Thank you for taking the time to read the following FAQs regarding 3 rd grade.

Will my child receive homework and will I know what it is?

Yes, your child will receive homework Monday through Thursday. Each Monday your child will get an Assignment Sheet. The only weekend homework will be home reading and/ or special projects.

What is the Assignment Sheet?
It lists the homework for each day.

Do I have to sign the Assignment Sheet each day ? Yes, please sign the sheet after you have reviewed your child’s homework and the home reading has been completed.

What if my child does not return the assignment sheet, or does not get it signed?
Your child will miss half of their recess as a consequence.

Am I responsible for keeping up with home reading? Yes, you or your child will have to write down each day the title of the book read and how long your child read. You will write this down daily on the assignment sheet. I will keep track of your child’s home reading for our school’s home reading program.

Should I assist at home with the homework?
Yes! Please check for accuracy and have your child make corrections to the homework as necessary. DO NOT JUST SIMPLY ASK YOUR CHILD IF HE OR SHE DID IT, ASK TO SEE IT! I do not expect to receive sloppy work or work that is incomplete , in some cases students will have to re-do their work.

What if we have a family emergency and couldn’t get the homework completed?
Just write me a note and your child will receive extra time to complete the homework and will not miss recess.

A family emergency is not. . . “we went to a baseball game, we went out to eat, we went shopping. . . believe it or not. . these are some excuses I have gotten.

I am sensitive towards family members leaving TDY and will accept a note about that.

Does homework get checked?
Yes, in class I will go over the answers and students will get to check their own work to see how they did and to ask any questions if they had trouble the night before with their homework. They will put a check next to the problem if it is correct and a (X) if it is wrong. We grade in marker or crayon.

Does homework get graded?
Yes, some of it will receive a percentage grade and some will receive a check plus, check, or check minus depending on the quality of the work.

What are Friday Folders?
Each child has a Friday folder that goes home each Friday; there may be cases when it will not be sent home. It will contain your child’s work for that week or previous week. I will make every attempt to grade tests and quizzes as promptly as I can, there may be some situations ( having a substitute, school activities, etc.) that may hinder me from grading as soon as I would like.

Do I get to keep the work from the Friday Folder? Yes, unless your child has re-do work that needs to be sent back in. Friday folders will need to be sent back in each Monday.

Do you have a discipline plan with consequences ? Yes, please see my parent handbook.

What if I receive a note from the teacher about my child’s inappropriate behavior; will I need to come in for a conference?
If the note does not request a conference, then I will not need to conference with you. I am simply informing you of your child’s inappropriate behavior so that you may discuss the behavior with your child. If the behavior escalates or continues then I will request a conference.

How can I schedule a conference with you?
Please write me a note that includes your available days/times and I will get back with you. I normally schedule conferences before school from 8:00-8:20 and after school from 2:40-3:15.

Can I just come in without scheduling a conference? Please try to not do that, unless it is an absolute emergency. My days are very full and I cannot always drop what I am doing with unexpected visits.

Can I come in and observe you?
Observations are best left to Fort Bragg school administrators.

Can I come in and volunteer?
Absolutely!!! A letter will be sent home regarding the need/duties for volunteers.

Is it appropriate to come by during your instructional time?
Not unless it is an emergency or you have discussed it with me prior to coming. More than likely an interruption may cause my students to lose their focus and I will have to spend time redirecting their attention due to the interruption. Believe it or not I once had a parent come into my room and announce, “Look what I have!” That parent had a puppy in her hands. We were in the middle of a math lesson, students became very excited, ran up to see the puppy, and all instruction at this point was lost. A visit like that should have been consulted with me first to see when would have been a good time to come.

Will 3 rd grade be a difficult transition for my child? That depends, usually the first month or so can be a challenge, but students who work hard at getting organized, use their time well, and adhere to classroom rules will make the transition smoothly. At times it can be overwhelming with all the new skills that are introduced and the structure of the day. Students are responsible for various things every minute of the day. Keeping up with those responsibilities are also the key to a successful school year.