WOW...that was a huge lapse in blogging...my apologies. I hope this post will somewhat make up for it! Between the holidays, end of quarter two, and my quick get away to Florida...I'm just trying to keep my head above water (oh and parent my own kids, too!) ;-)
Grab a snack and a drink...this is going to be a doozy!
Language Arts
Honestly, what haven't we been doing in LA? We have been reading both fiction and non-fiction texts with a focus on finding text evidence to support our thinking. We used two texts of similar subject - roller coasters - to answer questions, and dig deep into two different texts. Our focus is going to turn to biography research in the next two weeks. The kids will be choosing an important person - someone who has had an impact on our country - and learning all there is to know about that person. We will be collaborating with Mrs. Schartner, our media specialist, and the kids will be creating a Thinglink about that same famous person, using research portals while in the Media Center. They will continue their research in books in our classroom as they take notes and begin to retell the story of their famous person's life...in the first person...as if they are THAT PERSON. This project has a grand finale...we will hold a Wax Museum where you will be invited to visit and learn about all of the important people the kids have chosen to represent. More details to come on this in school project. No worries...the only work the kids will have to do at home is decide what to wear the day of the Wax Museum and practice their speaking A LOT...but we're quite a ways off from that!!
Writing
Quarter Two was all about Informative writing...their Information Books came home Friday...I am so proud of the work the kids did. Quarter Three is all about Opinion Writing. This is another great unit and I'm looking forward to hearing their thoughts and opinions...we all know they have strong opinions about things! We also have many kids taking advantage of a website called Storybird. This is a website where they can write creatively and share within our on line classroom. On Friday I shared a story that two students had written together...on their own time. It was a great story and I'm hoping this has inspired others to work on their creative writing when they have extra down time...or just because they love it!
Math
Multiplication? Division? Problem Solving? You name it...we've worked on it lately. Our class has such a wide spectrum of abilities when it comes to math....and it's my job to help all students master the third grade objectives while enriching and extending those who already know them...I do this by working in groups...groups that change all the time based on what we're learning.
For the record...at this point your child needs to be proficient in their math facts. Not because the county says so (the county says be the end of third grade), but because the pace at which we learn things in my classroom requires quick recall of facts...and if you're busy sitting and counting by threes to figure out 3 x 7, you've just been left behind...so please work with me to help your child memorize their multiplication and division facts...if they don't know them well, they should be working on them daily...three times a week if they're close to being proficient. If you're wondering whether your child is proficient or not, I sent home scores recently to all kids who haven't mastered their facts yet. If you are unsure and didn't see the scores, feel free to email me.
Science and Social Studies
We recently finished studying cultures...what fun it was to learn about each child's culture...such wonderful presentations...we learned so much! We are now working on a science unit titled, "Rocks, Soil, and Fossils"...just Thursday we finished an investigation into different types of soil. We gathered information and then used the info to help us identify each type. There was such strong verbal discourse during this investigation...
One student, "This is humus."
Another student, "No, I think it is loam. Look at the paper, it says loam has pebbles and sand in it. Look at this, you can see the pebbles and sand!"
First student, "You're right."
The kids work in cooperative groups a lot...for exactly that reason...I could have them write down notes about different soils, but when they research and then investigate and figure it out themselves, that's true learning!!
Take a peek...
We're half way to FOURTH grade!!
What does this mean?
Well...for starters it means I'm already feeling nostalgic...if only time would slow down!! ;-)
But what does it mean in terms of your kids?
I'm going to be a bit tougher on them. If they don't have their homework, and they are repeat offenders, they don't get a second chance...they do it at recess. Messy work will not be accepted. It will be returned to be redone. Extra time is still given if an assignment is incomplete, but its going to be more "at home" time, instead of finding time within the day. The transition from second grade to third grade is a tough one because they are little kids becoming bigger kids...but fourth graders are the big kids, so its my job to start to get them ready. Just wanted to give you a heads up!
Valentine's Day!!
I took all of the pictures from Friday and put them in a video...enjoy!!
I hope you're having a wonderful really long weekend! Tell the kids I will see them Wednesday!
