Curriculum Night2013

Welcome to

Third Grade in Palmer Patch!

Welcome to Curriculum Night!

Please fill out the green questionnaire at your child’s seat. Extra pens are available on the kidney table.

Also, I can collect your $10 toward class parties tonight. Checks should be made out to “Cash.” Envelopes are at your child’s seat. Thank you.

Communication• Weekly Newsletter

Every Monday Information about current topics of study

and upcoming events

• Ways to Contact Me Note to school with your child E-Mail- jpalmer@fmschools.org Phone- 692-1700

• Parent-Teacher Conferences November 8th(PM), 12th(PM), 18th(AM)8:15 appointments available Sign up tonight

Palmer Patch Web Site How to Access It

www.fmschools.orgGo to Mott Road page and follow the

quick links.Types of Information

• Calendar• Curriculum• Web site links• Photographs• Student Work• And more . . .

Third Grade is . . .a Transition Year!

• Begins the intermediate grades• Pace of learning increases• More independence &

responsibility is expected• Beginning of yearly state

assessmentsEnglish Language Arts- April 1st – 3rd

Math- April 30th – May 2nd

Third Grade is . . . Making Wise Choices

Follow the Golden Rule

Bully Free Zone

Honesty

Respect

Discipline

Card System• GREEN= Go * child is demonstrating good

behavior• YELLOW= Warning

* a warning has been given and behavior needs to change

• RED= Stop* child has continued to misbehave after several warnings

* child writes a letter to parents explaining misbehavior and misses recess or choice time that day

Compliment Jar• Stones are added to the jar for good behavior.

* 1 stone per compliment* 2 stones per green card day

• Rewards* For every 25 stones, the class receives a small reward.* When the jar is full, the class chooses a special party theme.

Third Grade is . . . Increased

Responsibility

Monday through ThursdayWord Study homework will be sent home on

Fridays, if you want to get a head start.

Set aside 40 minutes a night.Spelling, math facts, and reading every

night.Additional math or cursive assignments

every night. These should be returned the next day.

Homework

Daily PlannerSent home every day Monday through

Thursday. Return to school every day with parent

initials.Do not bring your child’s planner to school,

if it is forgotten. Natural consequences help develop responsibility.

Math FactsSumdog, Math Magician, Sum Sense Warning: CoolMath4Kids (is not fact practice)

Reading Raz-Kids (letter levels not the same as our

system)

Helpful Website Links

Spelling/Word Study

Words Their Way• Children sort words and

pictures according to different word features or patterns.

• Why? Helps them to learn and apply the features and not just memorize words.

• Students assessed in September and January to determine instructional spelling level.

• Small group instruction with students of similar spelling ability.

High Frequency Words• Words used frequently by 3rd

grade readers and writers• Need to be automatic• Practice and learn 3 new

words each week

Weekly Assessment• Every Thursday• 5 word sort words• Dictation sentences with 3

high frequency words and additional word sort words.

• Capitalization & punctuation count.

Sample Word Sort

Sample Word Sort

Grading System

Friday FolderEvery Friday your child will bring home a folder with corrected work from the

previous week. Please look at the work with your child, sign the sheet inside, and

return the folder on Monday.

Third Grade is . . . Requires Critical

ThinkingLearning is no longer about memorization or basic comprehension.

“Students should be able to analyze different aspects of a given text, including central idea, style elements, character and plot development, and vocabulary.” (Engage NY)

Common Core Learn Standards Changes

• Balance of fiction and non-fiction reading

• Balance of narrative, non-fiction, & persuasive writing

• Increased text difficulty at each grade level

• Analyze text through close reading• Text based answers• More vocabulary instruction

Instructional Level is the level they are reading at school with teacher support and instruction. At home they should be reading books at an Independent Level, one level below their Instruction Level.

Reading & Writing Workshop

Format1. Mini-lesson2. Independent Writing OR

Small Group Work OR Individual Teacher Conference

3. Share Time

Third Grade . . .Moves at a Faster Pace

Especially in math!

Many new concepts are introduced & expected to be mastered: addition & subtraction to 1,000 multiplication & division facts area & perimeter fractions basic algebraic equations multi-step problems

Common Core Learning Standards Changes

• Increased difficulty need to show deeper knowledge of concepts

• Dual ConceptsTwo topics at onceExample: capacity and multiplication

• Apply math concepts to real world situations

• Expect fluency with math facts

NYS Common Core Standards Sample for 3rd Grade

Math Curriculum

• TERC2 Investigations Curriculum• Supplemented to create a well-balanced

program that meets the Common Core Learning Standards.

“Each time one prematurely teaches a child something he could have discovered for himself, that child is kept from inventing it and consequently from understanding it completely.”

-Piaget

Ways 3rd Graders Solve Problems

• 3rd graders will be encouraged to solve problems using a variety of strategies. Please do not force your child to the traditional algorithm for addition and subtraction. This leads to confusion and doesn’t allow your child to develop a full understanding of place value and numbers sense behind the traditional approach. The goal is for every 3rd grader to be able to arrive at a correct answer efficiently and consistently.

• The Common Core Learning Standards introduce the traditional algorithm in 4th Grade now.

• Strategies That You May See Your 3rd Grader Use:(refer to the Student Math Handbook & Palmer Patch web site for specific examples)o sticker pictures (Fall)o counting on a 100 chart or 200 chart (Fall)o number lines (all year)o equations ( all year)

Student Math Handbooks

• Keep at home and return in June. • Do not write in them.• A reference tool for parents, not a

textbook• We will not be using every page.• Page numbers are listed at the top

of homework assignments and in the class newsletter.

Basic Facts Information• Facts tests will be given once a

month beginning with a pretest in September.

• Fact tests will consist of 40 problems per test.

• We will begin with addition & subtraction fact tests.

• Multiplication and division facts will be added in December & January. Do not start yet.

• End of 3rd Grade Goals:– Addition & Multiplication:

40 problems in 2 minutes, 40 seconds with 96% accuracy.

(4 seconds per problem)– Subtraction & Division:

40 problems in 3 minutes, 20 seconds with 96% accuracy.

(5 seconds per problem)

• Students will be taught to solve math facts using a variety of strategies. Lot of practice with these strategies will eventually lead to automatic recall.

• Children will bring home fact cards to practice with at home.

• Links for fact practice web sites are available on the Palmer Patch web site.

Third Grade includes. . .21st Century Learning

Project Based Learning Inquiry learning projects that require children to

solve solve a real-world problem by creating or designing something.

Often collaborative.

Technology Integrated Into Daily LearningClassroom Laptops

Repeated practice (reading & math facts)WritingProjects

Mobile Lab or Computer Lab ProjectsKeyboardingMicrosoft Word & PowerPointPhotostory3- digital story tellingResearch using on-line data basesAnimationish- create basic animation moviesSkype with locations around the world

Science & Social StudiesCurriculum

Science• Life Science

plants

• Earth Science erosion water cycle ecology week

• Physical Science matter mixtures buoyancy

Social Studies• Maps & Globes

– continents and oceans– landforms and waterways– intro to longitude & latitude– regions of the United States

• World Communities– Ghana– China– Brazil

Third Grade is . . .Fun!

Field TripsBeaver Lake Nature Center (May)Everson Art Museum (TBD)

World Culture CelebrationsChinaGhanaBrazilCulture Fair

Parent VolunteersWeekly or Bi-Weekly• Computer

(Thursday, 2:00-3:00)

• Library(Tuesday, 1:35-2:15)

Occasionally• Social Studies

Celebrations• Technology Projects• Parties• Field Trips

Birthdays

• A short celebration can take place on or near your child’s birthday at 2:45.

• An information note will come home a few weeks prior to your child’s birthday.

• Three ways to celebrate: (Choose 1)1. Bring a small snack and/or drink. Treats must be store bought or from the cafeteria due to hepatitis guidelines. Snacks cannot contain peanuts or tree nuts.2. Play a game of choice.3. Bring small prizes or trinket for each student.

• There are 24 students in our class.• Parents are invited to attend, but are not required to be

there.

Snacks

• Children may choose to bring a snack every day or not.

• Good nutrition is important for brain functioning and learning.

• All snacks must be peanut and tree nut free due to student allergies!

• Visit Palmer Patch web site for snack suggestions.

• No cookies, potato chips or candy!

Recess

• Students will have outdoor recess everyday unless it is raining or the wind chill temperature dips below zero degrees.

• Lots of equipment is available for the children to use.  Students may not bring toys from home.

• Dress:– Fall: Jacket, sweatshirt, or sweater.– Winter: Warm jacket, hat, boots, mittens or gloves, and

snow pants.– Spring: Light jacket, sweatshirt, or sweater and boots

(especially if it has rained and/or is muddy). • Students can keep extra recess clothing items at school with

parental permission.

Thank you for coming.

Let’s have a great year!