Week 7


Fall Conferences

Thank you to everyone who has already signed up for a fall conference! I’m looking forward to sharing your child’s portfolio, celebrating their growth, and setting goals together. If you haven’t signed up yet, please choose a time that works for you. I look forward to connecting with you!  LINK HERE

Conference Dates:

Word Study

This week in Word Study, we are learning about the suffixes -ful and -less. A suffix is a group of letters added to the end of a base word to change its meaning. -ful means “full of,” while -less means “without.” For example, hopeful means full of hope, while hopeless means without hope! We will read, spell, and explore words with these suffixes as we discover how adding a few letters can change a word’s meaning. Ask your child to share some words they know that end in -ful or -less!

This week’s words: harmful, harmless, hopeful, hopeless, thankful, thankless, peaceful, restless, playful, and endless.

Writing

We are continuing to build on our Magic Tree House stories as we bring our adventures to life! This week, we will focus on writing, revising and editing our writing to make our stories even stronger. Students will reread their work carefully, check spelling using the syllable patterns and suffixes we’ve studied, and use reference materials to correct tricky words. We will also make sure our sentences are complete and that our characters’ dialogue includes the correct punctuation. By slowing down and taking time to edit, we can make our stories clearer, more polished, and ready for readers to enjoy!


Math
This week, we will wrap up Unit 1 and review the important concepts we’ve learned. Students will take their Unit 1 assessment on Wednesday. Afterward, we will begin our next unit, which focuses on Area! We will explore how area connects to multiplication and repeated addition as we learn to measure the space inside shapes using square units. We’re excited to build on our multiplication skills and discover new ways to use them!


Science

This week in science, we will explore how scientists classify animals into different groups based on their shared characteristics. Students will sort animal cards in different ways, using clues about each animal to explain their thinking. Then, we will learn how scientists group animals, such as mammals and birds, based on specific characteristics. Students will have the opportunity to rethink and reorganize their groups as they discover how scientists classify the animal kingdom!


Kindergarten Buddies

Our third graders have officially met their kindergarten buddies, and we’re excited to begin this special year together! We will meet with our buddies every other week to build friendships, strengthen connections, and work on social-emotional learning (SEL) projects together. Through fun activities and shared experiences, students will practice important skills like kindness, empathy, cooperation, and understanding our feelings. Our third graders will also have the opportunity to be positive role models and mentors as they help their younger buddies learn and grow. We look forward to watching these friendships blossom throughout the year!


Mystery Reader
Thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Chen, our first Mystery Readers last week.  Would you like to be our next Mystery Reader? Click HERE to sign up.


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 25-30 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, 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

Tuesday, November 3rd -- No School, Staff Development Day

Thursday, November 5th-- Picture Re-Takes

Wednesday, November 11th-- No School, Veterans' Day

Wednesday, November 18th-- Early Release Day, 12:15 dismissal

Wednesday, November 25th-- Early Release Day, 12:15 dismissal

Thursday, November 26th-- Thanksgiving Recess

Monday, November 30th-- Classes resume

 


Created 10/2026

Jennifer_ramras@needham.k12.ma.us