Can you believe how fast time is flying?!?!
This is going to be a long post...I can feel it, so grab a snack and enjoy....
SCIENCE FAIR
Urbana Elementary School holds a science fair every year and each student in the third grade magnet program is required to do a project...please don't start FREAKING OUT!! Ms. Maenner and I will be giving the kids a packet that makes completing a science fair project manageable for a third grader!! We will also construct a time line so that your child can do small steps at a time. I am linking a movie that the kids saw today to motivate them to do a science fair project...I would like you to see it because it offers lots of information and visuals that will help in the planning. Although the movie describes the THREE different types of science fair projects, we ask that third graders do "experiment-based" projects. Our first science unit (which begins Monday!) is an experiment-based unit, and we are able to easily tie in the scientific process of their projects with the unit. There will be a lot more information coming home next week...but today in your child's Take Home folder is a form that needs to be returned to UES to let them know your child will be participating. HOLD ONTO IT...don't turn it in quite yet...we need to spend some time discussing different science project ideas before we ask the kids to make a decision about their own project. So, hang it on the fridge and send it in at the end of next week, please!!
BOOK FAIR
As Ms. Lizik stated in her email, the UES PTA is holding the annual book fair this month!! And although it is not during conferences this year, I hope you will try to get to school to see the wonderful selection! Our school media center gets to use the credits to purchase books for all of our kids to check out and enjoy...so if you are thinking about ordering books...think about making your way to school Oct 6-8 and checking out the Book Fair!
VOLUNTEERS
Speaking of Ms. Lizik, I would like to thank her for organizing the volunteer calendar. I LOVE the monthly calendars and appreciate the time she puts into it!!
I know that many of you are probably disappointed that you only received one volunteer slot per month. I want you to know that you are MORE than welcome to come hang out in our classroom ANYTIME...I love to have extra smiling faces...but I just don't have tons of work for you...therefore, I'd rather schedule you once, and not waste your time while you're here. If you have a day off coming up, and you'd love to spend 40 minutes with us...just drop me an email...we'd love to have you!
WHY NO PICTURES?
I haven't wanted to admit this aloud (or in print) because it makes it so very real....but...I LOST MY CAMERA. You have no idea how sad this is...not only did I LOVE my camera...but it had an SD card with over 600 pictures on it! :-( Just typing it makes me want to cry. I have exhausted all the places it could be...twice...the only place I haven't heard back from is the baseball tournament we attended Labor Day weekend...I can't get a return email...but my guess is...it's long gone. ANYWAY...I have an older camera at home, so I will start carrying that with me...and I promise to upload pix soon!!
And now...our week in review...
MATH
We have jumped into the world of multiples, factors, products, prime numbers, 3 digit times 1 digit multiplication, 3 digit times 2 digit multiplication, problem solving, estimating...you name it...we're learning it...if it has to do with multiplication!! With each concept I assess your child and then place him/her in a instructional group. All students are taught the 4th grade indicators to mastery, and some are introduced to the 5th grade indicators as well. These kids LOVE numbers and it is fun to see them excited about math. IMPORTANT NOTE: Your child is taking timed fact tests at school. They should be practicing their math facts at home at least once or twice a week until they score 90% or better on their fact tests. They know their scores because they are the ones who check them!! Ask your child about his/her addition, subtraction, or multiplication fact test scores...and if they can't remember...throw me an email. I have fact test records so that the kids can work to improve each time they take a test. There are wonderful websites for fact practice...many are linked to the blog. We will continue with this unit next week!
SOCIAL STUDIES
We leave social studies behind today...for awhile...we ended this unit with a local government simulation...every student had a job within the government and researched their position to understand the responsibilities of their department. Then, in small groups, we received letters from concerned citizens and decided which part of the government we thought might help solve the problems. After all of the mail was delivered, we took on our government positions and read the letters that had been sent to our departments and discussed how we could help these citizens. It was a wonderful lesson to tie in all we have been studying in Social Studies this quarter. Next week the kids will receive a study guide for an upcoming social studies test...stay tuned. We head into Science next week and the kids are SO excited...me, too.
LANGUAGE ARTS
Monday we begin a new unit...short stories! This is one of my favorite units as we delve into fairy tales, folktales, tall tales, and legends. This past week, we finished up our reading strategies unit and our novels. Most kids read one novel, but some read two during this unit. The strategies introduced during this time will be used throughout the rest of the school year. I am still in the process of assessing your kids...I don't get to do it very often, because they need to work independently for long periods of time, and that's just not how I run a classroom...but I am determined to finish, so it WILL happen!
Writer's Workshop is just a fantastic part of our week. We use an hour every Tuesday and Friday for Writer's Workshop and the kids CANNOT get enough! Today we had three kids share published pieces...it was a very proud moment for me as a teacher...and the three kids who shared did a fantastic job taking a first draft through the entire writing process making improvements along the way. It is always a highlight of the week and I get as excited as the kids on Writer's Workshop days!!
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend...this is by far my very favorite time of year and it looks like we have great weather ahead of us!!
