February 28, 2019

Announcements

Thank you to everyone for attending Parent Teacher Conferences! This was the last scheduled conference time, but please let me know if you would like to meet again before the end of the year. 

Please note the date of the Spring Fling has changed from March 21 to April 5.

In the Classroom

In math this week, we finished up Unit 6. We ended the unit by discussing two step word problems and the order of operations. Students took their assessment on Thursday.

We finished our informational books this week and celebrated! The students loved being able to share their work with their peers and give each other compliments. They also loved the snacks that are part of any good celebration! Students took the opinion pre-test this week as well. We will begin discussing opinion writing next week.

In reading, we began working on main idea and supporting details. We will focus on identifying these things next week in small groups.

We finished our Economics unit this week. Students learned the difference between private and public goods, reviewed what opportunity cost means, and studied taxes and what the government uses them for. We will begin our Health unit next week.

Upcoming Events

Orchestra Field Trip-March 11

Spring Pictures-March 14

Spring Break-March 25-29

Spring Fling-April 5

Comet Culture Night-April 9

Early Dismissal at 12:50-April 10

Color Run-April 26

February 14, 2019

Announcements

Thank you to all parents who volunteered at the Valentine's party! 

Please make sure you check the Friday folder to confirm your conference date and time. Friday folder checklists will not be included for the next two weeks, as we prepare for conferences and third trimester. If I have concerns, I will be emailing or calling. 

The third grade won a pizza/ice cream party at the Comet Carnival Auction this year! They will be receiving their party on Friday, February 22nd during their lunch period. Each student will get a juice box, 2 slices of pizza, and custard from Andy's. We are excited to celebrate on this day! 

In the Classroom

(I apologize for no pictures this week! I took them, but cannot get them to load correctly.)

In math this week, we focused on multiplication/division strategies. We also played a game called Beat the Calculator that is helping us become more fluent with our basic facts. Finally, we explored polygons using straws and pipe cleaners. 

In writing, we continued publishing our expert pieces. We are hoping to finish these projects up next week in order to share with everyone at conferences. 

In reading this week, we took a practice MAP test for Language Arts. Students did this on the computer. We will use the assessment results to see which areas we need to focus on as we start preparing for the actual test in the Spring. 

We continued our Economics unit this week. We discussed the difference between goods/services. Students read a book called The Pickle Patch Bathtub that was about a family in the 1920's saving up to buy a bathtub! The students loved learning about economics during this time. 

Upcoming Events

No School, Teacher Work Day-February 15

No School, President's Day-February 18

3rd Grade Pizza/Ice Cream party-February 22

Parent Teacher Conferences-February 26 and 28 

Spring Pictures-March 14

Spring Fling-March 21

Spring Break-March 25-29

February 8, 2019

Announcements

The conference confirmation times were sent home this week in the Friday folder. Please let me know as soon as possible if you need to reschedule. 

We will be celebrating Valentine's day on Thursday, February 14th. Please have your student bring their Valentine cards and their optional box on this day or earlier. There is no school on Friday, February 15th or Monday, February 18th. 

The third grade won a pizza/ice cream party at the Comet Carnival Auction this year! They will be receiving their party on Friday, February 22nd during their lunch period. Each student will get a juice box, 2 slices of pizza, and custard from Andy's. We are excited to celebrate on this day!

In the Classroom

We spent much of math this week studying multiplication strategies. We made posters for various strategies that are both appropriate and efficient. Ask your third grader which strategy they use the most!

In writing, we finished partner revising and editing our expert pieces this week.

In reading this week, students focused on finding text evidence in their independent books. We completed reading responses that asked us to answer a question AND give proof or evidence from the text. Here are some of the responses we studied as models.

We finished our Geography unit this week. Students took an assessment on Tuesday. We also completed a Mystery Skype! Our mystery class was from Wisconsin. We loved using our geography skills to figure out where they were from. Each student did their job well, and the class really worked together. Here are the photos our photographer captured during the skype!

Luckily, we were able to still have another Mystery Skype on Friday. This mystery class was from Ontario, Canada! It was an added challenge to have a class outside of the U.S., but was so much fun talking with them.

Upcoming Events

Valentine's Day Room Party-February 14

No School, Teacher Work Day-February 15

No School, President's Day-February 18

3rd Grade Pizza/Ice Cream party-February 22

Parent Teacher Conferences-February 26 and 28 

Spring Pictures-March 14

Spring Fling-March 21

Spring Break-March 25-29

February 1, 2019

Announcements

Thank you to everyone who volunteered for our Valentine's Day party on February 14th! This is also the day we will be exchanging valentines. A list of names came home in the Friday folder last week, but let me know if you need another copy. Students are also able to bring in a box to collect their cards. 

In the Classroom

In math this week, we finished Unit 5 by discussing the strategy of decomposing multiplication facts. For example, if I have the fact 7 x 8, I can solve 2 x 8 and 5 x 8 and then add those products. We also tested over Unit 5.

Students began revising their non-fiction projects this week. We studied our rubric to make sure we understood the expectations. Students graded themselves and then performed revisions. We also started partner revisions.

In reading this week, students practiced using text evidence to support their comprehension. This is a critical skill students are asked to master as we are nearing the MAP test and the end of 3rd grade.

In Social Studies this week, we finished our map tools by discussing coordinate grids. We will put all of those skills to good use by participating in a few Mystery Skypes next week. Students will use yes/no questions to find out where our mystery classes are located. We will practice using map tools as well as location vocabulary words.

Upcoming Events

Valentine's Day Room Party-February 14

No School, Teacher Work Day-February 15

No School, President's Day-February 18

Parent Teacher Conferences-February 26 and 28 

Spring Pictures-March 14

Spring Fling-March 21

Spring Break-March 25-29