November/December 2013

Third grade is busy working on our Thanksgiving on Thursday chapter book and Pilgrims fact checker books. We are integrating  all the disciplines through these books. We are also reading Molly's Pilgrim. This is a wonderful way to share our rich cultures. We are looking forward to having the children share their projects.

Third Grade went to the Broward Performing Center where we enjoyed a wonderful show called "Monster Tales". The children were wonderful. It was a great lesson in imagination and where it can take you.

We are working hard in math. As we begin division it is important that the children know their multiplication facts. Please continue to practice each  night at home.

We are looking forward to a relaxing Thanksgiving holiday as we have so much to be thankful for. We appreciate your continued support.

Reminder: Our textbooks are available online through BEEP. To 

access the textbooks, go to http:// beep.browardschools.com. Click on

Student Portal and sign in. Put in your child’s ID #, then the password is his/

her birth date.

November 2013

Honor Roll Assembly for Third Grade is on Monday, Nov. 18th. Time: 9:30am Place: Cafeteria

Sample pictures of the Immigration Project:

Project due 11/22/13

Oral Presentations  will be on 11/25-11/26/13

No late assignments.  If your child is going to be out the week of 11/25-11/26, please let your child's teacher know in advance.  Thank you for your support!!

Immigration Project Sheet-Click to download
Doll Pattern

October 2013

Third grade has fully implemented the Common Core State Standards. The

students have enjoyed the integrated approach of teaching. The students

have a 50/50 blend of Fiction and Non-Fiction Reading. Writing is blended

and integrated throughout all of the disciplines including science, social

studies, and math.

In Math, the students have started their Graphing Unit. In addition, they

are busy working on their multiplication tables. Please help the students

practice their tables. We all know that practice makes perfect, so any

assistance that you can offer will greatly enhance your child's ability to

excel in school and be prepared for any standardized test that comes their

way.

The third grade team looks forward to working with you and your children and

having an awesome year of learning. Please do not ever hesitate to contact

us when you have a question or need clarification on a particular matter.

Reminder: Our textbooks are available online through BEEP. To

access the textbooks, go to http:// beep.browardschools.com. Click on

Student Portal and sign in. Put in your child’s ID #, then the password is his/

her birth date.

BAT Testing Dates Changed

BAT testing for grades 3-5 are now scheduled for Sept. 30- Oct. 3 (5th Grade thru Oct. 4)

September Upcoming Events

September Upcoming Events:
9/12/13- Meet the Master's Meeting (8:30am)

9/12/13- Coldstone Family Night (5-8pm)

9/13/13- Walk-a-Thon for AR  (during Specials)

9/16-20/13- 3rd Grade Parent/Teacher Conferences Afternoons/Evening (Please check with your child's teacher for date and time of your scheduled conference)

9/23-9/27 BAT Testing in Reading and Math (except on 9/26)  

9/26/13- Early Release Day

We're WILD about 3rd Grade at the Bay!

Welcome Back!

Important Dates: 
(See Calendar Events Tab for other important dates.)
Meet and Greet  will be on Thursday, August 15th, 2013  Time: 1:30-2:30pm  

****Bring your child to meet their teacher.****
(You may drop off supplies.)

Open House will be on Friday, August 16th, 2013  Time: 2-3pm
****Please DO NOT bring students to Open House.****

Summer Reading Is Important!

Summer shouldn't mean taking a break from learning, especially reading. Studies show that most students experience a loss of reading skills over the summer months, but children who continue to read actually gain skills. Efforts should be made during the summer to help children sustain reading skills, practice reading and read for enjoyment. Taking the time to read with your child can help you evaluate your child's reading skills. Educators consider summer reading very important in developing life-long reading habits, in maintaining literacy
skills and in promoting reading for pleasure. Studies have repeatedly shown that children who continue to read during the summer months perform better when school resumes in
the fall.

Research has also shown that when parents are actively involved in learning at home, their children become more successful in and out of school.
(Based on a feature article written for the May 2003 issue of Classroom n Connect Newsletter, The K-12 Educators' Guide to the Internet)

Download a summer reading list here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/c94zfoxuqug6371/SCBookList2013_Age8_10.pdf


Why Do Summer Reading?
It increases:
Reading level
Visualization skills
Language skills
Thinking skills
Vocabulary


Some Tips for Summer Reading:

• Have plenty of books, books on tape, magazines,
and other reading material around for kids to read.
Keep books in the car and make sure a good book gets
tucked into sports bags and campers' backpacks.

• Get your child his own library card. Take or allow him
to go to the library often and browse for books and enjoy
special activities.

• Help your child select books on topics he is
interested in and on his reading level. A simple rule of
thumb for helping your child select books at his reading
level is to have them choose a page in the book (not the
first one) and read it. If he doesn’t know five or more of
the words, then the book is too hard for pleasure
reading.

• Connect reading with other summer activities.
For example, read books about places you will go over
the summer or things you will be doing. Perhaps you will
visit the beach or go camping; there are many good
books about the beach and camping!

• Set goals and reward reading. Reward reading with
more reading. If your child finishes one book, stop by the
store and let him pick out another.

• Let your kids see you read. Read the newspaper over
your morning coffee, take a magazine from the rack in a
doctor's office while you wait, and stuff a paperback into
your purse, pocket, or briefcase. Your kids will catch on
to the fact that reading is something you like to do in
your spare time.

• Make reading together fun and memorable. Even if
your child is a super reader, they still love to be read too.
You may want to use different voices for different
characters when you read to your child. Reading
together is a time for closeness and cuddling - another
way to show your love as a caring adult. Children love to
read letters and notes you write them.

• Read it, then do it. Does your child want to learn magic
tricks? Juggling? Computer games? There's sure to be a
book that can help him. Have your child read the
instructions and then give it a try.

June Events

Thank you for your support throughout the school year.  Our School-Home Partnership made the difference!!  

Important Dates:
June 3, 2013- End of Year Celebration for Mrs. Childress' Class

                      Principal's Honor Roll Breakfast @8:30am

June 4, 2013- End of Year Celebration for 3rd Grade
June 6, 2013- 3rd Grade Honor Roll Assembly @8:30

                      Early Release Day/Last Day of School/Report Cards

June 7, 2013- Teacher Planning 

April/May Events

Hopefully you and your family had an enjoyable Spring Break and were able to be outside in the BEAUTIFUL weather! A little sunshine does wonders for everyone!

Now that 4th quarter is upon us the remainder of the year usually flies by! The kids have spring fever and the teachers are working feverishly to prepare for state testing. Below are some upcoming events and helpful information:

Important Dates:

April 2-3, 2013: FCAT Practice Tests (Reading and Math)

April 10, 2013: Miami Heat Pep Rally

April 15-19, 2013: FCAT Week

April 18, 2013: Report Cards Issued for Third Quarter

April 29, 2013: Spring Pictures

April 29-May 2, 2013: Scholastic Spring Book Fair

April 29, 2013: Family Scholastic Book Night @5:30-7:30pm

April 30, 2013: McDonald's Night

May 2, 2013: Interim Reports Issued

May 3, 2013:  Principal's Honor Roll Breakfast @8:30

May 6, 2013: 3rd Grade's Honor Roll Assembly @9:15 

May23, 2013: Family Life/HIV Lessons

May 23, 2013: Early Dismissal

May 24, 2013: Teacher Planning (Off)

May 27, 2013: Memorial Day (Off)

March Events

March has been a very productive month for our third graders. The students had a wonderful time on our field trip. They learned so many new facts and interesting information. We have been reviewing the math and reading skills that the students will need in order to succeed on the FCAT. Some of the reading skills are main idea, author’s purpose, reference and research, as well as, cause/effect and compare/contrast. In math, the students

have enjoyed working on multiplication, division, geometry, fractions, data, measurement and of course our favorite, word problems. As you can see, we have been busy, busy, busy! We are so proud of the effort the students have put forth and we know that they will do their personal best. We wish everybody a very restful Spring Break.

Upcoming Events:
March 12, 2013- Field Trip to Planetarium/Flamingo Gardens

March 21, 2013- Early Release Day

March 21, 2013- End of Third Nine Weeks

March 22, 2013- Teacher Planning (Off)

March 25-29, 2013- Spring Break (Off)

February Events

Third Grade has been busy learning many reading skills  such as compare and contrast, cause and effect, inferencing and main idea.  In math, we have been challenged with fractions and polygons.  We are looking forward to Valentine’s Day card exchanges and learning about President’s Day.  Our classes will have two more exciting field trips to the theater, Buehler Planetarium and Flamingo Gardens!

Upcoming Events:

February 7, 2013- Early Release
February 12, 2013- General P.T.A. meeting 8:30 a.m. in the cafeteria

February 13, 2013- 3rd Grade Field Trip/ Broward Performing Arts Center
February 13, 2013- Report Cards Issued for Second Quarter

February 18, 2013- Presidents' Day (Off)
February 20, 2013- Bingo Night (6:00-8:00 p.m. in the cafeteria)
February 21, 2013- Interim Reports Issued

January Events: Happy New Year

Happy New Year to you all!!!  Wishing everyone a healthy and peaceful beginning to a new year.  Second quarter is coming to an end and we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for taking the time and interest to remain involved in your child's education.  As educators,  we believe that learning truly is a cooperative endeavor between the school and home.  

Upcoming Events:

January 11, 2013- SEAS Field Trip Form and Money due today
January 14, 2013- Metro Zoo Field Trip/Bring a bag lunch

January 17, 2013- Early Release Day

January 17, 2013- End of Second Quarter

January 18, 2013- Teacher Planning (Off)

January 21, 2013- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No School)

January 22, 2013- Start of Third Quarter
January 24, 2013- 3rd Grade Field Day (8:30-10:30am) Wear your Field Day Shirt.