Newsletter Week of September 11th

Week of September 11, 2017

Good Morning Parents,

I hope you enjoyed another long weekend and are ready for a full week ahead. On Thursday your child brought back a math checkpoint. Please look over it this weekend and have a conversation with your child about what they did to solve the problem. If possible, please sign the checkpoint and return it.

This week we started the Grade 3 Wonder Wall. It is great to see that these learners have so many questions! A great website to explore to encourage wonder is Wonderopolis. In the week ahead we will celebrate Hari Raya and Merdeka Day at school on Friday. Students may wear traditional Hari Raya clothing.

This week we begin on Day 4.

Reading: We are working on retelling the main story events in order and then “growing ideas” by adding on our on thinking about what we have read. We will look at problem-solving strategies when words or passages are tricky and how we need to really work hard to make real meaning from what we read.

Writing: Many third graders are working toward revising and editing their first “small moment” personal narrative. We are looking at how dialogue is punctuated and closely examining some mentor texts to strengthen our work. We are now using paragraphing when time moves forward, a new speaker talks, or when a new subtopic starts. We will start the second story with more independence in the process.

Math: While we continue to work on elapsed time we are also introducing units of mass and liquid volume. Look for opportunities to talk about which units you would choose to measure the amount of milk in the pitcher (liters, milliliters), the weight in kilograms/grams of familiar items, and more. We will move on the problem solving with units of measure in our next math unit.

Social Studies: We will have a few guest speakers this week to teach more about how maps are used with their job and/or how location/resources influence people. We are beginning to look at different types of maps and how we use them.

Have a great week ahead! Thanks in advance for reminding your child to return home learning on Friday.

Week of September 11th. Please complete 2 activities and bring to share on Friday, September 15th.

Math: Choose 5 items from home and put them in order from lightest to heaviest. Write a list of the items and their estimated weights. If you have a scale check your estimates.	Language arts: As you read at home take a few minutes afterward to retell the story thus far to an adult. Ask them to tell you whether they understand the main parts of the story.	Language arts: Free choice writing: write a story, poem, play, letter, information piece, or another kind of writing.
Math: Practice your fact fluency (+ or - facts to 20) Flashcards, online, games, worksheets, or game.	Social Studies: Make a map of how you could get from your home to a place that you like to visit.	Other: Make something. Be ready to share a picture, or list the materials you used, or share it in some other way.

Remember: Reading is just what we do. It is expected each night.