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

Friday, June 7, 2013

Weekly Update-Catie's Class

This is it! My final newsletter of this school year. It has been a pleasure working with all of your students this year. I’m really going to miss them, and you, next year! If I don’t see you before school gets out, I hope that you all have a restful and fun summer. Our field study today was fascinating, and we finished off the day with fresh juice (apple, carrot, beet, ginger, and cucumber watermelon (thanks Katy for your support!)

Bridges

Our study of bridges culminates with our Bridge Tour on Tuesday and our “Bridge Strength Challenge” on Thursday. The kids will be given limited materials and time to create any kind of bridge they choose for this challenge. Using what we’ve learned about bridges, they will try to construct a bridge that will hold the most weight possible.

Writer’s Workshop

Our class book is currently at the district print shop. ($10 suggested donation for our class yearbook and zine). I should have them by the last day of school, but I may not have them by Thursday’s Author’s Tea. If this is the case, I will print out the students’ writing so that they can share. They will also be reflecting on their growth as writers this year. We would love to have some treats to go with our tea for the celebration. If you are able to bring something, please e-mail Bonnie. The students will be sharing their writing about Portland and reflecting on themselves as writers at our final Author’s Tea on Thursday, June 13th at 9 AM.

Reader’s Workshop

The kids have been enjoying the adventures, questions, and discoveries of Brendan Buckley in our final read aloud book. They have also been learning a lot about rocks and minerals from this book. We are going to wrap up this book as a whole third grade on the last day of school.

Rocks and Minerals

The students are working on their field tests on the mystery minerals in our classroom. On Wednesday, the kids will make their educated guesses about which minerals descriptions match the results of their testing.

The Big Clean Up

On Thursday, after our Author’s Tea, the class will be emptying our desks and lockers, cleaning the classroom, and sending a lot of things home. Please send your child to school with an extra bag so that they can take these things home.

Ask Your Third Grader...

What shapes and parts make bridges stronger?

Tell me about Brendan Buckley’s Universe.

What did you see and learn at the rocks and minerals museum?

Thanks for sending such sunny students to school each day,

Catie

Important Things Coming Up...

June 11 - Bridge Tour

June 13 - Author’s Tea (9 AM)

June 13 - Classroom Clean Up

June 14 - Last Day of School!

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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.