome packet and refer to it throughout the school year for classroom and school information. I am looking forward to a wonderful year with your child! I believe that by working together we can ensure your child has a successful third grade year. If at any time you have any questions, please contact me by email at [email protected], a written note or phone at school (919-562-3555) so that we can arrange a time to talk. Thank you in advance for a great year!
School Hours
Our hours are 9:15-3:45. Students may begin arriving at 8:45. If your child enters the classroom after 9:15, he/she will be marked tardy. Please send in a note if you child needs to leave early. For safety reasons, you must go to the office to check your child out. The office will then notify us and we will send your child to meet you there. In order to preserve instructional time, we will not send students to the office to wait for parents to arrive.
Transportation
We need to know your child’s regular means of transportation as soon as possible. Please notify us in writing if, there is a change in transportation. Occasionally, you may need to have your child go home by a different means than usual. Please be sure to send in a note or call the office by 2:00 on these occasions. If you do not notify us and we cannot reach you, we have to send your child home by his/her regular means. Please do not email me transportation changes the day of the change, as I cannot guarantee that I will receive it in time.
Attendance
Students need to bring a signed note stating the reason for absence as soon as they return to school. This allows us to correctly record the absence as excused or unexcused.
Monday Folders
Each Monday your child will take home a folder that is created to help you stay informed of your child’s progress. This folder will include their work from the previous week, a classroom newsletter, and any important information from the PTA and office. It is crucial to look through this folder to see your child’s progress and any areas which may need extra practice. The contents of the folder are to be kept at home unless otherwise requested. Please make sure to initial the Weekly Work Habits and Conduct Report attached to the Monday folder and send the folder back to school on Tuesday.
Nightly homework will consist of:
Reading:
Students should read nightly to help build stamina. Some reading homework will include paper and pencil questions, vocabulary TIPS charts, or reflection questions, while other assignments are completed online using EPIC!, Big Universe, or Readworks
students should be able to……
*Read at least 20 to 30 solid minutes, uninterrupted for the 1st and 2nd qtr each night
*Read up to 30 to 40 solid minutes, uninterrupted for 3rd and 4th qtr each night
Spelling:
Spelling skills are embedded in our Literacy program.
Math:
Each night, students will have daily assignments that cover the day’s objectives or previous objectives. Some math homework will be paper and pencil, while other assignments might be completed online using Freckle, Moby Max, or another online site.
Please return all work the day after assigned. Homework will be checked or reviewed the next day in class. Math study guides will be provided as needed depending on topics of study. While studying multiplication, students will keep track of their practice on a math log and they are expected to practice every single night.
Homework could sometimes consist of:
Fluency or Comprehension:
Students that show a need for reading / fluency / comprehension practice will be given resources nightly or weekly to practice.
Science:
Study guides provided for tests as needed per quarter.
Social Studies:
Study guides provided for tests as needed per quarter.
TESTING for Third Graders (as of August 2021)
Third graders have several tests that are given to help assess their current performance levels as well as help qualify them for special services. The North Carolina BOG (Beginning of Grade) reading only will be administered during the first few weeks of school (exact date TBD). This assessment will give us a baseline of reading performance. Scores will be distributed as soon as they are received. I will be giving different school based assessments to update you on your child’s performance levels. Third graders will also take the Cognitive Abilities Test and the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. These tests serve as one factor in the placement of Academically Gifted classes starting later in third grade (exact date TBD). Finally in June, the students will take the EOG assessments or the North Carolina End of Grade test in Reading and Math. Throughout the year, I will teach and review test taking strategies to get ready for the EOG.
Conferences
I will also contact you during the first and third quarter for a conference. If you would like to schedule a conference at any other time during the year, please feel free to contact me at school so we can arrange a meeting.
Medicine
Completed medicine forms must be on file in the office for your child to receive any medications (prescription and non-prescription) at school. Students are not permitted to self-administer any medications (prescription and non-prescription.) Be sure we are aware of any allergies (including food) or medical concerns for your child. This information should be provided on the attached Student Information Sheet.
Snack Time and Birthdays
Please provide a healthy snack for your child each day. We will have a snack around 10am.
If you would like to provide a special treat for your child’s birthday, I must be notified a week in advance so that I can ensure that students with allergies are able to participate as well. All snacks and treats for birthday celebrations must be store bought, packaged, and unopened per Wake County Rules! I will notify you in upcoming weeks of any food allergies or diet restrictions in our class. All treats will be passed out during lunch only. With all this being said, I am a huge supporter of non-food treats for students! Consider donating a book to our classroom or school library in your child's name, come to eat lunch with our class, or even just send in some birthday pencils. Thank you!
Postcards
As you or your family members travel out of town during the school year, please consider sending us a postcard! We will locate the place the postcard originated from on the map and display it in the room. Plus, the children love to get mail. The school address is:
Wakefield Elementary School
2400 Wakefield Pines Drive
Raleigh, NC 27614
Attention: Mrs. Kudla’s Class
Volunteers
Please fill out the volunteer information sheet if you are interested in volunteering. All volunteers must be approved each year by Wake County before they are allowed to begin. Volunteer registration must be done on site. There are computers available at our school for this. Instructions are at the computers. THANK YOU!!!
Behavior Management Plan
*In an effort to ensure good citizenship in our school environment, and subsequently the community, our classroom management system is as follows:
Whole Class Rewards: As an incentive for excellent whole group behavior, we will have a class bee in the classroom that we will add flowers to recognize positive behavior. When the bee is filled, the class will celebrate their accomplishments with a classroom celebration!
Individual Rewards: New to our class this year….SOUR cards!! Each student will have a SOUR card posted in the classroom. The SOUR card will be used to track the student’s positive behaviors and to recognize these actions with a small celebration.
*****Lunch with a friend and the teacher, sit where you want to for the day, play a game with a friend and/or extra computer time are just a few examples of these small celebrations.