Windsor Intermediate
Center
2015-2016
A guide for students and their parents to be
successful in the third grade. Please keep this
guide handy as you will need to refer to it
throughout the year. J
Table of Contents
Summatives ………………………………………..
/ Page 2Math ………………………………………………….
/ Pages 3-4Definitions of Properties
Left to Right Addition & Subtraction
Reading/Spelling …………………………………
PQPA / Page 5Questions to Ask Your Child When Reading …….. / Pages 6-7
Homework ………………………………………….
Late Assignments / Page 8Weekly Reviews …………………………………..
/ Page 9Scholarships ……………………………………….
Birthdays …………………………………………… / Page 10Page 10
Behavior …………………………………………….
Incentive Field Trip …………………………….. / Page 10Page 10
Signature Page …………………………………….
This page needs to be signed & returned to school. J / Last pagePage 1
Summatives
Here at the IC, we have tests called Summatives. These are graded tests over units students are taught. At the beginning of each quarter or unit, students will be given a pre-test of this summative to see what they already know. At the end of the unit, the summative will be given. Summatives account for 50% of the students’ quarterly grade, with the other 50% coming from assignments.
Students are allowed to “re-do” the Math and Science summatives. Students can be allowed a redo if they do not achieve an 80% or better on a summative. Students are allowed to redo 2 summatives per semester in math and 2 per semester in science. Your child’s teacher will remediate (re-teach) the concepts your child missed, then the summative will be given again. If a student scores above an 80%, but would like to redo a summative for a higher score, he/she must tell the teacher. These students will not be remediated. They must study on their own.
The only exception to a redo in Math and Science is if the teacher feels that the student has not worked his/her hardest or has not studied. In this case, he/she will be remediated, but will not be allowed to redo the test. This means that the original score achieved will be the score recorded. Please encourage your child to study his/her hardest and do the best he/she can on all assignments and tests.
Reading summatives will be given at the end of the stories. These will always be open book tests; therefore, students will not be allowed a redo on any Reading Summatives. Some of the questions on these summatives are requiring students to “infer” or figure out what the author’s purpose is for writing the story. The next two pages have a list of questions for you to ask your child about each story to help him/her prepare for summatives. Each summative consists of multiple choice questions as well as written response questions.
At the end of this guide there will be a place for you to sign indicating you have read this redo policy. Your signature also indicates that you are aware that if your child does not work his/her hardest or study, he/she will not be allowed to retake a test.
Page 2
Math
Students are expected to have multiplication tables mastered before the end of the year. We strongly encourage the students to practice multiplication at home. Flashcards can be purchased at
the dollar store.
The following terms will be taught in class & reviewed throughout the year. These terms are used in the Weekly Reviews (explained on page 9) that will go home each week.
Commutative Property: 3 + 5 = 5 + 3 or 4 x 6 = 6 x 4
3 + 5 = 8
5 + 3 = 8
It does not matter what order the numbers are in. Both sides of
the equal sign equal the same amount.
Associative Property: (3 + 6) + 7 = 3 + (6 + 7) &
(2 x 5) x 3 = 2 x (5 x 3)
It does not matter which numbers are added/multiplied first.
Both sides of the equal sign equal the same amount.
Distributive Property: 3 x 12 = (3 x 10) + (3 x 2)
3 x 12 = 30 + 6
36 = 36
The numbers in a number sentence, or expression, may be
expanded to form an equivalent number sentence, or expression.
Identity Property: 300 + 0 = 300 or 9 x 1 = 9
Addition: The sum of zero & any number is the number itself.
Multiplication: The product of one & any number will equal that
number.
Page 3
Standard Form: the way we usually see numbers written:
12, 58, or even 5,298
Expanded Form: a way towrite numbersby showing the value of
each digit.
For example, the expanded form of 43,024 is
40,000 + 3,000 + 20 + 4.
Word Form: A way towrite numbersin standard English.
Example: two thousand seventy five
Estimation = Rounding An estimate is an approximate or
rough calculation. If not specified, always round to the
highest place value.
Example: an estimate of 184 would be 180
Number Expression a mathematical phrase that can contain
ordinarynumbers and an operation (add, subtract, multiply,
or divide). A Number Expression does not have an equal sign.
Example: 18+25
Adding & Subtracting Left to Right:
7,436- / 1,508
6,000 / (7,000-1,000)
- / 100 / (400-500)
5,900
+ / 30 / (30-0)
5,930
- / 2 / (6-8)
5,928
7,354
+1,884
8,000 (7,000+1,000)
1,100 (300+800)
130 (50+80)
8 (4+4)
9,238
Page 4
Reading
Reading Logs: Reading well is a key to success in school as well as in life. Therefore, it is extremely important that your child read at home each week. In addition, in third grade we focus a great deal of our time on reading comprehension. Therefore, our reading logs will be different from what you may be used to. Students will be expected to read a chapter book, on their level, in its entirety at home. It must also be a Reading Counts book. Students will fill out the log as the book is read. When finished reading the book, students will write a summary in no less than 4 or 5 sentences. Students will also be responsible for taking a reading counts quiz over the book. If the test is not passed, the student must reread the book in its entirety and retake the test. Students are expected to read and complete logs on three books each quarter.
Generally, we will spend two weeks on each reading story from the Reading Street Reading Books. Stories will be read several times at school and should be read at least one time at home. At the end of the two weeks, students will take a Summative over the story. It would greatly benefit your child to be asked questions from pages 6 & 7 of this guide after reading the story at home.
PQPA: (Part Question/Part Answer) Students will usually have worksheets to complete about the story currently being read. They are expected to use PQPA on these worksheets.
For example: Question: How many hours are there in one day?
Answer using PQPA: There are 24 hours in one day.
Answer without using PQPA: 24
Spelling
Students will be responsible for taking weekly spelling tests. There will be 16 words and one sentence on each list. A pre-test will be given each week. Students who score a 100% on the pre-test will not take the final spelling test. The words will be sent home weekly. Students will be expected to practice these words at home. The first spelling test will be at the beginning of September. Spelling test grades will be incorporated into the ELA, English Language Arts, (Reading) grade.
Page 5
Homework
Planners: Students are expected to copy assignment for the day from the board into their planners. Please check it daily with your child & discuss whether he/she has homework. Please sign/initial the planner daily after checking it. The planner can also be used for communication between you and your child’s teacher.
Homework that students will have every week will be the Weekly Review, studying for an upcoming summative, and studying for the spelling test. However, throughout the day students will be assigned independent work, which will be due the next day. Students will write these assignments in their planners. They will have time during the day to work on these assignments. Any work not completed by the end of the school day will need to be completed at home. It will be your child’s responsibility to make sure incomplete work and books needed go home.
If your child has schoolwork to finish at home on a daily basis, ask your child what he/she is doing during the time given to work on it. If you don’t receive a satisfactory answer, contact your child’s teacher.
Late Assignments: Students are expected to have their completed work at school the day it’s due. Assignments are usually due the day after it’s assigned with the exception of Weekly Reviews (see page 9). If your child doesn’t have the completed assignment, it is considered a Late Assignment. Even if a student tells his/her teacher that the assignment is finished but at home, it is still a late assignment. The only exception is when a student has been absent from school.
If a student has a late assignment, he/she must go to Study Hall instead of recess on that day & 20% will be deducted from the grade of that assignment. During Study Hall the student will work on the assignment that was late. If at the end of Study Hall the assignment hasn’t been completed, the student will attend Study Hall every day until the assignment has been completed, with the exception of the weekly review.
For every 5 late assignments, students will have to attend After School Detention (seeWIC Student Handbook for more info).
Page 8
Weekly Reviews
Beginning in September, your child will be assigned a Weekly Review every Monday and it will be due on the following Monday. He/she should keep this in his/her binder, as he/she may have time to work on it during the school day. Weekly Reviews review math and language arts problems that have been taught at school.
Please encourage your child to work on a few problems each day/evening and I will do the same during the school day. We are trying to teach them responsibility, time management, and the prioritizing of assignments. We will stress to them to NOT wait until the day before it is due to do all the problems, as it may be overwhelming to them and will be a lot to do at one time.
Please check over your child’s Weekly Review before he/she turns it in. If you notice any mistakes, please have your child do that problem again. Please write your initials on the first page of the Weekly Review after you have checked it.
If a student does not have the completed Weekly Review on the Monday it’s due, it will be a late assignment. A grade will be given on the Weekly Review upon completion of one Study Hall.
Your signature is requested on the last page of this booklet stating that you understand what our policy is regarding the Weekly Reviews. Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions.
Page 9
Scholarships
The Intermediate Center is a SWPBS (School Wide Positive Behavior Support) school. Students are expected to be Safe, Respectful, & Responsible. Students who display these attributes are occasionally rewarded with a “Scholarship.” The students then have a chance to win a small prize. This is done through a random school-wide drawing; therefore, not every student will win a prize for each scholarship he / she earns. Scholarships are similar to the hoots & feathers used at the elementaries. The whole class can be awarded a class scholarship when everyone displays these attributes in the hall &/or in special classes. Classes then earn rewards once they reach a certain amount of Scholarships.
Birthdays
Students are no longer allowed to bring in outside food for birthday treats. However, birthday treats can be purchased through our cafeteria.
Birthday Invitations: Students may pass out birthday invitations at school only if all students in the class are invited. The only exception is if it’s an all-girl or all-boy party, in which case, all of the girls or all of the boys in the class would have to be invited in order the invitations to be passed out at school.
Behavior
See Matrix in the WIC Student Handbook and your teacher’s handbook.
Incentive Field Trip
Each semester students who have zero “write-ups” and 95% or higher attendance rate will be rewarded with a field trip!! To have 95% attendance rate, a student cannot miss more than three and one half days of school. Time missed due to coming in late or leaving school early is included in the three and one half days.
Page 10
Parent signature below indicates:
v I have read and understand the summative redo policy.
v I have read and understand the Reading Log expectations.
v I have read about the Weekly Reviews. I understand the importance of these and will check my child’s work before it’s turned in.
v Throughout the year, occasionally students are rewarded with a movie. Students request movies that are rated PG, such as Underdog. In order to show these PG rated movies, we must have your permission.
Please check one:
___ My child has my permission to watch PG movies at school.
___ My child does not have permission to watch PG movies at school.
______
Child’s name
______
Parent Signature Date
Return this page to your child’s teacher.