Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School
April 2016
♦♦♦
3rd Grade
Dear Parents,
We are finishing out the 3rd Marking Period of Third Grade
and want to review some important concepts that will
prepare students to finish the year strong.
In the 4th Marking Period one of our instructed Learning Skills
is Effort, Motivation, and Persistence. This is a critical skill not
only in school years, but in adult years as well. It is a habit that
involves:



Producing high quality work at all times
Pushing through challenging work without fear or
apprehension
Keeping your mind active and interested in the learning
topics and discussions, even if you don’t prefer the
topic or activity
As adults we all know how challenging life can be. These
habits and characteristics must be explicitly taught if a child
does not carry them naturally.
Please plan to have a conversation with your child this
weekend about these points. Ask them what will help them
show effort 100% of the time and make a plan for monitoring
their effort. If you have ideas, questions, or suggestions please
email or call your child’s teacher directly.
Sincerely,
Mrs. France and Mrs. LoPresti
Homework/ Supplies Reminders
Remind your child about the importance of completing daily homework
and studying. Students who skip homework assignments put themselves at a
disadvantage compared to their peers who did the extra work and study. We
want everyone to be successful. If you need assistance motivating your child, or
you notice your child struggling to finish all the assignments in a timely manner,
please let us know so we can offer advice.
This is the time of year when students’ school supplies begin to run out;
specifically pencils, erasers, and tissues. Please make sure that your child has the
necessary supplies for school. Ask your child if they need a new folder or journal.
If your child’s folder is ripped or torn, a new one may help your child be
organized, focused, and motivated until the end of the year. Thanks for your
support!
Upcoming Events
3/8 End of Marking Period
3/24 NO SCHOOL
Professional Day
3/25-4/1 SPRING BREAK
4/4-4/22 Pennies for Patients
4/8 Carderock Field Trip
4/18-4/22 Book Fair
4/22 Dolphin Dance
4/26 NO SCHOOL
Election Day
4/28 Take Your Child to Work
Day
Last Day of Session 3
After School Activities
5/13 K and Pre-K Orientation
Important Announcements
BASIC FACTSBy the end of 3rd grade, all
students are expected to
memorize all multiplication
/division facts up to x10.
We are working on strategies
and skills in class and for
homework to meet this goal.
Students should have
mastered all +/ - basic facts in
2nd grade, however we notice
a high number have not yet
mastered those facts.
Have a plan for your child to
master their math facts; it is a
critical skill for solving
problems and performing
calculations with larger
numbers.
Contact your child’s teacher if
you need tips or resources.
Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School
Grade 3
Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School
Learning Experiences by Subject
MT
In school, your child will . . .
 Research issues on reducing, reusing,
and recycling materials. Research both
sides of their selected issue (for and
Writing
against).
 Write about each point of view with
supporting facts and details.
 Write about an opinion related to the
issues that they feel strongly about.

Identify and sort natural resources that can
be used to meet human needs.

Determine how natural resources are
Science
processed to create something new.

Compare outcomes of different decisions
At home, your child can . . .
 Research topics on Discovery Education (or other
online resources) to build background knowledge
on the topic reduce, reuse, recycle.
 Research a common issue for children such as:
-Should children have cell phones?
-Should we go to school all year long?
-Should instrumental music be taught in school?
 Present information on both sides of an issue.
 Take a stand (for or against) and explain/ write why
you agree with this side of the issue.
Bake foods (breads, cakes, casseroles, etc) with
your child to help them understand that the final
food product is composed of many other natural
resources or ingredients. Have them follow the
steps in the process to understand all the
procedures that happen to produce that item.

Complete an inquiry project together using online
resources and library/ text resources. Topics
related to this unit of study:
-How are shoes made?
-How are clothes made?
-How is paint color made?
These are just a few topics. Have your child choose
something of interest to them.


(opportunity costs).

Identify smart ways to save and spend
Social Studies
money.
Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School

Discuss real situations when you have to decide
whether to save or spend money on something,
and what you did.
Have your child write, talk about, make a play, or
draw a comic about common money issues
people face.
Examples:
- Saving up for an expensive item
- Setting a limit on buying entertainment items
- Being prepared for times when you need to
make an unexpected purchase (a car breaks
down and needs to get fixed)
-Having a budget
-What happens if you don’t pay your bills on time
Grade 3