Weekly Update 5/7/12 - 5/11/12

     Can you believe only three weeks remain?  I can sense that students are getting a little anxious now.  Our goal is to try to maintain our excellent work ethic while holding on to our self control.  It isn't always an easy task with so many changes in our daily schedule.  Many enjoyable events are popping up, but we must continue with our best behavior in mind.
    
Here's what is happening this week:
Math - We are studying decimals which are in chapter 27.  I think we will finish the material by the end of the week.  However, we will do our study guide next Monday and test next Tuesday.  Like the fraction chapter, it may be very wise to go back over the material in the book.  We are testing over all the lessons, and the material is unlike anything the students have studied in the past.  This will be good preparation for the fourth grade.
Writing - I am reading some of the most wonderful chapter books written by none other than your children.  Most students have finished with the first two chapters, while others have finished all four required.  You would be amazed at how well your children have described their characters and established a problem for their characters to later solve!  My only worry is that we may not have started the project in time for everyone to finish.
Spelling - Testing continues this Monday with Green Group and Tuesday for the Blue Group.  I am going to try to squeeze in one more spelling unit between now and the end of the year.
Health - This week's unit is all about the respiratory system.  Our class rotations will be on Thursday this week due to International Day on Friday.
Social Studies - We will make our government trees on Monday and Tuesday and also fill out our study guide for chapter 8.  Our test will be this Thursday.

Special Events:
Monday - Spelling Test,Green Group;
Tuesday - Spelling Test, Blue Group;
Wednesday - Library (Please return books!)
Thursday - Read, Write, and Run Event;  health rotations;
Friday - International Day!

Weekly Update - 4/23/12- 4/27/12

     I was so hoping for a lovely weekend.  I'm sure you enjoyed yesterday, however.  Let's hope we have more beautiful days like that ahead! 
     As the year draws to a close, we still have some loose ends with which to attend.  First of all, we have rescheduled a field trip.  Permission slips for Suson Park with our buddy class will probably come out sometime this week.  The bus fare is already paid for with the money parents invested in the previously cancelled trip.  The trip will not take place until the May 23rd.
     Another fun activity will be the upcoming Teddy Bear Picnic on May 3rd.  We will also share this event with our kindergarten buddies.  Each child in our class will need to bring one beach towel or other large towel for the picnic.  Third graders should also bring a teddy bear and a snack as well.
     Finally, the book fair begins tomorrow.  If you would like your child to buy a book, please send money in an envelope with his/her name on it along with the words "Book Fair."  We will try to go Monday and Wednesday.

Here is what is happening this week:
Math - We will continue the study of fractions in chapter 26.  Our focus will be on adding and subtracting fractions.  We will also practice reducing fractions to their lowest common denominator.
Reading - Groups are beginning new books this week!  Ask your child which book he or she is now reading for class.
Spelling - Tests include Green Group on Monday and Blue Group on Tuesday,
Health - This week's focus is on the muscular system.  We will also talk about the heart as a muscle and in this way tie in the circulatory system as well.
Social Studies - Last week we covered local government.  This week we will discuss state government.
Writing -  This week is all about writing chapter books.  Chapter 1 is a description of characters and setting.  Several of the children have already started and some have written a first chapter that makes the reader want to read more.  Yeah!

Special Events:
Monday - Book Fair;  Green Group spelling test;
Tuesday - Blue Group spelling test;
Wednesday - Library; Book Fair; Early Release Day
Thursday -
Friday - Fun Friday Health Day 

Weekly Update 4/16/12 - 4/20/12

     What a rainy weekend!  However, when it wasn't raining it was lovely.  Hopefully you were able to watch some of the Cardinal games.  Looks like it will be another exciting season!  Now that MAP tests are over, it will be my job to keep school exciting for the children.  Because the children were actually excited to test and show what they know, the end of testing can almost be a let down for some.  However, we started back in with our regular schedule on Friday, and the children seemed up for everything we were doing.  This was really nice to see!

Here is what is happening this week:
Math:  We are learning to compare fractions, which is quite challenging.  Manipulatives are used as an aid, but I am also teaching the "shoelace" trick which enables one to compare without the use of manipulatives.  Our test over chapter 25 will be this coming Friday.
Reading:  We are continuing to read and respond to some very good literature selections!
Spelling:  We are continuing our sorting routines.  The Yellow Group will take a test over their words this Friday.
Health:  We will be learning about nutrition and the digestive system.  On Friday our class will experience five creative lessons as they move from one third grade teacher to another.  In my lesson students will move coffee beans through food tubes (esophagus) until they reach a plastic bag (stomach.)
Social Studies:  Our study of government continues.
Writing:  Students are already busy writing about you, Mom!  Yes, we will save these papers to present to you on Mother's Day!

Special Events:
Friday - Math test over chapter 25;  Spelling test for the Yellow Group;  

Weekly Update 4/9/12-4/13/12

     I had a wonderful weekend with my family.  How about you?  Now we are back in the swing of things here at school with only one more week of MAP testing to go.  We start in again on Tuesday and continue to test Wednesday and Thursday.  After that we will do our best to get back to a normal academic schedule.

Here is what we will head into for each subject area:
Reading - We will continue with books that we have started.  One group will begin Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, a favorite of mine.

Math - We will continue our study of fractions.

Science - Our final focus will be to learn about energy.

Social Studies - There is one chapter on government left to cover.  With all of the excitement in choosing presidential candidates, I think the children will enjoy this at the end of the year!

Health -  Beginning next week, a different health topic that will be covered each week between then and the end of school.  Fridays will be Health Fun Day.  Students will rotate to all five third grade classrooms for various 15 minute activities dealing with the topic!

Special Events:
Tues. - MAP testing;  library lesson!
Wed. - MAP testing;
Thurs. - MAP testing

Weekly Update 3/2/12-3/6/12

     We have another short week this week, but it will be one that is very meaningful.  The children will have their chance to show what they know through the MAP testing that will be taking place.  We will test over communication arts on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this week, and will test over math next week on the same days.  Please help your child by encouraging a good breakfast and a good night's sleep.  Students should also be encouraged to read all directions and questions carefully before choosing answers.  Hopefully everyone will make the effort to go back and underline information in the stories they read.  Finally, students should check all answers carefully upon finishing their tests.  The students have worked so hard, and so it is my hope that each student's test will reflect this.
     This week is devoted to the MAP testing, so there it little going on other than more MAP preparation and the testing itsself.  Please send one type of snack to school so that we can make it a part of the class trail mix.  Children look forward to the relaxing snack time that follows each testing session.  The following are some snack ideas that I included on an earlier written note:  Cereal, Chex Mix, Goldfish, Cheez-its, M/M's, peanuts, mini marshmallows, pretzels, etc.  Feel welcome to bring anything you think might be good in the mix.

Mon. - MAP Prep;
Tues. - MAP Test begins;
Wed. - Library; MAP test;
Thurs. - MAP Test;
Fri. - NO SCHOOL;

Weekly Update 3/12-3/16

     Looks as if spring break is almost here!  The good news is that there are almost no tests this week.  Yahoo!  The one test I will be administering is on metric measurements, and I plan to give that on Wednesday.  After that we should be home free.  Thursday will be devoted to Economics Fun Day, and Friday is a half day with school dismissing at 11:40.  I hope everyone will enjoy the much needed break!

Here's what's happening this week:
Math - We will begin the graphing chapter on Monday.  Bar graphs, pictographs, and line graphs are all a part of this chapter. 
Reading - We will review genre.  This will include fairy tales, tall tales, and fables.  MAP prep will also continue along with continued reading in our literature books.

Spelling - No spelling this week.  We will continue will spelling after the break.

Science - We will wrap up our study of metric units.  Our test will be on Wednesday.  Look for a math study guide on Tuesday.

Social Studies - MAP prep at this time!  Economics Day will be on Thursday from 8:50 - 10:30.  Every child should have what they need for their business by that day.

Writing - Several students will need to finish their "If I Were the President" paper.  We are also continuing the functional writing lessons we began last week.

Special Events:
Wed. - Test on metric measurements; Library;
Thurs. - Economics Fun Day;  Counseling Class;  Cursive Writing Day!
Fri. - All stories are due!  School dismiss at 11:40;
   

Weekly Update 3/5/12-3/9/12

I had a fabulous weekend. How about you? In fact, I am a grandmother once again. My daughter, who lives in Washington D.C. had her second little girl. She and husband, Tim, gave her a very German name, Heidi Marie. I'm anxious to see her over the spring break!      With just two weeks before the end of the quarter, we are starting to wind down in some subject areas. However, we are really revving up the MAP preparation. You can help at home by making sure your child is fluent with the multiplication facts and has a good handle on subtraction. Also check out any papers for missed answers and go over the work with your child. It is the little things that can make a big difference. Reading carefully and following directions is especially important. Here is what is happening this week: Math-  We are studying probability.  What fun we had flipping a coin to find out how many times we landed on heads or tails.  We discovered it was equally likely.  However, when we loaded down a bag with 15 orange tiles, 6 red, and only 1 blue, we found that it was likely we would pull out an orange, and unlikely we would pull out a blue.  It was impossible that we would pull out a yellow or green!  All this is a study of probablity. Reading- Details, details, and more details, along with summaries, main idea, causes and effects - you name it and we are doing it!  Some of our review is done on MAP prep stories, while some is done through our literature books.  Everyone is enjoying the wonderful selections! Spelling- Tests this week for all groups:  Yellow Group on Tuesday, Green Group on Wednesday, and Blue Group on Thursday.  Science-  We are going to study standard and metric measurement. Social Studies-  The Economic Fun Day is fast approaching!  Students should be developing their product and should bring it to school on Thursday, March 15th.  The business sign is also due that day.  Many have already made their sign here at school.  However, students may take their sign home to add any finishing touches.  Check with your child to make sure he or she has one. Writing-  We will practice functional writing for the next two weeks.  It will be geared toward MAP testing. Special Events: Mon. -  Multiplication review tests all week! Tues. - Tungsten Math Test for March, Yellow Group spelling test; Wed. - Green Group spelling test, library; Thurs.- Reading Tungsten Test, Blue Group spelling test; Fri. - Possible ice cream party if all have successfully reviewed the multiplication facts that were learned.