3RD Grade Curriculum Night
2014-2015
Mary E. Bryant Elementary
rd
3
Grade Goals
 To give your child the
academic and social skills
needed to successfully progress
toward 4th grade
 To provide a supportive, fun, &
safe classroom environment
while promoting the highest
possible student achievement
“The Florida Standards will help our
students reach their fullest potential
by promoting a deeper level of
critical thinking and problem solving
that is necessary to be competitive
in today’s job market.”
http://www.flstandards.org
Orientation Highlights:
 Grade Equivalencies
 ELA- English Language Arts
 Battle of the Books
 Focus on using Math Strategies
 Investigations in Science
 STEM Fair within the classroom
 Social Studies builds good citizens
 Nightly Homework expectations
 How YOU can help!
Grade Equivalencies
E=
S=
A (90-100%)
B (80-89%)
C (70-79%)
N= (60-69%)
U= (<59%)
 Multiple forms of assessments are utilized
 Grades are not averaged; trends are
considered
 Progress Alerts - mid point of each 9 week
period
 Conference Nights - Oct 16th & Mar 26th
Levels of Achievement
• OL = On-level (receiving instruction on
a third grade level 50% or more of the
time) which is the NORM
• AL = Above-level (receiving instruction
on a fourth grade level or above, 50%
or more of the time) is a very rare
EXCEPTION
• BL = Below-level (receiving instruction
on a second grade level or below,
50% or more of the time)
Reading Workshop (ELA)
• 120 minutes focusing on reading,
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writing, speaking and listening
Read Alouds, Shared, Guided,
Independent & Close Reading
Student Response Journals
Use “Journeys” text and other varied
resources
Balance of fiction and nonfiction, Time
for Kids, & other genres to prepare for
FSA (Florida Standard Assessment)
Testing
Evidence is Critical
 Close reading practice ensures that
students find evidence within the text
 Students practice good test taking
strategies by marking up the text
 Expectations have increased beyond
“right there” answers into the ability to
compare and contrast multiple texts
 Greater emphasis on nonfiction
Battle of the Books
Title
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Competition in Spring prepares our students through
exceptional literature...
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Guinea Dog
Alvin Ho: Allergic to …
I Survived: Sinking of the Titanic
The Lemonade War
The World According to Humphrey
The Miraculous Journey of E. Tulane
Fortune’s Magic Farm
The City of Ember
Author
Patrick Jennings
Lenore Look
Lauren Tarshis
Jacqueline Davies
Betty Birney
Kate DiCamillo
Suzanne Selfors
Jeanne DuPrau
Level
3.7
3.8
3.9
4.1
4.2
4.4
4.6
5.0
Writing Workshop
• Embedded within120 minutes of ELA
• Lessons include Process, Crafts and
Conventions
• Teacher-directed as well as student
chosen topics
• Informative, Narrative, Opinion, and
Reader’s Response
• May include short Research/Technology
• Incorporated throughout the curriculum
Word Study
Traditional weekly spelling tests are
being replaced by research-based
practices
Weekly practice is done within the
classroom concentrating on spelling
patterns
Assessment will take place within
normal classroom writing activities
Go Math
• Focus on offering various
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strategy options
Frequent use of manipulatives
Journals = explain thinking
Solidify mastery of addition and
subtraction facts
Expectation for mastery of
strategies in multiplication and
division
Think Central provides online
practice and resources
Math Complexity
Assessment rarely involves simple
computation…
Careful reading of the word problem is
essential!
1. Select the pertinent information
2. Analyze the question (often multi-step)
and explain thinking using correct
vocabulary and evidence
3. Complete the computation
4. Check work! (Accuracy/Efficiency)
Nat Geo Science
• Frequent investigations
using tools and inquiry skills
• Textbook is accessible on-line
• Appropriate use of vocabulary is
essential within short responses
• Design Challenge Mondays use
engineering process, and students
will be expected to reflect on
prototypes and make revisions
STEM Fair
 3rd graders are put into groups based
upon interest in similar topics
 Explanation of thinking is essential
through thorough written responses
 Parents will be asked to help find
research and send in supplies
 May need SERVE volunteers to assist with
trials that are done in class
 Data logs are judged
 December 4 = STEM Fair Night
Social Studies
 Geography and Culture
of
N. America and Caribbean
 Primary focus on Government,
Civics, and Economics
 Often integrated across the
curriculum
 Utilize other resources (Time for Kids
and Journeys reading series)
 May integrate research skills
Student Expectations
• Complete all classroom assignments
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in a timely manner
Complete all homework
assignments carefully, neatly and
thoroughly
Be responsible for organizational
binder and contents daily
Be responsible for reading NIGHTLY
Follow classroom rules: respectful,
responsible, and caring attitudes
AGP
• Gifted services for qualified students
with specific Educational Plans
• Students receive core “plus”
instruction within a separate
classroom for Math and Science
• Renzulli and IIM assignments provide
enrichment opportunities to
accomplish annual goals
• Email Mrs. Fink with questions
Agendas
• Each student has an organizational
binder (STAR binder, HERO binder,
POSSE binder, etc.) as a
communication tool
• Please check and sign daily re:
notes/info regarding behavior,
upcoming events, etc.
• Each student is responsible for
recording his/her daily homework
assignments
Homework Policy
 Expected timeframe = within 30 min.
 Student’s responsibility to turn it in
 Unfinished class work may occasionally be sent
home for completion
 Homework is not graded, but it is checked for
effort and completion
 YES, you may support your child with homework
as necessary!
 Students are expected to read for an
additional 20-30 minutes each day
Testing
•Not FCAT, but FSA --- also expect
Stanford 10 NRT
•Students practice practical test
taking strategies to carefully read and
analyze test questions
•For example questions go to
www.fsaassessments.org
How Can YOU Help?
•Please regularly check
•Agenda & organizational binder
•Homework
•Newsletters
•"Take home Tuesday" fliers
•Progress reports
• Please support your child’s nightly
reading habits
•Think Central has a link to students math
and reading text books which can help
review concepts
Volunteer Opportunities
 Fall Festival November 14th
 Great American Teach-In November 20th
 Grandparents Read-to-me Day January 16th
 Field Trip- Glazer Children’s Museum February 27th
**All volunteers must have a completed and
approved SERVE form on file each year prior
to the event.
Questions/Comments?
Feel free to write notes in Student
Agenda; however, the BEST WAY to
reach the teacher is via email since
classroom phones do not have outside
lines
firstname.lastname@sdhc.k12.fl.us
Thank you for your support!