Third Grade Rite of Passage ... the STAAR Ready tests

On Tuesday, Third graders had their first "official" STAAR like testing.  The results were a really good baseline.  We have 9 more weeks to develop our reading comprehension skills and to practice using them!

Stamina is the biggest concern.  Students have to be able to sit and focus for a minimum of 3 hours (it is a four-hour timed test).  For our class, on the five passages 16 kids passed the first passage (with many students getting 100% on that particular passage.)  On the last passage, only 10 kids passed and there were no 100%.  In class we are going to be practicing "mental breaks" to refresh between passages.  On actual testing days, Reading will be the 2nd of two arduous days!

The kids will take a math STAAR ready week after next.  Math is a little easier for kids to double-check and we will be continuing to visualize in problem solving so they can determine what operation to use and whether it is a two part problem.  Review their homework with them!  Kids that can correctly get the answer without relying on multiple choice always are more successful.

LIVING MUSEUM
We've completed our research and written the speeches that visitors to our museum will here.  We are currently work in on brochures.  At home you and your child should decide what you will be creating to supplement the presentation.  Some students in the past have done posters, poster costumes, powerpoints, brief videos, brought props, brought samples or dressed up as the inventor.  The extent to which your child does this is up to you; however having a "display" like a poster is a minimum requirement.

IN SCIENCE
We are currently looking at weather and the water cycle.  Upcoming units are the characteristics and life cycles of plants and animals which is always engaging for the kids.  Inherited traits are part of this unit, so you may be asked if you can roll your tongue or have a "hitchhiker's thumb"

MATH
Finishing up interpreting data and graphing and moving on to more problem solving.  I encourage kids to work on their fluency at home as it gives them more confidence and allows them to focus on the intent of the problem rather than computation.

Wasn't it just Halloween?

The year continues to speed by!  Next week we will be finalizing grades for interim report cards for the 3rd nine weeks.

It's hard to believe that 3rd graders have already completed two Project Based Learning units and are started on their 3rd.

Let's touch base on how things are going in the classroom ...
1.  The kids are talking ... a lot and they are missing important information.  There seems to be a large number of assignments that have to be redone for 70%.  I think your kids can do better - please address this at home.

2.  In reading we are starting our research project on an important inventor, innovator or entrepreneur.  The kids have chosen their subject and will get books a the library on Friday.  Some subjects are more difficult than others, so if they want to change, I will suggest an individual that I know has several resources.

They may do research at home, but all writing is done at school for their speech and brochure.

The costume, props or powerpoints that can be used during our "Living Museum" must be done at home.  Please read the parent letter going home tomorrow for more details.

3.  In math, problem solving is our focus and applying all of the strategies we have learned so far.  Students must be able to visualize a real world math problem to determine whether it is a multistep problem.  They must also be able to understand what computation should be used and if there is "garbage information" within the problem.

4.  During Science we are discussing the characteristics of Environments emphasizing how living and nonliving things interact.