WELCOME TO OUR THIRD GRADE CLASSROOM!

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• WELCOME TO OUR THIRD GRADE CLASSROOM!

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Our Class

• Packets are on your childs desk with assorted
  class information. Ill chat about the info in
  them a bit later tonight.
• There are notes on your childs desk. Please
  write a message to your child.

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A Day in The Life of Your Third Grader

• Ill discuss the routines, expectations, and
  curriculum based on the schedule the children
  follow each day.
• Our goal is to instill organization and
  independence in your children.

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Math

• This year we will be using the Math in Focus
  program which is based on the Singapore math
  program.
• We spend more time on math topics so that
  students understand more about how math works and
  increases their number sense and confidence with
  math.
• We work on Math for an hour a day. Students
  begin each day with a regular routine of a daily
  word problem and a math meeting.
• There will usually be a Math Workbook page for
  homework every night.

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Writing

• Students write for a sustained period every day.
• We will write across different genres, such as
  personal narratives, expository writing and
  persuasive pieces.
• Daily lessons will use mentor texts and extensive
  modeling of examples.
• We will focus on adding describing details using
  adjectives and adverbs, using thoughtful
  vocabulary, using their own voice in their
  writing and covering mechanics and grammar.

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Reading

• We concentrate on Good Reader Strategies, which
  teach the children various ways to think about
  their reading. These strategies include Making
  Connections, Visualizing, Questioning, Inferring
  and Synthesizing Information.
• We also cover skills of Main Idea, Cause and
  Effect, Sequencing, Predicting, Story Elements,
  Comparing and Contrasting, Using Context Clues,
  Analyzing Details, Determining Importance, and
  Elements of Non-fiction texts.

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Reading

• Our literacy block includes time for whole group
  lessons, small group lessons and one on one
  conferences and independent reading time.
• We have numerous resources that we use that cover
  various genres and skills and strategies. We use
  a program called Good Habits/Great Readers, the
  Harcourt Trophies Reading Series, Comprehension
  Toolkit, Buckle Down books as well as leveled
  readers and trade books.
• Students choose their own Good Fit books for
  independent reading time and maintain a
  collection of books that are selected weekly.

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SpellingWords Their Way

• The program is differentiated for each child,
  very hands on, and student driven.
• The basis of the program is word sorts. The
  emphasis is on word patterns vs. memorizing the
  spelling of words.
• Homework will include sorting their words and
  choosing an activity to complete from a choice of
  assignments.
• There will be an assessment on some Fridays that
  will also include words that follow the pattern
  but were not sorting words that week.

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Science and Social Studies

• There is a text book for each subject that also
  can be accessed online.
• We will use shared reading and guided questioning
  strategies with the text.
• Some of the science topics are Types of Plants,
  Types of Animals, Where Living Things are Found
  and Conserving Resources.
• Some of the Soc. Studies topics are Maps,
  Geography, U.S. Regions and Our American Culture.

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Homework

• There will be Language Arts and Math homework
  Monday through Thursday. At various times during
  the year there will be other homework and
  extended projects.
• Homework is expected to take no more than 30
  minutes.
• Homework will be posted through the Pequannock
  District website.

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DisciplinePlan

• Class Constitution
• Clip Chart
• Marble Jar

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Communication

• Communication between home and school is very
  important.
• I send home a class newsletter each Friday with
  snippets of highlights from our week.
• Please also look at our class website at
  www.Pequannock.org. Homework is on this site.
• Please contact me at any time with any questions
  or concerns you may have. You can write a note
  or email me at donna.madison_at_pequannock.org. I
  will get back to you as soon as Im able.
• The Gerace Journal comes home once a month which
  highlights school activities.

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Information Packet

• This packet will highlight some additional useful
  information.
• Grading Scale
• Test Folders

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Closing

• Please contact me at any time if you have any
  questions or concerns.
• You can send in a note or email me at
  donna.madison_at_pequannock.org
• Thank you very much for coming!
• Ill be waiting at the door so you can introduce
  yourself to me as you leave.