Let me tell you about the rest of our week...
Language Arts...
I have so much to share...before break we began "how to" essays...these essays are now in final draft form, and the students are almost finished creating PhotoStory movies as a visual for their essays...wait until you see them! I'm hoping to post them by next Friday!
We have also been plugging along with the novel unit. We worked in Literature Circles this week...each day a different student was the leader of their small group...each student had a particular job (Connection Maker, Vocabulary Finder, Marker, and Picture Painter)...there are rules to follow during Literature Circles, and the entire class has done a great job! We have been focusing on participating in the discussion...not just offering their particular information, but engaging in discussion about other people's information...I have been very impressed!
We have also been plugging along with the novel unit. We worked in Literature Circles this week...each day a different student was the leader of their small group...each student had a particular job (Connection Maker, Vocabulary Finder, Marker, and Picture Painter)...there are rules to follow during Literature Circles, and the entire class has done a great job! We have been focusing on participating in the discussion...not just offering their particular information, but engaging in discussion about other people's information...I have been very impressed!
Next week we will integrate Math and Language Arts as we write "math stories"...in honor of April being Math Month! The students will be using their creativity to weave numbers and math concepts into our writing...can't wait to see the results!
Math
This week I have done a lot of assessing...the kids took their Quarter 3 post test...and all I can say is, "WOW." On Monday, ask your child about their pretest/post test scores!! (I'll hand them back then!) They also took their Quarter 4 pretest...I need that information to plan for the last quarter...can you believe we're entering the last quarter?!?!?! Next week the students will be conducting an investigation using estimation, computation, measurement, and problem solving...should be a lot of fun and a wonderful learning experience!
Science
All in one week we wrapped up "Rocks, Soil, and Fossils"...and began the Populations unit...this was not exactly how we had planned it, but with the time we lost due to snow...it was upon us before we knew it...we can't make the anoles and crickets wait on our schedule!! Don't know what an anole is? Ask your smart third grader...and then sit back to listen!!
Today we were visited by a grandfather of a UES third grader....Mr. Harrell is a "falconer" and he came to share his falcon and his knowledge of many of the concepts in the Populations unit...he was wonderful and the kids were very enthralled!
Important Events:
April 22 - Math Night (information and RSVP came home today)
May 11 - last field trip of the year! We will be going to the Frederick News Post for a tour, stopping off at Mount Olivet Cemetery to listen to some historical facts about Frederick, and ending up at the Frederick Keys Stadium for a tour and lunch! Mark your calendars...chaperones are welcome!
As always...I hope you and your families enjoy the weekend...its going to be glorious weather...most of the weekend I'll be on a ball field somewhere...kate has her first baseball game EVER...and the boys have a tournament...at least 6 games between the two boys...mama mia!! Enjoy!!
