February 16, 2012
Dear Parents,
We have had a rather talkative week. Please remind your child to raise their hand to speak, and to not talk over others.
Next week is another four day week. The chapter 2B science test will be given on Wednesday. The children have already been given a study guide. The lesson 19 language test, over irregular verbs, will be on Thursday, with the reading and spelling tests on Friday. A reminder that memory work is due by Thursday.
We continue to work our way through our multiplication and division drills. Congratulations to Joel and Cody who have completed all of their drills. Way to go, gentlemen!!! It is such an accomplishment to see children finish this math endeavor. The children begin double digit multiplication and long division in fourth grade. It is imperative that they learn these facts this year, in order to be well prepared for fourth grade math.
Please help your child with the England report. The children also need to make something visual to go with their projects. Each child is also working on a PowerPoint slide, at school, which will be displayed on the Smart board the evening of the Cultural Fair. It is amazing what younger children can do with technology.
I would like to thank Mrs. Semro and Mrs. Warner for our wonderful Valentine’s Day Party. Also, thanks to everyone who sent in all the terrific snacks. The children had a great time.
Have a wonderful weekend!
For His kids and yours,
Mrs. Gordon
Class List
Selena
Donovan
Cody
Wyatt
Jillian
Lydia
KamRon
Dillon
Twinkle
Clark
Grant O.
Solomon
Nicole
Christian
Joel
Conner
Grant W.
Jasmine
Abbey
Julia
All About Third Grade
First and foremost, it is just another year. Do not treat this grade any differently from any other. It is a year to grow and become more responsible, as with any new school year.
HOMEWORK: Mrs. Gordon does not give weekend homework. So you are an ambitious student and want more to do? Read for Accelerated Reader, work on multiplication and division drills, practice memory work and spelling words for the upcoming week, write a letter to Grandma or Grandpa, practicing your cursive handwriting. Students who fail to complete homework (without a really good excuse, written by parents) will need to stay in from recess to complete work.
Expect 30-45 minutes a night. Students who waste class time, may have more homework.
FRIDAY FOLDERS: These continue throughout your child’s years at Trinity. The folder will contain all graded work from that week, a note from Mrs. Gordon explaining details for the upcoming week, and a note from the school office titled, “Friday Facts”. Please always take time to look through this information. Lunch menus, choir schedules, field trip permission forms, special projects, and other information about specific events are all included in the folder. If you ever have a question, please ask.
MATH: Multiplication and division facts become an integral component of our math curriculum. We continue with the Saxon Math Program. There is no book until fourth grade. Side A of the worksheets are completed in class, while side B is homework. Expect math homework every night, except Friday.
SPELLING: Spelling units are assigned on Monday, and due by Friday. Mrs. Schefft teaches spelling. A practice test is given on Wednesday, with the final test to follow on Friday.
SCIENCE: As you may or may not know, our school has won the Governor’s Award for outstanding teaching of science the last several years. Third graders engage in a wealth of hands on science activities. The homework is usually just a worksheet to reinforce concepts taught in class. Each chapter is followed by a test. Study guides are given to aid in test preparation.
SOCIAL STUDIES AND HEALTH: Mr. Krix teaches these subjects. The social studies curriculum includes information about our government, how it operates, and some basic facts on American History. Health is taught twice a week. Mr. Krix and Mrs. Gordon work together to coordinate tests, so the children are not inundated with several tests on the same day.
READING, LANGUAGE, SPELLING: We are starting a new reading program this year for grades K thru 6. It is titled Journey's by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (same company that developed our last reading curriculum). One major difference is that everything is included in one book, and one practice book. I will bring samples with me to the home visits to offer you a little more insight into the program. There will still be reading and spelling tests every Friday, but in addition there will be a language test every Thursday. In many ways this will be better for the children's grades, as each test will not carry as much weight and one low grade will not have as much impact as a test that is only given every two or three weeks. Almost all of the stories are Accelerated Reader stories, and we do have tests available.
MEMORY WORK: Memory work is always due by Thursday, but may be said early any day of the week (before 8:25). Memory work will be due the first week of school, but will be a review. All that will be expected is John 3:16 and Genesis 1:1. Bibles are a gift from P.O.S.T.S. and will be handed out at the home visits or at registration. Students will need them for religion class.
GYM: This is taught by Mrs. Gordon every Monday and Friday. Non marking gym shoes are needed. Gym uniforms start in fifth grade. Girls should wear pants or shorts on Mondays and Fridays, or wear shorts under their skirts.
CURSIVE HANDWRITING: The first two trimesters we review letter formation and connecting letters. Starting third trimester, all work in all subjects must be completed using cursive handwriting.
RELIGION: This is a very interactive class, with much of the work being done together in class. There is an occasional homework assignment, but no tests are given.
DISCIPLINE: We use a system similar to what was used in second grade. We use pins instead of cards. If you pull a pin once, you move to the yellow section, and lose five minutes off of recess. The next move is blue, and you lose all of recess, a third pull results in a phone call to parents. It rarely happens that students move a fourth time in one day, but should this happen, students are sent to Mrs. Spohn’s office.
DIRECTIONS: Always follow directions carefully, and read through them twice before starting any assignment. Always write in complete sentences, unless instructed otherwise. Ten percent is deducted for turning in a no name, or late paper.
If you have any questions, please ask. We are happy to answer all of your questions.
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