Welcome to Back to School Night!

• Please sign up for a fall and a spring Parent-Teacher conference. Kindly reserve the evening times for working parents.

• Add your email address to the class list.• If you are interested in chaperoning a

trip, please sign up to be entered in the lottery.

• Respond to your child’s letter.

Expectations and Goals

• Positive, risk-free learning environment

• Want students to feel supported and appropriately challenged

• Goals for StudentsBehavior expectations: Be kind! Work hard!Build responsibility / independenceLearn to set goals and achieve themPractice “Habits of Mind”Understand that mistakes are part of learning

• Home and school work as a team!Send in a note or call if you have a question or concern

What to Expect in 3rd Grade

• Big jump!• Support at home! (Please!)• Classwork and Homework

– Not all work is graded, but is reviewed– Students usually check themselves– Checked Work folders

• Content Area Tests– Emphasis not on grade, but what student needs to

work on– Sign and return

•Teachers College workshop model•Literacy CAFÉ •Common Core Learning Standards

• Developing critical thinking skills• Reading many different genres• Build fluency and comprehension• Develop vocabulary!

•We need your help!• Reading levels –> M-P• Time spent reading Just Right Books!• Complete reading logs

Reading Workshop

K, L,and M Readers

Dorothy is friendly. The problem is she gets taken to Oz by a tornado. It gets solved when she uses her magic shoes to get home.

N, O, P & Q Readers

All of the above and…I noticed that the characters all said one thing but acted in a different way, For example, the Scarecrow said he was not smart but he always finds a way to solve their problems. I also noticed that Dorothy had to solve many little problems before she could solve her big problem of getting home.

R, S, and T Readers

All of the above and…I noticed that the setting seemed like a character, too. Let me explain…

U, V, and W Readers

All of the above and…discuss theme and symbolism.

X,Y, and Z Readers

All of the above and… The Wizard of Oz is a satire of the Depression / Dust Bowl era in American history. Let me compare that to another satire called Gulliver’s Travels.

Reading Levels ExplainedHow Readers at Each Band Would Comprehend The Wizard of Oz

• Teachers College Workshop model• Writing in different genres• Process

– Collecting seed ideas– Drafting– Revising & Editing– Publishing– Sharing

Writing Workshop

Third Grade TC Units of Study 2015-2016

Months Reading Writing

September/October Unit 1: Building a Reading Life Unit 1: Crafting True Stories (Personal Narrative)

October/ November Unit 2: Reading to Learn: Grasping Main Ideas and Text Structures

Unit 2: The Art of Information Writing

November/December Unit 3: Character Studies Unit 3: 3rd Grade Literary Essay

December/ January Unit 4: Research Clubs: Elephants, Penguins, and Frogs, Oh My!

 

February Unit 5: Social Issues Book Clubs Unit 4: Changing the World: Persuasive Speeches, Petitions, and Editorials

March Unit 6: Test Preparation Unit 5: Test Preparation

April/May Unit 7: Biography Book Clubs Unit 6: Information Writing: Reading, Research, and Writing in the Content Areas

May/June Unit 8: Mystery Book Clubs Unit 7: Once Upon a Time: Adapting and Writing Fairy Tales

• Words Their Way program• Differentiated and developmentally based• Word sorts• Goal is to transfer to reading and writing• Quiz given at the end

of each sort

Word Study

Piloting new math programs in the district–Go Math!

Emphasizes understanding, computational fluency, and real life applications Workbook for classwork and homework Numerous online resources, including videos 5 E’s: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate,

Evaluate Repertoire of different strategies and algorithms Concepts to cover this year include:

multiplication/ rectangular arrays and area, division, fractions

Math

MathStudents need to practice their skills at home, too!

• Time-telling and elapsed time

• Money skills

• Addition and subtraction facts

• Multiplication and division facts (later in the year)

Units of Study– 5 concepts (geography, history, economy, government,

and culture)– Map skills and landforms– Countries Around the World

Units of Study– Measuring Matter– Water– Living Earth

– Departmentalization with Mrs. Wise

Social Studies

Science

Homework Policy• Purpose: To reinforce and maintain skills learned in

class; foster a sense of responsibility• Law of Diminishing Returns:

– The tendency for a continuing application of effort or skill toward a particular project or goal to decline in effectiveness after a certain level of result has been achieved.

• Given Monday – Thursday nights• Reading and log every night, including weekends

and vacationsTime increases throughout the year

• Usually math, reading, and maybe writing or word study• Parents supervise and may assist, but please write a quick

note at the top if the assignment was particularly difficult.• Effort – Content and Appearance• Complete missed homework in library during recess

• Set a daily time and place (routine)• Quiet place with few distractions• Have necessary supplies (sharpened

pencils, post-its, looseleaf paper)• Pack backpack as soon as homework is

completed• Offer support and praise, but do not

complete the homework for your child

Homework Tips

Field Trips

Brookville Outdoor Educational Center Friday, October 23rd 4 chaperones per class Free!

Japanese Drumming at the Tilles Center Friday, January 29th 2 chaperones per class Cost: Approximately $20

Testing• Teachers College Reading Assessments• NWEA• COGAT Practice Test (September 25th)• COGAT Test (September 28-30)• New York State ELA Test (April 5-7)• New York State Math Test (April 13-15)• Content area tests will be announced in

advance

Miscellaneous• Communication

– Note in Boomerang folder or email – Email:

• jharrington@hewlett-woodmere.net• swise@hewlett-woodmere.net

– Dismissal notes CANNOT BE EMAILED! Please write a note in your child’s folder or call the office in an emergency.

• Snack – Please send a healthy snack!– Allergies! We are a nut-free class!

• Lunch – Please send money in a sealed envelope labeled with the child’s

name.– Send with child – avoid drop-offs please

• Birthdays– Celebrated once per month; coordinated by class moms

• Class Moms– Ms. Almonte and Ms. Amitrano

• Scholastic Book Orders– Order online at any time!– Link on my teacher page

Miscellaneous

Thank you for coming to Back to School

Night!Remember…•Please sign up for a Parent-Teacher conference. Kindly reserve the evening times for working parents.•Sign the list if you are interested in chaperoning a trip.•Add your email to the class list if you are interested in doing so.•Respond to your child’s letter.