Catie's Third Grade Class Blog: Weekly Update-Catie's Class

Friday, October 19, 2012

Weekly Update-Catie's Class

Math

This week the students learned that this “Pentovian” counting system is also known as Base 5. In this system of math, everything is grouped in fives (as opposed to everything being grouped by tens in our Base 10 system). We’re going to continue with Base 5 math next week to help build our understanding of place value and to increase students’ comfort with decomposing numbers (breaking them apart).

Writer’s Workshop

This week was about finishing our drafts and moving into the revising and editing stages of the Writing Process. We reviewed capitalization and punctuation rules that have been taught in previous grades (but not always heeded!). I am also continuing to assess students’ sight word spelling skills. We will be sharing our first writing pieces at an Author’s Tea on Thursday, November 1st at 9:00 AM. Family and friends are invited to this event. If anyone would like to bring in treats and/or tea for this, please let me know. I will provide cups and dishes.

Reader’s Workshop

This week we continued reading myths for read aloud. The last myth I told them explained where Mt. St. Helens (Loowit), Mt. Adams (Klickitat), and Mt. Hood (Wy’East) came from. I also spent a good deal of time conducting DRAs (Developmental Reading Assessments) on students during Silent Reading.

Chinook

We mostly finished our longhouses this week and they look fabulous. You will be able to see them at our Forest Festival on Dec. 7th. The students also read about tribal roles and clothing before drawing a sketch of their Chinook character who will live in the village.

Dia de los Muertos

This year we will read books about Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead - Nov. 1 & 2. In honor of this day, I invite students to bring in photos of loved ones (pets and people) that have died. Each student (if they feel comfortable) can share their photo with the class and talk a little about that special person. This is a non-religious/non-denominational observance of this holiday. I think it’s healthy for us to recognize that death is part of life and that most of us have lost people special to us. If you and your child are interested in doing this, please bring in photos (with a name somewhere on them) during the week of Oct. 29th. Also, if anyone has day of the dead art or books, please let me know if I can use them that week. Thanks!

Eagle Creek Field Study

Next Friday, the whole third grade heads to Eagle Creek in the Columbia River Gorge to tour a fish hatchery, learn about salmon, and watch coho salmon spawning in the creek. We only have space for 12 students in cars so far. This trip is 100% outdoors, so make sure your child is dressed for the weather and is wearing comfortable walking shoes (waterproof is best - we do go right down to the creek).

Important Things Coming Up...

Oct. 20 - Harvest Fair
Oct. 26 - Eagle Creek Field Study
Oct. 29 - Dia de los Muertos photos can be brought in
Nov. 1 - Author’s Tea

Also, please check your e-mail and look for a Doodle link to sign up for your parent/teacher conference time. I have already heard from three families, thanks. If a spot is already taken, please choose another time. If you can not find a time that works, please email me and we will work together to find a time.

Thanks for sending such brilliant students to school each day,

Catie

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If your child is absent due to an illness I am happy to provide an overview of the work they missed in class that day or for those days they are out sick. Inevitably there are times when trips need to happen during the school year and your student should be assured that although they are missing class time, I encourage them to embrace the learning opportunities outside the walls of our school. Parents often ask me for a packet to bring along to keep their child engaged in some learning and kept busy in a car or on a plane, but I don't assign "trip work" packets. Trips on their own have the potential to be rich learning experiences from airport or car, to destination and back. Instead I ask that students keep a journal, photo journal or scrapbook of their trip which could be shared with me upon their return to class. They are also welcome to share these with the class, but I don't require them to do so. Finding a secret spot and having a special little journal in hand in which to write and sketch what they see is infinitely more valuable to your child than me giving them a story prompt. If you do want your child to have some 3rd grade-level busy work during travel you could visit Learning Palace or a similar store to purchase 3rd grade skills workbooks. The following are some ideas for meaningful learning during trips:

Math:
Have your child use math, reading and writing skills as often as possible. Have them pay for things and count change or add up the coins received back, use maps, figure out elapsed time or the time an activity took to complete, compare prices of menu items, look for patterns in nature or architecture, estimate the time it will take to complete an activity, collect data of some kind and create a bar graph (cars vs. trucks on a five mile stretch of road or the kinds of people around you on the plane who order soda vs. juice for example), etc.

Writing:
Have them bring their writer's notebook or more fun, have them choose and buy a special little notebook just for the trip where they can sketch possible characters, special spots or images to use in future writing. Everyone and everything they see can be given new life as a character or setting in future writing. A little set of colored pencils or tiny watercolors to go along with it can make it more fun as well. Have your child write and mail a postcard or letter to our class (even if it arrives after they return). Our school's address is 3421 SE Salmon St., PDX 97214. Thank you notes for guest accommodations or for hotel operators is always fun, too.

Reading:
Trips can be made more fun if your child is taken to the library or to Powell's for a special trip book or two. Perhaps they could visit a local book store at your destination where they can choose a book to read or purchase for the time they are there or for the trip back. As time permits, be sure they read at least 30 minutes or more each day.

Science or Social Studies:
We study rocks and minerals in 3rd grade and it's always a joy for kids when we begin this unit in winter to bring in a special rock from a place they have visited during the year. We also learn about the first peoples who lived on this land long before white settlers came to what is now known as Portland. It can be interesting for kids to learn about other first peoples who lived in places you visit. Just learning a bit about the history of a new place with a city walking tour, nature hike, scenic route or collecting little souvenirs or scraps can be fun for your child as well.