A Quick Week...a quick post!

This very short week was chock full of learning and experiences....read on to find out more.

On Wednesday the students were introduced to the novel, 21 Balloons, written by William Pene du Bois in 1947! The students previewed the novel, read the introduction, and began Chapter 1...they were begging to read more. That's the hardest part of teaching a novel...keeping them all at a similar pace. This is a wonderful novel that the children will thoroughly enjoy as we delve into story elements and building a deeper understanding of the story's meaning. Today the kids finished Chapter 1, read Chapter 2, and answered some "thick" questions...questions that make them think...not just locate the answer! The kids need to provide examples or details to support their thoughts...this is a skill that does not come naturally, so I've taken lots of time to model and discuss...but in order for your child to learn, he/she must engage...and if they don't engage in what is being taught/modeled/discussed...their answers aren't always well supported. Please look over your child's papers as they come home and discuss how they think they could improve their answers. There is a strategy that Mr. Esko is teaching his students that I've been telling the kids about...it helps them to remember there are many parts of an answer...
R.A.C.E.
R=restate the question
A=answer the question
C=cite examples
E=expand, elaborate, explain

Use this when talking with your child about his/her answers!

In Science this week we reviewed the four ways you can describe a collection of minerals...ask your child if he/she can name all four: color, hardness, streak, and luster. Then we gathered information about igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks...using our notes, we observed different rocks and tried to identify what type of rocks they were. We made predictions about the weight of the rocks and then found their weight using a spring scale. The kids did a nice job revising their weight predictions after measuring the first rock...I was so pleased to see such enthusiastic scientists!

Yesterday morning and this morning were dedicated to Mock MSA's...we spent Thursday morning taking an assessment set up just like the Reading MSA's and this morning we took the Mock Math MSA's...we did this for so many purposes...the MSA's are very intimidating...and we wanted to answer questions and take some of the "what's it like?" out of the actual MSA week. The kids were in their seats all morning...they weren't allowed to get up unless using the bathroom, they weren't allowed to ask questions, and they had to sit and do NOTHING when they were finished checking their work. All of these things I just listed are really hard for third graders. But now they have an idea of what to expect...and they know the "real ones" come with extra recess and no homework, so they have something to look forward to! Putting the "kid spin" on testing can help ease their minds! We have spent a great deal of time stressing to the kids that it is SOOO important to "show what you know"...they take for granted that I KNOW they're smart...but the people checking their tests only know they're third graders...and unless they put all their thoughts into the test booklet, know one will know the difference between being lazy, careless, or that they don't know the answer...they'll assume they don't know...and with your kids that is not the case. Am I making sense? It makes so much sense in my head, but Lord knows that doesn't mean it makes sense to you!!

Anyhoo...please do your part in making your child successful MSA week by making sure your child...

• has a good breakfast
• gets plenty of sleep
• feels good about themselves (as we all know, confidence is over half the battle!)

There is one other thing you can do...a big yellow envelope came home today...please open it, read it (for your eyes only) and return your "paperwork" to me by next Friday. Once you read the letter inside this will make much more sense!

CONFERENCES:

If you would like to meet with me about your child's progress, please send me an email and I will schedule you for Thursday evening or Friday afternoon. I still have plenty of empty time slots, so let me know what works best for you.

NEEDED

Many of your kids are in need of pencils...I think they may eat them, because I have NO idea where they end up...but they all seem to be searching for pencils these days! Thanks for your help with this matter!!

Have a great weekend!

Hall of Innovators Wax Museum 2011

Click on the words, "Hall of Innovators Wax Museum 2011"
below to enjoy the video of our fun event!

Hall of Innovators Wax Museum 2011

I'm hoping since today was a day off, this still counts as a weekend post!!

Hi, everyone...what an awesome week we had...I am SO proud of your kids! (I was also completely exhausted, and am now ready to blog all about it.) I have SOOOOO many pictures to share. We started this crazy week with Valentine's Day...we spent a good part of the morning working with candy hearts and using them for math problem solving...we saw a Charlie Brown video and had an amazing party thanks to Mrs. Lizik and all the parent volunteers!

The rest of the week had a Wax Museum focus, but we threw in a few more things...like our Economy Test...it was obvious how many kids studied...they did very well! We also focused on Science and Writing. To the untrained eye, you might walk into our Writer's Workshop and think there is a lot of chatting and not a lot of work going on...but you'd be wrong...you should see the pieces your kids are publishing...writing takes more than putting "pencil to paper"...the kids have discussions about their ideas, they peer conference their stories, they discuss improvements and changes to their drafts, and last, but certainly not least, they discuss their work with me...so there is a lot of chatting going on...but it is all about their writing! And in Science...we had a great lesson outside on Friday with the whole third grade. We simulated the effects of wind and water on three different Earth substances...sand, soil, and rocks. It was a warm day, so we took full advantage of it and headed outside for "wind and rain storms"! Each student observed three different mountains pre-wind and pre-water. Then with the help of third graders' lungs, we simulated wind and recorded our observations. After wind, they observed as a cup of water was poured onto each mountain and recorded those observations. Based on all of their data, we had great discussions and then they made conclusions as to how wind and water effect the different substances. It was a fun morning...and we thank Mr. Schartner for organizing such a fun way to learn about weathering and erosion.

And then there was this little thing we like to call the Hall of Innovators Wax Museum...what an amazing job your kids did!! We had a very short practice on Tuesday, a dress rehearsal for SIX classes on Wednesday, and then the "real thing" for you all on Thursday...when I think about the little just out of second grade kids who walked into my classroom this past August I get goose bumps...they're growing up, Moms and Dads!! They were composed, well spoken, full of pride, and they looked really good! Thank you to all of you for coming to see the culmination of this unit...it is one we will all remember for a long time!

See the next post for a video of the event!!

And now...we head into MSA prep...who am I kidding...PreK-3rd grade has been all the prep they need...and your kids are going to do very well...but we spend the next couple weeks going over test taking skills, and we will have two days of Mock MSA's...and then we spend time going over them together so they can see how reading carefully and taking their time can help them. We use the on-line timer that is displayed on the screen so they have an idea of how much time they have to work with, and we organize the total test time so that they have an idea of how long they have to sit...in my opinion, this is one of the harder things to do. I'm sure by now you've seen the at-home work I'd like the kids to complete over the next week or so. Posters are due Wednesday...if what I'm saying is not sounding familiar to you...check out your child's Take Home folder...its all in there!

THIRD GRADERS and THE DANCING BEAR!?!?
On Saturday, February 26th, the Dancing Bear toy store in downtown Frederick will feature a “living museum” of innovators, courtesy of Urbana Elementary 3rd graders. Over twenty legendary personalities, fully costumed, will be positioned like statues throughout the store. With one touch of their “button,” they “come to life” and share fascinating facts about their major inventions and ideas.

If this is news to you...check your child's folder! All 3rd grade magnet students are invited to participate...but space is limited, so have your child return his/her permission slip tomorrow...but whether or not your child participate, please come visit the toy store this coming Saturday!!

Dancing Bear
12 N. Market Street

A full week of school...oh my!

A wonderful week was had by all...I have so much to share...

Language Arts
We've been polishing our biography reports...and writing and publishing poetry...we are headed into reading science textbooks...I think I'm also going to throw in a novel, too...gotta get through the Wax Museum, and then its full steam ahead!!

Science
Man, these kids LOVE science. We have active compost bins and now we are experimenting with and testing rocks and minerals...we've been discussing the difference between rocks and minerals and using them to make predictions and experiment. First we looked at seven stones trying to decide how to sort them...some sorted by color, some shape or size, and a few by weight...then I told them that three were rocks and four were minerals...they tried to determine which was which...then we made predictions about which rocks/minerals would float or sink and tested our theories. We were able to draw some conclusions based on the observations. Then today, we used our fingernails and a penny to test the hardness of the four minerals...they were able to determine the order from softest to hardest based on their tests and then we verified the information using Moh's Hardness Scale. The kids were surprised with some of the results, but if you ask them the number on Moh's Scale for talc, calcite, feldspar, graphite (they may not remember this one, it's 1.5) and/or diamond, my guess is they can spit out the rankings...they love facts and were really intrigued with the scale. We will be heading into different types of rocks (sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic), how weathering and erosion affects rocks, the water cycle, and many other fun topics before we hit the fossils part of the unit.

Math
...division, division, division...estimating division, using manipulatives to divide, teaching long division so they can master the algorithm, solving problems using division, rules of divisibility, basic facts...division, division, division...

How can I help my child in math? Here is the answer to this question...if they do not know their basic multiplication facts, make them learn them...and you can tell them I said so...there are a few kids who do not know them at all and it is hurting their ability to think on their feet...I am a very patient person, but your kids are not...if they can't get an answer quickly, they're mad...and if you don't know your multiplication facts well, you can't do division even moderately quickly...(if any kids are reading this...moderately is an adverb!!) ;-)

I will hop off my soapbox now, but math is just harder as the years progress and I can firmly say that each one of your kids understands what multiplication is...if I give them the problem 4, 567 x 4, they know to add it four times even if they can't remember the algorithm...sooooo...its not a matter of not understanding the concept, its a matter of not memorizing....I think I said I'd get off my soapbox, didn't I?!??! Sorry....

Special Thanks...
THANK YOU DR. HOFFRICHTER!! We were fortunate to have Dr. Hoffrichter visit us this past week and talk with us about dental care...the kids learned a lot and enjoyed his visit...he also brought each kid a wonderful goody bag full of things to help with healthy teeth! We love to have parents visit and welcome any of you to come in and share your expertise with us!

REMINDERS...
1. have your child continue to practice his/her biography...volume and eye contact are the most important factors...I got to watch everyone today and am impressed with how many kids are practicing
2. bring Valentines on Monday if you haven't already
3. there is an economy test on Tuesday...the kids have had "study econ vocab" on their agendas for a week, so hopefully that has been happening!
4. the Hall of Innovators Wax Museum is THIS THURSDAY...9am in the cafeteria for all parents...plan to stay a little over an hour...the kids have been working hard and we can't wait for you to see them in action! Just FYI...it is a walking tour so you don't have to get there early to "get a good seat"...however we will start on time!!

As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me...have a wonderful weekend! And if you missed the earlier post from today...scroll on.

We are poets...our inventors are innovative...put that together and check out what happens!!