October 27, 2008
Brrr...fall is definitely here! Please send a jacket or heavy sweatshirt with your child. We go outside for recess daily. We are hard at work in our second nine week grading period. My class has really settled into the routines of 3rd grade. They are doing a great job with responsibility and organization. Thanks for looking over their nightly homework and having them correct any errors. This is a huge help.
Third grade students will be busy this week with practices for the musical we will be performing on Nov. 6th at 6:30 p.m. Friday (Oct 31st) will be an extremely hectic day as we will have rehearsals for the musical in the morning and fall centers in the afternoon. As a result I will give the Unit 12 spelling test this Thursday.
LANGUAGE ARTS~ We have been working in reading groups to improve our comprehension and fluency. I have been teaching my students to use their highlighters to go back into a passage and locate answers. Reading the questions before they read the passage also helps to improve comprehension. Please encourage your children to read smoothly and with expression. If they have to read the page to themselves first to practice this skill please allow them to do so.
**Your child must earn 9 AR Points this nine weeks. To see improvement in your child's reading ability they must do some independent reading with a check for comprehension. Please note I will not count any points from tests that are below your child's reading range or have a score below 80%. This grading period ends right before the winter holidays. I will continue to send student records home every couple of weeks so you are aware of your child's progress.
We have been working on our letter writing skills. The class has focused on identifying the 5 parts of a letter. This week we will work on what to include in the body of a letter and how to address a letter. Since we are learning how to address letters I think it's important that my students know their own home address. Please have them practice writing their 3 line home address as they will be required to do so as a part of their spelling dictation test starting next week.
MATH~ We are finishing up our unit on time. The chapter 6 test will be this Thursday. We will be moving on to multiplication next week. I will be sending home multiplication timed test packets next Monday. To achieve mastery your child will be required to get 90 out 100 multiplication problems correct (with 0-9 as factors) in 7 minutes.
HEALTH~ The class has had some informative discussions on alcohol and drug awareness. They are now familiar with the differences between OTC, prescription, and illegal drugs. This week we will role play responses to someone trying to get them to try drugs.
UPCOMING EVENTS~
Oct. 30th- Mock Election
Oct. 31st- Fall Centers
Nov. 4th- Election Day- Student Holiday
Nov. 6th- 3rd Grade Performance
Nov. 10th - High Touch High Tech
Nov. 17th -21st Book Fair
Nov. 19th- 3rd Grade Grandparents & Friends Luncheon 12:45 (Please turn in your reservation forms asap!!!!!!!!!! Thanks)
