Welcome to Third Grade!

Agenda Questions? Strategic Vision BYOD Standards-Based Grading EL READING PROGRAM Curriculum Overview: Math, Science, Social Studies Interims/Report Card Dates CHOMP Volunteers Daily Schedule School Site/Website Friday Folders/Newsletters/Agendas Conferences Reminders: PTA membership, Class Directory sheets, Volunteer Registration Questions?

WHAT IS BYOD? •An initiative at SCES that will support student learning through:    --collaboration    --critical thinking    --creativity    --communication

BYOD TIGHTS (RULES) •No touch-by teacher or other students •Signed BYOD agreement before any devices are brought to school •No touch-by teacher or other students •Must be connected to WCPSS Wifi network (No 3G or 4G) •No printing  

Standards-Based Grading Level 4 (Exemplary): Student consistently demonstrates an in-depth understanding of the standards, concepts and skills taught during this reporting period. Goal: Level 3 (Proficient): Student consistently demonstrates an understanding of the standards, concepts and skills taught during this reporting period.   Level 2 (Approaching Proficiency): Student is approaching an understanding of the standards, concepts and skills taught during this reporting period. Level 1 (Non-proficiency): Student does not yet demonstrate an understanding of standards, concepts and skills taught during this reporting period.  

EL Reading/Writing Program: Third Grade is implementing a new language arts program! Areas of Focus Q1: Overcoming Learning Challenges Near and Far Q2: Adaptations and the Wide World of Frogs Q3: Staging Stories (Peter Pan) Q4: The Role of Freshwater Around the World ***Take home informational letter.    

Instructional time will focus on four critical areas: Content Standards Instructional time will focus on four critical areas: Developing understanding of multiplication and division and strategies for multiplication and division within 100 Developing understanding of fractions, especially unit fractions (fractions with numerator 1) Developing understanding of the structure of rectangular arrays and of area Describing and analyzing two-dimensional shapes Critical areas have been identified at each grade level. Although these are not the ONLY skills students are responsible for mastering, it does focus the work at each grade.

Areas of Focus: Bones, Muscles, Skin * Earth’s Land and Water Science instruction continues to be inquiry-based Areas of Focus: Bones, Muscles, Skin * Earth’s Land and Water Matter: Properties & Change * Plants on Earth Force & Motion * Energy Conservation Earth in the Solar System With inquiry-based science, instruction begins with open-ended questions or demonstrations. Students do experiments or collect data and take a “hands-on” approach to science. They experience science rather than merely read about it. Third graders will explore changes in states such as freezing water or melting ice. They will learn how the muscular and skeletal systems work together for movement. Third graders will learn about constellations and use models to understand the phases of the moon. They will also explore the life cycle of plants and the role of soil in supporting plant growth.

Four strands include: Civics and Government History Geography five strands. Four strands include: Civics and Government History Geography Economics and Personal Financial Literacy The changes in curriculum will bring about significant shifts in the way that instruction is delivered in the Social Studies classroom. The new curriculum will provide opportunities for students to become more critical thinkers. There will be a greater emphasis on teaching students to make connections and to see the big picture. In doing so, there will be less focus on recalling facts. In many instances, students will investigate collaboratively to grow their learning as well as create work products with the use of instructional technology. There will be an increased focus on using primary and secondary sources to analyze historical events through multiple perspectives. This means that students will actually read and study and analyze historical documents rather than just hear about them. Specifically, third grade content has changed where only 7 out of 29 objectives or 24% of the current SCoS is transferring to the new standards. In its place is connecting previous learning to a more sophisticated understanding of how communities may be linked to form larger political units while learning of cultural, political, geographic and economic connections.

Interims/Report Card Dates Interim Reports: Progress Reports: August 11 October 6 November 3 January 5 February 9 March 30 May 4 June 29

CHOMP/CONSEQUENCES C ooperative Consequences: H onest * verbal reminder O n-Task * DOJO points lost M indful * walk track at recess P repared * Silent Lunch

Volunteers Volunteers are very much appreciated and welcome! Please be aware that volunteers need to use a school computer to register EACH SCHOOL YEAR in order to be a volunteer in the classroom or accompany classes on field trips! Please follow the directions on each classroom computer to register now, or use the Media Center to register.

Daily Schedule: 8:00-8:40 Morning Work 8:40-10:40 Reading 10:40-10:50 Special Classes are: Music, P.E., Art, Guidance, Math Enrichment, Media/Technology and Engineering 8:00-8:40 Morning Work 8:40-10:40 Reading 10:40-10:50 Cursive 10:50-11:20 Recess 11:25-11:50 Lunch 11:50-12:20 Math Centers/BYOD 12:20-1:05 Specials 1:15-2:15 Math 2:15-2:45 Science/Social Studies 2:45-3:00 Snack/Dismissal

School Website/Class Website

Friday Folders/Newsletters Please check the Friday folder for important communications from the PTA , myself, or the administration. There may also be paperwork to be signed. The newsletter is sent to you electronically unless you specify that you’d like a paper copy. Please check out what we’ve been doing in each of our subjects, as well as special dates and wish list requests! Your child should be writing homework in his/her agenda M-Th!

Conferences We will have two conferences this year. One will be a teacher-led conference, and the other will be a student-led conference. In the student-led conference, your child will lead the way in presenting their work and creating his/her goals!

Reminders: PTA Membership-Please make sure to join! Please fill in CLASS DIRECTORY sheets! Students in Grades 3-5 have Yellow Bus Tags this year; please keep them on backpacks. Volunteers of any kind need to register on a school computer!

Thanks for taking the time to find out more about your child’s day! Thank You! Thanks for taking the time to find out more about your child’s day!