Welcome to our 3rd Grade Back to School Night

Thanks for coming!

Communication Arts

Reading

WritingPhonics/S-p-e-l-l-i-n-g

Goal: To make meaning out of print

Components of Balanced Literacy1. Whole group instruction

2. Shared reading

3. Small group instruction (guided reading groups)

4. Project Read

5. Independent reading

1. Whole Group Instruction

• Comprehension strategies

• Decoding (phonics)– Project Read

• Vocabulary

2. Shared Reading

• Teacher and students share the text

3. Small Group Instruction

• Guided reading groups

• Flexible groupings

• Skills, Interests, and Needs

4. Project Read

• Focus is on letters and sounds

• All First and Second Graders have had Project Read

• Third Grade continues to reinforce and extend skills

5. Independent Reading

• Occurs daily

• Students select books

• Provides opportunities to use strategies

Assessments• Continual assessment guides instruction

• Teacher observation

• 4-Sight– Standardized test given four times a year– Allows teachers to gain a snapshot of the student progress through the year– Preparation for PSSAs

• STAR– Computer program that monitors student’s ability to use words in context

• DIBELS– Assesses oral reading fluency

• Core Phonics– Assesses phonetic skills

Narrative/Informational Writing

1. Modeled Writing

2. Shared Writing

3. Guided Writing

4. Independent Writing

1. Modeled Writing

• Teacher models what good writers think about and do during writing.

2. Shared Writing

• Teacher and students work collaboratively

• Focus is on writing skills and strategies

3. Guided Writing

• Teacher serves as coach

• Student has opportunities to practice skills and strategies

4. Independent Writing

• Ultimate goal for writing instruction

• Student selects topic

Assessments

• Teacher observation

• Writing prompts (monthly and district)– Narrative/Informational are aligned with

instruction

Math• Continuation of mathematical concepts learned

in K, 1, 2• Curriculum spirals: concepts are introduced and

revisited throughout the year• Family letters help explain the unit’s topics and

terms– Some concepts are introduced differently than the

way we learned them. Referring to the family letter will help you reinforce how concepts are being taught in the classroom.

Mathematics Continued…• Key features of our Everyday Mathematics

program include:– Problem solving in everyday situations– Developing readiness through hands-on activities– Establishing links between past experiences and

exploration of new concepts– Sharing ideas through discussion– Cooperative learning through partner and small group

activities– Practice through games

Math Centers

• Day 6

• In place of Social Studies/Science lesson

• Remediation/Enrichment

• Small Groups – defined skills

Rocket Math• Purpose is to increase speed and accuracy in math facts

• Will improve students’ ability to learn and retain higher order math skills

• Goal for Third Graders is to master all addition and subtraction facts

• Some children may advance to other operations

• Rocket Math will begin November 3rd

• The first 9 weeks of school are spent focusing on building fact power strategies

Social Studies

• Units of study include:– Pennsylvania– Communities– Local and National Government– History– Economy

Science

• Units include:– Earth Materials– Life Cycles– Sound

Ways to help your Third grader

• Homework– About 30 minutes per day– Reinforce the skills taught in school– Math homelinks– Phonics/Spelling– Math Facts– Read 10 to 20 minutes

• Communication– E-mail– Voice mail– Handwritten notes

Let’s have a great year!