Hi Families,
We are so proud of how well our class has taken off with third grade routines and responsibilities. We started having students fill out homework slips when they forget to do (or turn in) homework- or when they turn it in but it's not complete. We check each student's planner on Monday (when they write the homework). We will continue to do this for several weeks. It can be very difficult for third graders to get used to copying something from the board to paper, but they are doing a super job. We could use your help in the following ways:
1. Please sign your child's planner one time each week to indicate that you have seen the homework and know what your child is responsible for doing. (We don't want you to do too much, as we encourage independence, but we do want to know that they are showing you the page.)
2. Ask your child (once a week or so) if he or she had to fill out a homework slip. If so, ask them to explain why they had to fill one out. (We want the children to be accountable and take responsibility for what they need to do.)
3. Please don't make excuses for your little one. We know you are all busy; we all are. There are times that students may not finish or turn in homework. We don't want you, Mom and Dad, to explain why something is not done or why it doesn't come in. We will let you know if there is an ongoing problem with your little one missing assignments.
4. Please help your child add up the minutes read, pages read and minutes working on math and PLEASE REMIND THEM TO WRITE THE TOTALS on the log each week. We keep records for each child, and it will save us 30 minutes if every child adds his or her own totals. Only home reading is to be recorded on the home log.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP!
Here is what we are working on in other areas of our curriculum:
Reading:
Strong readers reread to gain understanding, set personal goals to read long and strong (and to stick with a book until they finish it). We are working on these skills as well as practicing stopping, asking questions about the text, and jotting about what we read. This, at times, may include sketches. We are also continuously working on comprehension strategies such as underlining the text (in our workbook - not in our books!) where answers are found.
Homework in Reading: Read at least four times this week and record reading on log. The total should be at least 120 minutes. ADD YOUR MINUTES and PAGES and WRITE IT ON THE LOG.
Writing:
Writers use strategies for personal narrative writing including turning points. Good questions that we ask ourselves when writing with turing points might include,
*What was it like the first time (or last time) I... (did something with someone, learned to do something new, spent time with someone or something I love, learned a lesson about myself)?
Our grammar focus this week will be on using commas appropriately. Third graders should know to use commas in a list, when writing a compound sentence and when using dialogue in a story.
Writing Homework is due this next Monday, 9/15. (Sorry about the website saying the 8th last week.) It is the (minimum one page) personal narrative piece written in the writing notebook.
Social Studies:
Our weekly state study continues. We recently added South Carolina, and this week we will add North Carolina. We will also spend a little time talking about tough jobs people have. This will be in conjunction with a reading comprehension exercise we will do this week.
Math:
This week we will wrap up Unit One in Everyday math. Our lessons will include patterns, frames and arrows (algebraic thinking), elapsed time (with the introduction of our Length of Day project) and the Unit One Progress Check at the end of the week. This week's homework in math is:
Monday - HL 1.12
Tuesday - HL 1.13
Wednesday - HL 1.14 (This is a parent letter for moms and dads to read.)
Record Math on the Weekly Log.
There is not a homelink for Thursday, but we would like to encourage students to practice math facts. This can be done with flashcards, card games, basic skill sheets, calling out problems or through a variety of games and exercises on the Everyday Math website. There's an entire button dedicated to strengthening math skills. We encourage all students to check this out. Children can choose their level and monitor progress. (Teachers can see it too!)
We are looking forward to a fantastic week!
Meadow & Anna
We are so proud of how well our class has taken off with third grade routines and responsibilities. We started having students fill out homework slips when they forget to do (or turn in) homework- or when they turn it in but it's not complete. We check each student's planner on Monday (when they write the homework). We will continue to do this for several weeks. It can be very difficult for third graders to get used to copying something from the board to paper, but they are doing a super job. We could use your help in the following ways:
1. Please sign your child's planner one time each week to indicate that you have seen the homework and know what your child is responsible for doing. (We don't want you to do too much, as we encourage independence, but we do want to know that they are showing you the page.)
2. Ask your child (once a week or so) if he or she had to fill out a homework slip. If so, ask them to explain why they had to fill one out. (We want the children to be accountable and take responsibility for what they need to do.)
3. Please don't make excuses for your little one. We know you are all busy; we all are. There are times that students may not finish or turn in homework. We don't want you, Mom and Dad, to explain why something is not done or why it doesn't come in. We will let you know if there is an ongoing problem with your little one missing assignments.
4. Please help your child add up the minutes read, pages read and minutes working on math and PLEASE REMIND THEM TO WRITE THE TOTALS on the log each week. We keep records for each child, and it will save us 30 minutes if every child adds his or her own totals. Only home reading is to be recorded on the home log.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP!
Here is what we are working on in other areas of our curriculum:
Reading:
Strong readers reread to gain understanding, set personal goals to read long and strong (and to stick with a book until they finish it). We are working on these skills as well as practicing stopping, asking questions about the text, and jotting about what we read. This, at times, may include sketches. We are also continuously working on comprehension strategies such as underlining the text (in our workbook - not in our books!) where answers are found.
Homework in Reading: Read at least four times this week and record reading on log. The total should be at least 120 minutes. ADD YOUR MINUTES and PAGES and WRITE IT ON THE LOG.
Writing:
Writers use strategies for personal narrative writing including turning points. Good questions that we ask ourselves when writing with turing points might include,
*What was it like the first time (or last time) I... (did something with someone, learned to do something new, spent time with someone or something I love, learned a lesson about myself)?
Our grammar focus this week will be on using commas appropriately. Third graders should know to use commas in a list, when writing a compound sentence and when using dialogue in a story.
Writing Homework is due this next Monday, 9/15. (Sorry about the website saying the 8th last week.) It is the (minimum one page) personal narrative piece written in the writing notebook.
Social Studies:
Our weekly state study continues. We recently added South Carolina, and this week we will add North Carolina. We will also spend a little time talking about tough jobs people have. This will be in conjunction with a reading comprehension exercise we will do this week.
Math:
This week we will wrap up Unit One in Everyday math. Our lessons will include patterns, frames and arrows (algebraic thinking), elapsed time (with the introduction of our Length of Day project) and the Unit One Progress Check at the end of the week. This week's homework in math is:
Monday - HL 1.12
Tuesday - HL 1.13
Wednesday - HL 1.14 (This is a parent letter for moms and dads to read.)
Record Math on the Weekly Log.
There is not a homelink for Thursday, but we would like to encourage students to practice math facts. This can be done with flashcards, card games, basic skill sheets, calling out problems or through a variety of games and exercises on the Everyday Math website. There's an entire button dedicated to strengthening math skills. We encourage all students to check this out. Children can choose their level and monitor progress. (Teachers can see it too!)
We are looking forward to a fantastic week!
Meadow & Anna