Dear Families,
What We Learned This Week
In word study we will be studying double consonants before endings:
batting, jogger, spotted, patting, dotted, hugged, planned, hopping, runner, robber, getting, shopped
Additional challenge words include:
begging, canned, chipping, chopped, clipper, dragged, dripping, dropped, robbing, sobbed, tipped, trapped, stirring, plugged, knotting, knitted, grabbed, slammed, redder, swimming, jogging, starring, fitted, mopped
Reading Workshop continued our author study of Patricia Polacco. We used Venn diagrams to compare and contrast several of her books. We first read aloud a broad offering of her fiction and non-fiction wirtings: The Keeping Quilt, Babushka's Doll, and Mrs. Katz and Tush. These mentor texts shared her most common themes of family (and extended family of friends and pets), culture, heritage, traditions, and lessons. We also considered the importance of her childhood, setting and grandparents. Raised on a farm in Michigan by her grandparents, rural settings and grandmothers are important elements that reappear in her many illustrated books. We then used Venn diagrams to compare and contrast Just Plain Fancy, the tale of an Amish girl and her special gifts, and My Rotten Red-Headed Older Brother, an autobiographical tale about Polacco's rivalry with her older brother, Richie.
We ended our week with Rechenka's Eggs, a modern folktale, and Chicken Sunday, a multicultural exchange between Jewish and African American communities. Students were encouraged to dig deeply into the texts to find meaningful connections between the different texts. It was interesting to observe the deeper understanding with each new comparison. Venn diagrams are in the hallway. We will continue with Patricia Polacco's books next week. You can see her artwork and learn more about her at http://www.patriciapolacco.com/.
We are still reading The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester. This is a great read aloud with complex characters and many prediction opportunities. Read aloud has also been shown in studies to be very important in communicating a value in and joy of reading.
In Writing Workshop we are focusing on short writings, single paragraph, with few guidelines on the length, number of supporting details, and are looking less at mechanics (which are assumed at this point in the year) and more at quality of topic sentences, richness or persuasiveness of supporting details, and effectiveness of conclusions. It is important to me that students develop an understanding of quality writing and are able to determine when they have provided sufficient detail. It is often observed that 3rd graders' (and even graduate students) first question in regard to a writing prompt ask, "How long?" We had a consistent theme of being stranded on a deserted island with different choices daily such as who would you like to be stranded with and why or what one tool would you bring and why. We are also focusing on ensuring we are answering the question posed. We are sharing student samples and critiquing specific learning targets. Rather than saying, "I liked (or didn't like) ...," we are participating in the more instructive "I heard Bobby give three reasons he would take his dad to a deserted island. He was persuasive."
In Math we are still reviewing for the OAA, but we are not simply doing practice tests or "teaching to the test." We are exploring math at deeper and more complex levels as well as articulating our strategies. E.g., if you have to pack and sell 60 pounds of rice, is it better to pack it in 3 pound bags that sell for $4 or 5 pound bags that sell for $5? While this problem is simple for adults it is a complex combination of linear and abstract math for a third grader. Most students seem to be enjoying these challenges and the opportunity to work through them.
We concluded our Social Studies geography and map skills unit by learning the rudiments of how to use a compass, mapping our playground and then using a compass and paces writing directions for another student team to follow with the goal that they arrive at an undisclosed ending place.
Important Dates
Next week I will administer the Terra Nova and In View assessments. The Terra Nova is a battery of standardized tests on reading, math, science and social studies while In View is an assessement of cognitive abilities. These assessments are used to qualify students for enrichment. While I always want every student to show what they know and do their best, there should be NO stress associated with taking these assessments. Students already in enrichment will continue to receive enrichment regardless of how they do on the assessments. The In View, has replaced our Test of Cognitive Skills assessment, but is very similar. Please do not schedule any doctor's visits or other absences next week during the morning. We will begin promptly at 8:30 to ensure sufficient time to administer the tests.
Our class is collecting aluminum drink tabs for Ronald McDonald House. Please send them throughout the remainder of the year. Thank you. You can learn more about Ronadl McDonald House here...
http://www.rmhc-centralohio.org/
http://www.rmhc-centralohio.org/
We are also collecting plastic bottle caps. Please send in what you have collected so far next Monday.
Please send your student to school with their ukulele on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Our final field trip of the year is scheduled for May 24th. Please let me know if you would like to volunteer. It will be an all day trip led by Mrs. Chisholm, our art teacher. We will be going to the Columbus Museum of Art and using their studio space. We will also visit the downtown branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
April - Windermere student art on display at UA Board of Education
April 12 - Progress reports sent home
April 12 through 15 - Terra Nova and In View (standardized enrichment assessment) Please try to avoid any doctor's appointments or other absences
April 16 - Invention Convention at UA High School (http://www.just-think-inc.com/)
April 18 - ***Date change*** 3rd Grade Musical Performance, "It's Easy Being Green," at 7pm
April 18 through 24 - NO TV week
April 22 - No school, Good Friday
April 25 - Ohio Reading Achievement Assessment retakes for students who did not pass in fall only
April 26 - Ohio Mathematics Achievement Assessment (scores back late spring) Please try to avoid any doctor's appointments or other absences
April 29 - PTO Kidsfest from 5pm-8pm (ukulele in silent auction)
Due to week long testing, there will be NO newsletter next week.
