Mrs. Sperry & Mrs. Epstein s Third Grade Class Welcome to Back to School Night
Welcome to Third Grade! Welcome to third grade! We are extremely excited for a fun and productive school year. We would like to spend some time discussing life in classroom 69!
Our Goals To give students the academic and social skills needed to progress to fourth grade. To provide a supportive and fun classroom environment. To help students make new friends and discover new interests.
Cube System Each student is given 10 cubes that are the same color for the entire school year. The expectation is that students will retain their 10 cubes by following the class rules for appropriate behavior and work. We will remove one cube each time the student does not follow the class rules for appropriate behavior and class assignments/activities. We will explain to the student what rule they did not follow in the hope that they will remember next time.
Cube System At the end of each week, we will count the cubes on each student s desk. Students who have 8-10 cubes at the end of the week will get to go to the prize box. Students who have 6-7 cubes at the end of the week will receive no prize. Students who have 5 cubes or less will not get a prize and will get a note or a phone call home. Note must be signed and returned. At the start of each week, students begin again with 10 cubes.
Parent/Teacher Conferences On your child s desk is a conference sheet, please fill it out so we have an idea what day and time you would prefer your conference in October. You can leave it with us this evening. Please return all forms to us by Wednesday, September 24 th.
Daily Snack Daily snack is important. Please try to send in a healthy snack. Our lunch is at 11:50.
Birthdays It is also fun to celebrate birthdays in class. If you would like to send something in for your child please let us know. You are welcome to come in and celebrate with us as well. If you want to bring juice, we prefer juice boxes to avoid spills. There are 17 students
Class Subjects The subjects we cover in third grade are: Reading, Writing and Spelling Math Science Social Studies
Science Marking Period 1 topics: Types of Living Things Types of Plants Types of Animals Living Things Depend on One Another
Social Studies Marking Period 1 topics: Citizenship Geography
Reading Workshop Model based off of Columbia University Teachers College Reading & Writing Project
Reading Workshop Some of the areas we will be covering in Reading Workshop this year are: Series & Mystery Book Clubs Non-Fiction Reading/Expository Text Social Issues Biographies
Writing Workshop Model based off of Lucy Calkins Writing Workshop & Columbia University Teachers College Reading & Writing Project
Writing Workshop Some of the areas we will be covering in Writing Workshop this year are: Realistic Fiction Informational Writing Persuasive Speeches, Petitions & Editorials Baby Literary Essays Fairy Tales Poetry
High Frequency Word Assessment All students will be taking the High Frequency Word Assessment. This assessment consists of 200 words which are grouped into 8 lists (25 words on each list). We have already completed the first round of assessments. The second round will happen in November. All students will receive a copy of the high frequency words so they can review in time for the next round of assessments.
Math Workshop Use of the Go Math series and other supplementary materials
Math Workshop Units/Topics covered in 3 rd grade: Developing Strategies for Addition and Subtraction Exploring Equal Groups Developing Multiplication and Understanding Area Understanding Unit Fractions Using Fractions in Measurement and Data Addition and Subtraction Problems in Measurement Solve Problems Involving Shapes Relationship Between Multiplication and Division Solve Multiplication and Division Problems
Assessments Math, Science and Social Studies Assessments will always be sent home. For literacy and writing, assessments are both formal and informal. Math assessments are also often unannounced and students are assessed on an on-going basis. Assessments will be sent home in an assessment folder. The folder needs to be signed and returned and the assessments can be kept at home.
Homework Homework will be given every evening. All homework is written in the planner. Reading, Math and Spelling homework will generally be assigned every evening. Science and Social Studies homework will also be given at times, especially when an assessment is near. On occasion, homework may be assigned on weekends. We do check their planners daily to ensure that they have written down their homework and also to check for any notes from you. Parents are to check and initial the planner each evening once the homework has been completed. Missing homework and unsigned planners contribute to losing cubes and possible loss of recess.
Homework In the event that there is an emergency at home or a student cannot complete their assigned homework for any reason, please let us know. We understand that sometimes these things cannot be helped. The student will be given an extension to complete the homework assignment. Most especially, please advise us if your student is having difficulty with an assignment so that an extension may be granted and we can review the material with your child.
Contact Us Please feel free to contact us at any time. The best way to contact us is by email or a note in the planner. Mrs. Sperry - jsperry@franklinboe.org Mr. Epstein - depstein@franklinboe.org
Let s Have a Great Year!