A hundred years from now... it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child. -Kathy DavisI felt this quote was appropriate because it acknowledges the impact children have on our lives. Children are our future and mothers around the world shape their children's future everyday. I would like to thank all the mothers out there for the opportunity to teach your children. Each and every one of them is special with a unique gift to share. Enjoy them, they grow up fast!
I hope you like my slideshow highlighting baby animals and their mothers. I recently took an advanced blogging class and learned how to create the slideshow. I might be a baby boomer, but I am catapulting into the 21st century with my computer skills. Notice the clock and the slideshow --- I am really getting good!
This post will be for the next two weeks.
Jump for Heart - 3rd Grade will be jumping in the afternoon. This is a great fundraiser for the American Heart Association. I jump every year, but this year is even more important because Mr. Baumann is living with heart disease. Though, I am happy to report through diet and exercise, he is doing fantastic!
Citizenship- This week we will continue to discuss bullying behavior. The students made anti-bully posters last week and this week we will place them around the school. The posters are to remind others that no one likes to be bullied. Bullying hurts.
Reading - The biography cereal boxes turned out great and the presentations have been very interesting. I really think the students learned a lot about their famous person and were able to share the highlights of their lives. We will read our last story form our reading text this week. The story is the Crowded House by Eva Jacob. This week's story is actually a play about a large family that is living in a very small farm house. The father asks the wise man in town to help him solve his problem. Wise Bartholomew helps with their problem in a very unique way --- he makes the house even more crowded! You will have to read the play to find out if the problem was solved. This week the emphasis will be on how to read a play. The students will need to follow along and be ready to read their parts. There will be a reading test on Thursday, May 12th.
The last weeks of reading will be spent reading and performing Reader's Theater Plays. The students absolutely love this. Reader's Theater is a researched based method of practicing reading fluency.
Writing - Most of the students have finished their 4-square writing and have begun their how -to writing. The students are being asked to write how-to do something they are familiar with. For example, how to brush their teeth. First they would give an attention grabber, include all the materials, give step-by-step instructions on how-to brush and finally an ending sentence or wrap up. The kids had fun deciding their topic. They will be giving short how-to presentations in class.
The final weeks of writing will be devoted to poetry. The students will be reading and writing various types of poetry. They will also create a very special keepsake showcasing all of their poems. It's a great writing project to end the year.
Spelling - The students should have received 3 graded spelling tests in their Friday folders. Unfortunately, their were a number of students that did poorly on last week's test. Apparently some students thought the spelling test was on Friday. Because of the field trip I told the kids the test would be on Thursday. The date change was also highlighted on the blog. We discussed how important it is to check the blog. I write it to give them important information. I told the students that I am dropping each student's lowest spelling grade for the quarter. Here are the lists for the next two weeks.
List #28 contractions. The test date is Friday, May 13th.
Base #28 - it's, isn't, you've, we'd, didn't, she's we've, haven't, he'd, they'd, there's, don't, we'll, won't, he's
Alternate #28 - would've, might've, mustn't, she'd, she'll, shouldn't, they'll, they're, they've, we're, weren't, wouldn't, you'd, you'll.
List #29 - words that end like -ever. The test date is THURSDAY, May 19th (no school on Friday).
Base #29 - water, over, never, under, river, number, wonder, tower, rather, finger, center, prefer, better, border, fever
Alternate #29- chowder, publisher, forecaster, brainpower, helicopter, laughter, commuter, wherever, clever, thunder, daughter, slumber, centimeter, millimeter, diameter
Math - Most of the skills and strategies in the final quarter of Everyday Math are developing skills. This means the students are practicing these skills, but not expected to be proficient. You will see quizzes coming home that review secure skills throughout the semester. We are beginning unit 10 on Measurement and Data. The students will review U.S. Customary Units of measure like inches, feet and yards. They will measure polygons to the nearest inch and centimeter and analyze data on frequency tables.
Accelerated Math: We have three more units left for the year. Each unit only has a couple of lessons- which means we will work through each unit quickly. Unit 10 focuses on reflections and symmetry. Unit 11 works with 3-D shapes, weight, volume and capacity. Unit 12 focuses on rates. Please look for study guides and tests to come home frequently over the next few weeks.
Social Studies - We are continuing our unit on Immigration. Unfortunately, we did not get to sharing our immigrant interviews on Friday, but will share them this week. If your student did not get their interview in on Friday, there is still time. This week we will focus on the surge of immigrants to our country in the early 1900's as well as the movement of African Americans North. This was called the Great Migration and it was a time when blacks moved out of the South to Northern cities to find better jobs. There will be a test on the Oregon Trail and Immigration Thursday, May 19th. Expect a study guide to come home the end of this week.
Current Events- This week will be the last seek of the regular news teams. During the final two weeks of Current Events, the students will be able to choose what kind of reporters they would like to be. Maybe they like to be a music critic, animal reporter, fashion reporter, or give a garden report. A student could give a report on a fantastic new video game, a review of a vacation spot or an exotic travel location. They can report on just about anything as long as it's school appropriate. I am telling you now so the students can start thinking about what kind of report they would like to give. This week's news team will be Friday, May 13th.
News Team #1 News Team #2
Anchor -Ishaan Anchor – Shaswat
Book – Rutika Book – Brian
Commercial –Adira Commercial – Keanu
Food – Nadia Food- Ryan M.
Movie- Penelope Movie- Keilah
Sports –Emily Sports – Samhitha
Current Event reporters for Thursday, May 19th are:
News Team #1 -Sydney, Michael, Anthony, Q'Damien, Joreal, Rose
News Team #2 -Sophia, Ryan S., Annika, John, Jack, Jimmy, Daylin
Current Event reporters for Friday, May 27th are:
News Team #1 - Penelope, Emily, Ishaan, Ethan, Keanu, Shaswat, Keilah
News Team #2 - Brain, Nadia, Adira, Ryan M., Rutika, Abdullah, Mikenna
There will be one more post before the year is done--- Wow! The year flew by. Enjoy each and every hug, kiss and "I love you" today from your kids and be good to yourself, you deserve it :)
