Welcome Families! Every morning as your child arrives, they have “Morning Work” to complete. Your “Evening Work” is: 1. Find your child’s seat. Take a peek at his/her desk 2. Sign up for a Parent-Teacher Conference on the counter 3. Sign the movie permission sheets on the counter. 4. Sign up to bring goodies for a celebration on the cabinet (if you wish). 5. Read your child's letter to you and write your child a brief note on the paper provided. 6. Write me a note if there is anything you would like to discuss at another time. I am available most days from 8:45-9:10 and from 2:00-2:25. Thank you for coming! Linda

Welcome Families! Open House 2017-2018 Linda Sinforoso

Music – B & D PE – A, C,& E Art –F Our Schedule Specials Music – B & D PE – A, C,& E Art –F Enrichment B, E Morning Work Morning Meeting Reading Writing Social Studies/Science Lunch/Recess Word Work/Spanish Math Special Snack/Afternoon Meeting Read Aloud

When We Arrive Morning Work is independent work that reviews skills students have previously learned. When I return morning work after grading, if a section is marked “fix or finish”, I expect the students will complete that work.

Morning Meeting We begin each day with a greeting, sharing, and a cooperative activity. Social stories, math games, and vocabulary games can be a part of morning meeting.

Cooperative Activities We work together to solve problems, like Saving Fred.

Math Our focus: Place Value Addition & Subtraction Multiplication & Division Fractions Measurement Area & Perimeter Geometry Investigating Math Materials

Reader’s Workshop Reader’s Workshop is made up of several components including shared, independent, and guided reading. Shared Reading: We read a shared text and discuss various comprehension strategies. Shared picture books and Storyworks Jr. play an important part in our shared reading activities. We analyze the text using our strategies and schema.

Independent Reading Children read books of their choice (independently, with a partner or in a small group). For now I have been meeting with individual students to assess their reading. We discuss book selection, strategies for choosing a book, picking a book with a partner to facilitate discussion of literature. As students read they are responsible for locating vocabulary words, answering comprehension questions, responding to what they read, and making connections to their own lives.

Guided Reading Small Group or Guided Reading will occur weekly for some students, more often/daily for others. Students read a pre-selected text with me that is at their instructional level. Students read a text of their choice but work on understanding a comprehension strategy. We discuss strategies for comprehension, explore vocabulary, improve fluency, and decode unfamiliar text.

Writer’s Workshop The students begin the year by writing in their journals about people, events, or places that interest them or are important to them. They are also writing drafts of personal narratives in their journals. Mini-lessons introduce them to techniques and strategies writers use to gather ideas and write well. We are about to begin writing small seed stories that flow like a movie, not a summary of an event. This is hard work!

Types of Writing Throughout the year the class will experience many types of writing, including: Personal narrative On demand writing (to a prompt) Persuasive Poetry Fiction Expository/Report

Social Studies Will often be integrated with ELA. Topics explored include: Our Community: Rights & Responsibilities Indigenous People Geography Cultural Diversity Globalization Global Trade

Science Topics explored include: Weather & Climate Lifecycles & Traits Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems Forces & Interactions

State Tests 3rd grade takes NYS assessments in the Spring in ELA, & math. We will be preparing for the tests throughout the year by working on our normal daily math, reading and writing activities.

Homework Weekly assignments: Read daily, response due Friday Math review sheet due Friday Work Work – menu of activities – starting soon Occasional projects Please let me know if your child id having difficulty with an assignment Independent reading – as many minutes as students (and parents) wish. 15 -20 is a good goal. It is SO IMPORTANT to read daily!!!! Homework is checked for completion and understanding. Homework that is not done will be made up at snack time Check the web for assignments! You can always print a copy at home. http://www.newpaltz.k12.ny.us/Page/3935

Grades I grade holistically, looking at everything your child demonstrates in class including, but not limited to: projects, tests, quizzes, exit tickets, collected classwork, homework, effort, participation, collaboration, etc. I will give both percentage grades (90, 100, 75) and rubric grades (1,2,3,4) on assignments. You will also see checks, stars, or smiles on work that was looked at. Grades on Report Card: 4 – Above grade level 3 – On grade level 2 – Approaching grade level 1 – below grade level

Assessments The night or so before a test the students will bring home a review sheet. The review questions mirror what will be on the test. They will be set up similarly…only the wording/numbers will change! Make sure you go over the review with your child to help them prepare for the test. Quizzes will not always have a review sheet

Celebrations Please feel free (if you wish) to send in a treat to celebrate your child’s birthday. Please make whole class treats peanut/nut free. I will hold small celebrations around the holidays as well. There are sign-up sheets for celebrations on the counter. There is also a sign up sheet for a snack donation. I usually keep pretzels or cereal in the class for students who forget their snack. I appreciate your help!

Other Stuff Our Val Kill/ FDR Museum trip to learn about Eleanor Roosevelt and her work with Children’s Rights is scheduled for 10/24. Students will need a bag lunch. Other possible trips in 3rd grade: Mohonk, Trevor Zoo Parent Teacher Conferences are: Thurs. evening, Nov. 30 Fri. morning & afternoon, Dec. 1 Please sign up for a time slot tonight. I look forward to a wonderful year of working with you and your child!

Thank You for coming!