July 31, 2008

Dear Parents and Children,
   
        Welcome to Third Grade! Please read carefully through the following  pages and keep them handy throughout the year.  If you ever have any questions about anything, please let me know.  I feel that open communication between teachers and parents is a vital key to the success of our children.

        We will be completing much of our work in class, but homework should be expected most evenings.  I feel that it is important for us to work together so that these skills are reinforced at home.  However, if your child is spending too much time on them, let me know.  I feel that it is important for children to enjoy other aspects of family life, so I don’t want the homework to interfere with that type of growth.

       Mondays will be important, as many items will be arriving home with your child.  First, corrected papers will be handed back and taken home in the “Monday” folder.  Please review these with your child in order to continue reinforcing skills taught the week before.  The “Monday” folder should be signed on the appropriate space and returned the next day.  Also, the week's spelling list will come home so your child will have a copy of the words.  Finally, I will send a letter to you each week included in the folder.  This letter will include activities for the week, upcoming tests, memory verse, and any other important information that you will need.  If for some reason you don’t receive one, please let me know by Tuesday.

      Throughout the year I send home forms from a variety of book clubs.  One of my joys is the gift of reading and I take full advantage of these companies that provide books at a fairly affordable price to build up my own children’s library, as well as my classroom library. These will go home on Mondays, and I would like them returned by Friday of that week.  Once I send them in, it usually takes a week to receive the books.  Also, you may pay by cash or check (made out to the particular club).

        I am really looking forward to third grade this year and working with you and your child.  May God bless us as we embark on another wonderful school year at Christ Lutheran.

                                Mrs. Kelly


                                                          SUMMARY OF THIRD GRADE SUBJECTS
   
Religion and Memory Work
We will be using the Concordia Publishing House Religion series.  Most of the work will be done in class, as well as occasional quizzes over the content. Memory work will be sent home each Monday and will be recited to me on Thursday.  Please make sure that your child is ready every week for their memory work.  Incomplete memory work is equivalent to a missing assignment.

Reading/Language/Phonics
    Third grade focuses this content area through the use of a basal reader and chapter books.  We will alternate between the two of these throughout the year.  This will help get the children focused on reading chapter books and to continue to foster a lifelong enjoyment of reading.  We will incorporate writing and language skills into the novels.  We will also learn about organizing and writing good paragraphs and stories.

Handwriting
     We will be working to master cursive writing this year.  We will use a scripture-based workbook to teach and provide practice in writing the letters and learning to make correct connections.  I will expect them to be completing all of their work in cursive by midyear.

Spelling
    Spelling words for the week are tested on Friday.  We will practice the words in each unit by completing work in the workbook as well as practice their words through handwriting and alphabetizing.  Please practice daily at home.

Social Studies
    Our theme is communities in the United States and around the world.  There will be several opportunities for us to use trade books that relate to each unit and supplement the Social Studies curriculum.
    Textbook reading will take place in class, but do expect assignments and tests as they come up through each unit. Study strategies and note taking skills will be taught in each lesson.

Science
    We will be exploring a variety of topics using the science book and other resources.  Again, we will do most of the work at school, but there will be times when assignments come home, as well as preparing for tests.

Fun Friday
     Every Friday the 3rd-5th graders have an opportunity to participate in Fun Friday.  This is a weekly reward for those students who have turned in all of their homework and those who have shown responsible behavior in the classroom throughout the week.

                                                                                Star of the Week

    Each week a different third grader will be highlighted as a “Star of the Week”.  Your child will have an assigned week; refer to the sheet below. If you would like to create your own poster, please do! Have fun and be creative on your week! Below is a tentative schedule for the year.

 Sept. 8    Quincy                Nov. 10    Maya

Sept. 15    Izaiah               Nov. 17    McKenna
                                       
Sept. 22    Kacie                Dec. 1    Keseanna

Oct. 6    Geno                     Dec. 8    Angel

Oct. 14    Tony                   Jan. 12    Jalen

                                               
Oct. 20    Brooklyn            Jan. 19    Josiah  

                                                                 

Oct. 27    Deloris                              
                      
Nov. 3   Kadaja  


                                                                     

                                                              Accelerated Reading in Third Grade

    Accelerated Reading really picks up in third grade.  Every quarter children set their reading goals for the grading period.  If they attain three out of four of their point goals for the year, plus meet the minimum percentage correct (85%) on their AR tests, they will earn the AR field trip at the end of the year.  AR also is a part of the overall reading grade for each grading period.

    I  monitor individual reading ranges continually, and each quarter, if not sooner, adjust it according to their performance.  This range lets them know what reading level books they should choose at the library, and is a comfortable range for their individual reading ability.
   
    Third grade students are responsible for logging in all of their reading in their own AR log.  This log should be brought home daily for home reading.  I strongly suggest they get at least 20 minutes of AR reading at home a day.  The opening part of each school day is devoted to uninterupted AR reading.

   Students are also responsible for notifying me when they are ready for an AR test(s).  I monitor individual progress and will indicate these percentages on weekly letters to keep you informed.  Please check the weekly TOPS reports that will come home with the Monday papers.

   
                                                                                      Fun Friday
                                                                                 (Fridays 2:15-2:55)

Fun Friday requirements:

1.    A student must have appropriate behavior during the school week (3 or fewer behavior checks).

2.    All schoolwork must be turned in on time for the week.
       This includes memory work assignments and completing the morning routine work daily.

3.    A student must meet or exceed the minimum requirements for weekly goals on Accelerated Reader.

4.    Detentions during the week will exclude a student from Fun Friday.

5.    In other situations, Fun Friday will be granted or denied at the teacher’s discretion.

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            3rd Grade Supplies:

    2 boxes of crayons
   
    2 plastic folders
   
    1 plastic folder with clips   

    scissors

    yellow highlighter

    glue

    2 dozen pencils

    ruler
                   
    gym shoes           

     3 boxes of kleenex

      hand sanitizer

      erasers

     zippered pencil bag

     3 wide lined spiral notebooks

     colored pencils

     Bible