Lauren MacDonald » Classroom News

Classroom News

Welcome!

Welcome to our class website! Please browse the various components of this site to gather information on routines, expectations, schedules, and helpful links.  

 

The best way to reach me is via email at [email protected] Feel free to contact me with any of your questions or concerns. I am looking forward to working with your child, and I am sure we will have a fabulous, productive, and exciting year in third grade!

 
Upcoming Events
November
21st-27th Half Day
21st & 25th- Parent-Teacher Conferences
27th-28th- No School
 

Special Subject Area Schedule

10:50-11:25
Monday: PE
Tuesday: Library
Wednesday: Music
Thursday: PE
Friday: Art
 
 
About Ms. MacDonald
Hello! My name is Lauren MacDonald and this is my 8th year as an elementary educator. I have taught 5th grade and 3rd grade. This will be my seventh year as a third grade teacher. For most of my career, I lived and taught in Florida. I moved to New Jersey this past summer and have loved getting settled at Macfarland Intermediate School. 
 
Fun Facts:
I am born and raised in Massachusetts. I went to the University of Tampa where I studied Elementary Education and received a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. I met my Fiancé, Bobby, in Tampa. We both live in New Jersey now and he is studying to become a Physical Therapist. We are getting married at the end of June!
 

Classroom News

Here are some of the units and skills/concepts we will study throughout the school year in each content area:
 
Writing:  personal narratives, information writing, persuasive writing, fairy tales, poetry, research writing
 
Reading: summarizing, making connections, visualizing, characterization, inferring, theme, etc.
 
Math: +/- math facts, word problems, fractions, time/elapsed time, measurement, x/÷ facts, geometry, place value in whole numbers and decimals
 
Science:

1. Structures of Life

2. Water and Climate
3. Motion and Matter
 
Social Studies:
1. Geography
2. Bordentown History 
3. Citizenship and Government
 

As we begin a new month of school, we also begin some new units of reading and writing study. We are learning about nonfiction text, its features, purposes, and learning new information in all examples of text that we read. Students will begin taking notes on their reading and sharing that information with others. In addition, they will work in book club groups to read and learn together. In writing, the children will share factual information about various topics. They will learn to organize their ideas into separate paragraphs in order to make their writing pieces flow. 


Number stories are a focal point of our current math unit. The children continue to pull out important information from the number stories and solve single and multi-step problems. We are beginning to memorize multiplication facts. The fact triangles and flashcards are great tools to help build their recall of these facts. 

 

Election Day is coming soon, and we will learn about the electoral process, as well as participate in our Student Council Elections. Aside from that, we will continue our exploration of geography as we study the regions of the United States.

 

Helpful Links:

Learning to skip count is huge in 3rd grade! We sing songs in class to help memorize our facts. Below are links to the songs we have worked with so far.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8lRKCw2_Pk 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSn2O4mTYD4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZAqhF_2vvs

Helpful Information and Reminders

 Contact Information

It is VERY IMPORTANT that we have the correct contact information for your child.  If there is a change in address or phone number throughout the year, please inform me (and the school) of the changes. Please make sure that I have your current email address. Email will be my primary source of communication.

 

School Dismissal

If for any reason there is a change in your child’s dismissal, please send a written note to inform me of the change.  In the case of a last minute change, please DO NOT leave me a voicemail message.  Make sure that you inform someone in the “Main Office” of the change.

 

 

Lunch

Lunch can be brought from home or chosen from school daily or in advance. Lunch or snack money can be loaded onto your child's account or sent in with your child's name and homeroom.

 

Homework

Homework takes place Monday-Thursday.  There will be 1 or 2 sheets of written homework given.  Students should practice their spelling words each night, too.  Children are expected to read for at least 15 minutes every night.

 

Birthdays

Birthdays are special days!  Birthday snacks are permitted but not necessary. 

 

Additional Reminders

  • LABEL, LABEL, LABEL everything!  This avoids confusion or loss of articles.
  • Please make sure your child brings a backpack with the agenda and red folder each day.
  • Don’t forget to send an art smock to school if you have not done so already.
  • If you are visiting our classroom for any reason, please stop in the office to get a visitor’s pass.
  • Remember that children go outside for recess everyday (weather permitting). Please be sure to have your child dressed for the weather and wearing comfortable shoes, suitable for running and climbing.