Dear Third Grade Families,

This Tuesday will mark the beginning of ITBS Testing. We will test every morning for the duration of this week and next, ending our testing next Thursday. Please make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep, has a healthy breakfast and arrives to school on time every morning. As always, we plan to put forth our very best efforts.

Mrs. Keegan, our Accelerated Math aide, and I have noticed that many students have been having difficulty correctly filling out the bubble sheets that accompany Accelerated Math. This leads to many errors in scoring and missed problems. Please take a moment to go over the bubble sheet with your child as he/she completes the homework. Each bubble should be filled completely without stray marks. Bubble sheets should also be turned in neatly (no rips, tears or bends) with your child’s name clearly written on it. Your help in this is greatly appreciated. It is also good practice, as our ITBS test will use similar bubble sheets as well.

In more news, our school continues to collect Box Tops for Education. Students may bring a minimum of 15 box tops in order to be entered into our monthly school-wide raffle. Please remember though to write your child’s name on the plastic bag they are brought in, otherwise we won’t know who to enter into the drawing.

In addition to ITBS testing, we will be working on the following:

Math: Begin Chapter 3 “Addition and Subtraction.” We will review addition strategies this week in class, however please take time this week to review doubles and doubles plus one facts with your child at home. By third grade, students should know these by heart and be able to recite them with automaticity.

Langauge Arts: Spelling and Vocab. Unit 4, Writer’s Workshop – publishing our “How To” guides

Social Studies: Landform mapping quiz on Wednesday, relief mapping

Science: Forms of Matter – solid, liquid, gas

Religion: “We are God’s Holy People” with a focus on St. Francis and St. Claire

Have a great week,

Mrs. Espinosa