January 22, 2015 Newsletter

ELA:

Students are finishing up their mystery book club books. They have enjoyed having discussions about the mystery, detectives, suspects, clues, red herrings and finally solving the mystery. Some students are creating posters to advertise their mystery book.  We will continue learning about parts of poems and practice reading poetry with fluency and expression. We will create a class Voice Thread to record their readings.

As we wrap up these activities we will begin exploring biographies. Students will read be able to identify text structure within informational text such as sequence, comparison, cause and effect.

In writing students will be planning a mystery using the “ingredients” of good mysteries we’ve discussed in class.

Math:

The students begin our unit on fractions next week. This is a very important unit in third grade as 20-25% of the EOG questions are on fractions. We will be covering fractions as a whole partitioned into equal parts, fractions on a number line and equivalent fractions. Please look over the homework your child brings home, to stay abreast of the skills we are working on.

We will continue to give multiplication fact quizzes on Tuesday and Thursday. Please continue to drill these facts with your child.

Continue to use TenMarks math program at home. The students are strongly encouraged to use this program weekly to help retain mastery of skills taught earlier this year. This will also help review for the EOG’s in May. We continue adding assignments to cover previously taught material.     

Science:

Both classes are learning about changes in matter. Hopefully they are discussing our experiments in class with you at home. They have come up with some great questions and connections about how matter changes. Students are keeping a notebook in which they record their predictions, observations and conclusions for each experience. We will be wrapping up this unit in the next two weeks.

Social Studies:

Second half of the quarter we will be learning about the three regions of North Carolina and their landforms.

Important Dates:

Jan. 28 - Math Information Night 6:00

Feb. 4 - Interims go home

Feb. 12 - Science and Math Extravaganza 5:30

Feb. 13 - Early Release 1:15

Feb. 17- NY Pizza & Moonlight Swirl Spirit Night