Reading: We have been working to find the sequence of events within a text.
Word Study: Our test tomorrow will be on inflectional endings. Students will be adding the ending -s, -ed, and -ing of words ending in "y". The next unit will focus on Syllable Juncture in VCV and VCCV patterns. This means we will be focusing on how syllable patterns can help us differentiate between long and short vowel sounds when we are reading and writing words.
Math: The third graders are learning a great deal about multiplication and division. We continue to play games to gain recall of the facts. They are also learning various strategies for finding the solution to unknown facts. Ask your child about the doubling strategy!
Science: We are learning about how fossils help us to understand what animals once lived on the earth, and that Illinois (and Michigan) were once covered by an ocean as we have found fossils of fish and shells!
Social Studies: Chapter 2 tests will come home by Friday this week. We will begin to learn about Economics through a video series called "Econ and Me". Please see itslearning for the link if you would like to view these videos at home.
Writing: Students have started finalizing personal narratives and typing them in GoogleDocs. More revisions will take place once the typing is complete. Revision work is meant to strengthen a student's writing.
Next Week's Schedule:
Stuff-A-Truck
Please remember that we are collecting canned food for our annual food drive. Boxes are outside each classroom to collect non-perishable items. Our school goal is to DOUBLE last year's collection of 1500 items. The classroom that collects the most will win a personal pan pizza party from Pizza Hut and recognition on 97.5 Y Country.
As teachers, we are always striving to communicate better with our families. We understand that the way children are learning math is different than when you were young. Here is a link for a video created by students to explain how we are learning to multiply and divide. Included in the video will be several games that you can play at home to help your child to practice multiplication in a fun way. We hope the video helps you to feel more connected with what your child is learning in school. We are also busy planning a fun evening visit in our 3rd-grade classrooms so your child can show you all that he or she gets to experience during a day of math in 3rd grade. It will be very informal and we hope you will consider coming! We will let you know as soon as the date is finalized.
Math Video and Math Night
Link for Video:
Report Cards
Tomorrow is a half day. Teachers will be working on finalizing report cards. Report cards will be sent home the week of the 18th.
Also, math center is moving along now. Students should spend some time outside of class each week practicing. The goal is improvement each week--not passing. Emphasis on passing causes stress and anxiety in kids over math fact memorization. There are fun games on our itslearning pages to help practice. Quizlet (located at the bottom of our itslearning page) has games to play for each math center level. Games may include Match and Gravity.
Fact Practice
Please don't forget to contact us if you are able to volunteer to help with math fact practice. This could be 1/2 hour to an hour one day a week.
Also, math center is moving along now. Students should spend some time outside of class each week practicing. The goal is improvement each week--not passing. Emphasis on passing causes stress and anxiety in kids over math fact memorization. There are fun games on our itslearning pages to help practice. Quizlet (located at the bottom of our itslearning page) has games to play for each math center level. Games may include Match and Gravity.
