1. Welcome to Third Grade!

2. 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?

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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

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

12. 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

13. 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.

14. 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

15. School Website/Class Website

16. 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!

17. 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!

18. 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!

19. 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!