Week of 4/29-5/3/13

Hello!

The sun is out, the temperature is warmer....it's gorgeous out there!

This week we were able to write the first paragraph for our literary essays.  This first paragraph had the kids using examples from their book choices to support their thesis statements.  This sounds like a pretty easy task to us adults, but it can be a complex task for the kids.  Many were able to name the theme or lesson learned, but struggled a bit when pinpointing exact moments in the book that showed an example of that theme/lesson learned.  It was a process, but we all made it through with a completed rough draft of the first support paragraph!!  Phew!  Next week, the kids will be writing their second support paragraph which will be a personal connection they made to the theme/lesson learned!

Some book clubs finished up their humor books this week.  When a group finishes a text, they then talk about the whole text as a group and then individually take an AR quiz.  If there final score is below 80%, they are required to go back into the book, reread areas where they missed a question, discuss any areas of confusion with other groups members, and attempt the quiz again.

Reminders:

• If you would like to make a donation for our classroom raffle basket, you may hand your donation directly to Natalie Garrett at morning drop off.  If you are unable to be a morning drop-off, you can send your donation in with your child and together we will make sure it gets to Natalie!!  Thanks!
• Permission slips for our field trip to Greenfield Village went out on Thursday.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.  Permission slips and money are due by Monday, May 13th!

Have a great weekend, everyone!!

Week of 4/22-4/26/13

Happy Friday Families!

I hope you are enjoying this beautiful day and sunshine as much as we are!!  Here are some things we worked on this week:

Math - We finished up our fraction unit in math and used these past four days to really review the basics for our assessment that was completed today.  This unit was a difficult one for many of the students.  Fractions itself is not new, but comparing them, finding equivalent fractions, finding fractions of time and money, etc., was new.  In time, when working with fractions becomes more relevant to the kids, the concept of fractions and what they represent will become more meaningful!  This unit was a great introduction to deeper fraction-thinking! : )

Reading - The kids are really enjoying their humor books and meeting with their book clubs.  Each day, after the read aloud and mini-lesson, the book club members meet, share any funny parts that stood out to them, make a reading goal, and then they read.  When they are reading from their book club book, the students have the choice of either reading with their group or independently.  Feel free to ask your child about their humor book!!

Writing - There were a few last minute book choice changes at the beginning of this week!  Many students were realizing that they were unable to create an essay using the book they originally chose.  We focused our attention on creating our thesis statement, the springboard of our entire essay.  After writing these statements, the kids went through their books and looked for examples from the story that would support their thesis statement.  Next week, we will begin writing our supporting paragraphs.

I hope everyone had a wonderful week!  Enjoy the weekend, enjoy the sunshine!!

Week of 4/15-4/19

Hello Families!

Along with a few curriculum beginnings this week, we also began a countdown chain.  On Monday we had 42 days left of school, on Tuesday each student decorated two chains and I made a classroom link.  Each morning we tear off a piece of the chain and watch it get shorter.  Today was 38 more days left!!  Wow!

In reading, we began our humor unit.  I have begun to read Oggie Cooder to the kids.  Each day we talk about what parts we found funny, why, and how to mark spots in the book that we would like to share with friends.  On Monday, the kids will be getting their book club book.  They will read a certain amount of chapters or pages that the group has agreed on, mark the funny areas they want to share, and then share and talk about the book when they meet.

In writing, we are beginning literary essays.  The students are going to be expected to take a character quality or theme/lesson learned in a book of their choice, create a thesis statement, and be able to pull examples from the book to support the thesis statement.  This week I read to the students my book choice.  After the read aloud, we talked about what themes could be pulled from the story.  I told them what theme I chose to write about and why.  Over the next two days, the students poured through MANY picture books looking for their "perfect" book to write an essay on.  We will officially begin writing on Monday!

In math we continued studying fractions; equivalent fractions, comparing them, mixed numbers, and using fractions in story problems and solving them.  This has been a challenging unit for many of the students, so we will continue practicing right up to the Unit 8 test on Friday the 26th.

Have a wonderful weekend!

4/8-4/12

Happy Friday Families!

We had a busy week back from break.  On Monday we quickly fell back into our routine and were able to get a lot done!  Here is a snapshot of what we did this week:

Reading:
The kids have been enjoying their fantasy novels and meeting with their book clubs to discuss what is happening in their books.
Next week, we will begin our humor unit and I will be reading Oggie Cooder by Sarah Weeks as the class read aloud.  I have been enjoying all of our units of study in reading and I cannot wait to begin humor!

Writing:
This week, any students who had not finished their animal research papers were given time each day to finish up and get it turned in.  Today was the final due date and we are ready to move on!
The next unit we are focusing our attention on is Literary Essays.  This type of writing can prove to be quite challenging for third graders.  We will walk through this process together; I will be modeling and providing samples, the students will be reading, investigating characters they can empathize with, and will begin building their essays.
This will be a great introduction to a writing unit they will revisit again in 4th grade!

Math:
Monday began Unit 8, in which we are taking a close look at fractions; naming the parts of fractions, looking at them on the number line, finding equivalent fractions, and comparing them.  We also did a fun experiment that helped students begin to understand probability, chance, and making predictions based on "random draws".

Reminder:
*On Monday the 15th, we will be taking the Smarter Balanced training test and on Monday the 22nd, we will be taking the S.B. pilot test.  Both tests will begin by 8:30 a.m. both days.

Have a great weekend!

Week of 3/11-3/15

Hello!

Our animal research papers are well under way.  The third graders have turned three pages of information into the beginning three paragraphs of their paper.  You can see that all the students are taking what they know about paragraph writing and what they learned during our essay unit and are using it in their new pieces.  It's amazing how much we all are learning about all these animals, too!

In math we are still focusing on seeing patterns in multiplication and seeing the relationship between multiplication and division.  We learned about grouping numbers in parentheses [5+(6*3)] and how adding zeros to the factors effects the product (ex. 2*3=6, 20*3=60, 200*3= 600, etc.).  Next we should be testing on Unit 7 by Friday.

During read aloud, we have been looking into the genre of fantasy.  I read "Dragon Slayers Academy: The New Kid in School" to the kids this week and after the story talked about what makes it a fantasy and how it's different from other genres.  This coming week we are going to be reading the second book in the same series!  The kids are really enjoying this genre!

Reminders:

-Conferences are coming up this week on the 20th and 21st.  I have emailed every parent with a time/date confirmation.  If you did not receive an email, I did not receive your conference request sheet.  Please fill that out and return it to school so that we can schedule a time to meet!

-Our field trip is coming up on Wednesday, March 27th to the Detroit Historical Museum.  All permission slips and payment were collected and we are ready to go!!

Have a great weekend!!

Week of 3/4-3/8

Hello Families!

Our animal research projects are well under way!  We spent this week entering important information about our selected animals into our research packets.  Your child will be bringing the packet home this weekend to continue their research, if needed.  This packet needs to come back to school!  The students will be taking the information they gathered and will use it to create an animal research essay paper.  During the next coming weeks, I will be walking the kids through the process of taking the information they wrote in their packets and turning each page/topic into a paragraph!  It will be loads of fun and the kids will feel a huge sense of accomplishment when all is said and done!

In math we have moved on to looking more closely at multiplication and division!  So far the unit has been fun!  We have learned how to play Multiplication Bingo and have been figuring out multiplication puzzles, both a great and entertaining way to practice our facts!

*Reminders*

• Our first field trip is coming up on Wednesday, March 27th!  Permission slips and payment are due this Monday, March 11th!  The museum needs to be paid two weeks prior to the trip, so it is extremely important we get everything in by Monday!  Thank you in advance!
• Wednesday, March 20th and Thursday, March 21st are the dates for spring conferences!  If you have not sent in your availability yet, please do so by Wednesday, March 13th.  I look forward to meeting with all of you!
• Beginning this Monday, all students will have a weekly behavior chart in their organizers.  At the end of each day, I will simply put a star on whichever area of the chart best describes their day: had a good day, had an "okay" day, or did not have a good day.  If ever the last box is starred, it will be followed with a brief description of the day's behavior(s). 

I hope that everyone has an enjoyable weekend!

Happy Monday!

We have many new beginnings happening in the classroom this week!  Today we are taking out Unit 6 Assessment and will begin Unit 7 tomorrow.  In Unit 7 we will be exploring multiplication and division, patterns, fact practice, seeing multiplication in parentheses, etc.

Today also begins our big animal research unit.  This project covers curriculum in writing (research), reading (non-fiction), and science (animal adaptations).  We are beginning our research this week and will be working on putting a research essay paper together after gathering information.  Near the end of this process, we will be sending a note home about an at home project to wrap-up all of their hard work!!

We are also continuing our Early Michigan history unit in Social Studies!  We are taking a look at the French voyageurs and the British, who made Michigan their home and what they brought over from their countries.

Thank you to those of you who have already turned in your conference sign-up sheets.  For those who haven't, please make sure they are turned in by Wednesday, March 13th.

Coming home today is a letter and permission slip informing you about our upcoming field trip to the Detroit Historical Museum!!  The field trip is on the 27th of this month.  Permission slips and payment are due together on or before Monday, March 11th.  Full payment to the museum needs to be handed in two weeks prior to the field trip.

Enjoy your week!