Third Grade Information Packet
Please Read Carefully

Dear Parents,

Welcome to third grade. We are looking forward to a productive and exciting year and hope that this packet of information will help clarify third grade expectations. The packet is designed to give you an overview of third grade and answer commonly asked questions. Third grade is a big transition year and we want to make sure you are properly informed of what to expect. Please look through the entire packet carefully and then sign/return the final page. Feel free to contact your child’s teacher with any questions you might have.

READING

Reading is a very important part of third grade. During the school day, your child will be expected to participate in whole group reading comprehension lessons, small reading group assignments/discussions and independent reading. Your child’s grade in reading will be based upon their participation and success in the areas mentioned above. The independent reading goal is often an area of confusion, so please read the next section carefully.

EXPLANATION OF THE INDEPENDENT READING GOAL:

In third grade each student is assigned an independent reading goal for each quarter. The first reading goal is based upon your child’s reading level at the end of second grade.

The Independent Reading Goal is designed to develop a love for reading in your child. Because of this, students should choose reading materials that are interesting and at an appropriate level.  Chapter books, picture books, magazines, or non-fiction books are all allowed as long as they are appropriately chosen. Because the Independent Reading Goal is based upon a set page amount, the homeroom teacher will help decide how many pages different reading materials are worth. This decision will be based on an average third grade chapter book page.

Reading materials can be selected from your home, the public library, the school library, or the classroom library. The books are to be read independently, either at home or during free time or silent reading time at school. If students use their time wisely, they should be able to complete the majority of the reading goal during the school day. However, we do ask that you play a role in your child’s reading goal by helping them choose books, discussing the books they are reading and monitoring their progress. Your child’s teacher will also send weekly updates on the reading goal.

How to turn in pages:
When your child finishes a book, he/she must fill out and turn in a reading goal form (example included). Many books are part of a computer based program called Accelerated Reader (AR). If the completed book is an AR book, your child must prove that he/she read and understood the book by taking an AR test and passing with a score of 70-100%. A score of 60% on an AR test will be accepted only if it is accompanied by a detailed summary. Anything below a 50% will not be accepted. AR tests will be accessible from home this year (information to follow). Completed books or reading materials that are not part of the AR program will be accepted if a detailed summary and parent signature are attached.

Your child will be expected to complete their reading goal each quarter. This will be 20% of the reading grade. At the end of each quarter, third graders who have completed their reading goals will participate in a special party. Students who have not completed their reading goals will be expected to read instead. If at any point, you or your child feels frustrated over the reading goal, contact the homeroom teacher. Individual reading goals will be assigned at the beginning of each quarter.

READING GOAL DUE DATES:

1st quarter– Monday, October 13th

2nd quarter- Monday, December 15th

3rd quarter- Monday, March 2nd

4th quarter- Friday, May 15th

Of course, pages can be turned in prior to those dates, and students are encouraged to read MORE than the required number of pages. We suggest that students turn in completed reading goal slips as soon as they finish a book. New reading goals will be assigned each quarter. We all know that the more we read, the better readers we become, so we hope you will help support this wonderful reading program.

MATH

As we all know, math is a very important part of being successful in life. The skills learned in third grade math are foundational! To better meet your child’s needs in math, we switch classes for math to create a more homogeneous grouping. Your child will be pre-tested and then placed in a class that will meet his/her needs. Your child’s math teacher will most likely be different from their homeroom teacher. If you have questions concerning math, it is best to direct them to the math teacher.

During math class, your child will be introduced to new skills and review/practice skills that have been previously taught. It is essential for students in third grade to memorize all addition and subtractions facts by the end of the first semester, and multiplication facts by the end of the school year. We ask that parents practice these facts each night at home with their children until they are mastered. In addition, students will bring home Math homework each Tuesday, and it is due back on Thursday. This homework will count for 20% of the child’s math grade each quarter.

SPELLING

A spelling list will go home each Friday in the child’s Friday folder. Students should study their spelling words at home every night, and written Spelling homework is due on Wednesday. Spelling tests are given on Thursday.  Spelling homework guidelines will be attached to the weekly lists.

We recommend that you set aside a certain time each night for homework, and provide a quiet, structured area for you child to work in. Also, it is helpful to develop a routine for returning completed homework to school in a timely manner. We truly appreciate your help in providing the encouragement needed for you child to complete these assignments.

SCIENCE   AND   SOCIAL STUDIES

In third grade, we focus on either science or social studies throughout the year. This allows for more involved units of study with more time in each day. The timeline below shows an approximate schedule of our units of study. As you can see, we switch back and forth from science to social studies.

GRADES AND ASSIGNMENTS

Grades are determined by a variety of factors for each subject area taught. Generally, grades come from combining student participation, performance on appropriately leveled classroom work and standardized-grade level tests.  Within most subject areas, your child will be given a grade and a performance level. A traditional grading scale (A, B, C, D, F) is used and performance levels will be based upon standardized test scores. Grades and levels will be discussed at conferences and on report cards. Your child’s homeroom teacher and math teacher should keep you updated more frequently on your child’s progress and ability by returning graded papers to you.

During third grade, your child will be given two different types of assignments. The first type is considered classroom work and is meant to be done at school with the assistance/supervision of the teacher. Students will not have unlimited amounts of time to complete classroom work. If classroom work is not completed in a timely manner or not completed well, a student may be asked to stay before or after school for study hall, stay in during our extra Friday recess or the student may loose points on the assignment.

The second type of assignment is homework. Homework must be completed at home. If your child struggles to work at home, you can sign them up for after school study hall which runs until 4:30 on most days. Please coordinate with your child’s homeroom teacher or Sandy in the office if this option interests you.

What if math or spelling homework are turned in late or not turned in at all?  For each day pass the due date, 10% will be decreased from the overall score. If the homework has not been turned in by Friday of the week it was assigned (and the student has had no absences), the assignment will be completed during our extra Friday recess. Whatever the student completes during the recess will be turned in for a grade unless a study hall session is scheduled.

AWARDS

In addition to the SOAR Program, quarterly citizenship awards will be handed out to students who meet the criteria listed below. Parents will be notified each quarter if their child will be receiving an award.

To earn a citizenship award, students must:

*Have good behavior in all classrooms, on the playground, in the lunchroom and on the bus.

*Have no more than 4 absences or tardies per quarter
(Exceptions may be made for extended illnesses verified by a doctor’s note)

*Have no more than a total of 3 late or missing homework or classroom assignments.

*Complete the reading goal.

ATTACHMENTS

Attached you will find the following:
*Sample reading goal form and summary sheet
*A list of Reading Comprehension Strategies to use for discussion with your child
*Dolch Site Vocabulary Sheet- Use this for basic spelling practice and review
*Sample math facts timed tests
*Third Grade Expectation Contract – SIGN AND RETURN

Third Grade Expectations

Please sign and return to your child’s homeroom teacher.

Please read, discuss, sign and then return the bottom portion of this sheet.