We're WILD about 3rd grade!
Welcome to the 2010-2011 Back
to School Night!
Ms. Herbert
Ms. Warek
Mrs. Teal
Mr. Hunter
Ms. Snedeker - UMD Student Teacher
Third Graders SOAR!
• Safe
• Organized
• Accountable
• Respectful
This year, students are aiming to SOAR all
around the school. If they break a classroom
rule, they will earn the letter that the rule
corresponds to. So, running in the classroom
would earn an S. Not turning in homework
earns an A.
Students are keeping track of their daily
SOAR progress. Please look for written
letters in their student planners daily.
"It Pays to Behave" - Positive behavior will
earn students "Falcon Bucks". Students have
the oppotunity to earn 1 "Falcon Buck" per
day; with each letter (SOAR) being worth 25
cents. "Pay Day" will be on Fridays.
Typical Day in
rd
3
grade
• 8:45 - 9:10 Arrival and morning work
• 9:10 - 10:20 Math
• 10:20 - 11:15 Reading
• 11:15 - 12:00 Art, Music, P.E. (Monday,
Wednesday, Friday) or Reading continued
(Tuesday & Thursday)
• 12:00 - 1:00 Lunch/Recess
• 1:05 - 2:00 Writing/Science/Social Studies
• 2:00 - 2:55 Writing/Science/Social Studies
• 2:55 - 3:00 SOAR reflecting and Homework
recording
What you need to know about....
MATH
• Each student has a math homework folder.
• Quizzes will be given every other week.
• Homework will be sent home Monday, Tuesday,
and Wednesday. It is due the next day.
• A problem of the week will be sent home weekly,
on Thursdays. It is due the following Monday.
• Please review basic facts with your 3rd graders!
Also, use the reference journal to help your child
prepare for quizzes.
A Typical 70 Minute Math
Block:
• Warm-Up/ Review Homework:10
minutes
• Whole Group Lesson:15 minutes
• Small Group Lessons/ Independent
Practice/ Math Centers:40 minutes
• Closure/ Pass Out Homework/ Exit
Cards:5 minutes
What you need to know about....
Reading and Writing
• Students will be given small group instruction based on
current reading levels. These groups are fluid and can change
at any time.
• Please make sure your child is reading 20 minutes each
night. Have them read aloud from time to time to ensure
they have chosen an appropriate book.
• Please see your Back 2 School Night Packet for suggested
discussion questions. Students will be assigned a weekly
Quick Write. It will be given on Thursday and is due the
following Monday. They are to write for at least a FULL 15
minutes.
• Additional reading/writing homework will be assigned in
class. Please check the student planner nightly to check for
these assignments. Books that come home in bags are to be
returned the next day in the same bag.
What you need to know about....
Spelling
• Twice a month a pre-test will be given on the specific spelling pattern to determine
students' proficiency. Their spelling words will depend on how they perform on
the pre-test.
• In addition to the spelling pattern words, students will have 5 high frequency
words to study each cycle.
• Students will use their Spelling Menu to practice their words at home. Encourage
your child to try different activities each week.
• The test will be given on the Friday of the second week. Students will be required
to use their words within the context of a sentence. They will be graded on
capitalization and punctuation and will only be graded on the words they studied,
even though they may have to write other words.
Homework
• Please check student planners daily for homework assignments,
long term projects and important announcements. Students are
expected to get their planners signed EVERY NIGHT!
• Reading: Students are expected to read any grade appropriate
book of their choice for at least 20 minutes each night.
Occasionally, students will be assigned additional reading
assignments directly correlated with reading instruction from the
day (check planner).
• Math: Students will receive a nightly math assignment directly
correlated with math instruction from the day (check planner).
• Spelling is completed in two week cycles. The first week is when
words/patterns are introduced in class, and the second week is
when the words are practiced at home for homework. Contracts
will be sent home every other Tuesday. Students use their
contracted words to complete 30 points from the Spelling Menu in
their Spelling Journal, due on the Thursday of the second week.
Spelling tests will be given every other Friday. Test results will be sent
home and corrections will be assigned on the following Monday.
• Problem of the Week & Quick Writes are assigned every Thursday,
and they are due by Monday, or he first day of the week. Students
are expected to complete these assignments in the corresponding
journals.
Ways that we communicate!
• E-mail - Please look for your child's teacher's E-mail in the
packet. Please allow us 48 hours to respond, as we are busy
bees! Please check out our websites:
– www.msherbert.yolasite.com
– www.mswarek.yolasite.com
– www.mrstealswebsite.yolasite.com
• Student planners - Students will be responsible for writing
homework assignments each night in a planner. Please
review the planner with your child and sign it nightly. We
may, and you can use the planner to send notes and
updates occasionally.
• Friday Folders and/or Homework Folders - Announcements
and graded/checked work will be sent home in weekly
Friday Folders. Nightly homework will be sent home in the
homework folder. Please review and empty with your child
each night.
• Please send a note or call the office (last minute) if your
child is going home a different way than usual. Don't rely on
e-mail for playdates and change of transportation.