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
January
20th- No School
29th- Progress Reports go home
 

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
 

Happy New Year! We are back in session and ready to hit the ground running. As we return to school, we are going to spend lots of time developing our close reading and responding to reading skills. We will enjoy exploring character studies while we strengthen our decoding and fluency skills. Our writing time will focus on opinion/persuasive writing. The children will have an opportunity to share their opinion and support it through evidence and supplemental details. 

 

This month, we will dedicate a lot of time to memorizing our multiplication facts. Students will keep working on solving number stories that are single and multi-step. In addition, we will work on measurement, graphs, and geometry. 

 

We will begin our first science unit during this month. It will be a great chance for the class to get opportunities to work in groups with hands-on activities that engage them to think more deeply about the world around them.

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.