WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIRD GRADE
LANGUAGE ARTS
Reading - Students are instructed in both large group lessons and small group lessons. The small group lessons will be at the students’ reading instructional level. We continue to work on reading fluency (oral reading) and comprehension (understanding what we read). Students are encouraged to practice oral reading and to read for enjoyment at home.
Writing - Students will continue to write stories based on their personal experiences. We also write letters, paragraphs, lists, poems, creative writing pieces, and class books. We will work on revising our writing to make it clearer and more interesting. We will strive to use correct spelling as much as possible. Simple mechanics, such as using capital letters and periods, will be expected.
Spelling - Every Monday, students will bring home an envelope of words to study and sort by patterns. We will have a spelling test every Friday on these words. The ultimate goal is to spell correctly in our written work.
Handwriting - Students will be reviewing the cursive alphabet. When all of the cursive letters are mastered, students will be required to complete some assignments in cursive. We ask that students not practice the cursive letters at home until we have learned them in class.
MATH
We will continue to build on the many skills and concepts learned in second grade. These include basic addition and subtraction facts, operations with bigger numbers, collecting and organizing data (graphing), using fractions, understanding numbers and place value, measurement, telling time, counting money, geometry, and estimation. We will learn basic multiplication facts. We continuously work on problem solving strategies, emphasizing multiple ways to solve a problem.
SCIENCE AND HEALTH
We will be using many hands-on activities to discover and explore several scientific concepts. The topics will be: Ideas and Inventions, Water, Magnetism and Electricity, and Structures of Life. Health topics will include nutrition, exercise, safety, and health care, to name a just a few.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Our Social Studies curriculum focuses on Eau Claire, past and present, with additional units on geography, economics, citizenship, and government.
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
Third graders are expected to use self-control and to take responsibility for their behavior. We will work together to identify classroom policies and rules that allow everyone to work in a safe, cooperative, and friendly environment. We will be following the school-wide discipline plan for Flynn including time away and time out.
We will be in close contact with you should your child’s behavior, organizational skills, or homework become a problem. We believe in a positive, proactive approach to discipline. It is our sincere hope that we can work together to make third grade a positive experience for each child.
Students are reminded to:
1) Take pride in your work by
**Keeping a positive attitude and a willingness to try
**Completing assignments on time
**Completing assignments neatly
2) Respect yourself and others by
**Paying attention during class discussion and instruction
**Asking questions if you don’t understand
**Having materials ready for class (pencil, homework, etc.)
**Working hard
**Playing safely and fairly with others
HOMEWORK
Students are expected to complete a short homework assignment, usually math, Monday through Thursday nights. It will be recorded in the assignment notebook and is usually a worksheet or simple activity reviewing that day’s lesson. It shouldn’t take more than 10-15 minutes to do and students should be able to complete it independently. Parents can help, if needed. Parents are also encouraged to check it over and have the child correct mistakes. The homework is not graded, but we do keep track of how often each child does not complete the assignment. Students will need to complete the work at recess or during Morning Meeting if it is not turned in by the next day. Daily assignments will be recorded in the assignment notebook, which parents should initial or sign each day. Students should also be reading nightly and practicing spelling words for Friday’s tests. Occasionally, there will be assignments in Science and Social Studies. These will be noted in the assignment notebook, as well as the date it is due.
Our objective for assigning homework is to provide multiple times to practice new skills and strategies. We also wish to foster a sense of responsibility and good study habits in our students. We would suggest 30 minutes a night as a guideline for third graders.
Birthday Celebrations
Third grade celebrates students’ birthdays in a special way, without food or treats. Each child will receive a birthday pencil and a certificate in honor of their birthday. They will also get to choose a class game to play at the end of the day after the class sings “Happy Birthday.”
Some parents have expressed a desire to bring something non-edible for the class. If you wish to do this, please consider bringing novelty items such as pencils, erasers, or stickers instead of toys. Another option would be to donate a copy of your child’s favorite book to our classroom library or a new/gently used board game for indoor recess time. Please know that your child’s birthday will be celebrated by our class whether or not you choose to send an item. We want the emphasis to be on their special day instead of what the children bring.
Snacks
This year, your child will be allowed to bring a healthy snack to school if s/he chooses. Here are some guidelines to follow when helping your child select an appropriate snack:
*The snack must be a fruit, vegetable, or cheese.
*The snack must be simple and not require preparation or clean up at school.
*Students should bring only one snack per day.
We will not have a designated snack time during the day. Each child will take the snack out whenever s/he is hungry, with a few exceptions, such as right before lunch or during certain types of activities. Students will not be allowed to share a snack with a friend.
Please encourage your child to use the snack only if necessary. We will continue class while the snack is being eaten discretely. It is important for your child to realize the emphasis is on class, not the snack. We will practice how to eat the snack without causing a distraction to others. Students will also know that if they are unable to follow the snack guidelines, the privilege may be taken away for a period of time.
Hopefully, this will address those hungry times for growing bodies and still enable us to continue class as expected.
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