Third Grade Curriculum Night Power Ranch Elementary Third Grade Team August 22, 2013

Housekeeping SCHOOL HOURS: School starts at 8:05 am and dismisses at 3:05 pm. Please schedule all appointments around this time. Please, do not have your child arrive earlier than 7:45 am, as the gates will be locked. Parents check in through the front office. NUT FREE ZONE: All third grade classes are nut free. Please do not send in treat or snacks that contain peanuts.

Snacks It is important that your child brings a snack. We eat lunch early and students will be hungry. Please send your child with a snack to eat in the afternoon. Please nothing that contains nuts.

Communication Stay updated through our class website. Homework packets and spelling lists are posted on the website weekly. is the best way to contact us.

Common Core Standards outu.be The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state- led effort coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). The standards were developed in collaboration with teachers, school administrators, and experts, to provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare our children for college and the workforce.

Common Core Adoption Arizona, June 28, 2010

Important Information! During the 2010 Arizona legislative session, ARS was passed requiring districts to retain students in third grade if they score at “Falls Far Below” on the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) Reading Test or a successor test. This year’s third graders will be the first group of students that are affected by this law.

Together We Will Succeed! As a district we value a collaborative partnership between home and school. You will be kept informed of your child’s progress throughout third grade on a regular basis; student progress reports, parent teacher conferences and notes home are all ways we can stay connected. If you have questions or would like more information on this law the full document can be found online at or you may contact Mrs. Richards for more information.

District Grading Practices Higley teachers will teach the Arizona academic standards and assess how students are progressing. When teachers report student progress they will follow these guidelines: 1.Scores are related to achievement of the standards 2.Variety of assessments used to gather evidence of achievement 3.Assessment procedures support student learning

Grading The K-5 Grade Reports to Parents include the following levels of performance: 4 = Above benchmark / Exceeds current grade level expectations 3 = Meets benchmark / At grade level expectations 2 = Approaching benchmark / Improving but not consistent 1 = Below grade level / Needs more time and support Blank = Not yet introduced GOAL

K-5 Assessment and Grading Handbook Online Visit our website for frequently asked questions!

Homework Expectations Homework is a reinforcement of a skill. It is important to work with your child at home on concepts that have been introduced at school. It will include a math assignment, a language arts assignment, and 15 minutes of AR reading. Homework will be in the form of a packet. Each night parents are responsible for signing off on the work their child did. The only things assigned nightly will be reading and spelling. All other work will be completed at the pace your child wishes. Students who do not bring their homework will go to study hall for recess to finish their homework. Homework is meant to be a simple review of skills learned; this is a great way to stay active in your child’s academic career.

AR Reading Program Accelerated Reader (AR) is a computer based comprehension program. Students select an AR book, read the book, and then take a 5 to 10 question comprehension test, followed by a spiraled vocabulary quiz. Students are responsible for checking out two AR books, and one book of choice. In addition, one of the AR books must be a non-fiction text. We will be increasing non-fiction text as part of implementing the Common Core State Standards. Accelerated Reader provides an additional source to better understand your child’s comprehension and vocabulary skills. Therefore, students are required to read for 15 minutes as part of their nightly homework. In addition, they will be completing a nightly 2-3 sentence summary focused on text-to-text and text-to-world connections. As always, our goal is to reach 100% achievement each quarter. See your teacher’s class website for more information on how to sign up to receive your child's quiz results. The information is located under the AR tab.

Curriculum Maps Online Visit our website to find your student’s curriculum maps by grade level and content area.

Reading GUIDED READING: Students will get the opportunity to read in a small group of 4-6 children. They will learn strategies, phonics, and comprehension skills. Teachers will guide students through literature studies connected to the Common Core Standards. READ ALOUDS: Teachers will read fiction and non-fiction stories. They will be exposed to proper fluency as well as have the opportunity to respond to literary elements. CENTERS: Students will work cooperatively with hands-on activities reinforcing various skills taught throughout the year. INDEPENDENT READING: Students will read independently in class and during AR. CLOSE READING: Teachers will use the latest reading comprehension technique to improve student achievement.

A CLOSE READING EXAMPLE Objective: We will use the text to explain ideas and prove our answers Vocabulary: moisture- wetness caused by water absorb- to take in or suck up like a sponge 1.How does understanding weather help you in real life? 2. Explain in your own words how weather forms. 3. Why do you think the author included a photograph and a diagram on pages 5 and 6? 4. Could the author have included anything else that would help the reader understand weather and temperature?

Writing Students will learn basic types of writing such as personal narratives, story writing, friendly letters, and more. We will focus on the six traits of writing which include: IDEAS/CONTENTORGANIZATIONVOICE WORD CHOICESENTENCE FLUENCY CONVENTIONS Students learn how to write using the Write from the Beginning Program. Children will experience writing through: MODELED WRITING- Observing the teacher write and model the writing process out loud. Journals- Students will have the opportunity to freely write in their journals on a topic of their choosing. This is a place for students to do some personal writing, write poetry, create lists, etc. Publishing- Students will use the six traits of writing and publish work by creating their own masterpieces.

Math Parent Roadmaps to the Mathematics Common Core Standards During the upcoming school year, Power Ranch children (and children across Arizona) will be exposed to exciting new math curriculum. To adhere to the Common Core Standards (New Arizona State Standards), there will be several shifts implemented in how we teach math for all grade levels. To help parents better understand these mathematical shifts, The Council of the Great City Schools has created parent roadmaps to help parents understand what their children will be learning and how they can support that learning at home. Below is a link to each grade levels' parent roadmap. These maps also provide learning examples and three-year snapshots showing how selected standards progress from year to year enabling students to become college and career ready upon their graduation from high school. arentGuide_Math_3rd.pdf arentGuide_Math_3rd.pdf

Science Science is divided into three primary areas; Life Science, Earth & Space, and Physical Science. The areas of focus for this quarter consist of: Identifying the layers of the Earth. Describing the different types of rocks and how they are formed. Classifying rocks based on their physical properties. Describing how fossils are formed. Identifying how diverse people and/or cultures, past and present, have made important contributions to scientific innovations

Social Studies Social Studies is divided into five strands; American History, World History, Civics/Government, Geography, and Economics. This quarter we will be focusing on: Discussing how different types of maps serve various purposes. Describing the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Identifying traits of character that are important to the preservation and improvement of democracy. Describing the importance of students contributing to a community.

Questions Thank you for all your help and support! We appreciate your time tonight. It’s going to be a wonderful year! Have a terrific evening!