Welcome!

Welcome to the third grade! My name is Hadley Smith, and I will be your child’s third grade teacher this year. I am very excited to support your child in their continued growth as a learner! I am looking forward to meeting and working with you and your child this year. Working together, we can provide a successful learning experience for your child. 

A little bit about me, I graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelors in Elementary Education and received my Elementary Teaching Certificate. Originally from Michigan, I just moved to Baltimore following the conclusion of the 2013-2014 school year. Last year, I taught fourth grade at Hardy Elementary School, in Michigan. At Hardy, I was also a "Girls on the Run" Coach. Prior to my position at Hardy, I completed a yearlong student teaching internship at Walled Lake Elementary, in the fifth grade. In addition, I spent my summer teaching summer school for the Walled Lake Consolidated School District, again in Michigan. As a summer school teacher, I taught grades 2-4. When I am not teaching, I love to read, travel, and run!

When your child enters our classroom, he/she can expect a safe and nurturing environment where all students are respected, valued, and contribute to our learning community.  Third grade is an important year for your child. This year, students will become more independent and responsible.  Children learn best when they are active participants in their learning.  Many opportunities will be provided for them to be creative and develop a love for learning. This kind of learning enhances self-esteem and independent thinking.

I have high, yet attainable, expectations for every student and myself.  Students will often be expected to work in collaborative groups, actively participate in discussion and discovery, and build from prior knowledge and relate ideas to everyday life.  It is very important to me that all students are challenged to reach their full potential.  I will work to create an environment where students feel encouraged to take intellectual risks and engage themselves in the learning process.  I feel that such skills are vital for their future as lifelong learners.

An important goal that we will work on in our classroom is developing responsibility and organization.  Because I feel that it is critical that we work together on this, and no one knows your child better than you do, communication is key.  I will keep you well informed of your child's progress, and I encourage you to express any concerns or questions that you may have. I am always available before and after school, and also by e-mail and voice mail.

Class Blog:  http://room13classblog.blogspot.com

Communication between school and home is crucial. The primary avenue I will use to keep you informed about the learning of your child is through our class blog. The purpose of this website is to keep you informed about the happenings inside our classroom and provide you with opportunities to support your student's learning outside of school. Here, you will find helpful resources, information regarding curriculum, important classroom news, as well as an updated blog. With our class blog, it is my intention, to keep you informed about our current goals, learning, and progress throughout the year. Each day you can expect to see any homework posted as well as upcoming reminders. Please visit our blog frequently for the latest information on what we're doing in Room 13!

• To follow our blog:  Enter your email address in the "Follow by Email" box.  By doing this, you will receive an email with a link to the blog, every time I post.

I'm looking forward to a wonderful year of learning!

Thank you for your support,

Ms. Smith