Week of January 9th -13th, 2012

Welcome back and Happy 2012!

We hope that everyone had a wonderful, relaxing break.  It was nice to be home and spend time with family and friends.  It is a chance to rest and re-energize for the new year.    Hopefully you also had a chance to reflect on the year and set some new goals for this year.

We are going to jump right back into the swing of things because we have a lot to do.  Please read on to see what exciting things are happening in third grade!

Remember to wear a warm coat and bring gloves and a hat.  We will continue to go outside for recess and the weather has been very sporacdic lately.  Isn't this crazy weather for January?

Also, prior to break we asked you for your help.  The third graders will be turning our hallway into an amazing animal habitat.  Did you save your empty wrapping paper rolls?  If so, great!  Please send in any rolls that you had collected to school.  You will still have to wait and see what they will become! : )

Citizenship – For the next 5 weeks we will be working on a program that will help the students solve problems and deal with different situations.  This week we will be focusing on Empathy.  The students will understand that all actions affect those around us.

Spelling -  There is no spelling this week, but there will be a pretest towards the end of the week.  It would be great week to review some of the past lists.  Check the spelling list tab for a review of the words from earlier in the year.

Reading-  Our next story is Balto, The Dog Who Saved Nome by Margaret Davidson.  It is a wonderful story about a heroic dog sled team that went through tremendous circumstances to help a town get medicine.  We will be discussing nonfiction text features and the skill of sequencing.  The students should be able to identify important events in the story and the order in which they occur.  Next week, we will have an open book quiz and watch the movie!

Writing -  Third Grade gathered information on ocean animals for their first research writing unit before break.  The students have worked on organizing their information and now we will put it all together.  Our end product will be a paper that summarizes what they learned in an efficient way.

Grammar -  Figurative language has been a great topic of discussion the last few weeks before break.  Alliteration is the repetition of an initial consonant sound. Larry's lizard likes leaping leopards is an example of alliteration.  We will have fun making our own sentences this week!

 Science -  We are going to review the habitats that we have already discussed so far.  There are a few more that we will learn about.  The students have been working on a packet throughout the unit to help them learn the essential items in this unit.  At the end of the week, we will be quizzing them on what they have learned.  They will be allowed to use their packets during the quiz.  Next stop, the rainforest!

3rd Grade Math-   The students will do a review of what we learned prior to the break.  We will be going over place value with decimals, focusing on tenths and hundredths.  The unit will be ending shortly.  A study guide will be given soon and the test will be next week.

The secure (mastered) skills for this unit are..

- Students will read, write and compare whole numbers up to 5 digits
- Students will identify place value in whole numbers up to 5 digits.

Remember that under "Math Games" on the right sidebar of the blog there are many place value games for students to practice their skills.  What a great way to get back into the swing of things!

Accelerated Math -  Students have been working really hard in Unit 5.  We only have one more concept to review and that is multi-digit multiplication.  The students will learn several different strategies for solving a multi-digit multiplication problem, but will only be tested on one... the traditional method.  A study guide will be going home on Monday and will be due on Wednesday, 1/11 in hopes that the Unit 5 test will be this Thursday, 1/12.  If I feel the students are not ready for the test, I will change the date and let you know.  Thanks for your support.

Week of December 19th, 2011

Chicago Botanical Gardens 

Hello and welcome to winter!  We have finally had some snow which is a friendly reminder to dress warm for the weather.  Remember to wear a warm coat, bring gloves and a hat.  We go outside for recess all winter long.

Parent S.O.S.  

 The third graders will be turning  our  hallway into an amazing animal habitat and we need your help! Please save your empty wrapping paper rolls.  This is the time of year when their should be plenty of them!  Just send them to school.  You will have to wait and see what they will become :)

Week of December 19th-22nd

Spelling -  There is no spelling this week or the week when we come back.  Please enjoy the spelling break.

Reading-  The students are truly enjoying The Boxcar Children shared reading.  After each lesson, the students are answering Who, What, When, Where and Why questions about their reading.

Writing -  Third Grade has started gathering information on ocean animals for their first research writing unit.  The students are learning how to sift through information to find what they need.  Everyone seems very excited to learn more about some interesting creatures of the deep.

Grammar -  "It's raining cats and dogs" or "You have ants in your pants" or how about "Your head is in the clouds".  These are all examples of idioms and the students just love them.  We continue to explore figurative language and how words don't always mean what you think they mean!

Science -  This week we will be exploring different types of habitats.  Students will be learning the different characteristics of habitats and about the plants and animals that live in them.

3rd Grade Math-  We have started Unit 5  on place value.  The secure (mastered) skills for this unit are..

- Students will  read, write and compare whole numbers up to 5 digits
- Students will identify place value in whole numbers up to 5 digits.

The unit starts with understanding place value and the value of numbers up to the ten-thousands place, then moves up to the millions place!!!

Under "Math Games" on the right sidebar of the blog there are many place value games for students to practice their skills.

Accelerated Math -  Students have started Unit 5 on multi-digit multiplication.  The unit starts with a discussion of extended math facts.  The students will also practice estimating sums and products.

12/5/11 - 12/9/11

Spelling- The test for List 12 is Friday, 12/9. The skill is /o/ words.

Reading- For the next three weeks, we will immerse students in the mystery genre. The students will read The Boxcar Children. The children will be assessed on different vocabulary and comprehension activities throughout the book. We will also analyze characters traits as we read.

Writing- The students will continue practicing Math and Reading Extended Response each week. We will also begin a research unit. The students will learn how to do computer searches, gather information, and paraphrase (take notes using short phrases and key words.) Each student will research a special ocean creature and learn all that they can about them. We will develop a rough draft from our notes, and practice revising and editing our work. It’s exciting to see the growth that students make as they go through the writing process.

Grammar- The students will learn about figurative language and idioms. Idioms are common sayings or expressions whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meaning. For practice, visit the following websites: www.funbrain.com/idioms . This site contains a paint by idioms game. Idiomconnection.com has an A-Z list of idioms, their meaning, and use along with quizzes for each idiom.

Science- This week, we are beginning our habitat unit. The students will learn about habitats, the names of different habitats around the world, and the types of animals that live there. They will also learn how animals have adapted to their environment over the years. The essential questions that students should be able to answer at the end of this unit are:

What is a habitat? Where do plants and animals live? How do plants and animals live together? How do animals survive in their environment? What is a food chain (web)? What is a rainforest, and where are they in the world? What are some plants, foods, and products that come from the rainforest? What are some animals that live in the rainforest?

3^rd Grade Math- We will continue Unit 4 on Multiplication and division. The Study Guide is due on 12/7. The Unit 4 Test will be on Fri., 12/9.

By the end of this unit, the developing and secure skills that students will learn are:

Unit 4 Learning Goals-

D- Solve number stories involving equal groups by using multiplication.

D- Solve number stories involving equal sharing and equal grouping.

D- Know multiplication facts having 3 or 4 as one factor and 2 through 7 as the other factor.

D/S- Know multiplication facts having 0,1,2,5, or 10 as a factor.

D/S- Complete multiplication/division fact families.

Additional LearningGoals on Unit 4 Assessment-from (Units 1, 2, and 3)

(Unit 1 Learning Gaols on Unit 4 Assessment-)

D-Identify and use number patterns to solve problems.

D/S- Count by 10’s and 100’s

D/S- Apply place-value concepts in 4-digit numbers.

D/S Find equivalent names for numbers.

(Unit 2 Learning Goals on Unit 4 Assessment)

D- Compare “What’s My Rule?’ tables.

D- Add multi-digit numbers.

D- Subtract multi-digit numbers.

S- Know basic addition and subtraction facts.

S- Complete fact and number families.

S- Solve addition and subtraction multi-digit number stories

(Unit 3 Learning Goals on Unit 4 Assessment)

D/ find the area of a rectangular region divided into square units.

S/ Measure line segments to the nearest cm.

Accelerated Math- The study guide is due on Thursday, 12/8. The Unit 4 Test is on Friday, 12/9.

Week of November 28th - December 2nd

Important Reminders -
Friday - Spirit Day and Walk to School

Reading -  Nate the Great: San Francisco Detective is the next story that we will be reading.  In this mystery, Detective Nate the Great searches San Francisco for a lost joke book.  He discovers that the wrong place can be the best place to look for a lost item.  The students will be discussing cause and effect for the strategy.  The cause is the reason that something happens.  An effect is what happens because of something else.   Please read the story with your child sometime this week.  There will be a quiz this week on Nate the Great: San Fracisco Detective.

Vocabulary:  detective, specific, positive, case, returned, definitely, assistant


Writing -  We will continue to work on writing extended response answers every week.  In the meantime, the students will begin a new writing unit this week.  They will learn about Research Writing.  We will show the students many examples of different research papers.  Then the students will identify several things they noticed in all of the research papers.  We will create a list of noticings for Research Writing.

Grammar - We will continue our focus on Plurals and Possessives this week. Please click on the links to the right to practice these important skills.

Spelling -  This week's spelling list #10 focuses on words that contain the /ou/ sound.  The pattern will have either ou or ow in each of the words.  There will be a test on Friday.

Math -
Third Grade Math-  We are continuing to work on multiplication and division in unit 4 this week.  Practicing our facts will be a daily activity.  We will discuss how division ties into multiplication and their fact families.  We will also learn how to play Baseball Multiplication!  Please try to play this game with your child.  Directions are included in the SRB.  Please help your child practice their multiplication facts!
Accelerated Math- Unit 4 focuses on decimals. The concepts we will review on decimals are: place value, comparing and ordering, estimating, addition and subtraction, money and units of length.

Social Studies -  We are concluding our government unit this week with a research project.  The students will be researching a specific national symbol, landmark, or monument.  After taking notes on their topic, the students will be creating a powerpoint slide to display their information.  In the end, we will combine all the slides together to create a class powerpoint on our important symbols for our country.

Week of November 21-25th

Important Reminders -

Tuesday 11/22 - Chris Van Allsburg Movies!!  Bring an extra snack for the movie.
Wednesday 11/23 - Friday 11/25 - No School

Reading -  This week we are culminating our Chris Van Allsburg author study unit.  Each class will vote on their favorite Chris Van Allsburg book that they have read.  The students will watch a movie that is based on one of his books.  Remember to send in a special snack for Tuesdays movie.

Writing - Teachers will explain the process of writing a reading extended response. An extended response is an in-depth analysis of a particular text. By asking the student to write an extended response, we are asking them to think more deeply about their reading, thus making inferences and drawing conclusions are important reading strategies to know. Writing extended responses is new to third graders and a skill they will continue to develop throughout their education. We start in third grade with an "I" chart graphic organizer and model the organization of the response. It involves answering the question using evidence from the text, along with interpreting that evidence by explaining what the clues mean using what you already know. Finally, the student will have to pull everything together and write an ending sentence summing up the message the author was trying to get across.

Grammar - We will continue our focus on Plurals and Possessives this week. Please click on the links to the right to practice these important skills.

Spelling -  There will not be a spelling test this short week.  A pre-test will be given for the following week's test.

Math -
Third Grade Math- We will start a new unit in math this week. Unit 4 focuses on common uses of multiplication and division. These include using multiples of equal groups, equal sharing and equal grouping. Students will begin by solving number stories involving equal groups, creating number arrays and connecting multiplication to division. Please help your child practice their multiplication facts!
Accelerated Math-  Unit 4 focuses on decimals. The concepts we will review on decimals are: place value, comparing and ordering, estimating, addition and subtraction, money and units of length.

Social Studies - The students will be learning how our government was formed and how our government works. We will talk about the Declaration of Independence, Revolutionary War and Constitution. We will also looked at the history our our nation's capital, Washington D.C. We will finish our government study by researching national symbols and landmarks.

Week of November 14th, 2011

Important Reminders - 

Tuesday 11/15- Math Game Night for 3rd-5th grade (6:30p.m.-8:30p.m.)
Thursday 11/17- Culver's Night on 75th and Rt. 59 (4-7)

Reading - In reading this week , we will continue our author study of Chris Van Allsburg. This week we will focus on the story The Stranger. The students will be introduced to making inferences and how inferring helps them understand the author's meaning in a text. When using inference, the student's will use clues from the text and what they already know (their schema or background knowledge) to infer the meaning or make predictions. Students will need to infer who the stranger is and support their prediction using clues from the story. Here are some sites student can use to help them understand making inferences.

Inference Riddles
Inference Practice
Making Inferences

Writing - Teachers will explain the process of writing a reading extended response. An extended response is an in-depth analysis of a particular text. By asking the student to write an extended response, we are asking them to think more deeply about their reading, thus making inferences and drawing conclusions are important reading strategies to know. Writing extended responses is new to third graders and a skill they will continue to develop throughout their education. We start in third grade with an "I" chart graphic organizer and model the organization of the response. It involves answering the question using evidence from the text, along with interpreting that evidence by explaining what the clues mean using what you already know. Finally, the student will have to pull everything together and write an ending sentence summing up the message the author was trying to get across.

Grammar -  We will continue our focus on Plurals and Possessives this week.  Please click on the links to the right to practice these important skills. 

Spelling -  The focus this week is on words that have the /oi/ sound.  We will take the Unit 9 test on Friday, 11/18/11.

Math - 
Third Grade Math-  We will start a new unit in math this week.  Unit 4 focuses on common uses of multiplication and division.  These include using multiples of equal groups, equal sharing and equal grouping.  Students will begin by solving number stories involving equal groups, creating number arrays and connecting multiplication to division.
Accelerated Math-  We will begin Unit 4 this week.  Unit 4 focuses on decimals.  The concepts we will review on decimals are: place value, comparing and ordering, estimating, addition and subtraction, money and units of length.

Social Studies -  The students will be learning how our government was formed and how our government works.  We will talk about the Declaration of Independence, Revolutionary War and Constitution.  We will also looked at the history our our nation's capital, Washington D.C.  We will finish our government study by researching national symbols and landmarks.

Week of November 7-11

Hi Everyone.  Above a is beautiful picture of the fall harvest.  It is the time of year when we prepare for the cold Midwest winter ahead of us.  It's also the time to change the clocks and "fall back" to signify the end of Daylight Savings Time.  I hope all of you remembered to set your clocks back one hour on  Saturday night.

November is a busy month.  Lots of special events and a short month packed full of learning.  Here is what's happening this week in third grade. 

No School

 Thursday, November 10th and Friday, November 11th

The Book Fair is Here!

Our fall Book Fair is now open!  Hours are:

Mon., Nov. 7  and Tues., Nov. 8  9:05 am -4:30 pm
Wed., Nov. 9   9:05 am  - 8:00 pm
Thurs., Nov. 10 8:00 am  - 8:00 pm
Mon., Nov. 14  9:05- 9:30  am - closing at 9:30 am


Come visit our book fair before and after school to buy a book for those reading logs. You can also purchase a book to be donated to your teacher’s class library! Parents should read with their kids every night and this is a great opportunity to freshen up your library at home. We look forward to seeing you all there. 


A Read-In is Coming!

Who: All the Third Grade students

When: Wednesday, November 9, 2011 during the Language Arts block

What to Bring:  5-10 books form home, a towel to lay on, a flashlight,  a healthy snack and one stuffed animal no bigger than their desks!

What to Wear :  Students may wear their pajamas and change into slippers. Remember to bring shoes for P.E. and recess and a jacket to wear outside.

Conferences

Parent- Teacher conferences are scheduled for Wednesday, November 9th from 4:40 to 8:00 PM  and Thursday, November 10, from 8:00 AM to 7:40 PM.  Conferences are 20 minutes long and scheduled back-to back.  Please check your scheduled slot and arrive on time.  The teachers do their very best to keep conferences moving and honor scheduled time slots.   If you arrive late, unfortunately your time will be shortened to allow the next parent their full conference time.

What is the Bluestem Award? 

 The Bluestem Program is an annual award given to the author of the book voted most outstanding by students and grades 3-5 in participating Illinois schools.  It is designed for students in grades 3-5 who are ready for longer titles than found on the Monarch list, but not quite ready for the  sophistication of some of the Rebecca Caudill titles.

The award was named in honor of Big Bluestem which is the state prairie grass.  For a complete listing of this year's Bluestem titles go to Bluestem Program

Speaking of reading, students should be entering their reading minutes on their "Reading Stars" reading logs.  The reward for reading a minimum of 360 minutes a month is a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut! 


Reading -  In reading this week , we will continue our author study of Chris Van Allsburg.  This week we will focus on the story The Stranger.  The students will be introduced to making inferences and how inferring helps them understand the author's meaning in a text.  When using inference, the student's will use clues from the text and what they already know (their schema or background knowledge) to infer the meaning or make predictions.  Students will need to infer who the stranger is and support their prediction using clues from the story.  Here are some sites student can use to help them understand making inferences.

Inference Riddles



Inference Practice


Making Inferences

Writing -  Teachers will explain the process of writing a reading extended response.  An extended response is an in-depth analysis of a particular text.  By asking the student to write an extended response, we are asking them to think more deeply about their reading, thus making inferences and drawing conclusions are  important reading strategies to know. Writing extended responses is new to third graders and a skill they will continue to develop throughout their education.  We start in third grade with an "I" chart graphic organizer and model the organization of the response.  It involves answering the question using evidence from the text, along with interpreting that evidence by explaining what the clues mean using what you already know.  Finally, the student will have to pull everything together and write an ending sentence summing up the message the author was trying to get across.

Spelling -  There is no spelling test this week.  Next test will be list #9 on November 18th.


Math -  Both Accelerated Math and Third Grade Math classes will have a Unit 3 math test this week.  Tuesday, Nov. 8 the study guides are due and Wednesday, Nov. 9 is the Unit 3 test date. 

Social Studies -  We will finish up making our maps this week and begin a new unit on Government.  We start with our country's important first documents.   Students will learn how our country was formed and how the Declaration of Independence, The Revolutionary war and the Constitution were important first steps to making our country great.

Enjoy the short week!

10/31/11 - 11/4/11

Important Reminders-

10/31- May Watts Fall Festival and Parade
November 9th and 10th- Parent Teacher Conferences
The Book Fair is coming Nov. 7th - 11th! Please click on the LMC Blog for details. Thanks for supporting May Watts!

Spelling

The skill for List 8 is /s/ and /j/ words.  If you need to refer to the lists, click on the spelling tab above.  The test will be on Friday, 11/4.

Reading

We will finish our Spooky Story Unit and for the next few weeks, complete  an author study on Chris Van Allsburg. Some of the books that we will  read during this unit are: Jumanji, Just a Dream, and The Stranger. We will also examine the author's website, along with other books that he has written throughout his life. The strategies that students will learn are: comparing two works by the same author and making inferences. We will complete our author study with a movie choice based on his books. Please visit the website at the bottom of this page to learn more about this popular author.


The Reading Incentive program is finishing its first month!  Remind your child to read nightly and continue to put their minutes into their log on Reading Stars!  All minutes for October must be entered by 10/31. 

Writing

For our next writing unit, we will teach students how to write an effective extended response. Writing Extended Response connects to a reading passage. This unit will be taught using the I do, We do, You do model. The students will practice completing an I Chart as a graphic organizer of their writing. The children will learn how to TTQA (turn the question around) and include an opinion or point of view. We will practice using transition words and identifying all of the pieces of evidence in a reading passage. The students will also learn how to interpret what the evidence means. The final step will be to teach the students how to write a conclusion stating what they now understand.

Grammar Skill

Homophones, homographs, and homonyms are the skills that we are working on.  What is the difference between them?  Well, that seems to be a topic of discussion.  We have researched many websites and have decided that we would like the students to know how to use the correct word and spelling in sentences.  We will teach them that: Homophones are words that sound the same, but have different spellings and meanings.  Homographs are words that are spelled the same, but mean and sound differently.  Homonyms are words that are spelled and sound the same, but have different meanings.  We will work on a variety of these words to help the students become more familiar with them all.

 Check out the Grammar links for games to help them understand.

Grade 3 Math

A study guide was given out and is due on Tuesday, 11/8. The Unit 3 Math Test is Wed.,  11/9.
Unit 3 has two secure skills that the students will need to master.  They should be able to measure line segments to the nearest ½ inch and the nearest centimeter.  Please help them practice measuring at home.  This is an important life skill!  
The students will also need to know how to add and subtract multidigit numbers, make ballpark estimates to the nearest tens place, add bills and coins, and show change using symbols for money (Q = quarters, D = Dimes, etc..)

We will discuss the U.S. customary and  metric systems.  We will practice converting units in each system.  For example, the students will learn that 1 foot = 12 inches, 1 yard = 3 feet, 1 yard = 36 inches, and 1 mile = 5,280 feet.  They will hopefully discover some personal references for length that will help them remember how long each unit is.  We will practice measuring by finding the perimeter of different shapes.  The perimeter is the measurement of the distance around a shape.

Accelerated Math

A study guide was given out and is due on Tuesday, 11/8. The Unit 3 Math Test is Wed., 11/9.
Unit 3 focuses on multiplication and division, number sentences and algebra. This is a longer unit and it will take us some time to get through it. Please help your child by practicing multiplication and division facts at home.

Social Studies

There will be a Maps and Globes Test on Friday, 11/4.  After completing a variety of engaging classroom activities including creating their own park maps, the students should be able to demonstrate the following essential skills:
Know the difference between maps and globes
Be able to locate places on a map
Create a map key/legend with several symbols and include the meaning of each symbol
Create a compass rose with cardinal and intermediate directions
Identify a map scale, measure distances on a map, and convert the measurement according to the map scale.
The students will continue to have opportunities to practice these skills during the week.

http://www.chrisvanallsburg.com/flash.html

10/24-10/28

Upcoming  Events…

Tuesday, 10/26/11–Young Rembrandts

Tuesday & Thursday - After School Enrichment (ASE)

Friday, 10/28/11 – Report cards will be sent home via backpack

Monday, 10/31/11 – Halloween Parade and classroom parties

Citizenship

We will continue to work on our problem solving skills.  All students can achieve success using the Talk it Out program and Respecting YOE.

On Friday, a raffle drawing will be held for lunch with Mr. Raczak.  The students will have a chance to win if they put their blue tickets into the grade level bins.  Will your child enter for a chance to win lunch with Mr. Raczak?

Spelling

The skill for List 7 is sh, ch, and tch words.  If you need to refer to the lists, click on the spelling tab above.  The test will be on Friday, 10/28.

Reading

We are going to be doing a Spooky Story unit in reading and writing.  We will begin the unit by discussing the difference between fantasy and realistic events.  The students will use various skills and strategies, like predicting, inferring, fact vs. opinion, and comparing and contracting, while reading this week.  We will be reading the following stories:  A Beasty Story by Bill Martin Jr., and Steven Kellogg, The Monster and the Tailor by Paul Galdone, Piggie Pie! by Margie Palatini, and A Dark, Dark Tale.  We hope the students enjoy this spooky week!

The Reading Incentive program is finishing its first month!  Remind your child to read nightly and continue to put their minutes into their log on Reading Stars!  All minutes for October must be entered by 10/31.

Writing

We will finish our unit on Informative Paragraph writing.  The students should know what a good paragraph looks like and that it contains a main idea, details, and an ending sentence. The will also work on the Spooky Story unit.

During our Spooky Story unit, the students will have the opportunity to write their own spooky story.  Scary story starters will help the students begin writing their stories.  At the end of the unit, we will use flashlights to set up a spooky atmosphere to share our stories.  Please watch the assignment notebook to know when your child will need to bring a flashlight for this activity.

Grammar Skill

Homophones, homographs, and homonyms are the skills that we are working on.  What is the difference between them?  Well, that seems to be a topic of discussion.  We have researched many websites and have decided that we would like the students to know how to use the correct word and spelling in sentences.  We will teach them that: Homophones are words that sound the same, but have different spellings and meanings.  Homographs are words that are spelled the same, but mean and sound differently.  Homonyms are words that are spelled and sound the same, but have different meanings.  We will work on a variety of these words to help the students become more familiar with them all.

 Check out the Grammar links for games to help them understand.

Grade 3 Math

Unit 3 has two secure skills that the students will need to master.  They should be able to measure line segments to the nearest ½ inch and the nearest centimeter.  Please help them practice measuring at home.  This is an important life skill!  

We will discuss the U.S. customary and  metric systems.  We will practice converting units in each system.  For example, the students will learn that 1 foot = 12 inches, 1 yard = 3 feet, 1 yard = 36 inches, and 1 mile = 5,280 feet.  They will hopefully discover some personal references for length that will help them remember how long each unit is.  We will practice measuring by finding the perimeter of different shapes.  The perimeter is the measurement of the distance around a shape.

Accelerated Math

We have started Unit 3 which focuses on multiplication and division, number sentences and algebra. This is a longer unit and it will take us some time to get through it. Please help your child by practicing multiplication and division facts at home.

Social Studies

This week, the students will continue to review the continents and oceans.  The students will have a quiz on the locations of the continents and oceans.  Please help your child review.  Ask them to sing the Continent Song for you as review.

In addition to review, the students will learn about what tools are used to help read maps and globes.  The map key or legend, symbols, and compass rose are important terms to know when using a map.  The students will have lots of opportunities to become familiar with these terms.

Week of October 17th, 2011

Reminders -

Wednesday, 10/19:  Conference notices go home.  Please send them back ASAP to confirm the correct date and time for your November conference. 

Friday, 10/21:  End of 1st grading period

Friday, 10/28:  Report cards go home

·   

Reading -

We will continue our reading and research on BATS!  Last week we started by reading Stellaluna by Janell Cannon.  Then we moved onto Zipping, Zapping, Zooming Bats by Ann Earle.  We compared and contrasted fantasy and nonfiction using these two books.  We also learned many facts about bats that we didn't know.  This week we will be doing some activities with both books and finishing off our study with BAT RESEARCH!  Students will create a bat a poster including the bat facts they learned.  We will also be discussing the difference between facts and opinions during this time. 

Please continue to have your child read nightly and log his/her minutes onto Reading Stars (tab on the top)

Grammar-
Our focus this week will be on homophones.  Homophones are words that sound the same, but are spelled differently and have different meanings.  An example of a pair of homophones would be see and sea.  Check out the following sites for some homophone practice.

Go for Grammar Goal: Homophones

Whiteboard Homophones

Homophone Quiz

Spelling-
Week of 10/17= Unit 6 kn, wr, gn, ph

Writing-
During the month of October, the students will be learning how to write well-developed paragraphs.  The learning targets for the month are..

1.What do good paragraphs look like?

2.What are main ideas and details?

3.What is elaboration?

4.What is an ending sentence?

5.What does it mean to indent?

6.How do you use a graphic organizer to brainstorm ideas?

We started our unit with immersion.  This means that the students have been shown multiple examples of good paragraphs.  We began by looking for things paragraphs have in common. Students will learn that a paragraph is a group of sentences that have to do with a particular topic.  Good paragraphs have a main idea that is supported by details and elaboration.  We will continue to learn how to write paragraphs for the next two weeks.


Math -
Third Grade-
The study guide for Unit 2 was sent home Thursday Oct. 13 and will be reviewed on Tuesday, Oct. 18.  The Unit 2 math test will Wed. Oct. 19th . We will then begin Unit 3 which focuses on measurement, perimeter and area.
Accelerated Math -

We have started Unit 3 which focuses on multiplication and division, number sentences and algebra.  This is a longer unit and it will take us some time to get through it.  Please help your child by practicing multiplication and division facts at home.

Social Studies-
We have started our Social Studies unit on maps and globes.  Students will be expected to know...

Why do we use maps?
How are maps and globes different?
What are the tools that are used to help read maps and globes ? (map key, etc.)
How do we figure out the distance from one place to another ? (map scale)
What are the cardinal and intermediate directions?

Have a great week!  Make sure to check the individual teacher blogs to see updates for each specific class!

 Upcoming School Events - Mark Your Calendars!

ELL Parent Night - Monday, October 3rd 7:00PM

All ELL parents are invited to an ELL information night hosted by our ELL teacher Emily Lundeen.  This is your opportunity to hear an overview of the program and ask questions. 

Family Self-Defense Night- Wednesday, Oct. 5th 6:30-8:30 PM

The safety of our children is of great importance to all of us.  We do our best to keep them safe at home and school, but situations may arise that we cannot control.  These incidents can happen anywhere, at anytime, and with anyone.  It is not just an issue in the big cities or always a “stranger danger" attack.  Parents are often unsure of what to say to their young children and how much information they should provide to them.  Mrs. Andrews will provide an age appropriate, hands on self-defense workshop in which you may participate with your family. We will be practicing physical defenses, so please have your child wear comfortable clothing and safe gym shoes.  Older siblings and all family members are encouraged to participate.  Permission slips have been sent home, but additional permission slips are available in the office and from Mrs. Andrews. The number of participants will be limited due to safety and space issues, so be sure to return the slip promptly. 
Go to Mrs. Andrew's blog for more information.

Picture Day- Thursday, October 6th

Have your student bring their best "smile"

Reflections Entries Due Friday October 7th 

For students choosing to participate in the PTA Reflections program this year entitled "Diversity means..."  the submissions are due 10/7.  The PTA is hoping for 100 entries.


NO SCHOOL MONDAY 10/10
NOON DISMISSAL ON
WEDNESDAY 10/12

Family Reading Night - Thursday, October 11th  6:15- 7:45PM

Focusing on the 2nd - 5th Grade Reader

"Reading is for Meaning"

The purpose of this evening is to be introduced to the different stages of reading and to understand that reading goes beyond word recognition.  The primary focus will be on Newly Fluent and Truly Fluent readers through exploring text complexity in the various genres of literature.  Matching readers to text that supports interactive and engaged reading is an important part of building student comprehension.  Plan to come and attend 3 different breakout sessions throughout the evening.  Registration is required and a form was sent home on Friday 9/30. 

Go to Mrs. Denicolo's blog for more information. 

Together, We Can Make a Difference!  

FYI - Updated Snack Policy - Due to the number of spills Mr. Boyle has had to clean up throughout the school, we are going to have to make an adjustment to our snack policy.  Students may drink water only in the classroom and need to limit their snacks to finger food only.  Unfortunately, spilling fruit cups, squirting yogurt and leaky juice boxes make for a sticky mess  on our carpeted classroom floors. Please send a healthy snack that cannot spill in anyway.  Good options are vegetables, crackers, pretzels, cheese and whole fruit. The third grade teachers will be adhering to this rule. If your child does bring a "messy" snack they will not be allowed to eat it until lunch. 

Now, here's what's happening in third grade's neck of the woods.

Citizenship 

We have been discussing the  4 steps of Conflict Resolution.  We have already learned that ...

1. Talking through a problem is better than ignoring it or fighting. 

2. When you are angry or upset, it's better to stop and cool off before confronting someone.

3.  It's best to talk it out using "I" messages  

The last lesson in this model is listening during a conflict situation.  Students will learn that it's important to really listen to the other person's point -of -view and feelings.  They will learn techniques to become better listeners.  We will review all 4 steps the following week.

Reading -

Week of 10/3-10/7

As we move into a new month we will be focusing on the genre of "Fantasy".  Fantasy is something that could never happen it real life (ex. talking animals, dragons and make believe).  The first story in this genre is Little Grunt and the Big Egg by Tomie DePaola.  The story is about how life changes in the Grunt tribe when a baby dinosaur hatches from the huge egg that Little Grunt drags home for brunch.

Vocabulary -  omelet, brunch, peaceful, escape, erupting, lava

The reading strategy this week is Self-Questioning. When good readers come across a part of a story they find confusing, they ask themselves a question to try to clear up the confusion.  Self-questioning about word relationships can help the reader gain a deeper understanding of how and why an author uses certain words in a story.  There will be a comprehension quiz on this story Thursday, October 6th.


Weeks of 10/10 and 10/17 
For these two weeks the students will be working on BATS!  What a great time to look more closely at the only flying mammals.  We will begin our study comparing and contrasting fantasy (fiction) and reality (non-fiction).  First, we start by reading the beloved classic Stellaluna by Janell Cannon.  The we move on the Zipping, Zapping, Zooming Bats by Ann Earle,  This an informative non-fiction piece about bats.   We will be doing some activities with both books and finishing off our study with BAT RESEARCH!  Students will create a bat a poster including the bat facts they learned.  We will also be discussing the difference between facts and opinions during this time.  What your opinion of bats?

Our School - Wide Reading Incentive has begun.  Check the tab on top labeled "Reading Stars"  for more details.  Start reading!

Grammar-
We are finishing up  learning about the 4 types of sentences and moving into learning about synonyms and antonyms.  Synonyms are words the have similar meaning

Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings.Below are some fun sites  to help the students practice.

Synonym Sam's Lab

Synonyms EZ Match
Same Difference - Antonyms and Synonyms
Antonyms Millionaire
Opposites Train Game
Antonym Match

Spelling-
Week of 10/3-10/7 List #5, Test Friday 10/7
Week of 10/10-10/14 - NO TEST


Writing-
During the month of October, the students will be learning how to write well-developed paragraphs.  The learning targets for the month are..

1.What do good paragraphs look like?

2.What are main ideas and details?

3.What is elaboration?

4.What is an ending sentence?

5.What does it mean to indent?

6.How do you use a graphic organizer to brainstorm ideas?

We will start our unit with immersion.  This means the students will be shown multiple examples of good paragraphs.  In this close study the students will be looking for things paragraphs have in common. Students will learn that a paragraph is a group of sentences that have to do with a particular topic.  Good paragraphs have a main idea that is supported by details and elaboration. 


Math -
Third Grade-
We will continue with Unit 2 working on number stories and multi-digit addition and subtraction problems.  The study guide for Unit 2 will go home Thursday Oct. 13 and be reviewed on Tuesday, Oct. 18.  The Unit 2 math test will Wed. Oct. 19th .
Accelerated Math -

The Unit 2 study guide will be coming home on Monday, October 3rd and will be due on Thursday, October 6th.  The test will be Friday, October 7th.  We will begin Unit 3 after Columbus Day.  Unit 3 focuses on multiplication and division.


Science -
This week we will finish up our unit on the human Body.  A study guide will go home on Monday. This guide is to help the students review the material presented in class.  Students should continue to practice the scientific names of the bones.  The Bones and Muscles test will be Friday, October 7th. 


Social Studies-
We will begin our new Social Studies unit on maps and globes.  Students will be expected to know...


Why do we use maps?
How are maps and globes different?
What are the tools that are used to help read maps and globes ? (map key, etc.)
How do we figure out the distance from one place to another ? (map scale)
What are the cardinal and intermediate directions?

That's about it for the next two weeks.  Make sure to check individual 
classroom blogs for specific classroom information.