Welcome to Third Grade!

I’m excited to be your child’s teacher this year!  We have 21 students in our class and an exiting year full of challenges and many new topics for your child to learn.  Third grade is a big change from second grade, as you can see we have a busy schedule and more is demanded of them so organization is very important! 

Students are encouraged to communicate in all areas from writing, math, social studies, and science assignments to social situations.  On many assignments they are asked to prove their answers by explaining their work, which strengthens their understanding of the topic.  On the social side students learn about how to work out conflicts using the Steps to Respect program.

For Science, we will cover rocks & minerals, motion & design and ideas & inventions. In Social Studies students will be learning about maps and studying the countries of Kenya and Japan.

Homework is assigned nightly and is written on the board in the morning for students to write down in their agendas.  They will have homework Monday through Thursday with some exceptions. 

Reading is written in their agendas and is a good habit, like brushing their teeth, to get into and should be done 7 days a week.  Of course I know your schedules are busy and some days it is impossible to get to the reading so I encourage creative ways to get the reading in, it should be fun!   You can read with your child, to your child, have your child read to an older or younger sibling, or you could get a book on tape.  Get the book for your child to follow along with the tape this is an excellent way to build vocabulary and a wonderful model of good reading, plus kids love to do it! The first term students are asked to read 20 minutes, the second term 25 minutes, and the third term 30 minutes.   Of course they can always read more than the time suggested!

It is important to me to foster a strong home-school partnership.   If you have any questions please contact me either by phone, email, or you can simply write a note in your child’s agenda.

I look forward to our year together!