Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Winter Break is Almost Here!

I love my kiddos but we . all. need. a. BREAK!


We spent last year pushing writing and the result was "Luna - A fractured Cinderella story".  If you didn't make it to Lit night last Thursday, please read it in our "other handouts" section of this site.

In Language Arts, we studied Cinderella tales from around the world.  The study concentrated on North America including the following books:  The Rough Face GirlCindy EllenCinderella is So Annoying!Cinder-Elly, Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters, Domitila, and Little Gold Star.   


We are continuing our study of traditional literature genres (fairy tales, fables, folktales, myths and tall tales).   We learned that traditional tales were preserved in the oral tradition before people started to write them down. Generations were and are taught proper ways to behave.  Customs, values, traditions, and beliefs are celebrated in these tales.   Students are working on their own version of a traditional tale. 

In math we are working on geometry focusing on 2D plane figures.  This unit is vocabulary rich.  Most words and concepts were introduced in previous grades. Students are expected to know and use the vocabulary when talking about shapes and their attributes. Kids got a "fortune teller" to help them practice 2D shape names.


When we return in January we'll be looking at the attributes of 3D figures -- with another batch of vocabulary!  So please review these terms if you have the opportunity.

In science, we finished a unit on landforms and rapid changes to the Earth.  In social studies we are wrapping up a look at mapping.  Big exciting project in social studies coming up in January.  Be on the lookout for parent letters when we return. 

I will not be sending homework over the break - BUT ... your child's brain is a muscle that needs to be exercised to stay fit.  I strongly recommend that you do not break routine.  Your child should read at least 20 minutes a day, log into i-station twice a week, and continue to practice math facts on xtra math and math concepts on Think Through Math.


There is nothing more frustrating for a teacher than to administer the reading assessment mid year and have NOT show the growth I know a student has worked for.  PLEASE encourage reading over break.  You should read too!!


Reminders/Announcements:
1. Thursday December 15th PARTY TIME from 8:00-9:00.  
2. Thursday December 15th is also the last day of the grading period for Quarter 2.  Students should make sure to have all work turned in.  Don’t forget to check Home Access! 
3. Tuesday January 3rd, 2017 – Students return to school.
4. Thursday January 12th – Report cards go home.

Have a wonderful restful holiday and I'll see you next year.

Friday, December 9, 2016

Week of December 5th (aka I will not countdown to the break)

Parents:
It has been a crazy busy week with the kids with the emphasis on crazy.  The abrupt change in the weather and the proximity of Winter Break has altered our class performance and behavior.

On the bright side, we managed to write and illustrate a pretty darn cute fractured Cinderella tale.  You can read it here on the website.  It is under "Other Document/Reading".

We are continuing to review landforms and discuss rapid changes to the Earth.  Most of the landforms the kids can identify easily by sight (they were introduced in 1st grade) however, they cannot identify them by definition.  In other words if there is a picture of an island, no problem naming it.  If I ask what area of land surrounded by water on all sides is ... the results are less than confident.

We are in the beginning stages of geometry in math and this unit has a TON of vocabulary.  Again, many of these shapes were introduced in K, 1 and 2.  But 3rd graders have to think critically about the attributes of the shape while using the vocabulary.  So that a student who could sort all the four-sided figures easily might fail a question asking for all the quadrilaterals.  Parallel lines, right angles, quadrilaterals, pentagon, hexagon, parallelogram, rhombus, trapezoid, octogon and decagon are the terms that need to be rehearsed.  This week they made a plane figure fortune-teller that can be used to review.

Coming very soon in January will be many more vocabulary words for 3-Dimensional shapes.

Monday, December 5, 2016

Week of December 5th


Parents are encouraged to review the district-approved flyers by going to Peachjar.  Use this link : )

December 6th is the deadline for parents to nominate students for TAG testing.  Use this link for the form nominate your child for TAG testing.  The form must be turned into the FCE office by December 6th. We have instructed parents to turn the forms in directly to the office themselves.

Our Winter Class party will be held December 15th from 8:00-9:00. Third grade has a breakfast tradition (wearing pajamas). Please consider donating something to make this a special event for our kiddos. The Sign-Up Genius link is below (Thanks to our our homeroom parent Irene Merkin!)