Moore News

October news

October will be a great month.  I love this weather and this time of year.  I love to visit the mountains this time of year.  Testing went very smoothly the past 2 weeks and the students seemed to do their best.  We will have Sitton Spelling Unit 8 this week.  The spelling choices are awesome.  I hope you enjoy them at as much as I enjoy reading about their activities.  Remember you are looking for a pattern of learning style.  You can tell if your child picks all visual skills they may be a "visual" learner. Remember to do the bottom part of Dear Parent to earn an "E".

Math is still chapter 3.  Our essential questions this week are

How do we add two and three digit numbers with and without regrouping?

How do we solve problem using the guess and check method?

How do we chose paper/pencil, calculator or mental math to organize our numbers to solve problems?

How do we write a number sentence as it relates to a word problem?

We will have a math test next Monday over Chapter 3.

In literature we are still studying our response to literature.  Each child has written a rough draft of their paper.  As they finish, each student will have a conference with me to discuss improvements or extensions.  They go back and make the revisions and we have a second "mini-conference".  Finally they make the final copy of their paper.  They are doing a fine job on this writing assignment.  We use our "Thinking lights" to write by.  (They are really Tap Lights but the children seem to enjoy them).  We will continue to read the remaining of Danny Champion of the World and should finish by the end of the week.

Guided reading groups are great- I get to hear all the children read and answer specific questions so I will know how to help them improve.  Our essential question this week is......

How do I read an understand an informational text?

WE are learning to look at the chapter titles, pictures, caption and subtitles to gain information before we read.

Literature circles will begin this week.  Small groups will be reading the same novel.  Each child in the group will have a job.  Then we will get together to discuss the book.  In these groups, the children read silently and complete their job and then we discuss as a group.

Fact buddies resume this week.  10 students are on the multiplication skill.  WAY TO GO KIDS!  This is a dramatic improvement that shows the kids are working hard.  Don't stop at multiplication they must also master division facts this year.  Keeping pushing them until the end.  This year is THE YEAR to get their facts under their belts.  It will make for a smoother math journey in future years.

Rocks and minerals begins this week.  Our essential question is:

What is the difference between a rock and a mineral?

We will begin our quest with a Reader's Theater that relates to Rocks and Mineral and also is the student's Friday reward.  I was not there on Friday so........they have their reward on Monday.

It should be a very calm week with lots of learning going on. 

Thanks goes to Mitch's mom for copying for me and Elissa's mom for cutting out for me.  I will send the rest of Mountain math home with those who volunteered.  Thanks everyone, I had a great response.

Mitch was an awesome Hero of the Week, Katie will be our Hero this week.  My favorite part is reading the nice things the children write about each other.  It is wonderful to see such a nice, caring community of children.

Our first project will be next week.  The students will have 2 weeks to complete it.  They will write a review on one of their silent reading books and design a new cover.  More info to come, just thought I would give you guys a heads up.

Wee Deliver starts this week so feel free to drop a letter to your child in our wee deliver mail box.  I will send our address home tomorrow in their agendas.

As always, I hope you have a wonderful and if you have questions ask as my door is always open to you.

secret word "rock cycle"

Testing Week

This week has been packed with testing and instruction.  We will have testing all this week from 8 AM until 10 AM.  ITBS is used for instructional purposes so it is very important that the children do their best, that way I will have a true profile of their learning strengths and weaknesses.

I have a meeting Thursday and Friday of this week and will be off campus.  I will have a substitute, however; Mrs. Smith-Derreth will be administering the ITBS.  I have told the students and it should be just fine.

No science or social studies this week due to testing.  We will resume the rocks and minerals unit on Monday.

Addition properties is the skills for Chapter 3.  I hope that everybody could get their book on line.  There are some great activities to go with each lesson as well as a tutorial for each skill.  Please let me know how you like it.

The science and social studies is also on line.  I will let you know when I get your children registered and ready to go.

Thank you goes out to Patrick as he was a terrific hero student.  The students enjoyed Patrick's items and DVD his mother and father made for him.  This week is Mitch's turn.  Next week, will be Katie's turn to be "Hero of The Week". Patrick's mom also sent in some really cool treasure box items.

Thanks goes to Mrs. Hamel and Mrs. Wood for hanging up our graphs and fall word clouds. Mrs. Hamel also sent in some great books on democracy. Thank you for being an important part of your child's classroom.  Thank you also goes to Mrs. Wood for copying for me, I appreciate this task as it frees me up to plan for your children.

Thanks to the Minor girls for helping me close the classroom each Friday.  I really think that it helps us stay a bit healthier as the germs do not spread, it is also nice to start each week with a fresh room.

Spelling Choices are going well.  We have some creative students.  Thank you all for supporting this hands on way of studying.  If you look closely at your child's choices a learning style just might emerge.  Good information on how your child learns.

We are writing our first paper to publication.  It is our "Response to Literature" .  We are reading Roald Dahl, Danny Champion of The World aloud.  The students have learned how to specifically describe various character traits.  Their paper describes a "goodie" and a "baddie" character in our story.  I can't wait until they are finished.

Guided Reading Groups are going well.  We have 4 different groups according to reading performance. We are focusing on how to read text.  For example, previewing an informational text by reading the title, subtitles, captions and looking at the pictures.  Forming questions in our mind before we read gives us a purpose for reading.

AR points are going well.  Four students have satisfied their requirements already.  Way to go.  You must have 8 points by Oct. 15th.  If your child has below 4 points and they are reading AR then they are behind.  Please encourage them to read and take tests. 

Fact Buddies must be going well as we have 10 students who are on multiplication.  Way to go, we make a great team! (students, teacher, parents, fifth graders)

Problem solving in math is done on Mondays.  We are learning how to perform on our Cobb County Math rubric.  Each Monday students work in their math journals to solve math word problems.  I look forward to much improvement in this area.  We are exploring various problem solving strategies.

I have met with many of you over the past couple of weeks.  Thank you for being willing to take time to discuss your child.   I appreciate your involvement. 

I am working on the October calendar and will have it attached as soon as possible.  Remember, most of my communication is via my BLOG.  The reason for this is so that you can always go back and refer to it.  It is important that we develop good communication skills and are able and willing to access information pertinent to the class.

I have a cutting project if anybody would like to volunteer.  I have received "Mountain Math".  I am excited but it is a ton to cut out. I can send home and the directions are easy.  Please let me know if anybody is interested in cutting out our MT Math stuff.  I would need it by the end of next week at the latest. 

As always if you have questions ask, my door is always open to you.  Have a wonderful week.

secret word: mineral

An Exciting Week Ahead

Congrats to Kaitlyn and Nuna!  They were elected ,by their classmates, to represent our class in the Student Council.  The election fit in perfectly for our social studies democracy study.  I love it when things like that happen.

Our class earned popcorn on Friday for our excellent lunchroom behavior.  Way to go kids.

We were also the only class, in the whole school, to have 100% participation on Spirit Day!  Great Job!

We are still collecting boxtops.  Don't forget to snip and send them in!

Thank you Minor girls for your company, laughs and cleaning as we close down every Friday.  What a nice way to end my week.

Thanks to Mrs. Hamel for our beautiful Fall decorations.  The students enjoyed helping put up fall leaves in our classroom.

Thank you Mrs. Pietsch for the stories on Friday.  The student really seeing their parents coming in their classroom.  The stories were great too!

Thank you Mrs. Wood for copying for us on Thursday.  You really help our classroom run smoothly.

Please make sure that your child comes to school with their weather data.  We will be going to the computer lab on Monday to make a graph of the temperatures around the United States. 

In computer lab we will also be generating a "Fall Word Cloud".

This week in math, we will be studying math addition and subtraction properties.  This is a study of Chapter 3.  I give a pretest.  If a student makes an "E" on the pretest their grade stands and they will be in an extension group for that chapter.  If they do not earn an "E" then they will be in a group that is taught the skills in the chapter.

Timed math is working as I had 2 students who went to the skill of multiplication last week.  This means they mastered both addition and subtraction.  The majority of students are right behind these two.  Way to go kids!!!

Fact buddies will be on Tuesday of this week but not Thursday due to CoGat testing.  The students are working well with their fifth grade mentors and all seem to be benefiting from this relationship.

We will have Spelling this week, Unit 5.  I have reduced the number of words on the word search and have given the students more in class time to work on them.  I understand that the word search of giving the kids fits.  Sorry, I hope this helps.

Three students have earned their 8 points for AR already.  Please do not let the AR deadline creep up on you.  October the 15th is the deadline.

Reading journals are working out well.  The students are reading and responding every night.  This is what makes a great reader.

I will need someone to hang papers on Thursday.  We will take down the newspapers and put up the weather graphs and Fall word clouds.  Let me know if you want to help.

Dates to Remember:

Monday: computer lab 1:10

Tuesday: Early Release

Wednesday: CoGat Testing

Thursday: CoGat Testing/Spelling Test/Progress Reports Go Home

Friday: CoGat Testing/Book Buddies

Patrick is our "Super Hero of The Week".  Mitch will be next week.

Secret Word is: caravan

Spelling Choices

Dear Parents,

I am sorry for the confusion.  I am trying to give you the spelling choices.  If you can not view then please have your child get a "Spelling Choice" sheet tomorrow at school.

Download printable_version_of_creative_ch.txt

Star Student

Dear Parents,

We will begin "Star of the Week" or as I like to call it "Super Heros".  We will start at the end of the alphabet and work our way up.  I do "Super Heros" a little different way.  Please see the parent form that is attached.  Patrick will be our first "Hero of the week".

Download staroftheWeekletter.doc

Spelling Homework every Wednesday night:

Student are encouraged to discover their own unique learning style.  Every Wednesday the students are to choose one of the 41 activities to complete at home.  If this project can not be brought to school then please take a picture or write your child a note.

Download east_lansing_schools_are_implementing_rebecca_sitton.htm

A Great Day in 3rd Grade

WoW!!!!!

What a fantastic day! The spelling tests were awesome, 99% earned an E on both parts.  Timed math tests were great too. I can tell they have been studying.  The reading journals looked good.  They must be done every night to be effective.

I have assigned fact buddies:  Your child knows if they have a fact buddie.  They need to be at school at 7:20 AM on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

We are learning about bar graphs in math.  The students have an assignment to begin today and carries through 9/15/08.  If you do not have computer access then they may use a class computer in the mornings.

WEATHER DATA ASSIGNMENT: Download weather_data.doc

The students also wanted to see the panda that was just born at the Atlanta Zoo.  Here is the link to the "Panda Cam".  Have fun

http://www.zooatlanta.org/animals_panda_cam.php4

GM Spirit Day tomorrow- WEAR YOUR GM SHIRT TO SHOW YOUR GM SPIRIT!!

Sally Foster ends tomorrow

Movie Night 6:30 GM

secret word: "democracy"

Reading Journals

Dear Parents,

I was shocked to check AR points today and find only a few students had been reading on a regular bases.  I had a talk with the students and several of them are now on a reading journal.  A reading journal is where the student reads every night for 20 minutes.  They must set a timer.  At the end of the 20 minutes the students respond to a reading question.  I will check and initial the reading journals daily.  They MUST read every night.  If an emergency comes up then they should read 40 minutes the next night. You must write me a note explaining why they were not able to read.  They need to read one day over the weekend, either Saturday or Sunday.  This is the year to become independent readers.  Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Moore

September News

Dear Parents,

I hope your extended weekend was just as wonderful as mine.  Our family headed up to the North Georgia Mts. to enjoy a relaxing weekend at The Black Bear Resort.  It was located two miles outside of Hellen, Georgia.  I enjoyed shopping, the weather, horseback riding and river tubing.  My hope is that each one of you is equally relaxed and joyful today.

A Huge thank you goes out to

Mitch's mom for copying

Nuna's mom for reading us some TALL Tales

Kate's mom and sister for helping me close on Friday

Elissa's mom for organizing us and creating our great calendar.

I am attaching this month's calendar. I tried to include everything that you might need during the month.  Let me know if I am missing something.

Download september_class_calendar.rtf

In math our essential question is:

How can we use models, numberlines and place value to order numbers?

Timed math is conducted twice a week, on Tuesday and Thursday.  After September, we will move on to multiplication.  Thank you for all your hard work and support this year on helping your child learn their facts and have them at ready recall.  It makes a huge difference in the upper grades when the computation becomes more labor intensive.  Keep up the great work.

Fact Buddies will begin 9/9 at 7:20-8:05, if you would like your child to participate in this peer mentoring program, please let me know.

Social Studies began today.

We began our study with this essential question:

What role has Ancient Greece had in shaping how the United States is today?

This unit of study will continue until 9/29 where we will switch back to science.

We will finish up Chapter 2 this week and have a test on Friday.

Independant silent reading.  Each student should read 15-20 minutes every night.  If they skip a night then they should read for 30 minutes the next night.  This is time management and a very good skill to learn.  Progress Reports go home on 9/18 which is the 4 1/2 week half way mark.  If your child has 4 points or more at this time then they are on the right track.  Thank you for helping your child diligently read every night.

Guided reading groups will start on Wednesday.  These are small reading groups based on reading performances.  I feel this is the most essential part of their day.  It is the instructional time where I really understand how each child learns and performs.

Don't forget:

Sally Foster ends Friday 9/5

Spirit Day -wear your GM shirt and show your GREYHOUND PRIDE!

Movie Night is 9/5 at 6:30 High School Musical 2 is playing in the gym- Hope to see you all there!

As always have a wonderful week and if you have questions, please ask my door is always open to you!