It is hard to believe how fast the first two months of school have flown by! Our class has spent a lot of time getting to know each other and developing independence around procedures and routines. Students are now familiar with many of the classroom procedures and expectations. They are now working on making good learning choices, such as choosing good learning spots on the carpet and finding quiet learning spaces to do their best work.
Agendas
Our school agenda is a great communication tool between home and school. Each day, students write in their Agenda to inform you of happenings in the school, notes sent home and to remind themselves of homework to be completed and returned.
Please remember to read and sign the Agenda each night. If you read that a certain item (homework, note etc.) has been “sent home” and you do not see it in your child’s Agenda or bag, don’t hesitate to write me a note in the Agenda saying you did not receive it so I will know to send it the next day.
Please make sure you read the Agenda each night and sign to show you’ve seen it. Please remove any notes or homework sent home to help make your child’s Agenda easier to manage. I do check Agendas each morning but it is a good idea to write that you’ve sent something in to ensure I receive it. You could also check the class blog for additional resources and class updates. http://gr3kwak.blogspot.ca
Homework
Since our program is in full swing, I thought it would be helpful to have a summary of when things go home and when they are due back:
Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Spelling sent home
Share-A-Text Due
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Return Reading Bag
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Share-A-Text sent home
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Reading Bag
sent home
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Spelling Check-In
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Additional homework will be sent home in other subject areas. Please return this homework the following day unless another date has been indicated. If more time is needed for a certain task, please write a note in the agenda indicating that your child needs more time.
All folders should be returned daily, as we will be adding work to them regularly.
Grades 3s are expected to complete approximately 30 minutes of homework each night. If no homework is indicated, please spend this time reading (book bag, share-a-text or a library book). If your child is spending well over 30 minutes completing the assigned homework, please let the teacher know.
Literacy
We have been working on sentences since the start of the school year and we are beginning to work on paragraphs. Students are also working on generating ideas and adding details and expanding on their ideas to make their writing more interesting and clear. Students will continue to work on improving their spelling and conventions throughout the year including, using appropriate spaces in between words, appropriate use of upper and lowercase letters and adding punctuation.
Literacy centres have now begun in our classrooms. Students will be rotating through different centres that allow them to practice their reading and writing skills as well as guided reading with the teacher.
Book bags have started to go home. Students are encouraged to read the book several times to build fluency and comprehension. Students should keep reading the book until the story becomes familiar and their reading is fluent. If you find that your child could benefit from keeping the book for another week, please write me a note in the agenda to let me know. If you find the book is consistently too easy, please let me know. Keep in mind comprehension is also a factor when deciding your child’s reading level. Please ask your child to tell who and what the story was about.
Math
We have now begun our unit on number sense. Students have been using tools to represent, add, subtract and compare numbers including hundreds chart, number lines and tens and ones blocks. We will be moving into addition and subtraction and students will start using iPad Apps to practice adding and subtracting. Students will be learning some mental math strategies to help them recognize and solve simple math questions. Students should be aware of their doubles facts (e.g. 8+8 16). We will then be moving into 3-digit addition and subtraction.
Students have signed up for a prodigy account at school. This is a fun way for students to practice math skills at their level. From time to time, students will receive assignments on their prodigy accounts for them to work on at school. Prodigy will provide the teacher with data after the completion of their assignment. Please note that prodigy is free, but there are some features of the game that can be purchased. Students understand that paid features are not needed to enjoy the game.
Science
We have recently completed our unit on forces. Students have learned that forces such as pushes and pulls, gravity, friction, buoyancy and magnetism all effect the movement of objects. They learned about the importance of safety devices and how they relate to the impact of forces as well as how forces in nature impact the natural and built environments (e.g., lightning).
Social Studies
In Social Studies, students started to learning about Early Settlers and First Nations as part of Heritage and Identity unit. Students will be learning about some issues, and challenges faced by Early Settlers, as well as conflicts between First Nations and Early Settlers. We will also discuss how an Early Settlers life was different than our current life.
Scholastic Orders
Scholastic flyers will be sent home regularly to provide your family opportunities to purchase books. Scholastic offers a selection of reading material that appeals to children and allows parents to choose books that are age appropriate. Reading levels are included in the flyers to help parents choose books that might be a good fit for your child. When you order from scholastic our class will earn rewards allowing me to purchase books and materials for our classroom. Please only send in cheques for your Scholastic orders, as cash is not accepted. You can also view catalogues online and place an order online. http://www.scholastic.ca/
Allergies
We are a nut free school and we ask parents to check the ingredients of all food items being sent to school. Please take the time to examine food ingredients to help keep our classroom safe for all students.
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