Reminders:
Kona Ice will be here Wednesday. Please turn in your 2.00 before/on Wednesday morning.
Katherine Applegate will be here Friday. Can't wait! If you would like a signed copy of her book, please return the info sheet by Wednesday.
Writing
This week we are brainstorming ideas for our essays. The fourth graders will also be visiting our classes to help with ideas. It's great to see the collaboration. My goal is for the students to pick a topic by Friday.
Grammar: Commas in a series
Spelling: Suffixes
Spelling and grammar test on Friday.
Reading
We are reviewing non fiction text features and their purpose. For the next two weeks, we will read short texts and focus on STAAR like questions.
I'm continuing with DRA assessments. The kids have all done great!
Social Studies
Please remember the states test on Wednesday. If your child has lost the study sheet, please look on the homework tab for the list of third grade states. On Thursday, I will go over Market day. Be prepared! The kids will be consumed with market day. :)
Monday, April 30, 2018
Monday, April 23, 2018
April 23-27
Writing:
We are going to pay close attention to how authors support their claim. My goal is to discuss transition words, examples to support their reasons, and participate in some shared writing. The class definitely has the structure down.
Here's our class anchor charts:
Grammar: Commas in a series
Spelling: Suffixes
Reading
We are reviewing literary non-fiction. We read the a literary non-fiction piece called, "Blood, Smoke, and Freedom" last week. This week we are working on the three core questions with non-fiction. Q1: What is this about? Q2: What was new to me? and Q3: Why is this important?
Reader's workshop: For book clubs we are reading books by Andrew Clements. Students will be reading and tracking their thinking. My goal is for them to work on their discussion skills and supporting their thinking with evidence from the book.
I will start DRA's next week and will continue through May.
Social Studies
We are continuing with Economy. We will discuss goods and services. We will also study the five states that have been added to the students states test.
We are going to pay close attention to how authors support their claim. My goal is to discuss transition words, examples to support their reasons, and participate in some shared writing. The class definitely has the structure down.
Here's our class anchor charts:
Grammar: Commas in a series
Spelling: Suffixes
Reading
We are reviewing literary non-fiction. We read the a literary non-fiction piece called, "Blood, Smoke, and Freedom" last week. This week we are working on the three core questions with non-fiction. Q1: What is this about? Q2: What was new to me? and Q3: Why is this important?
Reader's workshop: For book clubs we are reading books by Andrew Clements. Students will be reading and tracking their thinking. My goal is for them to work on their discussion skills and supporting their thinking with evidence from the book.
I will start DRA's next week and will continue through May.
Social Studies
We are continuing with Economy. We will discuss goods and services. We will also study the five states that have been added to the students states test.
Monday, April 9, 2018
April 9-13
Hope you all had a great weekend!
Writing:
This week we will make a characteristic chart on the structure of essays. Students will do some reproduction activities with essays which allows them to review the structure. (Introduction, claim, support, and conclusion)
Spelling: Prefixes (dis, mis, and pre)
Grammar- Subject/Predicate
Reading
We are finishing up reviewing poetry and the characteristics. We will continue reading "Runaway Twin" and marking up the text. Students finished up their book club book and will share their thoughts with the class.
Social Studies
Goodness, the kids were beyond excited today. Students received a fake occupation and income. They will budget their money and see if they need to make any changes such as reduce their housing payment, entertainment, etc.
Writing:
This week we will make a characteristic chart on the structure of essays. Students will do some reproduction activities with essays which allows them to review the structure. (Introduction, claim, support, and conclusion)
Spelling: Prefixes (dis, mis, and pre)
Grammar- Subject/Predicate
Reading
We are finishing up reviewing poetry and the characteristics. We will continue reading "Runaway Twin" and marking up the text. Students finished up their book club book and will share their thoughts with the class.
Social Studies
Goodness, the kids were beyond excited today. Students received a fake occupation and income. They will budget their money and see if they need to make any changes such as reduce their housing payment, entertainment, etc.
Monday, April 2, 2018
April 2-6
I hope everyone had a great three day weekend!
Writing
The students are doing well on learning the parts of an essay. They definitely have an opinion on whether they agree or disagree with the author. By the end of the week, we will do a reproduction activity over an essay. Students will put the parts together and label them.
Grammar: Subject/Predicate
Spelling: Prefixes
Reading
We are reviewing poetry. We will review the poetry characteristics and figurative language. We will do a poetry passage together this week. I'm also going to review theme this week.
We are starting our new read aloud, "The Runaway Twin" today. It's always exciting to start a new read aloud. We will take notes, make predictions, and mark up our thinking.
Social Studies
We are reviewing our entrepreneurs this week. Students will finish presenting their person and put their book together.
Writing
The students are doing well on learning the parts of an essay. They definitely have an opinion on whether they agree or disagree with the author. By the end of the week, we will do a reproduction activity over an essay. Students will put the parts together and label them.
Grammar: Subject/Predicate
Spelling: Prefixes
Reading
We are reviewing poetry. We will review the poetry characteristics and figurative language. We will do a poetry passage together this week. I'm also going to review theme this week.
We are starting our new read aloud, "The Runaway Twin" today. It's always exciting to start a new read aloud. We will take notes, make predictions, and mark up our thinking.
Social Studies
We are reviewing our entrepreneurs this week. Students will finish presenting their person and put their book together.
Monday, March 26, 2018
March 26-30
Hope you all have a great three day weekend!
Writing
We are continuing to consume essays. My goal this week is for students to understand how essays are structured.
Grammar: Subject/ Predicate. We will discuss how to write complete sentences and labeling the subject/predicate.
Spelling: This week words are prefixes. We will discuss what a prefix is and what they mean. I'm expecting the kids to write their words in cursive on the spelling test. I will take a handwriting grade as well. Please have your child practice writing them in cursive.
Reading
We are wrapping up our fiction review. Last week we reviewed how to write a summary. This week we are reviewing main idea, inferences, and theme. Students will also do some vocabulary work. They have two grades this week. A vocab quiz based off the story, "Lost and Found" that we read together and discussed. I will also take a readers observation grade based off of reader's workshop.
Social Studies
We are continuing with entrepreneurs.
Writing
We are continuing to consume essays. My goal this week is for students to understand how essays are structured.
Grammar: Subject/ Predicate. We will discuss how to write complete sentences and labeling the subject/predicate.
Spelling: This week words are prefixes. We will discuss what a prefix is and what they mean. I'm expecting the kids to write their words in cursive on the spelling test. I will take a handwriting grade as well. Please have your child practice writing them in cursive.
Reading
We are wrapping up our fiction review. Last week we reviewed how to write a summary. This week we are reviewing main idea, inferences, and theme. Students will also do some vocabulary work. They have two grades this week. A vocab quiz based off the story, "Lost and Found" that we read together and discussed. I will also take a readers observation grade based off of reader's workshop.
Social Studies
We are continuing with entrepreneurs.
Monday, March 19, 2018
March 19-23
Welcome back! I hope you all had a great spring break. I've heard from a couple of students so far and it sounds like you all had a blast.
Here's what's going on for the week.
Writing
This nine weeks we are studying a new genre: Essay! We will be consuming essays. We will discuss the authors purpose, structure, and discuss/argue our opinions on certain topics. This is always a fun genre because the kids get so excited sharing their opinion. I want to make sure the kids are arguing their claim with support.
Grammar: Test this Friday over conjunctions..
Spelling: Y + inflected endings. Test on Friday.
Reading
We will review fiction for the next two weeks. We will look at vocabulary, main idea, cause/effect, etc. We will work with the story " Lost and Found" from Storyworks Jr. Towards the end of the week, I will take their first reading grade using the story, "Lost and Found".
During reader's workshop, I am reviewing the practice STAAR test with students individually. We will review the questions missed and strategies.
Social Studies: Economics
This nine weeks is all about economy. For the next two weeks we will discuss what an entrepreneur is, traits to describe them, and entrepreneurs of the past. We will study Mary Kay Ash, Wallace Amos, Milton Hershey, Sam Walton, and Henry Ford.
Here's what's going on for the week.
Writing
This nine weeks we are studying a new genre: Essay! We will be consuming essays. We will discuss the authors purpose, structure, and discuss/argue our opinions on certain topics. This is always a fun genre because the kids get so excited sharing their opinion. I want to make sure the kids are arguing their claim with support.
Grammar: Test this Friday over conjunctions..
Spelling: Y + inflected endings. Test on Friday.
Reading
We will review fiction for the next two weeks. We will look at vocabulary, main idea, cause/effect, etc. We will work with the story " Lost and Found" from Storyworks Jr. Towards the end of the week, I will take their first reading grade using the story, "Lost and Found".
During reader's workshop, I am reviewing the practice STAAR test with students individually. We will review the questions missed and strategies.
Social Studies: Economics
This nine weeks is all about economy. For the next two weeks we will discuss what an entrepreneur is, traits to describe them, and entrepreneurs of the past. We will study Mary Kay Ash, Wallace Amos, Milton Hershey, Sam Walton, and Henry Ford.
Thursday, March 1, 2018
February 26- March 9th
We are done with the practice STAAR. YAY! The kids did such a great job. They took their time and used their strategies. I think they were shocked in how boring it was after the test. LOL.
Reading
We will finish up our book clubs next week. I'm hoping to finish our shared read aloud. "How to Steal a Dog". I'm loving this book and the kids are too.
During reader's workshop, I plan to start reviewing the STAAR test with the students. This will go into the end of March.
Writing
I am so impressed to see how the kids writing has grown this year. When I think about the first story they wrote at the beginning of the year to now.... WOW! The kids are saying things like, "You're story needs more tension or Let's build the character here" The students are able to notice this in the books we read. I encourage you when you're reading with your child, to ask them what they think/or notice about the writing. Students are finishing up their story. We will work on typing them if time permits.
Spelling: Spelling words will be passed out next week. The test will be after spring break.
Social Studies
We are learn about Todd Beamer next week. We will read about him together and then answer some questions in whole group.
Have a great Spring Break!!!
Reading
We will finish up our book clubs next week. I'm hoping to finish our shared read aloud. "How to Steal a Dog". I'm loving this book and the kids are too.
During reader's workshop, I plan to start reviewing the STAAR test with the students. This will go into the end of March.
Writing
I am so impressed to see how the kids writing has grown this year. When I think about the first story they wrote at the beginning of the year to now.... WOW! The kids are saying things like, "You're story needs more tension or Let's build the character here" The students are able to notice this in the books we read. I encourage you when you're reading with your child, to ask them what they think/or notice about the writing. Students are finishing up their story. We will work on typing them if time permits.
Spelling: Spelling words will be passed out next week. The test will be after spring break.
Social Studies
We are learn about Todd Beamer next week. We will read about him together and then answer some questions in whole group.
Have a great Spring Break!!!
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
February 5-16
Seems to be a lot going on this month! Here's what's going on for the next two weeks.
Valentines party will be next week on Wednesday! Please have the kids bring their bag/box on Tuesday or Wednesday morning. We will pass out valentines before recess.
Writing
We are in the process of building a criteria chart for "What Makes a Great story" Here's what we have so far. (see picture) We still have to discuss characterization, and qualities of good writing. We will add to the chart everyday until next week. Students will then read various SFML to see if they fit the criteria and how we can improve the story.
Grammar- This week is pronouns
Reading
We have been reviewing our strategies for Non-fiction. Tomorrow they will take a reading PSA. This will be for a grade considering it covers everything we have taught for non fiction over the last couple of weeks. (text features, main idea, cause/effect, etc.)
For reader's workshop, students are getting in groups to read non fiction articles. We are discussing the important events together. Students will then work in small groups to determine what new information they learned and discuss the authors purpose. Next week, students will share what they learned with the class.
Social Studies
The kiddos have a states test coming up. I will send home the letter and review sheet today in the Tuesday folders.
We are wrapping up Harriet Tubman this week and then moving on to Todd Beamer and Hector P. Garza next week.
Valentines party will be next week on Wednesday! Please have the kids bring their bag/box on Tuesday or Wednesday morning. We will pass out valentines before recess.
Writing
We are in the process of building a criteria chart for "What Makes a Great story" Here's what we have so far. (see picture) We still have to discuss characterization, and qualities of good writing. We will add to the chart everyday until next week. Students will then read various SFML to see if they fit the criteria and how we can improve the story.
Grammar- This week is pronouns
Reading
We have been reviewing our strategies for Non-fiction. Tomorrow they will take a reading PSA. This will be for a grade considering it covers everything we have taught for non fiction over the last couple of weeks. (text features, main idea, cause/effect, etc.)
For reader's workshop, students are getting in groups to read non fiction articles. We are discussing the important events together. Students will then work in small groups to determine what new information they learned and discuss the authors purpose. Next week, students will share what they learned with the class.
Social Studies
The kiddos have a states test coming up. I will send home the letter and review sheet today in the Tuesday folders.
We are wrapping up Harriet Tubman this week and then moving on to Todd Beamer and Hector P. Garza next week.
Monday, January 29, 2018
Jan. 29th- Feb. 2
Writing
We are creating a criteria chart as a class of "What makes a GREAT SFML" Students so far have told me we need to have a story worth telling and clear structure. We will discuss how tension, well developed characters, and pacing adds to the story. Students will then get into groups to revise a story by adding craft elements.
Spelling- Test this Friday
Grammar- Students will be tested on prepositions on Friday. I gave the students a sheet to study to help them.
Reading
We worked on reading strategies as a class today over a non fiction passage. Students will complete a reading non fiction passage for a grade on Wednesday. Their reading PSA will be next week on Wednesday. I am continuing to meet with students one on one for an informal conference.
Social studies
We will discuss Harriet Tubman this week.
We are creating a criteria chart as a class of "What makes a GREAT SFML" Students so far have told me we need to have a story worth telling and clear structure. We will discuss how tension, well developed characters, and pacing adds to the story. Students will then get into groups to revise a story by adding craft elements.
Spelling- Test this Friday
Grammar- Students will be tested on prepositions on Friday. I gave the students a sheet to study to help them.
Reading
We worked on reading strategies as a class today over a non fiction passage. Students will complete a reading non fiction passage for a grade on Wednesday. Their reading PSA will be next week on Wednesday. I am continuing to meet with students one on one for an informal conference.
Social studies
We will discuss Harriet Tubman this week.
Friday, January 19, 2018
January 22-26
Goodness, what a crazy month this had been!
It's all about catch up this week.
Reading
We are continuing with non-fiction! Last week we read an article about Polar Bears. The kids read it once and marked it up. We will now discuss the main idea and supporting details. Students will then answer some STAAR like questions using the article. We will do this together. I will take an observation grade on this. We are also reviewing our reading strategies. On Friday, we will do a practice passage together but this time over non-fiction.
I'll be holding one on one reading conferences this week and next. This grade will be based on the book they are reading during reader's workshop. I'm looking for fluency, accuracy, but most importantly, comprehension.
Writing
We are continuing to critique. Students have been reading base stories from my life. We've been discussing as a class what craft elements can be added to improve the story. I've been impressed in what they have to say. The kids will have a craft on Friday. They will need to know the definitions of each craft element. There will also be a reproduction activity with the quiz. (We have done this many times in the classroom). They will have a story out of order. They will need to put it back in order according to the story arc and then label the structure. I encourage you to ask your child to explain the different craft elements and how to do a reproduction activity. :)
They are continuing to work on their winter break stories. I hope to have them wrapped up by the end of the week.
MAP testing: Students will complete the language portion on Thursday. This will test be over conventions, grammar, spelling, etc.
Grammar- We are continuing with prepositional phrases. More than likely they will take the grammar quiz on Friday.
Social Studies
We will continue to study important people from our past. Students are taking notes in their social studies journal. I will send these home for you all to see once we are done.
It's all about catch up this week.
Reading
We are continuing with non-fiction! Last week we read an article about Polar Bears. The kids read it once and marked it up. We will now discuss the main idea and supporting details. Students will then answer some STAAR like questions using the article. We will do this together. I will take an observation grade on this. We are also reviewing our reading strategies. On Friday, we will do a practice passage together but this time over non-fiction.
I'll be holding one on one reading conferences this week and next. This grade will be based on the book they are reading during reader's workshop. I'm looking for fluency, accuracy, but most importantly, comprehension.
Writing
We are continuing to critique. Students have been reading base stories from my life. We've been discussing as a class what craft elements can be added to improve the story. I've been impressed in what they have to say. The kids will have a craft on Friday. They will need to know the definitions of each craft element. There will also be a reproduction activity with the quiz. (We have done this many times in the classroom). They will have a story out of order. They will need to put it back in order according to the story arc and then label the structure. I encourage you to ask your child to explain the different craft elements and how to do a reproduction activity. :)
They are continuing to work on their winter break stories. I hope to have them wrapped up by the end of the week.
MAP testing: Students will complete the language portion on Thursday. This will test be over conventions, grammar, spelling, etc.
Grammar- We are continuing with prepositional phrases. More than likely they will take the grammar quiz on Friday.
Social Studies
We will continue to study important people from our past. Students are taking notes in their social studies journal. I will send these home for you all to see once we are done.
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
January 3-12
Happy New Year!
I hope everyone had a great holiday break and staying warm. Brr... talk about cold!
Here's what's going on for the next two weeks:
Reading
We are moving into the genre of Non-fiction. We will review text features and why they are important. Then we will move into main idea and supporting details. Students will be reading Scholastic News, Story Works, and Time for Kids to help them navigate this genre.
We are also starting the second round of MAP testing. Students will start testing next week. You should receive their report in the first week or two of February.
Writing
The students will be working on critiquing two stories for the next two weeks. We will discuss what went well with the story and how we can improve the story with craft elements. By the 19th of January, students will be tested over the craft elements. (Craft elements: inner thinking, dialogue, backstory, show/not tell, and descriptive details)
For writer's workshop, students will pick a small moment from their break to write about. This will be their first informal writing piece for the new year.
Grammar: Prepositions and prepositional phrases
Spelling: Continuing with homophones
Social studies
Our third nine weeks unit is focusing on influential people and how they impacted history or their community. We will focus on the following people: Kadir Nelson, Tommie DePaola, Phillis Wheatley, Hector Garcia, Harriet Tubman, Hellen Keller, etc. We will focus on one person a day, taking notes in their journal.
I hope everyone had a great holiday break and staying warm. Brr... talk about cold!
Here's what's going on for the next two weeks:
Reading
We are moving into the genre of Non-fiction. We will review text features and why they are important. Then we will move into main idea and supporting details. Students will be reading Scholastic News, Story Works, and Time for Kids to help them navigate this genre.
We are also starting the second round of MAP testing. Students will start testing next week. You should receive their report in the first week or two of February.
Writing
The students will be working on critiquing two stories for the next two weeks. We will discuss what went well with the story and how we can improve the story with craft elements. By the 19th of January, students will be tested over the craft elements. (Craft elements: inner thinking, dialogue, backstory, show/not tell, and descriptive details)
For writer's workshop, students will pick a small moment from their break to write about. This will be their first informal writing piece for the new year.
Grammar: Prepositions and prepositional phrases
Spelling: Continuing with homophones
Social studies
Our third nine weeks unit is focusing on influential people and how they impacted history or their community. We will focus on the following people: Kadir Nelson, Tommie DePaola, Phillis Wheatley, Hector Garcia, Harriet Tubman, Hellen Keller, etc. We will focus on one person a day, taking notes in their journal.
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