Homework is here!
Some of you have been asking for it and others may possibly be dreading it, and we are here to reassure you that third grade homework has been designed to be a gradual, positive, and supportive transition for the Temescalians (and you).

Each Monday, a packet will go home in your child’s school-home folder with some information for you to red over, as well as homework pages that will be due on Friday.  No new information will be introduced.  The goal of homework in third grade is to extend learning, develop responsibility, and to become comfortable with the concept of homework independence.

Just Right!
Tips:
– Set up a dedicated homework space free of distraction and supplied with the basics: pencils, lined paper, blank paper, and a children’s dictionary.  Art materials like colored pencils may also come in handy.
– Help your child get started and check in, but don’t get sucked into sitting there the whole time.
– Spread out the homework through the week and help your child set goals for each night (10 minutes for math?  10 minutes for word work?) and then set a timer to help keep them on track.
– Homework writing should only be done in pencil and demonstrate your child’s very best handwriting and be in complete sentences.
– Homework should take no more than 20 minutes, plus 20 minutes of reading*, so no more than 40 minutes daily Monday through Thursday.

Too much?
If it is feeling overwhelming for your child, taking too long, and/or resulting in tears, STOP… and then let teachers know.  We are laying a positive foundation, and will work together to help your child settle into this new routine.

Not Enough?
There are many other ways for your children to practice important skills and dig deeper with their third grade learning.  You can always ask us for other project and/or journaling ideas.

If you have any questions about homework let us know, and please keep in touch as your child starts on their new stage in his/her development in becoming a more independent learner.

*Reading: Temescalians should read for 20 minutes each night and record the title, author, minutes (and page numbers) and then write about one active reading skill used.  Try a different reading skill each night.
Reading skills
– Connections (text-text, text-self, text-world)
– Visualizing (Briefly write out the part that you are imagining)
– Predictions (Write down the prediction that you have for the part that you just read.)
– Inferencing (making conclusions without the book telling you outright)
– Setting (identifying the setting: where is the story happening?)
– Questions (asking questions)
– Cause & Effect

Links to helpful resources you can keep in your homework area:
3rd grade sight words_001
spell checker_001
math activities for home_001
mult. combos_001
blank mult. combos_001

Homework for the week of 1/12/15
1_12_15 homework assign._001
1_12_15 math sheet_001
reading log_001
reading log sample_001