Springdale Elementary School

1. Springdale Elementary School Stepping Up Night April 4, 2013

2. Behavioral Expectations: Striving for Independence • Follow the 4 school rules: Be Safe, Work Hard, Be Responsible, Be Respectful • Can tie shoes/sneakers independently. • Use proper bathroom manners. • Walk to and from class independently. • Undress self upon arrival and unpack learning tools and homework needed for the day. • Dress self for dismissal and pack up all homework, handouts, and learning tools needed for home. • Keep desk neat and organized.

3. Homework Expectations • Students are expected to copy their homework into an assignment pad everyday. An adult must sign their assignment pad every evening upon homework completion. The assignment pad must return to school the next day. • Students are expected to write their first/last name and the date on every homework paper. • Students are expected to complete homework as best as they can and return the next school day or due date. Mistakes on homework are acceptable! • Students are expected to read every day for at least 20 minutes. They can do this alone or with an adult.

4. Math • Students are expected to know all addition and subtraction facts with speed and accuracy. • Students are expected to know how to tell time on an analog clock to the minute. • Students are expected to identify all coins, their values, how to count mixed coins, and make change. • Multiplication and Division facts will also be studied and tested throughout the year. • By the end of third grade, students are expected to have all multiplication facts, 0-12, memorized for speed and accuracy.

5. Reading Students will work on: • Written summaries of fiction and non-fiction texts. • Determine the main idea and supporting details of texts. • Research a variety of sources on a topic, paraphrase texts, and draft reports with a table of contents, overview, headings, conclusion, and works cited page. • Study non-fiction text conventions and how to gather relevant information from the text to use as evidence/ to support thinking and written responses. • An author study looking at author’s craft, author’s purpose, and comparing & contrasting texts written by the same author. • Annotating texts and answering text dependent questions. • Determine a theme, lesson, or central message from fictional narratives (folktales, myths, and poems).

6. Writing Students entering 3rd grade are expected to be able to: • Write complete sentences with capital letters and correct use of punctuation. • Compose an organized story with a beginning, middle, and end. Throughout the year, students will focus on: • Taking an idea for a story through the writing process: Plan, draft, revise, edit, publish. • Writing a narrative story with an entertaining beginning, description of setting and main characters, three detailed main events, and a conclusive ending with a reflection in 45 minutes. • Plan, research, draft, revise, edit, and publish research reports on a specific topic. • Peer conference to discuss successes in writing and areas in need of improvement. • Reflect in writing what they learned in a given writing unit.

7. Standardized Testing in Grade 3 • Connecticut Mastery Tests (CMTs) • The 3rd graders take the CMTs in March. • They will focus on: • Degrees of Reading Power (DRP) • Reading Comprehension (2 sessions) • Direct Assessment of Writing (Writing Prompt) • Editing & Revising • Mathematics (2 sessions) • A CMT Homework Schedule will begin after the holidays and continue until testing begins. Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) • Grade 3 DRA Benchmarks: • Fall: Proficient Level 28 Non-fiction, Ceiling 34 • Winter: Proficient 34, Ceiling 38 Non-fiction • Spring: Proficient 38 Non-fiction, Ceiling 40

8. Thank You! • Have a wonderful summer filled with good times among family and friends. • Please continue to have your child read, read, read! • We look forward to seeing you in September for an exciting year of learning in 3rd grade!