I hope you had fun-filled, restful Thanksgiving break. We spent a few days with my family in Rochester for the holiday. We had tons of fun, but I am looking forward to getting back in the classroom!
Reading Workshop
We will continue to work on our nonfiction unit. We are working our way through identifying the major text features of nonfiction. This unit really lends itself to many teachable moments. As we identify a feature, we read short articles, discuss author's purpose, main idea, cause and effect, and fact and opinion. We are becoming very strong readers!
Science
We are beginning a new unit on the constellations. We will learn about the constellations in our winter night sky and the legends associated with them. This unit culminates in the use of StarLab, the district's portable planetarium. It is an amazing experience and I am excited to share it with the class!
Writing
This week we will begin a new unit writing nonfiction. The students will be writing about a topic they are experts on. Monday your child will come home with a homework assignment in writing. They will need to decide on a topic they are an expert on with little to no research. It would be very helpful if you could have a conversation with your child about this to encourage an appropriate topic choice. In the past students have chosen a sport they know/play, a favorite hobby, an animal, the solar system, or other science topic. I have also had students choose to write about favorite video games. While this is a possibility, it is not a topic that lends itself to the depth of the type of writing we will be doing. If at all possible I would prefer your child tries a different topic.
Math
We will continue our multiplication study this week with x9, x1, x0, and x10. I will post our strategies on the blog as we learn each set of facts. Please begin practicing facts at home to help encourage speed and accuracy, as well as confidence!
Spelling
Your child will bring home a spelling list tomorrow. This list is the review of our last four units. Our test will be on Thursday, and your child does not need to write these words in sentences.
A few important notes...
-I will be out of the classroom on Wednesday afternoon for a district math training.
-The third grade breakfast is next week, Friday, December 12th at 8:45 am.
-I am running a math club before school on Thursday mornings at 8:30 am. The club will run for 6 weeks. We will review previously taught concepts and strengthen our math skills. I still have two slots open, if you are interested and able to transport your child to school at 8:30 am on Thursdays, for six weeks please email me for a permission slip.
A few highlights from our very short week last week...
Maeve was our mystery reader last week!
We pushed all of our desks together the day before Thanksgiving break...
and celebrated the first ever "Thirds"giving!
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