Hi everyone!
We had an awesome, action-packed week in third grade! We finally started our homework (at home), practicing cursive, and getting into our first units of writing and spelling. I noticed a positive change in behavior, which makes me think students just needed more of a challenge - which is a great thing!
Reading: On Monday, we learned about the reading strategy of INFERRING, or using clues from the text + our background knowledge (schema) to make an inference. We read Two Bad Ants and made inferences about the different places and things the ants were experiencing. For example, we inferred that the boiling brown lake was a mug of coffee, since it was described as "bitter" and sugar was added to it. We also read Just a Dream by the same author, Chris Van Allsburg, and had the option to make do one of the following power verbs:
Math: We spent time finishing up our review of bar graphs, pictographs, and line plots. Then, we reviewed Equivalent Names, and worked on naming numbers in different ways in our journals. Then, we reviewed two-digit addition and subtraction, and shared different strategies students can use. Many students opt for the strategy of taking "jumps" on the number line. We also discussed the language in word problems, like "how many more" and "what is the difference." This review helped us take a screening assessment (today) before we start WIN math groups.
Writing: Students were so excited to begin working on the cursive letter "a" on whiteboards and in our cursive notebooks. We learned about posture and never lifting your pencil until the letter/word is complete. We also looked at 3rd grade writing samples and determined what third grade writers Do and Don't Do.
Spelling: This week, we learned when to use -c, -k, and -ck. We also learned about the sound and spelling of -tch. We brainstormed words that end with these sounds, and determined patterns, like "ck" comes immediately after a short vowel (ex., sock). We will review these skills (the same two rules) next week in our spelling packets and for our spelling test on Friday.
Special Activities: We had an awesome presentation from The Canopy Guy, Mr. Olsen, about the wonderful world of trees (photos below!). Students really enjoyed "seeing a guy fall (slowly) out of a tree." We also learned about Bus Evacuation Safety.
We had an awesome, action-packed week in third grade! We finally started our homework (at home), practicing cursive, and getting into our first units of writing and spelling. I noticed a positive change in behavior, which makes me think students just needed more of a challenge - which is a great thing!
Reading: On Monday, we learned about the reading strategy of INFERRING, or using clues from the text + our background knowledge (schema) to make an inference. We read Two Bad Ants and made inferences about the different places and things the ants were experiencing. For example, we inferred that the boiling brown lake was a mug of coffee, since it was described as "bitter" and sugar was added to it. We also read Just a Dream by the same author, Chris Van Allsburg, and had the option to make do one of the following power verbs:
- Predict: I predict that...because...
- Observe: I notice that...and it is interesting to me because...
- Question: I wonder if...because...
- Infer: I think that...because (clue from text) + (my prior knowledge)
Math: We spent time finishing up our review of bar graphs, pictographs, and line plots. Then, we reviewed Equivalent Names, and worked on naming numbers in different ways in our journals. Then, we reviewed two-digit addition and subtraction, and shared different strategies students can use. Many students opt for the strategy of taking "jumps" on the number line. We also discussed the language in word problems, like "how many more" and "what is the difference." This review helped us take a screening assessment (today) before we start WIN math groups.
Writing: Students were so excited to begin working on the cursive letter "a" on whiteboards and in our cursive notebooks. We learned about posture and never lifting your pencil until the letter/word is complete. We also looked at 3rd grade writing samples and determined what third grade writers Do and Don't Do.
Spelling: This week, we learned when to use -c, -k, and -ck. We also learned about the sound and spelling of -tch. We brainstormed words that end with these sounds, and determined patterns, like "ck" comes immediately after a short vowel (ex., sock). We will review these skills (the same two rules) next week in our spelling packets and for our spelling test on Friday.
Special Activities: We had an awesome presentation from The Canopy Guy, Mr. Olsen, about the wonderful world of trees (photos below!). Students really enjoyed "seeing a guy fall (slowly) out of a tree." We also learned about Bus Evacuation Safety.