October 29, 2014 Newsletter

Interims/Progress Reports are in today’s Wednesday folder. Please sign and return.

Reading:

We are reading informational text and learning about text features (headings, subheadings, table of contents, glossary, index, graphs, maps, bolded words) and how they are helpful.

Students are learning how to use the dictionary and the parts of a dictionary entry.

In writing students are reading an article in Time For Kids and producing an opinion piece about the article. They are using the OREO organizer. O=opinion, R=reasons, E=examples, O=restate opinion

Math:

In math the students should continue to practice their facts. You will receive a note when your child is stuck on a particular fact set. This is typically after 4 quizzes. We will be reviewing and applying  the properties of operations as strategies to multiply and divide. These will include the commutative, associative and distributive properties. They will also be solving two step word problems using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Science:

Mrs. Masteller’s class is completing our Objects in the Sky unit. We will be working on at study guide and taking a test Friday. Please help them review their study guide Thursday night for assessment on Friday.

Social Studies:

Mrs. Emerson’s class will be completing their unit on The History of Wake County. On Friday they will have a quiz. The students will be using their notes from class to complete the quiz.

Important Dates:

Nov. 7 - Early Release 1:15

Nov. 11 - Spirit Night PDQ Falls of Neuse

Nov. 14 - Movie Night

Nov. 27-28 Thanksgiving Holiday Break

Dec. 1 & 2 Case 21 Reading and Math. This is the Monday and Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

Updates

Wednesday folders are coming home today. In the folder you will find the scores for the Cognitive Abilities test. There is an explanation letter with the scores. If you have any further questions, Patty Carr the AIG teacher will be able to assist you.

Tomorrow is the timed multiplication test. Please ask your student what fact they are on to help them study. Websites are on the blog to assist. Have a nice evening.

Oct. 16 Newsletter

Reading: Students will be comparing and contrasting books to examine theme, plot, setting and characters in stories. We will continue to learn about idioms and prefixes and suffixes. We’ve had a lot of fun learning about idioms. Ask your child to tell you some of the idioms they know.

In writing we will be sharing their story they did with Miss Kelly, the Writer in Residence tomorrow. We will continue to work on elaboration in their writing. Please continue to check over their responses to their reading questions. Encourage them to use details and answer all parts of the question.

Math: Everyone is working hard to pass their multiplication quizzes each Tuesday and Thursday. Check with your child regarding which fact they are on. We will be charting their progress in the classroom. We will notify you if your student is struggling with a particular fact set. They should be practicing facts using flashcards and Math Magician (link on the Blog).  We have been discussing variables in word problems as being the unknown number in the equation. It can be a symbol or a letter used to represent the unknown part. The students will be discussing square numbers and identifying arithmetic patterns.

Science:

Mrs. Masteller’s class is finishing up a moon webquest with a partner to observe the phases of the moon. We will be looking at other planets and comparing their landforms to ours here on earth.

Social Studies:

Mrs. Emerson’s class will continue studying the history of Wake County and its inhabitants. The students researched the Tuscarora Indians ( the first inhabitants of Wake County) and made posters to share with the class. Next we will be learning about Raleigh, and why the capital was moved here. The information learned on our trip to Historic Mordecai house and the Raleigh Trolley will be reviewed in this part of our unit.   

Important Dates:

Oct. 17 - Early Release 1:15

Oct. 13-22 - Fall Book Fair

Oct. 20 Spirit Night Marco’s Pizza

Field Trip and Other Updates

Good afternoon! We are going on our field trip Friday, Oct. 10 to Mordecia Historic Park in Raleigh. We will be leaving at 9:30 so please have your child to school on time. We will be having lunch when we return. We did not preorder lunches because the cafeteria will still be serving. There are still a few families that haven't sent in money for field trips. The total cost for trips is 34.00. There is a reminder note in Wednesday folders for anyone that has not yet paid.

October 1, 2014 Newsletter

Reading:

Welcome back! We hope you all had a wonderful track out. It was so amazing to see how many students kept working over track out to keep their skills sharp. Both classes got a “shout out” from Mrs. MacWilliams about our progress on Lexia.

Students are super excited about the start of book clubs this quarter. They are meeting in small groups of 3-4. Groups will be working collaboratively to discuss plot, character traits, and settings. Members of the group will be assigned “jobs” to complete and share during the meetings.

Students are writing elaborative segments to describe story critical characters or objects. We will also have a Writer in Residence come and share experiences in writing with all of our third grade classes. How fortunate we are to have the opportunity to learn how to improve our writing from a published author! Please be aware that the guest writer will be assigning some writing homework. Regular reading homework will not be assigned that week.

Math: The students continue to work on multiplication and division. We have introduced the properties of multiplication, commutative, associative and distributive. The students will continue with the following math vocabulary: factors, products, repeated addition, repeated groups, and equal groups, dividend, divisor and quotient. The first multiplication timed (1min. 20/22 correct) quiz will be given tomorrow on the zero and one facts. 2’s facts will be given on Friday. Starting next week they will be quizzed each Tuesday and Thursday. Check with your child regarding which fact they are on. We will be charting their progress in the classroom. We will notify you if your student is struggling with a particular fact set. They should be practicing facts using flashcards and Math Magician (link on the Blog). There is an excellent app on the ipad called Flash to Pass. This is a free app.

Science:

Mrs. Masteller’s class will begin a study of the earth, moon, and sun. We will recognize the major components and patterns observed in these systems.

Social Studies:

Mrs. Emerson’s class will begin studying the history of Wake County and its inhabitants. We are looking forward to our field trip to the Historic Mordecai House.

Please remember to send in your field trip money or pay online as soon as possible.

Important Dates:

Oct. 3 Case 21 9:30 AM

Oct. 10 - Field trip to Historic Mordecai

Oct. 10-16 - Writer in Residence

Oct. 17 - Early Release 1:15

Oct. 13-22 - Fall Book Fair