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Welcome to Miss Gerding's Class
Contact Information: Please email me at lgerding@jacksonsd.org should you have any questions or concerns.
“Be Kind” – Throw Kindness Around Like Confetti!"
Updates Week of September 18:
We will be using our class website, Google Classroom, and Remind to communicate important information and updates throughout the year. Be sure to check back often. Looking forward to a great year! Don't forget Back to School Night is Tuesday September 19, 2023 at 7pm in Room 4.
Please see the message below from our Principal, Dr. Raymond regarding Back to School Nights:
Dear Parents & Guardians, The teachers of Switlik Elementary and I cordially invite you to our “Back to School Nights” on Monday, September 18th, Tuesday, September 19th and Thursday, September 21st. (please see schedules below). You may report directly to your child’s classroom. There will not be an introductory meeting in the APR this year. I will be making a few announcements over the PA system promptly at 7:00 p.m. to start the evening. On these evenings, you will have an opportunity to meet your child’s teachers, visit our classrooms, and learn about our programs. Please note that this is an evening for parents only
Monday, September 18th (Grades Pre-School, Kindergarten, First)
5:30 PM - Preschool
7:00-7:25 PM Grades Kindergarten & First parents may visit their child’s classroom.
7:30-7:55 PM Grades Kindergarten & First parents of multiple students may visit their child’s classroom.
Tuesday, September 19th (Grades Second, Third)
7:00-7:25 PM Grade Second and Third parents may visit their child’s classroom.
7:30-7:55 PM Grade Second and Third parents of multiple students may visit their child’s classroom.
Thursday, September 21st (Grades Four and Five)
7:00-7:25 PM Grade Four and Five parents may visit their child’s classroom.
7:30-7:55 PM Grade Four and Five parents of multiple students may visit their child’s classroom.
Some of our special subject teachers and other staff members will also be in attendance during these times. I encourage you to introduce yourselves to these important members of our faculty.
Please remember that this is not an evening for individual conferences, but instead an opportunity to learn about the curriculum and the activities occurring in your child’s classroom. If you would like to speak individually with a teacher, do not hesitate to contact him/her directly. Once again, please note that this is an evening for parents only. Please help us by making arrangements for child care so that we are better able to accommodate the seating of all parents.
Welcome Back to School!
Welcome to our class!! My name is Miss Gerding and I am so excited to be your teacher this year. I can’t wait to meet everyone and get to know each one of my students. I am looking forward to having a great year of learning together! Please check our class page daily for updates.
*Please send in a note with your child if there are any changes to dismissal.
*Please try to practice remembering Bus Numbers/Slot Numbers and Student ID numbers to help with logging into the chromebooks.
Back to School Night
We will be having Back to School Night on Tuesday, September 19th at 7:00PM in our classroom, Room 4. More details to follow.
Allergies
As of now, we do not have any food allergies in our classroom, but this may change throughout the year, so please keep checking back for any updates. Thank you!
Let's Stay in Touch!
Please join our class' Remind! I will be using it to provide daily updates, reminders, and announcements of important information. A paper with directions on how to join will be sent home the first week of school. It is free and easy to use! Once you join, be sure to still check our class page for additional information. Things are constantly changing so it is important we stay in communication with each other.
Special Area Schedule
Monday: Technology
Tuesday: Art
Wednesday: Media/Library
Thursday: Music
Friday: Gym (must have sneakers)
School Supplies
*All you will need to bring on the first day of school is a folder, backpack, assigned Chromebook, and your lunch and water bottle. Other basic school supplies will be provided so please do not stress about buying anything!
*Student folders are to come back and forth with them to school each day. Please use this folder to send in important notes and return schoolwork. Students are welcome to use a special folder of their choice as long as it is labeled with one side "Keep at Home" and the other side "Bring Back to School." If any student is in need of a folder, please let me know.
*Students will be receiving Switlik Elementary planners as a communication tool between our class and your home. Homework and reminders will be written there each morning. Please sign the planner and review the homework folder on a daily basis.
*Students will each have his/her own set of supplies (pencils, crayons, glue, scissors, etc.).
Note: Our classroom has air conditioning, but it can get pretty chilly after being in the room for some time. I recommend bringing in a sweatshirt each day to have just in case.
*Please label EVERYTHING coming into school.
Lunch/Water Bottles/Snack
*Students have the option to bring in a bagged lunch, or buy lunch-choice of hot or cold (please note there will NOT be universal free lunches this year). Please be sure to label student lunches/lunch boxes.
*We are encouraging students to bring in a labeled water bottle each day. Please no glass bottles!
Chromebooks
Chromebooks have been provided to each student for use at home and in school for the duration of the 2023-2024 school year. Please remember to bring your chromebook to school each day and charge it every night so it is accessible for learning experiences throughout our day.
Please review chromebooks protocol and expectations: Review Chromebook Expectations
Tech Help
The District Tech Tool Kit and Student/Parent Tutorials are available to help you with some common tech problems and document questions.
Birthday Celebrations
Please check back soon for more information. Thank you!
School Initiatives
Reader’s/Writer’s Workshop
Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop is a teaching method in which the goal is to teach students strategies for reading: comprehension, fluency, and decoding, and strategies for writing: elaboration, development, and punctuation. The workshop model allows teachers to differentiate and meet the needs of all their students. Reader’s/Writer’s Workshop helps to foster a love of reading and writing and gives students chances to practice reading/writing strategies independently and with guidance through conferences. Reading for Stamina- school initiative which encourages students to read more and more each day to build their reading stamina by recording reading steps.
Fundations
Third Grade will continue to use Fundations, a phonics and word-study program to help build phonemic awareness and provide the foundation for reading and spelling. It is a research-based, multisensory, and structured language program. It provides systematic and explicit instruction using materials and strategies essential to a comprehensive reading, spelling, and handwriting program. Fundations makes learning to read fun while laying the groundwork for life-long literacy. Students receive a systematic program in critical foundational skills, emphasizing:
Phonemic awareness
Phonics/ word study
High frequency word study
Reading fluency
Vocabulary
Comprehension strategies
Handwriting
Spelling
EnVision Math 2020
This is our math program which helps build students' fluency and automaticity with multiplication and division, along with reinforcing addition and subtraction. Students are taught a variety of strategies to encourage problem solving and computational skills. Other topics covered include working with equal groups- to introduce concepts like multiplying and dividing, fractions, time, money, data, graphing, shapes and their attributes, and measurement.
Here is a link to access online: https://www.pearsonrealize.com/index.html#/
IXL
Please use this custom domain to sign in to your IXL account
Bucket Filling
Please encourage your child to be a Bucket filler at home and at school! A bucket filler is kind, respectful, and caring! Actions or words that show that you care about someone. Saying or doing something kind. Giving someone a heartfelt smile. Using names with respect. Helping without being asked. Giving sincere compliments. Showing respect to others. There are hundreds of wonderful ways to fill buckets. The language of bucket filling has become synonymous with being kind and thoughtful. Your bucket will be filled when, at the close of each day, you reflect on the ways in which you have filled buckets.
Donations to Our Classroom
Donations can be made anytime during the school year and we greatly appreciate it. Thank you!!
*Hand Sanitizer
*Hershey Kisses/Smarties
*Small inexpensive items for a prize box (stickers, pencils, small toys, etc.)
*Play-Doh
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Save the Date:
First Day of School: Wednesday September 6
Back to School Night: Tuesday September 19
