Author: Vicky

October 2, 2017

Warner’s
News

Greenville Elementary
Greenville City School District

Volume 2, Issue 1

Third Grade Discovery

Special points of interest:
Challenging Work Grows Smarter Brains
Getting Use to Third Grade
October Learning Expectations
Contact information
Reminders

Important Dates
October 17—parent teacher conferences
October 20– Scholastic book order due
October 30—No School Waiver Day
October 31—parent teacher conferences

Challenging Work Grows Smarter Brains
Students in the Discovery Class will be participating in a modified curriculum or differentiated curriculum based on their educational needs. This is accomplished in several ways. The curriculum may be differentiated in the pace, depth or complexity, and/or in the process and product expected. This year differentiation will occur in word study (i.e., spelling, vocabulary, and word features), guided reading groups, writing groups, and independent reading. Last week we started our differentiated groups in word study. Students will be introduced to the procedures and will practice them in the classroom. We will begin differentiated reading groups, followed by writing groups, and finally, differentiated independent reading in the form of literature circles or book studies.
Getting Use to Third Grade
During the month of September we have had many discussion on the difference between second and third grade. For some, it has been a difficult struggle.
Here is a summary of some of our class discussions:
Homework is required and randomly graded.
Third graders need to develop independence through following directions, taking responsibility for their actions, and completing work when assigned.
Work may be challenging—there is no reason to quit working, stop thinking, refuse, make excuses, or cry and get upset.

October Learning Expectations*
Unit 1: Big Idea: How can learning help us grow?
EQ: What can stories teach you?
Topics: genre—fantasy and fables, visualization, context clues—synonyms, character traits
EQ: What can traditions teach you about cultures?
Topics: genre—realistic fiction, visualization, plot sequences, commands and exclamations, inflectional endings
EQ: How do people from different cultures contribute to a community?
Topics: genre—narrative nonfiction, ask and answer questions, sequence, compound words
EQ: How can problem solving lead to new ideas?
Topics: genre– biography, cause and effect, summarization, ask and answer questions
* By the end of each week your child should be able to explain and give examples of the topics and work.

Teacher Contact Information:

Stay Connected for Success

Victoria Warner
vwarner@gcswave.com

School Day—8:40 AM—3:45 PM (tardy bell 8:50)
School Phone: 937-548-3185
Bookmark Greenville Elementary Webpage for all the latest news and information. Be sure to read the Student Handbook. Forms are also available on the website.
http://www.greenville.k12.oh.us/greenvilleelementaryschool_home.aspx
My Teacher Webpage:
http://www.greenville.k12.oh.us/VickyWarner.aspx
Remind– Sign up for important updates: Third Grade Discovery
Scholastic Book Code: QDY3G

Take Home Folders should be returned to school every day in your child's backpack. The folders are the main mode of communication between the classroom and the parent. Be sure to discuss items with your child.

Assignment/Agenda Book should be returned to school every day. Your child is responsible for writing their homework assignments in the agenda when there is assigned homework.

Talk with your child daily about their work in the classroom and about the books we have been reading.
We have a Nut/Peanut Free classroom. Any treats brought to school must be nut/peanut free.

Classroom Tidbits

iPads will be coming home daily. Students will be required to charge them and return them to school daily.

Classroom Information
Grade 3 & 4 Homework Policy: Homework is due at the beginning of class. Students will be afforded one late pass for language arts, mathematics, and science/social studies per quarter. Late work will be accepted the following day when using the pass. Credit will not be issued for late work beyond the one day extension (when using the homework pass).
Independent Reading: Students are to read a minimum of 20 minutes four days per week (four out of seven days). They will have a reading prompt to complete for each reading session. These prompts will be given to students on Monday and are due the following Monday.
Word Study/Spelling/Vocabulary: Students will be assigned a word feature weekly. Not all students will start on the same day of the week or have the same word feature. Word study work will be completed in class. They will be responsible for copying their words from the sort to bring home to study. Their word study test will include seven words from their sort, seven words that fit the word feature but are not on their sort, and six vocabulary words from the week.
iPads and eSpark—IPads will be coming home starting October 2 for eSpark and extra math work. The student is responsible for charging their iPad and bringing it to school everyday. Failure to return the iPad to school fully charged daily will result in moving down on the Rainbow of Respect. Continued issues will result in office consequences. I will be monitoring their eSpark work.
Growth Mindset—Periodically we will be participating in growth mindset activities to discover how our brain learns, that challenges grow our brains, how productive struggles help us to learn, and success skills such as grit, perseverance, power of yet, and character.