Welcome to 3rd Grade!

Mrs. Serra and

Mrs. Galang

Westchase Wizards…Creating our own sunshine!

Language ArtsReading Writing Social Studies

Reader’s Workshop Close Reading Mini Lessons

followed by Independent Practice

Guided Reading/ Conferencing

Fiction and Non-fiction texts

Text Dependent Questions

Interactive Notebook

Responding to the text

Mini Lessons based on class needs

Craft of writing through responses

No monthly prompts

Interactive Notebook

Rubrics

Focus on North America

Integrated into teacher’s choice of text

Daily Geography Questions

Weekly Geography Tests

Maps available on-line

Reading and writing go hand-in-hand!

Accelerated Reader

GoalsGoals are based on each students’ independent reading level. Goals are adjusted each 9 weeks.

Daily Reading Opportunities

-30+ minutes at school-30 minutes each night for

homework

Incentives-Build an AR Wizard

-Homework pass

AR Updates-Students can check their

progress any time they are on a school computer.

-AR progress printouts will be sent home periodically.

Language Arts Homework

Vocabulary Matrix Reading Log

-Student Choice-Wordly Wise Words-Words and definitions can be found in their binders or on our class website. -Due every Thursday. -All words MUST be spelled correctly to receive full credit.

- Read for 30 minutes each night

- Myon will be accepted also.- Respond to 3 reading

questions each WEEK on the back of the log.

- Reading logs can be found in their binders.

Vocabulary Matrix

Complete 2 assignments each week

Due each Thursday

No repeats! Shade each square as it is completed.

All words must be spelled correctly.

Battle of the BooksTitle AuthorThe Everlglades Poacher Who Pretended(myOn book)

Steve Brezenoff

Finn Reeder, Flu Fighter (myON book) Eric Stevens

Melonhead Katy Kelly

The One and Only Ivan Katherine Applegate

Out the Rear Window (myON book) Michael Dahl

Stallion by Starlight (Magic Tree House #49) Mary Pope Osborne

Windsurfing Winner (myON book) Jake Maddox

The Year of the Book Andrea Cheng

BOB Qualifying test will be taken to determine our BOB team. (End of January)

Math InstructionCurriculum Homework

-Go Math Series-Math 4 Today-Math Workshop-FASTT Math

- Tuesday and Thursday – due the next day

- Check agenda for assignments

- Reflects work in classroom

- Unit Tests

ScienceCurriculum STEM Fair

-National Geographic-Inquiry Mondays-Investigations and demonstrations-Hands On-Science Olympics (September – Balloon Racers)

- In class time to work- Due in November- Weekly assignments- More information to

come home soon!

Homework RecapReading-30 minutes each night and 3 questions per week – due Friday-Each Friday: Reading AssessmentVocabulary-2 assignments each week – due Thursday-Assessment every other ThursdayMath:-Tuesday and Thursday-End of Unit TestsScience:-Unit Tests-STEM Fair assignmentsGeography:-Test on Friday (Open Map Test)

Behavior LogsChild's Name:

Expected Behaviors

Follows School and Classroom Rules

Follows Directions

Prepared for Class

Shows Effort to do Best Work

Works Cooperatively with Others

Getting to School on TIme

This report will be kept in the classroom. Your child will receive a checkmark when a rule has been broken. A note will be written in the agenda for you to sign the day the rule has been broken. This report will be used to mark the behavior side of the report card. FIVE checks in the same area will result in an “N” on the report card for that same behavior.

Grading Scale• A = 90 – 100 EXCELLENT

(demonstrates consistent application ofconcepts, ideas, objectives or behaviors)

• B = 80 – 89 GOOD(demonstrates a clear understanding ofconcept, ideas, objectives or behaviors)

• C = 70 –79 SATISFACTORY(is in the process of understanding concepts, ideas, objectives or behaviors)

• N = 60 – 69 NEEDS IMPROVEMENT(needs additional time or more background experiences before anunderstanding of concepts, ideas, objectives or behaviors can be attained)

• U = 0 – 59 UNSATISFACTORY(has not yet demonstrated an understanding of concepts, ideas, objectives or behaviors)

Dismissal

Make sure your child knows how they are going home on the first day of school!

We cannot dismiss students a new way without having it in writing. Make sure to write a note in your child’s agenda or call the office prior to 1:45 if there is a change!

Don’t forget: Mondays – Early Release @ 1:15!

Schedule8:00 – 8:30 RtI *Monday - Specials

8:30 – 10:30 Language Arts10:30 – 12:30 Math/Science12:30 – 1:00 Lunch1:00 – 1:30 Specials/Teacher PE1:30 – 2:00 Specials/Teacher PE2:15 Dismissal

*AGP with Mrs. Miller 10:30 – 12:30

*Remember to wear closed-toed shoes every day – that are appropriate for running and playing. The students will be outside everyday, whether they are at PE with Coach or at Teacher PE with us. If your child is wearing the wrong shoes, they will have to bring a book and sit out.

Birthday celebrations can happen in the classroom. Parents may choose to send in a breakfast type treat (doughnuts, cinnamon rolls) at 7:30 or a quick treat (cookies, mini cupcakes) around 1:45. This must be pre-arranged with the teacher. Please keep in mind we do have food allergies; only store-bought products that do not contain nuts will be allowed.

Food brought in from outside sources (ie. McDonalds, etc.) cannot be brought into the cafeteria due to food allergies. Please eat it out on the picnic tables.

Birthdays and Lunch Policies

Snacks

Since our lunch is late this year we are providing students with the opportunity to bring a small, healthy snack to enjoy mid-morning (around 10:30) to hold them over. Please make sure that snacks are healthy and mess-free! Think about using a snack-size ziploc bag and filling it with goldfish, cheez-its, grapes, pretzels, etc… Again, please keep in mind we have food allergies so do not pack anything that contains peanuts. Please read the labels – you would be very surprised what snacks do indeed contain peanuts!

Our Class WebsiteGo to www.teacherweb.com

Find your teacher from WestchaseElementary.

You can find….-Announcements-Calendar-Links to helpful websites-Weekly homework and project information-What skills we are currently focused onAND MORE!!!

UPDATED WEEKLY!!!

Communication

Binder/Agenda (checked daily) Report Cards Mid-Term

Reports

Scheduled Conferences E-mail Class Website

Please remember that we start our day at 7:30! This is not the time to pop-in to have a quick conference.

We are so excited to teach your child and get to know your family this year!