This week in Writer's Workshop, we learned about revising our stories to make them even better. The children practiced reading their stories aloud, listening for ways to improve their writing. They will continue reading their stories to other children and a teacher to get additional feedback.
In Math we learned how to add two and three digit numbers using partial sums addition this week. After learning several different methods to add larger numbers, your child will choose the way that he/she likes best to solve these types of problems. The Chapter 2 review study packet is going home this week. This is to be completed at home to review for the test which will take place after winter break.
This week in English, we will be focusing on listening and following directions. Now that we are well into the school year, the children need to take on increased responsibility in learning to read and follow directions. They also need to strengthen their inner control mechanisms so that they may listen in order to collect information and think logically. Practice with completing multi-step directions at home will help reinforce these skills.
In Social Studies this week, we reviewed using a compass rose and practiced using a map scale. We have also started our Communities Project in which the children work together in small groups to create a make-believe community. They have to incorporate certain elements into the development of their communities that we have been studying in class. Review pages for Chapter 1 went home on Friday and additional ones will be sent home as we complete them. Please use these to study for the test which will take place the second week after we return from break.
Have a great short week and enjoy winter break!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
News from the Week of 12/5
In Writer's Workshop last week we added the element of Author's Chair. Three randomly drawn students shared their stories with the class and received positive comments, ideas and questions about their work. This is a very coveted opportunity in which all students will eventually partake. We also learned about more pre-writing organizational strategies and story leads. This week we will learn about revising our stories to make them even better.
In Math we have been working on more story problems. This week will we start multiplication. Please help your child review the multiples of the week until they are memorized. A multiple review strip will go home on Monday. This will greatly assist your child the following week when we will memorize the corresponding multiplication facts. This will be in lieu of Mad Minutes.
English review homework was sent home Wednesday and Thursday of last week. Do receive the most benefits before the test, please have your child complete this work by Tuesday. Please review it as well, since they receive review work on areas in which they have not yet demonstrated mastery. The English test covering all of Chapter 2, Nouns, will be on Thursday.
This week's vocabulary and spelling list will come from Chapter 1 of our Social Studies text. Words and flashcards will be sent home on Monday. Memorizing the definitions of the words will help your child review for the Social Studies test the following week. We are also working on a review packet in class that will be sent home to study from.
Please make sure you send back any library books by Wednesday of this week. Our next library time is scheduled for this Thursday, December 15.
Have a great week!
In Math we have been working on more story problems. This week will we start multiplication. Please help your child review the multiples of the week until they are memorized. A multiple review strip will go home on Monday. This will greatly assist your child the following week when we will memorize the corresponding multiplication facts. This will be in lieu of Mad Minutes.
English review homework was sent home Wednesday and Thursday of last week. Do receive the most benefits before the test, please have your child complete this work by Tuesday. Please review it as well, since they receive review work on areas in which they have not yet demonstrated mastery. The English test covering all of Chapter 2, Nouns, will be on Thursday.
This week's vocabulary and spelling list will come from Chapter 1 of our Social Studies text. Words and flashcards will be sent home on Monday. Memorizing the definitions of the words will help your child review for the Social Studies test the following week. We are also working on a review packet in class that will be sent home to study from.
Please make sure you send back any library books by Wednesday of this week. Our next library time is scheduled for this Thursday, December 15.
Have a great week!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
News from the Week of 11/28
The kids worked hard for the Thanksgiving Show and did a terrific job! I hope you all had a chance to rest, relax and enjoy Thanksgiving. The clothespin pilgrims turned out wonderful and we enjoyed seeing and hearing about them. Thanks for supporting your child with this project.
Writer's Workshop is well under way and most of the students are busily working on a personal narrative. We are still exploring the writing process and focused on story ideas and organizing our writing. This week we will continue working on stories and learn more about how to make our first drafts even better.
In Math we have been learning about generalizing rules with the input output table. You put in a number, change it according to the rule (i.e. + 10) and then have a new number come out. We also started word problems using a part, part, total table. This method helps the children think through what to do with the numbers they are presented with in a story problem. The next math test will take place the first week after winter break. Any math workbook page that comes home stamped "Review this side for test" should be kept and reviewed periodically until the test.
We are continuing to work with nouns in English. The children were introduced to possessive nouns this week. This is a difficult concept for them to grasp and they tend to use apostrophes a bit too liberally at first. There will be a test covering Unit 2 Nouns on Thursday, December 15. Review work will be sent home prior to the test according to your child's needs.
Please make sure you send back any overdue library books. Our next library time is scheduled for December 15. The children should bring their books back by December 14. Thanks!
Have a great week!
Writer's Workshop is well under way and most of the students are busily working on a personal narrative. We are still exploring the writing process and focused on story ideas and organizing our writing. This week we will continue working on stories and learn more about how to make our first drafts even better.
In Math we have been learning about generalizing rules with the input output table. You put in a number, change it according to the rule (i.e. + 10) and then have a new number come out. We also started word problems using a part, part, total table. This method helps the children think through what to do with the numbers they are presented with in a story problem. The next math test will take place the first week after winter break. Any math workbook page that comes home stamped "Review this side for test" should be kept and reviewed periodically until the test.
We are continuing to work with nouns in English. The children were introduced to possessive nouns this week. This is a difficult concept for them to grasp and they tend to use apostrophes a bit too liberally at first. There will be a test covering Unit 2 Nouns on Thursday, December 15. Review work will be sent home prior to the test according to your child's needs.
Please make sure you send back any overdue library books. Our next library time is scheduled for December 15. The children should bring their books back by December 14. Thanks!
Have a great week!
Monday, November 21, 2011
Molly's Pilgrim Clothespin Pilgrim Project
The children were assigned a "pilgrim" to make after reading about a similar project in the book, Molly's Pilgrim. Today they will be receiving a wooden clothespin body and a pipe cleaner for arms that they will use to turn into a pilgrim. The clothespins already have holes drilled in them for the arm holes. (If your clothespin has two sets of holes drilled, just ignore the ones going the wrong way.) Your child's clothespin person can be a traditional pilgrim or it can be a more modern pilgrim representing your heritage - whoever from your family first came to America.
Have fun with this project and please take this time to share stories about your family history. Please do not worry too much about how your child's pilgrim turns out. Enjoying the process is most important.
A completed clothespin pilgrim is due on Wednesday.
For ideas please see the link below.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Clothespin-dolls/?ALLSTEPS
Have fun with this project and please take this time to share stories about your family history. Please do not worry too much about how your child's pilgrim turns out. Enjoying the process is most important.
A completed clothespin pilgrim is due on Wednesday.
For ideas please see the link below.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Clothespin-dolls/?ALLSTEPS
Sunday, November 20, 2011
News from the Week of 11/14
Molly's Pilgrim, our new story, highlights Thanksgiving and "Pilgrims." Tomorrow, the children will find out about a special at-home project that needs to be turned in on Wednesday. Please have at least 30 minutes set aside for either Monday night or Tuesday night (or split it between the two)to work with your child on this. You will need to have a small amount of paint (flesh colored and black) and scraps of materials or colored paper(be creative...toilet paper/duct tape works, too). Directions and a link to some decorating ideas will be posted on the blog on Monday.
Fact Family Triangles will be coming this week in your child's Assignment Folder. They were not sent on Friday. Please have your child review them whenever s/he can. You might even want to keep them in the car to review on the way to/from school. This is the last week for Mad Minute Addition. After Thanksgiving we will start subtraction.
Spelling tests went home on Friday. Please sign and return them for tomorrow. Also, if there was any work that said "fix" on it, please have your child fix it and return it. If s/he has any questions on it, I will be happy to help him/her this week. Thanks!
It was good to meet with a lot of you during conference time. If I needed to follow up with you, I would appreciate it if you would please send me a reminder if you don't hear from me by Thanksgiving.
We hope you will be able to see out Thanksgiving Program this Wednesday at 9:30 am. The children have been working hard memorizing a lot of music. If your child is not going to be there and I don't already know, please let me know ASAP. Also, we will be showing off our Molly's Pilgrim project at the end of the day, so please make sure your child stays for the entire day. It is an early dismissal day.
Have a happy Thanksgiving!
Fact Family Triangles will be coming this week in your child's Assignment Folder. They were not sent on Friday. Please have your child review them whenever s/he can. You might even want to keep them in the car to review on the way to/from school. This is the last week for Mad Minute Addition. After Thanksgiving we will start subtraction.
Spelling tests went home on Friday. Please sign and return them for tomorrow. Also, if there was any work that said "fix" on it, please have your child fix it and return it. If s/he has any questions on it, I will be happy to help him/her this week. Thanks!
It was good to meet with a lot of you during conference time. If I needed to follow up with you, I would appreciate it if you would please send me a reminder if you don't hear from me by Thanksgiving.
We hope you will be able to see out Thanksgiving Program this Wednesday at 9:30 am. The children have been working hard memorizing a lot of music. If your child is not going to be there and I don't already know, please let me know ASAP. Also, we will be showing off our Molly's Pilgrim project at the end of the day, so please make sure your child stays for the entire day. It is an early dismissal day.
Have a happy Thanksgiving!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
News from the Week of 11/7
On Monday, we will conclude our study of Stone Fox by watching the rest of the video. It has been interesting to compare and contrast the video and the book. Tuesday we will start Molly's Pilgrim. The children will be making a special project at home to go with this story. The project will go home on Monday and needs to be turned in on Wednesday. Please have at least 30 minutes set aside for either Monday night or Tuesday night (or split it between the two)to work with your child on this. You will need to have a small amount of paint (flesh colored and black) and scraps of materials or colored paper. A link to specific directions will be posted on the blog on Monday.
In Math we reviewed fact families using fact triangles and learned fact "tricks." This week we will cut out fact triangles to use at home for review. Look for them in a Ziploc bag your child's Friday Folder next week.
We are busily preparing for our Thanksgiving Show on Wednesday, November 23 at 9:30 am. Your child should have brought home two songs from Morah Cheri that they need to review. We are also in need of a stuffed animal cat. If you have one that we can borrow for a few days, please send it to school with your child this week.
This Wednesday is conference day. There is no school. If you haven't signed up for a time to meet with me, it is not too late to do so. This is the time discuss your child's progress in third grade and to ask any questions you may have. I look forward to meeting with you.
This week is also the Book Fair. If you wish for your child to purchase any book(s) off his/her wish list, please send the money to school this week. He/she will be allowed to purchase the book during recess. All checks must be payable to CTA.
Have a great week!
In Math we reviewed fact families using fact triangles and learned fact "tricks." This week we will cut out fact triangles to use at home for review. Look for them in a Ziploc bag your child's Friday Folder next week.
We are busily preparing for our Thanksgiving Show on Wednesday, November 23 at 9:30 am. Your child should have brought home two songs from Morah Cheri that they need to review. We are also in need of a stuffed animal cat. If you have one that we can borrow for a few days, please send it to school with your child this week.
This Wednesday is conference day. There is no school. If you haven't signed up for a time to meet with me, it is not too late to do so. This is the time discuss your child's progress in third grade and to ask any questions you may have. I look forward to meeting with you.
This week is also the Book Fair. If you wish for your child to purchase any book(s) off his/her wish list, please send the money to school this week. He/she will be allowed to purchase the book during recess. All checks must be payable to CTA.
Have a great week!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
News from the Week of 10/31
I (and I'm sure the children) are glad that the flurry of tests are over. I am looking forward to starting a new quarter, as there are many new and exciting changes coming.
On Monday the children will have new seating assignments. I like to move their desks at least once a quarter to give everyone a chance to sit near someone new and have a different location in class.
We finished reading Stone Fox on Friday and just have a few culminating activities left. Ask you child if they were surprised by the ending of Stone Fox and what happened to Searchlight, the dog. Many held back tears (including myself) while hearing the ending. Molly's Pilgrim, our next story, is much shorter and we should complete it before Thanksgiving. The children will be making a special project for this story and more details will follow after we start the book.
We'll kick off Writer's Workshop after we complete our study of Molly's Pilgrim.
We also will be starting reading groups in the second quarter. Each group will contain five or six students who will be grouped by similar skill levels. Mrs. Stock and I will both be taking groups so that we can better meet the diverse needs of the students.
On Monday, we will be starting Chapter 2 in Math. Your child's first homework assignment is to have you read the Family Letter for Chapter 2, sign it and return it to school. Mad Minutes will be a daily homework assignment this week as well.
If your child is weak in fact speed and accuracy, additional review at home is recommended.
Social Studies and Science alternate by units in third grade. Since we have finished our first Science unit, we will be moving on to Social Studies Unit 1, Communities Around Us. The children will learn how communities are alike and different all over the world.
Conference time is coming up. If you haven't contacted Norma to arrange a conference time for November 16, please do so. I will be available that day from 1:00 - 6:00 PM. If you need to schedule an alternate time/date, please send me an email. The science and math tests your child recently completed will be handed out during conferences so that I may go over your child's progress individually and answer any questions or concerns.
As a reminder, your child should not be spending more than 10-15 minutes a night on General Studies homework (not including reading for pleasure for at least modify the assignment for your child and send me a note so I am aware of this. If you have a question and have checked with your child's phone friends (last pocket of assignment folder) and the blog, please feel free to email me.
On Monday the children will have new seating assignments. I like to move their desks at least once a quarter to give everyone a chance to sit near someone new and have a different location in class.
We finished reading Stone Fox on Friday and just have a few culminating activities left. Ask you child if they were surprised by the ending of Stone Fox and what happened to Searchlight, the dog. Many held back tears (including myself) while hearing the ending. Molly's Pilgrim, our next story, is much shorter and we should complete it before Thanksgiving. The children will be making a special project for this story and more details will follow after we start the book.
We'll kick off Writer's Workshop after we complete our study of Molly's Pilgrim.
We also will be starting reading groups in the second quarter. Each group will contain five or six students who will be grouped by similar skill levels. Mrs. Stock and I will both be taking groups so that we can better meet the diverse needs of the students.
On Monday, we will be starting Chapter 2 in Math. Your child's first homework assignment is to have you read the Family Letter for Chapter 2, sign it and return it to school. Mad Minutes will be a daily homework assignment this week as well.
If your child is weak in fact speed and accuracy, additional review at home is recommended.
Social Studies and Science alternate by units in third grade. Since we have finished our first Science unit, we will be moving on to Social Studies Unit 1, Communities Around Us. The children will learn how communities are alike and different all over the world.
Conference time is coming up. If you haven't contacted Norma to arrange a conference time for November 16, please do so. I will be available that day from 1:00 - 6:00 PM. If you need to schedule an alternate time/date, please send me an email. The science and math tests your child recently completed will be handed out during conferences so that I may go over your child's progress individually and answer any questions or concerns.
As a reminder, your child should not be spending more than 10-15 minutes a night on General Studies homework (not including reading for pleasure for at least modify the assignment for your child and send me a note so I am aware of this. If you have a question and have checked with your child's phone friends (last pocket of assignment folder) and the blog, please feel free to email me.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
News from the Week of 10/17
I hope you all have enjoyed the holidays. Our next special school day is just around the corner. Friday, November 4, is Grandparents' and Special Person's Day. If your child does not have grandparents available to attend, they may choose another special person to invite. Additional details will be coming.
Most of our academic units are wrapping up over the next two weeks. In order to study for the upcoming tests, I will be sending home various review work. Please make sure your child completes these assignments thoroughly and in a timely manner. There will also be a spelling packet sent home this week. It is due Tuesday of the following week, but since the test is on Friday it is most beneficial to have it completed by then. The testing schedule for the next two weeks includes:
Thursday, October 27 English Ch. 1 test
Friday, October 28 Spelling Test Unit 4
Tuesday, November 1 Science Ch. 1 test
Thursday, November 3 Math Ch. 1 test
Friday, November 4 Spelling Test Unit 5
We've been reading chapter three in Stone Fox and looking for more story clues. Willy, the main character, has run into quite a dilemma. Please ask your child what Willy's problem is. In English, we have been learning about run-on sentences. On Tuesday, I will be sending home individual assignments from the English book according to what area your child needs to review. Please have him/her complete this Tuesday night in order to prepare for the test on Thursday. Also, any pages from Workbook Plus that your child has not completed may be used for additional at-home review.
The Mad Minute will be coming home again this week. Please check to see that your child completes it every night Monday through Thursday. One side should be finished (as much as can be done in one minute) and returned daily. Addition and subtraction math facts are the base for most mathematical operations. It is extremely important for your child to know these facts quickly and accurately. Please make time for additional review if your child is not scoring close to 30 problems in one minute by Friday.
Science inquiry tools and skills cards are coming home this week so your child can begin reviewing for the test. These cards can be kept at home. If your child does not have the cards complete, please have him/her finish them at home. After we complete discussing the scientific method in class, additional review materials will be sent home.
The last two short weeks' Most Valuable Person was Yadin Ukeles. We have enjoyed getting to know more about him. We all were very entertained when Yadin played his guitar and sang for us.
Have a great week!
Most of our academic units are wrapping up over the next two weeks. In order to study for the upcoming tests, I will be sending home various review work. Please make sure your child completes these assignments thoroughly and in a timely manner. There will also be a spelling packet sent home this week. It is due Tuesday of the following week, but since the test is on Friday it is most beneficial to have it completed by then. The testing schedule for the next two weeks includes:
Thursday, October 27 English Ch. 1 test
Friday, October 28 Spelling Test Unit 4
Tuesday, November 1 Science Ch. 1 test
Thursday, November 3 Math Ch. 1 test
Friday, November 4 Spelling Test Unit 5
We've been reading chapter three in Stone Fox and looking for more story clues. Willy, the main character, has run into quite a dilemma. Please ask your child what Willy's problem is. In English, we have been learning about run-on sentences. On Tuesday, I will be sending home individual assignments from the English book according to what area your child needs to review. Please have him/her complete this Tuesday night in order to prepare for the test on Thursday. Also, any pages from Workbook Plus that your child has not completed may be used for additional at-home review.
The Mad Minute will be coming home again this week. Please check to see that your child completes it every night Monday through Thursday. One side should be finished (as much as can be done in one minute) and returned daily. Addition and subtraction math facts are the base for most mathematical operations. It is extremely important for your child to know these facts quickly and accurately. Please make time for additional review if your child is not scoring close to 30 problems in one minute by Friday.
Science inquiry tools and skills cards are coming home this week so your child can begin reviewing for the test. These cards can be kept at home. If your child does not have the cards complete, please have him/her finish them at home. After we complete discussing the scientific method in class, additional review materials will be sent home.
The last two short weeks' Most Valuable Person was Yadin Ukeles. We have enjoyed getting to know more about him. We all were very entertained when Yadin played his guitar and sang for us.
Have a great week!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
News from the Week of 10/2
We've been reading chapter two in Stone Fox and looking for more story clues. To review and extend what we've talked about, ask your child if they think a ten year old boy can run a farm and why or why not. In English, we have been learning about subjects and predicates. Schoolhouse Rock's The Tale of Mr. Morton was a highlight this week.
The children worked hard on the Ohio State Assessment for reading. Once the results come in, they will be mailed to your home.
In Math, we have focused on money and estimation. We started the Mad Minute this week. You should see one in your child's folder every night Monday through Thursday. One side should be completed (as much as can be done in one minute) and returned daily.
The last two weeks' Most Valuable People were Sara Benmoshe and Sahar Import. We have enjoyed getting to know more about them. Most of Sara's peers think she has a good sense of humor. One of Sahar's best qualities is her kindness.
We are making review cards in science to help learn science inquiry tools and skills. When they are completed, they will be sent home so the children can study them. After the holidays will be our first science test. It will be important for the students to review the science unit at home as it is one of the more challenging units. However, please do not keep science books at home. We will need them for our review in school.
Mrs. Stock and Mrs. Buster have been working with third grade during General Studies each day. Although we are thrilled to announce that Mrs. Stock is now joining us for the entire afternoon, Monday through Thursday, we are sad to say goodbye to Mrs. Buster. The continuity of having the same teacher working with us for the afternoon will greatly benefit all of the students.
Have a great week!
Lauren Armeni
The children worked hard on the Ohio State Assessment for reading. Once the results come in, they will be mailed to your home.
In Math, we have focused on money and estimation. We started the Mad Minute this week. You should see one in your child's folder every night Monday through Thursday. One side should be completed (as much as can be done in one minute) and returned daily.
The last two weeks' Most Valuable People were Sara Benmoshe and Sahar Import. We have enjoyed getting to know more about them. Most of Sara's peers think she has a good sense of humor. One of Sahar's best qualities is her kindness.
We are making review cards in science to help learn science inquiry tools and skills. When they are completed, they will be sent home so the children can study them. After the holidays will be our first science test. It will be important for the students to review the science unit at home as it is one of the more challenging units. However, please do not keep science books at home. We will need them for our review in school.
Mrs. Stock and Mrs. Buster have been working with third grade during General Studies each day. Although we are thrilled to announce that Mrs. Stock is now joining us for the entire afternoon, Monday through Thursday, we are sad to say goodbye to Mrs. Buster. The continuity of having the same teacher working with us for the afternoon will greatly benefit all of the students.
Have a great week!
Lauren Armeni
Saturday, September 24, 2011
This week was our first week of Library with Cheryl Miller. We are thrilled to have her as our new librarian as she comes to us with much experience and expertise. Library is every other Thursday.
In Reading, we have finished our descriptions of our suspects (characters) and discussion of the crime scene (setting) in chapter one of Stone Fox. This week the children will illustrate and describe the crime scene in their Clue Manuals. We will also read chapter two to look for more story clues. In English, we have been identifying statements and questions.
On October 5, third graders will take the Ohio State Assessment for reading. If your child passes the assessment, s/he will not have to take it again in the spring. The assessment will start at 9:00 AM, so please be sure your child arrives at school on time. Also, a good night's sleep and healthy breakfast in the morning will help your child's concentration when taking the test.
In addition to working on time in Math, we have reviewed data concepts: collecting data, making tally charts and bar graphs and comparing data. We have also revisited the concept that there are many equivalent names for numbers.
Last week’s Most Valuable Person was Yaacov Simcha Arieh Blum. We have enjoyed getting to know more about him and seeing his antique flute from the Revolutionary War. One of Yaacov Simcha Arieh's best qualities is his ability to make his classmates laugh.
All assignments in Workbook Plus and Home Links are due on Monday. Please make sure each completed assignment is ripped out and placed in the back pocket of the red assignment folder.
If possible, please try to schedule all appointments for after school or during lunch. Missed class time and work is often difficult, if not impossible, to make up. Thanks!
Have a great week!
Lauren Armeni
In Reading, we have finished our descriptions of our suspects (characters) and discussion of the crime scene (setting) in chapter one of Stone Fox. This week the children will illustrate and describe the crime scene in their Clue Manuals. We will also read chapter two to look for more story clues. In English, we have been identifying statements and questions.
On October 5, third graders will take the Ohio State Assessment for reading. If your child passes the assessment, s/he will not have to take it again in the spring. The assessment will start at 9:00 AM, so please be sure your child arrives at school on time. Also, a good night's sleep and healthy breakfast in the morning will help your child's concentration when taking the test.
In addition to working on time in Math, we have reviewed data concepts: collecting data, making tally charts and bar graphs and comparing data. We have also revisited the concept that there are many equivalent names for numbers.
Last week’s Most Valuable Person was Yaacov Simcha Arieh Blum. We have enjoyed getting to know more about him and seeing his antique flute from the Revolutionary War. One of Yaacov Simcha Arieh's best qualities is his ability to make his classmates laugh.
All assignments in Workbook Plus and Home Links are due on Monday. Please make sure each completed assignment is ripped out and placed in the back pocket of the red assignment folder.
If possible, please try to schedule all appointments for after school or during lunch. Missed class time and work is often difficult, if not impossible, to make up. Thanks!
Have a great week!
Lauren Armeni
Monday, September 19, 2011
News 9/19/11
Our first English assignment is due today. If your child did not complete Workbook Plus (WP) page 1, please have them do so ASAP. Remember, Workbook Plus and Home Links books are to stay at home. The assignment page is to be completed, torn out of the workbook and sent back to school in the appropriate folder in the Assignment Folder.
It was good to see those who attended at Parent’s Night. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. The assignment sheet is the best way to contact me, followed by email - larmeni@torahacademy.org.
We are continuing to look for character traits in our novel study, Stone Fox. This week we will also investigate the setting. The book is available on CD and it adds a new dimension to hear the story read aloud by someone else.
In Science, we studied the uses of scientific tools. The students worked in groups to identify them by their descriptions and to organize them by their uses. This week we will be exploring scientific processes.
We have been creating clocks in math and will review time this week. Your child should be able to tell time to the minute. In third grade we also study elapsed time. This is a difficult concept for children to master. Any additional review at home would be helpful.
In English, we have been identifying sentences and combining complete and incomplete sentences. We took our first unofficial spelling test. Remember, these tests are going to be used for learning style identification only and will not be counted or sent home. After we have studied spelling words at school only for three more weeks, I will let you know the results. Then there will be a weekly set of words and homework sent home and the majority of spelling review will be at home.
Last week’s Most Valuable Person was Issac Binsky. We have enjoyed getting to know more about Issac and meeting and hearing stories about his dog. One of Isaac's best qualities is his desire to include everyone when he is playing. His classmates truly appreciate this about him.
Have a great week!
Lauren Armeni
It was good to see those who attended at Parent’s Night. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. The assignment sheet is the best way to contact me, followed by email - larmeni@torahacademy.org.
We are continuing to look for character traits in our novel study, Stone Fox. This week we will also investigate the setting. The book is available on CD and it adds a new dimension to hear the story read aloud by someone else.
In Science, we studied the uses of scientific tools. The students worked in groups to identify them by their descriptions and to organize them by their uses. This week we will be exploring scientific processes.
We have been creating clocks in math and will review time this week. Your child should be able to tell time to the minute. In third grade we also study elapsed time. This is a difficult concept for children to master. Any additional review at home would be helpful.
In English, we have been identifying sentences and combining complete and incomplete sentences. We took our first unofficial spelling test. Remember, these tests are going to be used for learning style identification only and will not be counted or sent home. After we have studied spelling words at school only for three more weeks, I will let you know the results. Then there will be a weekly set of words and homework sent home and the majority of spelling review will be at home.
Last week’s Most Valuable Person was Issac Binsky. We have enjoyed getting to know more about Issac and meeting and hearing stories about his dog. One of Isaac's best qualities is his desire to include everyone when he is playing. His classmates truly appreciate this about him.
Have a great week!
Lauren Armeni
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Welcome to a New Year
The first two weeks of school have been full of activity! The children are adjusting well to their new routines and are hard at work. You can be proud of their effort and desire to do well.
Parent’s Night is this Wednesday at 7:00 PM. We hope you will be able to join us to find out more about third grade. After a brief presentation, you will have an opportunity to ask general questions. If you have any individual questions or concerns about your child, please write me a note on the assignment sheet.
Since the beginning of school, the children have been creating poems about themselves, which will be displayed at Parent's Night. We are also working on another special project and each child needs to bring in a medium or large t-shirt by Wednesday. The t-shirts will be returned at Parent’s Night.
In Reading, we've been busy investigating the book, Stone Fox. This year we are taking on the persona of "book detectives" examining the "clues" authors give us in their stories to help us unravel the “mystery” (theme) of the book. We've made predictions about what happens in the story and have started examining the suspects (characters).
In Science, we experimented with bubbles and will be studying more about scientific tools next week. We would love to have volunteers come in to help with experiments. Please sign up at Parent's Night or let me know if you can help.
We are reviewing place value in Math and each morning work on a general daily review. Please remind your child to review the fact family of the week written on his/her assignment sheet. You might want to quiz them to make sure they are practicing.
In English we have been talking about types of sentences and what makes a sentence a sentence. In addition, every morning the students have a review of grammar. We use dry erase markers and white boards quite extensively during English. Please make sure your child has three new dry erase markers at school.
This week’s Most Valuable Person is Saul Myers. We have enjoyed getting to know more about Saul, looking at pictures of him and his family, and seeing a part of his Lego collection. Each week a different student is randomly chosen to be MVP (Most Valuable Person). When it is your child's turn they will bring home an information packet explaining what needs to be done.
Hopefully the Assignment Folder and Assignment Sheet are self-explanatory. The third grade team has worked hard to come up with a streamlined system of organization. Anything important that needs to be communicated can easily be written on the bottom of the Assignment Sheet or put in a sealed envelope in the back pocket. Please check your child's Assignment Sheet every night. The Assignment Folder and Assignment Sheet need to come back to school each day with your child. The red Friday Folder will only go home on Friday and needs to come back by the following Friday.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I am looking forward to seeing you at Parent's Night!
Parent’s Night is this Wednesday at 7:00 PM. We hope you will be able to join us to find out more about third grade. After a brief presentation, you will have an opportunity to ask general questions. If you have any individual questions or concerns about your child, please write me a note on the assignment sheet.
Since the beginning of school, the children have been creating poems about themselves, which will be displayed at Parent's Night. We are also working on another special project and each child needs to bring in a medium or large t-shirt by Wednesday. The t-shirts will be returned at Parent’s Night.
In Reading, we've been busy investigating the book, Stone Fox. This year we are taking on the persona of "book detectives" examining the "clues" authors give us in their stories to help us unravel the “mystery” (theme) of the book. We've made predictions about what happens in the story and have started examining the suspects (characters).
In Science, we experimented with bubbles and will be studying more about scientific tools next week. We would love to have volunteers come in to help with experiments. Please sign up at Parent's Night or let me know if you can help.
We are reviewing place value in Math and each morning work on a general daily review. Please remind your child to review the fact family of the week written on his/her assignment sheet. You might want to quiz them to make sure they are practicing.
In English we have been talking about types of sentences and what makes a sentence a sentence. In addition, every morning the students have a review of grammar. We use dry erase markers and white boards quite extensively during English. Please make sure your child has three new dry erase markers at school.
This week’s Most Valuable Person is Saul Myers. We have enjoyed getting to know more about Saul, looking at pictures of him and his family, and seeing a part of his Lego collection. Each week a different student is randomly chosen to be MVP (Most Valuable Person). When it is your child's turn they will bring home an information packet explaining what needs to be done.
Hopefully the Assignment Folder and Assignment Sheet are self-explanatory. The third grade team has worked hard to come up with a streamlined system of organization. Anything important that needs to be communicated can easily be written on the bottom of the Assignment Sheet or put in a sealed envelope in the back pocket. Please check your child's Assignment Sheet every night. The Assignment Folder and Assignment Sheet need to come back to school each day with your child. The red Friday Folder will only go home on Friday and needs to come back by the following Friday.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I am looking forward to seeing you at Parent's Night!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Spelling/Vocab List S.S. Words for Week of 5/23
1. flowchart- a drawing that shows how to do something or how something works
2. ancient- happening or existing very long ago
3. civilization- a large group of people living in a very organized way
4. modern- having to do with the time we live in today
5. republic- a type of government where citizens vote for leaders to make decisions for them
6. empire- all of the land and people under the control of a powerful nation
7. trade- to exchange one good or service for another
8. port- a place where shops dock to pick up goods or passengers
9 & 10 primary source- a record of an event made by someone who saw or took part in the event
2. ancient- happening or existing very long ago
3. civilization- a large group of people living in a very organized way
4. modern- having to do with the time we live in today
5. republic- a type of government where citizens vote for leaders to make decisions for them
6. empire- all of the land and people under the control of a powerful nation
7. trade- to exchange one good or service for another
8. port- a place where shops dock to pick up goods or passengers
9 & 10 primary source- a record of an event made by someone who saw or took part in the event
Friday, April 8, 2011
Newsletter for April
April has been a busy month as we conclude units in Social Studies, Science and English and work on several projects in preparation for the Achievement Fair. Shortly after Passover Vacation we will have the Ohio Assessments in math (for everyone) and reading (only for those who needed more time for practice and review).
This week after completing the Science test, the children have been challenged with the engineering task of planning, creating, and improving a system of simple machines to help draw water from a well and transport it. They will use what they have learned in our physical science and engineering units to complete this culminating project. The ideas are well in motion and it will be an exciting time as they make their designs come to life.
In Social Studies we are completing the unit, Communities and Geography, and will have our test on Thursday. Your child should review two to three lessons a day at home next week in order to prepare for this. Hopefully we will also have a chance to complete or at least work on our ongoing community design project.
On Wednesday, there will be an English test on adjectives and adverbs. Review for this should be done at home. Please utilize the link to homework pages for review work. We will take a practice test on Monday and homework will be assigned according the areas of needed review indicated by the test results. There will be no spelling list next week in order to allow extra time for review in English and social studies tests.
Next week we will start practicing multiplication facts starting with the 9 family. Hopefully all our work on multiples will make fact memorization easier. The goal is to have all fact families from 0 - 10 memorized by the end of the year. Starting Monday, all Mad Minutes will be multiplication.
In Reading and Writing we have been talking about and reading short biographies. After break the children will start their own biographies on a famous person of their choosing. Please help them find at least one book about their famous person that can be read when we get back from vacation.
Have an enjoyable Passover Vacation!
Links to English homework:
Workbook Plus Unit 4
Reteaching Homework Unit 4
April 18-27: Passover Vacation
Thursday, April 28: School Resumes
Friday, April 29: Lower School Dress Down Day
This week after completing the Science test, the children have been challenged with the engineering task of planning, creating, and improving a system of simple machines to help draw water from a well and transport it. They will use what they have learned in our physical science and engineering units to complete this culminating project. The ideas are well in motion and it will be an exciting time as they make their designs come to life.
In Social Studies we are completing the unit, Communities and Geography, and will have our test on Thursday. Your child should review two to three lessons a day at home next week in order to prepare for this. Hopefully we will also have a chance to complete or at least work on our ongoing community design project.
On Wednesday, there will be an English test on adjectives and adverbs. Review for this should be done at home. Please utilize the link to homework pages for review work. We will take a practice test on Monday and homework will be assigned according the areas of needed review indicated by the test results. There will be no spelling list next week in order to allow extra time for review in English and social studies tests.
Next week we will start practicing multiplication facts starting with the 9 family. Hopefully all our work on multiples will make fact memorization easier. The goal is to have all fact families from 0 - 10 memorized by the end of the year. Starting Monday, all Mad Minutes will be multiplication.
In Reading and Writing we have been talking about and reading short biographies. After break the children will start their own biographies on a famous person of their choosing. Please help them find at least one book about their famous person that can be read when we get back from vacation.
Have an enjoyable Passover Vacation!
Links to English homework:
Workbook Plus Unit 4
Reteaching Homework Unit 4
April 18-27: Passover Vacation
Thursday, April 28: School Resumes
Friday, April 29: Lower School Dress Down Day
Monday, March 21, 2011
Homework for the Week of 3/21
All homework is subject to change. Changes will be discussed in class, corrected on assignment sheet and listed on updated post.
Monday
Spelling test for those prepared to take it. There is the option to take it on Tuesday. There is no new spelling list for this week.
Math- Money p.70 Sent home today
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Memorize multiples of 8 - Please practice 8,16 ,24, 32
Tuesday
English- R- p. 42 WP pp. 69 & 70
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Memorize multiples of 8 - Please practice 8,16 ,24, 32, 40, 48
Wednesday
Math- TBA
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Memorize multiples of 8 - Please practice 8,16 ,24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64
Thursday
Englis-h R- p. 43 WP pp. 71 & 72
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Memorize multiples of 8 - Please practice 8,16 ,24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 72, 80
Links to English homework:
Workbook Plus Unit 4
Reteaching Homework Unit 4
Monday
Spelling test for those prepared to take it. There is the option to take it on Tuesday. There is no new spelling list for this week.
Math- Money p.70 Sent home today
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Memorize multiples of 8 - Please practice 8,16 ,24, 32
Tuesday
English- R- p. 42 WP pp. 69 & 70
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Memorize multiples of 8 - Please practice 8,16 ,24, 32, 40, 48
Wednesday
Math- TBA
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Memorize multiples of 8 - Please practice 8,16 ,24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64
Thursday
Englis-h R- p. 43 WP pp. 71 & 72
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Memorize multiples of 8 - Please practice 8,16 ,24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 72, 80
Links to English homework:
Workbook Plus Unit 4
Reteaching Homework Unit 4
Monday, March 14, 2011
Monday News 3/14
On Friday, March 18, we will be holding Purim festivities. The children will participate in a carnival and a costume parade. Please have your child wear a costume on Friday and bring in $4.00 - $5.00 on Thursday, March 17, to purchase tickets. It will be a fun and exciting day!
In math we have been working with fractions and decimals. Decimals can be a confusing topic for 3rd graders. Please make sure to review your child's math homework with him/her. We are also reviewing the multiples of 7 this week. If your child can not say them quickly without adding on, please make sure he/she continues to practice at home. The students should have taken home a multiples of 7 mini-book today to use for review.
We finally experimented with simple machines today! The children tested the force needed to move a full water bottle 6 inches. The simple machines they used were the inclined plane, pulley, lever and wheel and axle. Ask them what they discovered about the force needed to move an object with the different type of simple machines. Next we will use our knowledge of simple machines to design and improve a factory subsystem in order to make work easier.
In English we are learning about the different types of adjectives and how using them can make writing more interesting. We used the thesaurus last week to find synonyms for the word big. Then we wrote thank you notes for the large television that was donated to our class. As a result of this, four more used TVs have been set aside for anyone in our class who would like one. If you are interested, please let me know ASAP.
In math we have been working with fractions and decimals. Decimals can be a confusing topic for 3rd graders. Please make sure to review your child's math homework with him/her. We are also reviewing the multiples of 7 this week. If your child can not say them quickly without adding on, please make sure he/she continues to practice at home. The students should have taken home a multiples of 7 mini-book today to use for review.
We finally experimented with simple machines today! The children tested the force needed to move a full water bottle 6 inches. The simple machines they used were the inclined plane, pulley, lever and wheel and axle. Ask them what they discovered about the force needed to move an object with the different type of simple machines. Next we will use our knowledge of simple machines to design and improve a factory subsystem in order to make work easier.
In English we are learning about the different types of adjectives and how using them can make writing more interesting. We used the thesaurus last week to find synonyms for the word big. Then we wrote thank you notes for the large television that was donated to our class. As a result of this, four more used TVs have been set aside for anyone in our class who would like one. If you are interested, please let me know ASAP.
Spelling/Vocabulary List Unit 16 Week of 3/14
*boast to speak proudly of oneself, brag; to take pride in
eloquent showing the ability to use words clearly and effectively
*glisten to shine with sparkling light
*ideal considered to be perfect; existing only in the imagination
infectious caused or spread by germs; able or tending to spread from one to another
*invest to put money into something that will earn interest or make a profit to make use of for future benefit
*locate to find the position of; to settle into a place
*ripple a small wave
sufficient as much as needed; enough
uproar a state of noisy excitement; confusion
*modified list
eloquent showing the ability to use words clearly and effectively
*glisten to shine with sparkling light
*ideal considered to be perfect; existing only in the imagination
infectious caused or spread by germs; able or tending to spread from one to another
*invest to put money into something that will earn interest or make a profit to make use of for future benefit
*locate to find the position of; to settle into a place
*ripple a small wave
sufficient as much as needed; enough
uproar a state of noisy excitement; confusion
*modified list
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Homework for the Week of 3/14
All homework is subject to change. Changes will be discussed in class, corrected on assignment sheet and listed on updated post.
Links to English homework:
Workbook Plus Unit 4
Reteaching Homework Unit 4
Mon. -
Study for spelling test, correct and sign last test
Math Home Links 5.8
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Memorize multiples of 7
Tues. -
Write spelling words 3X each in cursive on your own paper.
English - R- p. 40 WP pp. 65 & 66
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Memorize multiples of 7
Wed. -
Spelling cross word
Math Home Links 5.9
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Memorize multiples of 7
Thurs. -
Study for spelling test
English - R- p. 41 WP pp. 67 & 68
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Memorize multiples of 7
Links to English homework:
Workbook Plus Unit 4
Reteaching Homework Unit 4
Mon. -
Study for spelling test, correct and sign last test
Math Home Links 5.8
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Memorize multiples of 7
Tues. -
Write spelling words 3X each in cursive on your own paper.
English - R- p. 40 WP pp. 65 & 66
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Memorize multiples of 7
Wed. -
Spelling cross word
Math Home Links 5.9
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Memorize multiples of 7
Thurs. -
Study for spelling test
English - R- p. 41 WP pp. 67 & 68
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Memorize multiples of 7
Spelling List for the Week of 3/7
*absorb
amateur
channel
*elegant
*grace
*inspect
*lame
suspend
tiresome
tranquil
* modified list
amateur
channel
*elegant
*grace
*inspect
*lame
suspend
tiresome
tranquil
* modified list
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
News from the Week of 2/21
The food drive was a huge success for third grade. The children went above and beyond as they collected over 300 food items for a local pantry. Thanks for your generosity! It was exciting to see their enthusiasm for such a great cause.
This week we have completed our study of Unit 3, Verbs, in English. There will be a test on Thursday with review homework on Tuesday. For additional review, please see the homework section of the blog for links to previous homework assignments.
In math we are continuing our study of fractions focusing this week on equivalent fractions. This can be a challenging concept fro third graders to understand, so we are trying to make it as concrete as possible. We are also reviewing multiples of 6. Please make sure to practice these with your child daily as well as reviewing multiples of 3 and 4.
In reading we have been working on prefixes and suffixes as well as reading Time for Kids. In writing we are focusing on using more accurate verbs. The students were challenged with finding verbs in their writing that could be improved utilizing a thesaurus to assist them.
Kim Stock, who helps with Writer's Workshop in the afternoons on Tuesday-Thursday, will also be working with our class in the mornings. We are excited to have an additional teacher to help meet individual needs as well as work with small groups.
We are putting our engineering unit on hold until needed supplies come in that will allow us to experiment with simple machines. We will shift our focus to force and motion this week which compliments what we have learned in our engineering unit. Hopefully, we will be able to complete our engineering unit in the next few weeks.
This week we have completed our study of Unit 3, Verbs, in English. There will be a test on Thursday with review homework on Tuesday. For additional review, please see the homework section of the blog for links to previous homework assignments.
In math we are continuing our study of fractions focusing this week on equivalent fractions. This can be a challenging concept fro third graders to understand, so we are trying to make it as concrete as possible. We are also reviewing multiples of 6. Please make sure to practice these with your child daily as well as reviewing multiples of 3 and 4.
In reading we have been working on prefixes and suffixes as well as reading Time for Kids. In writing we are focusing on using more accurate verbs. The students were challenged with finding verbs in their writing that could be improved utilizing a thesaurus to assist them.
Kim Stock, who helps with Writer's Workshop in the afternoons on Tuesday-Thursday, will also be working with our class in the mornings. We are excited to have an additional teacher to help meet individual needs as well as work with small groups.
We are putting our engineering unit on hold until needed supplies come in that will allow us to experiment with simple machines. We will shift our focus to force and motion this week which compliments what we have learned in our engineering unit. Hopefully, we will be able to complete our engineering unit in the next few weeks.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Spelling/Vocabulary List Unit 14
advantage
*ambition
*defiant
fearsome
*imply
*merit
negotiate
purify
*revoke
wretched
Definitions:
advantage something that puts someone in a better position
ambition a strong desire for importance or success
defiant showing strong resistance
fearsome frightening or alarming
imply to suggest something without saying it directly
merit a quality that deserves praise
negotiate to discuss in order to arrive at an agreement
purify to make clean and free of dirt or pollution
revoke to cancel by withdrawing or reversing
wretched very unhappy or unfortunate
*ambition
*defiant
fearsome
*imply
*merit
negotiate
purify
*revoke
wretched
Definitions:
advantage something that puts someone in a better position
ambition a strong desire for importance or success
defiant showing strong resistance
fearsome frightening or alarming
imply to suggest something without saying it directly
merit a quality that deserves praise
negotiate to discuss in order to arrive at an agreement
purify to make clean and free of dirt or pollution
revoke to cancel by withdrawing or reversing
wretched very unhappy or unfortunate
Homework for the Week of 2/29
All homework is subject to change. Changes will be discussed in class, corrected on assignment sheet and listed on updated post.
There is an English test on Thursday of this week. To review see the links below.
Workbook Plus Unit 3 Homework
Reteaching Unit 3 Homework
All homework is subject to change. Changes will be discussed in class, corrected on assignment sheet and listed on updated post.
Mon. - Math Home Links 8.5
Read for 15 minutes
Study for Spelling test
Review for English test
Mad Minute, Review Multiples of 6
Tues. - Write spelling words 3X. Please use spelling sheet sent home today.
English - Review for test on Thursday
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Review Multiples of 6
Wed. -
Spelling crossword
Math Home Links 8.6
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Review Multiples of 6
Thurs. -
Study for spelling test
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Review Multiples of 6
There is an English test on Thursday of this week. To review see the links below.
Workbook Plus Unit 3 Homework
Reteaching Unit 3 Homework
All homework is subject to change. Changes will be discussed in class, corrected on assignment sheet and listed on updated post.
Mon. - Math Home Links 8.5
Read for 15 minutes
Study for Spelling test
Review for English test
Mad Minute, Review Multiples of 6
Tues. - Write spelling words 3X. Please use spelling sheet sent home today.
English - Review for test on Thursday
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Review Multiples of 6
Wed. -
Spelling crossword
Math Home Links 8.6
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Review Multiples of 6
Thurs. -
Study for spelling test
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Review Multiples of 6
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Food Drive Update
Thanks to all who have participated in the food drive thus far! Amazingly, our class has brought in so many items the last two weeks that we have jumped to the top of the graph, just under one class. The kids are very excited about the possibility that 3rd grade might actually bring in more items than longstanding champions - 4th grade. It's nice to hear the positive buzz in the morning when we count the items brought in to school. Thanks again for your support!
Homework for the Week of 2/22
All homework is subject to change. Changes will be discussed in class, corrected on assignment sheet and listed on updated post.
English homework is now online!! If you need a copy of a the homework you can print one out from the links below:
Workbook Plus Unit 3 Homework
Reteaching Unit 3 Homework
Mon. - No school
Tues.
English - Workbook Plus pp. 53 & 54 Reteaching p.33
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Multiples of 6
Wed. -
Cursive Writing p. 100 only letters H & K -do not do any other letters
Math Home Links 8.1
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Multiples of 6
Thurs. -
Workbook Plus pp. 55 & 56 Reteaching p. 34
Cursive Writing p. 104 only letters N & M -do not do any other letters
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Multiples of 6
English homework is now online!! If you need a copy of a the homework you can print one out from the links below:
Workbook Plus Unit 3 Homework
Reteaching Unit 3 Homework
Mon. - No school
Tues.
English - Workbook Plus pp. 53 & 54 Reteaching p.33
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Multiples of 6
Wed. -
Cursive Writing p. 100 only letters H & K -do not do any other letters
Math Home Links 8.1
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Multiples of 6
Thurs. -
Workbook Plus pp. 55 & 56 Reteaching p. 34
Cursive Writing p. 104 only letters N & M -do not do any other letters
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Multiples of 6
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Homework for the Week of 2/14
All homework is subject to change. Changes will be discussed in class, corrected on assignment sheet and listed on updated post.
Mon. - Math Home Links 5.1
Read for 15 minutes
Study for Spelling test
Mad Minute, Multiples of 4 & 5
Tues. - Write spelling words 3X. Please use spelling sheet sent home today.
English - Workbook Plus pp. 49 & 50 Reteaching p.31
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Multiples of 4 & 5
Wed. -
Spelling crossword
Math Home Links 5.2
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Multiples of 4 & 5
Thurs. -
Workbook Plus pp. 47 & 48 Reteaching p. 51 & 52
Study for spelling test
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Multiples of 4 & 5
Mon. - Math Home Links 5.1
Read for 15 minutes
Study for Spelling test
Mad Minute, Multiples of 4 & 5
Tues. - Write spelling words 3X. Please use spelling sheet sent home today.
English - Workbook Plus pp. 49 & 50 Reteaching p.31
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Multiples of 4 & 5
Wed. -
Spelling crossword
Math Home Links 5.2
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Multiples of 4 & 5
Thurs. -
Workbook Plus pp. 47 & 48 Reteaching p. 51 & 52
Study for spelling test
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Multiples of 4 & 5
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Spelling List Unit 13
*abundant
barrier
conceive
*formal
inquire
penalize
picturesque
*predator
*privilege
*slumber
barrier
conceive
*formal
inquire
penalize
picturesque
*predator
*privilege
*slumber
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Monday News 2/7/11
Help! We are out of tissues and our pencils are almost gone. Please send in a box or two of tissues and a pack of 72 pencils or $5 to cover the cost of both. The pencils will be used by your child only. Thanks!
Due to last week’s crazy schedule, we will have the same spelling list for this week. If your child received a score of 8 out of 10 or higher on his/her spelling test, he/she will not have to take the test again on Friday. He/She is still responsible for the spelling activities for this week. Those receiving a score of 7 or lower will take the test again on Friday. They are responsible for only the words they missed as long as their test remains stapled in their assignment notebooks. Lost tests will require the entire test to be taken again.
We continue our study of engineering in Science. Today we were introduced to industrial engineering and simple machines through the book, Aisha Makes Work Easier. Ask your child if they can name any simple machines (levers, wheels & axles, pulleys, wedges….) and tell you what an industrial engineer does. A lot of new vocabulary is introduced in this unit which will be reviewed in class and through spelling activities this week.
This month we are reviewing the lives of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in honor of President’s Day. There will be daily activities in class focusing on Washington this week, Lincoln next week and comparing and contrasting the two the third week.
On Wednesday we will have a math test covering unit 4. Your child will need to be able to demonstrate mastery in the areas of completing multiplication/ division fact families and knowing multiplication facts having 0, 1 or 2 as a factor. They should be able to show an understanding of number stories involving equal groups by using multiplication, equal sharing and equal grouping. Please, please, please review multiples of 3 and 4 this week on a daily basis. The multiples of 4 booklet should be in your child’s take home folder today.
Due to last week’s crazy schedule, we will have the same spelling list for this week. If your child received a score of 8 out of 10 or higher on his/her spelling test, he/she will not have to take the test again on Friday. He/She is still responsible for the spelling activities for this week. Those receiving a score of 7 or lower will take the test again on Friday. They are responsible for only the words they missed as long as their test remains stapled in their assignment notebooks. Lost tests will require the entire test to be taken again.
We continue our study of engineering in Science. Today we were introduced to industrial engineering and simple machines through the book, Aisha Makes Work Easier. Ask your child if they can name any simple machines (levers, wheels & axles, pulleys, wedges….) and tell you what an industrial engineer does. A lot of new vocabulary is introduced in this unit which will be reviewed in class and through spelling activities this week.
This month we are reviewing the lives of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in honor of President’s Day. There will be daily activities in class focusing on Washington this week, Lincoln next week and comparing and contrasting the two the third week.
On Wednesday we will have a math test covering unit 4. Your child will need to be able to demonstrate mastery in the areas of completing multiplication/ division fact families and knowing multiplication facts having 0, 1 or 2 as a factor. They should be able to show an understanding of number stories involving equal groups by using multiplication, equal sharing and equal grouping. Please, please, please review multiples of 3 and 4 this week on a daily basis. The multiples of 4 booklet should be in your child’s take home folder today.
Homework for the Week of 2/7
All homework is subject to change. Changes will be discussed in class, corrected on assignment sheet and listed on updated post.
Mon. - Math Home Links 4.7
Read for 15 minutes
Study for Spelling test
Mad Minute, Multiples of 3 & 4
Tues. - Write spelling words 3X. Please use spelling sheet sent home today.
English - Workbook Plus pp. 45 & 46 Reteaching p.28
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Mad Minute, Multiples of 3 & 4
Review for math test -fact families for multiplication and division & number stories for multiplication and division
Wed. -
Spelling activity
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Multiples of 3 & 4
Thurs. -
Workbook Plus pp. 47 & 48 Reteaching p. 29
Study for spelling test
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Multiples of 3 & 4
Mon. - Math Home Links 4.7
Read for 15 minutes
Study for Spelling test
Mad Minute, Multiples of 3 & 4
Tues. - Write spelling words 3X. Please use spelling sheet sent home today.
English - Workbook Plus pp. 45 & 46 Reteaching p.28
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Mad Minute, Multiples of 3 & 4
Review for math test -fact families for multiplication and division & number stories for multiplication and division
Wed. -
Spelling activity
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Multiples of 3 & 4
Thurs. -
Workbook Plus pp. 47 & 48 Reteaching p. 29
Study for spelling test
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Multiples of 3 & 4
Monday, January 31, 2011
News for the Week of 1/31/11
In hopes that this will be more convenient for you, newsletters will go home on Mondays attached to the assignment notebook. Please sign on Monday to indicate that you’ve read the newsletter. Thanks!
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, Rabbi Kahn read us a wonderful story called Colored Water. Ask your child if they can tell you what the story was about. We read a short story about Dr. King’s life a few weeks ago and have been working on special projects that can be seen on the hallway bulletin board. Our new librarian, Helen Chronister, has also been reading the students books related to Dr. King’s work for equality and in honor of black history month.
In math we are continuing our work with division and multiplication. This week our focus is on learning multiples of three. Knowing how to recite the multiples makes it easier to multiply. The children will bring home a mini- book today that they can use to study from until they can say the multiples from memory. Encourage them to practice reciting the multiples whenever they have an extra few minutes in the car, in the checkout line, as they get ready for bed…. If your child still struggles with quickly and accurately recalling addition and subtraction facts, please continue to work on these at home as well. There are quite a few tools available to help your child learn according to his/her learning style. If flashcards don’t seem to be helping, try checking out a CD from the library that sets math facts to songs.
Two spelling tests are coming home today. Please sign the tests and make sure your child corrects the any misspelled words- correct spellings are in the assignment notebook. This week is a review week in our Vocabulary Workshop books, so the spelling words are taken from our new science unit.
Writer’s Workshop in well under way and many students have finished the first draft of their first story. Mrs. Stock is working to help keep things on track and conferencing with children about their stories. All students are also working on Buckle Down Reading. This book reviews reading skills, comprehension, and writing strategies and gives test taking tips.
In science we are shifting our study of resources and soil to engineering. Today we had a special guest speaker, who is an electrical engineer, introduce us to engineering. The children have all received a bookmark and special engineering project to do at home. Our new science unit is called Marvelous Machines: Making Work Easier. In this unit the children will explore and discuss simple machines, technological processes and industrial engineering. They will learn about the connections between the physics of simple machines and their uses in industrial processes. Because engineering projects are hands-on, materials are often required. Several of the materials necessary for this unit are listed below. If you have any of these materials available, please consider donating them to the class before 2/17. Thanks!
Engineering project supplies:
Carabineers CDs Water bottles 0.5-liter and 1.0-liter
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, Rabbi Kahn read us a wonderful story called Colored Water. Ask your child if they can tell you what the story was about. We read a short story about Dr. King’s life a few weeks ago and have been working on special projects that can be seen on the hallway bulletin board. Our new librarian, Helen Chronister, has also been reading the students books related to Dr. King’s work for equality and in honor of black history month.
In math we are continuing our work with division and multiplication. This week our focus is on learning multiples of three. Knowing how to recite the multiples makes it easier to multiply. The children will bring home a mini- book today that they can use to study from until they can say the multiples from memory. Encourage them to practice reciting the multiples whenever they have an extra few minutes in the car, in the checkout line, as they get ready for bed…. If your child still struggles with quickly and accurately recalling addition and subtraction facts, please continue to work on these at home as well. There are quite a few tools available to help your child learn according to his/her learning style. If flashcards don’t seem to be helping, try checking out a CD from the library that sets math facts to songs.
Two spelling tests are coming home today. Please sign the tests and make sure your child corrects the any misspelled words- correct spellings are in the assignment notebook. This week is a review week in our Vocabulary Workshop books, so the spelling words are taken from our new science unit.
Writer’s Workshop in well under way and many students have finished the first draft of their first story. Mrs. Stock is working to help keep things on track and conferencing with children about their stories. All students are also working on Buckle Down Reading. This book reviews reading skills, comprehension, and writing strategies and gives test taking tips.
In science we are shifting our study of resources and soil to engineering. Today we had a special guest speaker, who is an electrical engineer, introduce us to engineering. The children have all received a bookmark and special engineering project to do at home. Our new science unit is called Marvelous Machines: Making Work Easier. In this unit the children will explore and discuss simple machines, technological processes and industrial engineering. They will learn about the connections between the physics of simple machines and their uses in industrial processes. Because engineering projects are hands-on, materials are often required. Several of the materials necessary for this unit are listed below. If you have any of these materials available, please consider donating them to the class before 2/17. Thanks!
Engineering project supplies:
Carabineers CDs Water bottles 0.5-liter and 1.0-liter
Homework for the Week of 1/31/11
All homework is subject to change. Changes will be discussed in class, corrected on assignment sheet and listed on updated post.
Mon. - Math Home Links 4.7
Read for 15 minutes
Study for Spelling test
Mad Minute, Math Fact Family 5,6,11, Multiples of 3
Tues. - Write spelling words 3X. Please use spelling sheet sent home today.
English - Workbook Plus pp. 45 & 46 Reteaching p.28
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Math Fact Family 5,6,11, Multiples of 3
Wed. - Math Home Links 4.8
Spelling activity
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Math Fact Family 5,6,11, Multiples of 3
Thurs. -
Workbook Plus pp. 47 & 48 Reteaching p. 29
Study for spelling test
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Math Fact Family 5,6,11, Multiples of 3
Mon. - Math Home Links 4.7
Read for 15 minutes
Study for Spelling test
Mad Minute, Math Fact Family 5,6,11, Multiples of 3
Tues. - Write spelling words 3X. Please use spelling sheet sent home today.
English - Workbook Plus pp. 45 & 46 Reteaching p.28
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Math Fact Family 5,6,11, Multiples of 3
Wed. - Math Home Links 4.8
Spelling activity
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Math Fact Family 5,6,11, Multiples of 3
Thurs. -
Workbook Plus pp. 47 & 48 Reteaching p. 29
Study for spelling test
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute, Math Fact Family 5,6,11, Multiples of 3
Spelling List 1/31/11
design
*engineer
material
*process
*solution
technology
*teamwork
*goal
imagine
create
*engineer
material
*process
*solution
technology
*teamwork
*goal
imagine
create
Monday, January 10, 2011
Homework for the Week of 1/10
All homework is subject to change. Changes will be discussed in class, corrected on assignment sheet and listed on updated post.
Mon. - Math Home Links 4.3
Read for 15 minutes
Study for Spelling test
Mad Minute 11 or 51 Math Fact Family 7,6, 13
Tues. - Write spelling words 3X. Please use spelling sheet sent home today.
English - individual assignments
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute 12 or 52
Wed. - Math Home Links 4.4
Spelling crossword
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute 13 or 53
Thurs. -
English Test - no homework
Study for spelling test
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute 14 or 54
Mon. - Math Home Links 4.3
Read for 15 minutes
Study for Spelling test
Mad Minute 11 or 51 Math Fact Family 7,6, 13
Tues. - Write spelling words 3X. Please use spelling sheet sent home today.
English - individual assignments
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute 12 or 52
Wed. - Math Home Links 4.4
Spelling crossword
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute 13 or 53
Thurs. -
English Test - no homework
Study for spelling test
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute 14 or 54
Spelling Unit 10 Week of 1/10
audible
*consume
*glide
origin
*prevent
punctuate
representative
*scorn
stout
*woe
*modified list
*consume
*glide
origin
*prevent
punctuate
representative
*scorn
stout
*woe
*modified list
Thursday, January 6, 2011
News from the Week of 1/3
I hope you all had a wonderful winter break. We are now back in full swing and the kids have been working hard this week. We have started our reading groups every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during our Language Arts time. The children seem to enjoy the smaller group setting with more opportunities to have their voices heard. Mrs. Stock works with half of the class in order to help meet the different needs of the children.
If your child is working with Mrs. Stock he/she will be working with the Great Books curriculum. This is a reading and discussion program designed to build critical thinking skills and motivate children to higher levels of achievement. It is built on outstanding literature and creates exciting and challenging learning environments that empower students to take ownership of their learning. This week Mrs. Stock and her group read a poem entitled The Cat of Cats to introduce the first story called The Master Cat. Students identified adjectives and character traits of the cat in the poem. Students discussed similes, since the cat was described as being "sleek as jam." After reading the story, students discussed a few story elements and also compared the cat in the poem to the cat in the story Students will continue to work with this story next week.
If your child is working with me, we are focusing on basic reading skills that will aide in reading comprehension and communication. We will be reading short passages in both fiction and nonfiction works in order to practice the skills worked on in class. This week we discussed performance anxiety and goals, basic tips for communicating knowledge on assessments, and the breaking of words into syllables and how that helps us to read individual words and understand word meaning.
We also started Writer’s Workshop in full force. We have discussed the writing process and the children have begun drafting a self-selected work. Each session of Writer’s Workshop begins with a “mini-lesson” on a writing skill followed by independent writing and conferencing time. The workshop is concluded with “author’s chair.” This is a time in which children can share their writing and receive feedback from the class.
In science we were introduced to natural resources and “mined” for raisins in oatmeal raisin cookies. The children developed hypotheses of whether or not they thought they could mine the raisins without destroying the cookie. We also discussed renewable and nonrenewable natural resources.
In math we started our unit on multiplication focusing on using arrays and were introduced to division. Please continue to do Mad Minutes at home and a daily review of the fact family. For example for this week’s fact family of 8, 5 & 13 you would ask your child... What is 13-8, 13-5, 5+8 and 8+5?
On Thursday we will have a Unit 1 English test covering sentences and nouns. Your child’s homework in English next week will be based on the individual areas that he/she needs to review.
The class earned 15 minutes of free time this Friday. Each minute is earned by being responsible as a class which might include walking down the hall quietly, working independently, following directions.... The last point was earned for everyone turning their homework. Yeah! We are running low on tissues and would appreciate if you would be willing to send in a box or two. Thanks!
If your child is working with Mrs. Stock he/she will be working with the Great Books curriculum. This is a reading and discussion program designed to build critical thinking skills and motivate children to higher levels of achievement. It is built on outstanding literature and creates exciting and challenging learning environments that empower students to take ownership of their learning. This week Mrs. Stock and her group read a poem entitled The Cat of Cats to introduce the first story called The Master Cat. Students identified adjectives and character traits of the cat in the poem. Students discussed similes, since the cat was described as being "sleek as jam." After reading the story, students discussed a few story elements and also compared the cat in the poem to the cat in the story Students will continue to work with this story next week.
If your child is working with me, we are focusing on basic reading skills that will aide in reading comprehension and communication. We will be reading short passages in both fiction and nonfiction works in order to practice the skills worked on in class. This week we discussed performance anxiety and goals, basic tips for communicating knowledge on assessments, and the breaking of words into syllables and how that helps us to read individual words and understand word meaning.
We also started Writer’s Workshop in full force. We have discussed the writing process and the children have begun drafting a self-selected work. Each session of Writer’s Workshop begins with a “mini-lesson” on a writing skill followed by independent writing and conferencing time. The workshop is concluded with “author’s chair.” This is a time in which children can share their writing and receive feedback from the class.
In science we were introduced to natural resources and “mined” for raisins in oatmeal raisin cookies. The children developed hypotheses of whether or not they thought they could mine the raisins without destroying the cookie. We also discussed renewable and nonrenewable natural resources.
In math we started our unit on multiplication focusing on using arrays and were introduced to division. Please continue to do Mad Minutes at home and a daily review of the fact family. For example for this week’s fact family of 8, 5 & 13 you would ask your child... What is 13-8, 13-5, 5+8 and 8+5?
On Thursday we will have a Unit 1 English test covering sentences and nouns. Your child’s homework in English next week will be based on the individual areas that he/she needs to review.
The class earned 15 minutes of free time this Friday. Each minute is earned by being responsible as a class which might include walking down the hall quietly, working independently, following directions.... The last point was earned for everyone turning their homework. Yeah! We are running low on tissues and would appreciate if you would be willing to send in a box or two. Thanks!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Spelling List Unit 9 Week of 1/3
approach to come close to; to begin to deal with
approve to have a high opinion of; to give permission
glory great honor or praise given by others, great beauty
magnificent very grand and fine; remarkably beautiful or outstanding
meek not courageous or strong
prompt on time; done quickly and without delay
revive to bring or come back to life
tradition a custom, belief or idea that has been passed down over time
watchful always noticing what is happening, aware
wreckage what is left of something that has been destroyed
approve to have a high opinion of; to give permission
glory great honor or praise given by others, great beauty
magnificent very grand and fine; remarkably beautiful or outstanding
meek not courageous or strong
prompt on time; done quickly and without delay
revive to bring or come back to life
tradition a custom, belief or idea that has been passed down over time
watchful always noticing what is happening, aware
wreckage what is left of something that has been destroyed
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Homework Update for1/4
English homework for everyone is Reteaching p. 21. A copy was sent home with every student.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Homework for the Week of 1/3
All homework is subject to change. Changes will be discussed in class, corrected on assignment sheet and listed on updated post.
Mon. - Math Home Links 4.1
Read for 15 minutes
Study for Spelling test
Mad Minute 11 or 21 Math Fact Family 8, 5, 13
Tues. - Write spelling words 3X. Please use spelling sheet sent home today.
Workbook Plus pp. 33 & 34 OR Reteaching - p. 21
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute 12 or 22
Wed. - Math Home Links 4.2
Spelling crossword
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute 13 or 23
Thurs. - Workbook Plus p. 35 OR Reteaching - p. 22
Study for spelling test
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute 14
Mon. - Math Home Links 4.1
Read for 15 minutes
Study for Spelling test
Mad Minute 11 or 21 Math Fact Family 8, 5, 13
Tues. - Write spelling words 3X. Please use spelling sheet sent home today.
Workbook Plus pp. 33 & 34 OR Reteaching - p. 21
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute 12 or 22
Wed. - Math Home Links 4.2
Spelling crossword
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute 13 or 23
Thurs. - Workbook Plus p. 35 OR Reteaching - p. 22
Study for spelling test
Read for 15 minutes
Mad Minute 14