1. Welcome to Third Grade Open House
We are so glad you are here!!

2. The Third Grade Team As part of a Professional Learning Community,
our team works closely together.
Your child will benefit from the expertise of
each member of our team throughout the year.
Mrs. Lynda Dolny
Mrs. Addie Martz
Mrs. Janine Mickel
Mrs. Christine Hong

3. Third Grade Day
8:45 – 9:00- Arrival, attendance, lunch count, pledge, announcements, and morning work
9:00- 10:00- Math
10:00- 10:45- ELA
10:45- 11:30- Panther Power
11:30- 12:15- Lunch & Recess
12:15- 1:45- ELA
1:45- 2:30- Social Studies & Science
2:30 – 3:15- Specials
3:20- Announcements and Dismissal process

4. PODs- Problems of the Day
Our PODs are given weekly, and are a part of our daily morning routine. 
PODs are a spiral review of our curriculum.  Every skill is aligned with the common core state standards.
Spiral review is an opportunity for students to revisit and interact with concepts so they remain proficient in the foundational skills needed for higher level work.
PODs are just one resource that provides students with an opportunity to strengthen areas they might not have completely mastered.

5. Math Our curriculum aligns to our PA Core Standards.
Parents may access 3rd grade math skills on Think Central.
We use multiple resources and teaching strategies to build a conceptual understanding of skills, including Math Expressions.
Making connections to the real world with learning in math is important.

6. Mathematical Practices
In math, we strive to:
Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
Model with mathematics.
Use appropriate tools strategically.
Attend to precision.
Look for and make use of structure.
Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.

7. Math Homework
Homework will come home most evenings. Please check your child’s folder and planner each night.
Children should practice facts daily for at least 10 minutes.

8. Panther Power Panther Power is a 45 minute block built into each day.
During this time the teacher will work to re-teach, remediate and enrich students both individually and in small groups as necessary.

9. ELA Our curriculum aligns to our PA Core Standards.
Please look for the School-Home Connection Letter for each ELA lesson.
This letter contains focus skills, spelling words and vocabulary words for the week.
Spelling and Vocabulary can be accessed through this resource as well as on our 3rd grade Resource page.
Spelling and Vocabulary will be assessed on a weekly basis.
Other ELA skills from (2) lessons will be assessed every other week.

10. ELA
Third grade is a year of highly visible progress in ELA. This year, students will…
Learn how to write for a particular audience.
Develop an expanded vocabulary to create more in-depth sentences.
Read various genres with fluency, focusing on comprehension.
Respond to text in writing, while providing text-based evidence.
Identify and write about various story elements.
Learn various comprehension strategies for independent reading success.

11. PALS
Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) is a class-wide peer tutoring program.
Teachers carefully partner a student with a classmate.
The pair works on various activities that address the academic needs of both students. Pairs change over time.
PALS allows for differentiated instruction via having partners work simultaneously on various teacher-directed activities.

12. Science & Social Studies
Students will participate in Social Studies units the 1st and 3rd 9 weeks, and Science the 2nd and 4th 9 weeks. Unlike the early primary grades, testing takes place in both social studies and science. We will have a study guide to help with preparing for the tests. Notice of the tests will be written in our planner.

13. Science Units Chemical Tests Human Body with Variation of Traits
Water Cycle
Weather
Sloan Habitat Study

14. Social Studies Units Citizenship
Types of communities- focusing on our community of Murrysville
Rules and laws within our classroom, our community, and country.
We will learn about our rights and responsibilities.
We will learn about the branches of government as well as US symbols.

15. Social Studies Continued…
Map Skills
We will learn and apply map skills to our everyday lives.
We will construct our own maps which will include various map elements such as a compass rose, a scale, and a legend.
We will complete many individual and cooperative projects and will often use rubrics to grade our work and the work of our peers.

16. Special Classes
Specials take place from 2:30- 3:15 daily. Please check your teacher’s website for a daily schedule.

17. Chromebooks
We will be using chrome books to enhance and extend our learning. We will be able to collaborate with our peers and our teacher. We will use various learning websites, search engines for research, and we will even have our own google classroom so that we can access our documents at home and at school. We will have fun using technology in the classroom, and learning more about the correct way to use technology.

18. We are Developing Growth Mindsets!
What is a Growth Mindset? “In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.” ( Dweck, 2015)

19. A Person with a Growth Mindset Will…
★Get excited about challenges and hard problems!
★Persevere & never give up!
★ Listen to what others have to say about his work or ideas and learn from it!
★Celebrate other people’s success and feel inspired!
★Ask questions when she isn’t sure what to do! ★Believe that his or her intelligence can GROW!

20. Olweus Bully Prevention Program
We hold weekly class meetings to build our classroom community & we address social issues as they arise.
Our Promise...
We will not bully others.
We will try to help students who are bullied.
We will try to include students who are left out.
If we know someone is being bullied, we will tell an adult at school and an adult at home.

21. Policies Tardy & Early Dismissal Doctor’s note needed to be excused
Use district form
Excuse notes
Needed in 3 days
After 10 days absent a doctor’s note will be required to be excused
Tardy and early dismissals will be added up and included into these 10 days
Educational Travel
Submit forms for approval
Found on district website
Clearances
All 3 needed for classroom volunteers

22. Policies Continued… Pick Up Policy
Notes need to be sent in at arrival time
Date, person picking up, relationship to child, phone number
If plans change after 9am and your child needs picked up, call or teacher and front office (in case teacher does not get message)
Go to main office at dismissal time to sign out students since we need a parent signature
BRING ID!!
Visitor Policy
ID needed anytime you enter the building

23. Lunch with your child
You are permitted to have lunch with your child a maximum of one time per month.
You must have all 3 clearances on file in the office in order to take advantage of this opportunity.
Please call in advance to let the cafeteria know you are coming, and send a note to the teacher at least one day in advance.
The kitchen phone number is
Please reference the handbook for additional details.

24. Classroom Websites
Please visit your teacher’s classroom website or the 3rd Grade Resource Page for updates, spelling lists, vocabulary words, forms, etc.
This presentation, as well as other important documents, can be accessed there.

25. Contact Information
Visit our websites to access our contact information. The best way to reach us is through . If there is a dismissal change for your child, please call the office at 3002 to ensure we receive the message. Substitutes do not have access to our s.

26. PSSA Testing
Third grade is the first your your child will be taking the PSSA state testing in April (date TBA).
Your child will be assessed in ELA and math skills that have been taught in grades K-3.
We will remind your child to eat a healthy breakfast that week and to get plenty of rest!
More information will come as we approach that date.

27. Report Cards
Your child will receive a letter grade with a percentage for each subject area: Math, ELA, and Social Studies or Science.

28. We would love to celebrate with your child!!
birthdays
We would love to celebrate with your child!!
You are welcome to send in a nut/peanut-free treat for the class. Please let the teacher know what day is best.
You child’s teacher will notify you of other food allergens to avoid sending.
If your child has a summer birthday, we can celebrate his/her half birthday or wait until the end of the year.
Treats can be left with the greeter if they are too much for your child to carry.
Please send in napkins and any other needed utensils.
Please avoid sending treats that require cutting (or send treats pre-cut).

29. Parent Teacher Conferences
Per district policy, our Parent-Teacher conferences will be held from
11am- 7pm on Monday, November 12th.
Please sign up this in your child’s classroom this evening for a time that is convenient. If you are unavailable on Monday, please sign up for a phone conference.

30. ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR EVENING!
Thank you for coming! Please remember to visit the Book Fair in the LGI.
ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR EVENING!