Welcome to my Home Page!
Thank you for taking the time to visit my home page. I have included a little information about myself, and a lot of information about my classroom!
If you have any questions, I would enjoy hearing from you. I will do my very best to accommodate a time to speak or meet with you. Thank you for all the support you give for your child at school!
Happy Reading,
Mrs. Pollock
A Little Bit About Me:
Howdy!
My name is Tami Pollock, and I am one your child's third grade teacher. I have always wanted to be a teacher, and I enjoy being in the classroom everyday!
I am originally from Dallas, Texas. I graduated with an Associates of Arts degree from Collin County Community College and a Bachelor of Science-Interdisciplinary Studies degree from Texas A&M University-Commerce. I am married and I have one daughter. My family and I enjoy spending time together with our two dogs and being outdoors.
I have been at Silbernagel Elementary for two years and I am proud to be apart of Gator Nation! I am also so glad to be apart of the lives of my students and their families. I hope I make a last impacting in your child's educational future.
Happy Reading,
Mrs. Pollock
A Lot About My Classroom:
Reading:
Reading is a key component in your child's academic success. Reading is used for all subjects. Each day we discuss a variety of different text and practice with fiction and nonfiction books. In a fiction text, we practice skills like putting the events from a story in order and how a character might feel throughout a story. In a nonfiction text, we practice skills like using context clues to help solve unknown words and determine the main idea and details of a section in the text.
To become a great reader, we need to read everyday at home! This can be done in many different ways. The student can read by themselves, read to someone else (older or younger), or someone can read to the student. When you are reading, you should always be thinking! Some things to think about are how can you connect to the text, what questions are you wondering, and can you visualize what is happening in the text. Encourage your child to think, think, think!
Some fun ideas your child can practice reading skills at home:
- Visit a library and check out books
- Events at a local library
- Act out a story
- Become an author and write a book
- Make a tent to read inside
- Read outside in the sunlight
- Read to younger or older family members at home
Writing:
Writing is a core component in your child's academic success. Writing is used for all subjects too! Throughout the school year we will be learning about narrative stories and expository text. We will be writing many different times throughout the school year completing the writing process. Writing can also be connected to reading is so many ways!
Some fun ideas your child can practice writing skills at home:
- Creating and writing greeting cards
- Creating and writing holiday cards
- Writing the grocery list for you
- Start a journal
- Be an investigator! Write reports about an experiment
- Be an author! Write and illustrate their own fiction, nonfiction, biography, or autobiography book.
Grammar:
Grammar is what makes up our writing! We practice skills like capitalization, punctuation, and complete sentences. We are also learning parts of speech, like nouns and verbs. Improving your child's grammar skills will help them be successful when they write.
Some fun ideas your child can practice grammar skills at home:
A writer, always rereads their writing to check their work. After they complete a writing activity, make sure they finish it off with applying their grammar skills.
Some good questions to ask are:
Does it sound good?
Can my reader understand what I am telling or explaining?
Did I revise and edit my writing?
Revise their writing
* Add words or sentences to add more detail or description
* Remove unnecessary words or sentences the do not make sense
* Move words or sentences in another spot that would fit better
* Substitute words (Example: instead of happy, try thrilled or instead of sad, try dissappointed)
Edit their writing
* Capitalize beginning of sentences, names, places, titles, dates, and so much more
* Usage of words to make sure there is a who/what and a doing/describing part to every sentence
* Punctuation must be perfect so make sure there is one at the end of every sentence . ! ?
* Spelling can be tricky so use a dictionary
Word Study:
Word Study is similar to a traditional spelling list of words. However, what makes it different, is that the word study words will follow a spelling principle. The goal is for students to learn, practice, and apply the spelling principle in their writing. A new list of words is generated each week. At the beginning of the week, a lesson is taught introducing the spelling principle and words. Throughout the week, students will practice the words a new way each day in class . At the end of the week, students will take a test over the list of words.
Some fun ideas your child can practice word study skills at home:
Practice spelling words by:
- Spelling words aloud as they see them in a store or restaurant
- Write words in different color crayons and markers
- Cut out letters from a magazine or newspaper and spell out the words
- Get messy and write the words in shaving cream on a table
Social Studies:
Social Studies is taught throughout the week. We will learn all kinds of information from maps to founding fathers! Most of our work is recorded in a journal that will be sent home at the end of the school year. We will also be completing projects in class throughout the year.
Some fun ideas your child can practice social studies skills at home:
- Make a map of your house
- Ask which direction your a driving or walking (N, S, E, W)
- Talk about your family's culture
- Talk about traditions you do with your friends and family
- Point out community leaders from our city
- Have your child read a newspaper