BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
Mrs. Raichelson’s Third Grade Class
2023-2024

Welcome to third grade! Third grade is the final year of a child’s primary education. It is a transition year as the students prepare for the intermediate years. The curriculum is full of many wonderful learning opportunities for your child. Your child will also be focusing on developing positive work habits, organizational skills, and self-monitoring skills. The goal is to have your child be a self-motivated independent learner and thinker.


READING:
Our entire class will use the Macmillan/McGraw Edition reading series and also an assortment of trade books and novels. We will engage in a combination of whole group instruction, small, guided reading groups, paired reading, and independent study. Groupings will be flexible, depending on the student’s needs. We will be reading both fiction and nonfiction leveled readers from Reading A-Z, as well as science and social studies leveled readers. Students are asked to read every night and take advantage of the AR Program.

AR: AR stands for Accelerated Reader. This is a program by which students read books, then take comprehension tests on the books read. Each book has a reading level and points awarded to it.  I will not be grading students on how many AR points they have, BUT, I give out awards for 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 250+. There are times that I will be using an AR test as a grade if we have read the book together. Students will be given time to take tests in class.

WRITING:
The children will be writing in various forms relating to all subjects. These forms include opinion, narrative, and informative writing. The goal is for students to read articles and be able to respond in writing appropriately. This includes multi-paragraph responses and the siting of the articles in the writing.

SPELLING:
Spelling is integrated into our 95% Phonics Core Program.   Assessments will be on the target skill, NOT the words that were sent home. Not every child will be working on the same skill, so lists for students will not be given. Students will spend 30 minutes, 5 days a week working on spelling patterns and word entimology.

SOCIAL STUDIES:
Third grade social studies themes revolve around the community. This includes the land features of California, California Indians past and present, our local community and how it’s changed, rules and laws, and the economy of our region. Multiple resources are used, including texts, literature, reference materials, Internet sites and videos.

HANDWRITING:
Students will learn cursive writing; concentrating on letter formation, connecting strokes, and spacing.

MATH:
We use Expressions from Houghton Mifflin. We have seven units of study this year in math.

Units 1 & 2: Multiplication and Division Facts

Unit 3: Measurement, Time, and Graphs

Unit 4: Multi-Digit Addition and Subtraction

Unit 5: Write Equations to Solve Word Problems

Unit 6: Polygons, Perimeter, and Area

Unit 7: Explore Fractions

Math facts are a VERY important piece of the puzzle. Students will practice math facts each morning using XtraMath computer program. 

SCIENCE:
Science is divided into three units. Physical Science includes; Energy, Light, and Matter. Life Science includes Living in Different Environments and Living Things in a World of Change. Earth Sciences include Objects in Space and Patterns in the Sky.


LIBRARY:
Our library day is Wednesday. Please bring your books back every Tuesday. Students may check out two books as long as they continue to return them in a timely fashion. The library is open most days for recess and lunch.

HOMEWORK:
Homework is written in the Agenda Book each night. It will usually include reading for at least 15 minutes, getting on Google Classroom to then complete either math, grammar, or reading. Any daily unfinished work will also go home as homework.


ABSENCES:  The only excused absences are for illness, Dr. appointments, or funerals of immediate family members.  Homework is always available through Google Classroom. If a student is gone for only 1 day, he/she can get the work missed when he/she returns. If your child will be absent for more than 1 or 2 days and is ABLE to complete work, let me know and I will be sure to get work together and/or send you our short lesson plan. If you will be gone 5 or more days for a trip, you may get an independent study form from the office. If you would like to have an independent study approved, this must be done through the office. If approved, it is still counted as unexcused, just not towards truancy. 3rd grade has an interactive short lesson plan that will be sent home if a student is gone for more than 5 days.If the work is completed, the school gets ADA money and your child is not truant.

AGENDA BOOK:
Each student has an agenda book to write assignments and pertinent information. This is a great tool to teach organizational skills and should be brought home and returned to school each day. Please check your child’s agenda book for assignments. 

REPORT CARDS:
You can check grades at ANY time with Parent Portal. This is the best way to get the most up-to-date grades. Report cards come home during parent-teacher conferences the week of Oct. 24-28, January 18th, March 24th, and the last day of school, June 1st. Report cards will be emailed each quarter.  Progress reports will come home mid-way between each quarter. These dates are September 16th, November 18th, February 17th, and April 28th. 

CONFERENCES:
There will be one scheduled conference during the school year. This year conference week is October 24- October 28. If the need arises, more than one conference may occur. Communication between home and school is a key ingredient to a child’s success. If you should have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at any time throughout the year. My phone number is 587-7050 and my school e-mail address is [email protected].

SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB:
Our class is able to order books through the Scholastic Lucky Book Club. The book clubs are an excellent way to build a home library at reasonable prices. I encourage you to read aloud to your children, to listen to them read, and to have a quiet family reading time. You may order online at scholastic.com/readingclub. Their is a one-time activation code GY6Z4.

MUSIC:
Students have music every Tuesday. It is not just singing. They are learning a music curriculum tailored for 3rd grade. Our music teacher is Mrs. Lizaola.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION:
Be sure to wear comfortable shoes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Students must have a note from home if they are NOT to participate in PE. More than three days requires a note from the Dr. 

MISCELLANEOUS:
Veteran's Eagle Folder: This folder should come to and from school daily. 
Snacks: NO NUTS or nut based food in class please! In addition, healthy food items only. 

Grades: Assignments that are entered into the grade book as grades and not effort, come home with a letter grade on them. Any grade lower than a 70% may be redone for a "C-" (70%). Spelling tests are the one exception and cannot be retaken. Please check your child's Eagle Folder each Friday for graded class work. You may log in to Parent Portal at any time and see current grades.