This Week's Topics 2-27-12

Reading/Grammar/Spelling

• begin new story "Cendrillon"
• using a Venn diagram
• compare/contrast
• pronunciation keys
• suffix "able"
• main verbs/helping verbs
• spelling words with 3 syllables

Math

• more with turns and angles
• review line, line segment, ray
• continue memorizing multiplication facts

Social Studies

• finish topic "Early America"
• wrap up discussion of presidents and Black History Month

Science

• more with simple machines

Cursive

• review and more practice with words and sentences

Tissues Needed

With so many sniffles lately, our class is running short on tissues.  We would appreciate any donations of tissues that can be made to get us through to the end of the school year.

This Week's Topics 2-21-12

Reading/Grammar/Spelling

• finish "The Stranger"
• review possessives
• writing explanations and for an audience
• spelling words with schwa sound +l
• Depending on how ISTEP testing goes, we will test over "The Stranger" skills and start new story.

Math

• review lines, line segments, rays, parallel and intersecting lines
• turns
• explore triangles, quadrangles, polygons
• continue with memorizing multiplication facts

Science and Social Studies

• continue with last week's topics as time allows during testing

ISTEP testing begins this week.

Third graders will be doing the applied sections  of ISTEP for math and writing starting this week on the 22nd. We will test in the mornings on the 22nd, 23rd, 28th and 29th.  It is very  important your child be at school for these times since spring break starts March 2nd and our time frame for doing make-ups is limited.
Of course, if a child is ill we want them to stay home.  We will work hard to get all testing in before spring break.  There will also be testing in late March and  late April into early May

Students are allowed to bring a healthy snack to school on testing days.  We usually have the snack before or after a testing session, whichever is needed.  It also puts a little fun into our week!

As always, a good night's sleep and healthy breakfast will help our students be better testers.

Homework will be very limited during the testing window.  Routines like studying spelling words, the monthly poem and reading for Book-It will still be encouraged.

This Week's Topics 2-13-12

Reading/Grammar/Spelling

• continue with story "The Stranger"
• synonyms
• compound words
• action verbs
• spelling words with schwa + r sounds

Math

• We will review chapter 5 Monday for test on Tuesday (2-14)
• study sheet sent home 2-13-12
• begin chapter 6- geometry
• lines, line segments, rays, angles

Social Studies/Science

• These two subjects are being taught sparingly now as we spend more time in preparation for ISTEP testing.  We will continue with Early America, Presidents, Black History Month and simple machines as time allows.

Cursive Writing

• upper case Z
• review and practice of all letters will continue

Special Dates

Monday, February 13th,  from 2:00-3:00, BSU journalism students will be in our classroom to help get the multi-media stories project started.  My students should have some ideas ready for how they want to use media in their stories and our mentors will guide us through the process.  This project will go on for weeks, probably finalizing in April.

Tuesday, February 14th, we will celebrate Valentines' Day with a pizza party during lunch in our classroom.

Wednesday, February 15th, students' reports on their assigned president is due and should be accompanied by a speech they will give on February 17th at 2:00 in the Burris auditorium.

ISTEP testing will start February 22nd and run through February 28th.  This portion of testing will include the writing prompt and applied math, requiring students to solve multiple step problems and explain answers as needed.  More testing will occur later in March and April.  More detailed notes will come home before each testing window.