Math/Science Week Dec 17-21st

Parents,

Well here we are, down to the last 4 1/2 days!  I know it is going to just fly by, but before we leave for Winter Break we must get a few more things in.

Being that it will be such a crazy week, we will not be diving into any new content this week.  Now that the kids fully understand the relationship between multiplication and division through our study of fact families last week, we will start to dive into a mixture of both multiplication and division word problems.  The students will have to thoroughly read word problems, decode them, decide whether it is multiplication or division, and use the strategies taught in class to solve for them.  I have tried to help the kids decode these problems by telling them this:
**If you are given a total and ask to break that total apart, you know it is division.
**If you are asked to find the total, then you know its multiplication.  

In Science this week, we will close our study of slow and fast land changes and forces that shape the land on Thursday.  We have now studied hurricanes, tornadoes, landslides, earthquakes, and volcanoes in great depth. Our weathering and erosion unit test will be this Tuesday, December 18th.  The study guide and flashcards SHOULD have come home last Tuesday the 11th in your child's red HW folder!  I will send the PDF file for these things as well just in case it evaporated!  After the test, the students will be put into groups on Wednesday and Thursday to create posters on the natural disasters that we studied.  It's a great fun way to close out the unit and the week ;-)

On Friday will be the Sing-a-Long in the morning at 9:30.  Parents are welcome to come and stand on the sides to observe.  From there, we will be heading outside to recess so that our parent volunteers can set up in the room for the Holiday Party. Our Holiday Party will begin at 11:15.  Kids will first be eating their lunch in the room as well as a holiday cookie and watching a holiday movie.   They will then have a craft to design and we will be releasing the kids at noon.

I hope every single one of you have a wonderful break and holiday with your beautiful children.  I'm blessed again this year with such a nice homeroom class and wonderful, supportive parents.  Thank you for all your help and support thus far this year  :-)

Love Always,
Mrs. S

Math/Science Week of December 10th-14th

Parents,


For the last two weeks we have been learning about division.  It has been going really well.  The kids are super excited to be learning division and are motivated to understand it.  I think it makes them feels like big kids :)  We have taught them two strategies to solve division problems, the Octopus Method and the Cookies Method.

This week we will tackle Multiplication and Division Fact Families to see the relationship between the two.  For instance, if 4 X 6 = 24, then 6 x 4 = 24, then 24 / 4 = 6, and 24 / 6 = 4.  The key to writing these correctly is to remind the kids that when they are writing the multiplication equations, the smaller numbers go first.  When they are writing the division equation, the larger number is always written first.  Fact families is usually a concept that students catch on to rather quickly.

This will be our last fast facts of the nine weeks this week.  It will not be recorded into the grade book.  Start getting ready for multiplication fast facts next semester!!  We start with 0's, 1's, and 2's in January.

In Science we have been diving into our unit on Weathering and Erosion.  The kids learned the week before last that there are slow land changes to our Earth due to weathering and agents of weathering such as wind, running water, people, animals, sand, etc... Last week we studied a few Natural Disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, and land slides that cause fast changes to the Earth's surface.   This week we will continue studying other Natural Disasters such as earthquakes and volcanoes!  The kids are getting to see some excellent footage of these changes happening to the earth and are really quite interested in this unit.

This week we will be collecting 100% juice boxes or cans for the local food bank.  Also, Toys for Tots will be collected on Wednesday from 8:30-10:00.

We have almost reached the finish line of half the year.  Can you believe it?

Love,
Mrs. S

Math and Science Week of December 3rd-7th

Dear Parents,

Last week in third grade we introduced division.  The kids learned the "Octopus Method" in order to solve simple division problems.  You should have seen your child use this strategy to solve their HW last week.   These problems consist of a larger number to divide and the students are given the number of groups to divide by.  They are looking for  the number IN each group.

This week we are still focusing on division, but learning a new strategy called the "Cookies Method."  These types of problems are worded differently.  Instead of giving the number of groups to divide by, these types of word problems give the number IN each group.  The students then have to figure out the number of groups. 

Next week we will be headed towards fact families, and tying the relationship between multiplication and division together!

We are in our last three weeks of addition and subtraction facts!  This week will be for a grade so STUDY, STUDY, STUDY!!!

In Science last week, we dug into dirt and learned about Weather, Erosion, Soil, and decomposing.  We had a fun time on Friday playing "The Rotten Game," and trying to predict how long it takes certain materials to decompose.  This week will start a weather/ natural disaster unit.  We will learn about Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Earthquakes, Landslides, and Volcanoes.  We will watch some really cool "storm chaser" footage that the kids are sure to enjoy.  We will try to link this learning back to last weeks concepts over weathering and erosion, and make the connection that all these things change the surface of our earth. 

I'm expecting it to be a great week!  Thanks for all you do.

Love, Mrs. S

Math/Science Week of Nov 26-30

Dear Parents,

Welcome back! I hope you have a wonderful five day break with your families!  We are going to hit the ground running until Winter break.  Let the four week countdown begin!

On Monday, we will start out with a multiplication review of the meaning of multiplication, multiplication arrays, and paired tables with multiplication.  The students will review all old concepts and have a quiz to test their mastery of multiplication on Monday.

On Tuesday, we will be introducing division in third grade.  Our study of division will begin basic, as we plan to use cubes and pictures to represent the process of dividing a larger group of things into smaller equal groups.   Students will practice “acting out” the process of division.  Through a mathematical story, The Doorbell Rang, students will divide Grandma’s 12 cookies equally among 12, 6, 4, and 3 friends.   

 

Fast Fact Friday will NOT be for a grade this week as it was recorded in the grade book for 11/16.  This quiz will be a combination of 10 addition facts and 10 subtraction facts.  Students should continue studying facts each night.  The expectation is that all of these facts are memorized by December.   Starting January, students will begin studying multiplication facts.

In Science this week, we will be learning about  weathering (the breaking apart of rock into small pieces) and watching a video called “Weathering and Erosion.”  The students will look at all different pictures and examples of weathering and erosion on a flip chart and discover some of the most amazing landscapes that erosion and weathering create.  In their journal, students will define weathering and erosion (the carrying away of weathered rock)  and list the many agents of weathering: wind, water, temperature, plants, animals, chemicals, man. The student bring in a rock no bigger than a quarter for Science HW this week.

A special thank you for all you parents reading this and keeping up with the daily happenings of the classroom.  It takes a village!

Math and Science Week of Nov 19-20

Howdy Parents,

November is just flying right on by and here we are already leaving for Thanksgiving!  The two days we will be attending school is always hard to plan for a teacher.  A LOT of students are always out and you don't want to introduce a new concept, or take any grades, because you will have a lot of holes in your grade book!    So the Math/Science team has thought up some fun activities/projects for those two days.  

In Math, we will be going back and reviewing reading a thermometer.  Thermometers typically have a scale of 1,2,5, or 10.  The kids will practice first identifying the scale that the thermometer is using.  Then they will practice reading temperatures in Celsius and Fahrenheit.  Then, they will take what they know about reading a thermometer and start a small project.  Each student will be assigned four major cities in the USA and will have to research the temperature there on TheWeatherChannel.com on that particular day.  They will then have to graph the temp on one of four thermometers, each with a varying scale of 1,2,5, or 10.  Third graders really love this project because it incorporates using the IPads and the Mini Dells to do their research!  So much fun!

In Science we will dive deeper into the concept of Gravity.  We have a Brainpop Video planned on Monday and an experiment planned for Tuesday!!!  The kids will use a ramp and gravity to push a car through the different types of surfaces to establish a deeper meaning of friction.  The toy car will roll off the ramp and on to the tile, the carpet, and the grass!  The kids will then use a measuring tape to measure the distance of the car and make conclusions based on their data about friction and gravity.

I hope everyone has a safe and beautiful Thanksgiving with their family.  I am thankful for this HCE family and my 43 students that keep me on my toes everyday ;-)

Love, 
Mrs. S 

Math/Science Week of Nov 12-16th

Dear Parents,

In Math last week, we started Multiplication!  The kids are so motivated by this because they finally feel like "big kids."  Last week in Math students practiced representing multiplication using pictures and the traditional multiplication sentence.  We learned that the answer to a multiplication problem is called a “product” and the two numbers we multiply together are called “factors”.  We  started  applying what we learned about multiplication to problems in the real world.  Example:  If there are 5 students in a group and each student holds 3 pencils, how many pencils in all?  Students will have to practice choosing the correct operation to solve a problem now.  Now we will have to choose if it is appropriate to add, subtract, and/or multiply when problem solving. 

  

 I will be introducing  multiplication arrays and Paired Tables.  We will learn equal rows of things such as 4 rows with 3 cookies in EACH row ( 4 x 3 = 12).   Please look out for any opportunities at home to point out “arrays” or “groups of” things.  Example:  If your family is making cookies, use multiplication to find out how many cookies are on the pan.  If the football team scored 3 touchdowns, use multiplication to find out how many points in all.  Using paired tables is a strategy (making a T-Chart)students can use to figure out problem solving problems that contain patterns.  For example, Confetti eggs come in cartons of 8, How many eggs will there be in 3, 6, and 8 cartons.  The students would create a T chart.  On one side would be the # of cartons, and on the other would be the # of eggs.  This is a simple strategy to figure out larger patterns in numbers.

In Science this Week the students will take the Energy, Force, and Motion test on Thursday the 15th.   Students took home a study guide AND flashcards on Friday the 9th to help prepare for the assessment.  Please try and make it a priority that you go over the study guide and flashcards nightly for a couple minutes until the test.  We also will spend the week in class preparing for the test with different activities such as creating a flow chart as well as a fun game of Jeopardy is planned!

It should be an awesome week of learning!

Love,
Mrs. S

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Language Arts and Social Studies this week and next!

Thank you for all of your support and encouragement of the students during the Veteran's Day Program this morning! They worked so hard and put on an incredible show!

READING. In reading this week we have been continuing to use fix-up strategies to help up overcome challenges in the books we are reading. In particular, students have been encouraged to use context clues to find the meaning of unknown words. Next week we will be diving into the elements of a drama, such as the characters, plot, dialogue, script, actors, setting and stage directions. Students will learn to read a script, practice individual lines, and then perform a drama in class.

WRITING. In writing, we are beginning to learn about the processes involved in writing a personal narrative. We have written a shared personal narrative together, and talked about pre-writing strategies, as well as creating a rough draft using the pre-write. Next week, students will begin to write their own personal narrative, based on a true event that has happened in their lives.

SPELLING. Please remember that students are responsible for completing 8 points and turning in their homework on Thursday mornings.

SOCIAL STUDIES. We are studying economics this nine weeks, and have been learning about the basic vocabulary involved in economics over the past two weeks. The students have read and watched short clips about economics, needs, wants, producers, consumers, income, and savings. Next week, we will begin a project that challenges students to create a budget for a new puppy! They will gain experience researching the cost of needs, or necessary items, as well as wants for their puppy.

I have so enjoyed my first two weeks teaching your wonderful children!
-Mrs. Williams

Math and Science Week of Nov 5th-9th

Dear Parents,  
It was great seeing all of you at field day last week!  We hope to see you again this Thursday at 8:30 in the cafeteria for the Veterans concert that your child will be singing in.  

On Monday last week we took a pop quiz over Math concepts we have been working on over the last two weeks.  The quiz consisted of Measurement in customary units, Perimeter, and Temperature.  I was very pleased with the mastery that was evident of these concepts!  The students are really improving with time to the minute.

In Math this week we will be moving on to a new concept.......Multiplication!!!  Students will brainstorm things that come in groups: 2 eyes, 3 wheels on a tricycle, 8 sides on an octagon, etc.  We will discuss that multiplication is actually just equal “groups of” things.  Through a game called “Circles and Stars”, students will represent 5 “groups of” 3 with 5 circles and 3 stars in each circle.  Students will use repeated addition ( 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 15) to discover the total amount of stars.  Then will then connect this to the multiplication sentence of 5 x 3 = 15.  

Our Fast Fact Friday Quiz will consist of addition/subtraction facts combined and will NOT be recorded in the grade book.  Students should be studying facts every night for at least 5 – 8 minutes.  


In Science this week, We will continue our study of Energy, Force, and Motion.  Students have been working hard to gain an understanding of potential and kinetic energy.  We have discussed mechanical energy, gravity, and the concept of push/pull.  Now we will explore light energy, sound energy, and heat energy all this week.  Ask your child to use their own words to teach you about all these different kinds of energy around us.

Math and Science Week of Oct 29th-Nov 2nd

Dear Parents,

In Math this week, we will start the first two days off with the Math Benchmark.  Your students will be answering multiple choice questions over content from the first nine week, doing fast facts, and showing their knowledge on a Problem Solving Problem.  

Then, we will be approaching some new subject matter.  In 1st grade, your student was required to master time to the hour and half hour, in 2nd grade it was time to the quarter and five minute increments, in 3rd grade it's the whole shebang!  They will be mastering telling time on an analog clock to the minute in 3rd grade.  It has been my experience that that kids have a tough time with time (pun intended!).  When the clock gets into what we called "the danger zone," the majority of students will actually misread the hour of the clock.  So instead of writing 1:55, they would write 2:55, because the hour hand appeared as though it was on the 2.  Please work with our kids anytime you can and make them read an analogue clock for practice.

At the very end of the week (if we don't get behind!) will shift over to reading thermometers in the Fahrenheit and Celsius scale.  The most important thing we try to focus on when reading a thermometer is what kind of scale the thermometer has.  Does it count by 2's, 5's, 10's, etc..???  We will continue to review 3 digit subtraction over medial and two zeros simultaneously, so you will see that on the back of their time worksheets.

The fast facts this week will be BOTH addition and subtraction. This week's test will be inputted into the grade book so STUDY, STUDY, STUDY!!!

In Science this week, we will continue with our new unit of study.  We barely skimmed the surface of energy last week with all that went on with Red Ribbon Week and the two half days.  Students will begin studying the concept of Energy.  We will review four forms of energy: sound, light, heat, and mechanical.  We will start our flip book project in Science over the forms of energy.

Third grade is sending report cards home on Monday, so be looking for those in your child's HW folder!  Field day will be this coming Friday, November the 2nd.  Third grades time is from 10:00-11:30.  

Love, Mrs. S

Language Arts and Social Studies

Parents and Families, Here's what we will be working on for the next two weeks... READING In Reading this week 10/22-10/26, we will finish up our work with non-fiction. We have looked at text features that are specific to non-fiction sources. Students have learned some helpful note taking strategies to use with non-fiction sources. This week we will continue working on these ideas and strategies. Next week, 10/29-11/2, students will begin working on FIX-UP STRATEGIES. These are reading strategies that help us read and understand fiction and non-fiction resources. As the week continues, they will dive deep into the strategy of context clues, using information in the text to help us understand new vocabulary. Students will also take the reading district benchmark Wednesday, October 31. WRITING We are working on verbs this week. Students will use the information they have learned while reading non-fiction sources on bats and their new knowledge of verbs to create a bat diamante or cinquain poem. Next week we will take our memory of Clutch's visit and write a guided narrative. We will make sure to follow the narrative arc and include components that we think make for a strong narrative. SPELLING There is NO SPELLING HOMEWORK 10/22-10/26. Next week, 10/29-11/2: Please remember that they are responsible for completing 8 points and turning in their homework on Thursday mornings. SOCIAL STUDIES We are taking the Social Studies Benchmark Wednesday, October 24. This week we are celebrating our freedom and reviewing important documents to United States History. These include the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Emancipation Proclamation. We've all challenged ourselves to memorize part of the Declaration by Friday! Next week, students will start a new unit in Social Studies on Economics. Now is the time to start talking at home about vocabulary and trying to use it in your everyday language. Some words that students will first be introduced to are: income, savings, wants, needs, interest, investment, budget, consumer and producer.

Math/Science Week of October 22nd

Dear Parents,

In Math this week, we will begin working in measurement as we use rulers to find the length of objects using the customary measurement system.  We will focus on inches, feet, yards, and miles.  Students will practice predicting the length of objects around the room, measuring with rulers, and then calculate the difference between the predicted and the actual length.  

We will also work on the concept of Perimeter.  We will talk about the border around our bulletin boards or the fence around the school to introduce the concept of a perimeter.  To find the perimeter, students will measure all sides of an object or shape and then find the sum of these sides.  To challenge your child on perimeter,  give them the total perimeter of an object or shape and encourage them to find all the possible lengths that could equal the given perimeter.  

Our Fast Fact Friday Quiz will be for practice and will now include ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION.  Students should be studying facts every night for at least 5 – 8 minutes.  

In Science this week, we will begin our new unit of study.  Students will begin studying the concept of Energy.  We will review four forms of energy: sound, light, heat, and mechanical.
We will begin with Mechanical Energy and discover that there are two types of Mechanical Energy: Potential and Kinetic.

PLEASE REMEMBER THURSDAY AND FRIDAY WILL BE HALF DAYS AND THE STUDENTS WILL GET OUT AT NOON!!!!

Love,

Mrs. S

    

Math\Sci Week of Oct 15th

Parents,

Last week in Math, students continued working on addition and subtraction word problems.  We have been working hard on 3-digit subtraction with a medial zero.  Here are two different scenarios with medial zero:
                           705                                           705
                        - 422                                          -426
                     ---------                                   ---------
In the first problem, the ones place does not need to be regrouped, therefore the zero in the middle of the problem will be a 10 and the 7 will be reduced to a 6.  In the second problem, the ones place does have to be regrouped. Therefore, the zero in the middle will be reduced to a 9 and the 7 will be reduced to a 6.  This is all very confusing to eight and nine-year-olds!!!   This is a really hard concept for 3rd graders and they are having a tough time with it and need LOTS of practice.  Please work with them if you can at home.  It's always good to hear someone else's voice teaching a hard concept. :)

We also worked on subtracting across three zeros such like this:

                                   800                                                   500
                                 -555                                                  -224
                            -----------                                         -----------  

This week in Math we will take what we know about rounding to the nearest ten and hundred, addition, and subtraction and put it all together.  The kids will be required to look at a three digit Math problem, round the numbers, and then solve like this:

Our Fast Fact Friday Quiz will consist of subtraction ONLY and will not be recorded this week in the gradebook.  Get ready for a combo test soon with BOTH addition and subtraction!!!  

In Science, we just concluded our study on Matter and had our first big Science Test last week.  We had fun studying for the test playing Matter Jeopardy and Matter Game-board Bonanza!  We are moving on to reading thermometers in Celsius and Fahrenheit, as well as making mixtures and figuring out the best tools to separate them with.  

Love, 
Mrs. S   

Math/Science Week of October 8th

Parents,

In Math:
We will continue fine tuning our 3-digit addition and subtraction skills with regrouping.  Students will be introduced to 3 digit subtraction with a medial zero, as well as 3 digit subtraction with two zeros.   This is a hard skill to really master parents!  Our little 3rd graders want to regroup when they don't have to and not regroup when they are supposed to!  Any help on three digit subtraction or extra practice at home is always appreciated.  Students will continue working on addition and subtraction word problems and trying to decipher if they are combining, take away subtraction, comparative subtraction, or missing part subtraction.  

Our Fast Fact Friday Quiz will consist of subtraction problems only and will not be taken for a grade this week.  Students should be studying facts every night for at least 5 – 8 minutes.   Please see the blog page labeled Helpful Websites to find fun and interactive websites that help your children learn their Math Facts.


In Science:
What a busy week we will have in Science next week!  A study guide and study flashcards were sent home last Friday to get your child prepared for the Matter Test  . Their Matter test will be this coming Friday the 12th. Please take a couple minutes to help your child review all concepts encompassing Matter.  

Third grade teachers have a planning day this Thursday, October 11th, so there will be a substitute in every 3rd grade room.  

This should be a fun and short week!
Love, Mrs. S

Math/Science Week of October 1st

Dear Parentals,

In Math: 
We will move in to our study of addition and subtraction with and without re-grouping.  Students will add 2-digit and 3-digit numbers in the beginning of the week as a 2nd grade reviewand then we will move on to subtracting two and three digit numbers towards the middle and end of the week.  This is a challenging skill for third graders so any extra practice at home is wonderful.  We will practice the very important skill of recognizing when a problem solving situation requires addition or subtraction.  We will use the table below to help guide our mathematical decision to add or subtract in order to solve a problem successfully.  This week we will be really focusing on Combining, Take Away, and Comparative Subtraction Word Problems.

Combine 2 or more groups of things	Addition
Compare 2 groups of things	Subtraction
Take some things away from a group	Subtraction
Find a missing part of a group	Subtraction

Our Fast Fact Friday Quiz will consist of subtraction problems only and will be graded this Friday the 5th. Please see your student’s Tuesday Newsday folder for the Fast Fact quiz from last Friday the 28th of September.  This can help guide your studies at home each night.  Your child is also keeping up with their Fast Fact grades by graphing their scores on a graph in their  green binder each week.  Ask your child to show it to you!   As we begin working with addition and subtraction of large numbers, correct re-call of math facts will be incredibly important.  Students should be studying facts every night for at least 5 – 8 minutes. 


In Science:

This week we will continue investigating matter by experimenting with the changes of matter.  Students will learn about “physical changes” and “chemical changes”.  We will look closely into changing from a solid to a liquid and vice versa this week. We will conduct a fun experiment called The Great Ice Cube Race on Monday to observe one of these changes and discover what a physical change needs in order to happen.  We will assess the students knowledge of the states of matter through an end of unit exam in the coming weeks (most likely the week of the 15th, be looking for a study guide and flash cards the week of the 8th).

LA and SS update for the week of October 1-5

Reading
In Reading this week we will be look at genre and theme.  We will review some of the books we have shared aloud to determine what text evidence can help us determine a book's theme.  Students will then read fables in partners and independently to find evidence and determine theme.  We will use this same text evidence strategy to determine the genre of a book.  Students should be able to notice and name features of various genres (Mystery, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Autobiography, Biography, Informational, Traditional and Poetry).  Students will go on a genre hunt with a partner to search out books of various types. 

WRITING
As we continue to work in the genre of personal narrative, we will continue to consume examples (text and student work).  We will also look this week at critiquing personal narratives.  What things make a personal narrative EXCELLENT or not so great.  We will work as a class to create a criteria chart of the things we think EXCELLENT narratives need.

SPELLING

Please remember that they are responsible for completing 8 points and turning in their homework on Thursday mornings.  

SOCIAL STUDIES

Each class has three leadership council candidates that were nominated/chosen by classmates.  These candidates will work over the weekend to complete an application form and write a speech.  We will listen to their speeches and vote using a secret ballot!  We have talked at length about how we will only have ONE representative this school year.  This is a hard but real life lesson for many third graders to learn.  In our class discussions, we have talked about other ways third graders can serve as leaders even if he or she isn't the leadership council representative this school year.  Please continue this discussion at home.  If your child is looking for ways to volunteer or lead our community I don't want to squash anyone's drive and excitement!  We've even talked about what great leaders we can be for our reading buddies each Friday, and even for the bigger kids at our school as we conduct ourselves in the hallway and in the cafeteria.

In class, we will begin talking about how the United States government is set up.  Be ready... this week we will talk about how we have a local, state and federal government.  In the weeks to come you can look forward to talking with your kids about the three branches of government, elections, and leaders at each level of our government.

Math/Science Week of September 24th

Dear Parents,

This week in Math we will be taking what we have learned over the last five weeks with place value, and applying it to rounding.  Early in the week, I will introduce rounding two digit numbers to the nearest ten.  We use a fun roller coaster flip chart to introduce rounding and the kids really enjoy it a lot.  The roller coaster theory is pretty simple to relate to as well.  We talk about "THE POINT OF NOOOOOOO RETURN," when rounding.  Once the roller coaster reaches the top of the track (5,15,25,35,45,etc...), it has reached "THE POINT OF NO RETURN," and must swoop down to the bottom, thus rounding to the nearest ten ahead.  If the roller coaster doesn't quite make it to the top, it will fall backwards and we will then round to the nearest ten behind.  Towards the middle of the week, we will be rounding three digit numbers to the nearest ten as well and then move on to rounding to the nearest 100 at the end of the week, with 50+ being "THE POINT OF NO RETURN."   The students will have a quiz on rounding to the nearest ten and hundred on Friday.  

Last week's fast fact score was recorded in the grade book, and now we are moving on to Subtraction Facts.  Please change gears and study subtraction facts only with your child for at least the next four weeks.

In Science this week, we will continue our unit study on Matter and its properties.  The kids will perform a Solids Lab this Monday and make observations and conclusions about objects that are solids.  Towards the middle of the week, we will have a gas demonstration, and the kids will practice making predictions and conclusions in their journals again.  At the end of the week, we are scheduled to complete a liquids lab.  We will be practicing estimating ML and measuring our liquids in the liquids lab.  

It should be a fun week of learning!

LA and SS 9/24-9/28

Reading
In Reading this week we will be diving into the word of character traits and character development.  Good readers notice how a character may change throughout a story.  We will begin the week by brainstorming a list of character traits.  What words can we use to describe how the character is acting and feeling?  Then, we will review some books we have read to see if we can find text evidence to support a character's personality trait.  As the week progresses, students will look for this text support in their DEAR time (independent reading) book. 

Writing

Nouns ate our lunch last week!  We spent some time backtracking and thinking about what makes a noun a common or proper noun.  Therefore, this week we will introduce our first writing genre study, personal narrative.  We will spend the next few weeks sharing examples of personal narratives and noticing and naming the parts of a narrative.  This week we will focus on learning the vocabulary for those parts (setting the stage, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution).

Spelling

Please remember that they are responsible for completing 8 points and turning in their homework on Thursday mornings.  Students may complete any assignment on the menu they wish.  If they choose to write their words 3 times this week, they may only use that assignments once this week to get 2 of the 8 points.  

Social Studies

We will focus this week on identifying specific people who have demonstrated qualities of a good citizen.  We will focus on the lives and work of Helen Keller, Ruby Bridges, Jane Addams, and Clara Barton.  After we learn about the lives and work of these four women, students will create a billboard to display their understanding of how these women have changed our society.  

This week we will also work on electing our LEADERSHIP COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE.  We will discuss qualities needed in a leadership council representative and the duties and responsibilities that go along with this leadership position.  Students will create a jot down list and nominate classmates.  By the end of the week, we will narrow our list down to three candidates   Those candidates will have the weekend to complete an application form and write a speech.  We will listen to their speeches next week and vote using a secret ballot!

Language Arts
Reading
In Reading this week we will be working on making connections to our reading.  Good readers make connections to a text as they read.  These connections in the brain help us take ownership of the reading.  The story becomes part of who we are because of how we connect to the text.  The three kinds of connections we will focus on are text-to-self, text-to-text and text-to world.  We were able to start this discussion last week.  We related to Stagestruck as a young boy participated in a school play.  Thanks to our music program at HCE, many kids were able to make great text-to-self connections about playing different parts in a play and the feelings they had on stage in front of an audience.  We also read The Man Who Walked Between the Towers.  Our classes were able to relate the towers in NYC and we discussed how they were a great moment of celebration when they were built and how last week we honored the 11th anniversary of the falling of those great towers. I was impressed with their empathy and sharing. 

Writing
This week we will finish up some discussion on types of nouns (common, proper, singular and plural).  Students will also be introduced to our first writing genre study, personal narrative.  We will spend the next few weeks sharing examples of personal narratives and noticing and naming the parts of a narrative.  This week we will focus on learning the vocabulary for those parts (setting the stage, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution).

Spelling
Students made it through their first week of spelling!  Most kids did a GREAT job.  Please remember that they are responsible for completing 8 points and turning in their homework on Thursday mornings.  Students may complete any assignment on the menu they wish.  If they choose to write their words 3 times this week, they may only use that assignments once this week to get 2 of the 8 points.  You will find their tests and test grades in their spelling spiral.  Those grades will not be recorded in the grade book.  I want students and parents to see how the test is set up and graded before entering it in the grade book   Students receive one point for spelling the word correctly and one point for sorting it correctly.  The test we will take on 9/21/12 will be counted for a grade.

Social Studies
We will focus this week on identifying qualities that make someone a good citizen.  We will then brainstorm together to nominate friends, family and community citizens for a good citizen award.  The nomination and reasoning behind it is the most important part of this assignment!  Students will then create a good citizen poem to describe the person they have chosen to honor.  Check out our hallway in a few weeks to see who our third graders believe to demonstrate good citizen traits!  

Math/Science Week of September 17th

Dear Parents,

Next week is going to be fast and furious!  We have so much going on between a counselor lesson, a field trip, Open House, AND Progress Reports going home!

In Math this coming week we will still be working on Place Value.  Early in the week, we will be reviewing four digit numbers.  We will practice again comparing them (using the < and > signs) and ordering them from Least to Greatest and Greatest to Least.  We will have a short quiz on place value Tuesday before we move on to five and six digit numbers.  We will focus on five and six digit numbers the rest of the week.  I will teach the students several Math Station games to reinforce learning in the classroom on Place Value.  Ask your child to teach you Skeleton or Tri-Digit Roll at home.  If you attend Open House this Thursday, one of their jobs is to teach you one of our Math Station Games!

In Science this week, we will be diving deeper into Matter and focusing on the Three States of Matter.  Our main objective for the week is for each student to observe and evaluate a substance/object, and then determine if it is a solid, liquid, or gas based on the properties/characteristics that it contains.  They will discover that the particles in each state of matter are different and how that affects the properties of that object.  Does it change it shape?  Does it pour?  Etc....

Above are the particles first a solid, then a liquid, and last a gas for visual reference.  

Thank you to all parents who emailed interest in chaperoning this upcoming field trip on Wednesday to the Wortham Center.  Unfortunately we are not allotted any monies to take chaperones along on this field trip, so it will be teachers and students only.  If you are interested in chaperoning the next one though, please email myself or Mrs. Ford so we can get in touch with you for the next one.

Thank you and have a great week!

Parents of 4th graders...

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Mental Images, Connections, and Citizenship

Language Arts
Reading
In Reading this week we will be finishing our discussions on mental images, also called visualization.  Good readers create images in their minds as they read a text.  These images help us check for understanding of a text but also aide in our ability to remember what we have just read.  Look for some excellent mental images to come home in the Tuesday Newsday folder this week.

We will then be moving on to work on connections.  Connections fall into three categories:  text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to world.  We will work this week to create text-to-self connections.  We will read and then work together to think...
What about this story reminds me of something I have done?
...something I have experienced?
...someone I know?
These connections draw us closer to the text while building comprehension   

Writing
We will be taking our work from Visualization and apply it to our writing.  We have been noticing in read the language that an author uses to create these beautiful images as we read.  Students will work this week to try their hand at the craft.  They will work on use sensory language and adjectives to help their readers create images as they read.  The pictures that you sent last week for homework will serve as our inspiration this week for writing.

Spelling
We did it!  We made it through our first Monday with new spelling words.  The groups did an excellent job of supporting one another and asking great questions.  The Spelling Homework Menu is due Thursday.  Students will need to complete 8pts. of spelling assignments.  We have only learned about 2pt. and 4pt. options on the menu, so bear with us this week.  The Spelling Menu is located in their green three ring notebook and should stay there all year long as a reference guide.

Social Studies
We have spent a good deal of time talking about how to make our classroom community successful.  We're now working on thinking about what makes someone a good citizen.  Our discussions will help students think about what others can do in our local and national communities to help make our world a better place.  We'll be talking specifically about volunteering this week.  If you or your child have volunteered for an organization, please use that experience as a springboard for discussion at the dinner or breakfast table.  

I am very thankful for your support at home!  I will begin testing each child's reading level soon using the DRA2.  I will be sending a sign-up genius sheet asking for some families to volunteer to bring their child before school, after school and on some Saturdays.  This extra time to tests kids helps me not take so much class and instruction time to administer 45+ reading assessments.  It takes a team, and I'm glad we are in this together! ~Omi Ford

Welcome to Third Grade at HCE!

Mrs. Skrivanek and Mrs. Ford are excited to see many of you

at Meet the Teacher on Friday, August 24 from 10:30 to 11:30a.m.

Mrs. Ford’s room is Rm 15 and Mrs. Skrivanek’s room is Rm 16. 

Check in with your homeroom teacher first. 

However, we want you to come into both rooms and meet us! 

No matter who your homeroom teacher will be for the year,

we will both spend lots of time with you this year

and look forward to getting to know each special person in our classes!

Dates and Information

May 16th Showcase Luncheon (formally known as Publisher's Picnic) 
You are welcome to join us from 12:00-12:30 in the third grade courtyard for Showcase Luncheon.  This will be a time for your child to share with you his or her work from this school year.  Work samples will SHOWCASE learning from all the content areas.  You may bring your child lunch, or purchase a hamburger lunch from the HCE cafeteria.

Winds of Time Continues (May 2-May 25)
We are learning more and more about ancient Rome.  This week we've made connections to the Romans form of government and ours.  We have also discussed famous Romans and compared our schools to that of the Romans.  Next week we will focus more on Roman fun!  We will start creating our chariots in preparation for race day.

May 24th @ 10am Chariot Races on the field
Each homeroom will have 8 teams of 3.  The race will have 8 heats featuring the color team from each class and then a winners heat.  Teams consist of a “puller”, “pusher” and “rider.”  It's an exciting day.  Please make time to come and join us at the races!

May 25th @ 9:30am Winds of Time Program and Parade

The culmination of our learning and fun is the Winds of Time parade held on Friday, May 25^th at 9:30a.m.  You will want to make sure you get here and get a good seat.  We will provide students with Roman garb.  They will either be dressed as a Roman Senator, Roman Soldier, or Roman Goddess.  Students process to the hard top for our school wide assembly.  Each grade level will present speakers.  The ceremony closes with a song sung by the entire school.  Then, we parade around the hallways of the school and back to our classroom.  It’s a great KODAK moment! 

May 28th- School Holiday- Memorial Day

May 29th- Camp Read-A-Lot

Students are invited to bring several chapter books or other favorite books from home that they would like to read or want to recommend to classmates.  Also, have them bring a pillow and a blanket to camp out in.  Dress in "camp style" clothes.  We will share a delicious trail mix for snack that day!

May 30th- Beach Day and Step-Up Day!

Bring a large beach towel, wear sunglasses and get ready to watch some beach and ocean movies.  Teachers will provide students with a "fishy" snack.  Third graders will also meet the 4th grade teachers and find out what exciting things they will be learning next year.

May 31st- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!

The last day of school will be a short one!  We will do some end of the year wrap-up, have a pizza party and then dismiss at noon.  STUDENTS WILL NOT NEED TO BRING ANYTHING TO SCHOOL ON THE LAST DAY.

 

April 30- May 2

STAAR is over, but the learning CONTINUES!

Language Arts
Reading: We will read Roald Dahl's The Enormous Crocodile together this week.  This book will help us review the genre of fantasy and enjoy the imaginative craft writing that Roald Dalh so expertly demonstrates.  In this text, the enormous crocodile creates serve different "clever tricks."  We will use his clever tricks as a discussion starter for cause and effect and problem and solution.

Writing:  As we finish The Enormous Crocodile, your child will craft a persuasive letter to the crocodile.  In his or her letter should be at least 4-5 reasons why the crocodile SHOULD NOT EAT him or her.  We will send these letters home toward the end of the week.  Please read your child's letter and then use the provided stationary to craft a response as the ENORMOUS CROCODILE! :)  The letters will be due the following Wednesday.  Each child will have an opportunity to share the enormous crocodile's response in class!

Spelling:  This is a full week of spelling.  Words will come home on Monday.  Homework is due Thursday.  Spelling tests will take place on Friday.

Social Studies:  We discussed the southwest region of the United States last Friday.  This week, your child will bring home a review map.  He or she is expected to learn the location and spelling of thirty states (only ten more than last year).  The review sheets will come home 4/30.  Our states quiz will be on May 10th.  We will also be showing your child some great apps and websites to use for study aids.
This week your child will go on a states road trip.  He or she will visit Hawaii, Alaska, California, Colorado, New York and Florida.  The classes will travel to each of the Social Studies teachers to join her on a pretend road trip.  They will create scrapbooks in which they will journal about each state and record "memories" from the trip.  We look forward to sharing these with you at Showcase Luncheon!

Math and Science for the Week of April 30th-May 4th

Parents,

Well we made it past STAAR week and I must say it wasn't easy!  The kids worked really hard and were exhausted.  The STAAR party on Thursday was just what we needed to give our brains a break.

Believe it or not, this week in Math we will be gearing up for 4th grade!  The kids will learn multiple strategies on multiplying 2 digit numbers by a 1 digit number.  On Monday, we will be drawing out the multiplication problems on a tens and ones T-chart.  Your child will have this for HW on Monday night.  On Tuesday, I will teach them how to multiply a two digit number with another number that has many zeros.  They will find this trick simple and fun!  On Wednesday, we will use our past knowledge of expanded notation to solve the problems.  By Thursday and Friday, after hopefully truly understanding this multiplying two digit number skill, I will merge into teaching them the correct algorithm for multiplying a 2 digit number by a 1 digit number.  It should be a fun and challenging week in Math.

For fast facts, we will be making this week interesting!  The kids will go back to their colored timed multiplication tests.  This week will be for a grade.  I will give each child a verbal reminder on Monday what they specifically need to study.  Then, we will ALSO give them a practice division timed test that will NOT be for a grade.  Our goal is to have the kids apply what they know in multiplication facts, to division.

In Science, we are trekking along and having a good time learning about Ecosystems and Food Chains/Webs.  This week we will dive deep into learning about Food Chains and try to internalize what exactly a producer, consumer, and decomposer is when we are talking about food chains.  We will be watching a plethora of Non-Fiction videos, drawing/mapping out an actual Food Chain, and using Brain Pop as a resource to teach us as well.

It should be a fun week. I am glad to be back to learning and having a good time with these kiddos.

Love,
Mrs. S

STAAR Week

Tuesday, April 24

The Math STAAR test will be given Tuesday morning.  Students will need to arrive at school on time,  (7:50am) having had a nutritious breakfast.  The school will provide snacks and a water bottle for each student during the test.  If your child wears glasses it is IMPERATIVE that he or she brings them to school that morning.  Students will be given four hours to complete the test.  We have modified our schedules to meet this state requirement.  Lunch will be at 12:45.  Specials will be at 1:15.  For homework  this evening, students will also need to have a good night’s rest.   

Wednesday, April 25

The Reading STAAR test will be given Wednesday morning.  Students will need to arrive at school on time,  (7:50am) having had a nutritious breakfast.  The school will provide snacks and a water bottle for each student during the test.  If your child wears glasses it is IMPERATIVE that he or she brings them to school that morning.  Students will be given four hours to complete the test.  We have modified our schedules to meet this state requirement.  Lunch will be at 12:45.  Specials will be at 1:15.  For homework  this evening, students will also need to have a good night’s rest.   They will have worked very hard over the last two days, and deserve a night to relax!

Thursday, April 26

(PLEASE LOOK FOR A BRIGHT ORANGE FLYER TO BE COMING HOME.) 

Any students absent on Tuesday or Wednesday will have to make up the STAAR test on this Thursday (4/26).

Students will have a day to celebrate their hard work over the week with a STAAR PARTY on Thursday.  Students may bring a pillow, blanket, and books to use as we celebrate with a cozy READ IN during the language arts block.  For math, students may bring a strategy board game to play with classmates.  We ask that you keep any electronic game devices at home. 

Friday, April 27

Friday is our annual BIKE or CARPOOL to school day.  We are asking kids to help do their part to reduce pollution.  If possible, please help your student bike to school.  If this is not possible, carpooling and riding the bus to school is another way to help reduce emissions and take care of our environment.  Friday will be a regular school day.  We will be back to work!

Your children have been hard at work keeping you up to date with their favorite happenings at school.  Please read and comment on their excellent reporting.  The website is http://hce3rdgradethoughts.blogspot.com/.

Thank you for all your hard work, cooperation and support this year!

Omi Ford and Angela Skrivanek