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

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Weekly Update-Catie's Class

Math

Last week we worked on a variety of strategies for solving 2 and 3 digit subtraction problems. The team and I are working on a worksheet to send home to parents to explain the variety of strategies we are using. As of yet, we haven’t found anything very helpful online and I’m not sure how to properly show math solutions in a typed format.

Writer’s Workshop

This past week, we focused on writing Great Endings and adding dialogue to our personal narratives. It’s very common for third grade writing to appear rushed at the end or to end abruptly. I’m encouraging the kids to take time with their endings in order to leave their reader feeling satisfied. We are also working on doing additional revising to their stories. Our next Author’s Tea will be on Friday, December 14th at 9 AM.

Reader’s Workshop

This past week, we finished our read aloud, Island of the Blue Dolphins. We practiced asking questions and reflecting in paragraph form. The students need lots of practice with paragraphs, and we will continue to work on this in Reader's Workshop and Writer's Workshop. Next week, we will work on the ART of Comprehension. ART stands for “Actively Reading Text.” I continually tell the kids that reading is not sounding out words, it is thinking. Actively reading text means that they are constantly making meaning, asking questions, making connections, and visualizing in their heads. After Winter Break, they will begin to do this with their own Independent Reading books.

Salmon

Thanks to all of you who were able to come out to release the salmon-that was pretty amazing. I've been thinking about those little fish all weekend.

Chinook

Last week, our villagers read about and created a variety of fishing tools in order to catch the many salmon that are spawning in our river. We did indeed catch enough salmon to last us through the winter. We also received a mysterious invitation to co-host a potlatch with two other nearby Chinook villages. Next week we will prepare for our potlatch, which will be on Thursday afternoon.

Forest Festival

This coming Friday, Dec. 7th from 5:30-8:00 is Sunnyside’s Forest Festival. This will be your only opportunity to come in and see all that the 3rd through 8th graders have been studying and working on this fall. Our classroom will be open from 5:30-7:00 PM. You will get to see your child’s longhouses, Chinook characters, native plant and animal cards, totems, salmon posters, and more. At 7 PM, everyone is invited to join the community sing along in the auditorium. There will be lasagna, music, and lots to see. I hope you can come!

Ask Your Third Grader...

What were some ways that the Chinook people would catch salmon?

What is a potlatch?

How will you leave your reader satisfied at the end of your personal narrative?

What is your wish for the salmon that you raised at school?

Important Things Coming Up...

Dec. 6 - Potlatch 12:30-3:00 pm

Dec. 7 - Forest Festival 5:30-8:00 pm

Dec. 14 - Author’s Tea 9:00-10:00

Dec. 15-Jan. 1 - Winter Break

Thanks for sending such crafty 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.