February 8, 2013
Math
This week, we began looking at multiplication
as repeated addition. The kids made posters last week to represent things
that come in groups. For example, one octopus has eight arms (8x1=8), two
octopi have sixteen arms (8x2=16), and so forth. The students also
learned a technique called “loops and groups” to help them solve single digit
multiplication problems.
Writer’s Workshop
This week, we learned about similes and
metaphors, and the students used them in their titles and reflections of our
visit to The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. In the coming weeks we’ll learn
about a new spelling pattern, practice a set of words that fit the pattern, and
take a spelling quiz at the end of the week. Research shows that
simply memorizing words doesn’t make children better spellers, but learning
spelling patterns (even in a language as inconsistent as English) does help. Through
the blog, I’ll try to keep you up to date on what we’re learning so that you
can reinforce it at home.
Reader’s Workshop
This week the students are working on reading
aloud to practice reading fluency and reading with expression. Not only
will this help them with the musical, but reading with expression improves
their reading comprehension as well. The nuances of our language are
often expressed in how we say something. When you are listening to your
child read aloud, encourage them to read in phrases (pausing where appropriate)
and to read with expression.
Portland - A Musical
This past week we had our first rehearsal on
the stage with no scripts. While many of the kids had their lines completely
memorized, we also had a number of kids who didn’t have their lines memorized
at all. PLEASE take some time to review these parts with your children in
the next two weeks. Our musical is definitely the highlight of the year
and we’d love to see every child reach her/his potential with it.
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.
Valentines Day
Valentines Day is this coming Thursday.
The kids are invited to bring Valentines to school as long as they have
one for each child in class. I passed out class lists to interested kids
yesterday and I can pass out more on Monday if needed. In addition to the
regular Valentines, we are also doing “Secret Valentines” this year. Each
child will be assigned one student from class that will be their secret
Valentine. I will let the kids know the specifics of this on Monday.
Class Needs
Nothing. Thank you so much for your support,
both verbal and financial for our classroom. Our DonorsChoose site has been
fully funded, and we will be receiving and using two iPad minis in the coming
weeks, as well as working on our Thank You package to the donors.
Also, in keeping with SES’s February Waste
Reduction Challenge, snacks that have less packaging or recyclable packaging
would be best. Thanks!
Ask Your Third Grader...
What is a simile? How about a metaphor?
How can I help you to be a better a speller?
Which lines do you still need to work on?
What did you notice that the actors and
actresses did in “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” that could help you in
the musical?
Important Things Coming Up...
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)
March 1st - 3rd Grade Poetry Slam (9:00 am),
afternoon Read Across America Celebration with tea and cocoa, pajamas, and our
buddies. I applied for and won a $100 grant from Portland Public Schools to
support our celebration (in honor of Dr. Suess' Birthday on March 2nd)
Thanks for sending such lovely students to school
each day,
Catie
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