July 23, 2014 Newsletter

I hope everyone is beginning to adjust to being back at school and getting into the routine of a new school year.

Your students have been busy the first 3 weeks of school.

Reading:

We will continue learning about QAR (Question-Answer Relationships) in literature and nonfiction. Students are distinguishing between “In the Book” questions and “In the Head” questions. Ask your child about these types of questions.Students will be decoding multisyllabic  words using phonics.

Language/Writing:

We are learning about the 3 genres of writing in third grade; Narrative, Informative and Opinion. Students will be studying elements in good narrative writing. Students will continue writing narratives and adding elements to their pieces to make them better.

Math: The students are reviewing multi-digit addition and subtraction with regrouping. Please go over your child’s homework to be sure they are solving the equations correctly. Some students are still drawing models and using expanded form. While these are great strategies, they are not the most efficient way to solve a problem. We are practicing the equations in class to help facilitate this transition.

We will begin rounding to the nearest 10 and 100 on Friday. We will be working on this for about 2 weeks.

Please, Please have your child practice their subtraction facts. They will be taking timed quizzes. I have websites they can use up on my Blog. They need to be fluent in addition and subtraction facts before they can begin multiplication.

Science:

We will begin wrapping up our science unit on the human body learning about the muscular system, skin and response to stimuli.

Social Studies:The students are finishing the study of government, local, state and federal. We will be conducting a mock City Council meeting this week. Then they will begin citizenship and a webquest.

Homework:

Most of the students are doing a great job on their math responses/explanations to nightly practice work. However, please check over reading responses to questions for accuracy, spelling,punctuation, and complete sentences. We are working on these skills in class and want them practicing them at home. Please encourage them to be responsible to follow morning procedures on the board and make sure they have what they need to complete their homework each night. Thank you for your support in encouraging responsibility.

Important Dates:

July 23 - Spirit Night at Goodberry’s (Harvest Plaza)

Aug. 4-8 - Interim Reports go home this week

Aug. 13 - Ident - A - Kid

Aug. 29 - Walk - A -Thon

      BOG TEST TOMORROW 9:20

Please be aware that Tuesday, July 22, 2014 will be the Beginning of Grade 3 English Language Arts/Reading Test. We will start promptly after attendance is taken. Students will not be permitted to enter the room after testing has begun. Thank you!

Room Parents

Hooray! We have two volunteers to be Room Parents!
Pratima Kavde, Arjun's mom and Petra Quan, Monica's mom.
Thanks for volunteering to help ladies.

One more thing, if you have not returned your yellow information sheets (with emails and transportation info) or the yellow locator cards, please do so ASAP.

Welcome to Track One 3rd Grade!

Newsletters/Communication

Visit our class websites by going to the Brassfield website at http://brassfield.wcpss.net/pages/Brassfield_Elementary.  In an effort to be more “green”, I will email our class newsletter and post it on the class website.  Our school/class website is a great source for information.

Snack

Please send a nutritious snack with your child each day. Peanut products are not permitted in the classroom especially since we have students with allergies. Our lunch is at 12:15. We will have our snack in the afternoon.

Homework

We will have homework Monday-Thursday.  Your children are busy learning at school each day but they must practice at home to master our standards.  Homework will be posted each week on the website. Students  are responsible for copying their homework assignment in a spiral notebook each morning.

Your child is expected to spend a minimum of 20 minutes of pleasurable reading each day  One night a week there will be a reading comprehension passage with questions. Math homework will be a real world problem to solve and give an explanation showing their work when possible.   Additional problems may be assigned as needed. It is Brassfield’s intent that homework be purposeful and aligns with the Common Core Standards.

Volunteers

We would love to have you come visit our classroom as a volunteer. We will need assistance from time to time with projects, learning experiences, field trips, etc… Please remember it is WCPSS policy that all volunteers re-register each year on a school computer. The registration window opened July 1.

Added Reminders for Third Grade

1.  Buses begin arriving at 8:45.  All students should be in the classroom as soon as possible to unpack copy and collect homework for that night and get started on their morning work.  Our instructional day will begin promptly at 9:15.  The students are dismissed at 3:40.

2.  Put your child’s name on all personal items so there is no question as to who it belongs to.  (jackets and book bags especially)

3.  Please send money in an envelope with your child’s name, the amount of money, and what the money is for.

4.  State law requires that a note be sent to school explaining a student absence upon their return to school.  Otherwise, it will be recorded as unexcused.  

6.  Money can be added to your child’s account before school or online. Even if your child usually brings their lunch to school, it is helpful to have money in their account in case their lunch is left at home.  

7. A special form must be filled out by your doctor and filed in the office before any medicine can be given at school.  

7. We must be notified in writing of any changes in your child’s transportation plans from school.  If you plan to pick your child up in the afternoons, please be sure you obtain a carpool number.

8. Please let your child wears comfortable clothes to school.  Long dresses, flip-flops, and clogs are not appropriate for P.E. days and outside activities.  If your child gets cold easily, please leave a sweater at the school.  

9.  Please do not allow your child to bring valuables, make-up or toys to school unless requested for a special occasion.  

10.  Please note that we are not permitted to send in homemade goodies and all items must be store bought for special events. Also, treats from home for birthdays are not allowed.

11.  On Wednesday of each week, your child will bring home a “Wednesday Folder”.  This will contain your child’s work from the previous week. Please return the folder ASAP.

Daily Schedule

8:45-9:20   Arrival and Morning Procedures, unpack, copy down homework, attendance, morning work, Bearly TV

9:20-11:25 ELA (Reading, Writing, Grammar & Daily 5 Rotations)

11:25-12:10  Specials

12:15-12:45   Lunch

12:50-1:50  Math  

1:50-2:30   Science/Social Studies

2:30-3:00    Recess

3:00-3:30    BEAR Time/Strategy Groups

3:30-3:40  Daily Closure: Pack-Up, Tidy up, and Announcements      

We look forward to working with you this year and helping your child grow as a productive learner.  It is important that we keep the lines of communications open and we are  willing to help in whatever way we can to ensure your child’s success in school.  

Brassfield : 870-4080

Pam Emerson

Email: pemerson@wcpss.net

Nancy Masteller

Email: nmasteller@wcpss.net

Let’s have a great year!