2013 ~ 2014
Congratulations to you all for making it through your fourth grade year at your new schools! While it may have been hard for you to move to a new school, I hope that you have walked away from this school year with new friends and great memories. I spent this year working at both Hoover and Hamilton Elementary Schools, and I spend a couple months home with our new baby boy, Ashton Thomas Bieger! I will share a couple of pictures below. I hope you all have a wonderful summer... you are on your way to becoming FIFTH GRADERS! Wow! Feel free to keep using the blog to keep in touch if you would like.
2012 ~ 2013
Week Thirty-Six ~ May 27-31 ~ The Zoo and The Great Kapok Tree
Week Thirty-Five ~ May 20-24 ~ Researching the Rainforest
Researching Rainforest Animals
This week, our third graders have become immersed in the rainforest. We have read several books together that explore the layers, animals, plants and people of the rainforest. They are learning about why it is important to save these threatened areas of our world. Each student has selected four plants or animals (one in each layer), and has spent the week researching to find the adaptations for the plants/animals. The rainforest project is due Monday, June 2. We have been practicing for our Reader's Theater performance of The Great Kapok Tree. We hope that you can join us on Thursday, May 30 for this presentation! We are also looking forward to our field trip to the Buffalo Zoo next Wednesday, May 29th.
Multiplication facts are our major focus, as we are striving for all students to complete 100 multiplication facts in five minutes. Ask your child how many facts he/she is currently solving in five minutes, and keep practicing facts at home. Students who reach 100 in five minutes work to solve Logic Links at the back table during the multiplication fact tests. The kids are excited to see their numbers go up, and have asked me if we can keep doing the tests all next week! We will not have a spelling list next week due to the short week, as well as our various in-school events that may take away from word study practice in school.
Multiplication facts are our major focus, as we are striving for all students to complete 100 multiplication facts in five minutes. Ask your child how many facts he/she is currently solving in five minutes, and keep practicing facts at home. Students who reach 100 in five minutes work to solve Logic Links at the back table during the multiplication fact tests. The kids are excited to see their numbers go up, and have asked me if we can keep doing the tests all next week! We will not have a spelling list next week due to the short week, as well as our various in-school events that may take away from word study practice in school.
Week Thirty-Four ~ May 13-17 ~ Discovering States of Matter
Science Experiments are Fun
Now that students understand the three states of matter, we experimented with ways to change matter into different states. We had a great deal of fun making predictions, taking notes and observing various scientific materials as we noted the changes from solid to liquid, liquid to solid, etc. Our third graders published their area of interest about China, and taught their classmates what they learned using PowerPoints, reports, SmartArt charts, and written books. They did a fantastic job! In Math, we are focusing in on multiplication facts. Students spent the week playing games for fact practice, and took another five minute 100 fact test. All students should complete 100 facts in five minutes by the end of the year. We started to learn about the rainforest this week. Using maps, students practiced their geography skills by locating the various rainforests across the globe. We read many books introducing the layers and wildlife located in each layer of the rainforest. We will continue our focus on the rainforest for the next few weeks of school.
Week Thirty-Three ~ May 6 - May 10 ~ Informational Writing
Kids Made My Birthday Special!
Our third graders are learning to publish writing of learned information. They have each chosen a topic about China that they are interested in. Once they chose this topic, all students began to research this topic of interest in greater depth. Some topic choices in our room include Festivals, The Great Wall of China, The Forbidden City, The Terra Cotta Army, and The Silk Road. Students are taking notes from books and websites, and will then synthesize this information into their own publication. The kids in 212 will teach each other about what they have learned by presenting their publication at the end of next week.
On Thursday, all students had the opportunity to visit their new school for next year. While most students were nervous Thursday morning, they came back excited and less anxious after having the opportunity to tour their new building. I had the students write about this experience on Thursday night to ensure that they shared their day with the family at home. I am trying my best to make this process as smooth and comfortable as possible for the kids.
In Science, we have learned about the three states of matter; solid, liquid or gas. We had fun identifying these states of matter around the school. In Math, we have reviewed multidigit operations, particularly three-digit subtraction problems. We worked with the calendar, and I introduced the concept of Roman Numerals. Next week, I will reinforce time and measurement, and we will move on to solidify multiplication facts. We are continuing to learn our cursive letters, and we shared why our mothers are so wonderful with each other. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, by Judy Blume, is our current class read aloud, and we are enjoying the funny stories in each chapter! I hope that all the moms have a wonderful Mother's Day! I was lucky enough to celebrate my birthday with my class on Friday this week, and they were so kind and thoughtful. Spending the day with such a great group of kids made my day extra special.
On Thursday, all students had the opportunity to visit their new school for next year. While most students were nervous Thursday morning, they came back excited and less anxious after having the opportunity to tour their new building. I had the students write about this experience on Thursday night to ensure that they shared their day with the family at home. I am trying my best to make this process as smooth and comfortable as possible for the kids.
In Science, we have learned about the three states of matter; solid, liquid or gas. We had fun identifying these states of matter around the school. In Math, we have reviewed multidigit operations, particularly three-digit subtraction problems. We worked with the calendar, and I introduced the concept of Roman Numerals. Next week, I will reinforce time and measurement, and we will move on to solidify multiplication facts. We are continuing to learn our cursive letters, and we shared why our mothers are so wonderful with each other. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, by Judy Blume, is our current class read aloud, and we are enjoying the funny stories in each chapter! I hope that all the moms have a wonderful Mother's Day! I was lucky enough to celebrate my birthday with my class on Friday this week, and they were so kind and thoughtful. Spending the day with such a great group of kids made my day extra special.
Week Thirty-Two ~ April 29 - May 2 ~ Having Fun at the Chopsticks Olympics!
Week Thirty-One ~ April 22-26 ~ Chinese Culture and History
Chinese Calligraphy
Once again, our students showed such incredible work ethic while taking state tests this week. While the test was long, our students met the challenges and tried their very best. We spent three days taking the NYS Math Test, but the learning continued in Room 212 throughout the week! Our students had many opportunities to create hands-on projects that incorporate important aspects of Chinese Culture. We read a story about the endangered Panda Bear in China, as well as Empress Dowager Cixi, the last Empress who ruled China in the 1800's. Students have had the opportunity to explore more information about China on our class website. We spent time practicing how to show our work and explain our thinking in mathematical problems.
It has been very nice meeting with families for Spring Conferences over the past few weeks. As the school year continues to move towards June, we have many exciting events to look forward to, such as our Chopsticks Olympics on May 2, Intake School Visits on May 9, and our Third Grade Field Trip to the Buffalo Zoo on May 29th. More information about chaperoning the Field Trip will be coming home soon!
It has been very nice meeting with families for Spring Conferences over the past few weeks. As the school year continues to move towards June, we have many exciting events to look forward to, such as our Chopsticks Olympics on May 2, Intake School Visits on May 9, and our Third Grade Field Trip to the Buffalo Zoo on May 29th. More information about chaperoning the Field Trip will be coming home soon!
Week Thirty ~ April 15-19 ~ Chinese Geography
Finding China on the Globe
We started our unit on China this week! Students found China on the map, and located various cities, towns, and bodies of water located in and around this country. We learned to count to ten in Mandarin, and learned about Chinese New Year. Our third graders made Chinese Lanterns, an important part of the Chinese New Year celebration.
I was very proud of the hard work that our third graders put in to the New York State ELA Test this week. Our kids showed such perseverance and determination. We will continue state testing next week with the Math test, April 24-26.
I was very proud of the hard work that our third graders put in to the New York State ELA Test this week. Our kids showed such perseverance and determination. We will continue state testing next week with the Math test, April 24-26.
Week Twenty-Nine ~ April 8-12 ~ Getting Ready for State Tests
As I have been out sick this week, Miss Aris has worked with our students to help prepare them for what is to be expected from State Tests in the next couple of weeks. The NYS ELA test is April 16-18, and the NYS MATH test is April 24-26. Because of the shift in standards and increase in rigor, the state is projecting that state assessment scores will be possibly 30% lower. Please keep in mind that the state's purpose for these exams is to determine college and career readiness. State Commissioner King has produced videos for parents about the common core assessments, explaining the Common Core Standards and that state assessments are expected to be more challenging this year. You can visit engageny.org to view these videos. My hope is that our students do not worry or stress over these state tests. I have grown to know your children very well as learners, and I am looking forward to giving you a clear picture of their progress, accomplishments and current challenges during Spring Conferences. As always, you do not need to wait until our conference if there is an issue that you feel needs to be addressed. You can always contact me with any questions or concerns through email at [email protected], sending in a note, or calling before and after school at 874-8418.
Week Twenty-Eight ~ March 25-28 ~ The Living Hallway
Thank you to all who attended our Living Hallway! It was fun for the students to have a different audience to share facts about the person that he/she learned about through reading a biography. I hope you all enjoyed their presentations, as well as the beautiful desert projects. Have a great vacation!
Week Twenty-Seven ~ March 18-22 ~ Fraction Action
Sorting Seeds
We were lucky enough to enjoy a concert by the Buffalo Philharmonic at Kleinhan's Music Hall this week! We are so grateful that Mrs. Hasselback set up this wonderful experience for us. It was a great trip! Our third graders have been working very hard to understand fractions this week. Not only can our third graders identify and create visual representations of fractions, but they are learning to find equivalent fractions, as well as finding fractions on a numberline. We have been working with fractions strips, and drawing many different pictures to help solidify the understanding of fractions. In Science, we took a close look into the parts of a seed. We dissected several seeds, finding the seed coat, food, and embryo (tiny plant). We talked about the life cycle of the plant, and learned about various ways that seeds are scattered so that plants can continue to grow. Students examined and sorted various seeds, and chose a seed to experiment with. Each student will be observing a seed to watch and measure for growth. They made predictions about stems, roots, characteristics, and will be making daily observations to see if the predictions were correct. Mrs. Miller joined us this week, teaching us how to "Be Safe" and handle bullying situations. The kids in Room 212 have started writing a desert essay. They have learned the structure of the essay, and are currently drafting an informational piece based on their desert research. They will continue to work on this essay next week, editing and revising after completing the draft. Our students created the checklist of what is needed in the essay, and they will use this checklist to self-edit. Our biography cubes are complete, and students are putting their finishing touches on their Biography Posters. We hope that you can join us on Wednesday at 6 PM for our "Living Hallway of Biographies."
Week Twenty-Six ~ March 11-15 ~ Work Habits
Some students try Irish Dancing on stage!
Our focus this week has been on work habits. Whatever the task or activity, I have been encouraging the kids to independently do their best. We have talked about what good work habits look like in third grade (being motivated, showing persistance and not giving up, trying different solutions before asking for help, and putting forth best effort). I am trying to encourage students to take pride in their work habits, not because I want them to, but because I want THEM to be proud of their work. Students are finishing up their biography and desert research. At this point in the research, their work is self-directed, and they are learning to productively manage their time, while using research skills to find needed information. Rather than "spoon-feeding" and just giving them information, I am providing them with informative tools. Using these tools (encyclopedias, online resources, books, printouts, etc), they are seeking out sources, reading text, and pulling out important facts.
Next week, your child will bring home some research completed on his/her desert plant and animal. Students will use this research in class during the week to write an essay about the desert. This at-home copy can be used for reference for student to work on the at-home project.
As a reminder, the at-home portion of the project will be due on Monday, March 25th. Our third graders will create a rubric that will be used to assess their project. Students will then be aware of what is expected because they set the goals, and they will strive to meet them. Using their personal strengths, students should organize their time to display this research information in their creative way at home. I am looking forward to the results of your child’s creativity; the polar projects were wonderful and I have high expectations for the desert projects as well!
In Math, we started learning fractions. Our third graders are doing a great job identifying and shading fractions. Towards the end of the week, we learned about equivalent fractions. We will continue to work on this skill next week, and compare the value of fractions. Feel free to visit www.thinkcentral.com to see the workbook pages that we are completing in class. As mentioned earlier in the year, your child can access this resource at home. If your child is confused about homework, please send me a note rather than spending a great deal of time and frustration on the assignment. I will be working with small groups to help them better understand equivalence and comparison of fractions, a concept that can be confusing for third graders. Happy St. Patrick's Day! We were lucky to enjoy the Irish Dancers that performed for us on Friday, March 15th.
Next week, your child will bring home some research completed on his/her desert plant and animal. Students will use this research in class during the week to write an essay about the desert. This at-home copy can be used for reference for student to work on the at-home project.
As a reminder, the at-home portion of the project will be due on Monday, March 25th. Our third graders will create a rubric that will be used to assess their project. Students will then be aware of what is expected because they set the goals, and they will strive to meet them. Using their personal strengths, students should organize their time to display this research information in their creative way at home. I am looking forward to the results of your child’s creativity; the polar projects were wonderful and I have high expectations for the desert projects as well!
In Math, we started learning fractions. Our third graders are doing a great job identifying and shading fractions. Towards the end of the week, we learned about equivalent fractions. We will continue to work on this skill next week, and compare the value of fractions. Feel free to visit www.thinkcentral.com to see the workbook pages that we are completing in class. As mentioned earlier in the year, your child can access this resource at home. If your child is confused about homework, please send me a note rather than spending a great deal of time and frustration on the assignment. I will be working with small groups to help them better understand equivalence and comparison of fractions, a concept that can be confusing for third graders. Happy St. Patrick's Day! We were lucky to enjoy the Irish Dancers that performed for us on Friday, March 15th.
Week Twenty-Five ~ March 4-8 ~ Biographies
Looking at the parts of a flowering plant
Students have started to learn to manage their workload, as they are beginning to choose from options during our Reading Workshop time. Some are reading their biographies, while others might be researching the root type of their desert plant. One student might be reading an independent book, another student watching a documentary on the laptop of the person he/she is researching, while another might be sorting spelling words by vowel pattern with a spelling partner. The kids take ownership of their work, knowing what they need to complete. I may be reading with a small group, or moving from student to student, offering support, giving feedback, guidance, and challenges. Checklists are posted for students to use when they complete tasks. At the end of our Reading Workshop time, we sit around the perimeter of the rug, and the kids share out what they worked on/learned during this time. They have become very independent, productive thinkers and workers. They are learning to prioritize what needs to be completed, and sharing their completed work with friends. I am trying to teach our third graders about setting goals, and allowing them to manage their time to meet their goals; skills that they will use throughout their lives. By the end of the week, students were completing biographies, completing biography book reports, and finishing up their desert research. They are gathering the information needed to create a poster and bio-cube next week, as well as the start of a desert essay.
Week Twenty-Four ~ February 25 - March 1 ~ Into the Desert
Science experiment
We are back from February Break in full swing! March brings our Desert Unit in Social Studies, Biography Unit in Reading, Informational Writing, and Plants Unit in Science. We have completed Unit Five in Math. While we will continue to push on with Time, Elasped Time, Fractions and Decimals, it is important that students continue to practice two-step problems. This is a concept that requires careful reading and thinking. I am happy to send home any additional resources or practice sheets if you are interested.
Please read the attached documents that were sent home with your child this week. We are looking forward to a month full of learning and fun in March! Remember to save the date: March 27th will be a special evening for 3rd graders to bring their families and show off their Biography project (completed in school) and Desert project (completed at home, due March 25th). Thank you!
Please read the attached documents that were sent home with your child this week. We are looking forward to a month full of learning and fun in March! Remember to save the date: March 27th will be a special evening for 3rd graders to bring their families and show off their Biography project (completed in school) and Desert project (completed at home, due March 25th). Thank you!
march_letter.docx | |
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desert_project_planning.doc | |
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File Type: | doc |
Week Twenty-Three ~ February 11-15 ~ Celebrating Friendship
Our Wonderful Class
Valentine's Day is a wonderful time to celebrate the great friends in our lives. Our third graders took the time to share valentines and complements with each other during our very special Valentine's Day. Thank you to the parents who contributed to the party, and to those who joined us to make our day enjoyable.
We were very busy in math this week, working on solving multi-step word problems. These math problems require very careful reading skills. Thank you for your assistance at home. We will continue to work on these problems together throughout the school year. We spent the second half of the week working with data, displaying and interpreting pictographs and bar graphs. Once students practiced these skills, they chose their own topic, surveyed classmates, and graphed the results. On Valentine's Day, our third graders received 15 candy hearts, tallied the color distribution data, and displayed the results in a bar graph. We started Mystery Book Clubs this week. Our third graders learned mystery vocabulary such a sleuth, suspect, alibi, and then applied the vocabulary to the mystery that they are reading. Students may complete their mystery book over vacation. We completed our Polar Unit this week as we enjoyed the remainder of our polar projects. It was so much fun, and we look forward to exploring a new ecosystem when we return from February Break - the desert!
We were very busy in math this week, working on solving multi-step word problems. These math problems require very careful reading skills. Thank you for your assistance at home. We will continue to work on these problems together throughout the school year. We spent the second half of the week working with data, displaying and interpreting pictographs and bar graphs. Once students practiced these skills, they chose their own topic, surveyed classmates, and graphed the results. On Valentine's Day, our third graders received 15 candy hearts, tallied the color distribution data, and displayed the results in a bar graph. We started Mystery Book Clubs this week. Our third graders learned mystery vocabulary such a sleuth, suspect, alibi, and then applied the vocabulary to the mystery that they are reading. Students may complete their mystery book over vacation. We completed our Polar Unit this week as we enjoyed the remainder of our polar projects. It was so much fun, and we look forward to exploring a new ecosystem when we return from February Break - the desert!
Week Twenty-Two ~ February 4-8 ~ O Canada
This week, we added a new stamp to our passports as we "entered" the country of Canada. Our third graders have been learning about the geography of Canada, labeling maps and using latitude and longitude skills to locate cities. In small groups, students read about Nunavut, a new Territory of the Inuit people. We will continue to learn more about the Inuit culture next week, and explore how these people survived in the polar environment for thousands of years before Europeans entered and changed their way of life. Our students brainstormed many questions about Canada, and will dive deep into non-fiction text next week to attempt to find answers to their many questions.
We reviewed rounding to the nearest ten and the nearest hundred this week. We have also been working on solving word problems in math. I always encourage students to underline the important numerical information in the problem, and to circle the question being asked. These were important skills to use this week, as some problems included too much information, while others did not present enough to answer the question. This kind of problem solving requires very careful reading.
The polar projects are absolutely outstanding! I am so impressed with the effort that all of our students put into this project. They are having a great deal of fun sharing their PowerPoints and projects with each other. I will be sending a note home for those families interested getting a copy of the PowerPoint through email.
Thank you to Mrs. Walker for arranging activities for our Valentine's Day Party! We will be celebrating the friendships in our class by exchanging Valentines on Thursday, February 14th. There will be fun activities to follow. Please be sure that your child comes to school with a Valentine for each classmate. Next week's spelling words will be a fun list - they will need to learn how to spell the names of their friends! Completing their Valentines will allow for spelling practice one night of the week!
We reviewed rounding to the nearest ten and the nearest hundred this week. We have also been working on solving word problems in math. I always encourage students to underline the important numerical information in the problem, and to circle the question being asked. These were important skills to use this week, as some problems included too much information, while others did not present enough to answer the question. This kind of problem solving requires very careful reading.
The polar projects are absolutely outstanding! I am so impressed with the effort that all of our students put into this project. They are having a great deal of fun sharing their PowerPoints and projects with each other. I will be sending a note home for those families interested getting a copy of the PowerPoint through email.
Thank you to Mrs. Walker for arranging activities for our Valentine's Day Party! We will be celebrating the friendships in our class by exchanging Valentines on Thursday, February 14th. There will be fun activities to follow. Please be sure that your child comes to school with a Valentine for each classmate. Next week's spelling words will be a fun list - they will need to learn how to spell the names of their friends! Completing their Valentines will allow for spelling practice one night of the week!
Week Twenty-One ~ January 28-February 1 ~ Arctic Communities
Playing Math Games to Practice Multiplication
Our students learned about Arctic Communities this week, and discussed the similarities and differences in our community. We took a closer look into the vocabulary of population, community, habitat and ecosystem. Students practiced their opinion writing skills, evaluating whether or not they would like to live in an Arctic Community. We have finished our Life Science Unit on animals and how they live and adapt to their environment. Our Polar Test will be next Thursday, and our third graders completed a study sheet to help them remember the concepts and vocabulary that we have learned. This test combines information from our Science and Social Studies curriculum. We completed Unit Nine in math. Although we are going to take a break from multiplication instruction, students should still practice math facts at home to become proficient in skills. This can be done through games, such as Multiplication Top-It or Fastt Math. I look forward to meeting with parents next Monday at 6:00 PM for a Third Grade Informational Meeting. Please contact me if you are unavailable to attend. I will send home information with children, but I would like to help explain the Common Core Learning Standards Shift and what can be expected on this year's State Tests.
Week Twenty ~ January 22-25 ~ Animal Adaptations
Thinking about Food Chains
This week, we focused on the many adaptations that animals use to survive in their habitat. After reading and learning about many animal adaptations, each student focused on his/her own animal research, and identified at least one way that the polar animal adapts to it's harsh, cold environment. Our third graders learned how to use Microsoft PowerPoint, and they have started to use their polar research findings to create a Polar Animal PowerPoint Presentation that they will share with the class. We are working on finding facts of information within written passages, identifying the main idea, and writing in complete sentences. In Math, we focused on the 7 fact families, and worked through many comparison word problems. Students are learning to choose the method that works best for them to solve math problems. Some are drawing pictures, and some are writing out equations. They are welcome to do whatever works best, as long as they can show their work to explain how they got the answer.
Week Nineteen ~ January 14-18 ~ Who Eats Who?
"The Store Is Open" During Free Time
We have been diving deep into our Science Life Science Unit this week. Our third graders have learned about food chains, and how one species has an effect on all others in its ecosystem. Students found the place for their animal in the polar food chain, finding their animals' predators and prey. After reading a story about the polar food chain, we learned that living things are producers and consumers, and discussed the three types of consumers: carnivores, omnivores and herbivores.
Each student had a spelling partner this week, sharing a list with similar word study goals. We currently have six different lists in the room, focusing on individual spelling needs. Students worked in pairs on word sorts, discovering word meaning, and writing sentences with words as part of word study practice this week. On Friday, each student took at turn giving their buddy his/her spelling test. The results were very promising! Great job, kids!
We are back to multiplication with Unit Nine in our Math Program. We focused on 6 and 8 facts this week, and identified what strategy we used to solve word problems (array, area or repeated groups). Thank you for your help learning multiplication facts at home, as we are practicing them each day at school.
On Friday, we had a beautiful conversation about the world in which we live. I read the class a story about Martin Luther King, Jr., and they had wonderful thoughts and insights about how far we have come in our society, and what still needs to change. Our kids shared their own touching dreams for the world. Ask your child his/her thoughts about civil rights, equality, and today's society. I believe our conversation would have continued on for much longer if we had not run out of time! Friday afternoon brought us the Hill Brothers, as we kicked off PARP. All students received their PARP packets at home. Thank you for reading with your child at home - it truly makes a difference in literacy progress!
Each student had a spelling partner this week, sharing a list with similar word study goals. We currently have six different lists in the room, focusing on individual spelling needs. Students worked in pairs on word sorts, discovering word meaning, and writing sentences with words as part of word study practice this week. On Friday, each student took at turn giving their buddy his/her spelling test. The results were very promising! Great job, kids!
We are back to multiplication with Unit Nine in our Math Program. We focused on 6 and 8 facts this week, and identified what strategy we used to solve word problems (array, area or repeated groups). Thank you for your help learning multiplication facts at home, as we are practicing them each day at school.
On Friday, we had a beautiful conversation about the world in which we live. I read the class a story about Martin Luther King, Jr., and they had wonderful thoughts and insights about how far we have come in our society, and what still needs to change. Our kids shared their own touching dreams for the world. Ask your child his/her thoughts about civil rights, equality, and today's society. I believe our conversation would have continued on for much longer if we had not run out of time! Friday afternoon brought us the Hill Brothers, as we kicked off PARP. All students received their PARP packets at home. Thank you for reading with your child at home - it truly makes a difference in literacy progress!
Week Eighteen ~ January 7-11 ~ Let the Research Begin!
Researching Polar Animals
We are excited about starting our polar research! In the library, Mrs. Grabenstatter and Mrs. Fink taught lessons introducing the skill of notetaking while researching, as well as citing the source. The students have been practicing this writing skill during Science and Social Studies lessons this week. We practiced taking notes as a whole class on animals, and some students created posters to display notes on the traits used to group different animals. On Thursday, our third graders used this new skill to take notes onto a research organizer using different references in the library. Our class will continue their animals next week using encyclopedias, non-fiction books and online resources. We have been learning a great deal about animal life cycles during Science, and students are applying this idea to find the life cycle of their specific animals. It was so wonderful for students to share their own life cycle with their friends. Thank you for your assistance at home with this fun project.
Writing has been a great deal of fun this week. We are working on an opinion writing piece about our favorite school lunches. Students are building on the hamburger paragraph by adding more adjectives to their writing, giving the paragraph "more beef." They are making a great deal of progress with structure and voice in their writing. When we publish these writing pieces, we will display them by the cafeteria for all of the Jefferson kids to enjoy. Thank you to our volunteers that came in to help us out this week. If you are free and would like to come in to assist with learning, or be a mystery reader, please let me know. Our door is always open!
Writing has been a great deal of fun this week. We are working on an opinion writing piece about our favorite school lunches. Students are building on the hamburger paragraph by adding more adjectives to their writing, giving the paragraph "more beef." They are making a great deal of progress with structure and voice in their writing. When we publish these writing pieces, we will display them by the cafeteria for all of the Jefferson kids to enjoy. Thank you to our volunteers that came in to help us out this week. If you are free and would like to come in to assist with learning, or be a mystery reader, please let me know. Our door is always open!
Week Seventeen ~ January 2-4 ~ Happy New Year!
Making Models of Backbones during Science
Happy New Year! Our third graders were happy to see each other as we returned to school Wednesday morning. We shared vacation stories during Morning Meeting, and then got right to work with our exciting curriculum. Our students are beginning their Polar Project, a fun activity that combines the Social Studies and Science curriculum. Students chose the polar animal that they will research, and will spend the next couple of weeks gathering information about their animals, both in the library and in the classroom. They will use this information to create a PowerPoint Presentation, as well as making a poster and diorama at home. This will be a fun and educational learning experience!
We talked about our New Year's Resolutions, and wrote about them during Writing Workshop. We then blogged about our New Year's Resolution on the Jefferson Website Blog. Your child can show you his/her resolution. Feel free to add yours to the blog as well!
In Science, we are learning how to classify animals. We learned about vertebrates and invertebrates, and students created a model of a backbone to get a better understanding of the vertebrate structure. They learned how the bone and cartilage work together to help the backbone bend, and watched a slide show of different invertebrates using their backbones. Students will apply this knowledge to classify their own polar animal.
In Math, students are revisiting Area and Perimeter. I realize that the homework sent home this week was difficult, and I apologize for any confusion or frustration that this may have caused your child. I was out sick the day this assignment was sent home, and didn't realize that most students were struggling with this concept. Please know that homework is just an extension of the day's learning. If students are struggling at home, I only want them to try their best and bring back what they can do. Homework should not be an hour long struggle, and should never cause tears. If homework causes your child to get incredibly upset, please put it back in the folder and let me know through a note or email. Overcoming challenges can give kids a sense of pride, but challenges causing that level of frustration will not help your child grow as a learner. I truly appreciate your help at home with your child, as I realize that this curriculum is difficult and moving quickly. I spoke to the class about this on Friday, and reminded them that they are allowed to make mistakes in our class, and I will not be angry about wrong answers as long as tried their best. Mistakes are how we learn! Wrong answers only mean that we need to reinforce the concept again at school. Thank you for your assistance with homework at home!
We talked about our New Year's Resolutions, and wrote about them during Writing Workshop. We then blogged about our New Year's Resolution on the Jefferson Website Blog. Your child can show you his/her resolution. Feel free to add yours to the blog as well!
In Science, we are learning how to classify animals. We learned about vertebrates and invertebrates, and students created a model of a backbone to get a better understanding of the vertebrate structure. They learned how the bone and cartilage work together to help the backbone bend, and watched a slide show of different invertebrates using their backbones. Students will apply this knowledge to classify their own polar animal.
In Math, students are revisiting Area and Perimeter. I realize that the homework sent home this week was difficult, and I apologize for any confusion or frustration that this may have caused your child. I was out sick the day this assignment was sent home, and didn't realize that most students were struggling with this concept. Please know that homework is just an extension of the day's learning. If students are struggling at home, I only want them to try their best and bring back what they can do. Homework should not be an hour long struggle, and should never cause tears. If homework causes your child to get incredibly upset, please put it back in the folder and let me know through a note or email. Overcoming challenges can give kids a sense of pride, but challenges causing that level of frustration will not help your child grow as a learner. I truly appreciate your help at home with your child, as I realize that this curriculum is difficult and moving quickly. I spoke to the class about this on Friday, and reminded them that they are allowed to make mistakes in our class, and I will not be angry about wrong answers as long as tried their best. Mistakes are how we learn! Wrong answers only mean that we need to reinforce the concept again at school. Thank you for your assistance with homework at home!
Week Sixteen ~ December 17-21 ~ The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
It's that wonderful time of year, when we all take a moment and think about what we can give others. Our third graders gave me such a wonderful gift when they presented me with a beautiful card that they created together, telling me about all of their random acts of kindness. In a time where there was such a tragedy in our country this past week, our students reminded me of the shining light that comes from within all children. Their sweet words about helping family members and treating others kindly made me proud of them, and and it made me smile. I will treasure that card forever.
Please know that the safety of your children is of the utmost importance to me. This week's news affected me greatly as a teacher and a parent. Be assured that our school takes safety drills seriously, and we are very prepared for any emergency. Monday morning brought upsetting conversation to Morning Meeting, as most children had heard the news. We did not dwell on the details. I told the kids that they can fight this kind of bad news with kindness. We will choose to focus on the positive energy in our classroom, and enjoy our time together in Room 212 at Jefferson. We wanted to do something to help, so we made snowflakes for the kids in Connecticut to add to a "Winter Wonderland" when they return to their new school in January. After quickly talking about our sad feelings and doing something meaningful and kind, we have moved on from this subject and have had a wonderful week together. You can enjoy our Holiday Pictures in the Photo Gallery.
We enjoyed our Holiday Party on Friday, our Secret Santa Exchange and our Holiday Sing-Along on Friday. Thank you to all parents who contributed or volunteered to make our week special! We continued to practice writing opinion paragraphs by writing book reviews. We worked through the steps of The Writing Process, and published our book reviews on Destiny Quest. We completed our unit on Geography in Math. This unit moved very fast, and I know the amount of vocabulary and level of difficulty was frustrating for many students. We will continue to work on these concepts later in the school year. I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday season, and enjoy this well-deserved break with your child. I look forward to hearing about all of their vacation adventures in the New Year. Happy Holidays!
Please know that the safety of your children is of the utmost importance to me. This week's news affected me greatly as a teacher and a parent. Be assured that our school takes safety drills seriously, and we are very prepared for any emergency. Monday morning brought upsetting conversation to Morning Meeting, as most children had heard the news. We did not dwell on the details. I told the kids that they can fight this kind of bad news with kindness. We will choose to focus on the positive energy in our classroom, and enjoy our time together in Room 212 at Jefferson. We wanted to do something to help, so we made snowflakes for the kids in Connecticut to add to a "Winter Wonderland" when they return to their new school in January. After quickly talking about our sad feelings and doing something meaningful and kind, we have moved on from this subject and have had a wonderful week together. You can enjoy our Holiday Pictures in the Photo Gallery.
We enjoyed our Holiday Party on Friday, our Secret Santa Exchange and our Holiday Sing-Along on Friday. Thank you to all parents who contributed or volunteered to make our week special! We continued to practice writing opinion paragraphs by writing book reviews. We worked through the steps of The Writing Process, and published our book reviews on Destiny Quest. We completed our unit on Geography in Math. This unit moved very fast, and I know the amount of vocabulary and level of difficulty was frustrating for many students. We will continue to work on these concepts later in the school year. I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday season, and enjoy this well-deserved break with your child. I look forward to hearing about all of their vacation adventures in the New Year. Happy Holidays!
Week Fifteen ~ December 10-14 ~ Geometry
Playground in December- I Spy Santa Claus!
Our Math Expressions program has focused on geometry. As stated in the Parent Letter sent home in the beginning of the week, this unit uses many vocabulary words that your child should be able to explain, and give examples to describe the meaning. These words include adjacent, parallel, perpendicular, quadrilateral and parallelogram. In Social Studies, we have talked about the history of Italy, and explored online resources that can be found on our Social Studies section of our class website. A message that we explored this week was "The Best Things In Life Aren't Things." Our third graders are getting very excited for the upcoming holidays! As a class, we wrote a holiday wish, but I challenged the kids to think bigger than items that they wished for under the tree. Many students wrote thoughtful, insightful words about their wishes for the world.
Week Fourteen ~ December 3-7 ~ Writing Our Opinions
We Love Mystery Readers!
This week, our third graders started a writing unit on opinion writing. We are learning how to not only write our opinions, but construct our paragraphs to reference text to back our opinions. Students are practicing the "hamburger" structure of a written paragraph. They begin with a topic sentence introducing the opinion, add at least three details for the "meat" of the paragraph, and complete it all with the closing sentence. This week, students read an article about adding 300 hours of school in New York State, and wrote their opinions about this idea. We will continue to practice and build on this skill over the next few weeks. Our word study practiced the use of irregular verbs. Students should now be able to identify nouns and verbs, and we are beginning to identify adjectives as well. We started a mini-unit on Italy in Social Studies this week, and explored the geography of this country. We will continue to explore the history, economy and culture of Italy over the next two weeks. Our third graders completed Unit 7 on Multiplication this week in Math, and came home with their Unit 7 Test on Friday. We will revisit multiplication, and complete the facts (learning 6, 7, and 8) later in the school year. We look forward to our Holiday Party next Thursday, December 20th. Please return the letter sent home if you are interested in volunteering or contributing towards our craft materials. Thank you!
Week Thirteen ~ November 26-30 ~ Exploring Different Climates
Learning About Climate Zones
Social Studies and Science merged this week, as we discovered trends in weather across geographic locations. Students learned about the different climate zones, and focused on one particular climate zone with a partner. Our third graders paired up with a friend from Mrs. Brydalski's class to create a poster describing a specific climate zone, such as tropical, temperate, desert or polar. Having background on these different climate zones will be helpful as we will begin to explore different countries in each region throughout the rest of the school year.
In Math, we have added 3's and 4's to our fact families. Please use the study sheets sent home to help your child practice facts. We have also learned about finding area using muliplication. Students identified character traits of characters in a series this week. They used knowledge of this character to write stories about what would happen next with that character after the book ends.
In Math, we have added 3's and 4's to our fact families. Please use the study sheets sent home to help your child practice facts. We have also learned about finding area using muliplication. Students identified character traits of characters in a series this week. They used knowledge of this character to write stories about what would happen next with that character after the book ends.
Week Twelve ~ November 19-21 ~ Feeling Thankful
Our third graders wrote wonderful thoughts about the many people and things they are thankful for in their lives. Enjoy the Thanksgiving Holiday!
Week Eleven ~ November 13-16 ~ Just the Facts
Helping our Book Buddies Make Turkeys
Our third graders have been working hard on learning their multiplication facts this week. Students should now be familiar with their 5, 2 and 10 facts. Thank you for practicing math facts with your child at home. It has been fun to see the published pieces that the students in 212 have produced. They have written wonderful stories about a "small moment" in their lives. We have continued on with our Book Clubs and our word study on homophones this week.
It has been a pleasure meeting with families this week for the first round of Fall Parent Teacher Conferences, and I look forward to meeting with the rest of our families next Monday. Please do not feel that conferences are the only time that we can discuss your child's progress; you are always free to call or email with any questions or concerns.
It has been a pleasure meeting with families this week for the first round of Fall Parent Teacher Conferences, and I look forward to meeting with the rest of our families next Monday. Please do not feel that conferences are the only time that we can discuss your child's progress; you are always free to call or email with any questions or concerns.
Week Ten ~ November 5-9 ~ Proud to be an American
"Take a Veteran to School Day"
Our Third Graders witnessed American History this week, as President Barack Obama was elected to a second term as President of the United States. On Monday, students learned a great deal about both candidates. They created a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the presidential contestants, and then cast a vote for their choice for president in our Jefferson "Kids Voting" Election. Just as the country voted, our student majority elected Obama as their choice for the next president. We watched President Obama's acceptance speech Wednesday morning, and discussed his ideas for the future of our nation's children. We continued to celebrate our freedom later in the week, as we recognized veterans in our annual Veteran's Day Assembly. This year, our school participated in "Take a Veteran to School Day," and four students from our class invited veterans to be a part of the ceremony.
We started Book Clubs as part of our Reading Workshop this week! In addition to independent reading, students will now meet with a few friends as part of Book Series Book Clubs. All students picked a book of interest, and they are learning how to read and discuss books together, with suggestions and guidance from me. Ask your child what book he/she is reading! We are typing away in the computer lab, learning word processing skills and putting the final touches on our narrative writing pieces. In Math, we are getting proficient with our 5 multiplication facts. Thanks to the "Homework Helper" for your efforts to practice these facts with your child at home. Our class learned how multiplication works with groups in number stories. We created arrays, and discovered division through grouping, ungrouping and sorting counters to solve number stories. I look forward to meeting with you all as Parent Teacher Conferences take place next week.
We started Book Clubs as part of our Reading Workshop this week! In addition to independent reading, students will now meet with a few friends as part of Book Series Book Clubs. All students picked a book of interest, and they are learning how to read and discuss books together, with suggestions and guidance from me. Ask your child what book he/she is reading! We are typing away in the computer lab, learning word processing skills and putting the final touches on our narrative writing pieces. In Math, we are getting proficient with our 5 multiplication facts. Thanks to the "Homework Helper" for your efforts to practice these facts with your child at home. Our class learned how multiplication works with groups in number stories. We created arrays, and discovered division through grouping, ungrouping and sorting counters to solve number stories. I look forward to meeting with you all as Parent Teacher Conferences take place next week.
Week Nine ~ October 29-November 2 ~ Stormy Weather
Measuring Wind Speed
Students experienced their first day off due to inclement weather this week. As we learn more about weather in Science, we took an in-depth look into hurricanes, how they form and the results they can bring about. Students learned about different tools that meteorologists use to predict weather. Our class tried out our own tools to measure wind speed outside on Monday, as we knew that Hurricane Sandy was heading north up the eastern coast. We were sad to learn about the destruction that this massive storm caused to so many people in our country.
With the election approaching, our class learned more about the presidential candidates, and the issues that are currently being debated in this campaign. Our third graders weighed in on their opinions, and wrote about what they would do if they were to run for president. We will continue to learn more about the candidates next Monday, as students will have their own opportunity to vote in school.
We completed our word problem unit in Math, and have moved on to basic multiplication facts. This week, we started with 5 facts. Thank you for being the "Homework Helper" at home, and assisting your child with the learning of these facts. In writing, we have finished our personal narrative drafts, and have been working with a writing partner on editing and revising. Our writing pieces will be published next week.
Thank you to the many families that donated money or volunteered their time to our Halloween Party! The kids had a great time. We are lucky to have so many supportive parents and friends to make these special days so enjoyable. Enjoy the pictures in our Photo Gallery!
With the election approaching, our class learned more about the presidential candidates, and the issues that are currently being debated in this campaign. Our third graders weighed in on their opinions, and wrote about what they would do if they were to run for president. We will continue to learn more about the candidates next Monday, as students will have their own opportunity to vote in school.
We completed our word problem unit in Math, and have moved on to basic multiplication facts. This week, we started with 5 facts. Thank you for being the "Homework Helper" at home, and assisting your child with the learning of these facts. In writing, we have finished our personal narrative drafts, and have been working with a writing partner on editing and revising. Our writing pieces will be published next week.
Thank you to the many families that donated money or volunteered their time to our Halloween Party! The kids had a great time. We are lucky to have so many supportive parents and friends to make these special days so enjoyable. Enjoy the pictures in our Photo Gallery!
Week Eight ~ October 22-26 ~ Water, Water Everywhere
Science Experiment - Freshwater and Saltwater
This has been a busy week in Room 212! We started our Earth Science Unit on Water this week. Our third graders took part in a whole class experiment, exploring where the world's freshwater and saltwater is found. They were surprised to discover what a small percentage of the world's water was fresh. Working with a buddy, the kids created posters to display uses of water, such as food and crops, drinking, industry, and electricity. Each group then used their poster to teach the class about their specific use of water. Check out our Photo Gallery to see our students in action. We moved on to the water cycle, and students reinacted the water cycle through song. Ask your child to sing The Water Cycle song for you! We read about the water cycle, watched a video on BrainPop Jr, and then created our own models of the water cycle. Throughout the week, the kids took part in an individual science experiement involving the water cycle. Each student put an ice cube in a cup, placed the cup in a bag, and taped the bag to the window. Students predicted what might happen, and then observed the contents of their bag for three days. Ask your child what happened!
As we continue to work on problem solving in math, we are now solving problems using multi-digit numbers. Students need to understand what the problem is asking, and we have been reading the problem CAREFULLY to make sure we solve correctly. Thank you for your assistance with this concept at home.
Thank you for taking part in our Red Ribbon Week! It was fun to wear different types of clothes each day to show our pride in being Drug-Free. Thank you to Mrs. Proto, for coming in and being our Mystery Reader this week. We loved your stories!
As we continue to work on problem solving in math, we are now solving problems using multi-digit numbers. Students need to understand what the problem is asking, and we have been reading the problem CAREFULLY to make sure we solve correctly. Thank you for your assistance with this concept at home.
Thank you for taking part in our Red Ribbon Week! It was fun to wear different types of clothes each day to show our pride in being Drug-Free. Thank you to Mrs. Proto, for coming in and being our Mystery Reader this week. We loved your stories!
Week Seven ~ October 15-19 ~ Climbing Math Mountain
Word Work with Friends
This week, we have been looking carefully at the organization of word problems in Math. Going one step at a time, we have been using the "Math Mountain" graphic organizers to help understand what the problem is asking us to do. We have also been reviewing number patterns, and have used Study Island and the clickers in our review.
Our Word Work this week focused on plural nouns. Students learned the rules for adding -s or -es to make singular nouns plural. In Writing Workshop, we learned about the difference between a "watermelon story" and a "seed story," and started to brainstorm small moments in our lives, "seeds" from the great big watermelon. Students started drafting small moments in their notebooks. We will continue to draft small moments next week. After finding locations with longitude, reviewing key, scale, and types of maps, students completed their Social Studies Map Skills Unit on Thursday.
The Third Grade Math SLO was administered on Wednesday, October 17th. The ELA SLO will be administered to our third graders on Monday, October 22nd.
Our Word Work this week focused on plural nouns. Students learned the rules for adding -s or -es to make singular nouns plural. In Writing Workshop, we learned about the difference between a "watermelon story" and a "seed story," and started to brainstorm small moments in our lives, "seeds" from the great big watermelon. Students started drafting small moments in their notebooks. We will continue to draft small moments next week. After finding locations with longitude, reviewing key, scale, and types of maps, students completed their Social Studies Map Skills Unit on Thursday.
The Third Grade Math SLO was administered on Wednesday, October 17th. The ELA SLO will be administered to our third graders on Monday, October 22nd.
Week Six ~ October 9-12 ~ Addition and Subtraction Masters
Creating a Compass Rose
Our third graders have been working hard solving multi-digit addition and subtraction problems, as well as solving and creating word problems that require these equations. We had so much fun playing with "clickers" in our classroom on Study Island. This fun toy makes practicing math skills feel like a video game. We completed our first unit in Math on Thursday, and will begin a new unit of study next week. Your child should now be able to add and subtract large numbers. I have provided extra practice and small group interventions for our friends that are still working on this difficult concept.
It has been a delight to watch our third graders becoming more confident readers as we have now settled into our Reading Workshop routines. During our Reading Workshop time, students are given the choice to read their own individual books. To truly foster a love for reading, I think it is important that students are able to select books that truly interest them. I am working with each student to guide students who are unsure of good books, or need help locating a book they might enjoy based on their interests. At the end of Reading Workshop, students share what they are reading with each other. Through book reviews and recommendations, our third graders are already learning from each other, and beginning to “get lost” in books that they truly enjoy.
My hope for this year is to inspire my students to pick up a book, not because I am telling them to, but because they want to read. I want them to discover how reading can truly bring you to another place, teach you something new, help you through an obstacle in life, etc. Each day, your child will read and share with others. Each week, your child and I will write letters back and forth about what he/she is reading. Our letters will dive deep into comprehension, character traits, author’s purpose, etc. During Reading Workshop time, I will bounce from student to student, checking in on what they are reading, helping students find the “right book.” We will learn English Language Arts concepts as a class, and then discover these elements through books in groups, and individually. I truly feel that giving my third graders ownership over what he/she reads will lead to greater independence as a reader. My plan was to eventually merge students together in Book Clubs based on ability and interest, and they have started to do this naturally this week! They already feel ownership over our beautifully organized library, which they utilize and tend to each day. Families are always to come and visit! If you would like to visit us during Reading Workshop time, I would be happy to have you join us. We also welcome Mystery Readers, and we were lucky enough to have Conner's grandmother read to the class this week. Feel free to contact me at 874-8418 or [email protected] so that I can give you times that we will be busy reading.
It has been a delight to watch our third graders becoming more confident readers as we have now settled into our Reading Workshop routines. During our Reading Workshop time, students are given the choice to read their own individual books. To truly foster a love for reading, I think it is important that students are able to select books that truly interest them. I am working with each student to guide students who are unsure of good books, or need help locating a book they might enjoy based on their interests. At the end of Reading Workshop, students share what they are reading with each other. Through book reviews and recommendations, our third graders are already learning from each other, and beginning to “get lost” in books that they truly enjoy.
My hope for this year is to inspire my students to pick up a book, not because I am telling them to, but because they want to read. I want them to discover how reading can truly bring you to another place, teach you something new, help you through an obstacle in life, etc. Each day, your child will read and share with others. Each week, your child and I will write letters back and forth about what he/she is reading. Our letters will dive deep into comprehension, character traits, author’s purpose, etc. During Reading Workshop time, I will bounce from student to student, checking in on what they are reading, helping students find the “right book.” We will learn English Language Arts concepts as a class, and then discover these elements through books in groups, and individually. I truly feel that giving my third graders ownership over what he/she reads will lead to greater independence as a reader. My plan was to eventually merge students together in Book Clubs based on ability and interest, and they have started to do this naturally this week! They already feel ownership over our beautifully organized library, which they utilize and tend to each day. Families are always to come and visit! If you would like to visit us during Reading Workshop time, I would be happy to have you join us. We also welcome Mystery Readers, and we were lucky enough to have Conner's grandmother read to the class this week. Feel free to contact me at 874-8418 or [email protected] so that I can give you times that we will be busy reading.
Week Five ~ October 1-5 ~ Exploring the World
Solving Subtraction Using Manipulatives
Now that our globes are complete, our third graders are using their individual globes to learn about the world. They made an equator using string, and learned how the equator splits the world into the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. In Math, we worked on subtraction problems, and solved them using various methods. Students used manipulatives and proof drawings of ones, tens and hundreds to better understand how to solve problems that require ungrouping and borrowing. We will continue to practice these problems, and complete our first unit in Math next week. Our third graders had fun practicing their math skills on Study Island. Students can access this program at home for more game playing (and math practice!). They can follow the link from the Jefferson Website, or go directly to www.studyisland.com. Your child should know his/her password to log in and play.
Letter writing has started during our Reading Workshop. One day a week, students must write me a letter discussing various elements of the books they are reading. I always write them back in their "letters" notebook, and they will reply and answer my questions the following week. This is a fun way for students to communicate about their books and help me to learn about them as readers, while they learn the process of writing letters.
Letter writing has started during our Reading Workshop. One day a week, students must write me a letter discussing various elements of the books they are reading. I always write them back in their "letters" notebook, and they will reply and answer my questions the following week. This is a fun way for students to communicate about their books and help me to learn about them as readers, while they learn the process of writing letters.
Week Four ~ September 24-28 ~ Paper Mache Globe Project
Painting our Paper Mache Globes
Our third graders got a hands-on geography lesson this week by making their own paper mache globes. It was a very involved project, but well worth the time, as students are now truly understanding their way around the world. As we were painting on Friday, I would ask, "What ocean are you painting," and the reply was "The Atlantic Ocean." When I asked, "How do you know?" the reply was, because I am in between North America and Europe. Seeing this true understanding of geographical locations is exciting! Just a few weeks ago, most students weren't even sure of the continent we lived on. I am proud of the learning and progress that I am already witnessing in our classroom.
In Math, we continued to work with multi-digit addition problems. Students reviewed and learned various ways to solve these problems, and shared different methods with their classmates. We also practiced adding numbers with decimals representing money. I will be working in smaller groups with students who are still unsure of this concept, as we will move on to multi-digit subtraction next week.
Our Reading and Writing Workshop times are beginning to become routine to our third graders. Students are reading their own books, writing in their Reading Logs, and actively sharing their books with others. Writing Workshop is a time where our writers get lost in their notebooks, writing down stories, thoughts and ideas. Students attempted to mimic the style of Loreen Leedy in their notebooks after reading "Blast Off to Earth - A Look at Geography." Just as we share at the end of Reading Workshop, our Writing Workshop ends with our students sitting in a circle, and those that want to read their writing share as we respectfully listen.
Thank you to Mrs. Stilwell for being our first Mystery Reader! Please contact me at [email protected] if you (or a family member) would like to come in and read to the kids. I would also like to thank Mrs. Simmons for coming in to help us paint, and Mrs. Walker for volunteering to be our room parent this year. There will be many more opportunities for parents to come in and help out as the year progresses.
In Math, we continued to work with multi-digit addition problems. Students reviewed and learned various ways to solve these problems, and shared different methods with their classmates. We also practiced adding numbers with decimals representing money. I will be working in smaller groups with students who are still unsure of this concept, as we will move on to multi-digit subtraction next week.
Our Reading and Writing Workshop times are beginning to become routine to our third graders. Students are reading their own books, writing in their Reading Logs, and actively sharing their books with others. Writing Workshop is a time where our writers get lost in their notebooks, writing down stories, thoughts and ideas. Students attempted to mimic the style of Loreen Leedy in their notebooks after reading "Blast Off to Earth - A Look at Geography." Just as we share at the end of Reading Workshop, our Writing Workshop ends with our students sitting in a circle, and those that want to read their writing share as we respectfully listen.
Thank you to Mrs. Stilwell for being our first Mystery Reader! Please contact me at [email protected] if you (or a family member) would like to come in and read to the kids. I would also like to thank Mrs. Simmons for coming in to help us paint, and Mrs. Walker for volunteering to be our room parent this year. There will be many more opportunities for parents to come in and help out as the year progresses.
Week Three ~ September 17-21 ~ Where in the World Do I Live?"
Reading with Kindergarten Book Buddies
Our week began with a wonderful assembly featuring Magician Mike Seege, and he presented the anti-bullying message while showing a few amazing magic tricks. We read stories about bullying, and shared our own experiences of being bullied with classmates. Together, our class identified examples of bullying, and we discussed what to do if you are bullied, or if you see another student bullied. Mrs. Wegst visited our class and read The Energy Bus, discussing how to focus on positive energy and make good choices.
In Social Studies, we explored where in the world we live on Google Earth. By next Thursday, students should know their continent, country, state and city/town (Buffalo/Tonawanda). They brought home a flip book to help them practice this information. Students will also be responsible for locating and labelling the seven continents and four oceans. Google Earth is a fun way that you can explore geography, not just at school, but on your computer at home together. There are also links on the Social Studies section of our website to help students practice the location of the continents and oceans. Next week we will be getting messy in a hands-on way to explore our globe - paper mache!
This week, our third graders had the opportunity to read with Kindergarten Book Buddies in Mrs. Geartz's class. This will be a weekly opportunity for our third graders to be the "big kids" and read to a younger student. This activity is a wonderful way to encourage literacy and responsibility. Ask your child about his/her book buddy experience!
In Social Studies, we explored where in the world we live on Google Earth. By next Thursday, students should know their continent, country, state and city/town (Buffalo/Tonawanda). They brought home a flip book to help them practice this information. Students will also be responsible for locating and labelling the seven continents and four oceans. Google Earth is a fun way that you can explore geography, not just at school, but on your computer at home together. There are also links on the Social Studies section of our website to help students practice the location of the continents and oceans. Next week we will be getting messy in a hands-on way to explore our globe - paper mache!
This week, our third graders had the opportunity to read with Kindergarten Book Buddies in Mrs. Geartz's class. This will be a weekly opportunity for our third graders to be the "big kids" and read to a younger student. This activity is a wonderful way to encourage literacy and responsibility. Ask your child about his/her book buddy experience!
Week Two ~ September 10-14 ~ "I Will Make a Difference Through Positive Action"
"We Will Make A Difference"
Our routines are in full swing as we completed our first full week of school. At the beginning of the week, we focused on 9/11, and discussed the many heroes that made a difference and helped others during this tragic event. We decided that we, too, can make a difference in our community, and that every positive action can have a great impact on another person's life. Each student created an "I Will..." square on a quilt, pledging what he/she will do to make a difference. These were wonderfully simple ideas, such as thanking firefighters, police officers and our military for working hard to keep us safe. Visit http://www.911day.org/ to learn more about the "I Will" movement.
During our Reading Workshop time, students have been exploring the new books in our library, talking about ways we choose books, and deciding if books are easy, just right or challenging. We have read many stories together, including our ongoing read aloud, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl. It was interesting to learn about the life and career of Roald Dahl through a mini-author study this week. We have started reading logs in our reading journals, and students will continue to log books they read throughout the year. During Writing Workshop, we are learning strategies to write when we experience writer's block. I have been offering methods to spark ideas for writing, and our third graders have been pouring ideas out into their beautifully decorated Writer's Notebooks. Already, they are asking for more time to write, and to share their writing with each other. We are still in the early stages of developing a published personal narrative writing piece, but I am very encouraged by the enthusiasm that they are showing during our writing time. In Math, we experimented with place value on new dry erase boards connected with Math Expressions. Students drew pictures to represent the ones, tens, hundreds and thousands. We practiced facts on Fastt Math in the computer lab, and played place value games using Think Central on our Smartboard. Please continue to practice addition and subtraction facts with your child at home. It is important that this fact knowledge is quick, accurate, and solid, so that we can move on to more difficult math concepts with greater ease.
During our Reading Workshop time, students have been exploring the new books in our library, talking about ways we choose books, and deciding if books are easy, just right or challenging. We have read many stories together, including our ongoing read aloud, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl. It was interesting to learn about the life and career of Roald Dahl through a mini-author study this week. We have started reading logs in our reading journals, and students will continue to log books they read throughout the year. During Writing Workshop, we are learning strategies to write when we experience writer's block. I have been offering methods to spark ideas for writing, and our third graders have been pouring ideas out into their beautifully decorated Writer's Notebooks. Already, they are asking for more time to write, and to share their writing with each other. We are still in the early stages of developing a published personal narrative writing piece, but I am very encouraged by the enthusiasm that they are showing during our writing time. In Math, we experimented with place value on new dry erase boards connected with Math Expressions. Students drew pictures to represent the ones, tens, hundreds and thousands. We practiced facts on Fastt Math in the computer lab, and played place value games using Think Central on our Smartboard. Please continue to practice addition and subtraction facts with your child at home. It is important that this fact knowledge is quick, accurate, and solid, so that we can move on to more difficult math concepts with greater ease.
Week One ~ September 4-7 ~ Getting to Know Each Other
This has been an incredible first week of school. We started the week playing some "getting to know each other" games, and learned the expectations and routines of our classroom. Within hours, our third graders seemed comfortable in Room 212 and ready to learn. They had a clear vision for the kind of classroom they wanted to spend their day in, and they knew exactly how they would like to be treated by their friends. Not only did they describe a respectful and cooperative classroom, but they immediately showed what a positive community of friends looks like. Through various activities this week, we have started to grow as a family of learners, and I am so thrilled to have such wonderful kids in my class this year. I am truly excited about the many learning adventures ahead of us!
Rather than finding a library of organized books, our third graders found their books in big boxes, with signs on the shelves that read "Library Under Construction." After talking about different ways to categorize books, we started a class project to set up our classroom library. All of the kids played a role in this project; our artists made signs to help us find certain genres, and many students worked together to sort and organize the books in a way that is meaningful for them. We also began our Writers Workshop this week. Thank you to our families for sending in pictures/photos/stickers that represent your child. We had a wonderful time decorating our notebooks, making them each unique and special. We had many conversations about celebrating and embracing the many things that make us each unique and special. We decided to be proud of these traits, knowing that in 212, we will respect each other, and never use our differences to insult or intimidate each other.
Next week, we will begin our Word Study routines. Feel free to download the attached file for more information. I look forward to meeting all of our families at our Open House on Wednesday, September 19th. If you have any questions or concerns before Open House, feel free to get in touch with me at [email protected], or 874-8418 (before or after school). Thank you for sharing your wonderful children with me - I know that we are going to have a spectacular year together!
Rather than finding a library of organized books, our third graders found their books in big boxes, with signs on the shelves that read "Library Under Construction." After talking about different ways to categorize books, we started a class project to set up our classroom library. All of the kids played a role in this project; our artists made signs to help us find certain genres, and many students worked together to sort and organize the books in a way that is meaningful for them. We also began our Writers Workshop this week. Thank you to our families for sending in pictures/photos/stickers that represent your child. We had a wonderful time decorating our notebooks, making them each unique and special. We had many conversations about celebrating and embracing the many things that make us each unique and special. We decided to be proud of these traits, knowing that in 212, we will respect each other, and never use our differences to insult or intimidate each other.
Next week, we will begin our Word Study routines. Feel free to download the attached file for more information. I look forward to meeting all of our families at our Open House on Wednesday, September 19th. If you have any questions or concerns before Open House, feel free to get in touch with me at [email protected], or 874-8418 (before or after school). Thank you for sharing your wonderful children with me - I know that we are going to have a spectacular year together!
word_study_intro.docx | |
File Size: | 111 kb |
File Type: | docx |