Welcome to
Third Grade!
I
am very excited about being able to teach your child this year. Third grade is the Medieval Year. History, religion, and literature are
integrated and will cover the following topics: first quarter the Rise of Christendom,
second quarter Monasteries and Christian Culture, third quarter Knights and
Crusades, and fourth quarter the University and the Bible. In Language Arts, students will learn grammar
and classifying sentences. Manuscript
handwriting will be reviewed the in beginning of the year and for the rest of
the year cursive writing will be taught and practiced. Spelling is phonics related. In science, students will study plant and
animal life cycles, food chains and webs, and insect life. Mathematics covers numeration, addition,
subtraction, multiplication, division, properties of numbers, estimation,
patterns and relations, number sentences and unknowns, geometry, measurement,
data analysis, probability, and problem solving. Students will also be introduced to Latin.
One
of the major aspects of teaching your child deals with your child’s development
in reading and writing. I believe in a
balanced literacy program that includes a variety of functional and meaningful
ways your child will be engaged in reading and writing. Each day the students will be immersed in a
print-rich environment through the use of textbooks, trade books, posters,
magazines, poetry, and nonfiction books.
They will also be involved in many forms of communication such as listening,
reading, writing, speaking, drawing, observing,
experiencing, and creating.
There are eight basic components of a balanced literacy program. The first component is reading aloud to children. This is done daily because it has a major influence in learning to read. It provides a good role model of oral reading and students are exposed to how texts are structured, given a sense of story, and increased vocabulary. The second component of a balanced literacy program is shared reading. This is when the teacher models oral reading and then the students read along with the teacher. The third component is guided reading. This usually takes place with small groups of students. The teacher acts as a guide, reinforcing skills, and engages the students in discussion about what is being read. The fourth component is independent reading. This is just for the fun of reading. The text to be read is selected by the student. The student develops confidence and fluency in reading. This component is completed every afternoon during silent reading time. The fifth component of a balanced literacy program is modeled writing. Here the teacher models and demonstrates how to write. Correct format, spelling, punctuation, grammar, and vocabulary are some of the major skills taught in this component. The sixth component is shared writing. The students help in the actual writing of the assignment as it is written on the board or chart paper. For example, the students either tell the teacher what to write or write it themselves on the board or chart paper. The seventh component is guided writing. This is writing completed by the students that is directed and guided by the teacher. The teacher conferences with the students on how to improve their writing, and evaluation is given. The last component of a balanced literacy program is independent writing. This is when the students write without guidance or evaluation by the teacher.
A good learning experience is built on a cooperative effort among teacher, child, and parents. Following are suggested ideas that you can do to help strengthen literacy learning in the classroom and at home:
Strengthening literacy
learning in the classroom
· read to a small group of students
· share and read your favorite book to the class
· tell the class about your favorite book
· listen to students read
· share a hobby, interest, skill or profession with the class
Strengthening literacy learning at home (These ideas were adapted from “8 Ways Parents Can Promote Reading at Home” by Marilyn Lopes and “Learning Partners—Let’s Read” by U.S. Department of Education)
· Be an example of reading—let your children see you read
· Use magazines or the daily newspaper as a scavenger hunt. Have your child find specific items such as a map, the temperature or weather report, words that are nouns or verbs, etc.
·
Children should read every day.
· Have your child read orally to you at least 10 minutes every day.
· Read aloud to your children. Don’t stop reading to them just because they can read. This is an opportunity for both of you to do something fun together.
· As you read together, take turns. You can read a page or paragraph and then your child can read. Remember that your child may be concentrating on how to read, so your reading helps to keep the story moving.
· If you notice that your child is having trouble reading words, following are three suggestions:
· Have your child skip over the word, read the rest of the sentence, and then ask what word would make sense in the story
· Have your child use what is known about letters and sounds to “sound out” the word
· Supply the word and have your child continue reading.
· Remember that enjoyment of reading is the main goal.
· Make reading a privilege by allowing your children to stay up an extra 10-15 minutes if they read in bed or read them an extra story as a reward.
· Get a library card and visit the library regularly.
· Give your children books as gifts.
· Make your home a literacy-rich environment.
Third Grade Language Arts
Language Arts consists of
reading, spelling, handwriting, and English (grammar and writing). Books that will be used in our Language Arts
program include an English textbook, workbook, and journal (composition book).
A variety of reading material will also be used. A list of spelling words for the week will be
sent home the first day of the week. Spelling homework is to be completed on
loose-leaf paper and to be turned in the next day. Spelling homework will start September 6.
Spelling homework is as
follows for all words:
Monday
– write all spelling words in ABC order
Tuesday
– write one definition for each word
Wednesday
– write sentences for each word (each word in a separate sentence)
Thursday
– write all words 3 times each
If
there is a four-day week, the spelling homework is as follows:
Tuesday
– ABC order 3 times each Monday
– ABC order 3 times each
Wednesday
– definitions Tuesday
– definitions
Thursday
– sentences Wednesday
– sentences
There will be a spelling test
and quiz every Friday. The spelling quiz
consists of identifying correctly or incorrectly spelled words. There will not be spelling homework or a
spelling test during two-day or three-day weeks.
The dates for any quizzes and
tests should be written in your child’s assignment book, will be printed in the
Weekly Third Grade Newsletter that will be sent home the first day of every
week, and will be posted on the class website.
Go to www.stjeromes.org. Click on school, then faculty/class news,
then 3rd grade classroom news.
Daily homework assignments from Mrs. Barnes may be seen by clicking on
the homework link.
A Day in the
Third Grade Classroom
Morning Routine:
The morning will be a very
busy time. Each student is expected to
complete the following tasks every morning:
1.
Enter the
classroom quietly.
2.
Unpack bookbags, put jackets, lunchboxes, etc. in assigned locker.
3.
Give notes,
money, etc. to the teacher.
4.
Put homework in
tray.
5.
Copy homework
assignments from board into assignment book.
6.
Sharpen pencils
(no sharpening after morning announcements, except during break time).
7.
Complete the
daily Warm-Up.
8.
Quiet talking
(whispering) is permitted until the 8:15 a.m. bell. After that, it should be silent and everyone
should be in their seats.
Note: It is very important that each student arrive
on time to school each day. The tardy
bell rings at 8:15 a.m. Warm-up is every
day from 8:00 - 8:20 a.m. Instruction begins
at 8:20 a.m. Excessive tardiness tends
to take away from the education of that student and results in lower grades. It is also a distraction for others in the
classroom. Students may enter the
building when the morning bell rings at 8:00 a.m.
Morning Break:
There will be a 15-minute
break every morning. During this time,
the students will use the bathroom, get drinks, eat their snacks, and be able
to socialize/move around the room.
Snacks should be healthy--no candy, cookies, cake, soda, etc. Suggestions for snacks may include: fruit,
vegetables, crackers, pretzels, nuts, cheese, popcorn, fruit roll-ups, etc.
Lunch Time:
The lunch and recess period
for third grade is from 11:40 a.m. until 12:40 p.m. Students should be ready to quickly get their
lunches and jackets and line up quietly when directed by the teacher. Students should also follow all lunch and
recess rules.
Moving Through the Building:
It is the school policy that
classes are to move quietly through the building, especially when going to or
coming from the cafeteria, library, art, and gym. Students will be expected to:
1.
Form a
single-file line.
2.
Maintain silence
in the hallways.
3.
Walk at all times
in the school building.
Homework:
No homework sheet is given in
third grade. Children copy their
homework from the chalkboard in an assignment book each day. Please check the assignment book on a daily
basis. Homework is given every day
except Friday. Homework is assigned to
give each student the opportunity to practice and to apply skills that are
learned during the school day. Homework
also teaches time management, and it reinforces the concept of
responsibility. Homework also provides
daily opportunity for parents to encourage children to succeed in school. All
homework requires a parental signature. Parents
are to encourage and assist, but not complete the work for their child. Therefore, it is very important that homework
assignments be taken seriously. Homework
assignments may also be found on the class website. They are updated daily.
Dismissal/End of the Day:
Like the morning, the
afternoon is a very hectic time. At the
end of the last class period, students will be expected to complete the
following tasks:
1.
Make sure all
homework assignments additions/corrections are written in the assignment book.
2.
Get all books and
materials ready to go home.
3.
Complete any
classroom jobs.
4.
Listen to all
end-of-the-day announcements made by Ms. Donoghue.
5.
Sit quietly and
wait to be dismissed.
6.
Grades 3 and 4
will be dismissed through the gym doors.
EXAMPLE OF PAPER HEADING:
NAME DATE
SUBJECT
Grading Policies:
1.
After each unit
of study is completed, testing will assess the student’s learning. Chapter or Unit Tests will be announced a
week in advance. Tests are worth 30% of
the total average.
2.
During the study
of a chapter or unit, it is necessary to assess the student’s progress. This will be accomplished by giving quizzes
periodically. They will be announced at
least one day in advance. Quizzes are
worth 20% of the total average.
3.
Certain classwork assignments are graded throughout a unit of study. Classwork is worth
45% of the total average.
4.
Homework is worth
5% of the total average.
Reading and English grades
will be determined in both an objective and subjective manner. Objectively, test and quiz scores will be
averaged along with any projects, homework, and classwork. The subjective side will involve an
assessment in terms of the following skills:
a.
Oral Reading: The degree
to which a student exhibits fluency when reading a
familiar
text and the use of various reading strategies, such as decoding and
context
clues.
b.
Writing Skills: The degree
to which a student is able to express his/her ideas in
the
written format. Writing is a primary way
to assess a student’s comprehension of
previously
read texts. Also, the application of
grammar skills within the writing will
be
assessed.
c.
Speaking: The degree to
which a student can effectively verbalize his or her
opinions,
ideas, and viewpoints.
d.
Listening: The ability of
a student to respond to a selection that has been read
aloud. Comprehension of read-aloud materials is an
important component of this.
Grading
System for Grades 1 - 3: Grades 4 - 8
A score of 93 –100
equals E Excellent A
85 – 92 G Good B
77 – 84 S Satisfactory C
70 – 76 I Improvement Needed D
0 – 69 U Unsatisfactory E
Third Grade Newsletter:
At the beginning of each
week, each student will receive a newsletter. Those who have not completed all classwork/homework that I have assigned will receive a list
of incomplete work attached to their newsletter. If the work is not turned in within two weeks
from the date it was assigned, a grade of zero will occur. A study check will be given for work that is
one week late. At least five points are
deducted for work turned in late.
Also, up to 5 points will be
deducted for not having assignments correctly headed (first and last name,
subject, date).
How to Contact Mrs. Barnes: I
may be contacted by e-mail at cbarnes@stjeromes.org or by letter delivered by your child or by leaving a
message at 301-277-4568.
Third Grade Class Schedule (subject to
change)
|
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
|
8:00-8:20 Warm Up Attendance |
8:00-8:20 Warm Up Attendance |
8:00-8:20 Warm Up Attendance |
8:00-8:20 Warm Up Attendance |
8:00-8:20 Warm Up Attendance |
|
8:20-9:10 Spelling English Handwriting |
8:20-8:50 Spelling English |
8:20-9:10 Spelling English Handwriting |
8:20-9:10 Spelling English Handwriting |
8:20-9:10 Spelling English Handwriting |
|
9:10-9:45 Literature |
9:00-9:45 Mass |
9:10-9:45 Literature |
9:10-9:45 Literature |
9:10-9:45 Literature Touchstone Discussions |
|
9:45-10:00 snack |
9:45-10:00 snack |
9:45-10:00 snack |
9:45-10:00 snack |
9:45-10:00 snack |
|
10:00-10:50 Math |
10:00-10:50 Math |
10:00-10:50 Math |
10:00-10:50 Math |
10:00-10:50 Math |
|
10:50-11:35 Scripture Study |
10:50-11:40 Literature |
10:50-11:35 Library |
10:50-11:35 Math |
10:50-11:40 History |
|
11:40-12:40 Lunch/Recess |
11:40-12:40 Lunch/Recess |
11:40-12:40 Lunch/Recess |
11:40-12:40 Lunch/Recess |
11:40-12:40 Lunch/Recess |
|
12:45-1:30 Science |
12:45-1:30 Science |
12:45-1:30 Religion |
12:45-1:30 Religion |
12:45-1:30 Religion |
|
1:30-2:30 History |
1:30-2:20 History |
1:30-2:15 History |
1:30-2:00 History |
1:30-2:15 Art |
|
2:30-3:00 Music |
2:20-3:00 Gym |
2:15-3:00 Science |
2:00-2:30 Music
|
2:15-3:00 Centers |
|
2:30-3:00 Latin |
||||
|
3:00-3:10 Clean/Pack Up |
3:00-3:10 Clean/Pack Up |
3:00-3:10 Clean/Pack Up |
3:00-3:10 Clean/Pack Up |
3:00-3:10 Clean/Pack Up |
With your participation in and out of the classroom, we can look forward to a productive, creative, and enjoyable year together.
Thank you for your support.