1. ““On the Road to Responsibility”On the Road to Responsibility”
Mrs. Leachman’s ClassMrs. Leachman’s Class
2009-20102009-2010
kleachman@hoover.k12.al.uskleachman@hoover.k12.al.us

2. THE HANDBOOKTHE HANDBOOK
►Rocky Ridge HandbookRocky Ridge Handbook – Please review– Please review
the guidelines in the handbook regardingthe guidelines in the handbook regarding
Arrival/Dismissal, transportation, andArrival/Dismissal, transportation, and
medications. Be sure and send a notemedications. Be sure and send a note
following an absence so it may be recordedfollowing an absence so it may be recorded
accurately. Please make sure you sign andaccurately. Please make sure you sign and
turn in pages 51, 55, and 57.turn in pages 51, 55, and 57.

3. LunchroomLunchroom
►Menus are sent home the first of eachMenus are sent home the first of each
month. Please talk to your child about foodmonth. Please talk to your child about food
selection. You are always welcome to joinselection. You are always welcome to join
your child for lunch. Students will be able toyour child for lunch. Students will be able to
purchase extra items snack items onpurchase extra items snack items on
Fridays. If you have any questionsFridays. If you have any questions
regarding your child’s lunch account pleaseregarding your child’s lunch account please
contact the cafeteria manager. You maycontact the cafeteria manager. You may
also sign up to pay for your child’s lunchalso sign up to pay for your child’s lunch
online. www.paypams.comonline. www.paypams.com

4. Snack TimeSnack Time
► Please send something filling and nutritious forPlease send something filling and nutritious for
your child at snack time. Some good suggestionsyour child at snack time. Some good suggestions
include cheese and crackers, breakfast bars,include cheese and crackers, breakfast bars,
prepared fruit, popcorn and dry cereal. Try toprepared fruit, popcorn and dry cereal. Try to
avoid less healthy snacks such as chips, snackavoid less healthy snacks such as chips, snack
cakes, cookies or snacks that cannot be eatencakes, cookies or snacks that cannot be eaten
without forks or spoons. (We do not always havewithout forks or spoons. (We do not always have
these available.) Water is always available in thethese available.) Water is always available in the
classroom, but your child can also bring in a waterclassroom, but your child can also bring in a water
bottle.bottle.

5. MoneyMoney
►Please send any money in an envelope withPlease send any money in an envelope with
the child and the teacher’s name. Pleasethe child and the teacher’s name. Please
identify what the money is for. I will sendidentify what the money is for. I will send
book orders home throughout the year. Ifbook orders home throughout the year. If
you plan to purchase books, send a checkyou plan to purchase books, send a check
made out to the club. Please do notmade out to the club. Please do not
send cashsend cash..

6. CommunicationCommunication
►–– A newsletter will be sent home each weekA newsletter will be sent home each week
in your child’s Thursday folder. Please feelin your child’s Thursday folder. Please feel
free to contact me through email, note, orfree to contact me through email, note, or
call the office and leave a message. I willcall the office and leave a message. I will
return your call ASAP.return your call ASAP. I believeI believe
teacher/parent communication isteacher/parent communication is
extremely importantextremely important

7. BirthdaysBirthdays
►Please feel free to send a treat on theirPlease feel free to send a treat on their
birthday. We will also recognize theirbirthday. We will also recognize their
birthday in class. However, we cannot setbirthday in class. However, we cannot set
aside time for a party. Your child isaside time for a party. Your child is
welcome to pass-out party invitations if thewelcome to pass-out party invitations if the
entire class is invitedentire class is invited. It is our request that. It is our request that
you have the snack item in the office byyou have the snack item in the office by
8am. I will take care of passing the special8am. I will take care of passing the special
snack out to the students.snack out to the students.

8. Field TripsField Trips
►We will go on 2 field trips throughout theWe will go on 2 field trips throughout the
school year. All forms must be returned inschool year. All forms must be returned in
advance. We will usually need twoadvance. We will usually need two
chaperones per trip. Also, no youngerchaperones per trip. Also, no younger
siblings are allowed to accompany parentssiblings are allowed to accompany parents
on fieldtrips since this would provide aon fieldtrips since this would provide a
distraction from the supervision of ourdistraction from the supervision of our
students.students.

9. DisciplineDiscipline
► Our classroom guidelines include:Our classroom guidelines include: respectrespect everyone, theeveryone, the
school and personal property, be prepared, work and playschool and personal property, be prepared, work and play
safely and always do your best.safely and always do your best.
► A daily report will be sent home each day in theirA daily report will be sent home each day in their
homework binder. If students do not follow classroom rules,homework binder. If students do not follow classroom rules,
he/she will be given a verbal warning.he/she will be given a verbal warning.
► The next time a rule is not followed; The student will moveThe next time a rule is not followed; The student will move
their clip to warning. Your child will have to sit out of recesstheir clip to warning. Your child will have to sit out of recess
for 5 minutes. If the behavior is not corrected they will thenfor 5 minutes. If the behavior is not corrected they will then
be asked to move their clip to Time-Out. They will havebe asked to move their clip to Time-Out. They will have
to sit out for 10 minutes of recess. If this is not effective,to sit out for 10 minutes of recess. If this is not effective,
parents will be contacted by a note or phone call.parents will be contacted by a note or phone call.

10. AssessmentsAssessments
►Our goal is to capture a grade everyOur goal is to capture a grade every
week/week and a half in each area. Yourweek/week and a half in each area. Your
child will usually bring home a signed paperchild will usually bring home a signed paper
folder every week (Thursday). Progressfolder every week (Thursday). Progress
Reports are sent in the middle of each nineReports are sent in the middle of each nine
weeks. Report cards are sent home everyweeks. Report cards are sent home every
nine weeksnine weeks

11. GradingGrading
►Some grades are based on class work andSome grades are based on class work and
class participation. Other grades are basedclass participation. Other grades are based
on testing which reflect good study habits,on testing which reflect good study habits,
memorization, inferential-higher levelmemorization, inferential-higher level
thinking, and decision-making. Class workthinking, and decision-making. Class work
is usually not taken as a grade. Theis usually not taken as a grade. The
children are learning and practicing throughchildren are learning and practicing through
these assignments.these assignments.

12. Signed PapersSigned Papers
► Thursday Papers will be sent home regularly. Grades for the reportThursday Papers will be sent home regularly. Grades for the report
card are based on these evaluations. Each year, this seems to be onecard are based on these evaluations. Each year, this seems to be one
of the more stressful events for third graders. We review these as aof the more stressful events for third graders. We review these as a
class but your child may have additional questions. So, I suggest youclass but your child may have additional questions. So, I suggest you
review these with your child. If your child usually does well and doesn’treview these with your child. If your child usually does well and doesn’t
perform as well on a particular assignment, please explain that withperform as well on a particular assignment, please explain that with
work and practice they can always pull up his/her grade. I never sharework and practice they can always pull up his/her grade. I never share
grades of students with other students. I like to stress to them this isgrades of students with other students. I like to stress to them this is
private information even if you do really well. Please take the time toprivate information even if you do really well. Please take the time to
discuss with your child the importance of privacy in this area.discuss with your child the importance of privacy in this area.
► After you have reviewed the papers, please sign the stapled page inAfter you have reviewed the papers, please sign the stapled page in
the folder and return with the signed papers. It is your child’sthe folder and return with the signed papers. It is your child’s
responsibility to return the folder to class.responsibility to return the folder to class.

13. HomeworkHomework
► Homework will be assigned on Monday and will be due onHomework will be assigned on Monday and will be due on
Friday. Homework should take no more than 30-40Friday. Homework should take no more than 30-40
minutes a day. If your child is taking longer than thisminutes a day. If your child is taking longer than this
amount of time, please contact me. Students will have noamount of time, please contact me. Students will have no
written homework over the weekend.written homework over the weekend.
► ******Special Note – Most Third Graders cannot be sent to******Special Note – Most Third Graders cannot be sent to
their room to do their homework. We have to guide andtheir room to do their homework. We have to guide and
show them how to study. I will give them guidance andshow them how to study. I will give them guidance and
hints in class. They should be able to complete mosthints in class. They should be able to complete most
written assignments independently. Please allow studentswritten assignments independently. Please allow students
to try assignments on their own. If they ask for help, try toto try assignments on their own. If they ask for help, try to
be more of a guide ~ rather than solving the problem forbe more of a guide ~ rather than solving the problem for
them. One of our goals for our Third grade students is tothem. One of our goals for our Third grade students is to
lead them in the direction of being independent thinkerslead them in the direction of being independent thinkers
and learners.and learners.

14. VolunteersVolunteers
►We love having volunteers and appreciateWe love having volunteers and appreciate
your help. When volunteering, remember toyour help. When volunteering, remember to
sign in at the office and get a visitor’s pass.sign in at the office and get a visitor’s pass.
If you would like to help in the classroomIf you would like to help in the classroom
and are not scheduled, it would be helpful ifand are not scheduled, it would be helpful if
you could send a note with your child onyou could send a note with your child on
that morning so I can be expecting you. Wethat morning so I can be expecting you. We
want to make the most of your time andwant to make the most of your time and
assistance!assistance!

15. ReadingReading
► We incorporate Reading Workshop, Literature Circles,We incorporate Reading Workshop, Literature Circles,
Reading Response Log and use of library books. My goalReading Response Log and use of library books. My goal
is for your child to develop a LOVE for reading if they dois for your child to develop a LOVE for reading if they do
not already have one. Therefore, I will use many differentnot already have one. Therefore, I will use many different
approaches and types of genres to do what is best andapproaches and types of genres to do what is best and
help your child individually.help your child individually.
► Please make it a priority to set aside three or four times aPlease make it a priority to set aside three or four times a
week to have your child read. (If not daily) Also, set asideweek to have your child read. (If not daily) Also, set aside
time to read to your child. We need to read books thattime to read to your child. We need to read books that
your child is not yet capable of reading. This is anyour child is not yet capable of reading. This is an
excellent way to increase your child’s vocabulary.excellent way to increase your child’s vocabulary.
► Ask your child questions about the story or article andAsk your child questions about the story or article and
discuss words the child might not understand. This is onediscuss words the child might not understand. This is one
of the best ways to encourage your child to be a life longof the best ways to encourage your child to be a life long
learner and to be successful.learner and to be successful.

16. WritingWriting
►Third grade is a big writing year. We willThird grade is a big writing year. We will
write regularly in their Writer’s Notebook.write regularly in their Writer’s Notebook.
Please know that the students will work onPlease know that the students will work on
most of their writing assignments at school.most of their writing assignments at school.
This will ensure that the student is writingThis will ensure that the student is writing
and revising his or her work. We willand revising his or her work. We will
publish throughout the school year.publish throughout the school year.

17. MathMath
►Various sources are integrated includingVarious sources are integrated including
Investigations, problem solving activities,Investigations, problem solving activities,
and math strategy activities. Students willand math strategy activities. Students will
be exploring number sense and problembe exploring number sense and problem
solving in a variety of ways.solving in a variety of ways.

18. LanguageLanguage
►I will combine the use of the English Book,I will combine the use of the English Book,
Word Study Skills, andWord Study Skills, and Write TraitsWrite Traits-a-a
writing curriculum. It is important to help thewriting curriculum. It is important to help the
children gain and apply grammar ruleschildren gain and apply grammar rules
along with practice and application. I hopealong with practice and application. I hope
to see the application of these rules transferto see the application of these rules transfer
into their writing.into their writing.

19. SpellingSpelling
►The children will have a spelling list eachThe children will have a spelling list each
week. You may see words from the priorweek. You may see words from the prior
weeks if they continue to miss these wordsweeks if they continue to miss these words
in daily writing. Please go over these wordsin daily writing. Please go over these words
with your child. They will be tested onwith your child. They will be tested on
Fridays.Fridays.

20. Social Studies and ScienceSocial Studies and Science
►The curriculum is based on StateThe curriculum is based on State
Curriculum guides and Hoover City SchoolsCurriculum guides and Hoover City Schools
District. The children will be evaluated onDistrict. The children will be evaluated on
participation, their notebook, andparticipation, their notebook, and
understanding of content. Social Studiesunderstanding of content. Social Studies
will be taught during the 1will be taught during the 1stst
semester andsemester and
Science will be taught during the 2Science will be taught during the 2ndnd
semester.semester.

21. Make-Up WorkMake-Up Work
►If your child is going to be absentIf your child is going to be absent
more than one day, please notify themore than one day, please notify the
office as soon as possible if youoffice as soon as possible if you
would like to pick up assignments. Iwould like to pick up assignments. I
will try to have these available by thewill try to have these available by the
end of the day.end of the day.

22. ConferencesConferences
► There are two scheduled conference days duringThere are two scheduled conference days during
the year in October and February. If you wouldthe year in October and February. If you would
like to schedule an additional meeting, you may dolike to schedule an additional meeting, you may do
so by calling me at school, or writing a note andso by calling me at school, or writing a note and
sending it with your child. I will be happy to meetsending it with your child. I will be happy to meet
with you. You may also e-mail me at schoolwith you. You may also e-mail me at school
regarding any questions or concerns.regarding any questions or concerns.
► My address is:My address is:
kleachman@hoover.k12.al.uskleachman@hoover.k12.al.us

23. THANK YOU!THANK YOU!
►In closing, thank you for sharing your mostIn closing, thank you for sharing your most
precious gift with me…your child.precious gift with me…your child.
►I am so excited about this year and lookI am so excited about this year and look
forward to being a part of your child’s life.forward to being a part of your child’s life.
►Please let me know when you have anyPlease let me know when you have any
questions.questions.