Third Grade Newsletter
April
News and Notes
April 2016
It is hard to imagine that we are nearly three quarters of the way through
the year. We are only about a month and a half away from our first SOL
test. The next few weeks will be very intense as we have a lot of
information to cover and review before we begin testing. We appreciate
anything you can do to help support your child through the next few
weeks.
We will be studying animals, plants and soils in Science – our last units of
the year and our Explorers unit – our final Social Studies unit of the year.
In math, we will be studying finishing up with time and measurement.
The end of the third quarter will be April 14th. The Planning, Records
and Conference day will be April 15th. Third Quarter Report Cards will
go home on April 27th. Please make sure to sign the slip at the bottom of
the last report card page and return it with the envelope.
Order forms for the school yearbook are also coming home this month.
We will be doing some third grade review assessments this month on the
computers to help prepare for SOL’s. These tests are intended for the
use of your child’s teacher in planning future instruction or remediation
lessons as well as preparing students to take SOL assessments online.
They consist of questions based on content studied throughout the year
so we know what we need to spend our time reviewing. They will also
prepare students for the technology enhanced questions that they will
encounter in their testing. We have been weaving in these types of
assessments all year to give students repeated experiences to ensure that
the SOL tests seem familiar to them. They are not assessments the
students can study for, but are a measurement of how well students have
learned content taught thus far. They also provide an opportunity to
practice test taking strategies in a testing environment.
After completing instruction in our final units, we will begin reviewing for
SOL’s and Performance Assessments. You will see class assignments that
revisit topics covered throughout the year. Please support your child in
completing these reviews and help them review at home with old
vocabulary from our science and social studies units or practicing math
problems. Dreambox offers good opportunities for students to review
math concepts at their level. Review activities can be turned into games
like a match game or bingo. Our SOL’s will be taken online this year. Our
testing schedule will be released when it is finalized.
Please remind your child to continue completing homework assignments
as they are important practice for the work being completed in class.
If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher.
Thank you,
The Third Grade Team
Academic Notes
In April, we will be studying the following:
Reading:
-Comprehension Strategies
-Predicting
-Sequencing
-Summarizing
-Making Inferences
-Writing story
summaries/retelling
-Reading Fluency
Writing:
-4-Square Writing Strategies
-Cursive
-Editing Strategies
Math:
- Probability Quiz – April 8th
- Time Test – April 20th
- Measurement Test – May 6th
Science:
- Animals Test – April 19th
- Plants and Soils Test – May
Social Studies:
- Explorers test – April 29th
Important Reminders
The Cafeteria needs to have all charges paid in full
by April 13th. No one will be allowed to charge
lunch after April 30th.
Upcoming Events
April 14th –
End of the Third Quarter
Children’s Center Family Science Night 6:00
April 15th –
Planning/Records/Conference Day
April 20th –
Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast
April 22nd –
Spring Picture Day
PTA Movie Afternoon
April 27th –
Report Cards go Home
April 29th –
PTA Variety Show
Mrs. Bolden’s Notes
This month we will work on our One to the World
and Animal projects in the computer lab.
As a reminder, to help students prepare for
classroom assessments, talk with them about their
vocabulary and have them use their words in
context to explain how what we are studying
relates to their world. This will help to ensure that
they not only understand the words but can apply
them to extension questions.
April Tip
During all breaks, it is important
to have your child read and
spend time reviewing concepts
so they stay fresh and focused
for their return to school.
April Vocabulary
Math
Analog
Digital
Calendar
Leap year
Social Studies
Christopher
Columbus
Juan Ponce de
Leon
Jacques Cartier
Christopher
Newport
Jamestown
Plymouth
Pilgrims
St. Augustine
Quebec
Explorer
Science
Plants
Roots
Stem
Leaves
Decade
Cells
Century
Simple plants
Fahrenheit
Seed
Degrees
Germinate
Thermometer
Seedling
Celsius
Seed coat
Yards
Photosynthesis
Feet
Chlorophyll
Inches
Soil
Miles
Humus
Centimeters
Topsoil
Decimeters
Subsoil
Meters
Bedrock
Kilometers
Clay
Millimeters
Loam
Ounces
Resource
Pounds
Conservation
Grams
Strip cropping
Kilograms
Contour plowing
Milliliters
Liters
Gallons
Quarts
Pints
Cups
****All content vocabulary for Science and Social Studies
for this year is available on our webpage in the Content Area
Study Materials Section.
Comments? Questions? Concerns?
School Phone: (571) 252-2940
Alaina.Smith@lcps.org
Kelli.bolden@lcps.org
Carolyn.knight@lcps.org
Michael.steed@lcps.org
Email Reminder
Please don’t use email for emergencies or last minute dismissal
changes. We don’t always get these messages before the end of the
school day. Please call the school instead so these messages are
received and handled in time.