Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Oh The Wonderful Places You'll Go!

We have actively been reading Dr. Seuss books each day to celebrate Read Across America week. Some students are rediscovering old favorites and discovering new ones. I love Dr. Seuss books, whether they teach a lesson or are just fun rhyming reads.

Morning Journal: Mr. Sid's assignment on being an upstander.

Morning Math: Subtraction with Regrouping, Metric Length Measurement, Word Form to Standard Form, Fractions

Math: We reviewed over customary capacity with "Super G". We took a quiz on capacity and drawing of our "Super G" tool. I introduced metric capacity with liters and milliliters.
1 L=1,000ml; We discussed how easy it is to convert metric measurements because it is a base 10 count.

Instead of doing science I read "The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins". The third grade is creating a bulletin board called "The 500 Hats of Third Grade". Each student will create a hat that describes them in some way and they will write five sentences to describe their hat. They will complete this activity tomorrow instead of their morning journal.

March 7th: Field Trip to Polk House
March 22nd: Science Fair

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

The Butter Battle Book

This is Read Across America week!! Try to read a little bit with your child each day. Ask them questions about what you have read. There are some great question stems in the reading section of your child's FROG binder. For our first story we read "The Butter Battle Book". This book brought up a lot of discussion about why it was such a big deal that people have such small differences. I am hoping this will help remind them about being an "upstander" and not judging others for their differences!

Morning Journal: I let them work on their writing project for Mr. Sid. He wants them to write a song, poem, story, or play about being an upstander, bullying, friendship, or being truthful. They will get to work on these tomorrow during this time.

Morning Math: Subtraction with Money, Place Value, Addition

Math: Customary Capacity Conversions with Super "G" to the rescue. I teach them how to use the Super "G" tool and also how to use multiplication and division to find the correct conversions. There homework tonight has an example of Super "G".

Imagine It: Ask your child to explain to you different cause and effect relationships. I want them to understand that an effect is the direct result of a cause.

Science: We picked our science fair projects and looked more in depth at the scientific method. They will get their project assignments and groups tomorrow.

March 2: Read Across America Day and Dr. Seuss' Birthday
March 22: Science Fair

Monday, February 27, 2012

Scientific Method

To begin the science fair projects the students first need to understand the scientific method. They also need to understand the difference between an experiment and a demonstration. Many of our students wanted to create a volcano that erupts or a model of the solar system, both of which are demonstrations. A science experiment takes them through the scientific method, just like a real scientist. All of our science fair projects will deal with plants and soil. We are going to teach these standards through our science fair projects. I know the students are very excited about their projects.

Morning Journal: What did you do over the weekend?

Morning Math: Word Form into Standard Form, Multiplication with arrays, repeated addition, and number of groups times number of things in each group.

Math: We began our study of customary capacity with the use of Super G. Please see tomorrows homework for an example of Super G. You can also have your child explain to you how to create Super G.

Imagine It: We continued reading our story "Earthquake". While we read the story we made connections and visualized some of the authors descriptions.

Science: Scientific Method! Science fair is on March 22nd. I hope to see you there.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

The Debate is On!!!!

Today we had a debate about whether or not the government should still help to fund NASA exploration of new planets with a satellite called Kepler. The debate was awesome and I am going to e-mail all of you the footage from our debate. The students wanted to keep going because they were enjoying themselves so much. We will continue our debate another day. I look forward to hearing all of their view points. Please ask your child the stance they took in today's debate and why they decided to take that stance.

Morning Journal: What would you choose between flying like a bird or swimming like a fish and why? From now on if the students do not finish their morning journal at school, they will have to complete it for homework. I will write in their agenda if they need to finish their morning journal.

Instead of morning math we practiced identifying synonyms and antonyms.

Math: We reviewed over all of the different types of patterns and how to solve these problems. We will have a test on patterns tomorrow.

SS: We took our SS test on all of the different types of communities.

Barnes and Noble night is tonight at 5:00pm! It will be celebrating our new school going green!

Midterms come home tomorrow!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

We're back!!!

We are back and running in full force. We are in double time for our preparations for the EOGs. We will finish up patterns this week, move into measurement, fractions, elapsed time, and end with probability. The final three weeks before EOGs we will review all of our concepts for the EOGs.

Morning Journal: If I could be president, I would...

Morning Math: We did not do a regular morning math because of the short week. Instead we completed a few pattern problems in our math journal.

Math: We reviewed all of the types of pattern problems. I had the students come up and teach. We discussed all of the different ways to solve pattern problems. (Pictures, arrows, number lines, t-charts.) We will have a test on patterns this Friday.

Imagine It: We are going to focus on the story "Earthquakes" for the rest of this week and next week. We are going to look at all of the different types of natural disasters and how they change a community. Today, we looked at earthquakes and how they can affect the land and a community. In our story, we will look at the major earthquake in San Francisco and cause and effect relationships in our story.

SS: We will have our SS test on different types of communities tomorrow. The three major types are urban, suburban, and rural. I sent home a study guide on Friday.

**Don't forget to study the addition, subtraction, and multiplication flash cards with your child. We take timed tests on these every day 2 and 6. It is a requirement of our school that all students be able to complete 100 facts in five minutes.**

Friday, February 17, 2012

Looong weekend!!!

Please enjoy your long weekend with your child. They are off on Monday and Tuesday due to teacher work days. Monday is also President's Day! Talk with your child about the importance of the office of the president and the upcoming election.

Morning Journal: If you could have any super power, what would it be and why?

Morning Math: We took our morning math test this morning. I will grade them this week and get them back to you on Friday.

Math: We looked at growth patterns again and drawing a t-chart. The students had to work together to solve growth pattern problems in groups to win a competition.

Imagine It: We took our Imagine It test and found facts and opinions in the story.

Today we watched a video of some children performing tricks with jump ropes in honor of "Jump Rope for Heart" week.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

THURSDAY!!!

Morning Journal: Would you like to be a paleontologist when you grow up, if yes why and if no why not? I got everything from yes it would be a cool job to no I don't like to be dirty. This was a really interesting journal to read and let me know a lot of misconceptions that students have about dinosaur bones.

Morning Math: patterns, graphing, addition, subtraction, measurement
I went over the problems that will be on the morning math test tomorrow and I had the students circle those problems, so they can study at home tonight.

Math: GROWTH patterns: When you are trying to figure out a growth pattern you must draw a t-chart, because this will help to keep you organized. Sometimes a growth pattern may stay the same all the way down, but other times the pattern will change back and forth. All of our patterns can be addition, subtraction, multiplication, and/or division. Your child needs to still practice their flash cards every day. We continue to take our timed multiplication test each week.

Imagine It: Today we looked at the difference between facts (something you can prove) and opinions (something that you feel). While this may seem like an easy concept to recognize in a story or passage, most students find it difficult because they think just because it is written in the story, it makes it a fact. We looked at many different examples on the pages of our story. I also went over the questions on tomorrow's test to better prepare them

SS: We reviewed over urban, suburban, and rural communities. We will have a test on this unit next Thursday. I will send home a study guide tomorrow.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Urban, Suburban, or Rural! Where do you live?

Morning Journal: If you could have a conversation with George Washington, what would you talk to him about and why?

Morning Math: Place Value, greater than and less than, telling time to the minute, subtraction with regrouping, addition with regrouping, patterns.

Math: Missing numbers with patterns and in/out boxes. I also introduced using a t-chart in growth patterns. We create t-charts because some of the patterns ask for the tenth number in the pattern or the fifth number in a pattern and a t-chart allows them to create an organized list.

Imagine It: We read "The House on Maple Street" and applied visualizing and adjusting reading speed strategies. This is also a great story for sequencing, because it goes through a community and how it changes over 200 years. I am going to have the students bring home their books tomorrow, so they can read the story at home.

SS: An urban community is one that has a lot of buildings and people in a small compact space (ex. Charlotte), suburban community is a neighborhood with many houses, but you have more space to move around and places to play (ex. Pineville), rural is a community with the houses spread miles apart and has farm land and not many buildings.

Reminder: Snacks are supposed to be healthy. This is just something small that should help to keep your child full until we eat lunch at 12:50. Please do not allow them to bring candy, cookies, cupcakes, or any other sweets for snacks. The only drink allowed in the classroom is water!! If they want to bring juice for lunch, it must be kept in their book bag or lunch box.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you. Thank you for the yummy candy, nice cards, and gifts. We exchanged cards and enjoyed cupcakes and cookies.

Morning Journal: What do you love most and why?

Morning Math: We will go over today's morning math tomorrow during math class.

Math: We used candy hearts to create patterns and a graph.

Imagine It: We did not have Imagine It today, due to the adjusted schedule. We presented the constellation projects. I look forward to seeing the rest of them tomorrow.

Hopefully, everyone will get enough rest tonight after our fun filled day.

Monday, February 13, 2012

CONSTELLATION PROJECT DUE!!!!

The constellation project is due tomorrow!!! We are going to present all projects tomorrow, so please make sure your child brings their project to school with them. They will have points taken off their project for each day the project is turned in late.

Valentine's Day is tomorrow!! If your child is bringing in Valentines, they must bring one for every person in our class. Please check to make sure that your child did not write anything unkind on any of the Valentines. We do not want any hurt feelings.

Morning Journal: Imagine you have just been picked to be the first child astronaut, what would you like to explore and why?

Morning Math: Place Value Name (Hundred Thousands, Ten Thousands, Thousands and Hundreds), subtraction in a word problem, rounding, and addition.

Math: Patterns with in/out boxes. When a number goes into the in and then another number comes out, you have to figure out what happened to the in number to get the out number. For example: In: 7 Out: 3, In: 9 Out 5, In: 56 Out: 52, In: 24 Out: ?, What is the rule?

Imagine It and SS: We are beginning a new unit on communities. Once again we will work across the curriculum to study all of the different aspects of a community. Today we discussed our different roles in the community and how an adult and child's roles compare and contrast. We read "A River Ran Wild" to introduce our community unit. We looked at how the actions of humans can effect a community and then how a community can work together to make positive changes.

We decorated our bags for Valentine's Day. If your child is bringing Valentines, they will need to keep them inside their book bags until I have them deliver them into the bags at the back of the classroom. We will not open Valentines at school. I will send home everyone's bags with them, so they can open and read through their Valentines at home.

If you would like to send in a special treat for the class, that will be fine. We have 22 students in our class.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Constellations!!!

Constellation projects are due on Tuesday!!! I printed out information for every student that asked me. Hopefully your child has a good start on the project and will be ready to turn it in and present on Tuesday.

If your child is going to bring in Valentine's on Monday, they MUST bring in a Valentine for everyone in the class. Please check your child's Valentine's to make sure that everything written on them is appropriate. We do not want any hurt feelings.

Morning Journal: If you could discover anything, what would it be and why would you pick it?

Morning Math: We had a test today. I will get them graded and back to you as soon as possible.

Math: PATTERNS!!! Today we looked a number patterns, such as 3, 6, 9, _, _, _ and the students had to figure out what was happening to each of the numbers and finish the pattern. Practice having them create their own patterns.

Imagine It: We took the "Earth: Our Planet in Space" test. I will grade them and get them back to you soon.

Science: We took the sun, moon, and stars test.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Read carefully and say kind things!

In today's morning meeting, we discussed choosing our words carefully when speaking to other people and trying to say kind things. We are having a lot of students calling each other unkind names and telling each other to shut up. We discussed kinder ways to express our emotions when we are upset with someone and how get help from an adult if someone is saying unkind things to us.

Morning Journal: If you could play any winter sport, what would it be and why? Some students did not like any winter sports, so I let them choose a summer sport instead. I am not particularly fond of winter sports myself after a particularly frightened incident when I was only nine years old. I was let go at the top of large hill on skis for the very first time and not told how to stop. The only skiing I had ever seen was professional skiing and I crouched down and flew!!! Do you know how fast the bottom of a hill comes when you are crouched down? I ended up throwing myself down, right before I went over the mountain and I have never been skiing again.

Morning Math: Rounding to the Nearest 100, multiplication, secret number, place value
I also went over the test for tomorrow and told the students which problems will be on their test from their morning math sheet this week. Hopefully this will narrow down what they should be studying. I suggested that every student put this into their FROG binder to review tonight for homework.

Math: I went over the correct answers to the geometry test. The students discovered that they need to make sure to read carefully when looking at a description of a geometric shape. It may be one small detail that will eliminate an answer choice, but that one small detail makes all the difference. Please look over this test with your child and ask them to describe to you the mistakes they made and how they can work to improve the next time. For homework, they are review basic number patterns. We have been working on these since the beginning of the school year, so this should be a review.

Imagine It: We finished "popcorn" reading our story. I asked some comprehension questions to review for the test tomorrow and suggested that everyone take home their Imagine It book to re-read the story. We went to the book fair during the first part of Imagine It and previewed all of the awesome books. They have some great choices at this seasons book fair.

AR: I have been reading the "I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor" book that I received at last seasons book fair. This is a fun and exciting series, that teaches a lot of our country's history. The "I Survived" series is being sold at the book fair. The student's always get disappointed when I close the book and tell them they have to wait until tomorrow. I'm sure they would enjoy reading these books at home.

**Science test tomorrow.
**Class pictures tomorrow.
**Constellation project and Valentine's Day on February 14th.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

It's Clean!!!

Today we cleaned out our desks and wiped them down with sanitizing wipes. There are so many different viruses going around right now, that I wanted to get a fresh clean start. We are now all clean and organized, at least for today! I should have taken a picture, because it will probably not last long.

Morning Journal: If I lived on the moon, I would...

Morning Math: Estimation Measurement, Addition with Regrouping, least to greatest, place value

Math: We went over our homework from last night. This was a review of 3-dimensional shapes and their faces, edges, and vertices. We also had three subtraction problems with re-grouping. A few of the students are forgetting how to regroup with a math problem. Please give your child a few subtraction problems with re-grouping to practice at home. For example 481-295= or $5.95-$2.66=. I introduced geometric patterns today. First we practice some basic geometric patterns ABABAB, ABBABBABB, AABBAABBAABB, then we practiced growing patterns ABAABAAABAAAAB, ABAABBAAABBBAAAABBBB. We also made patterns on the SMART board that were pointed in different directions and had different designs drawn on them. Ask your child to give you an example of a basic pattern and a growing pattern.

Imagine It: Today we "popcorn" read our story "Earth: Our Planet in Space" . We practice comparing and contrasting different parts of the story and discussed the author's purpose and text features that show us what the author's purpose would be for the story. The students compared and contrasted summer and winter with a partner. Any student that did not finish at school, needs to finish for homework tonight.

Book Fair Preview is tomorrow at 11:35. You can send in money if you would like for your child to buy tomorrow.

Class Picture Day is Friday! Order forms came home today.

Science test on the sun, moon, and stars is Friday. The study guide came home yesterday.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Science Test!

We will have a science test on the sun, moon, and stars on Friday. I sent home a study guide today. Please study with your child each night. The constellation project is due on February 14th. If you need me to print out any information, please have your child let me know first thing in the morning.

Morning Journal: Why do you think it is important to work in groups? What skills do you need to work well in a group?

Morning Math: Place value, adding and subtracting money, subtraction with regrouping, and patterns.

Math: We took our geometry test and I looked over everyone's test and gave them a second chance glance! This means I looked over the test and sent them back to check over the problems they got wrong. This is a wonderful opportunity for them to self-correct their mistakes.

Imagine It: We finished reading "Earth: Our Planet in Space". We practiced using our strategies: summarizing, clarifying, and adjusting our reading speed. All students were assigned this story to read tonight and are supposed to finish a summarizing activity in their reading journals.

Science: We reviewed for our science test on the sun, moon, and stars.

February 9: Book Fair Starts and Preview Day
February 14: Constellation Project Due and Valentine's Party
February 16: Pineville Math Night (FREE EVENT!)

Monday, February 6, 2012

100th day of school!!!

We are having a geometry test tomorrow!!!

Morning Journal: It's the 100th day of school! What is the most important thing you have learned in the first 100 days and how will you use it in the future?

Can you believe we have been in school for 100 days? Only 80 more days of school left and we are full speed ahead. We are hard at work on our math and reading strategies and practicing for the EOGs.

Morning Math: Today we had review on expanded form, subtraction with regrouping, multiplication word problem, and we learned how to find the perimeter of an object.

Math: We reviewed all of our geometric concepts for the geometry test tomorrow.

Imagine It: This week's story is "Earth: Planet in Space". This week's focus is adjusting reading speed, clarifying, and summarizing. We also will compare and contrast two things in our story.

No science today due to double specials. We will have a science test on Friday on the sun, moon, and stars. I will send home a study guide tomorrow. They will have to label the phases of the moon on this test!!!

Thursday is math night!! This is a free event for all families. It is a pirate theme and will be from 5-7 pm. I hope some of you are able to attend.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Did you see the waxing gibbous today?

As I was driving home from work today I saw the moon and it was a waxing gibbous. If it is not cloudy tomorrow afternoon have your child look at the moon and tell you what phase it is in. As an added challenge ask them to describe how this phase is created.

Morning Journal: It's National Cruise Day!! If you could take a cruise anywhere in the world where would you go and why? Describe the location and what you would do there with good details. I would take a European cruise. Where would you go?

Math: We created 3-dimensional figures with straws and twist ties. I heard a lot of this is hard, but fun! I love when I can make learning fun. We will continue this activity and then compare the shapes to figure out the differences in the faces, edges, and vertices (vertex) to prepare for our test on Tuesday. We will have a Geometry test on Tuesday!!

Imagine It: We took our "Journey to the Moon" test and a few of us will have to finish on Monday.

Don't forget that the constellation project is due on February 14th. Get a head start on the project this weekend.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

REPORT CARDS!!!

Report cards came home today!!! Please sign and return them as soon as possible. Contained in your child's report card sleeve is their report card, formative scores for the fall and winter, DIBELS scores for the fall and winter, Gateway letter, and possibly a PEP letter. If you would like to schedule a conference please let me know by writing it on the report card or e-mailing me.

Morning Journal: Why do you think they use a groundhog to predict if we will have six more weeks of winter?

Math: We continued our study of three-dimensional shapes. Today we looked at how many faces, edges, and vertices each three-dimensional shape has on it. A face is a flat surface that does not roll and is where two edges meet, an edge is where two faces meet, and a vertex is where two edges meet. A cylinder and a cone do not have any faces, the flat parts are called bases. Ask your child to show you a face, edge, and vertex on a 3-dimensional shape at your house.

Imagine It: We played our review vocabulary game, found facts and opinions in our story, and finished the main idea and supporting details activity. I explained the main idea as the lock and the support details are the keys that open the lock. We will take our regular Imagine It test tomorrow. The Journey to the Moon is an expository text, therefore, most of the answers are right there! Encourage your child to make the effort to look for the answers in the text.

We did not have science today. Instead, the students watched a video on the history of Groundhog Day and then discussed it as a class. We also began reading our newest Time for Kids which had a very interesting article about the sinking of the ship off the coast of Italy. The students had a lot of really great things to say.

Thursday, February 16th is math night. This is a free event that begins at 5:00pm and ends at 7:00pm. You only need to pay for a meal if you would like to eat at the event. I will send home forms for this tomorrow.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

I'm Back!!

I'm sorry I have had to be out the past couple of days. We have had a lot of things going around and a lot of people have been out. I hope everyone gets to feeling good and healthy soon.

Monday's Morning Journal: What is your favorite time of day and why?

Tuesday's Morning Journal: Free Choice

Wednesday's Morning Journal: What is your favorite type of fruit and why?

There is no morning math this week, since I have been out and not able to go over it as thoroughly as I like to do each day.

Math: The students learned about quadrilaterals and what makes a shape a quadrilateral. The shape must have four sides. The types of quadrilaterals we learned about are: square, rectangle, parallelogram, rhombus, trapezoid. Today we began looking at three-dimensional shapes and their characteristics. The three-dimensional shapes we looked at are: rectangular prism, cube, sphere, pyramid, cylinder, and cone. We located examples of these objects in our classroom. We are going to create a class chart tomorrow with the faces, edges, and vertices on each shape.

Imagine It: This week we have been reading "The Journey to the Moon". Our focus has been asking questions, visualizing, clarifying, fact and opinion, main idea and details, and cause and effect. Don't forget about the question stems in the FROG binder to review these strategies with your child.

Science: The constellation project came home today. Your child was assigned a constellation to research and create a poster to present to the class. Everyone in the class has a different constellation. Your child may also choose to complete an extra credit project. Both of these projects are due on February 14th. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Math Night is next Thursday, February 16th. The games and fun are all free!! You may pre-pay for dinner on the form sent home last week. I hope to see you there.