Welcome to Third Grade!

Dear Parents,

I am very glad to have your child in my class. I am also very eager to meet all of you. Please feel free to pop into the classroom to say “Hello!” any time you want. My door is always open. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call, e-mail, or send a note with your student.

We will be working on much this year. We are starting a new reading program “Reading Street.” In math we are focusing on multiplication and division. We will also be working on cursive handwriting. Reading is very important. Please read with your children. Reading with your child is one of the most encouraging things you can do to support your child’s learning.

Ms. Sonnen
jsonnen@sd365.us

This is the First year that your student will actually receive a letter grade on his/her report card. Grades are based on the following:

A = 90-100%: Complete understanding of skills/concept
 B = 80-89%: Solid understanding of key points of skills/concepts
 C = 70-79%: Basic understanding of skills/concept
 D = 60-69%: incomplete or limited understanding of skills/concept
 F = 1-59%: Minimal or no understanding of basic skills/concept

The #1 Classroom Rule:

All school rules and expectations are made to keep students and staff: SAFE, RESPONSIBLE, & POLITE.
 
Those who choose not to follow the school rules will be handled on an individual basis using Love & Logic.

This year in third grade, we will be having a homework packet going home each Tuesday. This packet will include a brief newsletter from me, which will include upcoming events and reminders. There will also be instructions as to what the homework will be for each night of the week. You will have 7 days to complete the packet. The packet will be due the following Tuesday. Your child can choose to turn in homework as it is finished or all at once on the following Tuesday. The packet will also include a Tuesday Folder with all work that has been completed and graded. These papers are yours to keep.

Homework will vary depending on what we are doing, but typically, there will be a few math problems, writing sentences with our spelling word, practicing cursive, and practicing flash cards. Every night will include 20 min of reading. This can be the child reading to you, you reading to them, reading a newspaper, reading a magazine, reading a recipe, or any form of reading just as long as they are reading!

Every month, your child is responsible for reading and passing 3 AR books in their level. Tests are considered pass at 70% or better.

Your child’s birthday is very important to all of us in the class. If you would like to share this special day with us by sending or bringing treats you are more than welcome to. Our birthday celebrations will happen around recess time (1:45pm-2:00pm). For those who have a birthday during the summer, we can celebrate on the half birthday, and for those who have a birthday on the weekend you can choose the Friday before or the Tuesday after to celebrate with us.

When I get book orders, I will send them home. I usually allow two weeks before I place the order. The due date will always be in your students’ planner & the 3rd grade Newsletter. If you would like to write a check for your order, please make it payable to Scholastic.

Cool Math 4 kids: http://coolmath4kids.com
Reading Street: (Our Reading Text) http://www.pearsonsuccessnet.com
Houghton Mifflin Math: (Our Math Text) http://www.eduplace.com/math/mw/g_3.html
Dance Mat Typing: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/
Scholastic: (Book Orders On-Line) http://www.scholastic.com/readeveryday/
AR Book Finder: http://www.arbookfind.com/UserType.aspx