One of the more important things that the students worked on this week was fractions. On Monday, the students were introduced to fractions and began to learn about what fractions mean and how fractions can be combined. Talk to your child about it. He or she should be able to explain that the top number (numerator) tells you how many pieces you have and the bottom number (denominator) tells how many pieces there are in all. Students should also be able to explain that you can combine fractions in various ways to make a whole.
In reading class this week the students read one of my favorite stories in our reading series, The Mysterious Garden of Abdul Gasazi. It was about a boy who lost his dog in Abdul Gasazi's garden only to find that Mr. Gasazi turned the dog into a duck. We also continued working on creating story maps.
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Sunday, April 21
Monday, April 15
Friday Wrap Up
Happy Monday everyone and welcome to a late edition of the Friday Wrap-Up.
I'd like to thank all of the parents who came to Parent-Teacher conferences last week. It was great to see all of you. I'd also like to thank you for all of the help and support you give to your children at home.
Last week we wrapped up our math unit on data analysis. The students worked very hard as they learned how to analyze graphs as well as produce their own. Unlike the last graphing chapter, this chapter devoted itself to how things change over time. They began the chapter by looking at weather and how the temperature changes and concluded with a study of how different rates of change appear on a graph.
In science the students have begun studying what heat is and how it moves. They've learned that "heat" is not the same thing as "temperature" and that cold things, like ice, still have heat. We will continue that discussion this week.
In reading the students worked on two things. First, they practiced drawing conclusions. Children learned that they can take clues from the story and information from their heads to learn something that wasn't directly stated by the author. Later in the week, we revisited the skill of story mapping.
Finally, last week found the children working on being respectful. Students learned that when they are talking or disruptive in class, that it hurts other children's learning. Being quiet in class should not be something new for students, but the reasoning behind it might be. Be sure to talk to your child about this.
I'd like to thank all of the parents who came to Parent-Teacher conferences last week. It was great to see all of you. I'd also like to thank you for all of the help and support you give to your children at home.
Last week we wrapped up our math unit on data analysis. The students worked very hard as they learned how to analyze graphs as well as produce their own. Unlike the last graphing chapter, this chapter devoted itself to how things change over time. They began the chapter by looking at weather and how the temperature changes and concluded with a study of how different rates of change appear on a graph.
In science the students have begun studying what heat is and how it moves. They've learned that "heat" is not the same thing as "temperature" and that cold things, like ice, still have heat. We will continue that discussion this week.
In reading the students worked on two things. First, they practiced drawing conclusions. Children learned that they can take clues from the story and information from their heads to learn something that wasn't directly stated by the author. Later in the week, we revisited the skill of story mapping.
Finally, last week found the children working on being respectful. Students learned that when they are talking or disruptive in class, that it hurts other children's learning. Being quiet in class should not be something new for students, but the reasoning behind it might be. Be sure to talk to your child about this.
Tuesday, February 12
Valentine's Day Inferencing
One of the skills that third graders work on is inferencing. Inferencing involves looking at a piece of text or a picture, looking for clues, and then using those clues to figure out what a character is thinking or feeling. To work on this skill today, students used the iPads two different apps make inferences about a Valentine's Day picture. Click on the slideshow below to see full size pictures.
Monday, December 17
Vocab Trading Cards
Today during guided reading, the students began practicing new vocabulary words using an iPad app titled "Trading Cards." Students created "baseball cards," complete with a picture, to help them learn the new words.
After each student finished a vocab trading card, they emailed a copy to his/her email address. From there, students can print out a copy from which to study. If students would like a color copy of their cards, they can access their email from home and print out the card from there.
To access the email, students cango to our classroom site, click on the "Your Web Tools" link, and select Gmail.
After each student finished a vocab trading card, they emailed a copy to his/her email address. From there, students can print out a copy from which to study. If students would like a color copy of their cards, they can access their email from home and print out the card from there.
To access the email, students cango to our classroom site, click on the "Your Web Tools" link, and select Gmail.
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| Click on the image above to see a larger picture. |
Wednesday, September 19
Visualizing
One of the traits of good readers is their ability to visualize in their head the events of the story they are reading. It is likened to being able to paint a picture in your head. While adult readers may take this skill for granted, developing readers must work to build this skill.
Over the past two weeks we have been reading various books, discussing the pictures we may see in our head, and then drawing those pictures. We then compare and contrasted how each student visualized
the story with other students and with the book's illustrator.
In one story, Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back, each student took one of the short stories, drew a picture of what he or she visualized, and then placed that
picture on "turtle's back."
Today, we took the skill of visualizing, and started weaving it into their writing. When students are writing, they often have a very good picture in their head of what they are writing about. Unfortunately, this mental picture does not always
Over the past two weeks we have been reading various books, discussing the pictures we may see in our head, and then drawing those pictures. We then compare and contrasted how each student visualized
the story with other students and with the book's illustrator.
picture on "turtle's back."
Today, we took the skill of visualizing, and started weaving it into their writing. When students are writing, they often have a very good picture in their head of what they are writing about. Unfortunately, this mental picture does not always
Friday, September 16
Friday Wrap-up
As we finish up the first full week of the school year, I wanted to use this post to share what they students have learned this week.
They continue to work on cursive letters and have added j, p, and a to their repetoire. The students are doing exceptionally well, but it is important that we continue to stress propper technique. It is very easy to lapse into bad habits.
In reading, in addition to AR, we've complelted our second story of the year, Mulan. Using this story as a tool, the children have also been working on the skill of inferencing and then practicing that skill during their guided reading lessons.
The children have been learning the different types of words that comprise a sentence including, adjectives, adverbs, and prepositional phrases. Next week, the students will learn how to combine these elements in various ways to add interest to their work.
Yesterday the students completed their last MAP test of the fall. I will use these results to help guide instruction over the next several months.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call or write.
They continue to work on cursive letters and have added j, p, and a to their repetoire. The students are doing exceptionally well, but it is important that we continue to stress propper technique. It is very easy to lapse into bad habits.
In reading, in addition to AR, we've complelted our second story of the year, Mulan. Using this story as a tool, the children have also been working on the skill of inferencing and then practicing that skill during their guided reading lessons.
The children have been learning the different types of words that comprise a sentence including, adjectives, adverbs, and prepositional phrases. Next week, the students will learn how to combine these elements in various ways to add interest to their work.
Yesterday the students completed their last MAP test of the fall. I will use these results to help guide instruction over the next several months.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call or write.
Friday, May 6
Friday Wrap-up
I can't believe the first week of May is over, I don't know where the school year went, but it's going far to quickly.
The children did a great job this week. Despite the end of the year firmly sitting in their sight and having the last week off of school, the students have really focused this week and worked hard.
In reading this week, our focus was identifying the main ideas and details of nonfiction texts. We began this by reading about Shackleton's journey to Antarctica and continued by reading a book about animal camouflage. While reading this books we stopped after each section and identified what the author most wanted us to learn.
In science the students completed the second part of their blog posts on the national parks. The students researched the organisms that live in their respective parks and then wrote a brief passage about them. Be sure to follow the links to the right.
The students have really done well in math this year. As we make this final push towards June, we are going to be covering two things. First, the students who need to, will be spending time reviewing addition and subtraction with regrouping. We have also begun working on double digit multiplication.
Finally, there have been many permission slips and fees due this week. Please check to make sure you have submitted the following:
The children did a great job this week. Despite the end of the year firmly sitting in their sight and having the last week off of school, the students have really focused this week and worked hard.
In reading this week, our focus was identifying the main ideas and details of nonfiction texts. We began this by reading about Shackleton's journey to Antarctica and continued by reading a book about animal camouflage. While reading this books we stopped after each section and identified what the author most wanted us to learn.
In science the students completed the second part of their blog posts on the national parks. The students researched the organisms that live in their respective parks and then wrote a brief passage about them. Be sure to follow the links to the right.
The students have really done well in math this year. As we make this final push towards June, we are going to be covering two things. First, the students who need to, will be spending time reviewing addition and subtraction with regrouping. We have also begun working on double digit multiplication.
Finally, there have been many permission slips and fees due this week. Please check to make sure you have submitted the following:
- Permission slip for the Walk-a-Thon
- Permission slip for field day
- Money for Walk-a-Thon t-shirts
- Money for zoo field trip
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