Meet the Teacher Night
Sept. 3, 2015
Welcome to Third Grade!
Introduction – I am Mrs. Karen Baldacci. This is my 21st year teaching in the primary grades (K-3rd). After earning
my Bachelor Degree from Cal Poly Pomona, I obtained my Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential and Master
Degree in Education from the University of LaVerne. I have also raised four children, and my husband and I live
here in the Charter Oak community. I am thrilled to be teaching your child this year!
Class Mission
1. Students will master the third grade standards and the skills and concepts necessary for a successful
transition to fourth grade.
2. Our classroom will be a safe place to learn both physically and emotionally.
3. Students will exhibit classroom behavior that is conducive to learning.
4. Students will develop a desire to learn.
5. Students will become responsible, productive members of our classroom community where honesty,
kindness, perseverance, and self-control will be encouraged and valued.
Curriculum
Math
We will be following the approved California State Common Core Standards. Our math curriculum is GoMath!
Third grade topics include Addition and Subtraction, Interpreting and Representing Data, Multiplication and
Division, Fractions, Time, Length, Volume, Mass, Perimeter, Area, and Geometry. Information on how to log into
the Go Math! Think Central website was sent home earlier. Students will be tested at the end of each chapter.
In Accelerated Math and Math Facts in a Flash students work at their own pace and at their individual level. Log
in information was sent home earlier. Students should be passing approx. 45 AM objectives per trimester. They
should be passing the addition and subtraction levels in Math Facts in a Flash as a review, then passing the
levels of multiplication and division facts. These math facts should be practiced nightly!
Language Arts
We will be using the CA Treasures program and adapting it to meet the new Common Core Standards. More
inquiry and more non-fiction reading will be included. We will continue to work on comprehension and fluency. In
writing we will work on developing various types of writing using good paragraphs with a main idea and supporting
details.
Weekly tests will be given in reading, writing, spelling, and sentence dictation.
The Accelerated Reader program includes daily silent reading in the classroom and students taking tests on
books read.
Students may visit the library daily and 2 books may be taken home. Students should be reading a mix of fiction
and non-fiction at their reading level. A minimum of 60 AR points are expected this year (20 per trimester)
however, I have challenged the students to reach 100 points! Students are also expected to earn an average of
85% correct on their AR tests.
We will introduce both cursive writing and keyboarding.
We will work on speaking and listening skills through discussion and oral reports. Our daily “read alouds” will also
help students develop their listening skills.
Social Studies and Science
In Science, students will study Life Science – Living in Different Environments, Physical Science – Energy, Light,
Matter, and Earth Science-Space.
In Social Studies, they will learn about geography, Native Americans, Communities, and Citizenship.
Both science and social studies will be integrated with language arts and will involve some special projects.
Computer Technology, Music, Art, and PE are also part of our curriculum.
Homework
The Homework Folder should be brought to school each day. Papers from class and office are sent home in it.
Please clean it out daily. Homework is assigned Monday-Thursday and is due the next day. It is aligned with the
curriculum and is age appropriate. Some special projects, book reports, and poems may also be assigned.
Report Cards/Conferences/Testing
State and Benchmark tests will be administered. Report Cards and Progress Reports will be sent home each
trimester. Conferences will take place at the end of September. You may sign up today for a preferred day and
time.
Classroom Discipline
Behavior expectations, have been sent home. Rewards and incentives will be used as motivation throughout the
year to recognize academic progress and good citizenship. Yellow cards are used to mark missing homework and
poor classroom behavior, Yellow card folders will be sent home weekly to be signed. Students will participate in
our Fun Friday activity every two weeks if they have no more than 3 signatures on their yellow card.
Other
Newsletters will be sent home as needed to keep you informed. My website is
www.teacherweb.com/ca/glenoakelementary/mrsbaldacci. My email is mrsb.myteacher@gmail.com. Please
return the volunteer form and indicate if you can help with any of the listed activities.
Questions?
Thank you for being here!
I am looking forward to a great year!