2. Welcome Back to School! G rade 3 Mrs. Wolfinger Pickerington Elem.

3. About Mrs. Wolfinger I am very excited to be part of your child’s third grade experience. I have been at Pickerington Elementary for 17 years. I have spent the majority of that time in third grade. I am married and have three daughters. I look forward to working with you and your child this school year!

4. Math 4 Today Daily Practice Work Front of the sheet is completed Monday- Thursday. It reinforces third grade math skills. It will be corrected daily as a class. Back of the sheet is a Weekly Review which is completed alone on Friday and will be checked by the teacher. Students will be able to use the front as a resource. Students who receive a score of 6 or below will be asked to correct their mistakes for Monday night’s homework.

5. Language Arts 4 Today Language Arts 4 Today Daily Practice Work Front of the sheet is completed Monday- Thursday. It reinforces third grade language arts skills. It will be corrected daily as a class. Back of the sheet is a Weekly Review which is completed alone on Friday and will be checked by the teacher. Students will be able to use the front as a resource. Students who receive a score of 60 % or below will be asked to correct their mistakes for Monday night’s homework.

6. Language Arts Curriculum When answering question, we will not only be looking for correct answers but students will also need to write in complete sentences by restating the questions. Answers will need to be supported by text. These types of answers will be required in all curriculum. Handwriting - We will REVIEW all upper and lower case cursive letters - example of D’Neilan alphabet provided Included with forms is a layout of language arts standards.

7. Accelerated Reader (A.R.) This is a computerized reading comprehension program. Students take a 5 to 10 question quiz on books they have read and earn points for correctly answered questions. Books may be used as a reference during the quiz. AR books can be found anywhere, classroom, school or public library and your child’s own book shelf. The first quarter classroom reading goal is to earn 9 points. Incentives will be given as students reach goal intervals throughout the quarter. Students who achieve above this goal will also be rewarded. AR points will be earned from instructional books, read a louds, and books which are read to self at home and in school. Students should be reading a book at home as part of their nightly homework and during Read to Self time at school.

8. Library AR Book Finder Before weekly library check out, students are encouraged to use the Pickerington Library Catalog “CAT” to help them choose books in their AR level. A direction sheet has been provided for your use at home. We will use the end of second grade AR levels until a new STAR test has been taken. These will be sent home in Friday Folders as soon as they are available to us.

9. Pizza Hut Book-It Reward This is a reading incentive program offered to us through Pizza Hut. Pizza Hut uses this to reward monthly goals set by individual teachers. We will be using it to introduce and encourage reading of different genres. For example the October genre will be mysteries. At the beginning of each new month a letter of explanation and form will be in your child’s Friday folder.

10. Spelling Sitton Spelling Third grade will continue the use of Sitton spelling. Instead of weekly lists of words to memorize, this program emphasizes the learning of important words, not just for a weekly test, but for a lifetime of spelling in the real world. This spelling program uses skills of instruction (phonics, word origins, spelling rules, usage, etc.), through your child's everyday writing, and through word study of specific words your child has not yet mastered. As new words are introduced, these lists will be sent home in Friday folders. To go with our spelling program, we will also be introducing a new prefix or suffix each week.

11. Math Curriculum / Module 1 – Properties of Multiplication and Division and Solving Problems with Units of 2-5 and 10. / Module 2- Place Value and Problem Solving with Units of Measure / Module 3- Multiplication and Division with units of 0,1,6-9 and multiples of 10 / Module 4- Multiplication and Area / Module 5- Fractions as Numbers on the Number Line / Module 6- Collecting and Displaying Data / Module 7- Geometry and Measurement Word Problems / Module 1 – Properties of Multiplication and Division and Solving Problems with Units of 2-5 and 10. / Module 2- Place Value and Problem Solving with Units of Measure / Module 3- Multiplication and Division with units of 0,1,6-9 and multiples of 10 / Module 4- Multiplication and Area / Module 5- Fractions as Numbers on the Number Line / Module 6- Collecting and Displaying Data / Module 7- Geometry and Measurement Word Problems

12. Timed Tests * At the beginning of the year, students will be introduced to their multiplication facts through Sprints. These are 2 minute exercises to increase individual fact speed. At this point of the year, students are just trying to beat their own scores. * During second semester, we will take timed quizzes on individual factors to build fluency of all multiplication facts. * We will assess on multiplication fluency during Quarter 4 with mixed multiplication and division quizzes. * At the beginning of the year, students will be introduced to their multiplication facts through Sprints. These are 2 minute exercises to increase individual fact speed. At this point of the year, students are just trying to beat their own scores. * During second semester, we will take timed quizzes on individual factors to build fluency of all multiplication facts. * We will assess on multiplication fluency during Quarter 4 with mixed multiplication and division quizzes.

13. Science Curriculum Earth and Space Science-Non- living resources used for energy Life Science- Animal and Plant Life Cycles Physical Sciences- Matter and Forms of Energy Earth and Space Science-Non- living resources used for energy Life Science- Animal and Plant Life Cycles Physical Sciences- Matter and Forms of Energy

14. Geography History Government Economics These topics are based on our local community. Geography History Government Economics These topics are based on our local community.

15. Assignment Notebook Homework written in daily Signed by parent each night Homework returned next day unless otherwise noted Homework checked or reviewed in class General procedures can be found in front of the assignment books

16. Friday Folder Friday Folder Purple folder that is sent home each Friday in place of the assignment binder Initialed, emptied and reviewed by parent each weekend Returned on Monday or first day of the school week Will contain all graded assessments, classroom newsletters and other informational letters We hold as much as we can for Friday Folders but continue to check assignment binders nightly.

17. At Home Projects One of the third grade standards is to be able to report on a topic or text by speaking clearly and at an understandable pace. Towards the end of each quarter, a project will be assigned to practice this skill. This will be worked on at home. Directions and due dates will be sent home in Friday folders.

18. Leader in Me Be Pro-active. Begin with the end in mind Put first things first Think Win-Win Seek first to understand then to be understood. Synergize Sharpen the saw I will use charms, other rewards and consequences as needed.

19. Toy Policy The Pickerington Elementary rules do not allow the children to bring toys from home. The third grade has a policy that if a student is caught with a toy from home, it will be taken and returned at the end of the year or given to the parent. For outside recess, students may bring playground balls. (Nerf football, basketballs, soccer, etc.)

20. G.I.T. Art- Students will need a smock that will be kept in their book bag. Art will be Quarters 1 and 3. (TUESDAYS) Technology- Students will need headphones. These will be kept in the classroom for all computer use. Library will be combined with technology and students will need to return books on that day. Technology will be Quarter 1 and 3, but library check out will be all year. (FRIDAYS) Music- This will be quarter 2 and 4. (FRIDAYS) P.E.- Students must wear gym shoes to participate. P.E. will be quarter 2 and 4. (TUESDAYS) * We highly recommend that each child wears tennis shoes daily. There are times throughout the school year when we will have the opportunity to use the gym for indoor recess. However students will not be permitted in the gym without tennis shoes.

21. A supply list has been provided. Please send in supplies on the first day of school. These supplies are needed all year. Extra supplies can be stored in student tubs. Back to School Sales are a great time to stock up on supplies at a great price. You may want to think about buying for future use now, especially glue sticks. Please do not send in mechanical pencils or hand held sharpeners. Other supplies needed: a sturdy 3 hole punched pocket folder. School Supplies

22. If you wish to celebrate your child’s birthday at school, students may bring in non-edible items for the class; such as pencils, stickers, etc. or a game for inside recess. Lunch Lunch will be daily from 11:30-12:15. Lunch cost is $2.35 / Breakfast cost is $1.50 No snack will be needed in third grade due to early lunch. When sending in lunch money, please make sure it is labeled with your child’s first and last name and lunch code. Birthdays

23. Book orders will be sent home periodically. These usually contain great deals and are full of AR books. If purchasing, checks will need to be made out to Scholastic Books. Parents can also order books on line. A letter to explain how will come home with each book order. If using an order for a special occasion, books can be held for parent pick up. Book Orders

24. Contact Information School Phone: 548-1400 Address: 775 Long Road Web site: http://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/http://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/ Email: tara_wolfinger@plsd.us@plsd.us Please see form to inform me of your best contact information.

25. Thank you for coming tonight! Please take your folder with you as it includes many informational letters and forms to be filled out and returned.