This week students have word study homework and their 20/20 Club Reading Log that is due on Friday. Word study is a consistent homework assignment so that students can get the amount of time they need practicing their spelling pattern for the week. I try to provide a variety of activity choices so that students are not repeating the same activities over and over. I also remind students to try activities that they haven't tried before or haven't done very often just so they aren't getting bored.
Please also be going over flashcards for math facts so students are getting that extra practice. With our curriculum we just don't have all the extra time we need to devote to memorizing facts, so practice at home is a great help.
In reading and language arts this week we will be reading Alejandro's Gift, a realistic fiction story by Richard E. Albert. Students will be exposed to a variety of new vocabulary words and practice reading strategies for comprehension and how to ask and answer questions about the text.
This week in science we are discussing what living things need to survive, how they get energy, and compete for resources. Students will be conducting investigations on these concepts as well as creating food chains and a class poster.
Our study of fractions progressed to adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators, and we will be looking at improper fractions, and adding and subtracting fractions that equal improper fractions next. Upon completion of this study, we will begin our geometry unit next week.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Monday, April 21, 2014
April 21-25
I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend! This week starts our second week of testing with the SBAC. We will be taking the english language arts performance test on Thursday.
Our weekly story this week is an expository nonfiction piece called Yippee Yay! by Gail Gibbons. It gives students a glimpse of what life was like as a cowboy going on a cattle drive in the old west. We will work on vocabulary specific to the story and other comprehension activities.
In math our study of fractions is building to addition and subtraction of fractions with the same denominator. Students have built an understanding of what equivalent fractions are and how to show them using various models.
For social studies, students are wrapping up their business team projects by performing their commercials for the class to enjoy. They did a wonderful job! We will be diving into our science unit on the survival of living things. I hope everyone has had the opportunity to plant their cabbages so they can see them grow! Don't forget that if you want additional information about the cabbages you can visit the website on the paper your child brought home.
For homework this week: students should complete the word study activities for their list of words. Please continue to read and work on flashcards!
Our weekly story this week is an expository nonfiction piece called Yippee Yay! by Gail Gibbons. It gives students a glimpse of what life was like as a cowboy going on a cattle drive in the old west. We will work on vocabulary specific to the story and other comprehension activities.
In math our study of fractions is building to addition and subtraction of fractions with the same denominator. Students have built an understanding of what equivalent fractions are and how to show them using various models.
For social studies, students are wrapping up their business team projects by performing their commercials for the class to enjoy. They did a wonderful job! We will be diving into our science unit on the survival of living things. I hope everyone has had the opportunity to plant their cabbages so they can see them grow! Don't forget that if you want additional information about the cabbages you can visit the website on the paper your child brought home.
For homework this week: students should complete the word study activities for their list of words. Please continue to read and work on flashcards!
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
April 14-18
I apologize for not posting this yesterday afternoon, but here is the update for what we will be learning in third grade this week. Please remember that there is no school Wednesday due to a teacher in-service.
For reading we are diving into a historical fiction text called Boom Town by Sonia Levitin. Students will be creating maps of the town in the story using imagery from the story. They will also continue to expand their vocabulary with new words and vocabulary activities. In our writing unit we are continuing our analysis of opinion writing, and students will have the opportunity to voice their opinion on the business idea they developed for our economics unit.
In math we are progressing to more complex concepts with fractions, using manipulatives to explore how fractions can be represented, ordered and compared. For our economics unit, students have been working in their teams to develop an idea for a business that would benefit our community. They have created advertisements and will be presenting them to the class very soon!
This week for homework students should work on their word study. I will be sending home the word study contract sheet this afternoon. Students should complete the activities in their spelling journal and then turn it in this Friday morning when they arrive at school.
Special note regarding testing: Yesterday students took their spring IRI assessment for reading fluency. This Friday they will begin the SBAC test in the computer lab. I sent home a letter on bright blue paper last Friday that outlined our test schedule and ways you can help them to be successful on the tests and hope that you find it helpful. If you have questions about the testing, please let me know.
Have a great week!
For reading we are diving into a historical fiction text called Boom Town by Sonia Levitin. Students will be creating maps of the town in the story using imagery from the story. They will also continue to expand their vocabulary with new words and vocabulary activities. In our writing unit we are continuing our analysis of opinion writing, and students will have the opportunity to voice their opinion on the business idea they developed for our economics unit.
In math we are progressing to more complex concepts with fractions, using manipulatives to explore how fractions can be represented, ordered and compared. For our economics unit, students have been working in their teams to develop an idea for a business that would benefit our community. They have created advertisements and will be presenting them to the class very soon!
This week for homework students should work on their word study. I will be sending home the word study contract sheet this afternoon. Students should complete the activities in their spelling journal and then turn it in this Friday morning when they arrive at school.
Special note regarding testing: Yesterday students took their spring IRI assessment for reading fluency. This Friday they will begin the SBAC test in the computer lab. I sent home a letter on bright blue paper last Friday that outlined our test schedule and ways you can help them to be successful on the tests and hope that you find it helpful. If you have questions about the testing, please let me know.
Have a great week!
Monday, April 7, 2014
April 7-11
This week in third grade we will be studying a magazine article in our textbook called Wild Shots, They're My Life about a wildlife photographer. Students will learn vocabulary that goes along with this story, how to use headings to find information quickly, and some common latin suffixes.
In social studies we will continue to study economics. Students formed teams to create an idea for a good/service they think would benefit our community. They have listed what tools they think they would need to make it a success, and are now planning their "grand opening". After analyzing advertisements last week, each team will use what they learned to create an ad for their business.
For math we are investigating fractions in sets, shapes, and their relationships using fraction rods.
We have the opportunity to have several guest speakers in our class this week- we had Ms. Furniss our school SSA in today to teach an anti-bullying lesson, we will have a canal safety lesson Tuesday, a visit from our art mom Wednesday, and a workshop with Jr. Achievement on Friday!.
I have reassessed students for word study groups, and am pleased with their progress! Many students have changed groups, so you will be seeing some different word study patterns on their lists. ***Word study homework this week is their word study contract activities. Each student should have brought home their words in a plastic baggie, their spelling journal, and the word study contract. Homework will be due as usual this Friday.
A book order will be coming home Tuesday from Scholastic. Please feel free to make use of the easy online ordering using our class activation code in the letter that comes with the catalog.
In social studies we will continue to study economics. Students formed teams to create an idea for a good/service they think would benefit our community. They have listed what tools they think they would need to make it a success, and are now planning their "grand opening". After analyzing advertisements last week, each team will use what they learned to create an ad for their business.
For math we are investigating fractions in sets, shapes, and their relationships using fraction rods.
We have the opportunity to have several guest speakers in our class this week- we had Ms. Furniss our school SSA in today to teach an anti-bullying lesson, we will have a canal safety lesson Tuesday, a visit from our art mom Wednesday, and a workshop with Jr. Achievement on Friday!.
I have reassessed students for word study groups, and am pleased with their progress! Many students have changed groups, so you will be seeing some different word study patterns on their lists. ***Word study homework this week is their word study contract activities. Each student should have brought home their words in a plastic baggie, their spelling journal, and the word study contract. Homework will be due as usual this Friday.
A book order will be coming home Tuesday from Scholastic. Please feel free to make use of the easy online ordering using our class activation code in the letter that comes with the catalog.
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