The third graders have been very busy in room 12. We have spent the first week having lots of conversations about what our classroom needs to look like and sound like to be a positive learning environment for all learners. We have also spent time brainstorming how we can be supportive classmates and how we can show respect to those around us. We are pleased that so many new friendships have been created in our classroom. Along with these topics, students have also started new units of study in each subject area.
Reader's Workshop: We have learned about selecting just right books, finding the author's message in a fiction story, and have talked about why reading is important in our everyday lives. We have started keynote presentations on our iPads where we can keep track of books we read in class and also write a about events in these stories. Readers have also written a personalized reading goal that they will work on throughout the unit. We hope that this foundation will help us to have a very successful reader's workshop throughout the year.
Writer's Workshop: We are beginning the year by writing personal narratives. We are learning how to map out a story before we write so that our ideas are organized. We are working on writing interesting leads to our story so that we can grab the reader's attention from the very beginning. Also we are working on generating a list of topics of interesting things that have happened in our everyday lives that we can draw from for future stories. Sometimes it is hard for third grade writers to come up with ideas for new stories so any help you can do with this at home is always appreciated!
Science: Our first science unit is on measurement. We are learning that measurement involves length, weight, capacity and temperature. We have learned the difference between standard and non-standard units and are working on understanding the difference between measuring tools (i.e. a ruler) vs. a unit of measurment (i.e. centimeter). Science is a time that we can practice working in a group; sharing and taking turns are things we are focusing on.
Math: We are learning about multiplication and division. Students have nightly homework in math so please make sure to check their assignment books each night to see what is assigned. It is our goal that students practice their facts nightly and work towards building fact fluency as they begin to have both multiplication and division facts memorized. As you have seen, the book focuses on a few facts at a time so please help your child by quizzing them on their facts at home. This will help so much in future lessons.
Whew! As I said we have been busy! We hope your child is enjoying their start to third grade. We are really enjoying being their teachers!
Reader's Workshop: We have learned about selecting just right books, finding the author's message in a fiction story, and have talked about why reading is important in our everyday lives. We have started keynote presentations on our iPads where we can keep track of books we read in class and also write a about events in these stories. Readers have also written a personalized reading goal that they will work on throughout the unit. We hope that this foundation will help us to have a very successful reader's workshop throughout the year.
Writer's Workshop: We are beginning the year by writing personal narratives. We are learning how to map out a story before we write so that our ideas are organized. We are working on writing interesting leads to our story so that we can grab the reader's attention from the very beginning. Also we are working on generating a list of topics of interesting things that have happened in our everyday lives that we can draw from for future stories. Sometimes it is hard for third grade writers to come up with ideas for new stories so any help you can do with this at home is always appreciated!
Science: Our first science unit is on measurement. We are learning that measurement involves length, weight, capacity and temperature. We have learned the difference between standard and non-standard units and are working on understanding the difference between measuring tools (i.e. a ruler) vs. a unit of measurment (i.e. centimeter). Science is a time that we can practice working in a group; sharing and taking turns are things we are focusing on.
Math: We are learning about multiplication and division. Students have nightly homework in math so please make sure to check their assignment books each night to see what is assigned. It is our goal that students practice their facts nightly and work towards building fact fluency as they begin to have both multiplication and division facts memorized. As you have seen, the book focuses on a few facts at a time so please help your child by quizzing them on their facts at home. This will help so much in future lessons.
Whew! As I said we have been busy! We hope your child is enjoying their start to third grade. We are really enjoying being their teachers!