Update for 11/16-11/20

Language Arts

Reading- In Reading we are still working in the genre of Realistic Fiction working with narrative stories.  This week, students will work to reproduce stories given the events of the story using their knowledge of narrative superstructure.  

As we continue to consume and work in this genre, we are noticing craft elements.  This week we will begin to learn about and watch for backstory.  Backstory allows the reader to know a piece of the characters past that may help us understand the characters feelings, actions and motivations.  Super heroes have RICH backstory.  We will look into a few of our favorite super heroes pasts to help us understand this craft element.

Writing- We are spiraling back to review and practice conversations.  You can help us at home!  We are trying to talk without raising our hands about what happened in the story this week.  We read The Old Woman Who Named Things last week and will work in that book this week to understand the plot and theme of the book.  

 Word Work-Thank you for talking about how words work at home!  We will have our spelling test on Tuesday, November 17.  

Remember, that we work each day in class and November 18-November 24 I will be looking for students to apply their spelling words correctly in their reading and writing.

Social Studies- We will have our landforms and geography quiz on Friday.  A review sheet went home on Friday, 11/13.  Please use the discussion questions, notes from our social studies journal, graded papers and our online resource www.studiesweekly.com to help your child review what we have learned in class.  

We are moving onto maps and globes! What if you were lost at sea with no technology?!  We will learn the important impact of these tools on helping us navigate our  way home.

Here is some academic language that you can discuss and study at home to support your learner through this unit: grid, map, globe, longitude, latitude, compass rose, cardinal directions, hemisphere, Columbus, key, symbols, legend, equator, city, continents, states, oceans, and geographer.

Week of 10/26-10/30

Week of October 26 - October 30

RED RIBBON WEEK THIS WEEK.  We will participate in theme days and school wide discussion on the importance of making healthy choices.
Monday- Wear red.  We are "RED"y to lead a healthy life.
Tuesday- Wear pink. "New Friends are all around you."
Wednesday- Wear a college shirt. "My future is bright."
Thursday- Wear a crazy hair style. "Wild about being healthy."Friday- Wear a HCE shirt.  We will give each child a mustache.  I "mustache" you not to bully or do drugs.

READING-We will continue our genre study of realistic fiction.  As we read this week we will learn the difference between a first person and third person narrative.
WRITING-We will continue to map narrative stories.  This week we will look into the author's craft of dialogue.  We will learn to identify dialogue in a story and then begin to critique how and why an author uses dialogue to move the story.
WORD WORK-Students received new words last Tuesday.  On October, 27th we will take an assessment on these words and then work over the next week to  accurately apply these new words to our writing.
SOCIAL STUDIES-Our unit of study, geography, continues.  This week we will work to learn about the four regions of Texas and what landforms can be found in each region of the state.  On Wednesday, we will be shaping our own landforms and noting the differences and similarities between the various shapes in the land.  

MATH- This week during our math time, we will continue learning about subtraction. Last week we subtracted numbers with regrouping in the ones, tens, and hundreds. This week, we will be subtracting across zeros. Later in the week, we will be using our subtraction strategies in word problems. We will decode word problems and decide if we will be "taking away," "comparing," or find the "missing part." I was SO impressed by the math facts quiz last Friday. Keep up the GREAT work and study every night for 5 to 10 minutes. This week, we will have another addition and subtraction quiz. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night your child will bring home a subtraction worksheet. The problem of the week will be due on Friday. 

SCIENCE-During science this week, we will complete our discussion on Mixtures. Later in the week we will begin our unit on Energy. Energy is the ability to move and do work. 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. 

We have enjoyed conferencing with some parents on Thursday and Friday and we look forward to meeting with more of you this week!

October 19th - 23rd

Week of October 19th - 23rd

We have lots of news for this upcoming week! 

1) Thursday and Friday are Noon Dismissal Days. Please send hand written notes if your child will be going home a different way from these two days. We look forward to meeting with each of you during our conferences. Please remember to arrive on time as we have back to back conference times. 

2) Socktober Week is this week - remind your child to wear CrAzY socks all week! Our Leadership Council is collected items to donate to the Mission of Yahweh. We are needing items such as: socks, underwear, disposable diapers, and deodorant. 

MATH
Last week in math, we wrapped up our study of rounding. We will continue working on rounding in our daily warm up problems. We discussed how rounding can be applied in many real world situations. I challenge you to ask your child to round the price of items or the amount of items you would need on your next visit to the grocery store. Rounding is a useful tool! This week, we will begin our next unit on subtraction. We will start our week with subtracting without regrouping. Throughout the week, we will subtract in the thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones place. You can expect a Problem of the Week to come home on Monday and it will be due on Friday. A review worksheet for place value will come home on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. On Friday, your child will complete a fast facts quiz with addition and subtraction - this will be for a grade.

SCIENCE
On Friday, we completed our unit on Matter. This week we will begin learning about mixtures. A mixture is when two or more substances are combined. I always imagine trail mix as an example. You are able to mix peanuts, M&M's, almonds, cashews, raisins. These things are mixed together, but can easily be taken apart.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Reading

This week we will wrap up our work on character traits.  Students have been compiling a great list of words to use when describing a character in a story based on what they are thinking or how they are behaving.  We've been mapping, together, how a character changes throughout a story.  This week, students will try this learning on their own during independent reading.

Writing

For many weeks we will discuss narrative structure.  To the right, you will see an example anchor chart used in the classroom to help us move from thinking about the beginning, middle and end of a story and move into thinking about the superstructure of a narrative.  Words and ideas like setting the stage, initiating event, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution will be words that 3rd graders will learn and then be expected to use during discussions on mentor texts.

Word Work

Last week students took their first spelling tests and did very well.  This week, we take an application grade and introduce a new spelling pattern.  You are welcome to continue practicing at home.  We will continue to practice 10-15 minutes each day in class.  Teachers cannot email or post spelling lists due to copyright issues.  Please talk to your student about the importance of keeping up with and bringing home their spelling practice list.  

SOCIAL STUDIES

Landforms

We are starting a new unit in Social Studies, Geography.  Our geography unit is made up of two parts, landforms and map skills. We will start the unit with a look at landforms.  This week and last we review many landforms that are, hopefully, familiar to our students.  

The BIG idea in social studies that we will try to drive home is that our daily life is affected by the land surrounding us.  When we plan vacations, what we pack, what we do, and our travel are all determined by the land and water features surrounding our destination.  

Some of our upcoming vocabulary will be:

Geography-the study of Earth’s features

Landform- natural features, or shapes, of the land including mountains, valleys, plains, plateaus, etc.

Climate- the kind of weather a place has over a long period of time

Human Feature- something that people add to the landscape, such as a building

     Adapt- change to fit the environment

We've used this video and songs to help us remember the different types of landforms.

<i

Nov. 17-Nov. 25 in Language Arts and Social Studies

LANGUAGE ARTS

READING

Reading

Last week we worked on talking about what strategies good readers use when comprehension breaks down.  Students agreed that when I ask what strategies they try when stuck their first response is usually, sound it out.  While that is one strategy that may help readers who are stuck, it isn't the most effective strategy.  Some other strategies we decided good readers use are:
asking ourselves- does it make sense?
if not, looking at the pictures
reading on
going back and rereading
trying out a synonym and seeing if it makes sense
looking for parts of a word we know
our list will continue to grow as students start noticing what is helpful when they come to a problem while reading.

We also started and will work until Thanksgiving on context clues.  Students know that context means that there are clues in the text that can help a reader discover a words meaning.  Students will participate in class discussions on Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters as we discover the story and uncover all the new vocabulary it has to offer.  They will also work in small groups to share strategies for comprehension.  

SPELLING
We will not have spelling work again until December.  Instead, students will bring home review homework on capitalization and punctuation.

WRITING and SOCIAL STUDIES
Students have been working hard in writing.  We will be working on a number of pieces over the next 7 days.  Students will learn some organization strategies to guide their publication of a personal narrative.

We will then combine our work in Social Studies and Writing.  Students will learn about personification by consuming the mentor text I am the Ocean.  They will apply what they know from our work with landforms and create a landform poem with personification.  These are always some of our most amazing writing pieces.  Your child will share his or hers with you at Publisher's Picnic in May.

Finally, we will also be working on postcards to tell friends and families about vacations we have taken to different regions.  Students will be expected to apply learning and share with the recipient the climate, weather, activities and landforms they encounter while on their imaginary vacation.

Update from Mrs. Ford

LANGUAGE ARTS

READING

Reading

We will continue working with non-fiction features.  Students will learn how to use a FQR (Facts, Questions and Responses) chart this week as a note taking tool and helpful tool to solidify comprehension.

WRITING
Students have been working hard in writing.  We have selected a kernel narrative to take through the writing process.  Last week and this week we have talked about snapshot lead.  Students have brainstormed what senses were engaged at the beginning of their memorable moment.  We have almost finished adding our first round of details to our leads and will continue to learn how to participate in peer and teacher conferences to fine tune our writing.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Landforms

We are starting a new unit in Social Studies, Geography.  Our geography unit is made up of two parts, landforms and map skills. We will start the unit with a look at landforms.  This week and last we review many landforms that are, hopefully, familiar to our students.  

The BIG idea in social studies that we will try to drive home is that our daily life is affected by the land surrounding us.  When we plan vacations, what we pack, what we do, and our travel are all determined by the land and water features surrounding our destination.  

Some of our upcoming vocabulary will be:

Geography-the study of Earth’s features

Landform- natural features, or shapes, of the land including mountains, valleys, plains, plateaus, etc.

Climate- the kind of weather a place has over a long period of time

Human Feature- something that people add to the landscape, such as a building

     Adapt- change to fit the environment

We've used this video and songs to help us remember the different types of landforms.

10/28-11/1 Language Arts and Social Studies

LANGUAGE ARTS

Reading

We are still reading non-fiction.  This week we will focus on the facts located in non-fiction texts.  Students will learn to distinguish fact from opinion.  They will also work this week to determine if facts read are important or interesting.  This is a hard concept for third graders.  When most third graders read a fact, if they are interested in the topic, they judge the fact to be important.

Please remember that your child should read nightly for 20 minutes.  They are required to record the title and genre in their third grade planner.

Writing

We will create a narrative criteria chart this week as we start to dissect narratives to find out what makes a narrative interesting and good.  Students will also work with a partner to reproduce a narrative.  Reproduction is like putting puzzle pieces together without looking at the picture.  You have to pay attention to what you know about structure and patterns to make the puzzle (story) make sense. 

Spelling

We had last week OFF from spelling.  This week, your third grader should bring home NEW words on Monday.  8 points for the spelling menu is due on Thursday.  We will test on Friday.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Landforms

We are starting a new unit in Social Studies, Geography.  Our geography unit is made up of two parts, landforms and map skills. We will start the unit with a look at landforms.  This week we will review many landforms that are, hopefully, familiar to our students.  Our BIG idea in social studies is that our daily life is affected by the land surrounding us.  When we plan vacations, what we pack, what we do, and our travel are all determined by the land and water features surrounding our destination.  

Some of our upcoming vocabulary will be:

Geography-the study of Earth’s features

Landform- natural features, or shapes, of the land including mountains, valleys, plains, plateaus, etc.

Climate- the kind of weather a place has over a long period of time

Human Feature- something that people add to the landscape, such as a building

     Adapt- change to fit the environment   

Language Arts and Social Studies

LANGUAGE ARTS

READING

In Reading over the next few weeks we will be synthesizing our reading.   
My concrete example for synthesizing is this...
Think about when you make pasta.  You have to boil the water, add the dry noodles and then cook them, but that's not the way we eat our pasta.  We have to strain the noodles to get rid of the water but keep the REALLY  good pasta.  It's the same when we synthesize our reading.  We have to read the whole book, and even let it boil for a while, but synthesizing happens when we strain the information and we are left with the REALLY good stuff. 
This week we are working with non-fiction.  Your children are reading texts and trying to distinguish the FACTS (to record in their notes) from their THINKING (connections, thoughts, ideas, questions).

WRITING
This week in Writing we are working on how-to essays.  We have reviewed the features of this text.  Over the next few days, we will consume some good examples and create a class essay.  Then, students will work to create a how-to essay to teach us how to play his or her favorite game.

SPELLING
Spelling continues to be more of the same.  Students should bring home new spelling words on Mondays.  Homework is due on Thursdays.  We will take our test on Friday.

SOCIAL STUDIES

GEOGRAPHY

Students will have a geography quiz on Friday.  It will cover the first half of our unit of study.  Please make sure to look over the review sheet sent home last Friday.  Students have also been encouraged to take their Social Studies Journals home each night to aide in preparing for the quiz.  

LA and SS 1/22-1/25

READING
We will continue working with QAR (Question Answer Relationship) as we read and answer questions.  Students wrote some pretty tough questions last week to go with the article we read on Mei Lee's special gift.  
We will begin this week, applying this strategy and others on reading passages.  After we perfect using our reading skills in class, I will start to send home passages for homework.  

WRITING
The kids did a super job composing friendly letters to their third grade pen pals.  In the week to come, they will receive a letter from their pen pal.  We will then start working on composing a thank you letter response.  

SPELLING
Spelling homework will be shortened to 6 points this week.  

SOCIAL STUDIES
We will continue to learn about land forms.  This week we will start thinking of various ways to describe land forms or bodies of water.  The book I AM THE OCEAN will serve as our guide and inspiration as we begin to create LAND FORM POETRY!

Math and Science for the Week of January 23rd-27th

Fractions, Fractions, and more Fractions!!!  We are still working on......you guessed it, Fractions!  We started our really basic two weeks ago and reviewed some 2nd grade concepts of what a fraction is (part of a whole) and we revisited how to write fractions in several different ways.  Last week we focused on comparing fractions.  Which fraction is larger or smaller or equal?  We played Level 1 of our Fraction Taco game last week and really had a blast.  We had a short assessment this past Friday on Fractions of a Whole, Fractions of a Set, and Comparing Fractions.  Look for that in your child's Tuesday Newsday this week.
     This week we will concentrate on making equal fractions.  We we will learn why 1/2 and 2/4 are indeed the very same thing.  We will practice this concept by playing level 2  in our Fraction Taco Game!  We also will be talking about making models with fractions.  You will see this in your child's HW this week.  They will need to read a word problem very carefully and illustrate exactly what it says, so that they can answer the given question in the word problem.  I tell the kids that the most important thing in Fractions is to read the directions very carefully and identify exactly what the problem is asking for.  So many want to skim over the directions and make an educated guess as to what they are supposed to do.  It has proven disastrous when working with Fractions!

Last Thursday we finished devoting class time to our Landform project and moved on Natural Resources on Friday.  The kids really seemed to have a firm grasp on what a Natural Resource is and I was really pleased with some of their insightful comments during discussion.  This week we are going to dive a little further and learn about renewable and non-renewable resources, where these things are found, and how we can conserve on Earth.

Looking forward to it!  Any questions about content, please just shoot me a quick email and ask. :)

LA and SS for the week of 1/23/12

LANGUAGE ARTS

Spelling- Words will come home on Monday of this week.  Spelling homework menu items are due on Thursday.  Test on Friday.


Reading-  Your kids are getting the hang of QAR.  They wrote some pretty tough questions last week about an article on Full-Body Boarding.  
This week, we will continue to think about question answer relationships.
We also practiced this concept and applied our reading strategies on a reading passage.  Look for a passage to come home on Mondays and be due on Fridays.  I'm sending home the class example with homework on Monday so that you can see what kind of work needs to be done when answering questions.  I will also send home a READING CHECKLIST for your student to use as he or she reads the passage and completes the questions.


Writing- We will continue to read and critiquing book reviews. Our hope is to learn enough from what we consume (read) to produce some of our own!


Don't forget to check out the class blog, THIRD GRADE THOUGHTS. They will update this every Wednesday for your reading pleasure.

SOCIAL STUDIES

We will read and discuss the book, I am the Ocean.  Then, students will work to use personification and landform characteristics to create LANDFORM POETRY!

LA and SS for the week of 1/17/12

LANGUAGE ARTS
Spelling
We WILL have spelling words this week. The 10 points of spelling homework will be due on FRIDAY rather than Thursday to help give kids and families enough time to manage homework.

Reading
We are continuing to look at QAR (Question/Answer Relationships). Students will work to identify the types of questions they find and provide reasoning for their thoughts.
Your kids have been READING READING READING all about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They started a menu last week and will finish that learning by this Friday. I'm excited to see their thoughts and inspirations. You can look for this to come home for your viewing pleasure 1/24/12.

Writing
Last week students completed a FREE WRITE. They were able to choose their own topic to write about and then let me read. We are coming a long way as writers, but still have some items that need attention.
As a class, we will start reading and critiquing book reviews. Our hope is to learn enough from what we consume (read) to produce some of our own!
Don't forget to check out the class blog, THIRD GRADE THOUGHTS. They will update this every Wednesday for your reading pleasure.

SOCIAL STUDIES
We will continue to learn about landforms.  This week we will start thinking of various ways to describe landforms or bodies of water and think about where they can be found.  We will then take this information and create LANDFORM POETRY!

Math and Science for the Week of January 17th-20th

This short week in Math we will continue our study of Fractions.  Students will review Fractions of a Set in the beginning of the week.  We will mainly concentrate on Linear Fractions this week by teaching the students how to play "Fraction War."  The kids will be comparing Linear Fractions to decide if 1/3 is less, more, or equal to 1/2. They will be given a visual tool to help them make these decisions.  Towards the end of the week we will teach the kids another fun game called "Fraction Taco,"  by which the students will cut and manipulate and make their own fractions to really reach those kinesthetic learners.  Friday will be an assessment of fractions of a whole, fractions of a set, and comparing fractions.

  Please continue working with your child on the concept of money.  The district did not allot a good chunk of time for us to reinforce money in their road map. I feel its very important to take a step back and review money, being that we only touched the surface for three days at the beginning of this semester.

*******This week for fast facts students that made a 100 on their 0's,1's, and 10's, will be given the flashcards for 2's this week.  They will be tested on their 0's, 1's, 2's, AND 10's this Friday.

Students that did not receive a 100, will continue to study their 0's, 1's, and 10's and will be given the same test this Friday. This week's test will be recorded for a grade.

In Science we are still working on our Landform power point project.  The kids have really enjoyed working on the computer and learning how to research.  I have about 6-8 kids in each class completely finished and enjoying some free time on the computers!  For those students substantially behind, I will be contacting parents to make morning time arrangements to catch up.  Ideally, we want to all be finished by Wednesday and print on Thursday.  We shall see if it happens!  Usually when it comes to teaching, nothing ever works out as planned!

Looking forward to another great week of learning. :-)

Mrs. S   

Check out this awesome way to review LANDFORMS!