Weekly Newsletter: August 11th -15th

Dear Parents,

Your childs first week as a third grader was
spectacular! Our class has spent a large amount
of time building our classroom culture, getting to
know each other and more. I am so impressed at
how quickly each of my students are following
procedures, routines, and are ready to learn!

Thank you so much for all your donations in
supplies. Those of you that are still looking at
donating supplies the following are most needed:
composition notebooks, elmers glue, and pencils.

This week, your child will start on their first
homework assignments. For reading, we are
starting out at reading 20 minutes each night.
This will increase to 30 minutes each night in two
weeks. Your child has a reading log in their
homework folder. When they are finished reading
for 20 minutes, they will answer questions about
the book they are reading. You and your child will
then sign showing that you have completed the
reading. This will be due each class day.

For spelling, we will be starting off by testing our
high frequency words to see where each student is
at. Your child has received their spelling packet
with their words. Parts of the packet are due each
class day and the whole packet will be due on
Friday. We will test on these for three weeks, and
then we will move into a spelling program called
Words Their Way. I will explain this program
more when we are ready to start it.

On Friday, your child will receive their first
writing prompt. This will not be due until
next Friday, August 22nd. From this writing
and the writing we do in class, your child and I
will be able to work on improving their writing
skills and meeting their writing goals. Every other
week, your child and I will conference to discuss
how their writing can improve and what they are
doing right. This
conference will also be
used to go over their AR
goals once we start them.

If you have any questions regarding the
homework, please email or call me. The
homework will also be listed on our class site:
mrsriser.weebly.com.

Next week, we will begin using our brand new
Chromebooks! Attached is a letter about how the
Chromebooks will be used in class. Two sites that
your child will be using frequently starting
Monday will be Kahn Academy and Edmodo.
Attached are permission slips for both sites and
how your chid can access them.

Lastly, if you have not turned in your parent
packet from Rio Vista School please have it in by
the end of the week. Students are not allowed to
access the computers or Chromebooks until the
Electronic User Contract is signed and turned
in.

Thank you so much for your time, and I hope each
of you have a wonderful week!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Riser








This weeks news:
Monday: Starting Reading Logs
Friday: Spelling packet is due, High Frequency Word
Assessments
Friday: Students receive first essay prompt with rubric.
In the news next week:
Wednesday, August 20th:
Back to School Night, K-4th:
5:30pm-7:00pm

Thursday, August 21st:
Back to School Night,
5th-8th 5:30pm-7:00pm

Contact Information:
My email is
amanda_tooley@avusd.org.

The school phone number is
(760) 240-0280 ext: 2517

My personal phone number is
(760) 686-3916
Our Focus This Week:

Readers Workshop: Prediction

Grammar: Capitals and Sentences

Writers Workshop: What is your small
moment?
Math: Multiplication Facts, Place Value,
Number Sense

Science: Scientific Method: How do we use it?

Social Studies: Amerigo Vespucci: How do we
read informational text?

Geography: Compass and Maps

Khan Academy Permission Slip

Dear parents,

This year, well be using Khan Academy in class to personalize learning for all students!

Khan Academy is a free online resource that allows students to learn anytime, anywhere, with
material that is uniquely appropriate for them. Students can explore new topics and practice their
math skills by using interactive exercises, videos, and tutorials. As students learn, their activity
feeds into reports that show important information such as strengths and weaknesses in a
particular concept. By using Khan Academy, Ill be able to provide a more personalized learning
experience for your child.
If you approve of your child participating in this program, please provide the information needed
below. If you do not, please contact me so that we may work out a different solution for your
child.
Student Name: _________________________________________
I approve. I do not approve. Please contact me.

Does your child already have a Khan Academy account? Yes No

Student username: ______________________________________
(The username should be the same as their Renaissance user name.If your child already has a
Khan Academy account with a different username, please write that username down instead.)

Student password: ______________________________________
(Please use the password your child uses for Renaissance. If your child already has a Khan
Academy account with a different password, please write that password down instead.)

If you want to see how your child is learning on Khan Academy, I encourage you to create your
own Khan Academy account as well. Youll bee able to see what your child is working on, and
theres plenty of material on the site for you to learn anything you want, too. Simply go to
www.khanacademy.org and click Sign Up to get your own account.

Check out the links below to read about terms of service and privacy:
Khan Academy: www.khanacademy.org
Terms of Service: www.khanacademy.org/about/tos
Privacy Policy: www.khanacademy.org/about/privacy-policy

Please sign below to give your child permission to use Khan Academy in my class.

Parent Signature:___________________________________________

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me via email or phone.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Riser
Dear Parents,

Id like to introduce a new site that our class will be using. It is called Edmodo, and it is a free
and secure online learning platform where teachers and students can collaborate, share content,
and use educational apps to supplement in-class learning. In this private learning environment
that is managed by the teacher, students can only interact with others in the class. Edmodo
provides a safe and easy way to support learning beyond the classroom, and help students
develop important online skills.

On Edmodo students will be able to:

talk to the teacher and ask questions about work from home;
talk with the rest of the class and share ideas about class work from anywhere at any time;
share files and resources amongst the teacher and other students in the class;
keep track of important due dates, events and tasks;
quickly and easily catch up on handouts or work missed due to absences;
receive and hand-in assignment tasks electronically (in some instances).
take assessments online

Students can access Edmodo from any computer at home or at school. Edmodo can also be
accessed through an app for both androids, iPhones and tablet devices.
As Edmodo is a private, teacher-controlled learning space, all communication and student
interaction is closely monitored by the teacher. Importantly, there is no direct student-to-
student messaging on Edmodo a feature designed to prohibit cyber-bullying in any degree.

In the interests of encouraging online safety and etiquette, students are asked to agree to the
conditions outlined below:

Edmodo: Student Expectations

1.Students must treat Edmodo as an extension of the normal classroom.
2.Students may not share video, photographs, contact details or any other identifying
information about themselves or others while online, except in limited circumstances
as guided by their teacher.
3.All comments, views and ideas expressed while online must be respectful of
teachers, other students.
4.Students must select an avatar ONLY from the images provided by Edmodo.
5.Standard English must be used including correct punctuation and grammar no text
talk!

In order for your child to use Edmodo, he or she must have your permission, and you must read
and agree to the Edmodo Terms of Service (http://www.edmodo.com/corporate/terms-of-service)
on your childs behalf. The privacy policy is also available for you to read at: http://
www.edmodo.com/corporate/privacy-policy. Both these documents are printed in this packet.

Edmodo takes privacy seriously and has a User Trust and Safety team dedicated to protecting the
privacy and safety of its users. The only information required from students to set up an Edmodo
account is the teachers class code, their name, and a username and password. We will be setting
these up in class, and we will be using the students Renaissance username and password.

For more information about Edmodo, you can visit www.edmodo.com. Parents are also able to
set up an account to track how their student is doing as well as connect with me. If you would
like to set up an account, please let me know in the form below, and I will send you our class
code once we are set up on Edmodo.

Students will find Edmodo to be a valuable learning tool being used to enhance engagement
and learning outcomes. Please complete the attached form and return it to me as soon as possible
to indicate that you give permission for your child to use Edmodo. We will begin using Edmodo
in two weeks.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Sincerely,

Amanda Riser
_________________________________________________________________________











EDMODO: STUDENT AND PARENT CONSENT FORM

Student Name (please print): ____________________________________

I agree to communicate and work with teachers and peers on Edmodo according to the student
expectations listed above. I understand that I will be expected to log in and check my
Edmodo account regularly in class. I have gone over the terms of service with my parent(s).

Student Signature: _____________________________________________________

Date:____________________________________


I have read the terms of service and gone over them with my child. I give consent for my child to
use Edmodo in class and at home.

Parent Name (please print):______________________________________________________

Parent Signature: ______________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________

I wish to sign up for a parent Edmodo account, too. Please send the code when you begin using
Edmodo in the classroom. Initials:__________________

I do not give consent for my child to use Edmodo. I wish to be contacted to discuss an alternative
for my child.

Parent Name (please print):______________________________________________________

Parent Signature: ______________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________