Looking Ahead at Next Week (9/19 - 9/23)
Language Arts - This week we are focusing on making inferences and identifying character traits. Students sometimes have a hard time distinguishing between physical traits ( brown eyes, curly hair) and traits that describe a character based on how a character acts or what a character says (quick witted, sensitive, kind, curious, etc.). For inferencing, we talk about making educated guesses based on context clues.
We will be reading several mentor texts together and discussing things the character says, or does, and how the character changes over time based on the context clues. We want to make sure anything we infer is based on something we read. Sometimes, it can even be an illustration that is shown.
Grammar Skills - we are still working on identifying parts of speech within a sentence and finding the subject/predicate. IXL also covers grammar skills if you are looking for additional practice.
Math - Last week's math test was modified and students DO NOT have to take a Part 2 at this time. Across the board, 3rd grade teachers removed one of the very confusing, multi-step word problems, and I took out one other.
We have moved into Chapter 3 - Understanding Multiplication. The chapter starts slowly, modeling different strategies to help guide students' thinking. We've talked about how sometimes the strategies can seem more confusing than the actual math. As students master their facts, they will not have to rely on the strategies as much.
We've gone over different ways to show multiplication, including using parenthesis, variables, and dots instead of the traditional symbol. There are some things that are VERY specific in the next few lessons, and we (3rd grade teachers) make sure to emphasize them since we know they will show up on their Go, Math! test as well as their state test.
We will be reading several mentor texts together and discussing things the character says, or does, and how the character changes over time based on the context clues. We want to make sure anything we infer is based on something we read. Sometimes, it can even be an illustration that is shown.
Grammar Skills - we are still working on identifying parts of speech within a sentence and finding the subject/predicate. IXL also covers grammar skills if you are looking for additional practice.
Math - Last week's math test was modified and students DO NOT have to take a Part 2 at this time. Across the board, 3rd grade teachers removed one of the very confusing, multi-step word problems, and I took out one other.
We have moved into Chapter 3 - Understanding Multiplication. The chapter starts slowly, modeling different strategies to help guide students' thinking. We've talked about how sometimes the strategies can seem more confusing than the actual math. As students master their facts, they will not have to rely on the strategies as much.
We've gone over different ways to show multiplication, including using parenthesis, variables, and dots instead of the traditional symbol. There are some things that are VERY specific in the next few lessons, and we (3rd grade teachers) make sure to emphasize them since we know they will show up on their Go, Math! test as well as their state test.
This is from the reteach page for lesson 3.1. It went home in your child's HW folder today. Notice that the book is very specific when it asks about the number of groups and how many are in each group. Students might be shown a model, like this, and asked what equation represents what is shown. It's:
number of groups x number in each group = total
It's the same when they are shown repeated addition:
7 + 7 + 7 + 7 = 28
The multiplication problem is:
4 (groups) x 7 (in each) = 28 not the other way around.
I will model circling each number to make it easier to viualize.
It's confusing at first, and it doesn't change the fact that 4 x 7 = 7 x 4, it's just for identifying models! Also, we use the correct math term MULTIPLES, not skip counting! We count by using multiples of a number.
Students were excited to see vocabulary that they are already familiar with (Commutative Property, Associative Property, product, etc.). Quite a few students were excited to show off what they've clearly been practicing, as well!
Social Studies - Students will be finishing the I Survived books we've been reading together and moving into Social Studies Weekly. Our first few lessons are all about Inquiry and Multiple Perspectives. From there, we move on to the different regions of California and where we live specifically.
Tests and Other Stuff...
IMPORTANT: Students need to return their signed Reflections and Parent Communication Folders every Monday. Occasionally, folks need an extra day, or forget, and that's OK. But some kiddos have already lost their first Reflections. It's really important that you see them, sign them, and talk to them about what they are sharing. What did they feel was their biggest success? Why? What are they struggling with? Why are they making the goals that they are making? Do you notice they are writing the same things each week? Are the reflections they are bringing home incomplete? That's another great thing to discuss - why are they incomplete? They are given between 30-40 minutes to write it. The brainstorm was on the board.
Reading Counts - Students have all practiced logging into Reading Counts. This is a computer based program that tests a student's comprehension after reading a chapter book. It runs off the district server, and tests need to be taken in class. In middle school they have a similar program called "Warp."
Students have a minimum of 3 chapter books they need to complete by the end of each trimester. For the first trimester, they need to be done with all 3+ tests by Friday, Nov. 4. Students are expected to read books that are at their level, but they do not get credit for core literature books that we read as a class. They then take a 10 question comprehension quiz on Reading Counts. Students have 3 opportunities in all to successfully pass the quiz, getting no more than 3 questions incorrect. Students can absolutely read more than 3 books a trimester! On several occasions, I've had students read at least 20 chapter books a trimester!
Tuesday, September 20 - Run Club Starts!
Come run every Tuesday and Thursday, weather permitting, from 7:30 AM - 8:00 AM.
Thursday, September 22 - First day of Autumn
Monday, September 26 - No School
Friday, September 30 - Chapter 3 math test
FYI - Students will bring their math tests home the week AFTER they take them. That gives us time for any student who missed the test to take it. It also gives me time to go over the test with students. So, the math test they took last Friday will go home in this Friday's Parent Communication Folder. I also know we have quite a number of twins. I can't send a test home until everyone has taken it (unless I change it).
The students were so excited for last week's Book Fair. I think there were some students who went shopping every day! Thank you so much for the incredible book donations, as well. The students can't wait until they are organized - they are already planning on what they are going to read first.
Check out some photos from the Book Fair!
Have a great week,
C. Simón
The Dragonflies' Wish List
C. Simon - The Dragonflies' Art Wish List (Blick)