Mrs. Laughlin’s Classroom Information
Welcome! I am excited to start a new year. I hope your child has a fun-filled year of learning.
Communication
Please read the information in this newsletter. It will help you become familiar with our curriculum, schedule, homework, and much more. If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact me by email at [email protected], or phone at 636. 851.5793. This should help us to start our year off with an easy transition. In third grade, your child will be expected to work with a great deal of independence. Together we can achieve this goal! I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT YEAR☺
Absences
When your child returns from an absence, please send a note with them. I will provide additional time for work that is missed once your child returns.
Early Departure/Late Arrival
Please always sign your child in or out of the office, even when you are leaving from the classroom. School begins at 9:05 and children are dismissed at 4:05.
Health
Please notify me of any special health problems or medications your child is taking.
Homework
Adequate class time will be given at school to complete work. Your child will also need to complete unfinished class work, assigned work, and practice math facts as we learn multiplication. Getting aboard and setting up a homework time in the beginning of the school year will help foster good study habits.
Language Arts
Your child will read a variety of stories this year. Third graders focus on comprehension both oral and written, vocabulary, and reading fluency. You can help make reading an enjoyable experience by encouraging your child to read and listening to them read nightly. The stories that we read will be used to strengthen your child’s language skills and introduce new skills. Some areas of focus for language arts include capitalization, punctuation, and parts of speech. Your child will be an author in writer’s workshop as they write for a variety of purposes.
Math
It is very important that students master the basic math facts before moving on to related higher-level math concepts. Students should work to master addition and subtraction facts through 20 and multiplication and division facts through 100. You can help your child at home by quizzing him or her with flashcards or homemade practice sheets. You can even call out math facts to your child while you are preparing supper. Periodically, a written math assignment may be sent home. Please have your child complete it and return it by the date marked at the top of the assignment.
You and your child have access to our math series online. This site allows you to access the book we use in class (eText), worksheets, the game center, and much more. Here's how to log on: Go to https://www.pearsonrealize.com. The username will be your child’s first and last initial @ ind. (ex. tl@ind ). The password will be first and last initial and their lunch number (ex. Tl555555). The eText, game center, and assignments are located under the "Classes" tab. Under the "Program" tab, you will find worksheets and other information that go with each topic we study. I will send you a Home-School Connection letter at the beginning of each new topic, so you will know what we are currently studying at school.
Handwriting
Your child will continue learning the Zaner-Bloser cursive alphabet and writing in cursive by the end of the year.
Spelling
On Monday, your child will bring home a word bank of words that follow the spelling patterns focused on for the week during word work. Spelling will be assessed in a variety of ways at the end of the week. Students will be expected to apply spelling strategies and patterns in their writing. A link to our weekly spelling words can be located on my website terrylaughlin.weebly.com Follow the link, then go to the contact us page, Third Grade, Spelling.
http://fhsdinde.sharpschool.net
Vocabulary
Vocabulary words will be focused on throughout the week during the Units of Study.
Science / Social Studies
1st Quarter – Force & Motion and Communities
2nd Quarter – Animal Adaptations/Ecosystems and Maps
3rd Quarter – Inheritance and Variation of Traits /Martin Luther King Jr.
4th Quarter – World Climates and Civics
Technology
Your child will have the opportunity to use a variety of technology in the classroom. All students will be expected to follow classroom expectations and teacher directions when using the various technology. Third grade students will also be using hand held devices such as iPods. These devices will be for classroom use only.
Take Home Folder/Assignments
Check your child’s folder daily for assignments, graded work and notes. Please send this folder back to school each day. Office notes will continue being sent home with the youngest or only child at Independence in an effort to Go Green.
Snack
We will be having snack each day if you want to send in a healthy snack with your child. Please remember we have some children in our class that have allergies to tree nuts!!!!
Birthdays
With food allergies increasing each year and safety being a priority, third grade has decided to change the way we celebrate birthdays and start a new tradition. Instead of sending in birthday treats, we will recognize your child’s birthday in other ways in the classroom. We will also gather on the playground as a grade level to recognize students with birthdays each month, to sing “Happy Birthday,” and to enjoy an extra recess. Students who have birthdays during the summer may celebrate on their half-birthday or in May, whichever they choose.
Welcome! I am excited to start a new year. I hope your child has a fun-filled year of learning.
Communication
Please read the information in this newsletter. It will help you become familiar with our curriculum, schedule, homework, and much more. If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact me by email at [email protected], or phone at 636. 851.5793. This should help us to start our year off with an easy transition. In third grade, your child will be expected to work with a great deal of independence. Together we can achieve this goal! I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT YEAR☺
Absences
When your child returns from an absence, please send a note with them. I will provide additional time for work that is missed once your child returns.
Early Departure/Late Arrival
Please always sign your child in or out of the office, even when you are leaving from the classroom. School begins at 9:05 and children are dismissed at 4:05.
Health
Please notify me of any special health problems or medications your child is taking.
Homework
Adequate class time will be given at school to complete work. Your child will also need to complete unfinished class work, assigned work, and practice math facts as we learn multiplication. Getting aboard and setting up a homework time in the beginning of the school year will help foster good study habits.
Language Arts
Your child will read a variety of stories this year. Third graders focus on comprehension both oral and written, vocabulary, and reading fluency. You can help make reading an enjoyable experience by encouraging your child to read and listening to them read nightly. The stories that we read will be used to strengthen your child’s language skills and introduce new skills. Some areas of focus for language arts include capitalization, punctuation, and parts of speech. Your child will be an author in writer’s workshop as they write for a variety of purposes.
Math
It is very important that students master the basic math facts before moving on to related higher-level math concepts. Students should work to master addition and subtraction facts through 20 and multiplication and division facts through 100. You can help your child at home by quizzing him or her with flashcards or homemade practice sheets. You can even call out math facts to your child while you are preparing supper. Periodically, a written math assignment may be sent home. Please have your child complete it and return it by the date marked at the top of the assignment.
You and your child have access to our math series online. This site allows you to access the book we use in class (eText), worksheets, the game center, and much more. Here's how to log on: Go to https://www.pearsonrealize.com. The username will be your child’s first and last initial @ ind. (ex. tl@ind ). The password will be first and last initial and their lunch number (ex. Tl555555). The eText, game center, and assignments are located under the "Classes" tab. Under the "Program" tab, you will find worksheets and other information that go with each topic we study. I will send you a Home-School Connection letter at the beginning of each new topic, so you will know what we are currently studying at school.
Handwriting
Your child will continue learning the Zaner-Bloser cursive alphabet and writing in cursive by the end of the year.
Spelling
On Monday, your child will bring home a word bank of words that follow the spelling patterns focused on for the week during word work. Spelling will be assessed in a variety of ways at the end of the week. Students will be expected to apply spelling strategies and patterns in their writing. A link to our weekly spelling words can be located on my website terrylaughlin.weebly.com Follow the link, then go to the contact us page, Third Grade, Spelling.
http://fhsdinde.sharpschool.net
Vocabulary
Vocabulary words will be focused on throughout the week during the Units of Study.
Science / Social Studies
1st Quarter – Force & Motion and Communities
2nd Quarter – Animal Adaptations/Ecosystems and Maps
3rd Quarter – Inheritance and Variation of Traits /Martin Luther King Jr.
4th Quarter – World Climates and Civics
Technology
Your child will have the opportunity to use a variety of technology in the classroom. All students will be expected to follow classroom expectations and teacher directions when using the various technology. Third grade students will also be using hand held devices such as iPods. These devices will be for classroom use only.
Take Home Folder/Assignments
Check your child’s folder daily for assignments, graded work and notes. Please send this folder back to school each day. Office notes will continue being sent home with the youngest or only child at Independence in an effort to Go Green.
Snack
We will be having snack each day if you want to send in a healthy snack with your child. Please remember we have some children in our class that have allergies to tree nuts!!!!
Birthdays
With food allergies increasing each year and safety being a priority, third grade has decided to change the way we celebrate birthdays and start a new tradition. Instead of sending in birthday treats, we will recognize your child’s birthday in other ways in the classroom. We will also gather on the playground as a grade level to recognize students with birthdays each month, to sing “Happy Birthday,” and to enjoy an extra recess. Students who have birthdays during the summer may celebrate on their half-birthday or in May, whichever they choose.