Welcome to 3 rd grade!

1. Welcome to 3rd grade! Please sign in on the back table! Thank you! Dana Keefer Room 3

2. In this classroom… • Encourage your child to be an active participant in his learning experience. • Gradual Release Model… I do, We do, You do • Problem-solving & collaboration • Technology • High expectations - academics, effort and behavior • Although tests and grades are important, the emphasis is on learning • Mistakes are okay and proof that you’re trying!

3. Differences between last year and this year… nd Grade rd Grade use 2nd grade skills to dig deeper into 3rd grade content Emphasis on reading to learn more emphasis on comprehension efficiently use text features and text structures to support comprehension Independent Reading: reading stamina becomes increasingly important in the upper elementary grades. • Work on basic LA and math skills • Emphasis is on learning to read, focusing on decoding and fluency • 1 solid paragraph with a beginning, middle & end • Slower pace • Less content

4. A little about Differentiated Instruction… • The goal is to educate, support and challenge your child according to his/her individual level and abilities • Your child may not complete every assignment or may complete different assignments based on his/her readiness, needs and abilities. • “Fair” does not mean everyone gets the same; “fair” means everyone gets what they need.

5. Daily Schedule • Arrival/Announcements/Independent Reading, M-F, 8:30am-9:00am • Language Arts Block, M-F, 9:00am-11:00am • Recess & lunch, M-F, 11:00pm-12:00pm • Math Block, M-F, 12:00pm – 1:00pm • Specials, MTuWF, 1:00pm • Technology, Th, 1:00pm-2:00pm • Second Step, Tu, 1:30pm-2:00pm • Science & Social Studies, M-F, 2:00pm-2:30pm • Handwriting/Read Aloud/Dismissal, 2:30pm-3:05pm

6. Language Arts Block • Independent Reading (DEAR) • Word Study • Shared Reading / Comprehension • Writer’s Workshop: Narrative, Opinion, Informational, Poetry & Response to Texts • Grammar • Guided Reading

7. More About Word Study • Purpose – to see how words work and recognize patterns • Inventory assessment determines needs • Quizzes: written sort with some transfer words (words that follow the pattern being studied) & sentence dictation that incorporates grammar skills. • Mastery will be assessed by looking at student writing to see if they are using word study patterns in everyday writing.

8. Math in Focus • Concrete, pictorial & abstract models • Bar modeling – used for problem solving • Pretests: given to determine what essential skills or prior knowledge needs to be reviewed before tackling the skills of the upcoming unit. • Resources for enrichment, extra practice & reinforcement • Unit post-tests with novel questions to help students grow when faced with new challenges • Think Central – access to student textbook, workbook, virtual manipulatives and videos (see handout) • Other components: Study Island, First in Math and fact fluency.

9. What does Bar Modeling do for students? • It provides an entry point for solving math problems. • Part-Part-Whole reasoning • It helps to define mathematical relationships. • It communicates math ideas and concepts that are related. • It encourages analysis. • You try: There is 119 boys in grades 3-5. There is 15 more girls than boys in those grades. How many girls are there? How many boys and girls are there in all?

10. More About Fact Fluency • Students are assessed three times / year; the 1st time is a baseline assessment. • Fact fluency practice should occur at home, about 5 minutes per night. • 2nd grade: mastery of addition & subtraction facts, up to 10 + 10 / 20 - 10. • 3rd grade: multiplication facts up to 10 x 10; related division facts are introduced, as well. • Fact fluency is important because it promotes the use of mental math, another important skill!

11. Science • Plant Growth & Development • Animals • Properties of Water; water cycle • Weather • Chemical Tests • Students can access the textbook chapters online at www.pearsonsuccessnet.com

12. Social Studies • Government and Citizenship • Learning From Our Land • Economics • Ancient Civilizations

13. More about Science & Social Studies • Note cards and/or study sheets will be used for every unit. • Keep notebooks and notecards – they can be used to review for Science PSSA in 4th grade! • Check out your child’s learning survey for study tips!

14. Classroom Behavior • Each day is a new opportunity to be your best • Children learn to take personal responsibility for their choices and their education. • Behavior expectations are high and extremely important to success of all children in the classroom. • Class rules & expectations are reviewed frequently and are expected to be followed so that all children can learn in a safe & positive environment. • Students share responsibility for building a strong community through participation in different activities, tasks and classroom jobs. • “Ready to Play” behavior chart & Class Dojo • Class Awards • Brain Breaks- GoNoodle

15. Second Step • Teaches learning skills and social-emotional skills which help with social success and academic readiness • Group decision-making, modeling, coaching and practice are used in the lessons • Home links are provided which have follow-up activities that children can do. • It also addresses many skills needed in order to learn empathy, managing personal emotions and problem-solving.

16. Specials Schedule • Monday Music 1:00pm– 2:00pm • Tuesday PE 1:00pm-2:30pm • Wednesday PE 1:00pm-1:30pm • Thursday Laptops 1:00pm-2:00pm • Friday Art 1:00pm-2:00pm

17. Purpose is to: • Reinforce present skills and/or review past skills • Teach responsibility, time management, study skills and independence Monday – Thursday: • Independent Reading 20-30 minutes per night • LA: Word Study and / or reading comprehension practice • Math: daily practice of math facts and/or worksheets • Science / Social Studies (dependent upon lessons in class) ** If your child does not understand the homework, just send it back in with a note or quick email. Use digital bookmarks / timers for silent reading

18. Learning and Assessments • Purpose of assessments is to drive instruction to see what students know and can do, as well as what they need help with. • Meaningful learning & retention happens at different times for different kids. • Assessments can take many forms. • I will send home a test folder every Monday. Please be sure to sign new assessments and return them the next day.

19. Grades • Not everything your child does will be graded. • Students will have opportunities to correct work to improve grades on many, but not all, assignments. • All grades will be posted on the Parent Portal so you can monitor your child’s progress. • Share grades with your child but use them as teachable moments… this was good or we should work on this type of feedback. • Grades are only a number but can be used in a good way to help learning occur. Have your child set some goals for each marking period. • Encourage your child to be an active participant in his/her learning.

20. Trimesters • This school year, the WCASD has changed to 3 trimesters instead of 4 marking periods. This means that your child will receive a report card 3 times a year instead of 4. • End of the First Trimester: November 30, 2016 First Trimester Conferences: November 21-23, 2016 • End of the Second Trimester: March 6, 2017 Second Trimester Conferences: March 8-10, 2017 • Last Day of School: June 7, 2017

21. Snacks & Supplies • You can send your child with a simple snack each day. • Please-- no snacks containing nuts or snacks needing utensils. • Snack will be in the afternoon. • If possible, water bottles should have pull-up tops to prevent spills. • Most supplies and manipulatives are kept in a central location so all students have access to whatever they need at any time.

22. Birthdays • Students may not bring snacks for birthdays per district policy. • Students can donate a book to the classroom library if they’d like or bring in a class set of something they can distribute to each child (examples: pencils, erasers, etc.) • Please email me ahead of time if you will be sending something in so I can plan a time for distribution.

23. Field Trips (tentative) • Great Valley Nature Center (Fall) • Weather Day with Phillies (Spring) Special Days • Constitution Day (Sep) • Pie Day (March) • Ancient Civilization Day (May) • Chemistry Day (June)

24. Communication • Email: dkeefer@wcasd.net • Please make sure we have your most up-to-date contact information throughout the school year. • Weekly updates / documents will be sent via email and posted on our class webpage: teamkeefer.weebly.com • Absent notes must be turned in within 3 days of a child’s return to school. • In case of absence or early dismissal, please notify both myself & the main office. • Field trip forms will be sent home via the efolder on Tuesdays. • Follow what is happening in our classroom on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EGEDKeefer

25. Before you leave… • Small index card: write down anything you may want me to know about your child that may pertain to school or any questions you may have. • Lined piece of paper: leave your child a note! • There is a class list on the clipboard on the back table. Please write down any additional email addresses you would like information sent to about your child. • Come say hello and let me know who your child is if we have not met yet! • Don’t forget to take… • Parent/ student login information sheet • Homework tips • Why I can’t skip my 20 minutes of reading tonight • Learning survey • The note and quiz from your child.