August 27 - August 31

August 27-31

Hello! 
Read below to see what we will be working on this first FULL week of 3rd grade.

Math

We began Topic 1 in math today. Students will be using place value to learn about numbers and different ways to represent them. Some of the key concepts that they will learn this week are:
* Representing numbers
* Ways to name numbers
* Greater numbers
* Counting and identifying numbers on a number line

Students will have homework every night in math. They are expected to complete the "Practice" side of the sheet while the "Enrichment" side is optional. The first assignment was given to them today so they should have their homework sheet in their take-home folder with them.

Reading
Theme 1 was introduced in class today. Students will study Communities while practicing a variety of reading and writing skills. The reading strategy that students will practice this week is 'making connections.'

Students will be expected to read 15-20 minutes 4-5 nights a week in my class. The school will have several reading programs throughout the year in which the boys and girls will need to track the time they read. That will be the only time I send home an official reading log for tracking. Students will write in their agendas daily the 15-20 minutes I expect them to read. When the parent or guardian signs the agenda nightly, that will be my confirmation that your child has completed his or her reading for the day.

Spelling
"Short Vowel sounds" is the pattern for the first spelling list of the year. Students will take a pretest on Fridays. It is a child's score on the pretest that determines which of TWO lists they will recieve.
The Rigby list will contain 15 words with the pattern of the week.
The second list will also follow that pattern of the week, contain 15 words, but will contain words that are a little more difficult.
Your child has the opportunity to fluctuate between the two lists on a weekly basis. We will take a weekly pretest to determine how well each child knows the new pattern.

I will not be assigning nightly spelling homework for the students to turn into me. They will be completing an activity during class time each day instead. However, they are expected to learn study skills at home that require them to practice their words at home which will help them prepare for Friday's test.
You can have your child practice spelling at home by asking them to do an activity each night. This will help them prepare for the test. Here are a few ideas for you to have them do at home: reading and/or writing the words, putting them in ABC order, using them in sentences, finding them in a dictionary, take a practice test, find them in a book they a reading or copy them 3 times.

Science
We began learning about the sun today. We have a fun Solar Energy unit planned for the 3rd graders in which they will actually be building their own solar house. Watch for more about that in the next few weeks.

Writing
The year will begin with students writing a story while making sure to emphasize a Beginning, Middle and End so that it is organized, has flow and makes sense.

In grammar this week students will review nouns and verbs.

That's all for Week 1!!