Dear Third Grade Families,
I am very excited about starting the 2008-2009 school year at Rockwell Elementary. I am looking forward to working with both you and your child. I will do everything that I can to help your child succeed this year. By working with you and your child I know that we can make your child's third grade year a success.
This website has been created for my new third grade students and their families to provide another way to communicate between school and home. I hope that you will find the information on this website both meaningful and informative. I plan to update the website as often as possible so please stop back again soon to check for updates. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. The most convenient and effective means of communication is to write a note in your child's STAR notebook. You may also click the email link at the top of this page to send me a message. I check my email daily and can respond easily. If your concern requires a phone call or meeting in person, please respect your child's education and call before 7:30 A.M or after 2:30 P.M. This allows me to take calls without interupting my teaching and your child's learning. Thank you for you continued support!
Important Dates to Remember:
August 21: Open House
August 25: First Day
A Big Congratulations Goes Out To Our Rockwell Roadrunners
September: Responsibility
October: Respect
November: Kindness
December: Self Control
January: Courage
February: Friendship
March: Effort
April: Honesty
May: Positive Attitude
Some Helpful Information about Third Grade
Reading
I also ask that you continue to encourage your children to read an AR book at home. With every new marking period, your child will be coming home with a new goal! Be sure to ask your children what they are reading and remind them to read the story carefully so that they can pass their test with 100%. I will occasionally be sending home reports that show your child's progress. Please review these reports with them and encourage them to do their best.
Some helpful information about reading: We will be reading one story each week. Each story includes lessons that pertain to spelling, comprehension, grammar and reading skills. Friday is our scheduled 'reading test day.' On Monday's the class is given a spelling pretest. This pretest will be placed in the child's purple folder. It is the students responsibility to write all missed words 3 times each and have the test signed and returned the following day. The students spelling words and vocabulary words for the week will also be sent home on Mondays. Although spelling and vocabulary will be reviewed during the week, the bulk of studying for both tests should be done at home. On Friday they will be given their final spelling test. This test will taken for a grade. On Friday's you will find their graded spelling test in their purple folder. Once again it is the child's responsibility to write all missed words 10 times each and have the test signed and returned on Monday. In addition to studying spelling and vocabulary nightly for homework, the student's should also read the story atleast once at home during the week to help prepare them for the test. There will occasionally be other assigned reading homework. Please check your child's agenda nightly for any additional assignments.
A note on reading at home: A reading log has been sent home with each child. I have previously asked that all students read for a minimum of twenty minutes nightly. Although I still highly reccomend this, it will no longer be an assignment for the class. Instead I am asking that all students be prepared to take (atleast) one AR test a week. As you will see on the schedule, we have a DEAR Time every morning from 8-8:30. The students are to be reading an AR Library book during this time. (Please be sure that your child brings his/her library book to school with them daily.) In order for students to meet their AR goal, they will not only have to read during DEAR time, but will also need to be reading at home.
Math
We have officially started our review for end of grade tests.
The following are some tips that I have taught the class to help them on ANY math test they take.
1. Whisper read the problem to yourself atleast two times. Try to picture in your mind what you are reading.
2. Circle the key words in the question. (You need to know exactly what the question is asking you.)
3. Make sure you circle the key words and numbers in the question too.
4. Cross out any extra information that you may not need.
5. Determine what operation or strategy you need to solve the problem. (Will you add, subtract, mulitply or divide to find the answer? Can you draw a picture, work backwards, using simpler numbers or act it out to help you find the answer?
6. Solve the problem making sure that you SHOW YOU WORK.
7. Ask yourself- Does my answer make sense? Did I answer the question that it was asking me to answer? Did I answer ALL parts of the questions?
8. If you are taking a multiple choice test- check your answer with the choices given. If your answer is not there go back and redo steps 1-7.
9. On the EOG's a bubble sheet will be used. Make sure that you circle the answer in your test booklet, and fill in the correct bubble on the bubble sheet.
10. Also when using a bubble sheet, use the two finger method to go back and make sure that you put the correct answer next to the correct problem.
Each night the students will be assigned one page out of their Math practice book for homework. This homework should be completed to give the students extra practice with the content of the days lesson. You should be reviewing your child's homework nightly. If your child is struggling with a particular lesson, please let me know so that I may provide you with extra support to help them. I assure you that myself or my assistant will also pull them aside for extra practice.
In math, the students have learned ALL of their multiplication facts. Please be sure that your child is studying their facts nightly. They have been taught many strategies for coming up with the answer, but in the long run it comes down to memorizing the facts. It is very important that the class has their multiplication facts memorized in order to make the chapters on division go smoothly. We will be taking a timed multiplication test (all facts on one paper) every Friday. The students will have the opportunity to bring their grade up by writing their multiplication sets within ONE WEEK of the test. The sets must be turned in before the students take their next test. Please use the flashcards and multiplication link above to help your child study their multiplication facts. Thanks for all you do at home!
The students still need alot of practice with multi-digit addition (involving carrying) and multi-digit subtraction (involving regrouping), fractions and telling time. Please review a few problems a night with your child.
Other math practice that students will complete:
Math 4 Today: Each day the students complete one row of the worksheet. On Thursdays you will see these worksheets come home with the students. On Friday they will be given a short quiz, in which they will be assessed on the skills that the worksheet covered during the week.
Accelerated Math: The students will have several times throughout the week to work on AM Math. You will occasionally see practices and tests come home with your child. Stapled to each practice/test will be a TOPS Report. This report tells you which questions your child missed, and what objectives they are having difficulties with. Please review these sheets with your child, and have them correct their mistakes for practice. Tests should be signed and returned to school. Practices do not need to be returned. If your child has an Exercise in their folder, this is extra work to help them practice.
(As a reminder---Accelerated Math is a computer program. The comptuer scores all completed work and prints out a report. While reviewing these reports, if you notice issues with the grading please send the paper back with a note attached so that I may look into it. Please remind your child how important it is to take their time, to show their work and to check their answers and bubbling.)
Writing
The students have been working very hard during Writing Workshop. On April 6, the students completed the local writing assessment. They had to write a small moment story. Overall they did very well, I am pleased with the progress they have made. We will continue to have mini-lessons in class to help students learn to focus, organize, and show support and elaboration in their stories.
Science
We are currently learning about our Solar System in Science. The students are learning about the phases of the moon, and will also be learning about the stars and constalations.
***If you have any questions about the information above please feel free to get ahold of me by email, phone, or a note sent to school with your child. I will be happy to explain anything with you further to aid in understanding.
Ms. West's Class Schedule
| | | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
7:30-7:50 | | Morning Work |
7:50-7:55 | | Announcements / Check Homework |
8:00-8:30 | | DEAR – Students must read and AR Library book-- Please make sure your child brings their Library Books to school every day |
| | |
8:30-9:45 | | Math |
9:55-10:35 | | Music | Guidance | Art | Computer- PI Time | PI |
10:40-12:05 | | Reading |
12:05-12:14 | | Write in Agenda / Prepare for Lunch / Use Restroom |
12:14-12:44 | | Lunch |
12:45-1:15 | | Library | Recess |
1:25-2:00 | | 1:20-1:30
Agenda / Pack Up | Writing |
2:00-2:05 | | 1:35-2:20 PE | Pack Up |
2:05-2:15 | | Read Aloud/ Review of the Day |
2:20 | | Dismissal |
*There will be a snack time every morning. Each student is responsible for bringing his/her own snack. We ask that the snack be healthy (it should also not have to be refridgerated.) The students are not to bring a drink for snack, they will have the opportunity to get a drink at the water fountain after snack. Snack is a privledge- if students are unable to focus on school work during snack they will be asked to put their snack away.
** Vistors are always welcome at lunch time. Please stop at the front office to sign in and get a vistors pass. We ask that if you plan to visit during lunch that you do not bring fast food for your child.
Our Discipline Plan
Our discipline plan has clear expectations, consequences and rewards. Each student is expected to follow these expectations, and therefore, spend as much class time as possible learning with no distractions. Discipline issues will be handled quickly, and you will be notified of any on going problems.
My Expectations
* 1. Use good manners and show respect for your school, yourself, and others
* 2. Listen and follow directions the first time they are given.
* 3. Keep your hands, feet and objects to yourself.
* 4. Raise your hand and wait to be recognized before speaking.
* 5. Walk and move quietly throughout the school.
Consequences
* 1 strip: Warning: Think about your behavior.
* 2 strip: Time away from class. Note or call home. Silent lunch.
* 3 strips: (In addition to above) Conference with the teacher.
* 4 strips: (In addition to above) Parent/teacher conference
* 5 strips: (In addition to above) Confrence with the principal
**If a severe violation of the rules occur, I will immediately have the child removed from the class and taken to the principals office. **
Public Notice
In compliance with federal law, The Rowan-Salisbury administers all educational programs, employment activities and admissions without discrimination because of race, religion, national or ethnic origin, color, age, military service, disability, or gender, except where exemption is appropriate and allowed by law. 
