Recess & Pokémon Cards

Recess is an important time of our school day as it allows kids to engage their bodies in physical activity. We know that our minds work best when our bodies are strong and healthy!  In order to encourage students to exercise during recess, I am asking that they only trade their Pokémon cards during the first recess.  They have been told that during the second recess they should be up and moving . . . no trading or even watching others trade.  I know they enjoy the cards and I also know they should be enjoying recess.  As a result, we agreed upon this compromise.  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  Thanks for helping me keep your kiddos up and moving so we can keep them learning in the classroom!!

Aug. 29 - Sept. 2

Math- Our first test will be on Tuesday.  It will cover "Topic 1" from our math book--which was all about numeration.  We will take a practice test together on Monday, and then the actual test will be taken using the computers on Tuesday.  A copy of the directions to the "site" was sent home Friday with the kids if you would like to preview the process.  We will begin Topic 2, Number Sense: Addition and Subtraction on Wednesday.

Reading-  We are continuing to practice the skill of Making Connections when we read.  When your child finishes reading a passage, ask him/her if there were any connections to their life, another text or to the world.  Last week in Daily 5 the students practiced how to "read to self" and how to "read to someone".  This week we will continue practicing both of those reading types as well as add "word work" to the rotation. Word Work is our time to practice spelling activities.

*We will begin reading logs this week. They are due the Tuesday of the following week.

Language Arts- We will continue learning about nouns and will focus more on determining whether a noun is a common noun or proper noun.  We will also write stories that include a beginning, middle and end.

Spelling
Rigby Words: her, look, many, mom, dairy, dolphin, fixture, marble, visitor, physical
Extension: Focus on Post (after): postdate, postgraduate, posthumous, postindustrial, postmark, postmeridian, postmorthem, postpone, postproduction, postscript

Science and Social Studies-  We will continue to learn about solar energy with an experiment this week using sunscreeen.  The boys and girls will learn the difference in 3 types of communities and practice identifying them - rural, suburban, and urban.

Thank You & School Pictures

Thanks for attending Parent Information Night!  Please note that picture order forms were sent home with you this evening and are due back before pictures on Tuesday.  For those of you who could not attend this evening, I will send home picture forms and my packet of information with your child tomorrow.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  Thank you!

PIN

Just a reminder that our Parent Information Night is tonight at 6:00 pm.  I'm looking forward to seeing you again and sharing what the year has ahead of us.  Hope you can make it!  =)

Our First Week Slide Show

Our First Week

Click above to check out our Animoto slide show from the week. What a great group of kids and what a great year we'll have together!

We had a SUPER first week!

First Week of School  

We completed our first week of 3rd grade!  It was a wonderful week getting to know each other better, learning about what's coming up this year, as well as reviewing school and classroom expectations for the year.  Ask your child about some of their new friends that they have made and about some of their favorite first week activities.

This Week...PARENT INFO NIGHT-- I hope to see you all on Thursday evening, August 25, at 6:00pm.  At that time I will introduce myself, go over the 3rd grade curriculum and explain school and classroom expectations.

Spelling- 
We will begin spelling this week.  There will be two lists coming home in Monday folders.  Your child has the choice of choosing which list he or she wants to practice each week.  Both lists consist of the same number of words.  One list comes directly from our reading program and follows a weekly pattern.  The other list will require your child to learn more about the meanings of new words and how to apply them. Tests will be given on Friday.  Children will be expected to practice their spelling at home nightly, but will not be given daily homework assignments to turn in.  They will use their word work time to practice their list at school.

Math-
We began studying numbers this past week using our newly adopted math program, enVision.  The students have a text book this year and we have spent quite a bit of time learning how to use them.  We reviewed the three ways to write a number:  expanded form, standard form and word form. 

Reading-

We discussed "just right" books this week and practiced reading to ourselves.  The kids did fabulous and enjoyed reading their "I Pick" books.  Students will be using a textbook in reading this year as well.  We will begin reading our first theme titled "People and Places" this week.  The year will begin with a study about communities.  The reading strategy focus for the first two weeks will be "making connections."

Writing-

Students will write their very own Bio-poem this week.  I'm hoping you will see them Thursday evening.   In grammar we will learn about nouns--people, places and things.

Science-
The school year started with a unit about solar energy.  Ask your child about the sundials we created on Friday and what they learned about the effect the sun has on our shadows.

Social Studies-
A discussion about communities will begin this week.

Check back regularly for classroom updates!