Back To School Night

Third Grade2017-2018

Welcome to

Third Grade TeachersThere are four 3rd Grade teachers:

Mrs. Deutsch

Mrs. Heald

Mrs. Pinegar

Mrs. Porter

Co-TeachingIn third grade we are departmentalized.

● Plan as a grade level ● Teach as a team

Mrs. Deutsch and Mrs. Porter Mrs. Heald and Mrs. Pinegar

Mrs. Deutsch and Mrs. Heald both teach Language Arts

Mrs. Pinegar and Mrs. Porter both teach Math

All four teach Science and Social Studies

Curriculum 2.0Montgomery Public Schools implemented Curriculum 2.0 which aligns with the Common Core Standards.

It features an integrated curriculum so that subjects are not taught in isolation.

The focus is on both whole group and small group instruction.

Language Arts Language Arts consists of reading, writing and informational technology.

Students will be reading both literature and informational text.

● Reading for Literary Experience● Reading to be Informed

Students will also be working on foundational skills such as comprehension as well as Language: Vocabulary Acquisition and Use.

Language ArtsStudents will practice different types of writing:

● Narrative● Informative/Explanatory● Opinion

Students will also be working on Use of Language and Process, Production, and Research.

What is Information Technology?As the world around us evolves it is important for students to know how to safely use computers for storing, retrieving, and sending information.

During language arts students will be working on creating, editing, and publishing long term writing and media projects using Google Slides and Google Docs. These projects are co-taught with the Media Specialist.

Topics include:

● Narrative Writing● The History of Technology

MathMath is broken down into five measurement topics.

● Geometry● Measurement and Data● Number and Operations in Base Ten● Number and Operations - Fractions● Operations and Algebraic Thinking

Students are instructed using whole group lessons flexible math groups and independent practice.

UCARE

Students who deeply understand a mathematical concept are referred to as proficient in that concept.

Proficiency is defined in the five intertwined strands of UCARE.

Geometry● Understand that shapes in different categories may share attributes, and that

the shared attributes can define a larger category.

● Partition shapes into parts with equal areas. Express the area of each part as a unit fraction of the whole.

Number and Operations in Base Ten● Use place value understanding to round whole numbers to the nearest 10 or

100. ● Fluently add and subtract within 1000 using strategies and algorithms based on

place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction.

Number and Operations - Fractions● Understand a fraction as the quantity formed by 1 part when a whole is

partitioned into equal parts.● Understand a fraction as a number on the number line.● Explain equivalence of fractions in special cases, and compare fractions by

reasoning about their size. ● Compare two fractions with the same numerator or the same denominator by

reasoning about their size.

ScienceScience is broken down into three measurement topics.

Engineering and Technology

● STEM Projects

Life Sciences

● Health● Habitats

Physical Sciences

● Motion and Force Cooling and Heating● Heat and Light Energy

Social StudiesSocial Studies is broken down into five measurement topics.

● Civics● Culture● Economics● Geography● History of Technology

Nightly HomeworkMath

● Practice math facts on XtraMath (sums and differences to 30)● Follow up work as needed

Reading

● Read for 20 minutes or more ● Discussion word

Class DojoWe will be using Class Dojo to provide incentives for good behavior

Students earn points for following Ritchie Park rules

● Being Responsible● Following Directions the First Time● Respecting Classmates and Teachers● Being On Task

Points can be used to buy rewards from the Class Dojo store. Students will be given the opportunity to buy from the store once per week.

Our goal is for each child to have 75% or more positive points per day.

How do parents check Class Dojo?There are two ways to keep track of your child’s Class Dojo points

1. Log in to the Class Dojo parent app or websitea. See Mrs. Pinegar or Mrs. Heald to get your child’s log-in code. One of the teachers will have to

accept you before you can see any information.

2. Check your child’s agenda booka. A calendar in the front of the agenda book will keep track of your child’s daily Class Dojo points,

as well as their running total. When they purchase something from the store, Mrs. Heald or Mrs.

Pinegar will let you know by circling “I went shopping.”

Parent - Teacher Communication● Agenda Book

Please initial the bottom of the Agenda Book nightly to show that your child has read for 20 minutes and practice his/her math facts.

● Email● Phone calls● Notes● Pink Slips - to inform you of an incident involving your child.

All pink slips must be signed by an adult and returned to school the following day.

● Quarterly Behavior Progress Reports

Montgomery County and Maryland State AssessmentsAs a public school, Ritchie Park is required to give the following assessments:

MAP - R (Measures of Academic Progress - Reading)

MAP-R and MAP-P are given three times a year.

MAP - P (Measures of Academic Progress - Math)

PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers)

PARCC is taken over several days during the month of May.

New Elementary Report Card in Grades 3-5Grade Description

A The student consistently demonstrates mastery of the grade level standards taught this marking period.

B The student frequently demonstrates mastery of the grade level standards taught this marking period.

C The student periodically demonstrates mastery of the grade level standards taught this marking period.

D The student rarely demonstrates mastery of the grade level standards taught this marking period.

Ritchie Park will host a Report Card Information Night on September 27th at 7:00 in the APR

New Schoolwide Birthday Celebration PolicyCelebrations will be held once a month on the first Friday of the month.

Third grade will have non-food centered celebrations to guarantee the safety and

health of our students. Birthday celebrations will be held in after-

noon classes from 3:00-3:15pm. Teachers will plan an activity.

If you would like to join us, please let us know. We will not send out

a reminder as we are informing you now of the new policy and how third grade is

structuring birthday celebrations.

.

Thank you and Goodnight!

Please feel free to contact us in writing, email or phone if you have any questions or concerns about your child.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Deutsch, Mrs. Heald, Mrs. Pinegar, and Mrs. Porter