Third Grade Rocks!
Reading
Mrs. Moon is so excited to teach reading! The students will be diving into a year filled with authentic literature to enrich and enhance reading skills. The students will explore a specific reading skill each week, along with the literary vocabulary that is part of the STAAR test. On Friday the students will test on the reading objective and vocabulary for that week’s story. Mrs. Moon’s marvelous scholars will also complete many fun projects throughout the year. Most assignments should be completed during the school day. So, the only homework the students should have in the evenings is to read one half point book. Daily work in reading will count as 60% of their report card grade and tests will count as 40%. Each nine weeks their STAR test percentage will be averaged in as 1 test grade. Mrs. Moon can not wait to watch her students blossom into amazing readers!
UIL Contest
Third graders have several opportunities to participate in UIL contests. They may try out for Story Telling, Music Memory, Chess, Ready Writing, and Spelling. Several of these are team and individual contests so, your child has two opportunities to earn a ribbon/medal. Please encourage your child to try out for one or more of these events! Watch for more info in the next few weeks.
Classroom Behavior System
Third Graders at Holland Elementary will be using a classroom economy to encourage responsible behaviors and to help them understand how money works. Students may earn money or be assessed fees for their personal behaviors. Teachers have class stores where the students will be able to spend their money on small items or coupons for special privileges. Students learn some personal financial management. They quickly realize that they can’t spend all of their classroom PLAY money at the store if they want to be able to afford other special opportunities to spend classroom money. This money system works with the regular classroom token behavior management system and helps keep students from losing tokens for minor classroom infractions. The regular behavior management system gives students five behavior tokens each week. Tokens are taken for not following classroom rules or procedures. Each token has a value of $2.00. Parents will notice the tokens at the bottom of the homework assignment sheet. If a token is marked off, there will be an explanation written on the daily assignment sheet. Parents should initial the explanation to show that they are aware of why the token was marked off. Any tokens left at the end of the week will be worth $2.00 in classroom money.
CLASS DOJO
Class Dojo as our online parent communicator. Please download the app! It will be used to remind you or inform you of important things happening in third grade and at Holland Elementary. You will be able to contact all third grade teachers through the app. Look for a page to be coming home with instructions on how to join if you haven’t already.
WATER BOTTLES
You may send your child to school with a reusable water bottle.. They may use them during lunch, recess, and PE. During class time they may use our water fountains.
Grade
Level
Awards
Students in third grade will be able to earn several awards at our end of school awards assembly. Some possible awards are Run Across Texas from Coach Gersbach, Accelerated Reader award for AR points earned, and a Perfect Attendance award. Students will also be recognized for UIL participation and UIL ribbons will be awarded. Please encourage your child to work hard to earn one of these awards.
STAAR TEST Texas students in grades 3-12 are required to take the STAAR test each year. Third graders are tested on reading/ language arts, and math skills. The test will be administered in May. We will be sending out more information later in the year. Just remember that it is only a test and all we can do is the best that we can do. We work hard every day to make sure they are prepared.
Absences
When students return to school after being absent, expect for them to have make-up work to be completed and returned. This work will be due within three days of their absence. If they are absent for multiple days they will have additional days to complete the work. If necessary, they will make up AR and in class instruction during recess/tutorial time. New skills are taught each day and it is important that your child be at school if possible. We begin working immediately after the bell rings and don't stop until the final bell rings. This year there will be core subjects taught throughout the afternoon. Please try to have them at school every day and all day if possible so that they don’t fall behind.