Dear parents,

Tomorrow, Grade 3B will be going swimming.  Please, make sure that your child has his/her swimming clothes.  Also, I would like to ask those of you who are free, and are willing to help, tomorrow morning from 8:40-9:55 to join us for the swimming lesson.  Any help I could get from you is greatly appreciated.

In Social Studies, students (3A and 3B) are currently working on an in-class project. For this project, students are to be working in groups (I have assigned their groups already).  I also assigned each group a community (rural and urban).  Students are required to create a poster which must have the following information:
-A definition of the community they are assigned)
-Distinguishing features of their community
-Buildings and structures of their community
-Goods and services produced in their community
-Attractions and events that bring people to their community
-Pictures
-Any interesting facts

The project will be evaluated according to the following rubric:

CATEGORY	A	B	C	D
Organization	Information is very organized with well-constructed paragraphs and subheadings.	Information is organized with well-constructed paragraphs. Most subheadings are included.	Information is organized, but paragraphs are not well-constructed. Few subheadings are included.	The information appears to be disorganized.
Quality of Information	Information clearly relates to the main topic. Student is able to identify and understand the characteristics of urban/rural communities.	Information clearly relates to the main topic. Student is able to identify and understand most characteristics of urban/rural communities.	Information clearly relates to the main topic. Student is able to identify and understand few-some characteristics of urban/rural communities.	Information has little or nothing to do with the main topic. Student is not able to identify and understand the characteristics of urban/rural communities.
Sources	All sources (information and graphics) are accurately documented.	Most sources (information and graphics) are accurately documented.	Few sources (information and graphics) are accurately documented.	None of the sources (information and graphics) are accurately documented.
Speaks Clearly	Speaks clearly and distinctly all (95-100%) the time, and mispronounces no words.	Speaks clearly and distinctly all (95-100%), but mispronounces one word.	Speaks clearly and distinctly most (85-94%) of the time. Mispronounces no more than one word.	Often mumbles or cannot be understood OR mispronounces more than one word.
Preparedness	Student is completely prepared and has obviously rehearsed.	Student seems pretty prepared but might have needed a couple more rehearsals.	The student is somewhat prepared, but it is clear that rehearsal was lacking.	Student does not seem at all prepared to present.
Diagrams & Illustrations	Pictures and illustrations are neat, accurate and add to the reader's understanding of the topic.	Pictures and illustrations are neat and accurate and add to the reader's understanding of the topic most of the time.	Pictures and illustrations are neat and sometimes add to the reader's understanding of the topic.	Pictures and illustrations are not accurate OR do not add to the reader's understanding of the topic.

 Students will be asked to present their posters in-class.  As mentioned earlier, this is an in-class project.  Students will not be required to take home any of their work.  However, I wanted to let you know what we are doing in Social Studies now.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you very much,

Teacher Ghadeer

Topics of Study

Dear parents,

As you know, my name is Teacher Ghadeer-the new teacher for Grade 3B. I am writing this blog entry in order to tell you about the topics we are currently studying.

In Language Studies, we are currently working on the Writing Process, which involves multiple stages.  The first being the “Prewriting Stage,” wherein students are required to brainstorm their ideas prior to writing.  I would like you to encourage your children to brainstorm each time they write, as it will help them organize their thoughts and ideas, as well as allowing them to find a focus for their writing.  We will also be working on journal writing, paragraph writing, poetry, reading comprehension, spelling drills, grammar, punctuation, transition words, parts of speech, verb tenses, reading fluency and media texts.  Students will be assessed according to the strands outlined in the Language Arts Curriculum.  Those strands include reading, writing, oral communication and media literacy.

In Social Studies, we are working on communities(early settlers, urban and rural communities).  Students are learning about the differences and similarities that exist between these communities.  Moreover, students are becoming familiar with the terminology that defines each one of these communities.  Students will be required to compare and contrast their own community today with

that of early settlers and/or First Nation communities in Upper Canada.  We will also be learning about maps and the process of mapping.  I will revise the Canadian map with students, making sure that they know Canada’s Provinces and Territories.  We will be having many in-class projects and I will be sending out a detailed E-mail regarding those projects Insha’Allah.

In Islamic Studies, we are currently studying about the Qur’an and its importance in our lives.  Students are also learning about other Holly Books that were sent to people before the Qur’an.  One lesson was dedicated to explaining how the Qur’an, along with other Holly Books, reached us.  In addition, students are becoming familiar with the 25 prophets who were mentioned in the Qur’an. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog entry. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best regards,

Teacher Ghadeer.

Dear Parents,

I would like to remind you of Grade 3 B's swimming lesson tomorrow.  Please make sure your child brings his/her swimming clothes to school. 

Also, Grade 3 students will be having a Dictation test tomorrow.  The test will be on the words listed under Week 18 of their "3rd Grade Master Spelling Test" sheet.

Best regards,

T.Ghadeer

New Teachers for Grade 3

Assalamualaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As most of you are already aware, both Teacher Amal and Teacher Sarra are no longer with us. Consequently, we will be having new teachers for Grade 3 for the rest of the academic year. Alhamdulillah we were able to hire qualified teachers in a timely manner. We have also made the following efforts to make sure the students have as smooth a transition as possible:

• The timing of the transition: changing a teacher in the middle of the year is quite a drastic change for young minds. However, this could not have happened at a better time, i.e. right after the winter break.
• Informed the students before the winter break so they could be mentally prepared.
• The new teachers have been debriefed by the departing teachers and the school administration. They have been preparing over the winter break for their new assignment. They have a very good idea of  where to start with the students and what needs to be completed for the rest of the year.
• The school administration is monitoring grade 3 and working very closely with the new teachers to make sure the transition is smooth and the curriculum is being covered as it should be.

Parents are kindly requested to be patient with this transition and give the teachers the time/space needed to establish procedures/routines.

Both the teachers will be sending out a letter home this week introducing themselves.

Jazakumullahu khair for your support and cooperation.