Welcome to Third Grade

1. Welcome to Third Grade Bluejacket-Flint 2010-2011 Mrs. James: 993-2023 or bjjames@smsd.org

2. Math About Me • 3 (15/13/11) • 28 (27 + 1) • 10/2/2/3/0

3. Teacher contact • E-mail: bjjames@smsd.org • Phone: 993-2023 • Web Back-Pack: www4.smsd.org/lindajames Or go to www.smsd.org and choose parents. Select schools then BJF from the elementary drop down menu. On the left hand side select web back-packs and then click on Linda James

4. School wide Management

5. ClassroomManagement • Classroom Rules: • I will be polite, kind, and honest • I will keep my hands, feet, and objects to myself • I will be prepared, and get my work done neatly and on time. • I will raise my hand and not talk while others are talking.

6. Classroom Management • If a student is unable to follow one of our rules, he/she will be asked to change the color of their card. The following lists the consequences for changing colors: • Green: GREAT • Yellow: Warning • Blue: 5 minutes at recess (or laps) • Red: No recess

7. Specials • Monday: P.E. and Music 12:00-1:00 • Wednesday: P.E.and Music 12:00-1:00 • Thursday: Art 12:00-1:00 • Friday: Library 12:10-1:00 • Lunch: 11:23-11:48 

8. Grading: The grade students earn in 3rd grade are: S+ = 96-100% S = Satisfactory S = 80-95% I = Improving S- = 70-79% N = Needs N = 60-69% Improvement U = Below 60% U = Unsatisfactory CR on a paper indicates that that assignment needs to be Corrected and returned to the teacher.

9. GradingGrades are based on the following:1. Assignments/Tests2. Work Habits3. Ability to work independently and in groups4. Ability to remain on task5. Attitude6. Responsibility

10. Homework • Students will bring a homework packet home every Monday. This packet needs to be completed and returned to school by FRIDAY. • In an effort to prepare students for 4th grade, we are also using planners this year. Each day students should write down what we covered in each subject. A check mark in the small box indicated that the work was completed during the day. If there is no checkmark, the students should be bringing work home in that subject. The top section of the comment box should be colored to reflect which color card they had. Please sign the planner each night. • District guidelines state that homework for 3rd grade should take 20-30 minutes nightly.

11. Reading • We will be using the Open Court series again this year. Open Court believes strongly in integrating reading and writing. Many language skills will be taught through this program. Open Court is built around six themes. The 3rd grade themes include: Friendship, Imagination, Money, Country Life, City Life, and Storytelling. • Another focus for this year will be to improve fluency. This includes practicing daily oral reading. We will concentrate on speed, accuracy, and expression. In class we will be doing “buddy reading” often. Wednesday night homework will include reading a story from Open Court. I also encourage nightly reading at home.

12. Reading • This year, students in 3rd grade will be receiving 90 minutes of core reading time, plus 30 minutes of workshop. Workshop activities may include small group time with the teacher to cover more intensive practice on comprehension skills, small group work on novel units or author studies, and independent work time which will be used to reinforce objectives in other curriculum areas such as social studies and science. • Some students may use workshop time to meet with a reading specialist. The needs of these students to receive additional instruction will be reviewed and changes will be made as needed.

13. Spelling • We will be using the Scott Foresman series. A pretest will be given on Monday and will be sent home with a list of words. The 3 or 4 challenge words for the week are considered extra credit, but will not count against them on their test score. Students who get 100% on the pretest will be given a bonus list for the week. The bonus list will be words that follow the same spelling rule for the week. • A dictation test will be given on Thursday. • Homework for Thursday will be to study spelling for the test on Friday. However, it will be necessary to study the list at home throughout the week.

14. Math • We have a brand new math series this year at BJF. We are using the enVision math series. This series incorporates a lot of technology, hands on manipulatives, as well as traditional practice drills. • Students may access the math from home computers using their own user name and password. • A big focus in 3rd grade is learning multiplication facts. Any help you can give at home practicing flashcards will be very helpful to your child! • Another big focus is problem solving skills. We practice this daily.

15. Math • Third graders are given a quarterly basic skills test the first 3 quarters of the year. The daily concepts and computation skills are correlated with these tests.

16. Social Studies • The focus of the 3rd grade social studies curriculum is communities. We will be using the text book to explore topics such as goods and services, landforms, citizenship, rights and responsibilities, and economics. • We will discuss rural, urban, and suburban communities. • Map skills will also be emphasized. • Mrs. Gerfen will provide social studies instruction to our class.

17. Science • Many hands-on experiences will be given as the class moves through the Scott-Foresman series. There are many topics covered including: matter, energy (sound), plants, animals, cycles of the earth and forces. • Throughout the year we will be getting the students comfortable with the scientific method. • I will be teaching science to the third grade students.

18. Language Arts • We will be integrating much of our language instruction with our reading. • Mrs. Chandler will be providing additional instruction in the 6-trait writing process as well as parts of speech and sentence structure. • In 3rd grade we also begin to use cursive writing. We will be teaching the Zaner-Bloser method of cursive. By 4th quarter, all assignments will be expected to be completed in cursive. • I have provided an example of the cursive letters for your reference.

19. Testing • Third graders will be participating in two major types of tests this year: • The MAP (Measurement of Academic Progress)test will be given at the beginning and the end of third grade. This test is designed to measure individual growth in the areas of math and reading. • We will also be giving the Math and Reading sections of the Kansas State Assessment in the Spring. • We will be preparing for and discussing these tests throughout the year.

20. FYI • When your child is absent, please request homework through the office as early in the day as possible. • We do go out for recess all days that the weather permits. Please make sure that your child is dressed appropriately. • Birthday treats are fine however please do not send party invitations to school to be passed out. This avoids hurt feelings if all students are not invited. • We will be ordering from the Scholastic Book orders this year. Book orders will come home once a month. Please make checks out to Lucky Books

21. FYI • Bike Rodeo. 3rd graders are given a bike rodeo sometime in the spring. Bike safety inspections are given as well as skill stations. Third graders are allowed to ride bikes to school after the rodeo. • Show and tell will be on Friday. The 5 students who were the helpers for the week will be allowed to share.

22. REQUESTS • Please fill out forms in the silver folder and return to school asap • Parent contact cards • PTA membership • Sign up for a conference • Note to your child on the sticky note

23. Together we will enable your child to achieve their potential TODAY, so that they can be proud of their YESTERDAYS, TOMORROW!