Dear Parents,

Welcome to third grade.  We had a busy first week.  Hope your child came home with lots of stories.  As soon as the Ray School web site is up and running, I will be sending home a “blog” every Monday-a weekly schedule, letting you have a good idea of what to expect.  Please, if you have any questions write me or come in and we can talk.  I would like to send home the weekly bulletin only over the internet-we will work on saving paper, recycling, etc, through out the year and this will help.  If you do not have access to a computer, please let me know.  Thanks.

Attached is our tentative schedule.  I have made a copy for you and one for your child to keep where you think it would be useful.

Remember, Open House is next Thursday, September 23, 2009 at 7:00.  Please come to learn  all about your child’s 3<sup>rd</sup> grade year.

Language Arts:  We are working on a mini unit about Friendship.  This week we are reading a story together and will take a quiz on the story on Friday.  The story is “Gloria Who Might Be My Best Friend.”  What can your child tell you about nouns and pronouns?  We are reviewing vowels this first month and we are discussing “just right” books to read.  We will write each day at school-either in our Journal or our Writer’s Notebook.

Homework:  Read each night for 30 minutes.  Make a book jacket-due Friday.  I will go over the rubric with your child. (what they need to do).

Math:  You should have received the Unit 1 parent letter.  Please refer to it as needed.  We will complete lessons 1.4-1.7 this week.  Homework Monday through Thursday.  Did your child grade their work?  We will do this each day.

Science:  Our first unit will be Water.  We will start this week.  Expect a parent letter from this unit this week.

Social Studies:  These first few weeks, our work will focus around our “Friendship” unit, bringing in healthy school community and classroom environments.

Art:  This week our lesson is titled “New Clothes”- Focus-a tactual texture may be made into a visual texture in a rubbing.  I think (at least now) Art class will be on Wednesday.

Snacks:  We will have snacks this year.  Please bring in enough for at least 32 students.

Many thanks, Jean Clement