Mrs. Romeo & Mrs. Gibbons’

3rd Grade Class

2008 - 2009

Welcome to Open House!

Our Day (schedule)When What8:40 – 9:00 Morning Routine

9:00 – 9:30 Working With Words

9:30 – 10:00 RTI

10:10 – 11:10 Math

11:10 – 12:10 ELA (Reading/Writing)

12:15 – 12:45 Lunch

12:45 – 1:25 Bathroom/Recess

1:25-1:40 Read Aloud

1:40-2:25 Related Arts

2:30-3:15 Science

3:15 – 3:25 10 Minute Math

3:30 – 3:35 Dismissal

Working With Words• On Fridays, students will receive their

words list for the week. They will glue the sheet in their black and white words journal

• Currently, words lists consist of 5 word wall words, 15 story words, and 5 vocabulary challenge words.

• Words lists will always consist of 5 word wall words (which are practiced daily – through writing, reading, and chanting during this Working With Words block) and 5-6 story words. They will grow to include math, science, and social studies vocabulary words.

• Words quizzes are given on Fridays, and currently consist only of the words for the week.

RTI (Response To Intervention)

• This is a statewide initiative.• During this time, every single 3rd grade student

will go to their assigned group.• Students are assigned to groups based on their

greatest need, as determined by assessments and benchmarking (reading inventories, DIBELS, etc.)

• If a student has a need for a group, they will attend the group for a 6 week period and will then be re-assessed/re-benchmarked to check for progress.

• It is likely that students will be moved through several different groups throughout the year

RTI groups consist of:• Poetry Comprehension• Math Enrichment• Real-Life Comprehension• Systematic Sequential

Phonics• ABeCeDarian• Read Naturally• Literacy Circles• And more!

Reading

• We typically will read a story a week from our Anthology

• Throughout the week, we will focus on specific reading skills (comprehension, problem/solution, making inferences, summarizing, etc.)

• Students will have opportunities to work individually, with partners, in small student groups, and in a small teacher directed group.

• Students will demonstrate their skills through class work and teacher observations throughout the week.

• Students are also required to read each night for at least 20 minutes, record it on their reading log, and get a parent/guardian signature.

• At the end of each week, the students will be given a paper/pencil comprehension quiz on the story.

How Can You Help?

Ask your child about our story for the week. Encourage them to give you a good summary of the story (they should include the 5 story elements: main characters, setting, main events, problem, and solution).

* Please refer to hand-out for good questioning techniques

Writing• This is a big focus for us this school year.

• New Program: The Writing Academy… lots of focus on adding voice & personality into writing!

• Supports our continued use of the 6-Traits:

ideas, organization, voice, conventions, sentence fluency, and word choice.

• Students have already completed a wonderful 5 paragraph essay about their 3 favorite things – be sure to check it out before you leave tonight!

Fast Math• Computer program that

focuses on math fact fluency. Students use this program at least 2 - 3 times a week.

• Computer determines student skill on computer by having the child type numbers (3 __, 5 __, etc.)

• After determining the child’s quickness on the computer, the program takes that into consideration when determining that student’s fluency with math facts.

• Every other Friday, parents will see a print-out of their child’s progress in their graded work folder. You can KEEP these Fast Math print-outs.

• Students will also be able to demonstrate their math fact fluency by using paper and pencil with our Mad Minutes.

• By the end of 2nd grade, students should have mastered addition facts to the sum of 20

• By the end of 3rd grade, students should have mastered all of their addition facts and subtraction facts

Lunch• Each child has a lunch number to use

when purchasing lunch.• Students may also just purchase snacks

or milk.• Your child will receive a slip when their

lunch account is getting low. Parents/guardians can send in checks made out to BME to replenish their child’s account (be sure to put child’s lunch number on the memo line)

• Parents/guardians can now replenish their child’s account on-line! Just visit: www.payPAMS.com

Related Arts

• A day: Art• B day: Guidance• C day: Technology• D day: Physical Education• E day: Enrichment• F day: Music

Recess

• Since there are 8 third grade classes, we have developed a system to keep over-crowding at a minimum! Each class has a designated place to go for each day (example, Mon., Wed., and Fri. might be FIELD days, while Tues. and Thurs. might be PLAYGROUND days).

• Designated areas will rotate about every month, so each class will have a chance to play outside with different classes, not just the same few classes all the time.

• If you did not get a copy of our recess equipment guidelines, please let me know and I will get a copy to you.

Math• TERC

• Lots of hands-on learning with manipulatives

• Investigative learning through student discovery

• Assessments will be given at the end of each investigation

• Math homework will be given just about every night

• Homework will never be given unless that skill has already been taught in class

• For support at home, a math handbook was sent home for parents/guardians to keep through the end of the year. This handbook explains the procedures and skills taught in the classroom, just in case a student needs assistance at home.

Science• We will work through 3 kits this year: Water,

Earth Materials, and Human Body.

• Experiments are a large part of our science kits, and students are expected to follow classroom rules and procedures in order to participate (refer to science contract).

• Study guides will be sent home after each investigation, and quizzes will be given in school.

• Study guides will also be sent home once the entire kit has been completed, and assessments will be given in school.

A.R./S.S.R.• Each student is required to take one personal A.R. quiz a week • Students MUST bring their A.R. book to school each day and read it

during this time.• Each book has an A.R. level indicated either on the spine, on the

outside back cover, or inside the back cover. That A.R. level must match your child’s A.R. levels (each child has four levels at a time)

• An A.R. level of 3.0 indicates 3rd grade, 0 months. If your child is not at that level yet, please encourage them to read their A.R. books often for their reading log at night. Ask them questions, also, as they finish their book to help ensure their comprehension.

• When your child feels they are ready to take an A.R. quiz, they must first get a signature from a parent/guardian indicating that they are ready. Once a child has that signature, they may take their quiz in school. The teacher will record the score in the child’s A.R. folder, will initial the folder, and then the folder will be sent back home. The A.R. folder is to stay in your child’s book bag until they are ready to take a quiz.

• Once a student takes and passes 3 A.R. quizzes with 80% or higher, they will move up another level.

Social Studies

• Civics• Economics• Geography• Pioneer History

For example: Brandon’s A.R. level is 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, and 3.5.

He takes these quizzes:

Magic Tree House #1 – 3.2 – 80%Animals Underground – 3.2 – 100%A Look Into Space – 3.4 – 60%In This World – 3.3 – 100%

After his quiz on In This World, Brandon’s new levels will be 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, and 3.7. The more quizzes he takes and passes, the higher his level will go.

Friday Folders• Blue folder with “Friday Folder” label on it

• Will come home every Friday to help keep you updated on your child’s behavior

• Inside: – indicates how responsible, respectful, and ready your child has been all week with home/class work and behavior (no reflection on academic grades). Please sign each week.

• Inside: A stapled packet of graded work – please check off as you see each piece of graded work, sign the cover sheet where indicated, and return ENTIRE packet to school with your child on Monday.

Report Cards

• This year, your child will receive actual percentages and letter grades on their report card. Grades are determined as follows:

50% - class work and participation50% - quizzes, assessments, and projects

Please encourage your child to always do their best at home and in the classroom.

Field Trips

• We will be taking 3 big field trips this year:

• Young Chef’s Academy• Ashland Nature Center• Fish Face (children’s theater)

D.S.T.P.• You know you’ve been wanting to ask, so here it is!

• Testing Dates: Math – March 11th and 12th; Reading – March 16th and 17th

• This year, 3rd grade students will NOT be given the writing portion of the D.S.T.P.

• As teachers, we start in the beginning of the year with preparing our students to be successful when taking these tests, so no “cramming sessions” are necessary prior to the test.

• As parents, it is important for you to also work with your children at home. Come test taking time, be sure that your child maintains a REGULAR schedule, getting well-balanced meals and plenty of rest.

• For other tips and resources, please visit: http://www.doe.k12.de.us/programs/aab/

Questions? Comments?

Thank you for your time tonight!

Please feel free to contact us with any future questions or concerns you might have, and we

will do the same for you!

Contact us through:Notes in your child’s agenda

E-mail: michelle.romeo@appo.k12.de.us erica.gibbons@appo.k12.de.us

Phone: 378-5288 x-5109