EVERYONE in your family, on your block, at your work...can join PTA and support the wonderful things our PTA does for our school. If you haven't turned in your PTA Memberships, please do so THIS week. You can pick up extra forms in the office, and it's just $5.00! The PTA Memberships help fund our Curriculum Experts teachers and so much more! I've turned in my $5 membership...have you?

Box Tops: We are having a school-wide fundraiser. Each class is collecting Box Tops. If you’d like to participate please send Box Tops with your child to school. There is a Ziploc on the front door where students have been putting their Box Tops. Thank you.

Listserv is a one-way email communication to relay school-wide information to anyone who joins. If you wish to join the 10-11 Listserv, please follow the instructions at arroyovistacharter.org.[/black]

HOMEWORK
Nightly homework will be given daily. Please check your child's planner each night and help your child to become a responsible, independent person by supporting him/her with his/her homework. Homework should be returned to school the following day. Thank you for all your support and reinforcing how important homework is. I have noticed how great the homework has been completed; the students are doing a great job!

This week's homework will be modified for the short week. Please check your child's planner.

Monday-cursive worksheet, math page, read for 20 minutes, study multiplication facts, Moon Observation Journal
Tuesday-cursive journal (please see instructions inside of the journal), math page, read for 20 minutes, begin studying spelling, study multiplication facts, Moon Observation Journal
Wednesday-math page, read for 20 minutes, spelling visual memory, study multiplication facts (for tomorrow's timed multiplication math test), Moon Observation Journal
Thursday-math page, reading comprehension page, study spelling for tomorrow's spelling test, Moon Observation Journal
Friday-study multiplication facts, Moon Observation Journal

Homework Clarifications: I like to look at each student in my class as an individual with different needs. As a result, I modify and adapt my instruction depending upon the individual needs of my students each year, and teach the students to support each other despite the different styles and needs present. Thus, homework is usually differentiated, including reading comprehension to appropriately challenge your child.

Cursive- Each Monday your child will be introduced to one or more letters in cursive and will then bring home a sheet to practice the letter(s) for the week. This page should be returned the next day. Then, on Tuesday, your child will bring home a journal to practice writing the letter(s) of the week in cursive and this journal should be returned the next day.

Math-Every math chapter begins with a pre-assessment to determine your child's individual needs for the content taught in a specific chapter. Then, lessons are taught according to your child's needs and homework is differentiated to meet his/her needs as well. Math homework is assigned at least one day after a math lesson to ensure your child has received adequate instruction and time to practice in class before he/she is expected to complete problems independently at home.

Spelling-Third grade CA State Standards state students must be able to read and write multisyllabic words. We have created a spelling program that will encompass these standards utilizing a variety of learning modalities such as visual memory, repetition, and patterns. Thus, your child will brainstorm words for specific spelling patterns in class on Monday and practice writing a list of words following that particular pattern. On Tuesday, your child will practice these words in class and then bring the list home to begin studying. On Wednesday, your child will work on reading and comprehending these words in context and how to change the word to fit different contexts (such as past, present, future tenses as well as singular and plural forms) and will complete an activity for homework such as a visual memory page. On Thursday, your child will work with peers on a word building activity related to the spelling pattern during guided reading and word study time and will then study the words at home before the weekly assessment on Friday.

Reading Comprehension-Again, this is differentiated to meet your child's needs. The level your brings home will vary depending upon the genre of the text and work we are doing together in guided reading groups.

Multiplication-One of the major math standards for third grade is the memorization of multiplication facts -which we focus on in first quarter because students are expected to multiply multi-digit numbers and learn long division in second and third quarter. Thus, your child will be taking a weekly timed multiplication test. I pre-assessed all students on Friday and know which facts each student needs to begin with, again, differentiating for the individual needs. The reason we time the students is because the standard states students must know the multiplication facts with automaticity-meaning the snap of your fingers, not by drawing a picture, array, or counting with fingers. On Monday your child will bring home a copy of the exact timed test she/he will be given in class on Thursday. Please use this copy to practice for the week and notice that the students will be assessed in order of difficulty: 0/1, 2, 10, 5, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9. Each Thursday your child will then be given 2 minutes to complete the 50 questions with a goal of 90% correct. I will grade the assessments and send them home each Friday with a copy of next week's assessments for you to practice over the weekend and throughout the following week. Students will remain on the same level until mastery is demonstrated.

As always, please feel free to email me if you have any questions. Thank you!

Important Dates
September-6 LABOR DAY HOLIDAY – NO SCHOOL
September-10 Coyote Assembly + TEAMS @ 9:00 A.M.
September-13 PTA Board Meeting 5:30 P.M.
September 16-24 Parent / Teacher Conferences – Minimum Days
September-17 Leadership coffee @ 9:00.
September-18 PTA Walk A Thon – 8:00 – 10-00 A.M.
September-23 Team Council Meeting 4:15 P.M.
September-24 Coyote Assembly
September-24 Last Day of 1st Quarter

ITEMS NOT PROVIDED BY THE DISTRICT
· dry-erase markers***
* Single subject spiral notebooks
• post-it notes - all sizes
• Hand sanitizer (i.e. Purell)
• Mechanical Pencils
• Black Sharpie Pens
• Chopsticks
• Craft sticks
• Modeling clay
• Toothpicks
· sheet protectors
* Individual Pencil Sharpeners (with "lids")
* Decorative Pencils
* Items for Student Store

Book Orders online! You can place the order online at www.scholastic.com
-click on "place a club order"
-then click on "place your child's order"
The username is mrsnaiman
The password is scholastic

Curriculum Overview for 1st quarter:
Reading-comprehending and distinguishing different genres from around the world, including the story elements of folklore

Word Study-spelling patterns

Writing-Thank You letter, Narratives

Math- Place Value, rounding, adding and subtracting greater numbers, multiplication of basic facts 0-12

Science- Physical Science: light has a source and travels in a direction (shadows, reflections, views of color), Solar System, Kumeyaay

Thank you for your support! Together Everyone Achieves More!
Warmly,
Kim Naiman

kimberly.naiman@cvesd.org
(619) 656-9676
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Edited by - teacher on September 06 2010 16:28:45