Celebrating Winter

Just wrapping up the last day of school with some fun activities! We enjoyed a popcorn party, painted poinsettias, played boardgames, and ended the day with a music performance. Please remind your child to practice Xtra Math (xtramath.org) ten minutes daily and to read every day.  We'll see you back at school on Monday, January 4th. Happy holidays!
Click on the link below to read the latest article featuring the Class of 2025.
Class Of 2025: Winter Concert Celebrates Symphony Partnership

Poinsettias

Sharing treats and games together.

Here is the link to a great article about how to help your child become a more fluent reader.

http://www.scholastic.com/parents/blogs/scholastic-parents-raise-reader/what-to-do-when-kids-dont-read-fluently#.Vm5VzHt1XQY.gmail

Here's what's going on in 3rd grade this week:

Reading Learning Targets 

I can ask and answer questions as I'm reading a story

I can identify elements of a folktale

Math Learning Targets

I can determine when to multiply and divide in word problems

Writing

I can read an informational article, take notes, and form an opinion based on what I've read.

December Reading Logs

Tomorrow we'll be sending home reading logs for the month of December.  Remember that the most important home learning activity a student can do is to read for at least 20min per night.  Here are some guiding questions that you can use to discuss what your child has read.  Students can also use these questions to guide a written response to what they've read.  Thank you for supporting your child's learning by encouraging them to read every night!

December Reading Comprehension

Home to School Connection

Reading each night is the single most important task you can do to support and encourage ongoing learning at home.  We suggest 20-30 minutes of reading and another 5 minutes of discussion if possible. 

Here are some guiding questions for students to be thinking about during reading and for family members to ask after reading to encourage comprehension.  These are all based on the reading focus for the past month in our classrooms.

Retell:

-Who were the main characters?

-When and where did the story take place?

-What happened at the beginning? In the middle? At the end?

(use words such as first, then, next, after that, afterward,  last/finally)

-What was the problem?

-What was the solution?

-Did you agree with or like the solution to the problem?

If you could write the next chapter or a sequel to the book, what would you write?

Does this book remind you of another book you have read before or a movie you have seen? How are they the same and how are they different?

Compare and contrast two books with similar topics or by the same author. 

Can you infer what is going on if the author doesn’t directly tell you?

What are some text features you notice?  Bold print, table of contents, glossary, index, maps, charts, diagrams, captions, cut outs, comparisons, graphs, labels, headings…?

Conferences on Monday, Nov. 23rd and Tuesday, Nov. 24th

Has your 3rd grader been reading at home every night?  We do not send a homework assignment home each week, but we do send a reading log home with each student on a monthly basis.  We would like students to spend a minimum of 20 minutes each night reading a book or magazine of their choice.  The reading log goes home at the beginning of each month and is collected for a prize on the last day of each month.  

Reminder:

Conference times were sent home yesterday and we're looking forward to seeing all families during their scheduled time next Monday or Tuesday.  Students are encouraged to attend conferences with their families.  If you have a question about your students conference time please contact their teacher.

Learning Targets For This Week

11/16/15

Reading:  

I can read and identify compound words.

I can compare the characters, setting, problem and solution in two stories.

I can infer the central message in a story.

Math:

I can use the commutative property to solve multiplication equations.

I can solve multiplication word problems with an unknown number in all positions.