What a great week of learning we had! I think the students are finally settling into the third grade routine and seem more comfortable with the classroom procedures and routines. I hope you all enjoyed looking through the Friday Folders. The students did a tremendous job on their reading and spelling tests. You should be very proud of their effort. Please take the papers out of the folder and send the folder back to school on Monday.
Watts Community News:
Don't Forget - Late Arrival Wednesdays!
The PTA "Snocial" is Tuesday Sept. 21 at 6:30 - PTA meeting to follow
After School Enrichment has started Tues. and Thurs.
Friday Sept. 24 is Spirit Day and Field Day - please wear May Watts wear if you have it and dress your student according to the weather- the fun is outside!
The Week's Citizenship Cool Tool - Is Learning "How to Cool Off" - This is the second lesson in a multi-lesson unit on how to problem solve conflicts at school. Last week we brainstormed ways to settle a dispute. This week will focus on the need to settle down and cool off before an argument is settled.
Reading- This week the students will read The Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron. The story is about a boy named Julian who meets a new girl in the neighborhood named Gloria. They become friends and together they make a "wish kite" with wishes fastened to its tail. You will have to read the story to find out what they both wish for. The strategy this week is telling the difference between a fact and an opinion. A fact is something that can be proven and an opinion is a feeling or belief that is not supported by proof.
Vocabulary - beyond, collection, mustache, seriously, fastened, cartwheel
Writing: In writing we will continue with types of sentences, focusing on exclamations and commands. We will concentrate on the procedures of Writer's Workshop and the students will create a plan for writing and work on creating good sentences. We will also discuss adjectives and how using describing words makes our writing more interesting to the reader. Who knows- the students may receive another visit from the "Sentence Doctor".
Spelling - This week's spelling pattern is long e and long a. The test will be on Friday Sept. 24
Base List #3 - easy, grade, meet, late, seat, saved, pail, these, reach, name, raise, leave, gain, theme, scream
Alternate List #3 - easiest, statement, beach, investigate, yesterday, anyway, became, peanut, between, reason, secret, beliefs, cheese, queen, forgave
The bonus word this week is teacher
Mrs. Baumann's Math - We will finish Unit 1 this week. The study guide will go home Monday. The students will complete the study guide and it will be reviewed in class on Wednesday. Please encourage students to ask questions if they do not understand or are uncertain about a particular problem. When we go over the study guide is a great time to reteach concepts the students are struggling with. The Unit Test will be Thursday September 23rd. The problems on the test will be very similar to the problems on the study guide. If a student can do the study guide problems independently, they will do well on the test. This week we will be covering money and solving word problems involving money. Also we will discuss number patterns.
Accelerated Math -The students did a wonderful job on their first accelerated math test! Please note that Part A is the actual test and Part B is just a graded activity for the unit. As we move along into Unit 2, the students will be switching teachers. Those accel. math students who had Mrs. Brayton for the first unit will now be working with Mrs. Tobin. The kids who had Mrs. Tobin for Unit 1 will now be working with Mrs. Brayton. If you shall have any questions, you may contact either teacher. Unit 2 focuses on using numbers and organizing data. This week we will look at various ways numbers are used. We will also find equivalent names using name collection boxes and will learn how to identify place value up through the billions.
We have officially finished our unit in Social Studies on Communities. I have not graded the tests yet- look for them in this week's Friday Folders. Additionally, the students will finish their Naperville brochures. There will still be some work time in class to complete them, otherwise they will be sent home for homework. We will now be moving on to Science,
Science- Bones and Muscles - This week the students will learn that without their skeleton they would be a blob - slithering around on the floor! The skeleton gives us shape and protects our organs. We will also discuss cells and how to keep our bones strong and healthy.
Bears are winning 20-14 --- Will they hold on for a win? I going to go find out. Enjoy your afternoon!
"Man's mind stretched by a new idea never goes back to its original dimensions"
~Oliver Wendell Holmes
