September 4, 2013

 Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech/Communications and Psychology from University of Pittsburgh  Teaching Certification from Seton Hill University (Elementary/Early Childhood)  Master’s Reading Program study at Indiana University of Pennsylvania  17 Years with GLSD  8 Years teaching 3 rd Grade  20 years of teaching experience (includes 3 years of teaching preschool at the First Presbyterian Church of Greensburg)

Contact Information: Karen Hewitt 1010 Mt. View Drive Greensburg, PA Phone#

 Homework is written daily in the Homework Assignment Book (HAB) which is located in your child’s orange take home folder.  Third grade students should spend about 30 minutes on average to complete homework assignments.  I suggest 20 minutes of independent reading a day as well as reading out loud to practice fluency. The Pizza Hut “Book It” program will start in October.

 Having a “Homework Basket” and a designated time and place to do homework is very helpful. Making it a habit now will be a valuable tool for your child’s lifelong learning!

TEAM 3H BEHAVIOR MODEL We use the baseball “Strikes” method for misbehaviors. Please see our classroom and our website for details! We use the “Touchdown Club” for good behaviors! We try to focus on the GOOD and work together as a team not only on academics, but on behavior, manners, and being good citizens of our classroom community. The Homework Assignment Book (HAB) in the orange folder is a key communication piece between school and home. Check it daily!

Username: 23 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ (first 4 letters of last name) (first 4 letters of first name) Password: g L ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ (6 digit lunch number)

 Students will receive new spelling words each Monday and will be tested each Friday, unless otherwise notified.  Robust Vocabulary will be defined and used in sentences and and discussions each week.  Reading Focus Wall ( New this year! Check it out in our room!)  Comprehension, vocabulary, and skills for each lesson will be assessed on Friday, unless notified otherwise.

 Third grade will be using GoMath! and other resources to teach real world problem solving skills.  Addition and Subtraction within 1,000.  Represent and Interpret Data  Understand Multiplication Concepts, Facts, and Strategies ▪ Third graders are required to memorize Multiplication facts 0-12)  Count Money and Make Change  Tell Time and Calculate Elapsed Time  Geometry – 2-dimensional shapes &perimeter and area  Measurement – length, mass, capacity  Understand and Compare Fractions  Understand Division Concepts, Facts, and Strategies.

XtraMath is an online program which helps kids to master basic math facts. Students will work on XtraMath during Core Extension time and may also work at home. Student Log In Information was sent home last week. Try to access it from home with your special access code!

 Life Cycle of Wisconsin Fast Plant  Rocks and Minerals  Chemical Changes  Simple Machines

 What is a Community?  Where People Start Communities  Communities Grow and Change  Living Together in a Community, State and Nation  Geography Map Skills  Reading maps, landform & product maps  Chart and Graph Skills  Timelines, tables, graphs, flow charts  Current Events – Scholastic News

We need your help!  Volunteer Opportunities: A note was sent home on the first day of school regarding volunteers for parties and field trips (the 3 rd grade field trips will take place in the Spring of 2014) There is a Volunteer Coordinator who will be contacting you if you signed up for parties.  Donations: We are always looking for Kleenex, Germ-X, Clorox wipes, fun bandaids, fancy duct tape, dry erase markers, and #2 pencils.

Birthday Snacks: We would love to have you send in a treat for your child’s birthday! Please see me if it falls on a weekend, holiday, or summer… Please keep your snack SIMPLE (no cutting involved, please, and no drinks) We normally have the snack during our “CE” time after recess. This year we have 20 students and five third grade teachers… the students like to take them to the other third grade teachers. Guest Readers : Let me know if you would like to come into the classroom as a “Guest Reader” on a Friday afternoon (last period… 3:15 is usually a good time). You could share one of your child’s favorite picture books! We will try and relate it to the “focus skills” that we have been learning in reading.

 Scholastic Book Orders: Every month we have the opportunity to order books from Scholastic. By far the easiest way to order is to go online. Information was sent home last week about ordering. Every time you order online we get free books for our classroom! Check out our webpage for more info!  “Book It!”: Pizza Hut is offering the “Book It” program again which begins in October. Look for information to be coming home soon. Certificates for free personal pan pizzas will be awarded monthly for students who read every day!

 Conferences—will take place in November— sign-up tonight! Take a post-it to remember the time you selected.  Morning Tutoring—by invitation on Tuesdays and Thursdays before school  Field trip(s)—will take place in May 2014  Wellness Walk will be held on October 4—all MVES donations come back to our school

WHAT A TEAM!

 Can you find…?:  Your child’s desk and “Team Stats”  Job Helper chart  Our class flag, song, and pledge  Our “ABC of ME” papers (August writing “starter”)  Our Baseball Bat and Touchdown Club (and treasure chest!)  Our “What is a team?” writing  Our “Crystal Balls” for Labor Day  Visit the Encore teachers, Guidance, Speech, Learning Support, and Nurse  Visit the PTO & the Spirit Wear Sale!