Week 34: May 7-11

Week 34:  May 7-11
Reminders:
5/9 - Bike to School Day
5/10 - Gallery Night @ 5:00
5/14 - Math STAAR
5/15 - Reading STAAR
5/21 - Publishers' Picnic @ 11:00 - 11:30
5/24 - Chariot Races @ 8:30
5/25 - Winds of Time Parade @ 8:45 
5/28 - Memorial Day (No School)
5/31 - 3rd-5th Talent Show 

Winds of Time is just around the corner. In third grade we study Ancient Rome and take part in our own version of the chariot races that entertained Romans all over the empire. We need wagons to transform into chariots. Please lend us your wagon and ask your neighbors to help us out, too! The following SignUp Genius will help us keep track of what is coming. Thanks for your help!  Chariot Wagon SignUp


Please note that Publishers' Picnic has been changed to Monday, May 21 from 11:00-11:30. We hope to see you there to share what your child has accomplished this year. Bring a picnic lunch and a blanket and meet us in our grade level courtyard. 

For the rest of the year, third grade will be piloting a new schedule that will add a few interesting segments to our day. Students will participate in Morning Meetings that build community, valuing the thoughts, feelings and accomplishments of all students and helping students feel included in our community. We aim to develop students as empathetic collaborators who work successfully in teams. During Office Hours, students will further develop executive functioning skills such as organization, planning, study skills, self-regulation and flexible thinking. In Unit Time, we will begin our study of Ancient Rome as an interdisciplinary unit of discovery with students' questions guiding their learning and collaborative problem solving.

Reading:  We will teach our lessons in small groups to reinforce previously learned concepts.  Being a week away from the STAAR test, we will celebrate our year-long growth and learning as a community of readers. 

Writing:  We will continue to take a creative approach within our writing workshop this week.  We will be wrapping up our pieces from last week as well as working on something special.  Moms/Aunts/Grandmothers:  Be on the lookout for a special surprise from your child this coming weekend.  

Social Studies and Science:  Now that research and note taking expectations are established within our Unit Time (explained above), your child will continue to research topics of interests related to Ancient Rome such as architecture, entertainment, landforms, history, and aspects of every day life.  A few of our guiding questions for our unit of study include: How does Ancient Rome have an influence on our current day communities and world?  Why did the Roman Empire collapse?  What factors led to the disintegration of the Roman Empire? 

Math: We will continue to be devoted to a targeted review of all skills covered this year. We have spiraled reviews all year and for these weeks before STAAR we will challenge our students to focus and work more carefully than ever before... remembering to use strategies we have taught, know when you need to figure out a multiplication fact you are not sure about and NOT GUESS!  We will not have a warm up this week as we will be discussing the importance of slowing down, reading the problems carefully, and showing their thinking in their work. Please continue to encourage your mathematician to show their thinking in their homework as well. We will also have our usual FFF quiz. We are so proud of their hard work & dedication!