I hope all of your received the permission slip for our walking field trip of Damascus next Friday. If you have not already done so, please sign the permission slip and return it to school. We will need chaperones. If you would like to volunteer, simply make a not of it on the bottom of the slip.
In math we continued using rulers to measure length. Today we measure using centimeters. I also pulled a small group to continue working on three digit subtraction.
We began reading by using our background knowledge from Angela in the Arctic to better understand a new text, Life in the Polar Regions. After that, I modeled adding more detail, especially specific vocabulary, to our writing to inform graphic organizers.
Following media center, lunch and recess the students finished any unfinished work from the week and added details to their graphic organizers. I met with reading groups.
Bears: Reread specific sections of the text and identified the main idea.
Tigers: Read the first half of the text and discussed cause and effect within the text and compared and contrasted giraffes to humans.
Lions: Shared the questions they wrote in their RRJ. Then chose a "keeper" question to focus on while they reread the story on Monday.
Before celebrating Fun Friday, the students will review their geographic characteristics list from yesterday with a chart that was given to them on Wednesday to make sure that they put the characteristics on the correct side of their t-chart.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Thursday
This morning, instead of math, we went to a weather assembly that was sponsored by Channel 7 and conducted by Adam Caskey. I thought it was cool and learned a lot!!! Ask your child about it!
In reading we read Angela from the Arctic and used our background knowledge to make connections and deepen our understanding of the text. Then I modeled making a graphic organizer for our informational writing piece which must be multi-paragraphed. I took my topic, running, and broke it down into smaller components such as, equipment, training and racing. Then I wrote details for each of the three sub-groups. For example, for equipment I wrote, GPS, Ipod, good shoes and clothing.
Following music, lunch and recess I will meet with reading groups while the children create their own graphic organizer and write a thank you not to the Rotary Club for he dictionaries they received yesterday.
Bears: We will share their words with suffixes and finish reading the book. If time permits, we will begin identifying the main idea in different sections of the book.
Tigers: We will review their lists of unknown words and begin reading the book.
Lions: We will do a first reading of The Fisherman and his Wife. Tonight they will reread it and list questions they are wondering about.
We will end the day by observing the geographic characteristics that we see out of the front window of our school.
In reading we read Angela from the Arctic and used our background knowledge to make connections and deepen our understanding of the text. Then I modeled making a graphic organizer for our informational writing piece which must be multi-paragraphed. I took my topic, running, and broke it down into smaller components such as, equipment, training and racing. Then I wrote details for each of the three sub-groups. For example, for equipment I wrote, GPS, Ipod, good shoes and clothing.
Following music, lunch and recess I will meet with reading groups while the children create their own graphic organizer and write a thank you not to the Rotary Club for he dictionaries they received yesterday.
Bears: We will share their words with suffixes and finish reading the book. If time permits, we will begin identifying the main idea in different sections of the book.
Tigers: We will review their lists of unknown words and begin reading the book.
Lions: We will do a first reading of The Fisherman and his Wife. Tonight they will reread it and list questions they are wondering about.
We will end the day by observing the geographic characteristics that we see out of the front window of our school.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Hump Day
This morning in math we practiced measuring to the nearest 1/2 inch. I also met with a small group to continue practicing 3 digit subtraction. There is a measurement worksheet for homework tonight. It will not be collected until Friday because we will not have math tomorrow due to a weather assembly.
In reading we read an article called Sea Slugs in our current National Geographic magazine. We used the following questions to guide us to the main idea of the article:
What is the overall topic?
What important details are included?
How are the details related ? ( I think this is the BIGGIE!)
What is the author trying to say?
After that, we discussed the importance of choosing interesting topics and using great ideas in our writing. WE also shared catchy topic sentences.
Following PE, lunch and recess the students will work on identifying nouns on a worksheet, adding topics to their informational writing topic list and reading about those topics, practicing the capital H, K, and X in cursive and any unfinished work, while I meet with small groups.
Bears: We will review their list of unknown words and read through their book. Tonight they will identify words will suffixes.
Tigers: We will wrap up Wednesday Surprise and practice vocabulary for their new book Giraffes. We will also discuss the function of various text features in this book. Tonight they will write three questions (for the reading group to answer) that can be answered using text features in their book.
Lions: We will begin our first Junior Great Books (JGB) story. We will do a text opener and a first reading in class. Tonight they will reread the story and list questions they are wondering about.
We will end the day with a visitor from the Lion's Club. They will be giving each third grade student a dictionary!
In reading we read an article called Sea Slugs in our current National Geographic magazine. We used the following questions to guide us to the main idea of the article:
What is the overall topic?
What important details are included?
How are the details related ? ( I think this is the BIGGIE!)
What is the author trying to say?
After that, we discussed the importance of choosing interesting topics and using great ideas in our writing. WE also shared catchy topic sentences.
Following PE, lunch and recess the students will work on identifying nouns on a worksheet, adding topics to their informational writing topic list and reading about those topics, practicing the capital H, K, and X in cursive and any unfinished work, while I meet with small groups.
Bears: We will review their list of unknown words and read through their book. Tonight they will identify words will suffixes.
Tigers: We will wrap up Wednesday Surprise and practice vocabulary for their new book Giraffes. We will also discuss the function of various text features in this book. Tonight they will write three questions (for the reading group to answer) that can be answered using text features in their book.
Lions: We will begin our first Junior Great Books (JGB) story. We will do a text opener and a first reading in class. Tonight they will reread the story and list questions they are wondering about.
We will end the day with a visitor from the Lion's Club. They will be giving each third grade student a dictionary!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
First Day of Quarter 2
I want to thank Mrs. Petrolle and all of the parents who helped plan the fabulous Halloween party. I was truly sorry that I missed it but the children certainly had a great time!
Today is the beginning of the second marking period.
In math we began unit 2 which focuses on linear measurement, including conversions (such as, 12 inches = 1 foot) and area and perimeter. Today we spent a great deal of our time comparing different types of rulers. My goal was to help the students understand that some rulers begin at the edge while others have a definite starting point. I also wanted the children to notice that sometimes the metric side is measured in centimeters, while others use millimeters. For homework there is a subtraction worksheet. We were not ready for the measurement worksheet that I had planned to send home.
We began reading by identifying questions that will help guide us to identifying the main idea in text. Tomorrow we will use these questions to help us find the main idea in a National Geographic magazine article. After that we reviewed nouns. Then we discussed our new focus for writing this quarter...writing to inform. We talked about making a list of topics that each student knows a lot about.
This afternoon, while I meet with reading groups and Mrs. Hepner helps with writing, the children will develop personal topic lists for writing to inform. They will also identify nouns on a worksheet. Lastly, they will add words to their personal dictionary from our last word study unit.
Before going to lunch and recess, we visited the computer lab. The students practiced opening and printing a saved document, among the other skills we have been developing over the last few weeks.
This afternoon, I met with two out of three reading groups!
Bears: Practiced new vocabulary in their new book. Identified text features and their function within the book, too. Tonight they need to preview their new book and write any unknown words on the post-it note that is on the front cover.
Tigers: We finished reading The Wednesday Surprise. Tonight they need to read it to an adult, stopping at page 23 for the adult to make a prediction.
We will end the day by reviewing vocabulary that is specific to geography.
Oh...and today was picture day...if you forgot to send in money, no worries...you will get to see proofs and decide whether or not to order!
Today is the beginning of the second marking period.
In math we began unit 2 which focuses on linear measurement, including conversions (such as, 12 inches = 1 foot) and area and perimeter. Today we spent a great deal of our time comparing different types of rulers. My goal was to help the students understand that some rulers begin at the edge while others have a definite starting point. I also wanted the children to notice that sometimes the metric side is measured in centimeters, while others use millimeters. For homework there is a subtraction worksheet. We were not ready for the measurement worksheet that I had planned to send home.
We began reading by identifying questions that will help guide us to identifying the main idea in text. Tomorrow we will use these questions to help us find the main idea in a National Geographic magazine article. After that we reviewed nouns. Then we discussed our new focus for writing this quarter...writing to inform. We talked about making a list of topics that each student knows a lot about.
This afternoon, while I meet with reading groups and Mrs. Hepner helps with writing, the children will develop personal topic lists for writing to inform. They will also identify nouns on a worksheet. Lastly, they will add words to their personal dictionary from our last word study unit.
Before going to lunch and recess, we visited the computer lab. The students practiced opening and printing a saved document, among the other skills we have been developing over the last few weeks.
This afternoon, I met with two out of three reading groups!
Bears: Practiced new vocabulary in their new book. Identified text features and their function within the book, too. Tonight they need to preview their new book and write any unknown words on the post-it note that is on the front cover.
Tigers: We finished reading The Wednesday Surprise. Tonight they need to read it to an adult, stopping at page 23 for the adult to make a prediction.
We will end the day by reviewing vocabulary that is specific to geography.
Oh...and today was picture day...if you forgot to send in money, no worries...you will get to see proofs and decide whether or not to order!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Thursday...a quick update
I have to leave early today to take of a sick child. SO, this is a very quick update.
In math we completed the unit 1 assessment. Tomorrow we will begin unit 2...linear measurement.
In reading we reread the article from yesterday and charted problems within the article. Then we charted the actions that were taken to solve the problems or, if the problems were not solved, possible solutions. After that we continued sharing paper bag book reports.
Following music, lunch and recess the children will work on their writing and reading groups assignments with Mrs. Hepner and my substitute.
Then, they will end the day with a lesson, presented by Mrs. Howard, about citizenship.
Picture Day is Tuesday. Halloween parades and parties begin at 2 tomorrow.
In math we completed the unit 1 assessment. Tomorrow we will begin unit 2...linear measurement.
In reading we reread the article from yesterday and charted problems within the article. Then we charted the actions that were taken to solve the problems or, if the problems were not solved, possible solutions. After that we continued sharing paper bag book reports.
Following music, lunch and recess the children will work on their writing and reading groups assignments with Mrs. Hepner and my substitute.
Then, they will end the day with a lesson, presented by Mrs. Howard, about citizenship.
Picture Day is Tuesday. Halloween parades and parties begin at 2 tomorrow.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Hump Day
In math we began talking the unit 1 assessment. We will complete this assessment tomorrow. Please continue to study the review packet.
In reading we read the article, "America the Beautiful" from October's National Geographic. Our purpose for reading the article was to identify problem and solution in non fiction text. We will continue this lesson tomorrow.
After that, we continued sharing the paper bag book reports.
Following PE, lunch and recess we will work on our revising our writing and our final drafts. We will also meet in reading groups.
Just a side note...this week I have been working with many students on their writing. Therefore, reading groups haven't met as regularly or progressed as planned.
Today the reading groups will be working on the assignments that were on yesterday's post.
We will end the day with Mrs. Mollet, our substitute principal, reading Halloween stories to the entire third grade.
Picture day is Tuesday!!!
In reading we read the article, "America the Beautiful" from October's National Geographic. Our purpose for reading the article was to identify problem and solution in non fiction text. We will continue this lesson tomorrow.
After that, we continued sharing the paper bag book reports.
Following PE, lunch and recess we will work on our revising our writing and our final drafts. We will also meet in reading groups.
Just a side note...this week I have been working with many students on their writing. Therefore, reading groups haven't met as regularly or progressed as planned.
Today the reading groups will be working on the assignments that were on yesterday's post.
We will end the day with Mrs. Mollet, our substitute principal, reading Halloween stories to the entire third grade.
Picture day is Tuesday!!!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Terrific Tuesday!
This morning, in math, we went over each problem in the unit 1 review packet. PLEASE make sure your child uses it to prepare for the assessment which is TOMORROW!!!!!
In reading we continued with our main idea lesson from yesterday. We reread the chart we created that listed our background knowledge and the big ideas from the text. Then we noticed connections within our chart and ideas that "popped out" at us. These we listed on the chart in our "after reading" section. with the use of all three sections on our chart, we were able to identify the main idea.
Next, several students shared their paper bag book reports...again, all were excellent!!!
Then we went to the computer lab where we continued working on word processing skills using Microsoft Word. We practiced changing the font, inserting a picture and using spell check. We also learned how to copy, cut and paste within a document and change the margins.
Following lunch and recess we will work independently and meet in small groups. Many will conference on their personal narrative writing piece with Mrs. Hepner or me, too.
Bears: Reread story and identify the plot elements using post-it notes...a continuation of yesterday's lesson.
Tigers: We will reread up to page 23 and write a prediction in our RRJ...we did not do this yesterday since only one member of this reading group was in class. :-)
Lions: Will finish their RRJ from yesterday and meet in group to discuss the changes in the book.
TO end our day, we will review social studies vocabulary that we have used so far this year, and identify examples of the terms from THe Big Green Pocketbook.
In reading we continued with our main idea lesson from yesterday. We reread the chart we created that listed our background knowledge and the big ideas from the text. Then we noticed connections within our chart and ideas that "popped out" at us. These we listed on the chart in our "after reading" section. with the use of all three sections on our chart, we were able to identify the main idea.
Next, several students shared their paper bag book reports...again, all were excellent!!!
Then we went to the computer lab where we continued working on word processing skills using Microsoft Word. We practiced changing the font, inserting a picture and using spell check. We also learned how to copy, cut and paste within a document and change the margins.
Following lunch and recess we will work independently and meet in small groups. Many will conference on their personal narrative writing piece with Mrs. Hepner or me, too.
Bears: Reread story and identify the plot elements using post-it notes...a continuation of yesterday's lesson.
Tigers: We will reread up to page 23 and write a prediction in our RRJ...we did not do this yesterday since only one member of this reading group was in class. :-)
Lions: Will finish their RRJ from yesterday and meet in group to discuss the changes in the book.
TO end our day, we will review social studies vocabulary that we have used so far this year, and identify examples of the terms from THe Big Green Pocketbook.
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