9/24/12 - 9/28/12 Update and Class Pictures From Rams Day

 

     Here we are posing for class pictures on Ram's Day earlier in the month.  The class wanted to do one serious and one silly pose!  See below for weekly update:

 

 

 

 

 Math - We will finish up rounding on Monday.  The study guide will come home as homework on Monday evening.  We will review and go over the study guide on Tuesday, followed by the Ch. 3 test on Wednesday.  We will only test over rounding to the nearest 10 and the nearest 100.

Writing - Now that we have finished the Summer Fun story and the community postcards, we are beginning to write about someone in our family.  I'm looking forward to being thoroughly entertained by these stories!

Spelling - The next test is either Thursday or Friday of this week depending on the group. (See below.)
Reading - Books of study include The Hundred Dresses, My Mother's Chair, Thank you Mr. Falker, Chameleons, and Weddings.  Ask your child which book he/she is reading!

Science - We have finished our study of plants and will continue with a study of ecosystems.  This means we will not go through chapter 3 in the book, but rather will skip to chapter 4.  This unit of study has videos and projects that the class will enjoy!

Social Studies - Geography, geography, and more geography!  That's what chapter 2 is all about.  I'm starting with continents and oceans of the world.  From there we will learn about our country, region, state, and city.

 

Special Events:  Please consider selling at least one product for our school fundraiser.  Students always feel proud that they have helped contributed!

Mon. - Library!!!!  Math study guide comes home for chapter 3.

Wed. - Spelling test for the Red and Yellow spelling groups;  Math test Ch. 3;

Thurs. - Spelling test for the Blue and Green groups. 

Fri. - No School!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9/17/12 - 9/21/12

Sunday, September 16, 2012

 Greetings!

What an amazing week! The children were absolutely wonderful, and as a result we were able to accomplish a great deal. Math centers and spelling groups are going strong. This week we will officially begin our reading groups. All groups have already met, but students were reading their own books while at the reading table. It is now time for us to start reading assigned literature. I love reading groups because reading is thinking, and I get to see how well the children think after reading an article or parts of a book. Much of the thinking is observed through discussion, but some of the thinking is observed through written responses. Students must be able to do both. Please encourage your your to always be thinking when he/she is reading!

Here's what's happening the week:
Math: Look for returning math tests on Monday. We will begin Ch. 3 which begins with rounding and then heads into subtracting with regrouping multiple times.
Writing: We will weave a little social studies into our writing time this week by writing postcards from rural, urban, and suburban communities. By the end of the week you should be able to see our communities murals and postcards on display in the hallway.
Spelling: New words will come home for the Red and Yellow Groups on Tuesday and the Blue and Green Groups on Wednesday. (No spelling on Mondays because of library.)

Reading:  Reading groups begin.  Some groups will meet every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Other groups will meet every Tuesday and Thursday.
Science: Quiz on plants and their parts on Tuesday. Also know what all plants needs in order to survive. We will also continue study of trees and their leaves.
Social Studies: We will head into Ch.2 which is a study of Earth's geography.

Important Events:
Mon.- Library
Tues.- Science Quiz
Fri.- First published story due;

9/10/12 - 9/14/12

     Wow! What a busy week lies ahead!  We will be finishing and testing over our first chapter in social studies, second chapter in math, and will be taking our first spelling test.  How can you help as parents?  To start, try to be ahead of the game.  Spelling words should be second nature by now as students have had them since the beginning of last week.  If not, get working on them right away.  That way there will be more time to study for the math and social studies tests.  When students first begin third grade, they aren't always sure of how to plan their study, so my suggestion is to learn what you can well in advance.

Here's what is happening in more detail:
Math - We will finish the second chapter which deals with place value to the hundred thousands.  Reading and writing big numbers is one of the difficult skills on which we are focusing.  Knowing how to write those numbers in standard, expanded, and word form is essential.  Our test will be Friday, with the study guide coming home on Wednesday for homework.
Writing - We are working on locating misspelled words in our writing, circling them, and then correcting.  Some dictionary work has been taught and students are practing the skill with a few of their misspelled words.
Spelling - Students are practicing their words daily through various spelling activities.  The first tests are on Thursday and Friday of this week.
Reading - I have one more reading group with which to meet, and then I will have met with all groups for my preevaluation.  Part of our reading this week will also be spent taking the monthly MAP practice assessment.  This is not for a grade.  Rather it is a tool used to assist teachers in their teaching.
Science - We will learn about plants, what they need to live, and about the function of each plant part.  
Social Studies -  The study guide for chapter one will come home on Tuesday.  Our first test is on Thursday.  We are very close to finishing our communities murals!

Special Events:
Mon. -  Library!
Tues. - ELL Curriculum Night in Miss Crawford's room for parents whose children       
             participate in ELL classes.  I will be there too!
Wed. - Early dismissal day (1:40)
Thurs. - Spelling test for Red and Yellow spelling groups;  Social Studies test / Chap.1
Fri. - Our first Buddy Day!  Spelling test for Blue and Green spelling groups;  Math test/Chap. 2 

 

9/4/12 - 9/7/12

     I was very happy to see so many in attendance for Curriculum Night.  Thank you for your attendance!  Hopefully you have a better understanding of third grade.  We are really getting into our subjects now, and it feels good.  This coming week we will test over science chapter 1.  Students may study the study guides located in the binder behind science.  There should be three different pages.  If one is missing, please let me know so that I can copy replacement pages for study. 

Here's what else is going on this week:
Math - In Ch. 2 we will learn about even-odd, place and value, and ways to write a number:  standard form, word form, and expanded form.  This is a very challenging chapter, and so  there may be more math homework this week.  Please continue to practice addition and subtraction facts as well so that the review sections of assignments aren't a struggle.
Writing - The class is doing a great job as they practice how to construct a good paraghraph with details!
Spelling - Let the spelling groups begin!  Each student was informed of their group and group members.  I will meet with two groups each day.  Since I have four groups, that means I will meet with your child every other day.  Look for the word list in the daily planner as well as word cards being sent home on the first day that the group meets.  Feel free to cut cards and sort, learning how the words are connected and how they are spelled.
Reading - I'm not quite ready for groups yet, but know that I will most likely begin them next week.  Right now we are practicing visualizing and making connections with what we read.
Science - Our seeds are germinating and growing!  We'll bring them home this week.  Out first test is Friday.
Social Studies -  We will be designing murals depicting urban, suburban, and rural communities.  We will also be focusing on map study.  Look for a chapter 1 test sometime next week.

Important Events:
Mon. - No school
Tues. - Spelling Groups begin;  bring books to return to library;
Fri. - Science Test;  Football Spirit Day!  Wear as much Ram's attire as you can for the schools classroom contest!  Judges will vote on the class with the most spirit.  I love football, so I'm hoping we will snatch the prize for the most spirit!!!!!