Reading: Our focus during the first quarter will be on setting up good reading strategies and learning how to pick books that match our reading level. With our new common core standards, there is a much larger focus on grammar skills this year. The third grade team has chosen to work on these skills during team time and reinforce during reading centers. Grammar skills will also be applied in our writing workshop. Math: First quarter math will focus on place value, addition and subtraction techniques, and concepts in multiplication. As a result of the new common core curriculum, you will notice that our math lessons will "jump around" in the student textbook. Therefore, students may have modified homework assignments. There will also be nights when homework will be review. I stress the importance of having your child begin practicing multiplication facts. Science/Social Studies: The students will rotate to Ms. Moonan's class for science this year. I will be teaching social studies. The first unit in social studies will involve the Colonial period and the American Revolution. The first unit in science is States of matter. Students do not normally have homework in science or social studies. However, there could be a few projects throughout the school year. Writing: In the first quarter, students will set up writing journals, focus on grammar and write paragraphs with topic sentences. Our main focus in writing includes:focus, support/elaboration, style, and conventions. More about writing workshop in upcoming newsletters.