VALENTINE'S DAY PARTY - Our Valentine's Day party will be on Tuesday, February 14.  If your child is bringing Valentines to pass out, please have him/her sign his/her name on each.  However, we do not write individual classmate names on the cards.  This allows students to pass out their cards quickly and leaves more time for the party celebrations -- games, food, fun!  There are 25 students who celebrate Valentine's Day in our class.  Your child can bring his/her valentines in on Monday or Tuesday.

MULTIPLICATION - We have begun learning our multiplication facts (0-10)!  I am so happy to see students excited and learning so quickly.  We take one-minute timed tests weekly.  Practicing at home every night will greatly help your child master all of the facts this quarter.  We will be learning the fact families in this order.  The 2, 5, 0, and 1 facts should be a review from 2nd grade.

2,  5,  9,  0,  1,  10,  4,  3,  8,  6,  7

WEEKLY "TO DO" LIST

1.  Read each night for 15+ minutes nightly.

2.  Practice your addition, subtraction, multiplication, & divisions facts for 10+ minutes nightly.  Work on speed.

3.  Make corrections on graded classwork over the weekend and return your work on Monday.

WEB PAGE - Please accept my apologizes for the inconsistency on some of the web pages.  District 87 is using a different web editing software that has several formatting glitches.  Often times the information and graphics do not appear on the web page as it does in edit mode.  I am working to mend these issues and hope to get the entire site to its original cohesive appearance soon.

NEWSLETTERS - You can now view each of our weekly classroom newsletters online.  I've created a "Newsletters" page to archive the information.

READING COUNTS - The Scholastic "Reading Counts" program is designed to increase reading motivation and improve student comprehension.  Students can choose books to read at individual lexile levels which are determined by the Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) computer test that is taken at the beginning of the school year and the end of each quarter.  The third grade lexile range is 500-800.  This is where most third graders should be reading by the end of the school year.  Students with lexiles outside this range are reading above or below grade level expectations.  Students are encouraged to choose books within a lexile range 100 points above or below their individual lexiles.  Therefore, a child who tests at a 552 lexile should select books between 452 and 652.

We have a large number of books with Reading Counts quizzes in the school library and our classroom libraries.  Those books are marked with a special Reading Counts label which identifies the book's lexile level and possible RC points to be earned by passing the computer quiz.  After reading the book, a student should sign up to take the quiz on a classroom computer at a convenient time during the school day.  These quizzes consist of 10 multiple-choice questions.  Students must get 7 or more correct to pass the quiz and earn the full amount of points for that particular book.  Point levels are pre-determined and based on the difficulty of the book by Scholastic.  In addition to the books at school, you may choose books from the public library and check Oakland’s website for quiz availability.

Students are expected to earn 25 points per quarter by taking and passing Reading Counts quizzes.  Students can check their progress at any time by logging on to the Reading Counts system in our classroom or school library.  Points earned are displayed on a class bulletin board.  Rewards (certificate, pencil, bookmark, food coupons, free book, etc.) are given for every 25 points earned.  Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) and Reading Counts (RC) reports will be sent home every quarter with report cards.

Students are given opportunities to take quizzes on books that are read aloud to them as well as on stories from our reading text regardless of the lexile level.  If a student wishes to read a book outside of his/her lexile range and take a quiz, he should consult the classroom teacher before reading the book.  However, most outside reading should be near a student’s individual lexile level for maximum improvement of comprehension.

Reading Counts quizzes can only be taken at school.
There is NO at-home option for taking quizzes.

The RC goal for each quarter is 25+ points!

GRADED PAPERS - Graded papers will come home every Friday attached to my weekly classroom newsletter.  Any classwork below 75% that your child corrects over the weekend must be returned on Mondays for re-grading.  Keep in mind that I will only re-grade classwork, and I will only re-grade it once.  If you see "Parent Signature" on one of your child's papers, I would like you to sign the page and have your child return it on Monday.



PARENT SIGNATURE - In the graded papers that come home on Fridays, you may see some papers that ask for a parent signature.  I usually require this on failing tests, but may also ask for it on assignments that show a great lack of effort or understanding.  Please talk to your child about these papers and have him/her return those particular pages on Monday.
 

TRANSPORTATION NOTES - This is a reminder to please write a note when your child will have alternate plans for going home at the end of the day.  The office staff and I must have confirmation in writing.  As noted in the monthly Oakland newsletters, this is important for your child's safety.  Thank you.
 

LIBRARY BOOKS - Third graders check out 2 books from our school library on Thursdays.  They can keep the books for up to two weeks.  When your child is choosing books, we ask he/she selects at least one book at his/her lexile level.  The other book can be a free choice.  The goal for first quarter is 25 Reading Counts points.
 

ASSIGNMENT NOTEBOOK - Please see and sign your child's assignment notebook every night.  Students are rewarded with Fun Friday time for completed work and signed notebooks.  The message box is a great place for us to communicate.  Look for upcoming tests and due dates for projects on this page, too!

LUNCH MONEY - Please pay for school lunches at www.mylunchmoney.com or send lunch money in a sealed envelope with the following written on the front.

LUNCH MONEY
Child's full name
Child's teacher and grade

BIRTHDAYS - Birthday party invitations may NOT passed out at school.  This is a District 87 policy and helps to avoid hurt feelings.  We request that you use the U.S. mail.  We are unable to provide you with student names and addresses.