Kind of like a Friday?!?!

In honor of the Jewish New Year, we do not have school tomorrow... We do have school on Friday, though!

I really enjoyed seeing so many parents at Back to School Night last night. I hope you found it informative...and possibly a bit entertaining?!?! We really do have a great group of kids and I KNOW it is going to be a fabulous year!!!!

Today, in math, we took our first formative assessment. All assessments are used to drive instruction. The main difference between a formative assessment and a quiz is that a formative is NOT graded and recorded in my grade book. The students grade their own formative, with a "special" marking pen, and we discuss good answers as we review it. I am trying to give a math formative every Wednesday and then a follow up quiz (which will be graded) on Fridays.

After math, my homeroom went to the media center to continue their Cynthia Rylant author study and discuss "mood" in fiction. Then they went to PE, lunch and recess...not a bad morning!

This afternoon, we will read The Listening Walk, and discuss hearing as a sensory image used in writing. We will also try to incorporate sensory images into our writing. Following that, we will use patterns in fingerprints to solve a "crime". It's going to be a fun afternoon!

There will not be any homework tonight due to the holiday!

We learn from our mistakes...

I wanted to take a moment to address Monday night's math homework. As I sat down to check over the children's papers this morning, I thought to myself, "Why did I assign this?" I liked the practice it provided with writing numbers in both expanded and word form, but, in hindsight, it was too long and didn't allow the students enough space to complete the work neatly. I apologize if it created any undo frustration!



An additional homework note...I find that Back to School Night can create some additional chaos at home...getting the kids squared away, getting your self out the door, etc., etc. Therefore, most of my math students do not have math homework...a few do...they were the ones who were not completely focused during their independent work time!



Today, in math, we continued our practice of two and three digit subtraction with regrouping. We also had a group reviewing place value.



After math, my homeroom returned to the media center to continue their author study (Cynthia Rylant) with Mrs. Rose. Mrs. Rose spent time discussing how illustrations help us understand stories. After that, we reread The Great Gracie Chase, by Cynthia Rylant, and identified the events in the story. We also learned about "mountain climbers", a category of cursive letters that include "i" and "t".

Following lunch and indoor recess, we will talk about sensory images in writing. We will also begin our study of Economics by introducing the concepts of human, natural and capital resources, as well as, natural and man made features.

Don't forget...Back to School Night is TONIGHT at 7:00!

What do you know about Cynthia Rylant?

This morning we began our first author study. Mrs. Rose, our new media specialist, will be conducting lessons all week, with our class, as we study Cynthia Rylant. Ask your child what he/she learned today...ask what they found out about West Virginia and animals.

In math, we reviewed four digit place value and solved two and three digit subtraction problems, with and without regrouping. Students in my math class received a place value worksheet for homework.

This afternoon, following art, lunch and recess, we will begin talking about creating sensory images in writing. Sensory images would include descriptive words that "paint pictures inside the reader's minds" regarding what can be heard, seen, touched, smelled and tasted.

We will also work in small groups to sort social studies words as an introduction to our Economics unit.

Remember that Back to School Night is TOMORROW night and begins at 7 pm...there is babysitting available, for a nominal fee, for school aged children.

Also, if you purchased Spirit Wear, through the PTA, please LABEL it with your child's name...it all looks the same! :-)

Isn't technology great?

I bet you were thinking I was referring to my blog...nope...teaching students how to subtract two and three digit numbers can be quite challenging. This morning I went to unitedstreaming.com, a web site that our school has purchased the rights to use, and showed the children a video about subtraction with and without regrouping. (BTW...we watched it on the computer AND the TV!!!) Anyway, this video explained the whole regrouping process in a way that I actually saw MANY light bulbs go on in children's heads...well, not actual light bulbs, but you get the point. After the video, we worked a few problems on white boards and I was AMAZED by the progress so many children had made...all due to technology in the classroom.

After math, we read Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain, twice! The first time we just simply enjoyed the rhyming tale. Then we went back and identified character traits for the main character Kipat and charted what happened in the book that helped us discover the trait.

Then the students went to music, lunch and recess.

After recess, we will read a story about moods and write about emotions. Then we will begin investigating the whole idea of economics, our first social studies unit.

Remember, all students should have brought in their Braggin' Dragon poster today AND a picture of themselves. If your child hasn't, please have him/her do it on Monday. Also, our first book order is due Monday!

Have a wonderful weekend....

Another busy and productive day...

In math we began our review of subtraction with regrouping by modeling two digit subtraction problems using base ten blocks. We practiced regrouping by trading 1 tens stick for ten ones and concentrated on noticing that we didn't change the value of the number just the way we are showing the number. For example, 71 is usually shown (or thought of) as 7 tens and 1 one but if we regroup we are showing 71 as 6 tens and 11 ones...yet the value remains the same. If you child says he/she has no math homework...he/she is right!

We got a lot done during our reading/language arts block, thanks to the help of Mrs. Bonvillian. After reading the realistic fiction text, Thunder Cake, by Patricia Pollaco, the students worked on identifying the story elements (setting, when and where, characters, problem and solution) in the book and identifying the parts of a news article and the parts of a magazine, while I was able to continue the QRI reading assessment.

This afternoon we will visit the computer lab and explore the third grade web site. We will also begin to use fingerprints to solve a crime and, hopefully, begin a new book by Andrew Clements...we didn't get to that yesterday!

Toy Recall

In math today, we reviewed place value but began a review of two and three digit addition with regrouping. As I had hoped, the students had strong addition with regrouping skills...unfortunately, as I feared, when I told the group that we would move on to subtraction with regrouping tomorrow, there was a collective groan!

During reading, we read and discussed our first issue of Time for Kids. The topic of the cover story for this issue was the recent recall of toys made in China. We had a wonderful discussion! We also identified many text features that can be found in non-fiction text, including; photographs, captions, bold print and headings.

The class then went to PE, lunch and recess.

After lunch, we will begin a new book by Andrew Clements, the author of Frindle. WE finished Frindle yesterday...GREAT book!!!! We will also read Today I feel Silly By Jamie Lee Curtis and write about emotions in our writer's notebooks. Then, we will hopefully finish creating our class rules and expectations...

Please remember that book orders are due by Sept. 10 Also, the Braggin' Dragon poster and a picture of your child is due this Friday, Sept. 7...you have to see our Braggin' Dragon bulletin board...thanks to Kelly Brown it is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!

Hit the ground running...

It's been a busy and productive morning but I've had no time to breathe...

In math, we continued working on place value. I did a quick "dipstick" exit card DURING class to see what the children have learned/retained. I was pleasantly surprised!! I also introduced a new math anchor activity, and while the children worked independently, I was able to pull two small groups!

During reading, we read Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber and practiced making connections. While the class worked independently, I continued the QRI testing.

While the testing does take time, I am continually amazed about how much information I get by sitting with each child. For example, today I discovered students who decode words VERY well but struggle with comprehension. I also worked with a child who struggles with decoding yet comprehends well...I noticed two students who struggle with b/d reversals, etc., etc. I just think it is time that is well spent...I feel like I truly know the students whom I have already tested.
As a teacher, it is so wonderful to sit with a child while they are reading and to already be formulating ideas of how and what I can teach them to help them be more successful!

This afternoon I will model a writing lesson. We will also finish creating our class rules and expectations.

During the next couple of days, I will be sending home the first Scholastic book order and Highlights order. Please know that I never expect you to order. But there are often some great deals to be had...Also, it is an opportunity to earn free stuff for our classroom. If you decide to order from Scholastic...do NOT send cash...write a check payable to SCHOLASTIC. For the highlights order form, we get credit for every form that is SIGNED and RETURNED...even if you do not order. So, please help us earn free gifts by signing and returning the highlights form even if you do not order!

Let me know if you would like to volunteer...I have lots of copying that needs to be done!