More photos from another busy week

Progress on the Salmon Boards (Look for them at Forest Festival on December 7!)

Researching and creating an authentic character

Learning about the Cascade Fish Hatchery and listening to "Salmon Stream"

Observing (and feeding) salmon

Photos from another busy week!

Weekly Update-Catie's Class

Math

This week, the students became more adept at Base 5 math.  Some parents have been really confused by this, so here’s a quick tutorial:

In Base 5, everything is grouped in fives (as opposed to tens in Base 10).  So, in the number “34” (base five), the 4 represents four ones (which is four) and the 3 represents three fives (which is 15).  So, in Base 10, the number would be 19 (4+15 = 19).  If the number has three digits - for example, 234 - the 2 would represent two groups of 25 (five groups of five) instead of two groups of 100 in Base 10.  Thoroughly confused????

The reason that they are learning to do math in a different base is to reinforce the concept of place value.  Most of the week was spent practicing translating Base 10 numbers into Base 5 numbers (ask your child to do this - you’ll be amazed).  On Thursday, we started comparing it to Base 10 (the system we all use)

Writer’s Workshop

Most of the students finished drafting this week and began revising (changing sentences, reading their piece aloud to identify mistakes), editing (fixing spelling, punctuation, and capitals), and publishing (rewriting the piece in their neatest handwriting).  Not all students will complete the publishing by next Thursday, but all will have a written piece to share.  We will be sharing our first writing pieces at an Author’s Tea on Thursday, November 1st at 9:00 AM in the auditorium. We will enjoy tea and treats after the readings in our classroom.  Parents, friends, and relatives are invited to this event. I would love a few volunteers who are willing to set up our classroom with refreshments right at the beginning of the day. Please e-mail me if interested

Reader’s Workshop

This week we focused on a new type of reading: reading directions.  I began the week by giving the kids a set of directions.  The first step: read the whole set of directions before doing anything.  The final step: do only step one and two and then silently read a book.  Of course, most of the kids didn’t read the whole thing first and they did the other 14 steps before I stopped them to explain.  I used this as a way to explain that people (including myself) don’t often read directions very thoroughly.  I related my own stories of not following directions and regretting it later.  While our third graders are pretty good at following verbal directions, following written ones is new.  Following procedures is actually a big part of our new Common Core reading standards that the state has adopted.  It will play a big role in the state reading test this year.  At home, I encourage you to show your children directions that you have to read and have them read them with you for practice.

Chinook

This week the students began creating characters that will live in our Chinook village.  Their characters are dressed in the way that Chinook villagers would have dressed prior to the arrival of white settlers.  Their characters are also dressed according to their role within the tribe.

Salmon

Our salmon eggs are doing well and should be ready to hatch any moment.  Meanwhile, the kids have been making posters about salmon in small groups.  These posters will be used to teach the class about various aspects of salmon.  They will be on display during the Forest Festival on Dec. 7th.

Dia de los Muertos

Each year my class reads 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!

Please sign up for conferences on Doodle. I am still waiting for about 10 families to sign up for a conference slot. Again, the link is :

http://doodle.com/r6sis3bxykkrgewx

Please sign up for an OPEN time slot. Thank you.

Important Things Coming Up...

Oct. 29 - Dia de los Muertos photos can be brought in
Nov. 1 - Author’s Tea
Nov. 6 - Class Picture Day
Nov. 7 - Columbia Children’s Arboretum Field Study

Thanks for sending such observant students to school each day,

Catie

The Portland Musical Music

Hi all,

Thank you to all that volunteered to copy CDs of the musical music.  In order to save time/resources, Prateek and Jesse Dujari (Svas' parents) turned the CD into MP3 files.  If you click this link, it should open up a zip file.  Simply save the file to your computer and - voila - you have all of the piano music that goes with the songs in the musical.  The tracks are not named, but your child should have no problem identifying them.  Please click the link below to get the music.  Let me know this doesn't work for you and you need a CD.  Thanks!

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/42596172/Jeremy's%20Cd.zip

Musical Music

Hi Families,

I have been holding off asking someone to burn copies of the musical music for everyone because there is a third grade parent who suggested using SoundCloud as a way to disseminate and access the music. How familiar are you all with this music sharing site? How many folks would prefer to have their own family copy of the cd for their student to practice singing with?

Thanks and best,

Catie

I hope to see you all at Harvest Fair tomorrow.

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

Photos from another busy week!

Longhouse Construction

Observing and putting salmon eggs in our tank

Working with base five ("Pentovian Counting System") to make the numbers 572 and 611

(Ask your student about this)

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