Third Grade News

Tuesday, August 25, 2009


With several days of school under our belt our class is beginning to take shape. We spent the first few days learning and practicing our Classroom Procedures and Routines, and our Classroom Rules. We have spent the last week laying the groundwork and foundation for our academic and organizational procedures and skills, which your child will continue to use for the rest of this year and hopefully in the years ahead. I am looking forward to working with you and your child in making this year a successful and enjoyable year in your child’s education.
It is my hope that I will be able to bring to you a weekly or bi-weekly version of the “THIRD GRADE NEWS”. The “THIRD GRADE NEWS” is meant to give you information and updates of important events, dates, and happenings in our class and school during the course of the year. Usually I will send out a hard copy (paper) of our newsletter on Friday’s or Monday’s. You can also go to our school’s website and obtain a copy of our class newsletter. Just go to www.brightonzionlutheran.org, school website, class bogs, and click on Mr. Hart’s blog.

Here are this week’s notes and reminders:

**WELCOME – I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to church this Sunday…or any Sunday. We also have worship services on Saturdays. Our worship services on Saturdays are at 5:00 p.m. and our Sunday services are at 8:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Sunday School and Adult Bible Study starts at 9:30 a.m. If you do not have a Church Home and are looking for one, we would love to have you join us. Bring your family and come spend time with us in worship and fellowship. Hope to see you this Sunday!!
**EXCITING NEWS – Next Sunday will mark another new beginning for Zion Lutheran School. Between the two Church services we will officially break ground for the new addition to the school. Please come join us for this exciting time in our schools history.
**BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION – As you may already know our school is collecting Box Tops for Education. You will find Box Tops for Education on most General Mills products. The money raised from the box tops will be used to purchase new Media Center equipment. Attached you will find list of products participating in Box Tops for Education. The top three classes that collect the most box tops receive prizes at the end of the year. Please save these and send them with your child to school. Ask your neighbors, friends, and family if they wouldn’t mind saving them for you. Help the Media Center purchase new equipment and help win prizes for your child’s classroom.
**MEMORY – You should have a Memory Schedule that you received at our Back-to-School Conferences a few weeks back. This schedule has all of your child’s Memory assignments on it for the first quarter. Your child has also received a copy of this schedule. Memory work will always be on Wednesdays unless otherwise noted. When we meet at the end of the first quarter for Parent/Teacher Conferences (10/29 & 10/30), you will receive a Memory Schedule for the remainder of the year. If you have misplaced your Memory Schedule for the first quarter, please let me know and I will get another one to you. Please be sure to work with your child on their Memory assignments. It’s always a good idea to have your child prepare themselves several days in advance of their assignment due date. BE PREPARED, PLAN AHEAD!!
**SPELLING TESTS – Spelling tests will always be on Wednesdays (Pre-Test) and Fridays (Final Test) unless otherwise noted. If your child masters the Pre-Test, they do not have to take the Final Test. Please be sure your child is conscientious of using neat handwriting skills and are not capitalizing words that should not be capitalized. We will be taking our Spelling Pre-Test over Unit #2 tomorrow. Please be sure to help your child prepare for their tests. You should be using the Spelling Schedule that was given to you at Back-to-School Conferences. You child also has a copy of this schedule.
**SPELLING SENTENCES – Spelling sentences will always be due on Monday unless otherwise noted. Here are things to look for in your child’s sentences: Each sentence should contain at least six words; The sentences must make sense; Spelling words from the Spelling list are to be used in the order they appear on the list and are used correctly in the context of the sentence; All words are spelled correctly; Spelling words from the Spelling list must be underlined; Only one Spelling word per sentence; Sentences do not repetitively start the same way (e.g.I like…I want…I saw…); Only five sentences can start with the same ward; Sentences must be capitalized and punctuated correctly. You may find it easier to have your child begin working on their Spelling Sentences mid-week instead of waiting until the weekend. If, for example, you would have your child start working on Unit #3 Spelling Sentences this Wednesday. Have your child do #’s 1-5 on the list. Then, on Thursday, have them do #’s 6-10. By continuing this pattern, your child should be done by Saturday. This may alleviate the rush to get the Spelling Sentences done and help avoid the simple mistakes made because of rushing. Your child’s first set of Spelling Sentences (Unit #3) will be due next Monday (8/31).
**ABC ORDER – Everyone seems to be doing well with understanding how to do ABC Order. We will work on Unit #2 together this week. Your child will need to turn in their first assignment for Unit #3 on Friday, September 4th. ABC Order will always be due on Fridays unless otherwise noted.
**BOOK MARK & BOOK REPORTS – Book Marks are due every Friday unless otherwise noted. Your child will be required to read 60 minutes of outside reading or out of class reading per week for the first semester. Beginning the second semester we will change the required reading time to 90 minutes per week. It is fine if your child exceeds 60 minutes per week, in fact I would encourage it. The books your child reads should be age and grade appropriate, a chapter book, and a minimum of 60 pages in length. When your child finishes reading a book, they should complete a Book Report form that I will provide for them. Book Reports and Book Marks will count as 10% of their Reading grade. Your child will need to complete and turn in 8 Book Reports for the year or 2 Book Reports per quarter. I would like to encourage you to spend some time reading to or with your child. This is encouraging to your child to see you reading and enjoying a good book. Our class has a goal to read 70,000 minutes for the year. In order for our class to reach this goal each child will need to read, on average, 1,900 minutes for the year. If they are able to attain this goal they will be treated to a swim party at the end of the year. PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO READ!! THE MORE THEY READ, THE MORE THEY KNOW!! J If you have any questions, let me know.
**MAD MINUTE – One of your child’s daily routines is taking a “Mad Minute”. A “Mad Minute” is a timed test of 40 or more problems in either addition or subtraction, of which there are 5 tests each. Your child must attain mastery of each of these tests before they can move into multiplication “Mad Minutes”. It would be helpful for your child to have a set of flash cards at home to practice their competency and speed. You can go to our school website and find some math practice activities posted there. I also have copies of addition and subtraction practice sheets that I would be happy to share with you if you would be interested. Let me know if you would like a set, and I will get them to you. I would like to encourage you to work with your child on their Math skills throughout this year. Thank you!!
**ASSIGNMENT NOTEBOOKS – How are things going with the assignment notebooks? You should be seeing and signing these on a nightly basis. It is your child’s responsibility to show these to you every night. If you have any questions about this, please let me know.
**BIRTHDAYS – if your child will be celebrating a birthday during the school year, he/she can bring in a treat for the class to enjoy and be recognized on or around their special day.
**SIGNED TESTS – Whenever your child has a test in any subject, he/she should bring their test home for you to see. Please sign and return their test to school the next day. This helps keep you informed of their progress and me aware that you have seen their test. After I have seen your signature, I will return the test to your child. One test you should be seeing on a regular basis is Spelling. You should receive, from your child, a Spelling Test every Thursday (Pre-Test), and Monday (Final Test), unless we have alternate dates for our Spelling Tests.
**DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS AND VACATIONS – If you have schedule a doctors appointment, choose to take a family vacation, or take child(ren) out of school for any reason, please let me or the school office know several days in advance. That way, if possible, I will be able to send home any assignments your child will be missing during their absence. Also, please be aware of how appointments, vacations, and other reasons for missing school affect your child’s attendance and performance in school.
**PICKING UP HOMEWORK – If your child is absent from school due to illness, they will receive one extra day for each day absent to turn in their missing work. I will have their assignments ready for you to pick up in the classroom at the end of the school day. Their books and assignments will be on the top of their desk. If you have any questions, please let me know.
**MARK YOUR CALENDARS – Our class will be going on our first field trip on Friday, September 11th. We will be going to Ft. Lupton for Trapper Days. More information will be sent home in the near future.
*NO SCHOOL – We will not have school on Monday, September 7th in observance of Labor Day. Enjoy your time of with your family.
*QUESTIONS?? – As I tell my students, if at any time you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. You Won’t Know If You Don’t Ask!!

God’s Blessings on the rest of your week!!
Mr. Hart





(See the back of this page for General Mills products list of items participating in Box Tops for Education – Thank You!! J)