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January 18, 2025
January 18, 2025
What a gator-great week it has been in third grade! Our students have been working hard and showing so much growth as we wrapped up another week of learning. In reading and science, we explored fascinating animals and blasted off into learning about the solar system. From fun facts to thoughtful questions, students showed curiosity that was truly out of this world 🚀.
In math, we focused on graphing by organizing data, reading graphs, and explaining what the numbers show. Our mathematicians are gaining confidence and strengthening their problem-solving skills each day.
Students have also been working hard to follow CHAMPS, and they are absolutely knocking those expectations out of the swamp! Their effort to stay respectful, responsible, and ready to learn makes our school a positive place to be.
Best of all, we are heading into a 3-day weekend! We hope everyone enjoys time to rest, recharge, and have some fun before jumping back into learning next week. 🐊💚
✏️Interim Testing Reminder!💻
Students will be taking their Math and Reading interim assessments over the next two weeks. These interims are practice STAAR-style tests and help us see what students are doing well and where we can continue to grow 💪📈
➕ Math Interim: Thursday, January 22nd
📖 Reading Interim: Tuesday, January 27th
Please make sure your student comes to school with a 💻 fully charged laptop and 🎧 wired headphones on testing days. Thank you for helping your child feel prepared and confident 🌟
Keeping Up with Grades in 3rd Grade
As we enter the new semester, here’s a quick reminder on the GCISD grading policy for third grade: Grades reflect each student’s progress in a TEKS-based curriculum and include a variety of learning activities in core subjects, as well as enrichment areas. Formative grades showing progress during learning and summative grades measuring mastery through tests, writing, and projects. If a student earns a failing grade on an assignment or test (excluding semester exams), reteaching and reassessment opportunities are available. Students may redo assignments or retake tests within five school days of when the grade was posted in Skyward, and earn a replacement grade up to a maximum of 70, supporting growth and success throughout the semester.
Valentine's Class Parties
Friday 2/13 at 1:30pm
Valentine's Exchange: If you would like to send in Valentine's for your child's class, please be sure that there are enough for all the student's in their homeroom class. (20) We are not sending home a class list this year. The Valentine's do not need to be addressed, you can just put from your child's name. In class we will be decorating paper bags to hold their Valentine's. If you want to make a fancy box or bag, feel free to do that at home and bring it in the morning of the party.
Baby Picture needed for the Valentines Party
Baby Picture needed for the Valentines Party
We have a fun activity planned for our Valentines Party where students will get to see baby pictures of their classmates and will try to guess who it is. In order to do this, we need your help by sending in a cute digital baby picture of your child. The picture needs to be school appropriate, so no pictures in diapers :) Pictures between the ages of 6 months-2 years work great. Please email a picture to your child's homeroom teacher by Friday, February 6th. Thank you!
A note from Coach Maupin
A note from Coach Maupin
I wanted to let you know about an exciting new opportunity coming up for our third, fourth, and fifth grade students.
For the first time, our school district will be hosting a cup stacking competition. This event is designed to be a fun and positive experience, not an intense or high-pressure competition. The focus is on participation, trying something new, and enjoying a unique activity with other students from across the district.
Sport stacking helps develop hand-eye coordination, focus, and confidence, and it’s a great way for students to challenge themselves in a new and engaging way. Whether your child has tried stacking before or would be brand new to it, this event is meant to be welcoming and encouraging for all participants.
Please see the attached flyer for more details about the event. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.
Thank you for supporting new and fun opportunities for our students!
Prehistoric Park Coloring Contest Details:
Participants will print and color a Megalosaurus coloring page and submit a photo of their completed artwork. One winning design will be selected and transformed into a real animatronic dinosaur, painted to match the artwork and displayed at Prehistoric Park at Meadowmere Park from March 14–29. The winner will also receive free one-day admission to visit the park and see their dinosaur in person.
All entries must be submitted by February 2, 2026. Every participant will also be entered into a drawing to win a ticket to Prehistoric Park.
Additional information about Prehistoric Park and the coloring contest can be found at GoGrapevine.com/PrehistoricPark.
English Language Arts
English Language Arts
Last week in reading, we dove headfirst into animal research, using our literacy skills to continue our learning. Students are loving the opportunity to apply what they know as they research, write, and create their animal projects. Their excitement and engagement have been amazing to see, and they are so proud of the work they are producing!
This week students will be learning...
Reading- This week in reading, students will continue applying their learning to their animal research by using key literacy skills. They will ask and answer questions while reading (TEKS 3.6A, 3.6B, 3.7C, 3.7E), identify the central idea and supporting details (TEKS 3.6G, 3.7C, 3.7G, 3.9Di), and explore figurative language in informational texts (TEKS 3.6F, 3.6G, 3.7C, 3.10D). Students will also analyze text and graphic features such as headings, captions, diagrams, and photos to deepen understanding (TEKS 3.6G, 3.7C, 3.7F, 3.9Dii, 3.10C) as they continue creating their animal projects.
Grammar-This week, students will strengthen their grammar skills by learning how adjectives tell what kind and how many (TEKS 3.11Div), using this, that, and articles correctly in sentences (TEKS 3.11D), and reviewing plural nouns during spiral practice (TEKS 3.11Diii). Students applied these skills in speaking and writing to make their sentences clearer and more descriptive.
Math
Math
***Math Interim Testing (1/22)***
***Unit 5 Test (1/29)***
***12's fact fluency quiz Wednesday (1/28)***
Before break we wrapped up our Unit 4 Multiplication and Division Application. Now onto unit 5 Data and Analysis!
This week the students will be learning...
I can summarize a set of data to solve problems. (TEKS 3.8B)
I can organize data into a variety of graphs and analyze the data to solve problems. (TEKS 3.8B)
To help your child at home with these skills-
Practice their multiplication facts/ skip counting. (Students can log onto canvas for a link to our songs and online flashcards)
Work in independent practice workbook on pages section S- Represent and Interpret Data (pg. 175-190)
Practice division and multiplication multi-step story problems.
The images below are some ideas of math practice to do at home (choice board) and examples of these types of representations.
Check out our problem solving model!
This is a tool we call 'UPS Check!' Using this model helps the students better understand and create a plan before solving when they come across story problems. I HIGHLY encourage you to practice using this model with them while solving story problems.
Dear parents,
Multiplication fluency is a very important foundational skill.
In order to accomplish this goal, students will practice their multiplication facts and will be quizzed every Thursday. Each quiz has 20 questions and they will be given 3 minutes to complete the quiz. They must score at least a 70% in order to move on to the next fact. The facts that will be assessed are x0-x12.
They will have class time to practice their facts but we also ask that they practice at home.
We recommend using flashcards and/or playing online multiplication games.
Recommended free Multiplication practice websites:
www.ascendmath.com
Click the yellow button Flashcard Math-FREE
Click the fact your child is currently practicing, select how many questions and the time limit.
https://www.timestables.com/multiplication-games/
Click multiplication games and pick game of your choice or practice multiplication speed by clicking Speed Test X on the menu bar.
Once your child masters all of their facts, they will be awarded a certificate of completion.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Social Studies
Social Studies
GEOGRAPHY.
3.4C The student understands the concepts of location, distance, and direction on maps and globes. The student is expected to identify, create and interpret maps of places that contain map elements including a title, compass rose, legend, scale, and grid system.
Resources:
Studies Weekly Newspaper and App **Week 14 Map Skills and Week 15 Location.
Science
Science
3.6C Matter and energy. The student knows that matter has measurable physical properties that determine how matter is identified, classified, changed, and used. The student is expected to predict, observe, and record changes in the state of matter caused by heating or cooling.
Friday our Student Teacher for the Day is putting together a special science experiment to investigate the process of making ice cream. Students will be measuring, combining mixtures, and cooling ingrediants of sugar, milk, and vanilla to see who can create the best ice cream. If you prefer that your child doesn't eat any of the ice cream please email bryan.hendrickson@gcisd.net to let him know.
Planets in our Solar System
Planets in our Solar System
Last week we learned about the planets in our solar system and created models. Ask your child to sing you the Planet Song.
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