1. Welcome to Mrs. Luberecki’s 3rd Grade Class!
September 2018 Newsletter
Welcome to 3rd
grade at Oak Tree
Elementary School. I
am looking forward to having a fun and exciting year that will be filled with learning and positive character building. Even more importantly, I am looking forward to working with such a wonderful group of students.
Our class will explore books, use hands-on learning, and work as a team to learn more about our world and about each other. Students will be very much apart of the learning process, as their input and interests will guide exciting and interactive lessons. Through the use of movement, art, and technology the students will have opportunities to share their talents and express themselves to the class and the school.
Again I am looking forward to a great school year, and hope you are as excited as I am!
Monthly Newsletters
are sent home to keep parents & students updated about the fun and exciting activities coming up throughout the school year!
Our monthly newsletters will be in the first Tuesday Folder of each month and are posted on our class website & Google Classroom!
Are you excited for
the 1st day of 3rd grade?
I am so excited to meet each and every one of you! But, I also know how nervous we can be on the 1st day! Even I get nervous! Who will be in my class? What will my teacher be like? Am I going to get a lot of homework in 3rd grade? So, in this newsletter I wanted to share with you some of the great things about our classroom, what we will be learning this year, and a little about me! I hope this helps to make you a little less nervous and super excited for 3rd grade!
See you on September 5th!
Contact Information *
*Class Website:
*Oak Tree School Phone #:
*Room: # 107

2. Home/School Connection!
What should I expect in 3rd grade?
Home/School Connection!
Homework Folders: Each student will have a Homework Folder to keep homework and notices. One side will be for items to bring back to school and the other side will be for items that can stay home. Keep it organized!
Tuesday Folders: All tests and other graded work will be sent home on Tuesdays in a special folder. I do ask for tests to be reviewed and signed by a parent and then returned to school within a few days! This helps us to keep track of students’ progress!
Friday Review: Every Friday students will fill out a Friday Review to reflect on how their week went and to set goals for the following week. Student’s can have it signed and bring it back on Monday to earn Banana Bills (read on to find out about those)!
Website: Stay up-to-date about what is going on in the classroom through our class website! Our website is updated daily with homework, tests, resources, etc. Simply visit the Monroe School website, click on “Oak Tree”, then “Staff Webpages”, and look for “Luberecki”.
Google Classroom: Google Classroom will be used daily to post exciting assignments, pictures and videos, and important classroom information and news. More information and log-in directions will be sent home the first few weeks of school!
Birthdays!
All students are welcome to celebrate their birthdays with the class! Students are not required to bring in anything for the class, and we will still sing and celebrate even if a child does not want to bring in a treat!
*Due to a new school policy we are asking students to bring in non-food related items for their birthday this year if they wish to bring in something. For example, pencils, erasers, bookmarks, etc. Scholastic Books are also a great idea (they are only a $1 each and it helps us earn free books for the class library when parents order online!). More information about Scholastic will be shared in the first few weeks of school!
This year we have 22 students in our class if you wish to send something in! All summer birthdays (July & August) will be celebrated in June.
Snack Time!
Students may bring a small snack, such as a granola bar or small bag of pretzels to help students stay focused throughout the day.
There will be a designated time each day for snack.
This is a working snack, so it should not interfere with any lessons or activities happening at the time.
V.I.P. Award
Every week a student that has shown great character and has been working hard will be presented with the V.I.P. Award! Students will fill out & color an “All About Me” poster and can bring in pictures to decorate a bulletin board dedicated to them for their hard work. Students will also get some great “perks” such as;
a special certificate and some goodies, a
special V.I.P. desk, first choice of a
classroom job, helping out the teacher,
and sitting in our special reading
chair!

3. What will we be learning about this year?
What topics will we be learning about in September?
Math: Review of 2nd grade math, understanding multiplication, multiplication facts, and problem solving strategies
Reading: Intro to Reader’s Workshop, asking & answering questions, thinking about reading, our class library & how to choose “just-right” books, vocabulary, and other fluency & comprehension skills
Lang. Arts: Intro to Words Their Way
(spelling), sentences & Paragraph sentence structure,
paragraphs (what’s
expected in 3rd grade),
punctuation, &
grammar
We will also be learning…
Writing: Intro to Writer’s Workshop, focus on informational writing and using evidence
Science: Earth Science – Weather & Climate
Social Studies: Communities & Citizenship
Health: Strengths & weaknesses, setting goals, growth
Cursive: Introduction
Technology: STEM
challenges, using
ipads, & lap-tops,
& getting familiar
with 3rd grade
websites
Reading is such an important component when it comes to the success of learning. It also allows students to explore places, people, and many other things they would not normally get to experience.
Reading Logs:
Students will be given weekly reading logs to track how long they are reading each. Logs will be given out on a Friday and be turned in the following Friday! Students are asked to read at least 4 out of the 7 days and record their thoughts about the books they read!
Class Reading Tree:
As students complete books they can fill out a "Reading Tree Leaf" along with an activity from a bin in our class library. We have a Reading Tree in our classroom to display our leaves of all the books we have been reading. As a class we will set monthly goals to read a certain number of books to earn a special reward! Keep reading!!!  This is a great way to earn Banana Bills too!
Happy Reading!!
Homework
Students will usually be assigned a reading log and spelling activities for the week. They
will also get daily math homework. There may be other homework or small projects
throughout the year, but homework should typically take about 30 minutes a night. No
homework is given on the weekends, unless a student needs to make-up work!
Homework Pad: Students will get a homework pad to keep track of homework.
Work will be written on the board & posted on our class website.
Homework Policy: Homework is so important for students to make connections
with their learning and to teach responsibility. Students should take their time
and complete work to the best of their ability. A more detailed homework
policy will be sent home to be signed. A “homework buddy”
T will be given that students can call if they forgot work,
are absent, need help. etc. It is also a great way to make
a new friend!

4. What other great things do I need to know about our classroom?
Our Class Behavior
Plan & Banana Bills!
“No Monkey Business
Please…”
Having good character is an essential part of being a 3rd grader. Having good character will not only make our classroom a better place, but spreading good character beyond the classroom will help to make the world a better place too! Our 3rd grade class will be working daily to build their character, by being kind and respectful to others and to our beautiful school. The students will have a big role to play at Oak Tree by following the rules both within the classroom and throughout the school. The classroom environment is key to our learning success.
Students can earn Banana Bills for displaying good character, such as; being kind to others, following the rules, and being prepared for class. As students earn banana bills we will track of them on our Class Dojo site (more info to come!), so parents can log-on and see too! Students can turn in their Banana Bills to receive special rewards, such as a homework pass, tech time, or a prize from the Treasure Chest, or lunch with the teacher! A more detailed Behavior Policy will be gone over on the 1st day of school and sent home for both students and parents to sign!
Extra Credit
In our classroom we have an area just for extra credit activities. When a student has free time they may complete these activities or even bring them home! When students hand in completed extra credit work they can earn Banana Bills. Students can even earn special rewards for completing a lot of extra credit!! Students will have a chart in the classroom to keep track of their extra credits!
Students can also earn extra credit on homework. Some homework may include extra challenge activities that students can try to earn more Banana Bills!
Important Dates
September 5th – 1st day of school
September 21st & 22nd – School Closed
September 18th -1/2 Day of School
September 19th – School Closed
October 8th – In-Service (No School for Students)
October 24th-26th – Parent/Teacher Conferences – ½ Days for Students
October 31st – Halloween Celebration
November 7th – In-Service (No School for Students)
November 8th & 9th – School Closed
November 12th – School Closed
November 21st – ½ Day of School
November 22nd & 23rd – No School
December 21st – ½ Day of School
December 24th – January 2nd – Winter Break – School Closed
January 3rd – School Re-opens
I hope you have learned a lot about our classroom
already & are even more excited to come to 3rd grade!
Parents, please do not hesitate to me with any
questions!
Welcome to 3rd
Grade & let’s have
a great year!