Third Grade Parents and Students
Hello!  I am looking forward to teaching your student next year. Some of you have asked what you can do to prepare for third grade. I would like to stress that family vacations along with trips to the museum or public library or outdoor spaces are always wonderful learning experiences (as well as relaxing!). In addition, your child should read every day and practice math every day. There are many ways to do this that are fun and engaging. Below, please find just a few ways to improve your child’s reading and math skills along with some websites that you can access for additional information.
 
Reading
• Read a variety of genres and publications; also include recipes, magazines, newspapers, comics, joke and riddle books, catalogs, game directions, etc.
• Ask your child to tell you about the character, setting, and important events, what he/she liked best and to cite examples from the book. Share excitement about funny passages, great words or phrases that help you visualize what the author is trying to say, or what you like (or dislike!) about a particular character and why.
• Share/pair reading-you read, then your child reads, back and forth; discuss interesting passages, conversations, and words. Model your excitement about these to your child and share in his/her enthusiasm
• Read nonfiction-make sure they look at the pictures and read the captions too!
• Take your child to the library to choose books (of course monitor appropriateness) and apply for a library card if you/they don’t have one already. Sign up for a summer reading program.  See http://www.eldoradolibrary.org  or www.saclibrary.org for more information on a county library near you. 
• Book lists can be found on the websites above by clicking on “kids” and then “Books and Reading ”.
• Dial-A-Book at 916 264-2726 is sponsored by the Sacramento Public Library which provides chapter books for children (age 7-19) with a new chapter read each week.
• Be sure to follow the “five finger” rule when choosing a book to read.  Students should read one full page of the book (or about 100 words), and for each word they don’t know, put up one finger.  At the end of the page, if they have five fingers up, then the book is too hard. If no fingers are up the book is too easy.  The goal is to have two or three fingers up.  By using this method students can independently choose an appropriate book.

Math
• Math facts. Make sure your child practices his/her math facts during the summer with a focus on addition, subtraction.  Then start on multiplication and division if your child is ready. You can do this with worksheets, games, songs, and flashcards; remember accuracy first, then speed!
• Practice everyday applications in math. Some examples: have your child help make change, plan your day using time (make sure you have an analog clock in your house and use it!), let your child read the recipe then measure for you (even more challenging-double the recipe or half it and let your child do the math and measure!); calculate the miles, miles per hour, etc. on your next trip; measure all sorts of things using the US Customary System and the Metric System; the ideas are endless!
• If you want some worksheets go to www.homeschoolmath.net and go to worksheets, then 3rd grade, select a worksheet and print. These are free and if your child likes worksheets there are many to choose from.
 
Summer Artifact
What?  Homework due the first week of third grade?  Yes! 

Each student should bring an artifact the first day of school.  This artifact should be something received during the summer that will help them share their summer experience sometime during the first week of school. The artifact must represent something about the summer of 2010 that they can share with our class for three to five minutes. It could be a postcard or photograph of a person, place or thing.  It could be a souvenir or some other object that represents their experience. Rules for Students: 1. You must be able to carry the artifact in your hand or backpack. 2. It must be something from the summer of 2010 only. 3. You and your parents must be willing to leave it at school for a few days.

Now, go enjoy a well deserved summer vacation and I will see you all in August!