Dear Parent
or Guardian,
I am pleased to welcome you and your child to third grade. I look forward to working with the both of
you to make this a rewarding year for all.
Your child deserves a positive educational climate for 
academic
growth. My personal goal is to create an environment where every student feels
safe and enjoys school. Our classroom
is guided by one main principle: Self-directed
learning is the key to success. We
will spend a great deal of time throughout the year discussing what this means
and how it will look in our classroom.
In short, self-directed learning is the process of managing, monitoring,
and adjusting one’s behavior in response to varied learning situations. The habits students develop and acquire now
will benefit their performance not only in future grades, but in future careers
as well.
My mission as a teacher is to instill
within my students a hope for the future and a belief in themselves and their
abilities. I want each student to
develop a love for learning. Each day, I
will provide a basis from which students will develop the academic and social
skills necessary for their future success.
I hold myself and my students accountable for a positive attitude,
social responsibility, and academic achievement.
I have managed people in business for
almost fifteen years and have come to the firm conclusion that life-long
success is dependent upon two disciplines: caring for others and taking
responsibility for your own learning.
During a typical day in my classroom you will find students developing
the disciplines inherent in successful learners, sharing their thoughts and
ideas, building relationships, and learning to appreciate what others have to
offer. In conjunction with self-directed
learning, I run a Love and Logic classroom.
This classroom management technique provides students with the
opportunity to think for themselves, take responsibility for their actions, and
learn to effectively function in our diverse society.
Because no two students are
alike, rarely will any two consequences be alike. If a student chooses to be disrespectful or
unkind, the following is an example of how consequences might be applied.
1st time= A friendly warning that the
behavior is inappropriate.
2nd time= Reminder - Private conference
to discuss the inappropriate behavior and resolve the situation to avoid future
problems. Student will develop a plan to solve the problem as well as any
resulting consequences.
3rd time= Review of the student’s
plan. Possible loss of recess and/or
privileges until the situation is resolved.
Note or phone call home as the circumstances require.
Severe disruptions – Student immediately sent to the principal.