The students and I have had such a great 2 weeks together! We have spent a lot of time getting to know one another, learning our classroom routines, and adjusting to the new school year, and of course we have begun to dive into the third grade curriculum!
In reading, students have been working hard on building their independent reading stamina. We have also learned how to find a "just right book" for ourselves. Students have learned about the difference between fiction and nonfiction books, and more specifically, the different genres within each. Be sure to ask your child what their favorite genre is so far!
In reading, students have been working hard on building their independent reading stamina. We have also learned how to find a "just right book" for ourselves. Students have learned about the difference between fiction and nonfiction books, and more specifically, the different genres within each. Be sure to ask your child what their favorite genre is so far!
Last week the students also planned and wrote wrote their very first organized paragraph! Students learned that a paragraph is a group of sentences about the same topic, and that a paragraph includes a topic sentence, supporting details, transition words, and a conclusion sentence. Students worked hard to plan out their writing using a graphic organizer, and then turned their ideas into sentences. This week students will learn the difference between revising and editing, and will learn how to make changes to their writing to make it better.
Our social/emotional focus last week was around anxiety and worrying, and what to do if our worries become to big and prevent us from doing the things we need or want to do. Students learned strategies that they can use, as well as how to go to an adult for help. This week our focus will be on resilience.
We began our first math unit as well. In Unit 1 your child will:
Our social/emotional focus last week was around anxiety and worrying, and what to do if our worries become to big and prevent us from doing the things we need or want to do. Students learned strategies that they can use, as well as how to go to an adult for help. This week our focus will be on resilience.
We began our first math unit as well. In Unit 1 your child will:
- use efficient math strategies to build fluency with basic addition and subtraction facts
- determine whether two expressions are equal
- write equations to represent one step story problems
- use strategies based on place value, properties of operations, or the relationship between addition and subtraction to fluently add and subtract within 100
For each unit, students will take a pre-assessment prior to any teaching or learning. A pre-assessment is a tool for teachers to gather key information about what students already know and are able to do prior to instruction. This assessment will help me see what your child already knows how to do and what skills I should be focusing on with them. This helps me determine who will benefit from extra practice and support around certain skills, and who will benefit from extension activities. Your child took the Unit 1 Pre-assessment on Monday last week.
We will also begin our first science unit this week - Weather & Climate. As you can see, your third graders have been very busy! I am so proud of them for transitioning so quickly to our third grade routines and curriculum. I truly have an amazing group of students this year!
We will also begin our first science unit this week - Weather & Climate. As you can see, your third graders have been very busy! I am so proud of them for transitioning so quickly to our third grade routines and curriculum. I truly have an amazing group of students this year!