Dear Parents, My name is Brent LaFay and I will be your child’s third grade teacher.  I would like to be the first to welcome you to Meadows Valley Elementary, and more specifically my classroom for the 2010-2011 school year.  First, a little about myself...I became interested in education and teaching while attending high school in Lewiston, ID.  There I served as a Teacher's Aide in my mother's first grade classroom for three years.  From there I enrolled in the elementary education program at Lewis Clark State College receiving my Elementary Education degree in 2001.  During the Winter/Spring of 2001 I was employed as a substitute teacher for the Meadows Valley and McCall-Donnelly School Districts.  After these enriching experiences, I applied for and was hired as the third grade teacher at Meadows Valley.  Since then I have spent eight years teaching third grade.  I am excited to spend this next school year working with you and your child.                                            Sincerely,                                           Mr. LaFay                    Read Mr. LaFay's story. Click on his photograph.                    Click on the Pencil to view Mr. LaFay's Rules & Homework Policy Click Here for Elementary Handbook

                  

What’s New in Mr. LaFay's Class

                 

You can expect your third grader to be bringing home homework every Monday unless you are notified otherwise.  I send home reading, math, and spelling homework each Monday and expect it to be handed in on Fridays.  The reading homework will be 20 minutes of reading per night Monday thru Thursday, but I would encourage your child to read more.  As part of this 20 minute reading I send home a weekly fluency and comprehension assignment that has specific skills for your child to work on.  Math homework will be a worksheet or activity for each lesson of the week that will reinforce concepts taught during the week.  They are responsible for writing the math lesson number for each day, so you will know what "home link" worksheet to do with them that day.  The spelling homework will be a practice worksheet for the week’s spelling words.   Also, if a student has trouble finishing any assignments in class they may be asked to take them home to finish.

Meadows Valley School Student of the Month:

                                 

Planners/Agendas in 3rd Grade... We will be continuing use of student planners this school year.  At the end of each day your child will write down any assignments they did not finish for that day including the math lesson we did that day that will correlate with their math homework.    Inside the planner you will find your child’s spelling list (added on Tuesdays), and the title of their A.R. book.  There is a small space for parent comments and questions within the planner.  I check the planners each day and will respond to any comments or questions that you have written.  Planners need to be returned each day. If these get lost, students will be expected to pay for another one at $5.00.

                               

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? Call me at home 634-7599 or at school 347-2411. Thank you for your time and I look forward to another productive year with your students.                               Sincerely,                          Mr. Brent LaFay Click Here to E-Mail Mr. LaFay		IMPORTANT 3rd Grade Parent Information Volunteers...Click Here Click Here...Supplies
Accelerated Reader: Your child will be particpating in the Accelerated Reader program in 3rd grade. This program is designed to help your student become more fluent readers.  I will be assessing students to see what level they are reading at. This program includes tests on the computer and students are expected to read the questions.  I am expecting students to practice reading their Accelerated Reader two times before taking the test. Please be sure to have your student bring their Accelerated Reading Books back to school each day.                   Click Here to Find Out About Mr. LaFay's Book Club Orders		Friday Folders... Each Friday, your child will bring home a folder of their work for the week.  Also included in this folder are any notes from the teacher or school.  Please take a moment to review the contents of your child’s folder with them.  What a great opportunity for your child to discuss what they have learned in school the past week!  Please be careful to return the folder each Monday, as your child will only receive one folder per quarter.  Also, use the comment section on the folder to let me know if you have any specific needs. Click Here for Academic Information Click Here for 3rd Grade Core Knowledge Information
		Click Here for Idaho Content Standards for 3rd Grade