Welcome to 3rd Grade!
Summer 2021
A Message from Your 3rd Grade Teachers!
Dear Future 3rd Grade Parents,
We would like to take this opportunity in welcoming you and your child to the 3rd Grade and to provide you with some valuable information.
Summer is a perfect time for children to practice their reading skills. In fact, recreational reading is one of the best ways for children to maintain and enhance their reading skills over the summer months. We recommend that your child read short stories and/or chapter books throughout the summer.
Your child is required to read Freckle Juice by Judy Blume and complete both the comprehension packet and the “I Like My. . .” reflection sheet that are attached to this letter. It is appropriate for you to read the book with your child. However, if you choose to help your child read the selection or if you choose to read it with him/her, we simply ask that your child be permitted to formulate his/her own opinions of the story and answer the questions independently. Please be aware that your child will be assessed on Freckle Juice comprehension questions during the first week of school.
During the 3rd grade year, we will be building upon the basic addition and subtraction facts, so we encourage you to work with your child over the summer on recalling these basic facts. Flash cards can be helpful in increasing speed and accuracy. In addition, we are asking the children to log onto IXL during the summer months for a total of 12 to 15 hours, completing the attached IXL reference sheet, including a parent signature. Please keep in mind that the children should be working on a variety of skills that are on or above grade level.
Both the summer reading assignment and the IXL reference sheet should be completed and handed in the first week of school.
We ask that you label your child’s name, using a permanent marker, on the school supplies listed below, as well as your child’s lunchbox, school sweater, gym sweatshirt and sweatpants.
Thank you in advance for your support and cooperation. We wish you a happy, relaxing, and safe summer and we look forward to seeing you on the first day of school!
Sincerely,
The Third Grade Teachers
Gwynedd-Mercy Academy Elementary has bundled tuition which includes field trips, school pictures, yearbook, and most student school supplies. In addition, copy books, folders, rulers, and student planners will be distributed to students. Below is a list of supplemental supplies your child will need for 3rd Grade:
- Colored Pencils - Crayola - 24 Ct
- Crayons - Crayola - 24 Ct
- 2 Pink Erasers
- 1 Elmer's Glue Washable Stick (3-pack)
- Highlighter Package- Pen Style - 3 Pack - Yellow, Blue, Pink
- Markers - Crayola - Classic - 10 Ct - Thick
- 2 Packs of No. 2 Pencils - Sharpened - 12 Pk
- Pencil Sharpener - Canister - 2 Hole
- Scissors - Fiskar - Kids - 5 Inch - Pointed
- Package of Clorox Disinfectant Wipes
- Clear contact paper to cover workbooks
- 1 pair of earbuds/headphones with 3.5mm (not bluetooth or Apple lightning)
- 1 reusable water bottle
- Individual or pocket-sized hand sanitizer
- Individual tissue packets
Shop & Support: If you use AmazonSmile, .5% of your purchase will go to GMA! Click below to get started!
Log into IXL to practice your math facts!
Color this sheet to track your IXL progress!
Click below to access your summer reading assignment!
Explore suggested titles from:
The Best of the Best PA School Librarians Association
Kindergarten-3rd Grade
Author/Title/Grade Level
Barnett, Mac How this Book Was Made: Based on a True Story; K-4
Beck, H.W. Glow: Animals with their Own Night-Lights; 1-3
Brown, Lisa The Airport Book; K-3
Carbon, Elisa Diana’s White House Garden; 1-3
Chabbert, Ingrid & Guridi The Day I Became a Bird; 1+
Drummond, Alan Green City; K-3
Macy, Sue Miss Mary Reporting: The True Story of Sportswriter Mary Garber; 1-4
Pak, Kenard Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn; K-3
Rex, Adam School’s First Day of School; K-3
Schwartz, Corey Rosen and Rebecca J. Gomez Hansel and Gretel: Ninja Chicks; K-3
Seeger, Laura Vaccaro I Used to Be Afraid; PreK-1
Verde, Susan and Peter H. Reynolds The Water Princess; K-3
Wenzel, Brendan They All Saw a Cat K-3
Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Awards Program
Kindergarten-3rd Grade
Author/Title
Corey, Shagins, Ryan T. Mother Bruce
Kennedy, Anne Vittur Ragweed’s Farm Dog Handbook
Kleber, Dori More-igami
Macy, Sue Miss Mary Reporting: The True Story Of Sportswriter Mary Garber
McCloskey, Kevin We Dig Worms!
Miller, Pat The Hole Story of a Doughnut
O’Neal, Shaquille Little Shaq
Rockliff, Maria Anything but Ordinary Addie: The True Story of Adelaide Hermann, Queen of Magic
Schnell, Lisa Kahn High Tide for Horseshoe Crabs
Torrey, Richard My Dog, Bob
Urban, Linda Weekends with Max and His Dad
Caldecott Medal Winners
Author/Title
Steptoe, Javaka Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat
Mattick, Lindsay Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear
Santat, Dan The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend
Floca, Brian Locomotive
Klassen, Jon This Is Not My Hat
Raschka, Chris A Ball for Daisy
Stead, Philip C. A Sick Day for Amos McGee
Pinkney, Jerry The Lion & the Mouse
Swanson, Susan Marie The House in the Night
Wiesner, David Flotsam
Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Winners
Kindergarten-3rd Grade
Author/Title
Dutcher, Jim & Jamie Dutcher A Friend for Lakota: The Incredible True Story of a Wolf Who Braved Bullying
Bloom, C.P. The Monkey Goes Bananas
Rubin, Adam Dragons Love Tacos
Reynolds, Aaron Creepy Carrots
Scillian, Devin Memoirs of a Goldfish
Barton, Chris Shark vs Train
Watt, Melanie Chester
Watt, Melanie Scaredy Squirrel
Levine, Ellen Henry’s Freedom Box
Stevens, Janet & Susan Stevens Crummel The Great Fuzz Frenzy
Gottfried, Maya Good Dog
McCarthy, Meghan Aliens Are Coming
Schachner, Judy Skippyjon Jones
Buehner, Caralyn Super Dog: the Heart of a Hero