Week 4
Class Notes
We just completed our first full week of 3rd grade, and I am so impressed with your children! They showed excellent teamwork, kindness, perseverance, sharing, listening, and respect. What a wonderful way to begin the year!
Literacy: This week, we became vocabulary detectives! We learned about three “tiers” of words. Tier 1 words are our everyday words—the ones we use all the time when we talk and write. Tier 2 words are words we often see in books but don’t use as much in everyday conversation, like shuddered, exclaimed, and peered. Tier 3 words are technical, subject-specific words that we might encounter when studying science, history, or other topics. These could include the scientific names of dinosaurs, specific animal species, body systems, or other specialized terms. We practiced spotting these different kinds of words and thinking about what they mean. The more words we know, the more we can understand, talk about, and enjoy what we read!
Math: This week in math, we will build our understanding of multiplication as equal groups. After working with scaled picture graphs, we will make a concrete connection between the two ideas—seeing how groups of objects can be represented in different ways. Students will use drawings and tape diagrams to show equal groups and then connect those pictures to multiplication equations. For example, 3 × 2 can be thought of as 3 groups of 2. We’ll continue using pictures, models, and real-world examples to help make multiplication meaningful before moving toward more abstract equations and multiplication facts.
Science: We just launched our new life science unit, Survivor. Students will study animal adaptations and learn how animals survive in their habitats. This unit includes hands-on experiences with live animals! We will be observing isopods (roly-polies) along with soil and dry leaves. Please let me know if your child has any allergies or sensitivities to these materials.
Social-Emotional Learning: We will use the Zones of Regulation to help students recognize and talk about their feelings. All emotions are expected and respected. The Zones provide an easy way to think about and manage emotions:
Green Zone: Calm, focused, ready to learn
Blue Zone: Sad, tired, bored, or sick
Yellow Zone: Silly, frustrated, or excited
Red Zone: Out of control or unsafe feelings
We will also practice calming strategies such as deep breathing, turn-taking, and taking breaks to build emotional awareness and problem-solving skills.
Technology: Students are becoming more confident with their iPads and can now sign into their Google Accounts with ease. We completed our first assignment in Google Classroom and also learned how to access ST Math through Clever. This week, we created personalized word clouds to celebrate how each student is unique and special.
A note from Nurse Sullivan
Starting on Tuesday, September 22nd through Thursday, September 24th, Nurse Sullivan will be doing state required health screenings (vision, hearing, and height/weight). Please remember to send glasses to school if your child needs them. For more information and/or to opt out of screenings, please click here: Mitchell Elementary: Health Screening Information & Opt Out Form 2026-2027
Room Parents: A special shout out to our lead room parents: Angel Chen, Kristen Drollette and Renee Dempsey. I know a bunch of other parents are excited to volunteer in the classroom, too. The more the merrier! Angel, Kristen and Renee will be reaching out soon with specific opportunities to read to class, chaperone field trips, organize special celebrations, and volunteer in other ways in the classroom. Thank you!
Finally, to all of our families observing Yom Kippur this week, we wish you an easy and meaningful fast.
Repeat Announcements:
Library Reminder: Our book swap day in the Media Center is every Monday. Please help your child remember to return their library books.
Third Grade Homework Expectations
3rd graders are expected to read for 20-25 minutes each night. Third graders can choose to read independently, read with a partner, listen to audiobooks or enjoy a family read aloud. The big idea is to encourage a life-long love of reading!
School Breakfast Eaters
YAY! I’ve noticed a big improvement in the number of students arriving right at 8:05, which gives them plenty of time to grab breakfast, eat, and still get settled and started on their morning work. Thank you! One little reminder: school breakfast is definitely a great way to start the day, but once breakfast is finished, it’s time to jump into our morning routine. We’re working on making those first few minutes count!
A Quick Shoe Reminder
I love a good pair of Crocs as much as anyone, but in third grade, our feet need to be playground and P.E. ready! Crocs and flip-flops can slip off while running, climbing, and playing, and they have a funny way of escaping when we’re sitting on the rug, too! Please send your child to school in secure, supportive shoes that stay on their feet so they can safely run, jump, climb, and learn. Thank you!
Scholastic Book Ordering
If you would like to order books through Scholastic Book Clubs, our online ordering code is DPC2T (purchasing online is required). SHOP OUR CLASS PAGE. By building your home library with Scholastic, you will also be helping to build our classroom library. The more books students order, the more free books we get for our classroom library!
Special Subject Schedule
Monday -- Art & Media - Please return your Media books every Monday so you can check out new books each week.
Tuesday -- P.E. & Spanish
Wednesday -- Music
Thursday -- P.E.
Friday -- Spanish
Important Dates
Monday, September 21st -- No School, Yom Kippur
Thuesday, September 24th - Jump Rope Club, 7:55-8:10 AM
Friday, September 25th -- Mitchell Movie Night
Wednesday, October 7th -- Early Release Day, 12:15 dismissal
Wednesday, October 7th -- Curriculum Night, 6-7PM
Monday, October 12th -- No School, Indigenous Peoples Day
Wednesday, October 21st -- Early Release Day, 12:15 dismissal
Sunday, October 25th-- Trunk or Treat, 4:00-5:30
Created 9/2026
Jennifer_ramras@needham.k12.ma.us