Dear Families,
It was a busy full week back to school.
We've begun practicing for the SBAC testing. Our practice includes learning test taking skills and becoming familiar with navigating the testing site. Our first testing session will be the week of April 10th. We will complete the English Language Arts section during that week. Then during the week of May 8th, we will complete the math portion of the test.
Our new writing unit will be opinion writing. Students will learn to write a claim, provide evidence, and write a closing. We look forward to sharing our topics and student responses with you.
In math, we are finishing Unit 4: Measurement and Fractions. We will be taking our unit 4 test next week. Then we will be moving into Unit 5: Multiplication, Division, and Area.
Next week we are holding our spring conferences. Please use the Sign-Up Genius sent by your child's teacher to select a time. We look forward to discussing your child's progress.
Have a great weekend,
The Third Grade Teachers
Friday, March 24, 2017
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
March 17, 2017
Dear Families,
This week was quite a whirlwind! We hope you enjoyed the snow days as much as the students seemed to.
In science, we began our engineering unit by discussing what engineers are and how technology impacts our everyday lives. We will continue in the next few weeks with the oil spill unit that we mentioned in last week’s post.
In math, the students are continuing to discuss fractions. We used paper to create models of unit fractions such as ½, ⅓, or ⅛. This activity lead to discussions about how dividing a whole object into more pieces results in each piece being smaller. Fractions are really a fun topic, and we will have a number of opportunities to use models and hands-on activities to explore.
In writing, we began working on a writing prompt where the students had to determine whether or not the rainforest animal they researched could survive in Hinesburg. They had to draw from their knowledge base as well as the research they performed to make a claim. The students then needed to support their claims with evidence to support their thinking.
In reading, we are continuing to respond to our reading in a variety of ways. Students are working in literature groups, responding to questions using Google Classroom, and answering text-related questions.
We had a visit from the Tooth Tutor, who discussed proper brushing and flossing techniques to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Ask your students to explain why their teeth are like castles with a moat surrounding them! We also saw a performance by Drumshtick, which is a three-person percussion group from the Vermont Symphony Orchestra.
Finally, HCS will be coming together for a “Kindness Rocks” project, which was started by a woman in Massachusetts. To learn more about the mission of the project, you can visit thekindnessrocksproject.com. If you would like to participate, please send your child to school with a small rock (about the size of their palm), which will be painted and decorated by the students as a way to spread kindness around the community.
Have a great weekend,
The Third Grade Teachers
Sunday, March 12, 2017
March 12, 2017
Brrr! It's cold outside. I'm glad we chose to have our Open House last week with the anticipated storm arriving this week. Thank you all for coming. We hope you enjoyed hearing, seeing, and reading all about the rain forest.
This week we will begin transitioning to our engineering unit. Students will have the opportunity to learn about environmental disasters and how scientists respond to them. The unit will invite students to design and test methods to clean-up an oil spill.
In reading we will work on reading short articles (fiction and nonfiction) and responding to those articles. This will include answering comprehension questions, comparing and contrasting texts, and writing responses. All this work will help prepare the students for the SBAC assessments that will begin in April.
Our next writing unit will be focused around opinion writing. Students will learn to make a claim and support their claim with evidence. After practicing several pieces students will have the opportunity to chose a topic of their choice to take through the writing process and publish. We look forward to sharing those with you.
Finally, we are wrapping up unit 4 with a focus on fractions. Students will explore unit fractions, equivalent fractions, and begin adding and subtracting fractions.
This week we will begin transitioning to our engineering unit. Students will have the opportunity to learn about environmental disasters and how scientists respond to them. The unit will invite students to design and test methods to clean-up an oil spill.
In reading we will work on reading short articles (fiction and nonfiction) and responding to those articles. This will include answering comprehension questions, comparing and contrasting texts, and writing responses. All this work will help prepare the students for the SBAC assessments that will begin in April.
Our next writing unit will be focused around opinion writing. Students will learn to make a claim and support their claim with evidence. After practicing several pieces students will have the opportunity to chose a topic of their choice to take through the writing process and publish. We look forward to sharing those with you.
Finally, we are wrapping up unit 4 with a focus on fractions. Students will explore unit fractions, equivalent fractions, and begin adding and subtracting fractions.
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