Communication Arts

Students worked on story plots.  We looked at several different stories and discussed in detail the problem and solution.  Ask your child what his/her favorite book was.  The majority of the class loved Ruby’s Wish and The Seven Brothers.

We are continuing to write our fictional narratives.  The kids are nearing the end of our instructional phase and will soon begin to write their independent piece.  Endings still tend to be our weakness so we have been focusing on that.

Math

We are wrapping up our unit on multiplication and division.  We will take our summative test tomorrow.  However, we will still continue with fast facts.  The students will have until February 16th, to complete these.  Our banana split party is scheduled for that day.  Congratulations to Maddie, who has already completed all of the tests!  I have two young men that are VERY close.  Keep up the hard work!  Our next unit will explore measurement.

Spelling

In case you printed off our spelling words from my blog, there is an error on one of the words. ” Joking” should be inserted where “Jocking” currently is.

Other News Worthy Events

*Mrs. Christy Pedersen has joined our classroom as our student teacher.  She is a wonderful addition and the kiddos are thrilled to have her.  She will gradually begin taking over subject areas until she assumes full responsibility of the classroom for a few weeks.

*Reading log-Last Thursday I sent home a reading log.  This log is to encourage reading at home.  As soon as 50 picture books OR 50 chapters have been read, a student may pick another student in a different classroom and Skype with him/her.

*Jump Rope For Heart-These forms were handed out today.  Students were given only 1 collection envelope.  This will be the ONLY one they receive.  There is also instructions for online donations.  All money must be turned in by Friday, March 2nd.

*Field Trip-The kiddos will be taking a trip on February 6th, to the Greene County Courthouse.  The permission form is being sent home today.  Please return this ASAP.

*MAP Attack- We are starting up MAP attack for the 3rd graders.  I cannot encourage you enough to send your student.  This should be fun and exciting for them.  There are rewards for being in attendance.  If transportation is an issue PLEASE talk to me and we can arrange something.  These forms are being sent home today and I would be SO excited if 100% of my class was there.

*McTeacher Night is tonight.  It will be held from 4-8.  I will be working from 4-5 so please swing by if you can.

Thanks again for all that you do to help your child succeed in school.

Communication Arts- We worked on character development.  The students learned that understanding a character’s thoughts and actions are not always stated in a text.  However, they must infer to develop understanding.  The students also were forced to write down their thoughts about a character and used details from the text to support their understanding.

Writing-We are starting a new genre of writing.  This week we began learning how to write fictional narratives.  Yesterday, student reviewed how to write a “road-map” and today they began their first pieces.  The concept of how to write a narrative should be similar to their personal narratives.  However, we discussed the differences in these two types of writing.

Math-We are continuing to work on multiplication.  Keep working on those fast facts at home.  The kids are working toward a banana split party.  When a students passes their:

1′s-a bowl

2′s-spoon

3′s-scoop of ice cream

4′s-scoop of ice cream

5′s on up-a topping

*Next Tuesday, January 10th is hat day.  For the cost of 1 non-perishable food item, your student can wear his/her hat.

Communication Arts-Last week we focused on finding the theme in a story.  Students first discussed events that happened.  Next, they decided what the main idea was and learned that this would help them to determine what the theme of the story was.   We used many fables to help us with this work.  This week we are focusing on comparing and contrasting.  We are using this with non-fiction writing.  The students are learing three key phrases to help them identify when things are being compared or contrasted in a text.  Similar, At the same time, and Likewise help us with comparing.  In comparison, Rather, and On the contrary all help us with contrasting.

Writing-

We have been working hard on our “How-To” writings.  Students learned that an ideal paper will have a topic sentence, detailed ingredient list, transitional words, and concluding sentence.  We began by practicing with snowmen.  Students drew a snowman and had to describe to someone how to draw the same picture.  Next, they were paired up and read their partner their paper.  Their partner was then asked to draw, based on the directions given, the same picture.  These writings are in the hallway if you haven’t seen them already.  For our independent practice, students decorated a gingerbread cookie and then wrote down their directions.  Friday, we shared our papers with our 1st grade reading buddies to see if they were able to decorate their cookie similar to ours.  The students were introduced to voice thread to record their how-to’s.   I will try to post the link to these voice threads.

Math-Students finished up their unit on addition and subtraction.  I am so PROUD of them.  I told them that if 80% of our class scored and 80% or better, we would have a popcorn and movie party.  THEY DID IT!!!!!  Today, we are beginning our unit on multiplication and division.  This unit will carry us into January.  PLEASE WORK ON MULTIPLICATION FACTS WITH YOUR CHILD.  Most stores have flash cards that can be purchased or you can google printable multiplication flash cards.  This will allow you to make some of your own.  We will begin fast facts with these problems and it is crucial that they practice at home.  Please let me know if you have questions.

Student Teacher

Starting in January, we will have a Student Teacher.  Mrs. Pedersen stopped by to meet the students on Friday and brought them so goodies.  She is very eager to begin and I know she will do a great job.

Winter Party-

Our Winter Parties will be on Friday, December 16th, at 2:30.  Mrs. Langum has asked that you send in a wrapped book and $2.00.  Please have the books here no later than Wednesday, December 14th.

In Math, we are continuing to work on addition and subtraction with regrouping.  I am happy to report that I think we are getting it!!!! Yahoo!  Besides the common simple addition and subtraction mistakes, I think everyone has grasped the concept and has it mastered.

In Reading, students are learning about Author’s Purpose.  We teach them the acronym PIE which stands for: persuade, inform, and entertain.  They are doing great with this.

In Writing, students are working on opinion writing.  They are being taught to begin with a topic sentence.  The middle includes at least three supporting details.  These details should be fact based and not opinions.  Finally, a concluding sentence should be included.  This concluding sentence should refer back to the topic sentence.  If you would like extra practice at home, students can write you an opinion piece.  Suggestions include: What should we have for dinner tonight?  Should I allow you to play video games this evening?  Which chore should you help out with?

We are continuing to study the importance of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.  Last week Mrs. Langum and Mr. Patrick visited us from Wilson’s Creek.  Mr. Patrick was dressed in attire worn by the American Soldiers during the American Revolution.  He brought with him a musket and a rifle and passed around some salt pork and bread that soldiers during that time period ate.  It was very interesting and the kiddos learned a lot!

Spelling and DOL  We will not be having these tests next week. I am going to go ahead and send home the study guides on Friday so that those who wish to study of the break may do so.  We will have this weeks test on November 18th and then our next test will be on December 2nd.

Study Island    I am beginning to weed through the tests and assign areas that need improvement to individual students.  If possible, please have your child work on this site at home.  They know their login and password. To get there,  you type in: www.studyisland.com.

Next Week  We plan on having some fun with the kiddos next week.  I am sure they will be excited (maybe ) to let you know what fun stuff the third grade teachers have planned for them.  I will try to upload some pictures!

If I don’t post between now and Thanksgiving, please have a terrific holiday.  I know that I am so thankful to have such a great group of kiddos this year.  They have worked so hard and have amazed me at how far they have come.  Thank you for being so supportive at home.  When children see that education is supported at all levels, they are bound to succeed.

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/math.htm

Math-Students finished up unit 1 and are beginning to move toward a unit on graphing.  Please continue to practice addition and subtraction facts at home.  With graphing, students will be looking at and analysing bar and pictographs. 

Science-We are a little behind on our plant unit but we will be wrapping it up shortly.  Next, we will be moving into a unit about government.

Other-

*Please remember that Tiger T-Shirt day has moved to Tuesdays.

*Study the half sheets of DOL I send home.  This will help the kiddos on their Friday DOL test.

This week we worked on finding the problem and solution in books.  We also tried to connect this with our writing to discuss how our writing should look with these elements inside of them.  We worked on adjectives and also worked on word choice inside of our writing.  The students are learning the structure of a paragraph and what a topic sentence is with supporting details.  Next week we will continue working on this as we move into our descriptive writings.

Math

We have been working on subtraction with regrouping.  Many students are still struggling with this concept so please continue to work on it at home.

Science

We are continuing to work on our plant unit.

Other

*This week we had Mr. Suits visit.

*Please remember school picture day on Wednesday.  Look for the picture form on Monday.

*The students have learned 3 different computer programs that they can work on at home:

www.studyisland.com Username: first 3 letters of their first name, first three letters of their last name, birthday, dot 21.  If my username was like the kiddos it would be: sarbau18.21 (I was born December 18).  Password: tigers

*This is an excellent opportunity to practice math that has been taught in class.  If students reach an 85% overall score, they may play games.

www.raz-kids.com- Login: mrsbaumgardner

This is a terrific reading program that allows the kids to read books on their level.  As they listen to the book read, record their own voice reading the book, and take a quiz over the same book, they earn stars to purchase “stuff” for their rocket planet.

www.storybird.com- This is an excellent program that kids can use to create their own stories based on pictures.  They may collaborate with other and send their work to family.  Username: first three of first name, first three of last name (sarbau) Password: tigers.

As we are introduced to other technology, I will pass this info on to you.  As always, please let me know if you have questions or concerns.

Math-This week we focused on place value. We  wrote numbers three different ways: expanded, standard, and word form.  We ordered numbers and learned how to round.  Generally these are harder topics for our students.  Please ask your child about Bob and Boss Betty.

Science-We are continuing to focus on plants and their functions. Ask your child the functions of a stem.

Writing-This week our students took their beginning of the year writing prompt.  This helps us to guide our instruction and look at individual strengths and weaknesses.

Everything Else-

We had our first counseling class this week.  Students learned how special they are.

Please remember your library books on Monday.

Have a terrific and restful weekend!

Math-We have been looking at numbers and how to add them and subtract them.  The students are learning various strategies to help them succeed.  It has been great to refresh our brains about place value.

Reading-We have started our introduction of the “Super 6″. These are six comprehension strategies that help us to understand what we are reading. Ask your child if he/she can remember any that we have talked about.

Science-We started out unit on life cycles by working with plants.  The kiddos colored and labeled a massive flower.  They have also started a science experiment that involves lima beans and have observed how they have grown.  Yesterday, we dissected a lima bean and talked about the parts of a seed.  I think they LOVED the smell of the seeds! Just kidding

Grammar-This week we discussed synonyms and antonyms.  They should be able to tell you the difference between the two words and give you some examples.

Thank you for doing such a terrific job signing their think journals and sending back their homework if they had it.  I hope you have a terrific weekend!