Welcome to
Third Grade!
2015-2016
Teachers you should know:
Mrs. Jewell – Room 25
Mrs. Winhoven – Room 24
Mrs. Wolbert – Room 23
Ms. Price– Room 22
Thinking and Academic Success
Skills (TASS)
Creative Thinking Skills
•
•
•
•
Fluency **
Flexibility **
Originality (quarter 3)
Elaboration (quarter 4)
Critical Thinking Skills
• Analysis (quarter 1)
• Synthesis **
• Evaluation (quarter 2)
Academic Success Skills
• Collaboration (quarter 1)
• Metacognition (quarter 2)
• Intellectual Risk Taking
(quarter 3)
• Effort/Motivation/Persistence
(quarter 4)
**focused on at different grade levels
Reading
Students will be able to:
•Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to
support comprehension.
•Read & comprehend literature strategically and
independently.
•Read & comprehend informational text strategically
and independently.
•Acquire appropriate vocabulary.
•Demonstrate command of grade-level conventions.
Writing
Students will be able to:
•Write opinion pieces and support a point of view.
•Write informative texts to examine a topic &
convey ideas.
•Write narratives to develop real or imagined
experiences or events.
•Develop and strengthen writing as needed.
•Use technology to produce and publish writing.
Spelling

Students will have a bi-weekly spelling focus.

Spelling packets will be sent home on Mondays, and
due on Fridays. Please review and sign the Spelling
packet.

Students are expected to read for 20 minutes each
night and fill out the attached Reading Log.

Spelling tests are given on Fridays.

Spelling is a part of the Writing Grade, under Use of
Language. We take spelling tests under consideration,
but also take a close look at how students spell during
the writing process.
Science
Students will investigate:
•Interactions between living things and the
natural environment.
•Earth’s natural resources and how they impact
human decisions.
•How physical processes can affect an object’s
properties.
•How a force is required to change an object’s
motion.
•Relationships between heat energy and objects.
Social Studies
Students will study:
•Democratic principles and responsibilities of U.S.
citizens.
•How supportive communities are developed.
•Relationships between goods and services.
•Infer and explain characteristics of different
cultures.
•Compare places & regions using geographic
characteristics.
Math
Students will be able to:
•Develop, demonstrate, & justify strategies for
multiplication and division.
•Solve problems involving all four operations.
•Demonstrate multiple representations of fractions
and equivalent fractions.
•Compare fractions.
•Solve measurement problems.
•Analyze properties of two-dimensional shapes.
Math Facts

Math fact tests are given every Monday.

Students are given up to 5 minutes to
complete test.

Each student progresses at his or her own
pace.
Students have their own
Google accounts.
 Students can access
documents and email from
home.
 Chrome books are used to
enhance and extend the
learning experience.
 Please return the
Student/Parent
Chromebook Contract by
Friday, September 11!!

Grading Policy

Two sides of the report card:
 academic success
 learning skills

Grades are based on multiple & varied measures
over time.

Grades are based on the student’s level of
proficiency on the measurement topics.

Grades do not take into account effort,
attendance, behavior, and attitudes. These areas
are noted in the learning skills section.
Grading Rubric
Words
Wow, you
did more
than
expected!
You did
great work.
You got it!
You are
getting the
idea, but
need some
more
practice.
You need to
improve and
ask questions
Independent
Practice and
Homework
Graded Work,
Quizzes, Tests, and
Report Card
ES
√+
P
√
I
√-
N
Report Card
Report Card
Awards Assembly
• Soaring Eagle Award
All P’s or ES’s
• Sailing Eagle Award
All DEM on both Work Habits (not including TASS grades)
• Ascending Eagle Award
Any student who has demonstrated considerable growth
• Arts Award
All P’s in Art, Music, and P.E.
Homework Policy
Red homework folders will be brought home every
night.
 Math homework will be sent home nightly and should
be turned in the next morning. Math homework will be
reviewed in class and returned in homework folders.
 Reading /Spelling homework packet will be sent home
on Mondays, and must be returned with a parent
signature on Friday.
 Homework will be graded based on whether it is
returned on time and complete. This grade is indicated
on the Learning Skills section of the report card.
 Students are expected to read for 20 minutes each
night.

Thursday Folders
Include all graded work, class work, and
important notices.
Review materials with your child.
Initial and return this folder each Friday.
Behavior Expectations
Respectful, Responsible, & Determined Learners
PBIS – Positive Behavior Incentive System
Consequences:
Student/teacher conference
Student/parent/teacher conference
Administration involvement
PBIS Tickets
Respectful, Responsible, Determined
Students can earn tickets from specials, hallway,
lunch & recess, completing weekly homework
Full tickets can be turned in for a prize
1 student from every class recognized at each
Town Meeting in front of whole school
Safety Patrol
These are some of the requirements a student needs to demonstrate in
order to be selected for a school safety patrol. These requirements
must be demonstrated consistently:
 Respectful to everyone, including students & staff
 Responsible
 Organized and prepared for learning
 Determined
 Want to help others be safe and follow the school rules
 Demonstrating work habits:
 Follow the school rules
 Complete all assignments on time
 Be a leader and problem solver
Birthdays
Due to increased food allergies, for the safety of all
students, treats will no longer be passed out in the
classroom or in the cafeteria.
In classrooms on their birthday, students will
receive a free homework pass and a birthday “book”
from classmates.
Parent Responsibilities
As parents, we are respectful, responsible, &
determined when we:
Review homework nightly and the Thursday folder.
Contact the teacher about concerns (and praise!).
Attend PTA meetings & school-sponsored events.
Talk to your child about the school day.
Visit the Third Grade website periodically for
information and announcements.
https://sites.google.com/a/mcpsmd.net/third-grade-rocks-at-skr/