Transcript WELCOME TO THIRD GRADE

What you need to know to help your child have a
positive third grade experience.
Third grade is a big step.
 No longer learning to read but reading to learn
 Emphasis on problem solving
 Development of language, both written and oral
 Development of organizational skills
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At school
At home
 Learning to be more independent
ORGANIZATION AT SCHOOL
 Binder – contains homework assignment notebook
and home/school folder
 Each day all assignments are copied from the board to
the notebook
 All homework materials go into home pocket of folder
 Backpack – the binder and all necessary books are
packed before the end of the day
 Every morning – Each student unpacks backpack,
removes from binder all homework, notes, etc. from
home/school folder and files in the appropriate place.
CLASSROOM POLICIES
 Children should be at school by 8:00 after having a
good breakfast to organize their work for the day.
 Students who arrive late (after 8:10) must sign in at the
office accompanied by a parent.
 Good attendance is extremely important; please keep
absences to a minimum.
 If absent, pick up work at the office after 2:00.
 All extended absences due to vacation travel need to be
approved by Mr. Pacelli.
ORGANIZATION AT HOME
 EVERYDAY a parent checks the homework assignment
notebook and home/school folder.
 After homework is completed STUDENT returns
homework to school pocket of folder.
 Almost all homework problems can be solved if the
parent and child consistently follow the above steps.
 If your child is not arriving home with the necessary
materials, write a note to the teacher.
ORGANIZATION AT HOME
 Develop a homework schedule that works for your
family
 Set aside one place for working on homework
 This year most homework is for practice of skills
taught in school
 Students work independently – parents may check it –
let me know if you are helping by circling the problem
Some more about homework
 It takes longer in the fall since your child is adjusting
to a new situation. It should take less time as the year
progresses.
 If your child is spending more than an hour most
nights after mid-October, we need to talk.
 All homework will be completed in an acceptable
fashion.
 Homework that is incorrect or unacceptable will be
sent home with an explanation on how to redo it
correctly.
And even more about homework
 Missing homework receives a homework reminder
slip.
 Slip must be signed by a parent after seeing the newly
completed work, and the slip and homework will be
returned the next day.
 Any homework missing more than 2 days will be done
at a time the teacher assigns during school.
 All assignments, workbooks, and tests must be revised
until acceptable.
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN
PARENT AND TEACHER
 The Friday Folder – main line of communication
 Each week we send home all graded assignments from the
previous week.
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This folder is your best way of determining your child’s pattern of
academic success.
Please take the time over the weekend to look at this folder WITH
your child
 Praise successes, note areas of weakness, make any comments you
think the teacher needs to know.
PARENT SIGN AND RETURN on Monday morning.
 Handwritten notes, e-mail, call the office. I’ll get back to
you as soon as I can. Conferences can be set up for issues
serious in nature.
MATH in THIRD GRADE
 Singapore Math is our program.
 It uses problems to reinforce a range of skills and
understandings.
 It uses higher-order questions and more advanced
text.
 We’ll be covering less topics, but in more depth.
 Whole numbers, fractions, measurement, geometry, and
data analysis
 Textbook and workbook are the major materials we
use.
READING
 MacMillan Treasures – same as second grade
 Materials include textbook, practice book, spelling book
 Reading is taught in whole group
 Reading skills are developmental.
 Not all children progress at the same rate.
 Stories will be read in class on Tuesday and read again as
homework for Tuesday evening using comprehension
questions to help focus. This will reinforce comprehension
skills and understanding of the story.
 The Home-School Connection is a supplemental material
sent home with vocabulary and spelling lists as well as skills
for the week’s story.
READING
 Scholastic News with its skill building questions is a part of
our program. Stories are introduced in class then
completed independently at home.
 Reading Genre Challenge - Students will independently
read ten different genres through the school year and
report on them, either orally or in writing. Fun theme days
will occur at various times through the year to celebrate the
students’ progress in the reading challenge.
 Please encourage your child to complete the books and
presentations by the assigned day or they cannot
participate in our fun-filled theme day.
MORE READING
 NOVEL STUDY with Mrs. Staley
 Six novels read in-class throughout the year
 Mrs. Staley reads aloud to the students who each have a
copy of the novel.
 Focus is on vocabulary development, use of words in
context, character development, plot and theme.
 It’s an extension of reading skills taught in the
classroom.
 Journal writing gives students an opportunity to respond
and react to the stories as it pertains to them while
developing their expressive language.
LANGUAGE ARTS
 Includes Wordly Wise, spelling, grammar,
handwriting, expressive language
 Assignments and formal tests are used to measure
achievement in these areas
 Journal writing, expressive writing, letter writing, and
poetry are the different genres used to develop writing
skills.
OTHER AREAS OF STUDY
 Science
 Mrs. Calahane will be teaching at the Soler Science
Center
 Social Studies
 Mrs. Alexander will be teaching topics in American
history using the American Girl Series. Map skills will
also be covered.
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
 Parents, please make sure your child knows in the
morning how he/she is getting home each day
 Send a note if your child is going to be picked up by
someone other than the usual person
 Parents, please keep track of the assigned dates for
after-school clubs. Fill out the club selection sheets
each week. I must send your child to the selected
activity unless I receive a note advising of a change.
This is for your child’s safety.
HOMEWORK CLUB
 Runs Monday though Thursday excluding half days
 From 2:20 until 3:00
 Quiet supervised time for students to get homework
done
 Extra help is available
 Pickup is at 3:00 at the lower school circle, but if you
need to pick up your child earlier, you must come to
the classroom.
FINAL THOUGHTS
 We have high expectations for all our students in the
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areas of academics, organizational skills, and social
behaviors.
We expect all the children to grow in each of these
areas as the year progresses.
Our classroom manner is fair and firm.
We believe children learn best in a classroom that
offers structure and guidance.
We want our students to be happy, feel safe, and be
willing to take academic risks to increase their
knowledge and skills.