How to Help Your Child at Home
Take time to praise your child… look at his/her work and talk about it. Show an interest in his/her school life :)
Read to your child every day! Refer to the note above about “just right books” to choose. Try to set aside at least one special time a day to do this. Don’t read too fast. Read slowly enough for them to build a mental picture of what is being read. Allow time for discussion before, during, and/or after reading. Lead by example…make sure your child sees you reading for pleasure. This is how you can help your child become a lifelong reader.
Teach your child responsibility…such as making his/her own bed, putting away his/her toys, cleaning up, bringing in notes/lunch money, etc. A child who is taught responsibility at home usually demonstrates this at school as well.
Help your child get lots of rest. Children this age still need 8-10 hours of sleep each night. Encourage an early bedtime. This will help keep them healthy, alert and focused during the school day.
Start the day with a good breakfast, a hug, a kiss, and a smile. Maybe even share a happy thought, or wish on the way to school. What a positive way to start the day!
Encourage the practice of writing. Have your child write your grocery list, write a letter to a family member or friend, or even keep a family journal where family members can write back and forth to one another.
Read to your child every day! Refer to the note above about “just right books” to choose. Try to set aside at least one special time a day to do this. Don’t read too fast. Read slowly enough for them to build a mental picture of what is being read. Allow time for discussion before, during, and/or after reading. Lead by example…make sure your child sees you reading for pleasure. This is how you can help your child become a lifelong reader.
Teach your child responsibility…such as making his/her own bed, putting away his/her toys, cleaning up, bringing in notes/lunch money, etc. A child who is taught responsibility at home usually demonstrates this at school as well.
Help your child get lots of rest. Children this age still need 8-10 hours of sleep each night. Encourage an early bedtime. This will help keep them healthy, alert and focused during the school day.
Start the day with a good breakfast, a hug, a kiss, and a smile. Maybe even share a happy thought, or wish on the way to school. What a positive way to start the day!
Encourage the practice of writing. Have your child write your grocery list, write a letter to a family member or friend, or even keep a family journal where family members can write back and forth to one another.
Student Agendas
Students are to bring $5.00 to purchase a agenda to help your child stay organized. Students are responsible for recording their homework in these agendas each school day. Once all homework for the evening has been completed, parents are to sign the agenda each night indicating that they have seen their students completed homework. Please attach any notes to the agenda. We will try our very best to respond to your concerns.
Home Learning
Home learning is an extension of classroom instruction. Helping your child have a positive attitude about successfully completing his or her home learning can help them have the same attitude toward school and learning. Your child is responsible for completing and returning home learning promptly. Failure to complete or return assignments will result in consequences and may affect grades. We are requesting that you check your child’s home learning and sign their agenda daily indicating that you have seen their assignment(s) completed.
If a student fails to turn in a completed homework assignment, he or she will receive an incomplete comment in their agenda. Throughout the year, your child will have the opportunity to earn No Homework passes. If your child decides to use a pass, please sign the back and write which assignment it is being used for. These passes cannot be used for projects, or reading logs.
If a student fails to turn in a completed homework assignment, he or she will receive an incomplete comment in their agenda. Throughout the year, your child will have the opportunity to earn No Homework passes. If your child decides to use a pass, please sign the back and write which assignment it is being used for. These passes cannot be used for projects, or reading logs.
Reading Log
Building a love for reading and literature is a big part of 3rd grade. Our students will practice reading as much as possible. Reading increases comprehension and vocabulary, and in turn, improves writing. Your child is being asked to read 30 minutes at home each evening. Students may alternate reading silently, reading aloud, and having a family member read to them. Each student will be given a monthly Reading Log and they are responsible for recording the title of the book and pages they read each evening. As the parent, you are asked to sign their reading logs verifying that your child read for a minimum of 30 minutes that evening.
Grades
The following grading system, as outlined by the Miami Dade County Board of Public Education, will be used:
4 / A = 90%-100% Outstanding
3 / B = 80%-89% Good
2 / C = 70%-79% Satisfactory
1 / D = 60%-69% Minimal, Improvement Needed
0 / F = 0%-59% Unsatisfactory
Many grading methods will be used to access your child’s progress. Some of these include paper/pencil testing, computerized testing, written assignments, projects, cooperative assignments, teacher observations, and oral presentations.
Mater Grove Academy strongly implements strategies to strengthen all areas of the curriculum. The third grade students will be taking the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) this year. We will be placing an emphasis on reading and mathematics across the curriculum and teaching the necessary skills that will enable students to perform their best on these assessments.
4 / A = 90%-100% Outstanding
3 / B = 80%-89% Good
2 / C = 70%-79% Satisfactory
1 / D = 60%-69% Minimal, Improvement Needed
0 / F = 0%-59% Unsatisfactory
Many grading methods will be used to access your child’s progress. Some of these include paper/pencil testing, computerized testing, written assignments, projects, cooperative assignments, teacher observations, and oral presentations.
Mater Grove Academy strongly implements strategies to strengthen all areas of the curriculum. The third grade students will be taking the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) this year. We will be placing an emphasis on reading and mathematics across the curriculum and teaching the necessary skills that will enable students to perform their best on these assessments.