Welcome 3rd Grade Parents. Thank you for coming Welcome 3rd Grade Parents! Thank you for coming! Please take a minute to sign in at the back table and sign up for membership toolkit if you haven’t already. I dreamed I stood in a studio, and watched two sculptors there. The clay they used was a young child’s mind, and they fashioned it with care. One was a teacher, the tools she used were books, music, and art. One a parent, who worked with a guiding hand and a gentle, loving heart. Day after day, the teacher toiled with touch that was deft and sure, While the parent labored by her side and polished and smothered it o’er. And when at last their task was done, they were proud of what they had wrought; For the things they had molded into the child could neither be sold nor bought. And each agreed he would have failed if he had worked alone, For behind the teacher stood the school, and behind the parent, the home. ~Anonymous

3rd Grade at Alston Ridge Elementary Ms. Lisa Kaszycki Ms. Colleen Wackerman Ms. Daniel Dodson Ms. Meghan Martin Ms. Beth Bloodworth Ms. Megan Madlon Ms. Dee Skerry Mr. Devin Hudson Ms. Jennifer Worley Ms. Alysia Himbry Ms. Karen Niemi

About Ms. Wackerman If you’ve looked on the website, you’ve probably seen that I love to paint with watercolors in my free time. I am originally from Michigan. I enjoy spending my free time at the North Carolina Art Museum.

Reading- Essential Skills Students will read independently at home and school to improve fluency and comprehension. Third grade is the year for students to dive into chapter books. During the school year, students will read and understand different types of texts; such as, poetry, fiction, nonfiction, plays, informational texts, fairytales, and fables. Whole Group Instruction: Through applying reading strategies taught, students will exhibit higher order skills beyond retelling to include: inferring, cause/effect, main idea, point-of-view, predicting, questioning, and identifying the author's purpose. Guided Reading Instruction: Differentiated instruction in small groups to focus on fix-up strategies and to apply comprehension skills. Time is provided daily for independent practice.

3rd Grade Spelling Students will copy down 10 words a week into their planner. They are to complete the spelling contract on a weekly basis. Students will take their spelling test on Friday and turn in their spelling contract on Friday. About halfway through the year, we will switch and students will work on vocabulary words at home with different activities.

Math- Essential Skills Number and Operations- Multi-digit addition and subtraction, multiplication and division (0-10), place value; estimation to the nearest ten and hundred Geometry- Identify 2-dimensional shapes and reason with their attributes, determine the area and perimeter of given regular and complex figures Multiplication and Division – (Number and Operations- Multi-digit addition and subtraction, multiplication and division (0-10), place value; estimation to the nearest ten and hundred ) Algebra- Finding an unknown in a number sentence Area and Perimeter (Multiplication and Division) (Algebra- Finding an unknown in a number sentence) Fractions- Determine a fraction’s place on a number line, compare fractions, and determine equivalent fractions (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/6, 1/8) Measurement- Metric systems of mass and capacity; customary units of length; elapsed time and time to the nearest minute Data Analysis -Read and analyze graphs, tables and charts, including pictographs, bar graphs and line plots

Writing- Essential Skills The Writing Process Prewriting Students will also work on: Drafting Focus Revising Organization Editing Support and Elaboration Publishing/Sharing Style Conventions What kinds of writing will we do? Poetry Narratives Instructional/Explanatory Short Research Reports Opinion Pieces

Science- Essential Skills The Human Body (Skeleton, Muscles and Skin) Objects in the Sky Matter Properties and Change Ecosystems- Plants and Soil Science topics will be learned through inquiry, exploration and discovery.

Social Studies- Essential Skills Civics and Government National and Local Government Geography Absolute and Relative Location Comparing Regions Economics Supply and Demand How natural resources affect the economy Entrepreneurship History and Colonial America Understand how history has influenced our government

Your assistance is very much appreciated! Homework Daily math sheet (20 minutes) Reading journal/ log (20 minutes of reading a night) with responses due on Monday Spelling contract. (5 to 10 minutes a night) Additional assignments/projects may be assigned from time to time. Homework should take around 50 minutes per night. Your assistance is very much appreciated!

Standards Based Grading 4- Extends targeted grade level standards. “Since I can do/get this, I can figure out new things!” 3- Demonstrates proficiency of targeted grade level standards. “I get it, and I can do it well!” 2- Needs support to meet targeted grade level standards. “I almost get it, but I need help.” 1- Insufficient performance of targeted grade level standards. “I don’t get it yet. I need help.”

How is third grade different from K-2? Work Habits How is third grade different from K-2? Reading to learn versus learning to read Higher expectations on quality of work Higher level critical thinking skills Stamina for reading, writing, listening Independence How can you help? Encourage these same skills and expectations at home.

Progress Reports Assessments Progress Reports will be given during the halfway point of the quarter. Report Cards are given at the end of each quarter. Assessments mClass- Literacy Assessment Program designed to assess students reading fluency level and comprehension. Benchmark assessments are given three times per year Progress monitoring as needed CogAT and ITBS (select students) SCORE 21 (1 time per year) Beginning of Grade Tests (BOGs), End-of-Grade Tests (EOGs)

Class Website mswackerman.weebly.com Student Websites Parent Resources Weekly Updates

Thank You!! Thank you so much for coming tonight!! Please remember that communication between home and school is critical to the success of your child. I look forward to working with you and your child this year!