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.