Welcome to Third Grade Curriculum Night! Please take any handouts you need from the back table. Find your child’s desk and read their reflections! Create a bookmark for your child to use during reading. I will laminate them on Monday 

Agenda About Me Expectations 3rd Grade Curriculum & Grading Helping Struggling or Bored Students PTA Homework and Resources General Reminders Questions?

All About Me I love to read! Bachelors Degree in English Literature with an emphasis in creative writing and a minor in Theatre I love to read! Moved from Texas to Washington state 5 years ago. Graduated with a Masters in Teaching from City University

Third Grade is a Big Step Because… We work for longer periods of time. We read for information. We read longer and more varied text. We use problem solving strategies. We explain our understanding orally and on paper. We write for a variety of purposes. We are becoming independent learners.

Typical Daily Schedule & Specialists 8:30 Check-In/Morning Work 8:50 Math Block   10:05 Snack and Read Aloud 10:15 Writing 11:00 Recess and Lunch 11:45 Reading 1:00 Grammar & Spelling 1:25 Specialist 1:55 PM Recess 2:15 Science/Social Studies 2:45 Pack-Up/ Homework Routine Monday: Music Tuesday: Library, P.E., & Computer Lab Thursday: Music Friday: P.E.

3rd Grade Expectations Cooperation Organization Responsibility Teams Partners in reading, writing, & math Organization Desk & caddies Responsibility Class jobs Homework Complete in-class assignments on time Make good choices Be an independent learner

Use Tools & Equipment Appropriately Apollo's Positive Behavior Expectations Be Respectful Be Responsible Be Safe Treat Others Nicely Follow Directions Use Polite Language Take Care of our School Solve Problems Make Good Decisions Give Best Effort Respect the Learning Environment Keep Hands and Feet to Yourself Ask Permission to Leave any Setting Make Good Choices Use Tools & Equipment Appropriately

3rd Grade Curriculum

Balanced Literacy Approach for Reading Whole class instruction Small group instruction Individual instruction Independent practice

3rd Grade Reading Skills Summarizing Inferring Word Meaning Extending Meaning with Visuals Questioning Finding Evidence Point of View Text Structure Author’s Purpose Comparing and Contrasting Determining Importance Main Idea Theme Cause & Effect Text Features

Literacy Instruction Reading Handwriting Readers Workshop Making Meaning Guided Reading Groups Fountas and Pinnell Handwriting Handwriting Without Tears (Cursive) Grammar/ Spelling/ Word Work/ Vocabulary

In 205, We Love to Read!

Spelling, Vocabulary, & Word Work Spelling will be integrated into writing instruction, with an emphasis on application in students’ daily writing. Spelling words will go home every other week, starting next week!  Vocabulary is integrated into content areas, using G.L.A.D. strategies. Grammar practice is limited to 30 minutes once a week, per district guidelines. Students will work on specific grammar skills each week with the aim of increasing students’ understanding of sentence structure and parts of speech.

Lucy Calkins Units of Study Writing Curriculum Lucy Calkins Units of Study Unit 1: Personal Narrative (small moments) Unit 2: Informational Unit 3: Opinion Unit 4: Fairy Tales

Math Everyday Mathematics Parent letters (answers) Home Links (M-Th) Math Fluency (2x a week) Everyday Math online Games Student Reference Book www.everydaymathonline.com www.IXL.com

How Does Everyday Math Help Students? Problem-solving approach, based on everyday situations. (Plus problem solving on Fridays!) An instructional approach that revisits concepts regularly. Frequent practice of basic skills, often through games. (shhhh! Don’t tell your children they are learning through games). Mathematical content that goes beyond basic arithmetic and includes activities and discussions.

Problem Solving Jerry has a toy car collection with 30 cars. He has a bookshelf with 5 shelves. He wants to display his car collection on the bookshelf. Up to 15 cars can fit on each shelf.

Problem Solving How many combinations of cars can fit on the bookshelf? **Students will be expected to record what they “notice” and “wonder”, as well as choose more than one strategy, solve the problem (with as many possible solutions as possible), and verify their answer. **

Science Salmon September/October Field Trip to the Salmon Hatchery & Clay Salmon Art Weather Year-long Daily tracking of temperature/weather Youtube videos GLAD chants Discussions Rocks & Minerals

Social Studies Pacific Northwest Native Americans Pioneers Social Skills/Anti-Violence -Guidance Lessons with Mrs. Holsather, School Counselor

Technology Computer Lab on Tuesday Keyboarding “Type to Learn” Microsoft Word Oregon Trail Game IXL/ EDM Practice for End-of-Year Smarter Balance Classroom Computers EDM Online/IXL Tumblebooks Youtube & Brainpop with teacher!

Health New curriculum Changes in Families Self-Empowerment Conflict Resolution Managing Stress/Understanding Emotional Health We are What we Eat! GLAD Nutrition Body Systems Non-Communicable Illness Smoking and Drugs

What does grading look like in 3rd grade?

3rd Grade Math Components There are many components to our math assessments. This allows for a more complete understanding of each students’ ability. The components are: content, mathematical practices, fluency, & problem solving. Our math components are graded using rubrics, which details the actions and thinking required to meet or exceed standard.

Students who exhibit “exceptional” work can receive a 4. Exceptional work looks like… Exceptional work does not look like… Consistently performing beyond expectations Seeking opportunity to go further Demonstrating depth of thought and application Connecting knowledge or skill to another area Applying knowledge for a new purpose Analyzing concepts Showing multiple applications and/or perspectives Being fast Producing simply neat work Being ‘accelerated’ Answering all of the questions Using ‘one’ correct strategy Doing extra work for extra points Getting all the right answers

3rd Grade Science & Social Studies In 3rd grade we explore many exciting science and social study units! Students work, in collaboration with the teacher and group members, to complete unit work. Due to the fact that students do not complete these units of study independently, a grade of ‘3’ (at-standard) is the highest grade possible. Content specific rubrics are used for journals and group projects.

3rd Grade Reading & Writing This year we will investigate narrative, informational, & opinion/persuasive writing. Issaquah School District uses Lucy Calkin’s Units of Study as our writing curriculum. Grading for each unit is determined based on the curriculum rubrics, specific to each genre of writing. Each rubric contains 3 parts; structure, development, & language conventions. Reading: Our reading curriculum is Making Meaning. Grading for reading is divided into 2 parts; reads grade level text, and comprehension. The grade for reads grade level text is based on our Fountas & Pinnell testing. Comprehension grades are based on unit assessments, conferring with students, and student responses.

Struggling or Bored Students Ways to Help Struggling or Bored Students Small group/Individual help Graham Cracker Recess Computer practice Challenge questions Brain work Independent Study

Important Things to Know about OUR Classroom… We have HIGH expectation! We VOTE Student Council Vote Work for fun votes! Decision-making process We respect each other We give our classmates compliments & honor their ideas We help each other with our Classroom Jobs We celebrate our Star Student We have Behavior Incentives! Whooo’s Making Smart Choices? Warm Fuzzies Coupons/Treasure Chest Friday Raffles

Homework ***Remember, be a part of your child’s homework routine, Monday- Thursday Homelinks (Math) Read for 20 minutes RAH journal entry (Reading at Home) Friday/Weekend RAH journal entry Extra Practice Spelling words Math flashcards IXL EDM online Tumble Books Brainpop ***Remember, be a part of your child’s homework routine, but it is their responsibility!***

Your Role As Parents 1. Check the homework folder each night for papers and homework 2. Sign the homework calendar each night and look at the behavior section 3. Check that the homework is done- don’t do it or fix it 4) Use the resources provided if you are unsure or leave a note on the homework calendar, so that I can help 5) Check Friday Folder 6) Look over the RAH journal & ask your child about their reading

Let’s make sure homework is a POSITIVE experience Issaquah School District has set in place manageable homework expectations! Ways to individualize for your child: Read it to him/her Shorten/extend the assignment Replace the assignment Stop after 45 minutes Read for 20 minutes Write RAH for 10 minutes Math homework (10-15 min) Write a note if your child has a reason for not doing their homework. If your child gives you grief: Set expectations together: Include your child in deciding when and where homework will be done Establish a routine Write a note when your child doesn’t understand the homework Keep to your agreements about homework

Be apart of PTA greatness Be apart of PTA greatness. Sign up for YOUR Apollo Elementary PTA today at: apollopta.org or by completing a membership form today. When you do, you are supporting the nation’s largest volunteer advocacy group for children in this country. Did you know? Your child is attending 1 of 3 schools in the state awarded the School of Excellence Award for 2014-2016.

A Few Things To Think About… Volunteering Joining the PTA and ISF Birthday Routines Daily Snacks and Water Bottles

Conferences & Report Cards Conferences will be set-up through Skyward in November for December Report Cards go out in December, March, & June District Reference Guide

How to find classroom website Communication Email mcneasej@issaquah.wednet.edu Classroom Phone Number (425) 837-7517 Classroom Website How to find classroom website

A few quick reminders about homework: 1. Parents/guardians must sign the homework calendar every night. Only sign if your child does ALL of their homework. 2. Students are required to read for 20 minutes and write a RAH (Reading at Home) entry. We set up the first one today in class and students have a guideline for how to write their RAH entries glued to the inside cover of their RAH journals. 3. Students who love to read SHOULD stop after 20 minutes and write their RAH entry and then go back to reading. This ensures that students don't just read for an hour and then miss out on completing their RAH entry. The purpose behind the RAH journal is for me to "see evidence" of their thinking during reading. Please check the classroom website for more helpful tips on reading at home. 4. The math homework is usually a review of what we did that day in class. So, students should be able to complete it independently. Math homework should NOT take more than 10-15 minutes. If your child is struggling, please write "too hard" or "parent help" at the top of the homework and let them stop after 15 minutes. 5. Homework should not be a struggle, but it is a crucial part of 3rd grade that motivates students to practice skills "independently". Students are only required to write 3 sentences in their RAH journal and do 1-2 pages of math homework. Spelling words and flash cards will be implemented later in the year. 6. Do not fear the "uncompleted homework". I do not grade homework. I do check it and count it towards the “responsibility” and “problem solving” sections of the report card. One reminder about uncompleted homework is that uncompleted homework means the student ‘did not get’ the concept and they will be pulled for small group work on that skill. So, if your child just chooses not to complete the homework, then I am under the impression that they do not understand the homework. Even uncompleted homework needs to be turned in every day. This way I don’t have to make a bunch of extra copies when I review the concept with the students.