7

Parent Orientation

Mrs. Estes and Miss Busby’s 3 rd Grade Class

Alexandria EstesAEste s@mid lake s .org

Graduated from Midlakes in 2004

Received BA degree from SUNY Fredonia in 2009

Received MS degree from SUNY Fredonia in 2011

Avid sports fan and soccer player

Modifi ed Cross Country Coach Fall 2013

Love to spend ti me outside!

Karen Busby k b u s b y @ m i d l a ke s . o r g

Graduated from Midlakes in 2002

I received my Bachelors degree from Roberts Wesleyan in December of 2006 and my Masters degree from Walden University in 2010

I am the youngest of 4, including two brothers and 1 sister.

I love spending ti me with my 2 nieces, playing guitar, and running.

I love football season and am a Green Bay Packers fan!

Common Core State Standards

The Common Core Standards were implemented last year.

Third grade will look different then in past years

Shift s in ELA & Math

~ Rigor

~ Text dependent/~ Evidence!

~ Word problems

~Vocabulary

www.engageny.org

Monthly Newsletter

Newsletter will come home each month.

The letter will tell what we are working on, plus any other important information/ dates for the week.

The Newsletter will also include a calendar (special events, homework due dates)

I also have a web page for our classroom. Important class information will also be posted there.

Homework/Take Home FoldersHomework

The entire third grade will have mostly the same homework

Spelling Math on Tuesdays and Thursdays Reading for 20 minutes per night, lett er due each cycle Projects and/or Study Guides

Take Home Folders and Agendas

Every student has received a maroon take-home folder. The folder needs to be returned everyday.

Every student has an agenda to record assignments. This is a great organizati onal tool. It is also great for parent/teacher communicati on. Please feel free to jot me a note!

What can I talk to my child about when we are reading at home?

FICTION Who is the main character? What is the setti ng? What is the main problem in

the story? What is the story mainly about? What do you predict will

happen next in the story? Did the character learn a

lesson? Did the character change? Pick a character. What

character traits does he or she exhibit?

NONFICTION What is the main idea of the

text? What new informati on did you

learn? What was the author ’s purpose

in writi ng this piece? Were there any text features

(charts, photographs, diagrams) that were important? What did you learn from them?

BIOGRAPHY: What contributi on did the subject make to society?

THESE ARE ALL “ THINKING POINTS”!

What is the “gist”?

Language ArtsReading

Guided Reading @ INSTRUCTIONAL LEVEL using trade books (fi cti on and nonfi cti on)

Independent Reading-interest reading of “just right” books Word Study Content area reading Homework- Reading for at least 20 minutes each night, Lett er once a cycle.

Writi ng Units of Study Writer ’s Notebooks Content area writi ng/Research Note-taking

Speaking Oral Presentati ons Daily Sharing of Writt en Work

Listening Read alouds Verbal directi ons

Spelling All 3rd grade classes are using a word study program that

involves learning high frequency words (writing words) and patt ern words.

A new patt ern or rule will be taught each week.

We believe in the importance of putti ng the words in long-term memory, so once the words are given for spelling they will be added to our Word Wall.

Grades are based on nightly homework, weekly tests, daily use and transferring words correctly (copying).

A new spelling list will come home each Monday (many of the assignments will stay the same each week). Please keep the assignment sheet in the take-home folder.

Spelling homework is to be completed nightly and returned the next day in order to receive credit.

Math

Third grade is a building year. We will be learning multiplication, division, and various problem solving strategies necessary to be a successful math student.

Facts are important. Memorization is a must. 10 minutes a day is all that is needed.

“Thinking” – Students must be able to explain their thoughts orally and in written form.

Science and Social Studies Units for Soc ia l Studies and Sc ience wi l l be taught quarter ly

Social Studies Communities and

Geography

Communities Over Time

Citizens and Government

People in Communities

ScienceScience 21

Plant Investigation Investigating Electricity Investigating the Water

Cycle Investigating Animal

Cycles

Specials Schedule Music- Day 1

P.E.- Days 2, 4 and 6

(Remember sneakers on these days!)

Computer- Day 3 Library- Day 3

(Remember books on these days!!)

Art- Day 5

New York State Testing

This year 3rd grade students will be required to take a state ELA test and a state Math test.

ELA – April 1-3, 2014

Math – April 30- May 2, 2014

SOAR

SAFETYORGANIZATIONACCOUNTABILITYRESPECT

First Class Globetrotter Monday: Sharing Sack: A small backpack will be sent home

with your child to use as the “sharing sack.” Please help your child collect special items from home with which to fi ll the bag, and send it back to school with your child on Monday to share with his or her classmates. Try to encourage your child to choose items that have some sort of meaning rather than just a collecti on of toys.

Tuesday: Favorite Book : Your star student brings one of his or her favorite picture books to read to the class (or have the teacher read to the class) at our class meeti ng.

Wednesday or Thursday : Lunch Buddy: If possible, join your child in the cafeteria for a special lunch on this day. You may also choose to invite a sibling or a favorite relati ve to be your child’s lunch buddy. You can have the buddy be a surprise or let your child know ahead of ti me. You can bring lunch from a favorite restaurant to the cafeteria, or you can order lunch at school. OUR LUNCH TIME IS 1:00-1:30 .

Friday: Star Friends: Your star student will be presented with a friendship CARD created by his or her classmates. The card will include compliments writt en by his or her classmates.

Birthdays Please feel free to send in treats for your child’s birthday

** Please see snack letter that went home to see what is OK to bring in.**

If your child has a birthday in the summer, we can celebrate “half” birthdays (e.g.. Aug. 20 th + 6 months = Feb. 20th ). You could also choose a day to celebrate (just let Mrs. Estes know which day)

Provide enough for 20 .

Book Orders

If you wish to order, please make checks payable to the book company (scholastic).

You can also order online: Go to scholastic.com, click on book clubs, click on parents

Our Class Code is: JC8DG

Team Work

An apple for the teacher

Is really nothing new,

Except when you remember

Parents are teachers, too! Let’s work together to make this a great year for your child!

Please sign up for a parent/teacher conference before leaving.

Ways to contact us

aestes@midlakes.org or kbusby@midlakes.org

School Phone: 548-6900

Note