The children did a great job today at the Lower School Town Meeting. They were very insightful with their words about Peace. Tomorrow there will be a small ceremony to celebrate International Peace Day. We now have our Peace letters in the third grade hallway to remind us of what Peace means to us and how we can possibly help achieve those ideas.
Math tests will be coming home this week. I must share that the class as a whole really did understand the concepts. I also want you to know that I reviewed each section and read and explained the directions and even cautioned them to where they might make the careless mistakes if they weren't reading carefully. When you receive your child's test, you may want to review mistakes that were made either by carelessness, inattention to directions, or errors in computation. I will have done so prior to you receiving it in the weekly papers. It is most unfortunate when errors are made due to lack of proofreading and attention to detail. This class as a whole loves math and are quite capable.
This week the spelling words are examples of Diphthong Syllables. They are a little more difficult than they are used to . Tonight they have to rewrite the words in abc order on the paper that I gave them today in class. The dictation will be to write the rules of Diphthong Syllables which they have in their spelling notebook.
We will be working on the reading skill of main idea and supporting details again this week using the story of Satchel Paige. We will also work on activities that require sequencing of events to help with organizing the details of a story.
We have finished the first draft of our first third grade Personal Narratives. This week we will work on editing and revising our lead sentences and making our details become more alive by using our senses. We have also begun an additional essay on Friendship. That is our character trait for this month. The essay will be coming home tonight for you to read and to help proofread only the spelling errors. The first paragraph should discuss the top three qualities that one would like to have in a friend and why. The second paragraph should reveal at least three things that they like to do with a friend in detail. The intent was that each paragraph should be at least eight sentences long.
I hope to complete the study on Florida this week. We will touch on the two Famous Henry's. Thanks to them tourism and the railroad system flourished.
We are beginning our second Unit in Math. Tonight the children are bringing home a Parent Letter that I would like you to read to see the skills that we will cover. Today with started with Fact Families. Tomorrow we will begin to work on Fact extensions to help us add and subtract larger numbers.
We will begin to create our own personal poem booklets. Each child will design their own cover and then in their spare reading time will go through the poem books that I have in the writing section of the room. As they find a poem that is their favorite, I will make a copy of it for them to add to their own booklet. From time to time I may ask them to find a poem with a certain style. But for the most part, it's a way for them to familiar with poetry on their own time and discover their own style.
This week we go to Computer Lab on Wednesday and Thursday. I will keep you posted of those skills and projects. You may also want to check out Mrs. Baralt's blog as well.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Mighty Monday!
I hope everyone had a relaxing and fun weekend. There is a lot to share with you about what to expect this week.
First, I am sending home a letter about the Spelling City website. You can now access the weekly spelling list through both the blog and the website. Just follow the directions on the letter that I sent home today. The children also have a Spelling Contract of homework for the week. We discussed this in class. I told them that if they have the extra time and it is NOT a burden, then they can get ahead. This week they will be asked to rewrite the rules for Open Syllable words as a part of dictation. These rules are in their notebook. I will remind them to bring the notebook home and you may want to suggest to write these rules in their agenda. That way they have the rules to review the entire week without having to bring home the notebook each day. I have posted the spelling list for the week on the side of the blog for your convenience.
I have also sent home a Family Tree exercise that is not due until Wednesday. The roots to the tree are the names of your family. I told the children that they could add more family names on the leaves or limbs, but they are to think and write words and phrases about your family's traditions and culture. This would include foods, where your ancestors are from and then just special events that are unique to your family. We have been discussing heritage and different cultures in class. Many of the children did interview you and possibly their grandparent already. So this activity should be a little easier as they can use that information as well.
We are continuing to share our Geography Projects this week. I will be sending home an Assessment Rubric so the children can see how they followed directions. But I will keep the projects for a while in the classroom for others to see.
We will concluding our review of Unit 1 in Math. We will have a review test on Wednesday and the "real" test on Thursday. They are also coming home with a challenge activity. They have until Friday to have the elephants marching around the pyramid as the picture shows on the sheet. They are to continue folding the triangle on the black lines until the correct picture is complete.
The children will do more in-depth reading about Florida this week. It is my goal to complete the Florida book by Friday. I have some comprehension questions that are using during morning work to help guide their reading in searching for details.
Some of the children are coming home with what I call "baggy books". There are instructions inside the bag. But, the children are to read this story orally to you , not necessarily all in one night, but they are to read with expression and pay attention to each word. Then I would like them to reread the story independently(perhaps during their nightly reading) and then write a 5 sentence paragraph on loose leaf paper explaining the main idea and using 3 supporting details. This is the major reading skill that we are working on at this time. I am giving each child 3 days to complete this assignment. If your child does not have one in their bookbag today, they will eventually have one. Be on the lookout!
Don't forget to turn in their nightly reading logs. I have already had a few turned in! Way to go!!
Tomorrow is picture day! I told the children that if you wanted them to wear a part of the uniform that they are not used to wearing, that they could bring a change of shirt if they would fell more comfortable after the picture is taken. For instance, if you want you son to wear the white button down shirt, they could bring the polo shirt to change in. I asked them to make sure that they come to school neatly dressed with combed hair. I am not quite sure when our turn will be, but I will not take them out to play before the pictures. And, I know that they will do everything they can to get the pictures in before lunch.
Our special moment stories are in full bloom this week. We will be working on these stories for at least a week and then we will move on to another personal narrative. You may want to ask your child their first topic of choice.
We are really working on Active Listening. The children do need to pay attention and follow directions once they are given. You may want to consider giving 2 and 3 directions at a time and not repeating so that they can begin to become accustomed to keeping track of what they have to remember. I find that they are easily distracted by themselves. I did not realize that all the things in their desks were so appealing and interesting! Smiles!
Thank you for all of your support and help. This week I will add some new responsibilities which means that they may have more to keep up with at home and at school.
First, I am sending home a letter about the Spelling City website. You can now access the weekly spelling list through both the blog and the website. Just follow the directions on the letter that I sent home today. The children also have a Spelling Contract of homework for the week. We discussed this in class. I told them that if they have the extra time and it is NOT a burden, then they can get ahead. This week they will be asked to rewrite the rules for Open Syllable words as a part of dictation. These rules are in their notebook. I will remind them to bring the notebook home and you may want to suggest to write these rules in their agenda. That way they have the rules to review the entire week without having to bring home the notebook each day. I have posted the spelling list for the week on the side of the blog for your convenience.
I have also sent home a Family Tree exercise that is not due until Wednesday. The roots to the tree are the names of your family. I told the children that they could add more family names on the leaves or limbs, but they are to think and write words and phrases about your family's traditions and culture. This would include foods, where your ancestors are from and then just special events that are unique to your family. We have been discussing heritage and different cultures in class. Many of the children did interview you and possibly their grandparent already. So this activity should be a little easier as they can use that information as well.
We are continuing to share our Geography Projects this week. I will be sending home an Assessment Rubric so the children can see how they followed directions. But I will keep the projects for a while in the classroom for others to see.
We will concluding our review of Unit 1 in Math. We will have a review test on Wednesday and the "real" test on Thursday. They are also coming home with a challenge activity. They have until Friday to have the elephants marching around the pyramid as the picture shows on the sheet. They are to continue folding the triangle on the black lines until the correct picture is complete.
The children will do more in-depth reading about Florida this week. It is my goal to complete the Florida book by Friday. I have some comprehension questions that are using during morning work to help guide their reading in searching for details.
Some of the children are coming home with what I call "baggy books". There are instructions inside the bag. But, the children are to read this story orally to you , not necessarily all in one night, but they are to read with expression and pay attention to each word. Then I would like them to reread the story independently(perhaps during their nightly reading) and then write a 5 sentence paragraph on loose leaf paper explaining the main idea and using 3 supporting details. This is the major reading skill that we are working on at this time. I am giving each child 3 days to complete this assignment. If your child does not have one in their bookbag today, they will eventually have one. Be on the lookout!
Don't forget to turn in their nightly reading logs. I have already had a few turned in! Way to go!!
Tomorrow is picture day! I told the children that if you wanted them to wear a part of the uniform that they are not used to wearing, that they could bring a change of shirt if they would fell more comfortable after the picture is taken. For instance, if you want you son to wear the white button down shirt, they could bring the polo shirt to change in. I asked them to make sure that they come to school neatly dressed with combed hair. I am not quite sure when our turn will be, but I will not take them out to play before the pictures. And, I know that they will do everything they can to get the pictures in before lunch.
Our special moment stories are in full bloom this week. We will be working on these stories for at least a week and then we will move on to another personal narrative. You may want to ask your child their first topic of choice.
We are really working on Active Listening. The children do need to pay attention and follow directions once they are given. You may want to consider giving 2 and 3 directions at a time and not repeating so that they can begin to become accustomed to keeping track of what they have to remember. I find that they are easily distracted by themselves. I did not realize that all the things in their desks were so appealing and interesting! Smiles!
Thank you for all of your support and help. This week I will add some new responsibilities which means that they may have more to keep up with at home and at school.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Terrific Tuesday!
I hope that everyone had a fun and relaxing holiday weekend. The day weekends are the best!! We are off to a great week. Tonight, the children are coming home with a new spelling list with a pattern of Closed Syllables. We are beginning a new format for reviewing spelling words that I think the children are going to really enjoy. I demonstrated in class in hopes that they don't have any problems at home. But, they are to go to the website: www.spellingcity.com. They are to enter all the spelling words by typing them correctly into the individual boxes. Once they have done this, they can go to Test Me, Teach Me and Play a Game. I would expect them to use Teach Me for words that they find more difficult first before they go to the game section. I explained to them in class today that they are allowed to go to Hang Mouse, Word Search, or Word Scramble. The expectation is that they should only do one game each night this week. Some of the activities can be printed and they can do that as well as proof that they completed the activity. This is a fun and quite educational website and I plan on using this in the classroom as well for the children that complete their work or are waiting patiently for my help in another subject area.
We will continue our work on sentence structure, kinds of sentences and nouns. In Writing Workshop, we completed making our three step outlines for at least 5 special moments. After choosing one of these ideas, we are currently working on the timeline of events that will help to build this story called a Personal Narrative. We will use this timeline to write paragraphs which will include a setting. This strategy in narrative writing will hopefully be helpful to the children to better understand what makes a good sequential narrative. We will work on this idea for at least another week and then publish it. We will attempt a second narrative and then the children will be expected to continue this process independently during writer's workshop without as much instruction from myself.
We will complete the first unit in Math. It is my goal to have the children ready to take the test by next Wednesday. As a result, you may see a little more math homework come home to make sure they receive enough review However, if your child demonstrates proficiency, then they may not have that particular homework assignment. It is my goal to have the children see the value in paying close attention in class and working to the best of their ability. No point, in practicing something they have already proven they can do in class.
We have begun our new class novel entitled, Muggie Maggie. We only began the first chapter today. But I think the children read enough to know that it's about a third grade girl that doesn't want to learn to write cursive. I have asked the children as they are reading this book to think of ways that they are like the main character and the how they would feel if they were "in her shoes".
There will be a Wordly Wise Quiz on Thursday. I felt like there has been too much down time since we last reviewed, so I will review again tomorrow and then give the quiz on Thursday to be fair.
We will complete our Science experiment tomorrow with the actual launching of the paper airplanes and comparing the flight distances between the computer paper and construction paper airplanes. We will also complete another experiment by comparing three different style and size balls by measuring the distance they bounce off of carpet and hard surface. Both of these experiments will allow the children to use their knowledge of the Scientific Method.
I am really looking forward to seeing the Geography Projects coming in tomorrow. Each child will have a chance to share their project and present their favorite geographical feature. When we share projects, I call it Museum time. So tomorrow will be our first Geography Museum. Thank you for your help and support with this project.
Tonight was also the first night since school began that they have brought home their math workbook. PLEASE make sure that your child returns to school with it tomorrow or they will be very lost and unable to participate in tomorrow's lesson.
The pillar of character this month is Friendship and how we can all be friends.. even if we have a difference of opinion. We will also celebrate International Peace Day on September 21. After reading a couple of books and exploring a couple of websites, I am going to have the children create a page on what peace means to them with an illustration. I know that they did something similar in second grade with voice threads, but I am going to encourage to choose an idea that they have not considered before. We will create a class booklet and it will be available to you during our first Writer's Workshop Celebration in a few weeks.
I will be making some changes to my blog this week. So hopefully by next Monday, you will notice a new and improved Hensler Herald. Let's hope!
We will continue our work on sentence structure, kinds of sentences and nouns. In Writing Workshop, we completed making our three step outlines for at least 5 special moments. After choosing one of these ideas, we are currently working on the timeline of events that will help to build this story called a Personal Narrative. We will use this timeline to write paragraphs which will include a setting. This strategy in narrative writing will hopefully be helpful to the children to better understand what makes a good sequential narrative. We will work on this idea for at least another week and then publish it. We will attempt a second narrative and then the children will be expected to continue this process independently during writer's workshop without as much instruction from myself.
We will complete the first unit in Math. It is my goal to have the children ready to take the test by next Wednesday. As a result, you may see a little more math homework come home to make sure they receive enough review However, if your child demonstrates proficiency, then they may not have that particular homework assignment. It is my goal to have the children see the value in paying close attention in class and working to the best of their ability. No point, in practicing something they have already proven they can do in class.
We have begun our new class novel entitled, Muggie Maggie. We only began the first chapter today. But I think the children read enough to know that it's about a third grade girl that doesn't want to learn to write cursive. I have asked the children as they are reading this book to think of ways that they are like the main character and the how they would feel if they were "in her shoes".
There will be a Wordly Wise Quiz on Thursday. I felt like there has been too much down time since we last reviewed, so I will review again tomorrow and then give the quiz on Thursday to be fair.
We will complete our Science experiment tomorrow with the actual launching of the paper airplanes and comparing the flight distances between the computer paper and construction paper airplanes. We will also complete another experiment by comparing three different style and size balls by measuring the distance they bounce off of carpet and hard surface. Both of these experiments will allow the children to use their knowledge of the Scientific Method.
I am really looking forward to seeing the Geography Projects coming in tomorrow. Each child will have a chance to share their project and present their favorite geographical feature. When we share projects, I call it Museum time. So tomorrow will be our first Geography Museum. Thank you for your help and support with this project.
Tonight was also the first night since school began that they have brought home their math workbook. PLEASE make sure that your child returns to school with it tomorrow or they will be very lost and unable to participate in tomorrow's lesson.
The pillar of character this month is Friendship and how we can all be friends.. even if we have a difference of opinion. We will also celebrate International Peace Day on September 21. After reading a couple of books and exploring a couple of websites, I am going to have the children create a page on what peace means to them with an illustration. I know that they did something similar in second grade with voice threads, but I am going to encourage to choose an idea that they have not considered before. We will create a class booklet and it will be available to you during our first Writer's Workshop Celebration in a few weeks.
I will be making some changes to my blog this week. So hopefully by next Monday, you will notice a new and improved Hensler Herald. Let's hope!
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