Mrs.

Salerios Class Handbook

Welcome! 3rd grade is a very exciting year for your child. At this stage of
development, your child is coming out of the me stage. They view
themselves in terms of how others see them and how we as adults react to
them. 7, 8 and 9 years olds are interested in what others are doing and want
to be part of that. 3rd graders now should have responsibilities to take care of.
The children can make small decisions that impact their lives such as making
lunches, getting ready for school, cleaning, finishing homework and
completing assigned chores.
The child you see now will change by the end of 3rd grade. They gain
weight and height, their faces change, hair gets a style to it and personalities
start really shining. Its an incredible thing to watch happen and I am very
pleased to be part of that!
Your child will experience grades, learning from books, and taking long
tests that require both knowledge and application of the tested subject.
There will be frustrating times as the children realize that they have to take
time to study to get good grades. There will be wondrous times too! Theres
nothing more exciting than exploding a volcano model, seeing history come
alive or getting 100% on a spelling test!
Your 3rd grader will have homework almost every night. Please plan
time for it. They will have to complete any unfinished schoolwork, study
spelling words, read 15 minutes every night and write it on the Reading Log
form. Your child will get a 1 week notice on any upcoming tests. They need to
start studying then, not the night before the test. I will be teaching the
children how to study for tests and how to break down the tasks. Thank you
for letting me be an important part of your childs life.

Classroom Management and Communication

School Day- I start teaching immediately. The children will have a routine
that starts the moment they walk in the door. Being on time not only helps
your child feel confident but it is an excellent life skill. If you are dropping off
your child, please do NOT send them in any earlier than 10 minutes before
the bell. There is no one to watch them. You also do not need to walk into
school to drop off your child, unless they are arriving late. Let them have the
responsibility. Your child is very capable.

Toys- Please keep all toys at home.

Social Studies and Science- The children will be going to another room for Social
Studies..
Lunch- This is the childrens socializing time. We ask that parents refrain from
coming in to eat lunch with the student.
Curriculum- The children have as many as 2 books per subject. The children CAN
take the books home to study but the books need to come back the next day. We
cover reading, writing, speaking, spelling, math, science, social studies, test
preparation skills, group learning and team learning. Add art, music, gym and art to
that and thats a busy day!!!
Discipline I have a frog warning system. If a child is disruptive, missing work, etc.
they move their frog to the warning box. If they are talked to again, its into the
Goop Box Lily Pad. Privileges are lost if they are in the Goop Box including loss of
Fun Friday and not being able to shop at our class store. In more severe cases, the
school has a pink slip system that will come home. You will also be notified if your
child gets a pink slip. The consequence of a pink slip is all of the above and a lunch
detention.
Rewards The children receive rewards in a variety of ways. The children work to
receive Frog Franks that they can use in the class store. They earn frog franks by
doing well on tests, returning papers on time, clean desks, etc. I reward whatever I
can. The store consists of fun stuff and school items. I am always looking donations
of items, especially for stuffed animals. If you would like to donate anything to the
store, everything is gratefully accepted!! I also use some candy Smarties and Jolly
Ranchers- and it is done sparingly.
Fun Friday- This is a 30 minute period of down time where children who are not in
the Goop Box can hang together and watch a movie. I also use this time to tutor
individual students who are having problems.
Agenda Books- Please check them over daily and sign them. I use the agenda to
write notes to you and staple in important papers. It is also a great way to go over
what has happened during the day with your child. If the agenda is not signed 2
days in a row, it is an automatic Goop Box. It is your childs job to bring this agenda
to you. Please use it to write notes to me also. This is a quick way to ask a simple
question but if you need to get a hold of me during the day then use my email. My
email is on all day long. My address is: ssalerio@abs.misd.net. The classroom
website is: www.mrssalerio.weebly.com.
Room Donations If you are able to donate, here are some other things we could
use:

Kleenex

-paper plates

hand soap

Ziplock bags

Baby wipes

-Smarties

Jolly Ranchers

Grading Scale- This is the Anchor Bay scale.

100% - A+

77-79 C+

93-99 A

73-76 - C

90-92 A-

70-72 C-

87-89 B+

67-69 D+

83-86 B

63-66 D

80-82 B-

60-62 D-

59 and below - E

Water bottles- it would be appreciated if they had a pop top to avoid spills. NO
juice, only water.
Snacks we will have a snack break. Please make snacks healthy and quick to eat.
We have very little time in the day. No chips, chocolate or Lunchables, etc. Of
course, if you HAVE to bring a chocolate candy bar, teacher gets half!!!!
Birthdays We love to celebrate birthdays. Children are welcome to bring in treats.
Cupcakes and brownies are always a class favorite. Please remember to send in
plates and napkins.
SCHEDULE CHANGES- if you have to change end of day pick up plans, please jot a
note in the agenda. If you try to call me during the day, I will not always be able to
get to the phone if I am teaching. I check my messages after school and that may
be too late. Either email me or contact the office.
And, me Well Ive been teaching a LONG time. I have 5 daughters, Mr. Salerio,
granddaughters, Cassidy and Kayla, 2 more on the way, 2 grand cats and 4 grand
dogs. I have a Masters Degree in Elementary Education, and 2 Bachelor degrees. I
love nature, love teaching science, love working with young children, AND, I love
frogs, if you didnt already know!
Looking forward to having a great year

Mrs. Salerio