Here is how this past week went down...
Language Arts
This week we finished up our novels in the Nooks...it has been so much fun having electronic readers...both of the stories were so fun to read and discuss. As you know, our main focus during these novels was using text evidence when answering a question...being able to cite the exact spot in the text that proves the answer. This will be a year long theme in our work with fiction. This coming week we will take a little time to talk about our novels' themes...the author's message...and then we will move right back into reading non-fiction to continue our work with main idea and key details. We will also be focusing on the ability to retell and paraphrase what has been read.
This week we will also be focusing on writing our commercials for our candy bars. The candy bar project got a little lost in the Fall Festival, end of quarter "ness", but will resurface Tuesday!
And then finally, we will begin a new formal writing piece...the narrative. This will be a month long series of lessons, graphic organizers, drafts and then eventually, a final product. But first, we must explore the elements of a narrative.
Math
Last week we were working with fractions and problem solving. The kids created Fraction Critters using fraction circle pieces, they worked on finding fractions of an area, and we solved lots of two step word problems. The kids are really becoming expert problem solvers. I love to see messy papers with words underlined and lots of "thinking on paper"...I really want them trying to solve these alone at home...I'd rather a kid come in with a paper and a signature from you meaning he/she tried alone, than for you to help them solve it. I cannot tell who needs what support if it wasn't completed independently.
This week we will be moving into small groups based on a pretest...the plan is to knock out any misconceptions with subtracting large numbers! I will be modeling the algorithm and looking for the students' mastery of it, as well as being able to subtract using other strategies...the more strategies the kids have, the deeper their understanding...the better suited they are for harder math in the future. Of course, for those kids who have the algorithm mastered, they will be applying those skills to word problems and more challenging activities.
Social Studies
Our current social studies unit is Economics. We will be using a video series called, "Econ and Me" (say it fast and you'll get it,) as well as our consumable textbooks to learn about scarcity, opportunity cost, supply, demand, consumption, production, interdependence, and so much more! The kids will apply this new knowledge in a week or two when they become part of a company and create a product to sell to their third grade friends. More to come on this amazing project we call "Entrepreneurs!!"
THINGS TO KNOW:
- Your child's science project is due next Monday, November 25th! Rubrics were sent home yesterday to help the kids check their work and strive for an A+!! See your child's Take Home Folder for details!
- Tomorrow is "Kick Off American Education Week" so kids are encouraged to wear sneakers and their UES spirit wear or school colors.
- Friday, November 22nd is a two hour early dismissal. The magnet school day ends at 12:30.
- Next week is a CRAZY schedule!! Monday the kids arrive 4 hours late...so they should get to school at 12:15 (no lunch at school that day). Tuesday is a three and 1/2 hour early dismissal...so school ends at 11 am (lunch at school this day). And on Wednesday the kids have off school!
Hope your weekend was great! I'm looking forward to sitting down with all of you soon and discussing your child's progress in third grade.
