Weekly Update: September 27, 2019

Hello 3B Parents!

Hope you have enjoyed your week as we have at BSS! Students have been working hard and are coming to school ready and excited to learn. That is what is so great about third graders!

Important Dates to Remember:

• Tuesday, October 1st---Topic 1 Math Test
• Friday, October 4^th - School mass at 10:00am

*Please send in pet pictures!

• Wednesday, October 9th-School Picture Day
• Friday, October 11^th and Monday, October 14^th – No School
• Friday, October 18^th – Progress Reports
• Thursday, October 31^st----Pumpkin Project Fair at 8:30-9:15am

*Pumpkin Project*

Mrs. Newell and I are assigning a fun Storybook Pumpkin Project for the month of October. Students will be asked to choose a Just Right chapter book with a prominent main character. They then will write a summary of the book following the Somebody, Wanted, But, So Then model they learned this week and last. Next, students will complete a character analysis of the main character. Over the next few weeks we will be learning about character traits in school so they should be all prepared to complete this project! Lastly, they will decorate a pumpkin, designing it to look like the main character.

A packet of information on this will be sent home today! This project is due October 30^th! **Book choices must be made by Monday, October  7th!**

Math: We have been working through Topic 1 and will finish up next week. We took it slow as math rotations were introduced. Students are gaining independence and are getting better every day. It is great working with the students in small focus groups as it helps me gain insight to how each child is progressing. We will take the test next Tuesday! The main objective of this unit is for students to gain a clear understanding of place value up to the hundred thousand digit.

Take a look at students circulating through some of our math rotations! As they gain independence we will be able to do math in this rotation style much more frequently but we are off to a great start! 

M.A.T.H Rotations

M-Math with the Teacher 

A- At Seat Work

T- Technology

H- Hands-On Centers

  

Reading: This week students completed a number of activities based on the book Picture Day Perfection by Deborah Diesen. We continued to practice writing fictional summaries using the model: Somebody, Wanted, But, So, Then. This week students worked independently to fill out sticky notes for each part of the summary.

As a class, we worked together to combine student sticky notes into what we thought was the most concise summary.

Students then took what they learned to independently write a summary of the book.  

Writing: Students began working on an opinion writing piece based off the book, What if you had Animal Teeth? Students chose a specific animal and began described what they would do if they had teeth like that animal. Next week, students will complete a craft of themselves with a new set of pearly whites! Check out these next week on our October bulletin board!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Weekly Update: September 20, 2019

Happy Friday 3B Parents!

It was so nice meeting and speaking with parents who were able to attend last night’s Back to School Night! I can tell I have a great group of parents this year and am so excited to work with all of you to help make 3^rd grade a great year for your child!

Important Dates to Remember:

• Friday, October 4^th - School mass at 10:00am
• Wednesday, October 9th-School Picture Day
• Friday, October 11^th and Monday, October 14^th – No School
• Friday, October 18^th – Progress Reports

  

Math: This week in math we have begun studying numeration; focusing mainly on place value and the three different ways to name a number. We also learned how to name numbers on a number line.

To help students gain a better understanding of place value. Students took turns becoming a place value using Place Value Hats. Once given a digit, students had to work together to name the 6 digit number they were displaying.

  

Reading: This week, lessons focused on how to write summaries for fictional texts. To help students organize summaries I introduced them to the model: Somebody, Wanted, But, So, Then. With this model, students state the main character and what they wanted. Then students introduce the problem of the story and what the character tried to do to solve the problem. Finally, students state how the problem was eventually resolved.

First, I modeled this format with the book, Bits & Pieces by Judy Schachner. 

Next, I read The Very Cranky Bear and students worked in groups to fill out their own summary charts!

Next week, students will work independently on using this model to write summaries for the book, Picture Day Perfection. 

You can help:

After reading a picture book with your child remind them of the Somebody, Wanted, But, So, Then model and ask them to use it to summarize the book. 

You can prompt them with the following questions:

• SOMEBODY--Who is the main character?
• WANTED--What did they want?
• BUT-- What was the problem?
• SO-- What did the character try to do to solve it?
• THEN-- How was the problem resolved?

  

Religion: We have begun working through chapter one and have started learning about Jesus’ life as a child as well as the start of his public ministry. Students will continue receiving reading assignments for homework. They are typically asked to read 2 pages nightly, this is a great time for them to review what we discussed in class and take note of the main ideas and keywords. Next week we will work through the first chapter test together so students gain an idea of expectations.

Grammar: This week we focused on learning all about nouns. *For fun--ask your child to tell and show you what a noun is (the way they learned in school).

Students were introduced to nouns through a PowerPoint on Monday, then they completed a notebook activity to specify different types of nouns on Tuesday. On Wednesday, they completed a noun sort. Thursday, they did a task card scoot around the room identifying all of the nouns in a sentence. Today they took a quick assessment! This pattern follows the typical grammar lesson format for the week.

Next week, we will reinforce what they know about nouns by working with both nouns and verbs.  

Writing: This week, students completed the Important Book writing assignment for Back to School Night. Hopefully you were able to check out their entry in our class book! If not, please feel free to stop by and check it out!

 I hope you all enjoy a wonderful weekend!

Weekly Update: September 13, 2019

Happy Friday 3B Parents!

Students have been working hard all week with MAP testing learning and practicing many 3^rd grade routines and procedures. We began some academic content this week with phonics, writing, and handwriting. Students also set up interactive notebooks for math, writing and reading! Next week we will begin reading lessons, religion, and grammar.

Important Dates/Events:

• Tuesday, September 17^th-3B will be visiting the Scholastic Book Fair at 8:45am.
• Thursday, September 19^th - Back to School Night at 7:00pm

Math: This week I have started introducing math centers. Students are learning how to work the centers and how to be independent while rotating through. Once I feel students are independent enough (which will most likely be sometime next week), I will be able to really dive into teaching Topic 1. Students typically circulate through 3 rotations: Math Centers, Lesson Work, and Teacher Time. I love being able to work with a small group of students when teaching the daily content. 

To practice this I had half the class be the “students” and practice working in the “centers.” They practiced behaviors that met teacher expectations for independent work while the other half were the “teachers” who circulated the room taking positive notes on how well the students were working.

Reading: This week students learned how to choose “Just Right Books.”  Students learned to choose books that they want to read, are interested in, and that they can understand. Next week I will also begin teaching students comprehension strategies for them to use while reading independently.

Students circulated the room to visit the different bins of books in our classroom library. They looked for books that were "Just Right" to fill their book boxes with! 

You can help:

It is really important for students to be reading books that are Just Right. You can help them choose appropriate books by practicing the 5 Finger Rule with books your child is reading at home. Have them read any page of the book and put a finger up for every word they do not know. At the end of the page if they have 0-1 fingers up, the book is Too Easy. If they have 2-3 fingers up, the book is Just Right. If they have 4 or more fingers up, the book is Too Tricky.

Writing: This week, students began working on a new assignment for Back to School Night. They began creating their entry for the class Important Book. Be on the lookout for this that night! 

This assignment was a great introduction to our writing workshop period. During writing workshop, students will receive a short 5-8 minute mini-lesson regarding the focus of the day. They then will be sent off to independently apply the writing skill or strategy taught. Then I will circulate the room and hold writing conferences with students.

Phonics: We began phonics instruction this week. Our main focus has been identifying blends and digraphs.

Students should understand that a digraph has two letters that make one distinct sound. The digraphs they have learned thus far are: wh, ch, sh, th, and ck.

Consonant Blends are consonants that are next to each other in a word, either before or after the vowel. Blends can include 2 or 3 letters that each have a distinct sound but blend together nicely when the word is pronounced. Some examples of blends include: bl (blank), sl (slip), str (strong).

I am very much looking forward to meeting and speaking with many of you on Thursday! Have a wonderful weekend!

Weekly Update: September 6, 2019

Happy First Friday!

Important Dates/Events:

 ·        MAP Testing begins next week for 3rd grade on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Please make sure that your child has a good breakfast and is on time for school.

·        Friday, September 13^th - School Mass at 10:00

·        Tuesday, September 17^th - 3B Scholastic Book Fair Visit
·        Thursday, September 19^th - Back to School Night at 7:00pm 

*Please Note-We have gym on Monday. Please have students dress in their gym uniforms.

The class and I had a wonderful first few days of school! Students were excited to be back, and I have really enjoyed getting to know them and welcoming them all to third grade! We spent time this week learning classroom procedures, reading some great books, and getting to know each other. 

Here are some photos from our classroom scavenger hunt where students discovered unique characteristics about each other!

Over the weekend and through next week students should be working on their Richard’s Pick posters. These should be designed horizontally, with their name written nice and big in the middle. Their name can be surrounded with family pictures, drawings of their favorite things, labels, etc. I can’t wait to see how great they all turn out! Posters are due Friday, September 13^th. 

Math- In 3B, I typically teach math in a small group format. While I am working with a group, other students will be circulating through math centers and doing problems in their books. On Monday, I will start introducing students the math centers and teaching them how to work independently while I am running a small group. This procedure takes much practice, but soon enough students will be ready to begin learning content in this manner.

This week I also gave students a pre-assessment. Along with providing me with useful information, it is also helpful in prepping students with regards to the focus of the upcoming unit. In Unit 1 students will extend their knowledge of place value and numeration. They will be ordering and comparing numbers, representing numbers using base-ten blocks, and drawing numbers on a number line. Shortly, students will begin receiving nightly homework from the Envisions workbook. It will typically consist of 1-2 practice pages.

Reading: I will begin teaching students the procedures for circulating through our reading centers, beginning first with Read to Self. Students will practice building their stamina for reading; my hope is for every student to be able to achieve the sense of getting “lost in a book.” I will also be teaching them how to choose a “Just Right Book,” one that peaks their interest and provides them with just the right amount of challenge and ease in order for them to advance as readers.

  

Writing: This week, students completed their first entry in their writing portfolios. They were given a few guidelines to follow but this was mainly completed independently. It is always exciting to see the growth and improvement in their writing from the beginning to the end of the year.

Phonics: Next week we will be beginning the Wilson Fundations program. Students are now very familiar with the program after being exposed to it in Kindergarten, first and second grade. We will start out with a review of what they learned last year before moving on to new content. 

Religion: Religion will also begin next week.  Students will begin receiving reading assignments for homework. They are typically asked to read 2 pages nightly, this is a great time for them to review what we discussed in class and take note of the main ideas and keywords.

I hope you all enjoy a wonderful and relaxing weekend!