Week 1

 Hello!

We had a happy first week of school.  I'm so proud of your students! 

Adjusting to third grade can be a big step because they're making the transition from learning to read to reading to learn.  In other words, we are doing "read-and-discuss" for several different subjects. 

This class is doing a wonderful job of learning our classroom routines.  Here are a few you might want to know about:

• Each morning, your third grader greets Mrs. Brammer at the door, then proceeds to hang up his/her backpack and enter the classroom.   This is to set a happy tone for the day.
• We use the green take-home folders for both homework and papers to keep.  Each side is labeled, and the folders need to come back to school each day.  
• You will notice a digit next to your child's name on papers. This is only for organization purposes.
• Students may have water bottles, which stay in a hanging shoe rack inside our classroom, known as the "hydration station."  This way, we're not picking up germs at the water fountain, and the water bottles won't spill onto their school work.

Beginning Monday, August 23, we will have computers on Monday mornings, P.E. every morning, and library Tuesday afternoons!  

Here are a few other important things:

• Beginning Monday, students will have a short oral reading assignment for homework.  I understand that evenings are busy, so I will try to limit this to one day a week.  My intent is not for it to be drudgery, so if it becomes overwhelming, please let me know.
• Beginning Tuesday, students will write the spelling list words for homework, only one time each.  They may print them, and we hope to progress to eventually writing in cursive.
• Beginning Thursday, students will take a practice spelling test.  If they score an A, that grade will be recorded and they do not have to take the test Friday.

I hope this isn't information overload.  

Please know that I want your third grader to be happy and comfortable while he/she learns.

If you need to reach me, please use my school email (jbrammer@nlca.info), send a note to school, or call the school office and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Enjoy the weekend!