1. 3rd Grade Curriculum Night
3A - Emily Murphy
3B – Katie Kennedy
3C – Tracy Gipson
3D – Denise Danby
3E – Tammy Olsen

2. 3rd Grade Schedule 7:40-7:50 Morning Jobs 7:50-8:00 Announcements
8:00-8:15 Morning Work
8:15-9:30 Math
9:30-10:30 Science/Social Studies
10:30-11:20 Specials (Art, Music, PE)
11:20-11:50 Recess
11:55-12:25 Lunch
12:30-2:45 Language Arts (Reading, Word Work,
Writing, Grammar, Handwriting)
2:45-3:00 Planner, Pack up, Reflections, Read Aloud
3:05 Dismissal

3. 3rd Grade Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills
You can access the state standards by visiting the Texas Education Agency website at… Scroll down to Grade 3.

4. What will my child learn this year in Reading?
We will have a balanced literacy classroom that will include:
* Metacognition (thinking about thinking)
* Reading Aloud (student & teacher)
* Independent Reading
* Choral Reading
* Shared Reading
* Fluency and Expression
* Readers Theatre
* Guided Reading
* Written and Oral responses
* STAAR test-taking strategies(State Of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness)

5. What will my child learn this year in Writing?
Daily journal writing
Write From the Beginning and Beyond
Thinking Maps for organization of writing
Expository Writing
Personal Narrative Writing
That they CAN be successful in writing!

6. What will my child learn this year in Word Work?
Weekly spelling lists that follow a phonetic pattern
Word sorts and word work
Applying spelling in our daily writing
Weekly Assessments

7. What will my child learn this year in Social Studies?
Citizenship—project in progress now!
History
Geography-Map Skills, Atlas skills, and Landforms
Economics
Government-Local, State, and National
Culture
Science, Technology, and Society
Time for Kids magazine
Social Studies

8. What will my child learn this year in Math?
Number, Operation, Quantitative Reasoning
-Addition -Money
-Subtraction -Fractions
-Multiplication -Rounding
-Division -Place value
Patterns, Relationships, and Algebraic Thinking
-geometric patterns
-patterns in a table
Geometry and Spatial Reasoning
-two and three dimensional figures
-congruency and symmetry
Measurement
-length -area
-perimeter -weight/mass
-volume/capacity -time
-temperature
Probability and Statistics
-data
-graphs
Processes and Tools
-problem solving -using math tools
-justify why an answer is reasonable

9. How will we learn in Math?
Go Math curriculum usage with an emphasis on the thought process
Small Group, Independent work, and Teacher/student conferencing
Math Journal: lessons and vocabulary
Math warm-up work

10. What will my child learn this year in Science?
Most lessons are hands-on, student-centered learning
FOSS Kits (Full Option Science Systems)
Lab Safety and Tools
Scientific Method
Life Science (animals & plants)
Earth Science (water & space)
Physical Science (matter & energy)

11. How will we learn in Science?
-Experimentation
-Observation
-Classification
-Inquiry
60% of our science instructional time is hands on.
Science Notebooks will be used as learning and assessment tools.

12. Beginning, Middle, and End-of-Year assessments
iStation measures current levels of:
Comprehension
Vocabulary
Spelling
Text Fluency
The EStar measures algebra readiness skills.
Writing Sample measures expository writing skills.
STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness

13. What is Project-based Learning?
Project-Based Learning (PBL)
Project-Based Learning promotes authentic and relevant learning experiences through standards based instruction. Students learn how to become critical thinkers, informed researchers, effective communicators, group collaborators, and informed decision makers while creating an authentic product. Our third grade learners will participate in several projects throughout the school year. The future ready outcomes, otherwise known as interpersonal skills, that will be assessed during our PBL projects are Digital Literacy, Communication, Collaboration, and Behavior & Responsibility. For more information about PBL, please visit our school website at

14. How will my child keep track of his/her homework and behavior?
Homework will be recorded by your child in his/her blue planner, when it is assigned.
Students will receive a “star”, sticker, or stamp each day if they had excellent behavior. If your child made a bad choice, you will see a note from the teacher.
Please discuss behavior then sign or initial the planner daily.

15. What are my child’s behavior expectations?
VRE School Rules:
1. Respect yourself
2. Respect others
3. Respect property

16. Expectations Outside of the Classroom!
Recess
Hands to yourself – NO touching
Lunch
First 5/last 5 minutes are SILENT
Good table manners
Be respectful and responsible
Clean-up silently
Restrooms
Good choices and silent during restroom breaks
Hallways
HALLS – ask your third grader about “HALLS”

17. How will I know what is going on in my child’s classroom?
Weekly Newsletter
Posted on teacher’s website
Online at vr.coppellisd.com
The weekly newsletter will include dates to remember, our week preview, test information, class supplies needed, and other communications that you need to be aware of.
Please read the newsletter each Monday with your child

18. How will my child be graded this year?
Standards-Based Report Card Standards
Descriptor
 Grading Code
Mastered Standards MS
Approaching Standards AS
Insufficient Progress on Standards
IPS
Not Assessed
N/A

19. Standards-based Videos
Please follow the links below to view the Coppell ISD videos about standards based report cards.
Explanation of SBRC #1
Explanation of SBRC #2
For further videos from CISD
teachers, go to:

20. **Reminder…NO CELL PHONES in SCHOOL ZONES!!!
Arrival and Departure
Students may arrive in gym at 7:30 a.m.
**Reminder…Parents must walk students into the office who arrive at 7:50 a.m. or later.
Students are dismissed at 3:05 p.m.
If your child will be going home a different way, make sure your child knows in the morning and put a note in your child’s folder.
Parent pick up is in the loop by the cafeteria.
Please follow directions of teachers on duty.
**Reminder…NO CELL PHONES in SCHOOL ZONES!!!

21. What if my child is absent?
If your child is absent, please notify the school by phone and the teacher by as soon as possible!
Your child’s absence is unexcused until a hand written note is turned in within two days following the absence. Excused absences include sickness, death in the family, religious holiday, etc., NOT vacations, grandparent arrival/departures, etc.
All requests for preplanned absences must be approved in writing by the office prior to leaving.
Your child is expected to be in school on all
scheduled school days. Vacations should be
scheduled on official school breaks (Fall,
Winter, Spring, and Summer breaks)

22. THIS IS FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL CHILDREN!
Visiting VRE
You must use the front door only
You have to sign in at the office as soon as you arrive.
You will receive a visitor badge. Please wear it so it can be seen by all. You may be escorted to the office if no badge is visible.
Please remember to sign out in the office when you leave.
THIS IS FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL CHILDREN!

23. Volunteers
All volunteers must complete a Volunteer Background Check each new school year.
This includes field trip chaperones and any volunteering at the school.
Please complete this NOW if you think you may be interested in working with students in any way this year.
Please access the form at the blue link above.

24. Snack and Water
A healthy snack (no chips, cookies, or sweets) may be sent for snack time each day. Do not pack it in the lunch box.
Water bottles are highly recommended each day…please label with first and last name and class (3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E)
Water only, please, in the classrooms.

25. How will I celebrate my child’s birthday?
In 3D :
Birthdays will be celebrated with a song and I give the b-day child a goody bag to take home.
Please do not send any treats with your child for their birthday.
You are welcome to come eat lunch with your child on their birthday!

26. VRE PTO http://www.vrepto.com/
Get connected with our wonderful Parent Teacher Organization by visiting their website… Please JOIN to get lots of important information about VRE!!
Be sure you are receiving the Ranch Roundup Newsletter. to receive this great communication piece – JOIN the PTO!!

27. How can I get in touch with the teachers?s
3A –
3B –
3C –
3D –
3E –
Conferences
Monday, Tuesday, Friday,
10:30-11:20
-By appointment only

28. Thank you so much for coming
Thank you so much for coming! Please any questions you may have to your child’s teacher.