Welcome to 3 rd Grade

1. Welcome to 3rd Grade • The 3rd grade teachers are Mrs. Porter (room 103), Miss Hufstedler (102) and Mrs. Franciose (104). • Mrs. Franciose- This is currently my ninth year teaching at Lakeview School. I have received my Masters in Reading, and am continuing my graduate education with an endorsement in ELL. I am delighted to be a wife and mother. • Mrs. Porter- This is my 17th year teaching at Lakeview. I have a total of 21 years teaching 3rd grade. I have 24 years of experience in the field of education, and I am an experience mother of three adult children. I hold a masters degree plus in education and I continue to take educational courses. • Miss Hufstedler- This is my second year teaching at Lakeview. I went to Illinois State to receive my bachelor’s degree. I just recently completed an endorsement in ELL. I am really enjoying Lakeview, as well as, third grade!

2. NO EXCUSES! • We believe our job is to promote college readiness at the elementary school level! There are No Excuses! • Students, staff, and parents are working hard to ensure that students will develop and acquire the skills and strategies needed to prepare them for college. It is never too early! • Along with the No Excuse philosophy, our classroom has adopted a university. Each university has school colors. Students are encouraged to wear college shirts or their college’s colors every Monday! • Ohio State University- red, white, and gray • Eastern Illinois University- blue and gray • Illinois State University- red, white, and black

3. Balanced Literacy • Students participate in a balanced literacy program which includes: reading, writing, and working with words • Students participate in independent activities as well as guided, small group, and whole group lessons • We have a core literacy program, from Macmillan Publishers, as an additional literacy resource.

4. Balanced Literacy continued • We use a variety of assessment tools to understand each student’s needs. Students take MAP tests in reading and math three times per year. They are also adminstered the Fountas & Pinnell to find their instructional reading levels. In March, the Illinois Standard Achievement Test (ISAT) is given statewide. This helps us monitor their progress more frequently and more accurately plan for their individual instructional needs. • Students use this data as well to set personal goals and to choose books at their lexile level.

5. Sample comprehension reading strategies taught throughout the year: Making connections, Visualizing, Inferring, Questioning, Synthesizing, Predicting, Determining importance of text, Understanding literary elements Sample comprehension skills learned, using our core literacy series: Sequencing Character, plot, and setting Summarizing Cause & effect Fact & opinion Author’s purpose Main ideas and details Making inferences A variety of genres will be covered Reading

6. Guided Reading • An important part of reading instruction is guided reading. Students are placed in flexible groups based on their MAP scores, Fountas & Pinnell assessments, and individual needs. The goal is to teach students to independently use reading strategies at their instructional level . Students learn how to process a variety of texts and increase comprehension and fluency. • During our literacy block, students rotate to stations with their group. They are either in a guided reading group, at literacy centers, listening to reading, reading with a partner, or reading independently.

7. Writer’s Workshop • Students will be instructed using Lucy Calkins, 6 Traits of Writing, and ISAT preparation materials. • Students will be taught: • Ideas, organization, voice, sentence fluency, word choice, and conventions • To compose different forms of creative writing • The stages of writing (prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing) • How to develop paragraphs • Elaboration • Integration • Organization • Conventions • Focus

8. Social Studies Units: Students will explore their world through maps and globes. Their exploration continues through the study of Schaumburg as a community; its history, people, resources, government, and geography. Activity based lessons utilizing maps, globes, and reference guides Cardinal and intermediate directions Graphing, charting and map making Science Units: The science curriculum emphasizes learning through hands-on activities. This approach enables students to observe, classify, measure, predict, interpret data, and experiment. This year’s units of study are: About Ourselves Earth’s Weather Animals Simple Machines Social Studies & Science

9. 3rd Grade Math Everyday Mathematics is the district wide math program. The curriculum includes: • Hands-on math manipulatives and games • Identify, read, write and compare whole numbers • Adding and subtracting whole numbers • Linear measurement and area • Multiplication and division • Place Value in whole numbers and decimals • Geometry • Fractions • Measurement data • Probability • Solve/create number stories • Time and money concepts

10. Grading On assignments, tests, and quizzes, we will give feedback on student performance using a point system with the most amount of points being 4 and the least possible would be 1. This reflects the District 54 Primary Report Card. 4- Working Beyond Standards 3- Achieving Standards 2- Progressing Towards Standards 1- Working Below Standards

11. Homework Policy • Homework is given on most nights. It is important to establish a pattern and habit of reading independently and completing assignments. Homework is assigned to reinforce what has been learned in class. • The students in 3rd grade are expected to read at least 20 minutes and practice their basic math facts for 10 minutes each night. Students have purchased the basic math facts flash cards, which was listed on their school supply list. If no homework is assigned on a given night, then the 20 minutes of reading and 10 minutes of practicing math facts is still expected. • Our students have been given assignment books and are expected to use them to record their assignments. • Occasionally, long-term projects or assignments will be given. The students will be made aware of a timeline for completion and expectations for the finished product. • Homework club

12. Homework Club • Homework club is not a punishment, it is to help you child be successful. • Students will be sent to homework club if they have not completed homework two times in a row. • It is not a time for one on one help, it is a time to get caught up.

13. Campus Weekly • You will receive a Campus Weekly Friday or Monday(depending on your teacher). This is used as a communication device about your child’s week. It is also a chance for you to share any thoughts or concerns about your child with me. Please take the time to read and discuss it with your child over the weekend. I feel that it is very important to reflect each week upon the choices that a student has made. In addition , it allows for parents to be involved in what their child is learning each week. This is to be signed and returned each Monday. On rare occasions, there may not be a Campus Weekly sent home due to a short week, parent-teacher conferences, report cards, or my absence. If you are not sure , please feel free to call me.

14. Classroom Community • We work very hard at developing and nurturing our classroom community. Many opportunities are provided for students to learn to respect each other, treat others with kindness, and learn how to solve conflicts peacefully. Developing a community is imperative to helping students feel like an important part of not only our class but also Lakeview school. Students are expected to follow Lazlo’s Laws in order to allow for a safe environment conducive to learning. Weekly meetings are conducted to help build our classroom community.

15. Classroom Incentives • Paw Prides are handed out during class when following Lazlo’s Laws. After receiving a certain amount, the class earns a puzzle piece. Once a puzzle is completed, they choose a fun activity to participate in! • Classroom teacher decides other incentives

16. These are ways you can help your child succeed in 3rd grade: • Ask your child about their day and what they learned. • Make sure your child reads every night for 20 minutes. It is a daily homework assignment. • Set a special time and place where you can assist/check your child’s homework. • Practice basic facts for 10 minutes (+, -, X, /)

17. How Can Parents Get Involved? • Join the P.T.A. • Listen to children read • Volunteer at the school • Volunteer in the classroom • Check homework • Chaperone on field trips • Read to your children • Be the class parent • Help with parties • Stay informed by reading notes your child brings home • Attend Lakeview events