Happy RAINY Friday

Know what's funny? My kids are SO happy it's raining! They have been waiting for an indoor recess...how funny is that!? So we are eagerly anticipating recess today!!

I enjoyed seeing so many of you last night...thanks for coming. If you were unable to attend, a folder with some information is coming home today. The power point presentation I did is included. Please return the PINK directory form...I am making a class directory list and will only distribute it within our class...but it helps for sending invitations and such, so send it in soon! Also...if any of you out there would like to type it up for me...it would be so appreciated...just shoot me an email.

We had a short, but busy week...here is the run down...

Social Studies
We are wrapping up the mapping portion of this unit...we will now move into the natural resources of certain regions and the climate and landforms, and how they shape communities. Each student will pick a state from our country and research that state using "Culturegrams" in our lab...they will then synthesize their information to develop a travel brochure...this will all be done in class and will be a highlight for your "fact finding" driven children!! :-) A study guide will come home today to help guide your child if they'd like to study for the test which will occur on Thursday, Sept. 17th. Also coming home today is a project that your child has been assigned and it is due Monday, Sept. 21st. Please sign that project and send it back with your child so that I know you've seen it!

Language Arts
We dove into a novel titled Frindle this week and we are using it to continue our study on the "during reading" strategies...this week's focus was making connections, visualizing , and asking questions. We will spend next week (and many weeks in the future) working on inferring and synthesizing...the two toughest strategies for kids to master. We wrote letters to parents about Back to School Night and have continued our focus on IDEAS in writing.

Math
We have worked on estimating using the rounding and front end estimation strategies this week. We have reviewed subtracting with zeroes and using relational symbols when comparing equations (<,>,=). The homework last night was the catalyst for a discussion about the formula for finding the area of a rectangle...which then spun into the area of a square and numbers "squared"...I love the discourse among these kids! We will work on area a bit more next week...finding the area of irregular shapes...we will also will tie in perimeter since many kids often switch the two.

Handwriting
We have begun the instruction/review of the cursive letters. Many of the second graders that were here last year learned all of their cursive letters, some did not...so I am instructing those who are learning and the others are practicing to make perfect! There is a link on my blog to Zaner Bloser...if you click on "get started" once at that site, you can make cursive worksheets from home! Don't over do it...but if you notice your child's work and there is a certain letter or connection they're having trouble with, feel free to make a practice sheet!

PBS
Today we took the whole third grade into the cafeteria to practice respectful behavior...we were informed that the third grade wasn't listening very well as a whole...we practiced seeing "the hand" go up and NOT ONLY putting their own hands up, but closing their mouths. :-) It is hard for the people on duty to give directions when that cafeteria is very noisy...I think we will see a remarkable change starting today at lunch.

Thanks for sending me such great kids...they are a joy to teach and I appreciate you lending them to me on a daily basis. Have a great weekend...stay dry!