Parents,

We began the day with our spelling and recorder lessons. Please remember to send recorders next week as students will be doing a rehearsal to prepare for the recital. 

 

Next, we spent time completing the math review in the textbook for chapter 9 to prepare for the test on your child’s next day of school. Be sure to send that test on that day. Many students completed the assignment in class and a few needed to take it home to finish. Please take a few minutes to go over p.150-151 with your child before Monday.

 

To extend our learning this week about realistic fiction and fantasy we took a look at the genre of fairy tales.  We discussed how fairy tales often have many versions with details that are different from one version to the next. To build listening comprehension skills I read a version of Jack and the Beanstalk to the class. After listening to the reading, students answered questions to complete a cross word puzzle. They also completed a writing prompt answering how they would escape from the giant if they were in Jack’s place. Students then shared the ending they wrote with the class. For fun, they completed a word scramble page and a word search page that went along with the story. You will find this packet in your child’s backpack today.

 

Unfortunately we did not get time outside due to the weather so we played “Quiet Ball” and “Four Corners” in the classroom after eating lunch together. 

 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

 Ms.Maria

 

Parents,

 

We began our Friday as usual with spelling and recorder lessons. Students were put into groups this week to practice the song they selected to perform together in the upcoming recital. I look forward to hearing the results of all their hard work in a few weeks!

 

Next, we spent time reviewing fact families with multiplication and division. We completed a worksheet on fact families as a wam up before learning a new concept. We reviewed basic division and then introduced division with a remainder. This was tricky for students at first but as we kept working, students began to see the pattern to follow. This concept is repeated this week at school so we will have more opportunities to sharpen this skill. You will find two math worksheets in your child’s backpack today. 

 

Next, we completed the art and bio poem project we started last week. Students cut out their poem and glued it to the painting they created along with a photo of themselves. These turned out great! Students then shared their finished project with the rest of the class. Their poems were awesome!

This project came home to day as well.

 

We then enjoyed a fun game of “Spud” outside and lunch together before heading off to Friday U.

 

Remember we begin Frindle next week. If you want your child to have a copy to read along in class, please send it to school on your next school day. We will still need Lightning Literature everyday for grammar. 

 

Have a great weekend,

Ms. Maria

Parents,

We began the morning with our spelling lesson followed by recorder lessons. Please be sure to see the recital flyer that went home this week with your student so you don’t miss this exciting event.

 

To go along with our upcoming poetry unit, students worked on writing a “bio poem.” They were given a list of questions to answer about themselves which we will use to create a poem next week. They also used paint sticks to design a background to use for displaying each poem along with a photograph of each student. It’s a work in progress but the final product is really cool. We hope to finish them next week to send home. Be watching for these because it is definitely a keepsake!

 

We completed a short review on division and learned about both math symbols used to indicate that operation. We then worked on a sheet of division problems with the new symbol and how we can check our answer by multiplying the divisor and the quotient to get the dividend. This worksheet went home today with students.

 

Next, we went into the castle to play a game of synonym and antonym “Scoot.” We placed 16 question cards  around the perimeter of the castle and had one student placed at each question where he/she had to choose either an antonym or a synonym for a given word in a sentence. They wrote their answer on paper and then moved to the next question until we went all the way around the room. The catch was they had to write their answer before I said the word “scoot.” When I said “scoot,” everyone had to move to the next question. This was challenging  and a lot of fun!

 

We enjoyed some time outside playing a game called “Spud,” ate lunch together and then off to Friday U. We had a great morning.

 

Please remember to send the poetry book to school next week and a white t-shirt for field day!

 

I hope you all fave a wonderful weekend,

Ms. Maria

 

 

 

Hello Parents,

We had a great morning in third grade today! In addition to spelling and recorder lessons, we worked hard on our math review. First, Ms. Johnson and I had the students complete the chapter 7 review on their own. This helped us and the students to clearly see which problems were a struggle and which ones they were confident in solving. Once everyone was finished, we worked each problem together to catch and correct any mistakes. Having students grade their own work really helps them catch mistakes and not repeat them. Please remember to send math test 7 to school on your child’s next day to attend.

 

Math took a while to complete so we then played “Ms. Maria Says” to get up and move around a bit. Then Ms. Johnson lead us in leap year activity. After reading an article explaining how the leap year works, students put facts from the article in order as they were in the reading and created a paper chain. This activity went home with them today.

 

We had a grammar worksheet on helping verbs to complete but ran out of time! We will try to complete this next week.  Math was our main focus for today and hopefully the review has prepared them for the test next week.

 

We enjoyed lunch together and then two books by Dr. Seuss since tomorrow is his birthday. 

 

Have a blessed weekend,

Ms. Maria

Parents,

We had a very productive morning in third grade. We began with our spelling lesson which inspired some funny stories about raccoons and garbage cans:)

 

Next, we reviewed multiplying by whole tens and a single digit number. Students quickly remembered how to do this by “tacking on the zero.” We completed a worksheet independently and then worked it together to make corrections as necessary.

 

After math, students worked in small groups to formulate a list of synonyms and a list of antonyms for a list of given words. It was good to hear all the brain storming and decision making to determine the words each group would use for their list. Each list was unique and creative!

 

Lastly, we read a fable by Aesop called, “The Fox and the Stork.” We completed several activities with this fable including sequencing, vocabulary matching, clarifying idioms, and comprehension questions. We then used this story to complete a graphic organizer to compare and contrast the characters, the fox and the stork.  Next week we will use this information to write a comparing and contrasting paragraph. This entire packet will go home next Friday. 

 

After some fresh air outside and lunch, we enjoyed the story Hey, Al by Arthur Yorinks before we headed to Friday U. 

 

Enjoy the sunshine!

Ms. Maria

Parents,

We began our busy morning with our spelling lesson. We had some cute stories about penguins and even one research paragraph. We then split off for half to attend recorder lessons and the other half worked on perimeter and area of a quadrilateral. We worked hard to remember the formula for each and to not get them mixed up.  We then had students switch classes and the other group completed math while the other group went to recorder lessons. Please make sure to see the worksheets we completed as they went home today. The one on solving for area really made them think and I was impressed with how well they all did!

 

We then did an activity called Blackout Poetry where students were each given a page from an old copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. They were to read the page, select words or phrases from that page to create a poem and then black out the rest of the words. This was a challenge at first but once they got the hang of it, they worked hard and game up with some funny poems. We then had each student read his/her poem aloud to the class.

 

We made sure to get a little recess time this week since we didn’t have time last week and then we enjoyed lunch together. Once we were packed up and ready to go, we listened to the story, A Crankenstein Valentine. It’s a humorous story of a little boy who thinks Valentine’s Day is gross. (We have several boys who agree with him:)

 

Please remember to send The Wheel on the School next week.

Please remember the wax museum on February, 26th.

 

I hope you have a blessed weekend,

Ms. Maria

Parents,

YOUR KIDS WORKED SO HARD THIS MORNING!!!

In addition to spelling and recorder lessons, we created a Valentine inspired art piece. Using a ruler and sharpies, students filled a page with quadrilaterals. Next, they added a heart or the shape of something they love in the center of the page on top of the quadrilaterals. Lastly, they colored the images and shapes to mimic the artistic style of Jenny Murphy. I loved how these were all so unique!

 

Our last activity for the day required endurance and cooperation. Students worked in two group to complete a Charlotte’s Web review packet that focused on comprehension, vocabulary and spelling. The packet included a cross-word puzzle, a word search, and a word scramble. The two groups raced each other to complete the packet. They couldn’t turn in their packet until every member in their group was finished. They did great! This activity really encouraged group cooperation and support as well as reviewing the novel. I was very proud of them for sticking with the activity and completing it. You should find this packet in your child’s backpack today.

 

To end our morning, we enjoyed lunch together and read the picture book, Millie Waits for the Mail. It’s a funny, farm story of a cow that looks forward to scarring the mailman each day.

 

Please remember to send the poetry books to school next week. 

 

Have a great weekend,

Ms. Maria

Parents,

 

We enjoyed a busy morning in 3rd grade starting off with our spelling lesson followed by recorder lessons. When half the class was in recorder lessons, the other half worked to complete the math review for test 6. This division of students allows Mrs. Johnson and I to work closely with those who need extra support. If students completed the chapter review, they then began the cumulative review and worked on it until it was time to switch classes for recorder lesson. Please remember to send test 6 to school on your child’s first day back to school.

 

Once we had everyone back in one classroom, we began a water color painting project with Mrs. Johnson that goes along with Charlotte’s Web. Students worked carefully to paint each quadrilateral on a spider’s web a different color or design. This project will be completed and sent home next week. 

 

Before recess and lunch we then worked on two worksheets to review articles and conjunctions. On the first worksheet, students had to determine which article fit in given sentences best and then completed the same task when given a single word. Lastly we took a closer look at the two main parts of a sentence, the subject and predicate. We had to identify those parts in various sentences and also learned how sentences can have compound subjects and compound predicates joined by the conjunction “and.” Students were then challenged to write their own sentences following a given rule on the number of subjects and predicates. This activity really challenged them but we did learn how to use the word “and” appropriately in a sentence. You will find these work sheets in your child’s backpack today.

 

Everyone worked hard to day and left happy! WIN!!

 

Have a wonderful weekend,

 Ms. Maria

Parents,

We had another busy morning with our Friday crew! We started off with our spelling assignment. I happy to see that many of our students are making up their own stories for this assignment now! I am also impressed with how recorder lessons are sounding. I am beginning to recognize the songs they are playing as the notes drift down the hallway:)

 

We spent the majority of our time today reviewing math concepts since we missed so many days of school and we have a test coming up. We first played a game of comparison with four digit numbers by rolling four dice to make the biggest number possible and writing it correctly. Then we repeated that process and compared the two numbers. Still working with the same numbers, we subtracted them and then added them. It was interesting to see their faces when they realized some of the addition problems created another place value! We played this game working in pairs.  Next, we completed an activity where students built a snowman by purchasing items needed off a worksheet.  They totaled their items, cut them out and glued them on a snowman outline. Lastly, they completed word problems in relation to the snowman they built. This was a great review of math concepts we have learned throughout the year. 

 

Thankfully we had time to get outside and enjoy the change in temperature, enjoyed lunch together and then off to Friday U!

 

Have a great weekend,

 Ms. Maria

Parents,

 

We had a busy morning today as we tackled spelling, recorder lessons, math, grammar and writing! Whew! It was great to be back together and hear the excitement from the students about their new Friday U classes for the semester;)

 

For math today we reviewed place value up to the thousand’s place and completed a worksheet focusing on identifying the place value of various digits in a four digit number. Students then graded their own work and made corrections if necessary. This paper went home with them today.

 

In grammar we color coded a page while determining if an apostrophe was being used to show possession or to make a contraction in various sentences. At first, this was a little tricky for some but they figured out how to notice the difference. This paper also went home today.

 

For our writing lesson, students were instructed on how to fold and cut paper to make a snowflake. This activity was to inspire them to write a narrative from the perspective of a snowflake falling from the sky. You will find this story in backpacks today but we kept the snowflakes to decorate the classroom door. 

 

We enjoyed some free time in the castle, ate lunch/snack together, and then read the story, I Wanna Iguana by Karen Orloff. We reviewed how the first sentence of a story will “hook” the reader like a fish to keep him/her interested and wanting to read more. This book was also a good review of persuasive writing as the main character is trying to convince his mother to let him have a pet iguana. 

 

After our book discussion, it was time for dismissal and Friday U. Remember Monday is a holiday and Tuesday is inservice. 

 

Have a great long weekend,

Ms. Maria

 

 

Hello parents,

 

We had a busy day in third grade starting with spelling, going to recorder lessons, completing the math review, working on capitalization rules, and an art project. Please take a few minutes to look over the math review page for chapter 5 with your child. We tried to work with every one to do corrections to ensure they were ready for the test next week. Please remember to send test 5 on your child’s next day of school. You will find the art project they made today in backpacks. They really enjoy painting! The capitalization worksheet we completed will come home next week after I look over them. 

 

Lastly, we had a few minutes of free time. Some students chose to go outside with me and others chose to stay indoors with Mrs. Johnson. We all met together afterwards to each lunch and enjoy a fun Christmas book about Bad Kitty. 

 

Have a happy weekend!

Ms. Maria

Hello Parents,

It was such a nice day to get outside and enjoy some sunshine and fresh air! We had a great game of football going on as well as several sidewalk chalk drawings of houses with hot tubs and swimming pools!

 

Before our playtime we worked on spelling and recorder lessons.We also completed the last few steps in our Christmas art project that we started last week. (Those will be coming home next week.) One final step for this project was to write a poem to go along with our art work. We reviewed several elements of poetry and how to incorporate them into our own writing. We also read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and tried to identify the different elements of poetry we have learned about so far. 

 

We then spent time reviewing each coin and its value before completing some money counting worksheets. I have kept those to look over and will send them home next Friday. To further our review, I opened a toy/candy market for each student to shop in and pay me the correct amount of play money. If they could count out the correct amount, they got to keep the item they selected. Every student got it correct on their first try! I was so proud of them!

 

After a relaxing lunch, we were off to Friday U!

 

Have a nice weekend,

Ms. Maria

 

 

 

 

Parents,

 

We had a cozy, warm morning filled with, spelling, recorder lessons, math review, art and grammar bingo. We worked on preparing for the math test next week. Please be sure to send that test with your student either Monday (red) or Tuesday (blue).  We focused mainly on the chapter 4 review and then used the left over time to work on the mixed review for chapter 4. Some students were able to complete both pages while others didn’t, so you may want to revisit that at home. Our main goal was to complete the problems related to telling time. 

 

Students also began a Christmas craft that will take us two weeks to complete. Today they completed 2 steps of the painting process and will finish it next week. We will then be writing a poem to go with this art work. Please remember to send the poetry book to school next week for our literature assignments. 

 

For our grammar review we played bingo to identify different words used in a sentence to determine what part of speech it was. The kids love playing bingo so much they forget they are learning at the same time:) They especially love the magnetic bingo chips and the wands that clean them up so quickly. 

 

We had a few minutes of free time before lunch, read the story Mooseltoe by Margie Palatini and then off to Friday U!

 

Have a great weekend,

Ms. Maria

Parents,

Please send spelling and math text books to school this Friday.

Thank you,

Ms. Maria

Parents,

We had a very productive morning in third grade today. We had a fun review of multiplication facts by playing two different games. The first game was called “Flip It, Solve It” and the other was “What Factor Am I?” The first game focused on memorization of the fact families but the second one had students finding the missing factor in a multiplication problem. The second game was really a challenge because the students were racing each other! We had a lot of fun reviewing this way.

 

Next, we completed a Thanksgiving Day packet by reading an article about the first Thanksgiving. We took turns reading aloud. They really had to pay attention because they didn’t know who I was going to call on next to read! After the reading, I checked their comprehension by playing Jeopardy with them. They had to stop and think it through because they are so used to teachers asking the question:) We then had a quick review on proper nouns and students had to write a list of all the proper nouns in the first paragraph of the article. Once they completed the list, they had to write four facts they learned from the article. We had a quick review on fact or opinion and they were ready! Then, we read the story book Thanksgiving Is… and I made statements in which they had to decide if it was a fact or my opinion about Thanksgiving Day.  Lastly we completed a worksheet on fact or opinion and then they wrote one of each on their own. You will find the packet and worksheet in their backpacks today.

 

Students worked really hard this morning so we enjoyed a little time outside and then lunch together.

 

I hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving Day and enjoy the much needed rest!

Ms Maria