Rice Elementary School Rice Elementary School 33rdrd Grade Grade

MathMath ReadingReading WritingWriting

SpellingSpelling

What is What is Core Core

KnowledgeKnowledge??

Social StuSocial Studiesdies

ScienceScience

About About Mrs. Mrs.

Foster & Foster & Mrs. Mrs. DavisDavis

PortfoliosPortfolios HomeworHomeworkk

PBSPBSOther Other

InformatioInformationn

Daily Daily ScheduleSchedule

CommunicatiCommunicationon

Our Our WonderfulWonderful Third Grade Third Grade

MathMath

District wide program: Everyday MathDistrict wide program: Everyday Math Organized into content strandsOrganized into content strands

– Operations and ComputationOperations and Computation– NumerationNumeration– PatternsPatterns– FunctionsFunctions– AlgebraAlgebra– Data and ChanceData and Chance– MeasurementMeasurement– GeometryGeometry

ReadingReading SRA Imagine It! 2008 EditionSRA Imagine It! 2008 Edition Comprehensive reading, writing and spelling Comprehensive reading, writing and spelling

programprogram Develops confident and fluent readers through Develops confident and fluent readers through

print and phonemic awareness activities and print and phonemic awareness activities and explicit, systematic instructionexplicit, systematic instruction

Engages students as they construct meaning Engages students as they construct meaning through instruction and application ofthrough instruction and application of– Comprehensive skills and strategiesComprehensive skills and strategies– Meaningful discussionsMeaningful discussions

Students explore, discuss and research ideasStudents explore, discuss and research ideas– Develops research and study skillsDevelops research and study skills– Students become independent, self-directed Students become independent, self-directed

learnerslearners In addition to SRA anthologies, we will be In addition to SRA anthologies, we will be

completing novel studies and participating in completing novel studies and participating in literature studies throughout the year.literature studies throughout the year.

WritingWriting

Daily WritingDaily Writing – For a variety of purposesFor a variety of purposes

Inform, explain, persuade, share, tell a Inform, explain, persuade, share, tell a story, describestory, describe

Students will learn to write:Students will learn to write:– Friendly letters, organized and Friendly letters, organized and

thoughtful paragraphs, narratives, and thoughtful paragraphs, narratives, and expository texts on their ownexpository texts on their own

Correct use of punctuation, capitalization, and Correct use of punctuation, capitalization, and spelling will be emphasized (mechanics)spelling will be emphasized (mechanics)

We will be using We will be using Empowering WritersEmpowering Writers and and Step Step Up to WritingUp to Writing programs programs

School wide planning guides in preparation for School wide planning guides in preparation for CSAPCSAP

Spelling and HandwritingSpelling and Handwriting

Imagine It! Spelling ProgramImagine It! Spelling Program– Learn spelling rules to enhance language Learn spelling rules to enhance language

skillsskills “ “No Excuse Words” WordsNo Excuse Words” Words

– Words 1-267Words 1-267 Formal assessmentsFormal assessments

– Final test and other assessments on Final test and other assessments on FridaysFridays

Cursive handwritingCursive handwriting– Begin with the lowercase alphabet and Begin with the lowercase alphabet and

then move to uppercase lettersthen move to uppercase letters

What is Core What is Core Knowledge?Knowledge?

Started by E.D Hirsch Jr. based on cognitive Started by E.D Hirsch Jr. based on cognitive psychology and examination of what is psychology and examination of what is necessary to have in an effective school.necessary to have in an effective school.

Provides a solid continuum of learning that Provides a solid continuum of learning that spirals between grades.spirals between grades.

Compliments a skills-based program providing Compliments a skills-based program providing a sequenced and challenging knowledge in a sequenced and challenging knowledge in which to ground skills instruction.which to ground skills instruction.

Based on the premise that all civilizations Based on the premise that all civilizations must attain the basics in order to reach must attain the basics in order to reach thriving (survival needs). Thriving affords thriving (survival needs). Thriving affords opportunities such as written communication, opportunities such as written communication, expression (art), and rules/government, etc.. expression (art), and rules/government, etc..

Social StudiesSocial Studies

What Your Third Grader Needs to KnowWhat Your Third Grader Needs to Know– Fundamentals of a Good Third-Grade Education Fundamentals of a Good Third-Grade Education – Edited by E.D. Hirsch, Jr.Edited by E.D. Hirsch, Jr.

“ “We learn new knowledge by building on what We learn new knowledge by building on what we already know.”we already know.”

Third grade social studies units include:Third grade social studies units include:– Canada TodayCanada Today– World RiversWorld Rivers– Ancient RomeAncient Rome– The VikingsThe Vikings– The Earliest AmericansThe Earliest Americans– Exploration of North AmericaExploration of North America– Life in the Thirteen ColoniesLife in the Thirteen Colonies

ScienceScience

Core KnowledgeCore Knowledge Units are: Units are:

– Classification of AnimalsClassification of Animals– Muscular, Skeletal, and Nervous Muscular, Skeletal, and Nervous

SystemsSystems– EcologyEcology– Light and OpticsLight and Optics– SoundSound– AstronomyAstronomy

Science Lab downstairsScience Lab downstairs

Third Grade Teachers…Third Grade Teachers…

Mrs. FosterMrs. Foster– 12 years teaching 12 years teaching

experience in PSDexperience in PSD– Have taught grades 3 Have taught grades 3

and 4.and 4.– Gifted and Talented Gifted and Talented

Program TeacherProgram Teacher– Have lived in Fort Collins Have lived in Fort Collins

for 31 yearsfor 31 years– Five children, including Five children, including

a wonderful daughter-in-a wonderful daughter-in-lawlaw

Mrs. DavisMrs. Davis– 14 years teaching 14 years teaching

experienceexperience– Graduate from Redlands Graduate from Redlands

UniversityUniversity– Have taught grades 1-4Have taught grades 1-4– Moved from CaliforniaMoved from California– Two children, Eric and Two children, Eric and

AllieAllie

PortfoliosPortfolios Showcase your child’s progress and growth throughout Showcase your child’s progress and growth throughout

the yearthe year Divided into sections:Divided into sections:

– GoalsGoals– Best workBest work– Teacher chosen assignmentsTeacher chosen assignments– Long-term projects (writing)Long-term projects (writing)– Growth and progress Growth and progress

You will review portfolio with your child at conferencesYou will review portfolio with your child at conferences Write goals togetherWrite goals together

– Parent and child will write goal together quarterlyParent and child will write goal together quarterly– Encourage students to think about and monitor Encourage students to think about and monitor

whether goals have been metwhether goals have been met Students held more accountable for their workStudents held more accountable for their work Students can reflect on their work and progressStudents can reflect on their work and progress

HomeworkHomework Homework builds upon what the students have learned Homework builds upon what the students have learned

in the classroomin the classroom– Weekly spelling lists and spelling practiceWeekly spelling lists and spelling practice– Math “Home links”Math “Home links”

3 times per week3 times per week– Reading logsReading logs

At least 20 minutes per night/2 sentences each nightAt least 20 minutes per night/2 sentences each night Weekly spelling lists and practice sheetsWeekly spelling lists and practice sheets Provide a quiet, well-lit area for homeworkProvide a quiet, well-lit area for homework

– Pencil…no penPencil…no pen– On-timeOn-time– Lined paperLined paper

Homework Folders (monthly incentive)Homework Folders (monthly incentive)

Positive Behavior SupportPositive Behavior Support

““Earn Your Wings”Earn Your Wings”– Demonstrate character traitsDemonstrate character traits

Positive reinforcementPositive reinforcement– 6:1 ratio 6:1 ratio

SOAR ticketsSOAR tickets– Reward for good choicesReward for good choices– Redeemed in various waysRedeemed in various ways

Homeroom teacherHomeroom teacher– Fill up the classroom doorFill up the classroom door

S.O.A.R means:S.O.A.R means:– S: Self-ControlS: Self-Control– O: OptimismO: Optimism– A: AppreciationA: Appreciation– R: RespectR: Respect

Soar MatrixSoar Matrix– How to behave in various areas of the schoolHow to behave in various areas of the school

ReferralsReferrals– Poor choices, negative or violent behaviorPoor choices, negative or violent behavior– Identifies problem, who was involved, consequencesIdentifies problem, who was involved, consequences– Requires parent signature and contact Requires parent signature and contact

Daily ScheduleDaily Schedule 8:15 – 8:30 8:15 – 8:30 8:15 TV news is on News, Journals, Attendance, 8:15 TV news is on News, Journals, Attendance,

Lunch countLunch count 8:30 Math facts8:30 Math facts 8:40 Math (red)/ Writing (blue)8:40 Math (red)/ Writing (blue) 9:30 Workshop/Guided Reading9:30 Workshop/Guided Reading 10:05 CORE10:05 CORE 10:45 IMPACT10:45 IMPACT 11:40 Lunch11:40 Lunch 12:20 IE/ScSR12:20 IE/ScSR 12:50 6 Minute Fluency 12:50 6 Minute Fluency 1:00 Literacy Rotation1:00 Literacy Rotation 1:50 Recess1:50 Recess 2:05 Math(blue)/Writing (red)2:05 Math(blue)/Writing (red) 2:50 Stack and Pack2:50 Stack and Pack 3:00 Dismiss3:00 Dismiss

Other InformationOther Information

The “Giving Tree”The “Giving Tree” Birthdays and Un-birthdaysBirthdays and Un-birthdays ConferencesConferences

– October 15October 15thth and 16 and 16thth

– On an “as-needed” basis during the On an “as-needed” basis during the last quarterlast quarter

CommunicationCommunication

Appointments with your child’s teacherAppointments with your child’s teacher– Contact homeroom teacher with questions, Contact homeroom teacher with questions,

comments or your child’s needscomments or your child’s needs– Please let us know how your child is doingPlease let us know how your child is doing

Contact informationContact information– Mrs. FosterMrs. Foster

Phone 488-8752Phone 488-8752 Email Email efoster@psdschools.orgefoster@psdschools.org

– Mrs. DavisMrs. Davis Phone 488-8751Phone 488-8751 Email Email kdavis@psdschools.orgkdavis@psdschools.org

EmailEmail– Confidential and personal information about Confidential and personal information about

your student cannot be shared over email. your student cannot be shared over email. Please contact your child’s teacher in person Please contact your child’s teacher in person or over the phone with these matters.or over the phone with these matters.