Jan. 23-26

Reading:
We continued learning about main idea and supporting details.
Students are strengthening their abilities to use evidence based terms in their responses.
Students received new spelling words and will test 2/2.

Writing:
We are almost done with our weather informational papers. Many students are just putting on their finishing touches. These will be hanging in the hall for all to read.

Grammar:
We are still learning about possessive nouns. These are a bit tricky so we will spend a bit more time on them. Determining if a noun is plural, possessive or plural-possessive is the hardest part.

Projects:
We are finishing up our earth systems project. Students completed their posters so we will start practicing our presentation for the second graders.

JAN. 17-19

Reading:
This week we continued finding the main idea of an article. We also read our Scholastic News article and answered questions.

The students participated in another debate this week: Should girls and boys be taught separately? If they haven't already discussed this with you, please have your child share with you their answer. Our goal with the debates is two-fold: strengthen their accountable talk (disagreeing/agreeing respectfully) and supporting their opinions with evidence.

Students had a spelling test on Thursday. They will receive new words on Monday, January 23.
They received new Latin/Greek and will take a test on 1/26.

Writing:
Students continued moving through the writing process for their first informational paper. They are turning out nicely and have done a good job using evidence-based terms to cite their sources.

Projects:
We continued our Earth Systems project. Your children are becoming very knowledgeable on the earth systems and how they interact to form weather. It's quite impressive! This week they continued working on their system poster and we did a demonstration on how clouds make precipitation.


Misc:
Next year's school calendar was approved, please check your email.
A yearbook order email was sent out.

**check out the picture tab!! :o)

Math

Hello 3rd grade families,

As I'm sure you have noticed, we have been working on time this last week! We reviewed reading an analog clock and your students are now expected to read time to the nearest minute. It might be a good idea for some extra practice to just ask them what time it is (hopefully you have an analog clock in your home, they are all going to digital now!). We also began working on elapsed time. We started this by tying in our knowledge of fractions. We used a whole fraction circle for an hour, a half for 30 minutes, and a quarter for 15. Fractions fit so perfectly for this concept! We then started with our start time and worked out how many hours, half hours, or quarter hours we needed to get to the end time. Eventually we started to be able to do this without the visual representation of the fraction pieces. We will be continuing elapsed time this week. 

Jan. 9-12

Reading: We began reading Scholastic News and answering questions on paper.  The students will not have an assignment on Edmodo again this next week.  

The students are working on answering their questions completely by using evidence based terms and restating the question.  

We also worked on finding the main idea and supporting details of an article.  This is something that will transfer into writing a summary. 

Students received their new spelling words.  They will have a test on Thursday, January 19th.

Writing:  The students have started informational writing. They each picked a type of extreme weather to research and write about.  

Grammar:  We reviewed contractions.  The students practiced putting the apostrophe in the correct spot as well as writing the two words that make up a contraction. 

Projects:  We are learning about the different Earth systems and how they relate to weather. 

Misc:
Your child may bring in headphones if they would like to listen to the videos on Scholastic News. 

Welcome back!

Winter break is coming to an end - I am sure you've enjoyed the extra time with your amazing children. I know I've loved being home with my kiddos. But, we are about to get back into the swing of things, which is fun too!

Here's what is coming:

Reading:
We are starting non-fiction. To start, your child will not be completing Edmodo assignments. We will be completing other assignments using our Scholastic News weekly readers.

Spelling/LG:
Your child will receive new spelling on Monday. They'll take notes on new LG the following Monday.

Writing:
We are starting informational writing. Our first topic is extreme weather.

Grammar:
We'll be learning about those pesky apostrophes.

Projects:
We will learn about Earth's systems and their connection with weather.

Misc:
*We are in the third quarter! Check your email for the reminder about socks, pizza and other miscellaneous items - sent by Oasis Information.
*Check out the picture tab for some adorable Christmas / Secret Santa pictures!