continued from previous entry

Well, this whole blog thing is new to me. I added more info. to the posting that I did a few days ago, went to retrieve it, and couldn't find this information.

So, here goes again.

Social studies-Our class has been reading and discussing the different jobs in our communities. In particular we looked at the jobs of mayor and city council Students are also working hard to create their Powerpoint projects on their monuments/memorials.

Science-We will be starting this new unit in the coming week. The class hasn't quite finished with social studies, but we have to begin this unit. Coming in January will be information regarding the Habitat unit and the at-home project. More info. to follow in January

Math- Both 3rd grade math and math accel. will be finished their respective units next week and will receive study guides. Third grade math students will have their Unit 5 test on Monday, December 19. Math accel will be tested on Tuesday, December 20.

****Volunteers needed! The 3K class needs 5 helpers to assist students during the United and Unique workshop on Wednesday, December 21 from 1:45-2:45. The first 5 volunteers to respond will be chosen. Thank you.*****

Update for the week of Dec. 5, 2011

Reading- Students are continuing their study of nonfiction features while using Time for Kids and their social studies textbooks. The class has also worked in small groups to create a poster for one of those features. They will present their posters to their classmates later this week.

Nonfiction features include: pictures/photos/illustrations, captions, maps, graphs, charts, text boxes, fonts, etc.

Writing-Persuasive writing is still being studied and students are beginning to outline their paragraphs with reasons and support. In addition to this genre of writing, the class has also had time to explore free-writing, and work on a Quickwrite.

This just in...

3rd Grade math classes will have a study guide coming home in the next few days. The study guide is to be completed and returned to school for corrections on Monday, November 21. The Unit 4 assessment will be on Tuesday, November 22.

Math Accel. classes will be given their study guide for Unit 4 next Monday, November 21. Students can take the study guide home that night to work on, but will also be given time to work on it in class the following day. The Unit 4 test will be on Tuesday, November 29.

3K will have a Read-In during the day on Tuesday, November 22. Students can wear their pajamas or other comfy clothes on this day. No pillows or blankets though please.

Curriculum for the week of Nov. 14

Spelling-We tried something new this week based on the conversations at Parent-Teacher Conferences. Students received their graded spelling tests today and copied their new spelling list color and number into their assignment notebooks. I also personally helped all students to make sure they were taking two of the same lists and made sure each child put their list in their home folder. Students will be assessed on their new list next Tuesday before we leave for Thanksgiving Break.

Math-

Third grade classes are working on Unit 4.

Math Accel classes are also working in Unit 4.

Reading- Our class has begun a deeper investigation into Nonfiction. We have reviewed what was taught earlier in the year such as reading headings, noticing special effects when it comes to font style, size, and color. The class is using Time for Kids in small groups when looking at nonfiction.

Writing- Students have been introduced to persuasive writing. We have immersed ourselves and have done close studies in this type of writing. Students have developed ideas of whom they would write to and how they would like to persuade. They are very excited about this new unit of study.

Social Studies-The class has just begun the study of The United States Government in Chapter 11 in our Social Studies books. We learned about some of our countries early leaders and important documents and events that have shaped this country.

Essential Questions:

1. How was our government formed and how does our government work?

2. How would you explain the development and change of Washington D.C.?

3. What are some national symbols and landmarks and what do they mean?

Essential Skills:

1. Explain how the events of the Declaration of Independence, Revolutionary War and

Constitution have helped shape our government.

2. Identify the three branches of the U.S. government.

3. Research and describe monuments and important government buildings of Washington, D.C.

4. Research and describe national symbols and their significance to the U.S

A research project on a national monument will be going home on Friday. More information to follow.

Curriculum for the week of Oct. 31

Reading- The class finished reading Nate the Great and working on predictions. We also began to work on the reading strategy of "connections" and were developing deeper, more meaningful connections. To coincide with our mystery genre, students were introduced to 30 Second Mysteries in which they had to be the detectives, listen for the clues, and solve the mysteries.

Writing-We put the finishing touches on our fall paragraphs. Students typed their paragraphs, added clip art, and they are now hung on our class bulletin board. Please check these out on your conference day! Immersion into persuasive writing will begin the week of November 7.

Science- Students finished their study of bones, muscles, and joints. Students will be assessed on their learning on Wed., November 9. Study guides went home on Friday and were assigned for homework for the weekend. We will review the study guides together on Monday, November 7 and then do more reviewing in class on Tuesday.

Our Essential Questions for this unit were:

1. How do the parts of the skeletal and muscular system function and work together?

2. How does nutrition and exercise affect the muscular and skeletal systems?

Rocket Math- Students are continuing to work on their 1 and 2 minute timings each week.

Math-

3rd Grade- Students were assessed on Unit 3 last week and have begun Unit 4-Multiplication and Division.

Math Accel- Classes were assessed on Unit 3 on Friday and will start Unit 4-Decimals and Their Uses.

Spelling-Please encourage your child to practice their spelling words at home on a daily basis.

**Reminder**

Students that get lower than an 80% on tests will have the opportunity to correct their mistakes in order to earn back half credit for each corrected error through this 2nd Quarter. Corrected tests are due the following school day.

Math_

3rd Grade- Students are working on their study guides, and those are due on Tuesday, Nov. 1. Their Unit 3 test is then on Wednesday, Nov. 2.

Math Accel- We will be finishing unit 3 on Tuesday, Nov. 1, and the study guides will go home on that day. Students will have the opportunity to work on their study guides in class on Wed., review on Thursday, and the test will be on Friday, November 4.

***Conference reminders will be sent home with report cards. Please fill out the reminder and send it back to school with your child. ***

Reading-The class is continuing the reading strategies of making predictions and clarify to understand while using the shared reading text of Nate The Great-San Francisco Detective that is in our Harcourt reading anthology. Many students have had prior exposure to Nate The Great novels and are able to use their background knowledge of the character and plot line to help understand this text selection.

Writing-Students are working on their paragraphs about a favorite fall activity. We have been hard at work completing the graphic organizer that gets students thinking of details that support their topic and then sentences that elaborate on their details. Students have been conferencing with their peers and myself in order to improve the clarity of their writing pieces. So many topics have been shared, but Halloween has been the most popular fall activity.

Science-Our class has been hard at work learning about cells, bones, and joints. We have reviewed each of the topics class, and several study aids have been sent home as well. Each child received two copies of the bones study guide. One copy had all of the answers already filled in, and the other copy was blank so that families could make additional copies if desired for student practice. Students were also encouraged to study/review three bones per night starting last week. Speaking of which, the quiz on the bones will be this Friday, October, 28. Students also learned a song that names all of the bones while they point to each individual bone. A copy of the song was given to them today, and they were encouraged to practice it several times for homework.

Math-

Third Grade math classes have been working on finding the perimeter and area of squares and rectangles.

Math Accel. students have been learning about true/false number sentences and solving number stories.

Spelling-Students just took their spelling tests today and will get their tests back tomorrow. New lists will be distributed and students can begin to sort/practice the new words. Spelling tests are given every Wednesday, and new lists are given every Thursday. Please encourage your child to practice their words daily and complete some of the suggested activities that went home in the first few weeks of school.

Rocket Math-One minute timings are given on Mondays and Wednesdays, and Two minute timings are given on Fridays. Practicing for a few minutes each night helps build good study skills that your child can use for the rest of their academic careers.

Class Meetings-Stop, Walk, Talk is addressed through our class meetings and discussions with students. Students have also been exposed to picture books that deal with bullying.

Reading- Our class is working on the skills of summarizing and retelling while using a shared reading of the text Officer Buckle and Gloria that is in our Harcourt Anthology. Students have also been introduced to vocabulary that appears in the text. We completed a 4-Square vocabulary page in which students needed to write the word, define it, write a sentence using the word correctly, and finally drawing a picture of the word/what it symbolizes.

Writing-3K is in the midst of reviewing/learning about paragraphing. We have covered the characteristics of paragraphs, had Mrs. Kalantzis the thinking, writing, and revising that goes with paragraph development, and students are beginning to develop their own paragraphs about fall topics.

Math-

3rd Grade Math- Students are working on Unit 2: Adding and Subtracting Whole Numbers.

4th Grade Math- Classes are working in Unit 2: Using Numbers and Organizing Data.

Social Studies- The class is still learning and discussing communities. Next up: rural, urban, and suburban communities.

Spelling- Students just took their spelling test today. We are continuing with Words Their Way lists. Spelling tests will always be on Wednesdays, and students will receive their new list of words on Thursdays.

Read-In

Students in 3K earned a read-in by filling up our classroom marble jar for the first time this year. They have made great efforts to work as a community and make good choices since school started. On Wednesday 9/21 students may wear their pajamas and bring in a small stuffed animal for the read-in that will take place in the morning.

Curriculum Night is this evening.

Session 1: 6:30-7:10

Session 2: 7:20-8:00

We are off to a great start in 3rd grade this year. Routines and procedures are being developed, and we are learning more about each other every day.

A few reminders:

Please be sure to send a healthy snack with your child for the morning.

All snacks must be nut free as we have students with life threatening allergies in our classroom.

Reading-Our class has been practicing "Read to Self" this week as part of the Daily 5 program. Students are building up their stamina as readers and enjoying books of their choice. The class has also been working on "Read to Someone," "Work on Writing," and "Word Work" as literacy choices.

Students are encouraged to read 20 minutes each night which could include reading independently, reading to someone, having someone read to them, or listening to an audiobook.

Writing-Students have put together their own Writer's Notebook and have collected artifacts to put in their notebooks that will inspire them to write. We have created special pages for words and phrases that we love and are looking into how writers use sensory images to enhance their writing.

Math-

3rd Grade Math-Students have been working on Unit 1 and will be assessed on that unit on Friday, September 16, 2011.

4th Grade Math-Students were assessed on Unit 1 yesterday, and we began our study of Unit 2-Using Numbers and Organizing Data today.

Social Studies-Students are learning about communities and the people that live in them as well as map skills.

Spelling-We have started a new spelling program called Words Their Way. Students have been discovering how to sort their words and have played games and done activities in order to learn their words. The first assessment will be next Wednesday, September 21, 2011. Students are asked to be practicing their words at home on a daily basis as well.