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

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Weekly Update-Catie's Class

Math

This week we wrapped up our unit on geometry with a post-assessment (exactly the same as the pre-assessment given in December). You should be happy to know that every child in the class made large gains in their understanding of geometry concepts and their application. We are now beginning our study of multiplication and division. It is important for kids to start seeing multiplication simply as repeated addition - not some foreign and difficult concept. We started working on the basics next week and gradually move into more challenging work as the need arises.

Writer’s Workshop

This past week, we learned about imagery, and wrote personification poems and Paint Chip Poetry poems-they're turning out beautiful. Have you ever noticed the juicy names of paint chips? The kids have been writing some truly inspiring poetry. We’ve also talked about how to use these techniques in their other writing.

Reader’s Workshop

This week, we have focused on expanding our vocabularies. We’ve been harvesting words from our read aloud, looking up definitions, identifying synonyms/antonyms, and practiced using them in sentences. I’m encouraging students to use these new words in their writing and everyday language. We're still reading Zorgamazoo, and making so many connections to the real world (ask your student about Tedium Steam!)

Portland - A Musical

We are down to our last four rehearsals for the musical. Starting next week, no scripts (except for those of the narrators) will be allowed on stage. Several kids still do not have their parts memorized. PLEASE work with your child on this - even if it is for only 10 minutes per day. Narrators should have their parts mostly memorized so that they can maintain eye contact with the audience. Make sure that your calendars are marked for Friday, Feb. 22nd at 6:30 pm for the big performance. Expect e-mails from Rhonda Baker (Josie’s mom) regarding costumes and other musical related things in the coming weeks.

Ask Your Third Grader...

What do you think multiplication is? What about division?

What did your small group make a growing pattern of? What number did you skip count by, and how far in the pattern did you get?

What is imagery? What paint chips did you choose? What is your paint chip poem about?

Tell me about your science inquiry project.

How are you feeling about the musical? What would you still like to work on?

Important Things Coming Up...

Feb. 1st - Teacher Planning Day (no school)

Feb. 4-15 SES Read-a-thon

Feb. 8th - No School (SES only)

Feb. 18th - President's Day (no school)

Feb. 20th - Late Opening (school starts at 10:40 am)

Feb. 22nd - Portland - A Musical (9:30 am performance for school and 6:30 pm performance for families)

Thanks for sending such creative 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.