by Week of September 16th
It was great seeing all of you at Back to School Night. I wish we had more time but if you have any questions, please let me know, I answer e-mails first thing in the morning unless I have time before I leave school for the day. Please return the Interest Inventory forms I had out for you to fill in about your student. They are very helpful in making sure I can be the best I can be for your student. The new seating arrangement seems to be helping all, but please encourage your students to do their best in listening and participating. It is so important for optimum results academically.
This week we have an absolutely regular schedule. No days off and all co-curricular classes are on as STAR testing is over. We have 8:15am mass with 6th grade this Thursday.
This week we are learning about:
Religion
We are learning how Mary trusts in God in Ch. 3 and the test is on Friday. We are also continuing with practicing respect and being peacemakers.
Language Arts
We have 18 words in Spelling that focus on words with long a and e sounds. The Test is on Friday. In English, we continue with types of sentences, identifying subject and predicate, and learning about run-ons and making them into compound sentences using conjunctions. In Writing, we continue to learn about the characteristics in writing a personal narrative such as using descriptive language and dialogue. In Reading, our comprehension strategy is focusing on how characters contribute to the sequencing of events in a story. Our story in our textbook is about volunteering and making a difference in our communities. We are also continuing with various comprehension assessments to get a benchmark on where we are as readers.
Math
We continue with place value and standard/expanded form of numbers, and the test on Ch. 1 should be next week. We are also continuing to explore various ways to graph results, culminating with an activity that involves bringing in stuffed dogs on Friday. The students will be discovering how to sort them by their attributes and how to record the results using bar graphs. They will also use their artistic and writing talents to draw their dogs and write a short narrative. Finally, the second addition facts tests are going home on Tuesday with their other assessments from last week for your review and signature. They were better for most, but I encourage all to continue to practice their facts daily for speed and accuracy. We should also be having a test on graphing next week also.
Social Studies and Science
In S. S., we have a test on Ch. 1 (Places We Live) on Wednesday. The students are going home with their S.S. book and some vocabulary on Monday to begin studying. On Tuesday, we review during class, and then they are having a study guide to complete and finish studying on Tuesday night. Their book can stay home both nights and should return to school on Wednesday, the day of the test. In Science, we continue with Ch. A1 and are learning about how food chains can be disrupted and the affect on others. We also start gardening this week with 1/2 the class going on Thursday afternoon and the other half going next Thursday. We had a lot of fun observing some pill bugs (thanks to those that corralled some up for us!) last week and learned about the scientific process in filling out an activity record about them.
Tests this week
Wednesday-Social Studies-Ch. 1 (Places We Live)
Friday-Spelling-18 words with long a and e
Friday-Religion-Ch. 3 (Mary Trusted God)
Finally, Scholastic book orders are due on Monday so we can get the order out. The code is H8JLY or you can do it the old school way.
Have a great week!
Sue Arnold
Week of September 9th
Third grade is off and rolling. This week we have our first full week of school. We have new seat arrangements which you will see Monday night at Back To School Night (hope you all behave in your new seats!). Library starts this week and will need parent helpers soon. We have Library on Thursday mornings from 10:30-11:30. We have 8:15am mass with 6th grade on Thursday and remember that the students wear their PE uniforms on Tuesdays and Fridays which is different from last year. Finally, STAR testing continues and 3rd graders are testing Monday and Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday after recess. Please send your students headphones from last year so they can use them with their i-pads for STAR-thank you!
This week we are learning about:
Religion
We are learning about God our Creator. The test for Ch. 2 is on Friday. We are also continuing to focus of our Virtues of the Month-Respect and Cooperation. We are learning about being a peacemaker and how to resolve conflicts in a respectful and cooperative way.
Language Arts
In spelling, we have 18 words this week that focus on long vowel sounds in VCe (vowel, consonant, letter e) pattern. The test is on Friday. In English, we continue to learn about subject and predicate in simple sentences. We are also learning about the 4 types of sentences-statement, question, command, and exclamation. In Reading, our comprehension strategy is drawing conclusions as we read a fantasy story in our Journeys curriculum. We are practicing rereading text and citing evidence to analyze stories. In writing, we are continuing with descriptive narratives and having fun writing risk-free in our journals. The students are also enjoying sharing aloud their journal writings. Finally, we continue with several more reading assessments this week.
Math
We continue with place value up to 10,000s and understanding standard and expanded form of numbers. We are also having a second addition fact test on Thursday as the students need to increase their speed and accuracy. The first test is going home on Tuesday to be signed and returned (S and R), so please help your student to practice daily. There are lots of good websites and apps for practicing (I do NOT recommend game-based sites) and the good old-school flash cards and pencil and paper as well as oral practice-perhaps in the car on the way to and from school! We are also learning more about using logical reasoning and tools such as graphs to solve problems and show results.
Science and Social Studies
In Social Studies, we are comparing/contrasting communities and learning map skills. Students are learning the directions and also about geographical areas. In Science, we are learning about food chains and webs and how living things survive. We are doing an investigation on Friday with pill bugs (roly polies). We need some volunteer bugs (no pill bugs will be harmed during our activity!). So if your student can find some to bring in on Friday, it will be appreciated.
Tests this week
Thursday-Math-Addition fact test #2
Friday-Spelling-18 words with long vowel sounds (VCe pattern)
Friday-Religion-Ch. 2 on God our Creator
I look forward to seeing everyone at 3rd grade Articulation Night which follows the Mandatory Parent Guild Meeting in the Hall at 6pm. There will be 2 Third Grade sessions approximately 20-25 mins. each after you are excused from the PG meeting. See you then!
Sue Arnold
Week of September 2nd
Welcome to Third Grade Weekly News! I hope everyone enjoyed the Labor Day holiday. School resumes again Tuesday morning, September 3rd.
We begin our core subjects this week after a week of fun bonding activities and discussion of procedures last week. Most of the co-curricular subjects begin this week as well except for Library which starts next week on Thursday, September 12th. PE is on Tuesday and Friday mornings so students need to wear their PE uniform when they return Tuesday and on Friday this week. Our weekly class mass with 6th grade begins this Thursday @ 8:15am. Please feel free to join us.
STAR testing begins this week during our Tech time and concludes on Sept. 13th. This week we are testing on Tuesday afternoon. Please be sure your student is present during that time and ready to do their best. We also begin homework on Mondays thru Thursdays. The students have a student planner. Please check their homework and planners to help them set good work/study habits. A homework plan to be completed by the students is going home Tuesday for homework and your help and signature after review is expected.
This week we are learning about:
Religion
We are learning about God our Father and how he reveals himself to us. Students have a test on this chapter (Ch. 1) on Friday. They will use their highlighted textbook and the BeMyDisciples website http://www.bemydisciples.com to study. We are also reflecting on the Virtues of the Month (Respect and Cooperation) and how we can live them.
Language Arts
We are having our first spelling list and test this week. The students have 16 words with short vowel sounds and the test is on Friday. A pretest is going home on Tuesday so they can study accordingly throughout the week. They have a spelling packet with practice sheets and a procedure on how to learn and retain the words for homework on Thursday.
We are learning about sentences versus fragments in English. Students need to understand subject and predicate, and we are reviewing how to construct simple sentences using proper capitalization and punctuation.
In Reading, our first theme in our Journeys curriculum is Good Citizens. Our first story is about a school, and the reading comprehension strategy we are focusing on is analyzing story structure (characters, setting, and plot) by using text and illustrations. We have also started our first reading program which is in the context of a football game. The students are to read books and then write a review on them to “get off the bench” and “help their teammates” have a successful outcome. This is our Reading Log for September. Our Author of the Month is Eve Bunting, a local and prolific writer of stories that deliver social issues and diversity as well as reflects her background.
In Writing, we are learning about the purposes and process of writing. The focus this week is on descriptive writing and how to write a narrative.
Lastly, we are creating SLE (Schoolwide Learning Expectations) Journals where the students will be reflecting and responding to how they are meeting these expectations.
Math
We are reviewing addition and subtraction. The students need to review their addition and subtraction facts for success in math concepts learned in third grade. They are having an addition facts test this Thursday. We are also reviewing and extending the concept of place value to 10,000s. Lastly, we are focusing on the life skill of gathering data and using tools to show results. This week we are practicing this skill by surveying students and recording results using a bar graph. Lastly, a math readiness assessment taken last week by students is coming home on Wednesday. We are reviewing it in class, but it needs to be reviewed by parents. It is a simple tool I am using to set curriculum for the class and possibly individual students.
Social Studies and Science
In S.S., we are starting Ch. 1 (The Places We Live) about different types of communities and the importance of laws for their citizens. In Science, we Begin Ch. A1 which is part of our Biology unit. This chapter is about Relationships Among Living Things and focuses on their habitats and what they need to survive.
Tests this week
Thursday-Math-Addition facts test
Friday-Spelling-16 words with short vowel sounds
Friday-Religion-Ch. 1 (God our Father)
Important request-Please have your students bring in their headphones from last year to use this year. We now have i-pads for every student and they need to have headphones. I do have some, but prefer that students use their own.
Finally, the Weekly News will not always be this long but want to make sure that I have addressed some important items before we meet on September 9th. I look forward to seeing you then!
Sue Arnold