Catie's Third Grade Class Blog: Weekly Update

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Weekly Update

Math

This week we wrapped up learning about data and began exploring a new system of counting from the land of “Pentovia.” I won’t explain too much about this right now because your kids are really excited to teach you about it in the coming week or two. Let’s just say that learning to count in a new system will allow them to better understand our own counting system (known as Base 10 because we group everything in tens).

Writer’s Workshop

This week we focused on turning our “meh” sentences into “yeah!” sentences. We did this by adding adding adjectives and changing verbs. The students continued to draft their first pieces of the year and monitor the quality of their sentences. Several students moved into the revising phase of the Writing Process by reading their pieces out loud to partners. Reading writing out loud is a great way for kids (and adults!) to find errors. I encourage you to encourage your children to do this at home with their homework.

Reader’s Workshop

This week we learned about myths - specifically myths of the Pacific Northwest. We learned that the word “myth” doesn’t really mean false or not true, as is often thought today. A myth is a story that teaches a truth - whether it actually happened or not is beside the point. This week we read four Native Northwest myths that taught about human behavior, how we should treat animals, and the origins of life. Next week we’ll continue reading these kinds of myths.

Chinook

This week found us deep in construction of our Chinook village. These longhouses are coming along beautifully! The kids are paying so much attention to detail and historical accuracy.

Chief Lelooska

So far we’ve sold very few tickets for this event. I highly encourage people to attend - it’s fun and educational. If transportation or money is an issue, let me know - we can work something out. Please turn in order forms by Oct. 19th. Whatever tickets are not sold will be given back to be sold to the public. Thanks!

Ask Your Student…

Here are some great conversation starters that you can try with your child to get them talking about what we’re doing in room 203:

- Which type of graph do you like using best: a pictograph, a bar graph, a table, or a line plot? Why?
- What is this “Pentovian” counting system?
- What is a “meh” sentence?
- Tell me about one of the myths you read in class. What does it teach?

Important Dates Coming Up...

Oct. 12 - State In-Service Day (no school)
Oct. 17 - Late Start (school starts at 10:45)
Oct. 20 - Harvest Fair
Oct. 26 - Eagle Creek Field Study

Thanks for sending such hard working 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.