It was a great week packed with learning here in third grade! We wrapped up this week with two special guest speakers, guiding us into our service learning project. The students learned about the homeless, services provided in our city, and will be making sandwiches with the help of Mrs. C, Haldan’s grandma. The most important thing they learned today was to assume the best in everyone and how Jesus taught us to help others, feeding the hungry. They may have questions for you, but it was beautifully done at their level.
Spelling Tests – Your child’s spelling test results will come home every Friday in their Friday Folders and are small strips of paper. I wanted to let you know in case you don’t see a full sheet of paper or if they get tucked in with another paper. There are three different lists and we are adjusting to how to do this the best way. The class is practicing where to find the “quests” (assignments) and it should be easier next week to find their homework.
MULTIPLICATION – Each student is expected to be practicing their multiplication facts EVERY night. They will be using a laminated sheet and a special vis-a-vis marker. Please set a timer for them for 2 minutes and they will doing as many as they can in those 2 minutes. As always, the goal is for improvement. They are expected to wash these every evening and bring them clean and ready the next day. It is very important they come ready to go every morning with a clean sheet, showing they have practiced and ready for our class routine. This week we looked at 2’s and 4’s so please have them start there.
Book Reports -Character Pumpkins AND the written summary sheet are due on Monday and we will share them all week.
Halloween and All Saints Day -Halloween is orange and black free dress. On Friday the students are invited to dress as a saint and wear the costume all day. This is an option and not requirement, but it’s so great to see the Saints marching in! If they want to dress up it can be any saint, not only the saint they are researching. I have extra costumes at home as well if you would like.
Immigration Unit -We are well into our immigration studies in the classroom and we would love to invite any parents or family members who have immigration stories come and share with us. There is nothing like learning first hand! Please reach out to us so we can schedule a good time.
Academics
Literacy -This week we learned adjectives and the new skill of inferencing. Students read the nonfiction book, Ellis Island, looking at features of a nonfiction text and preparing for Immigration Day. In writing each student wrote a paragraph for the VFW essay contest, reflecting on the question, “How do you treat our veterans?”
Math -We are breaking out our multiplication facts, reviewing strategies, and starting the memorization. This week we learned 2’s and 4’s. Please practice at home now (see above).
Science -Paleontologists participated in a fun lesson through Generation Genius this week. We made cast fossils together with clay and plaster and then made observations and claims based on evidence from the fossil.
Social Studies -Historians dove deep into Ellis Island and Immigration this week. It was fun to hear personal stories from the students who wanted to share about their own family history. The invitation is still open for any parent/family member who might want to share as well!
Music -This week in music class we are composing a 16 beat rhythm and playing it in rondo form with the song Shake the Papaya.
Library -We read The Runaway Pumpkin together in class. We worked on our typing and talked about passwords. In our discussion we talked about who you might share a password with and who you should not share this with.