Welcome to grade three. My classroom is a warm, safe place where all are welcome to share ideas. I encourage children to take risks in the classroom. Third graders are capable of great things! Also, I welcome support from parents. Together, we will see to it that all children reach their full potential and develop a lifelong love of learning!

READING:
Children should be reading at home each night. They are expected to read at least three books from the genre of the month. Then, your child will complete the monthly at-home reading log and return it to school on the last Thursday of the month.

SPELLING:
Monday through Thursday, your child may complete an activity on the website, www.spellingcity.com. OR, he may complete one of the pencil and paper tasks suggested on the reverse side of the "Weekly Spelling and Fact Practice Log," which is due on Friday. The spelling assessment will be on Friday. Know the patterns of your words!

MATH:
In order to reinforce fact fluency, children are expected to practice math facts nightly, for ten minutes. After practicing, please complete the "Type of Facts Practiced" portion of the "Weekly Spelling and Fact Practice Log," which is due on Friday.

Please Note:
Occasionally, your child will have a paper and pencil task to complete, which will be due the next day.

There are many ways to help your child be successful. Here are a few...
~ Provide a clean, quiet place for completing homework.
~ Read TO your child.
~ Read WITH your child.
~ Listen to your child read aloud.
~ "Get caught" reading by your child.
~ Model reading for a variety of purposes. (i.e. newspaper, informational articles, grocery fliers, novels, recipes, etc.)
~ Model writing for a variety of reasons. (i.e. friendly letters, lists, schedules, budgets, etc.)
~ Practice math facts with your child.
~ Point out math in real-life situations; it is all around us.
~ Focus of the fantastic things your child does and bolster her self-esteem everyday!

At-Home Reading Logs

Each month, children will learn about one or more genres. Books read at home should be recorded on the monthly reading log.

~~Genre Study by Month~~

* September: fairy tales, folktales, tall tales & legends
* October: informational
* November: poetry
* December: You choose!
* January: biography
* February: mystery
* March: realistic fiction
* April: historical fiction & practical text
* May: fantasy
* June: Choose your own!

Monday: Art
Tuesday: none
Wednesday: Library
Thursday: Music
Friday: Physical Ed.

Writers' Workshop is a time of creativity and self-expression. In the beginning of third grade, the focuses of writing instruction are ideas and organization. To brainstorm ideas, each child has created a heart full of topics for writing. Each heart of ideas is unique, in that it is both personal and meaningful to the individual child. Successful, skillful authors suggest, "Write what you know." In our classroom, we say, "When it is time to write, look into your heart." Are you wondering what's in your child's heart? Have conversations, or write notes, about what's in their heart. "6+1 Traits of Writing" by Ruth Culham IDEAS Ideas make up the contect of the piece. Children will: 1. Select an idea (topic) 2. Narrow the idea (focus) 3. Elaborate on it (development) 4. Discover the best information to convey the idea (details) ORGANIZATION ~ Introduction - Hook the reader! ~ Middle - a core that is logically organized and has clearly linked details ~ Conclusion - an ending that leaves the reader satisfied

Blackrock Elementary
Heather Matarese