Tag Archives: reading log

Update: Week of October 7

Last Friday, we ended the day with a teamwork activity. Each team was given some straw constructors and was given a challenge of building a structure. First, they had to come up with a plan to build their structure. In the time given, each team learned that their plan changed a few times, but each team built their own unique structure. We had a lot of fun with this group activity!

**You will see a new Reading/Math Fact log in your child’s folder. Please remind your third grader to sign it when they complete their reading and fact practice. This should be returned next Monday, October 14.

Here’s What We’ve Been Learning:
Writing
: We are finishing our drafts this week and have been working on strategies for revision. We will be working on finishing final drafts by Friday.

Math: We continue our lessons with multiplication and division and word problems. We will review this week and plan to take our test on Friday. A review page will come home.
This week will start our practice pages. Beginning Friday, we will take our first multiplication quiz on 5s. Our curriculum teaches them in this order:  5s, 2s, 10s, 9s, 3s, 4s, 6s, 7s, 8s. As your child passes each quiz, they will move to the next multiplication fact.  For example, if they pass the 5s quiz on Friday, next Friday they will take the 2s quiz.  If they don’t pass the 5s, they will take it again the following week. Each student will be working at their own pace and tracking their own progress.

Multiplication Practice:
Please help your child practice their multiplication facts in the following ways: 

* Flash Cards- these should be coming home each night in your child’s folder. Pick out the specific facts your child needs to work on.
* MobyMax: We are currently working on review of addition and subtraction facts, but your child will move on to multiplication very soon.
* Another great tool is an app called, Flash to Pass.  It’s free and can be downloaded on most devices.  On this app, students can practice one specific grouping of facts.  This is different from Moby Max because they are all mixed together.

Reading: We continue to work on building a reading life and working toward our goals. We are using reading logs to keep track of our progress and we are making sure that we are choosing good-fit books and finishing the books we start. We have been making sure we focus as readers so that we can talk about our books when we meet with a partner.

Social Studies: We are finishing our Growth Mindset and character trait lessons and next week we will begin our Michigan studies with our first unit: Michigan Geography. 

IMPORTANT DATES:
Monday, Oct. 7- Culver’s Night 5-8pm—–A % of the earnings from 5-8pm go to our PTC fund which provides money for class field trips, learning software, library books, classroom books, parent/child events, and much more.
Thursday, Oct. 10– Jet’s Pizza Night—- make sure you mention our classroom when ordering.
Friday, Oct. 18-Early Release
Tuesday, Oct. 29– Turkey Trot—-TO PARTICIPATE YOU MUST COMPLETE THIS FORM ONLINE

Thank you!  🙂

 

 

 

Week of September 30!

I can’t believe we are entering into the month of October already! I have seen growth in our third graders and I am proud of their hard work as we learn new routines and expectations and dive into third grade curriculum!

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READING and MATH FACT CALENDAR:
You will see a reading/math fact log come home today. As your third grader completes their at-home reading and math fact practice, they will fill out their reading log. A new one will be sent home every Monday and it should be returned the following Monday. Your third grader will sign the five days they did their reading and fact practice. We are using detailed reading logs in class so using an at-home log will support the reading that we are doing at school. Thanks for your help with this!

Math Fact Cards: You will see your child’s yellow fact folder filling up. As your third grader works on their math fact log, please help them choose one set of count bys (one color) flash cards to work on each night. As each color is mastered, move on to the next. We have learned the 5s, 2s, 10s, 9s, 3s, 4s, so far. It is really starting to become apparent which kids are regularly going over their math facts and which kids are not. PLEASE help your child gain confidence with their math work by practicing these at home!

PIZZA HUT READING CALENDAR: 
(This is optional, but may be combined with our classroom reading calendar)
Our classroom is participating in the BOOK IT! program again this year to help encourage reading.  Your child will be bringing home a Pizza Hut Book It calendar with a reading goal on it beginning October 1.  Each time your child reads they may mark it on their calendar.  At the end of the month please have them return their calendar to school and they will bring home a coupon attached to it for a FREE personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut.  This program runs from October thru March.  HAPPY READING!!!

MOBYMAX CONTEST:
Our second winner of the contest is: KENDALL!! She chose a MobyMax hat as her prize. Way to go, Kendall! Our contest continues for one more week. The last winner will be chosen next Monday.
SNACK REMINDER: 
Our class has one snack break in the morning. Please pack your child a healthy snack to support their learning. If your child chooses to have an afternoon snack, please pack an extra so they can eat it during afternoon recess. Thank you!
Classroom Halloween Party: We will be having a class party on Thursday, October 31. I will be sending more information about this tomorrow.

Homework Folder

Hi Parents,

There are a few things coming home in the homework folder tonight.

1. Daily Agenda: We fill this out daily to let you know our learning goals for the day and the homework assignment. Please ask your third grader about their agenda each night. Sign it and remind your child to bring it to school each day. Thanks!

2. Reading/Math Log:  This will be sent home each Monday and returned the next Monday. Consistent reading and practicing math facts are very important to our third grade year. Please help your third grader to be accountable with this. Please sign it when it is complete and send it back on Monday.  Thank You!

 

Something new is coming home…

Hi Parents,

I am trying something new that should be helpful in building responsibility and organization for our third graders. In your child’s backpack you will find a large ziploc bag. There is a note in there for you to read that explains everything in there. This ziploc bag is very important as it will travel back and forth from home and school and it includes the essential supplies for your child’s learning. Please help your child be responsible with the bag and all the items in it.

In the bag you will find:

Daily Folder

A book (from home or school) that your child should be working on.

Multiplication flashcards: we have started with the 5s facts and will be adding more.

Reading and fact fluency log:  This will come home weekly and will be returned on Mondays. Please help your child to read for at least 20 minutes 5 times a week and practice math facts for at least 5 minutes 5 times a week.

Reading at home:  I have talked with the students about the importance of practicing reading and doing it regularly. I have encouraged them to read right when they get home or before bed. Please help your third grader set aside 20 minutes to do their reading. This can be a time when you read with them if you wish. Take turns reading pages, but please have your third grader do much of the reading as they will benefit greatly from the practice. I also have a few reading activities on the blog. Check on the right side under Reading.

Math Fact Practice at Home:  The multiplication flashcards are a great way to practice fact fluency. There are  many ways to practice math facts. Continue practicing addition and subtraction facts with your child too.  Feel free to use any way that is helpful for your child to practice. Maybe you have a few math games at home that you use to practice and you can also check out a few of the math games on the blog. They are on the right side under Math. I will also be sending home some information about Xtra Math. This is an online site for math practice. I have it linked on our blog under Math.

Please help your child be responsible with their bag of supplies as they may need a few reminders about bringing it back and forth to school. Thank you for your support!

Ms Van Arkel