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!!
Friday, April 26, 2013
Friday, April 19, 2013
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!
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!
Friday, April 12, 2013
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!
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!
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