Happy Fall Festival Day!

So, if you don't mind...I'm taking a shortcut this week...we were busy all week...investigating, computing, reading, discussing, and as always, having fun...but I was also dealing with a loss in our family and my energy is spent...so I'm hoping you'll all forgive me for leaving out the details...I didn't skimp in my lesson planning or teaching...just in my blog...oh yeah, and in grading papers...your kids will be getting TONS of papers after this weekend.


So, I'm just going to share pictures from today...we had SO much fun...a huge thank you to Mrs. Gallo for planning our party...and thanks to all the parents who donated $, supplies, food, and/or their time...you'll see we had a great day!

We started the day with

PUMPKIN MATH...

...and then...

our FALL FESTIVAL party!!

Have a wonderful weekend...and REMEMBER...no school for students on Monday!

PAJAMA DAY PICTURES...ENJOY!

Make sure to read the post that follows these pictures!!

HAPPY PAJAMA, SLEEPING BAG, HOT CHOCOLATE, GRANDPARENTS' BREAKFAST FRIDAY

You got that right...total chaos in my room today...but fun and still full of learning...I'm just not quite as FULL of patience :-)...but hey, it's Friday, right?

LANGUAGE ARTS
We ventured into folk tales this week...we've listened to stories about Anansi the Spider, read various other folk tales, discussed their characteristics, compared stories, and analyzed characters...next week we're headed into the land of FABLES...some of my personal favorites!

The kids shared their projects this week...what a great job they did...and their oral communication continues to improve! I know I've said this before...but each oral presentation is practice for a BIG FUN project I like to call The Wills' Wax Museum later this year...so loud, clear voices and eye contact are VERY IMPORTANT!!

Everyone is continuing on their "Ella" stories...some are drafting, some are revising, some are proofreading, and a few have finished. By next Friday all students will have completed their rough drafts. We will work on final drafts in the computer lab the first week of November. These published pieces are true works of art!

MATH
We finished out our multiplication unit with a quiz and we will work on algebra indicators over the next few days. Did you know...these kids LOVE function tables!! Ask your son or daughter what a function table is and have them make one for you to try to figure out. We started out by defining a function table, solving some function tables, being STUMPED by a function table (I LOVE stumping these kids...you should see them all squirm when they can't figure something out!:-)), and then creating their own function tables for each other. Today we are going to have "Function Tables Around the Room"...their creations hung up for each other to solve! REMINDER...your child should continue to work on multiplication facts at home!!

SCIENCE
What a bunch of scientists you've sent to me! They can't get enough...they come into the classroom and immediately look to see if Science is on the schedule! We are working on a unit titled Chemical Tests. We have been discussing properties of matter...observable properties and measurable properties. We have been reading about chemical properties and physical properties. The kids got to experience observing both this week during an experiment. We observed the physical properties of water and a white powder. Then we mixed the two substances together to observe the chemical properties of the new substance. We will be conducting many experiments next week and continue focusing on the science indicators.

SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT
I realize that the next statement may make me incredibly unpopular...I will take that risk. EVERY STUDENT IN MY CLASS IS REQUIRED TO DO A SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT. Ok, there, I said it. The kids are coming home today with some information about the science fair. I have put together a packet that will help the kids step by step with the science fair project process. Please look over the packet with your child and begin brainstorming ideas for their own project. More details to follow.

TUESDAY OF THIS COMING WEEK
We are headed to the ESSL this Tuesday...we are all very excited to see the new ESSL building! I will try to remember to take pictures while we're there.

FRIDAY OF THIS COMING WEEK
It's Pumpkin Math Day, it's Fall Festival Day, and it's an early release day...tell me that won't be another chaotic one! :-) Thank you to all of the parents who have remembered to send Mrs. Gallo the $3 to help with the needs of our party...I met with her yesterday and she has a fun party planned for your kids! Our Pumpkin Math activities might get a little messy, so keep that in mind when your child is getting dressed on Friday!

Have a wonderful weekend...I am off to the beach with my sister, Mom, and Dad, for an annual rest and shop weekend!!

Happy "Crazy" Week!

And no, that does not mean we're celebrating my mental state!! :-) We have had the craziest schedule ever...lunch today was at 10 and we had to go to the lunchroom packed to go home...from lunch the kids went to specials and then to dismissal! Although we were only here a couple of hours each day...we got quite a bit accomplished!


Math
The kids took the multiplication facts test again today...ask your child if they showed improvement from last time...please remind your child to practice these facts...they can use flash cards, recite them orally, or play one of the many games available on the computer! We have spent the last two weeks on our multiplication unit...estimating, solving three digit x one digit algorithms, listing factors, multiples, and learning the properties...next week we will be turning our focus to DIVISION...the two are so closely tied, it only makes sense! The students will be completing an investigation at home making sure to include all important parts of an investigation...more to come on that!


Language Arts
We have read SO many Cinderella tales!! Everytime I turn around we find another one...the latest version we read was a Native American Cinderella titled Sootface...John B. found that one at the library and we read it together on Monday. All of the versions we've shared and the work we've done with the fairy tales has led us to where we are now...writing our own "Ella" tales!! Wait until you read them! The students are all at different stages in their writing...they first brainstormed characters and objects that match their particular "Ella", they then mapped the story on a graphic organizer...this organizer helps the kids see the rising action, the turning point, and the falling action...and then the rough draft...some kids are well on their way, others will begin their rough drafts on Monday. Each student will do a peer revision and will meet with me, before a final draft is done in the computer lab. Wait until you read them!!


We are turning our focus next week to FOLK TALES...we will get to know Anansi the Spider very well over the next week...discussing how trickery is a main element in folk tales, just as magic is a main element in fairy tales!


SCIENCE
YAH!! We're ready to begin our first science unit of the year "Chemical Tests"...the kids will LOVE this unit...they will be working in teams to do different tests on "mystery powders" in order to draw conclusions about what each powder really is. I also LOVE this unit...we work on many different science indicators during this unit...students see that keeping records is a very important part of the scientific process! More to come about this fun unit.

$ for Ms. Gallo

I know it's a busy time of year, but if you could please send the $3 into Mrs. Gallo for her planning of the Fall Festival Party, I would greatly appreciate it!! Put it in an envelope with your child's name on it and attention to Mrs. Gallo. THANKS!!

Parent Volunteers NEEDED!!

So...here are two opportunities...

1. ESSL field trip...Tuesday, October 27...slip will come home this Monday...we'll leave around 9:10am and get back around 11:15am.

2. Friday, October 30...Pumpkin Math 8:30-10...I need at least four parents...I have two right now...each parent needs to bring a medium sized pumpkin and a few easy supplies...please email me if you are interested/able.

I hope you have a great weekend...stay dry!!

Math Investigation Pictures

I know I am missing ONE friend from the pictures...sorry!!

Here are your kids working very hard on their Math Investigations...

and I'm here to tell you...

they CAN count the uncountables!!

And they lived happily ever after....

We have had a great week...here is how it went down...

Language Arts - we are reading many different versions of Cinderella. We have read Cindy Ellen, Chickarella, Dinorella, the Egyptian Cinderella, Bigfoot Cinderella, and Cinderella as told from the Mouse's perspective. We have identified the elements of fairy tales, we have used during reading strategies to understand the plot of the story better, we have learned the definition of antagonist and protagonist and identified them in the different versions. And now, we are now getting ready to write our own version of Cinderella. The story Dinorella uses alliteration...each student will be asked to use alliteration in their tale. They will be asked to keep the basic story line of Cinderella the same, yet make it their own by changing the setting, the characters, and focusing on word choice. I can't wait to see the results!! The pictures below are of the kids comparing Cindy Ellen and Cinderella using a venn diagram.

We took a Word Study test today...some children are taking their Word Study lists OUT of their folder and not putting them back...there were five children today who did not have their lists. Two of them could remember all of the words, but the other three could not take a test. Please help your child remember to check to make sure their Word Study list is kept in their folder until test day...thank you. We will not have Word Study next week due to the crazy schedule!

Social Studies

We have been working on finishing brochures...they are AWESOME!! We will be finishing this unit with a writing assignment...the kids will venture to the lab one more time to research any state or country of their choice...they will then use the IDEAS rubric to help guide their writing of a well written paragraph. They will discuss the physical geography, the climate, and the natural resources of the place they choose. We will head into Science the third week of October!

Math

We have been working on estimating and the algorithm associated with multiplication...factors, products, multiples, properties, etc! We spent yesterday and today conducting an investigation. The kids had to develop a question, a hypothesis, and a plan, including materials, for the different ways you can "Count the Uncountable"! Some groups were given a bag of lentils, others were given elbow macaroni noodles...and their task was to figure out how to get a good estimate without having to count every single piece. They came up with wonderful plans!! I had to gather measuring cups, spoons, bowls, scales, weights and large plastic bags...and today they conduct ed their investigations, collecting data...we shall see what conclusions they come up with! They are very motivated by this investigation and we are covering SO many different math indicators while having fun...go figure!! :-)

CONFERENCES

Thank you to all of the parents that have returned the conference slip...if you have not, PLEASE send it in on Monday so that I know you are planning to attend. ALSO...if you have a specific question that you'd like to email me ahead of time, I can have an answer for you and save some time...our time is so very limited on those days!

FALL FESTIVAL PARTY

Hopefully by now you've received an email or a letter about our Fall Festival! Please let Mrs. Gallo know if and how you'll be able to help...ALSO on this day we are having a morning of Pumpkin Math!! I will need at least four parent helpers that morning from 8:30-10...and I have two volunteers thus far. Please let me know if you're interested in coming in to help that morning. Thanks!

And in keeping with the "fall festival" spirit...I shared a funny clip with the kids this week and a couple of kids have asked for the link...so here it is... http://wildandwonderfulwills.blogspot.com/

If I may...I'm going to end with a need...we need HAND SANITIZER! We use it all the time...we use it every time we switch settings...to the computer lab, back from the lab, to lunch, in from recess...and we're going through it rather quickly...so if you happend to catch a great sale...pick up an extra and send it in...pretty please...and thank you VERY much.

I hope your family has a wonderful weekend! Don't forget to review the calendar I included last week...it will keep you on track for our crazy conference week next week!

Happy Weekend!

Hello you lovely third grade families...I hope you've had a good week...we had a short one, but nonetheless, a good one! I would like to start with the important dates in October...there are a lot!!

OCTOBER
October 8 individual pictures (forms went home this week)
October 13 schools open four hours late (12:30-2:30 magnet) PARENT
October 14 schools open four hours late 912:30-2:30 magnet) TEACHER
October 15 schools dismiss 3 & 1/2 hrs early (11:00 magnet) CONFERENCES
October 16 no school
October 27 Earth Space Science Lab field trip (forms come home later this month!)
October 30 schools dismiss 2 hours early 12:30 for us
October 30 Pumpkin Math day and Fall Festival Parties 8:30-10:30am
October 30 end of term one (where on earth does time go?!)

OK...now that you have all of those important dates...here are some details...

FIELD TRIP to the ESSL
Tuesday, October 27th...I will be able to take parent chaperones, so mark your calendars if you'd like to attend! You must have participated in one of the volunteer trainings, so if you haven't been to one of those yet, make sure to get to one of them in October...there are three volunteer orientations scheduled during the week of conferences!! I do not have the exact time of the field trip yet, but we will be gone most of the morning and for lunch. As I receive the information I will forward it to you!

October 30
We will be participating in activities that have to do with pumpkins all day on this early release Friday! I will need at least four adult volunteers that day...but would love to have as many of you as want to come. Each adult will need to bring a medium sized pumpkin and some other supplies. If you are interested, please send me an email and I will get you the specifics. We will also celebrate our Fall Festival party this day. Parties are from 10-10:45 that day...Mrs. Gallo will be planning this gathering and I'm sure will be reaching out to you for some assistance...this is a fun time for everyone!!

OK..all the nitty gritty is out of the way...let's get down to the reason we're here...academics!!

Language Arts...we are finishing up our Before, During and After Reading Strategies unit...we have one more chapter in our novel Frindle...the students will be writing me a letter on Monday about this novel. I am anxious to read their thoughts and opinions about this book and our favorite character, Nick Allen. We have been writing responses, summarizing, and completing other novel activities...all the while using "After Reading Strategies"...reflecting, rereading, and remembering. We are headed into one of my favorite units in Language Arts...short stories, where we focus on fairy tales, folk tales, and fables. Look for information about a project coming home Monday!

Writing...we are turning our focus to the writing trait "Organization" this month...we reviewed writing pieces together this past week, using an Ideas rubric to discuss and score these pieces...the idea (no pun intended) is that the students will eventually use the Ideas Rubric as a guide when they are writing. The students will be writing a different version of a very popular fairy tale during this unit...one I am sure their creative minds will jump at the chance to write!!

Social Studies...our travel brochures are almost complete! WOW...wait until you see them! The kids have been working really hard on their final drafts and will finish them sometime next week. They will hang in the classroom and you'll be able to view them when you come for your for Parent Teacher conference...the office will be sending home reminder notices next week in case you have forgotten your time or haven't had the opportunity to sign up yet! Next week we will be venturing virtually (say that three times fast) into Frederick County and exploring the important county landmarks!!

Math...we are heavy into multiplication...factors, multiples, properties...estimating, calculating, solving problems...I pretested the whole group and am teaching each student the indicators they need to master...a few kids already know how to do the algorithm when multiplying three digits by one digit...they will have alternate activities when I am teaching the algorithm to the kids. Almost all of the kids understand how to find the answer to 321 x 6...but they do not know the most efficient way...so we will be working on that over the next couple of weeks!

We're also plugging away at handwriting, word study, and many other things...we stay very busy!! I hope you all have a great weekend...enjoy your families...