Harmony Science Academy West Houston | 2014-2015 Page 1

Mrs. Blackwells 3
rd
grade class (3A)

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 832-437-3926
Website: http://blackwell3a.weebly.com

Teacher Objective:
My goal is to be a guide for the students to activate their prior knowledge and make
new discoveries in the content areas of Math, Science, Social Studies, and English
Language Arts. Students will receive a variety of instruction on the Texas Essential
Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards through whole and small group instruction,
class partner investigations, and individual work.

Teacher Biography:
This is my second year as a 3
rd
grade classroom teacher at Harmony Science Academy
West Houston. I received my teaching certification from Houston Baptist University
and am also certified as an ESL teacher. As a student my favorite subject was math
and I have a particular passion for teaching it as well. I also really love to read and like
to share my love of fabulous books with students. I am looking forward to another
fantastic 3
rd
grade year as we delve into lots of exciting work together reading, writing,
problem solving, investigating, and role-playing.

3rd grade Curriculum:
Math: This year topics of study include, but are not limited to, place value to
1,000,000,000; addition and subtraction; multiplication and division; fractions;
patterns and relationships; 2D and 3D geometric figures; measurement; and
tables and graphs.

Science: The majority of the science curriculum comes from STEMscopes (Rice
University) which often has hands-on exploratory lessons. Students will learn
much of their content from actually doing science. Topics include properties of
matter; different forms of energy; formation of soils; the Solar System; and
ecosystems.

Social Studies: We will cover topics such as past and present communities;
timelines; basic structure of government; good citizenship; and financial literacy.

English Language Arts: This topic consists of reading comprehension,
grammar, and writing. In reading comprehension we will focus on reading
concepts such as inferring, summarizing, and drawing conclusions. A variety of
basic grammar skills will be covered and we will explore narrative and persuasion
when we write.
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Interactive Journals:
For each content area, the student will keep an interactive journal with all their class
work, class notes, diagrams, and artwork or drawings relevant to the topic. These
journals will be informally assessed through teacher observation every day and
occasionally given a grade. The grade will be based on quality of content and work the
student put into their journal, neatness, organization, and completeness of the
assignments that were given. In the event that a student is absent, s/he will be
responsible for getting the journal assignment(s) from classmates or the teacher.

Grading Averages:
Harmony Elementary grades 2-5 will have a weight system where all numeric averages
on report cards use percentages for Mathematics, ELA, Science, and Social Studies.

Tests /Major Grades 25%
Daily Grades (Class Assignments/Interactive Journals) 70%
Homework 5%

100%
System

A 100-90
B 89-80
C 79-70
Not
passing
<69

Homework:
Homework is an extension of the learning that has happened in our classroom that day.
Students will write their homework assignments in their planners each day and
assignments will also appear on the database that parents may view. In addition, I plan
to keep our class blog (http://blackwell3a.weebly.com/blog.html) up to date with the
happenings of the class and homework assignments that are due. Homework will come
in various forms (but not limited to) working a problem, mini-research projects,
working online, and reading homework packets.

Classroom Rules/Behavior:
We will make our rules together as a class in the first week of school. I will update the
class rules on the class website (http://blackwell3a.weebly.com) when we create them
and sign our class contract. In conjunction with the DPS/PRS system that is used at
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HSAWH, we will have a behavior color chart in class. Every student begins on green
(Ready to Learn) each day. Following directions, working well in groups, and choosing
to do your best will help students move up the chart to earn PRS points (please see
PRS below). Disregarding our classroom rules will result in a move down the color
chart and can lead to DPS points (please see DPS below). The color chart allows for
several tries before a student lands on DPS points and is a visual reminder throughout
the day of what choices need to be made to succeed in school and be part of a safe and
healthy working community.

DPS:
Harmony Public Schools has implemented a Discipline Point System (DPS) in which
students are given DPS points for unacceptable behavior. Please see pages 52-61 in
the parent/student handbook regarding this discipline system and the consequences
that follow an accumulation of points. Your students DPS points are shown in their
account on the school database.

PRS:
There is also a system to acknowledge a students exceptional acts or behavior
Positive Reinforcement System (PRS). As with DPS, particular behaviors are awarded
positive points. These points do counteract negative DPS points and a record of these
points is also shown on the school database.

Classroom Procedures:
Procedures help keep our classroom running smoothly and free from unnecessary
distractions. We will be practicing these procedures together as a class.
Entering the Classroom: Students will place all of their belongings inside of their
cubby and quietly begin DEAR time.
Cubby and desk: Both cubbies and desks should always be clean and tidy. No
personal belongings should be kept in the cubby or desk at the end of the day. If
belongings are left behind, they may possibly be thrown away or lost.
Tardies: Please make an effort to not be tardy. Valuable learning time is missed
when students are not in class. In the event that a tardy is unavoidable, the
student will give the tardy slip from the front office to Mrs. Blackwell. After
placing personal belongings in cubby, s/he will quietly join the class.
Handing in Homework/Assignments: Students will turn in their homework into the
appropriately marked homework bin.
No Homework/Late Homework: If the student does not turn in completed
homework by the due date, it will be reflected in DPS points. The grade is
reduced by 10% for each day that it is late. No homework will be accepted after
3 days late.
Absences and Obtaining Make-up Work: Students are responsible for obtaining
make-up work the day they return from an absence. Students may find missing
work with the students name at the top of the paper in his/her student mailbox .
The student has 2 days upon their return to finish interactive journal work or turn
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in other work. After 2 days, the grade is reduced by 10% as with No Homework
policy above. Any missed instruction/lessons will be made up after school during
tutorial time at teachers request.
Emergency Drill: During a fire drill, tornado, or other emergency drill, students
should line up quietly and wait for further instruction. Talking is NOT permitted.
In the event that we move outside, students should walk quickly and orderly,
never running or pushing to keep up. DPS points are given for not following
these rules.
Classroom Visitors: We will often have visitors in our classroom. Sometimes
students will know the visitors (principals, other teachers, parents), and other
times students will not know the visitor (guest speaker, maintenance, district
officials). Most visitors will come in to observe the students learning and the
teachers instruction. Therefore, it is important to continue working as if they are
not there.

Dismissal Policy:
Please find our school-wide dismissal procedure for Kindergarten through 5th grade
below.
Students will be ready for pick up at 2:45pm.
Parents must wait in their vehicle. This is for the safety of all students, families,
and staff. No child will be released to a parent/guardian if they get out of their
vehicle
Parent/Guardian must keep the assigned student decal visible on front
dashboard.
NO cell phone usage during pick up or drop off.
Parents should not use dismissal time to conference with teachers. All teachers
will be on duty and have responsibilities to fulfill.
Dismissal Locations:
o K-2 students will be picked up from the front of the school at 2:45.
Parents should remain on the inside lane closest to the school building.
o 3-5 students will be picked up from the gazebo areas at 2:45. Parents
should remain on the outside lane nearest the freeway.
o Older siblings MUST remain with their youngest sibling for pick up
location (i.e., if you have a 5
th
grade and 2
nd
grade child both students will
be picked up from the front of the school since the 2
nd
grader is the
youngest child).
o Day care buses will pick students up from the side of the school
building facing the courthouse. All day care bus riders will dismiss
at 2:45 and be monitored by a school staff member until picked up. If your
child is riding a daycare bus you must provide the daycare information to
the front office staff.


This syllabus is subject to change. Any changes will be posted on the class website.
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*PLEASE RETURN THIS PAGE ONLY*
By August 22, 2014

Mrs. Blackwells
Class Syllabus
Agreement

My child and I have reviewed the syllabus together.


Student Name: ______________-
__________________

Parent Name:
_________________________________

Parent Signature:
______________________________

Parent Email/Phone:
_____________________________
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*If you would like to receive text reminders from Mrs. Blackwell,
please text @class3a to 832.772.4314 to sign up for my Remind
account.

*If you have any questions or concerns about anything on the
syllabus, feel free to contact me at [email protected]
or schedule a time to meet.