Catie's Third Grade Class Blog: Homework

Monday, December 10, 2012

Homework

Homework this week

There is no weekly homework sheet this week, just a math worksheet or two (each student is working on what they need to be working on in math) to be turned in on Friday. Instead, students are to bring their writing binder home AND BACK(!) each day until Friday when their personal narrative (about Chinook life) is due and we will celebrate with another Author's Tea. I really want these to be written by your child, but you are welcome to help in the following ways:

* The narrative can be typed (this is completely optional) if you or they type it exactly as written (incorrect spelling, capitals and all). You will need to turn off auto correct for this. They can bring the printout to school to work on and then home again each day.

*If they/you choose to type it, you can leave spell check on! It may seem overwhelming to them at first, but when the child sees the red underlined words, it becomes them vs. the computer, rather than them vs. you! You can guide them through the process of spell checking and choosing the correct word.

*If they ask for spelling help, offer language such as, "Would you like me to circle three, five or all misspelled words I notice?" Then you can offer the first few letters of the word and ask that they look it up using a resource at home or on the computer.

Tomorrow each child will be given a final publishing checklist from which to work. So far all students have been given separate revising and editing checklists from which to work. Look for this publishing checklist to come home tomorrow, along with their binder.

Homework over the break

There will be no weekly homework over the break. That said, over the break, some parents want me to assign no homework, others want me to assign a lot. Our team settles in the middle with some choices, suggestions and math fluency. We feel kids need a break to enjoy family. Look for the homework sheet to come home this Friday. I'd love for the starred items to be done (you'll see, but there aren't many and I mainly request that kids read every day.)

Ride Share

One of our 3rd grade families has moved and no longer has reliable transportation to Sunnyside. She and her sister are hoping to find a carpool in order for them to be able to stay at SES, who lives near 82nd and Duke. Please e-mail me if you can help and I will put you in touch with them.

Thanks for sending such hardworking 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.