Friday, November 18

Things to Note...
Please continue to remind your child to complete their homework and turn it in on time.  We do not grade them individually, but I do check them for completion every Friday.  There will be a homework grade on the report card that reflects the student's completion of homework on time.  Ask your child if they turned it in today!  (If they did not, they can bring it on Monday...but it is their responsibility to give it to me!)

If your child wants to participate in the Science Fair, please read this letter.  It is optional!  If they want to participate, have them let me know if they need a tri-fold poster board.  We have some at school that they can use.

Progress reports went home yesterday in Thursday folders.  Please remember that the best way to stay up-to-date on your child's progress is to continually check Home Access.  By the time the progress reports are printed, grades have already changed as I added new assignments, so Home Access is always the best way to get the most current information!  If you have any questions, please let me know at any time!

We are into our PBL (Project Based Learning) now, and are working hard as the Planet Protectors!  Ask your child what they're learning about conserving natural resources, and what solutions they plan to work on to reduce waste at our school.

Have a WONDERFUL, RESTFUL, Thanksgiving holiday!  I am very thankful for all of my students and all of your support of them from home.  I will see everyone back on November 28! :)


Curriculum Overview...
Math: Relating multiplication to division
Language Arts: Expository (main idea, text structures); PBL
Social Studies: Geography
Science: Force and motion


Mark Your Calendars...
11/21-11/25: No school (Happy Thanksgiving!)
12/6: School Picture Retakes
12/15: Class parties
12/16-1/2: No school!


Tip of the Week: Encouraging Deep Math Thinkers
I love the way RRISD encourages us to teach math.  It is based on developing number sense in students and helping them understand WHY numbers work the way they do before teaching them HOW to do steps in an algorithm.  This encourages them to discover meaning and create their own methods of problem solving, which will help them have much deeper understanding of numbers and computation.  Here is a snippet from Teaching Student Centered Mathematics Grades 3-5 by John Van de Walle:

Please encourage your children to think about different ways to solve math problems.  They should also always be showing their thinking with pictures or words on assignments and tests!

Friday, November 11

Things to Note...
It was another great week here in third grade.  We've worked hard to understand fractions, research Sweden for the International Children's Festival, discover how much material we use daily and what that means for natural resources...and more!

Please make sure that you're checking Home Access on a regular basis to see your child's grades.  If you see an "M" that means that your child is missing that assignment, and needs to complete/turn it in as soon as possible.  Progress reports for Q2 will go home next week.

There will be no spelling words next week, since we have Thanksgiving break the following week.  We will resume spelling with a new word list the week we return from break.

If your child is participating in the science fair, please read the attached letter regarding science fair. You may also visit Mrs. Rataj's science website for more information about the science fair.

Please be sure to visit the Book Fair in the library on 11/17 from 5:30-8:00 pm, which is the same night as our International Family Culture Night Celebration!

Here are the spirit wear days for next week's International Childrens Festival:

Have a great weekend!


Curriculum Overview...
Math: Relating multiplication to division
Language Arts: Expository (main idea, text features, procedural texts, etc.)
Social Studies: Government (three branches, levels-- local, state, federal)
Science: Natural resources; Soil formation


Mark Your Calendars...
11/14-11/18: International Children's Week
11/17: Holiday Luncheon; Book Fair 5:30-8 pm; International Family Culture Celebration 6-8 pm
11/21-11/25: No School (Thanksgiving break)



Tip of the Week: Scoring Guides

You may have noticed scoring guides coming home this week.  They are attached to most assignments and all tests.  They look something like this:

I create these scoring guides as a way to more clearly communicate the skills your child is working on, and their mastery of them, in addition to a number grade.  The 3rd grade standard the assignment/test focuses on are listed at the top, and the learning goals are listed in the chart.  If there is a check mark under the "Demonstrated?" column, then your child showed mastery of that goal.  If there is an X and a check mark, they sometimes showed they can do it, but maybe not all the time.  If there is an X in the column, they need to continue working toward mastery.

This will hopefully be valuable to you to see exactly what skills your child needs to continue practicing at home, as well as at school.  As always, let me know if you have any questions or concerns at any time!

eSlot Materials Needed

Parents,

For our Friday enrichment time (eSlot), some classes are in need of supplies.  Please see this document to view what is needed.  Ask your student what class they're in for eSlot, and please consider sending in something to help us make these experiences meaningful and fun!

Thank you!!

The 3rd Grade Team

Friday, November 4

Things to Note...
It was a great week!  I enjoyed being back, and it was a pleasure to get to know your children.  They are truly a fun, helpful bunch.  I look forward to continuing to learn more about them personally and academically in the coming weeks.

Thank you all for joining Class Dojo!  I hope you continue to check it daily to see the points your child is earning for doing great things in our class.  There is no way to lose points, just to earn them.  So, all points you see your child earn means that they stood out for doing something awesome!  Celebrate it with them, and use it as a conversation starter for how things are going in school.  If you notice your child not earning points for a few days, encourage them to look for ways to be a leader in our class.  Every 20 points your child earns, they will get to scan a QR code on our Treasure Tree as a reward for their hard work!  These codes will give students a prize-- things like extra computer time, a sweet treat, a homework pass, lunch in the classroom, help a teacher in the building, etc.  I will also use Dojo to send photos to you throughout the week...as often as I can!  

Report cards went home yesterday in Thursday folders.  If you haven't already please return the envelope to school.  The report card is yours to keep.  If you have any questions about the report card, please let me know and I will do my best to answer them with what I have observed so far from students.

Have a great weekend!


Curriculum Overview...
Math: Fractions (fourths, halves, thirds, sixths, eighths)
Language Arts: Expository; spelling test on Friday 11/11
Social Studies: Government (three branches, levels-- local, state, federal)
Science: Natural Resources


Mark Your Calendars...
11/10: 6-7 pm TAG Parent Information Meeting in cafeteria 
11/11: Veteran's Day Assembly 7:40 am (all veterans encouraged to attend!)
11/14-11/18: International Children's Week
11/17: Holiday Luncheon; Book Fair 5:30-8 pm
11/21-11/25: No School (Thanksgiving break)



Tip of the Week: Home Access
Have you checked Home Access lately?  This is the best way to stay informed about your child's grades.  Report cards and progress reports should never hold surprises because you have access to all reported grades at all times!  If you ever have questions about what you see, please do not hesitate to ask.

If you have not yet logged in to Home Access, click here to get set up.  If you have any issues, Chrissta Hinze in the front office is our building Home Access contact person, so she will be able to help you get logged in.