Happy April! It is so nice to have finally reached warmer weather and sunshine.
What We Learned This Week
Word Study
We concluded our cursive loop group: lowercase
h, k, b, f, l and
e. We will begin our final group, "hills and valleys" next week: lowercase
n, m, v, y, x, and
z.
Reading Workshop
We are focusing on fluency. Students are learning that fluency is so much more than just speed and accuracy. Fluent readers:
- Read "just right" books.
- Read with appropriate pace, which is influenced by context and convention.
- Decode automatically using context clues and visual clues (e.g., recognizing prefixes and blends).
- Read with expression, also influenced by context and convention.
Students are reading "easy" texts, Dr. Seuss, which require students to pay attention to all of the above elements and rhyme. We will support this practice further using poetry.
Writing Workshop
Students are finishing up taking notes on their African American study subjects. Having read for vocabulary and main ideas, they used t-charts to record main ideas and supporting details. Next week we will order their main ideas and work with partners to identify missed noteworthy facts, correct incorrect information and understanding, and share questions for additional research. Students will then compose paragraphs from their ordered notes. This is a very slow and challenging process, especially finding the right reading level for all students. Where I was unable to find an appropriate level, I met with students to support them in their comprehension of materials and note taking.
Math Workshop
We started our geometry study this week introducing polygons, sides, vertices, regular polygons, irregular polygons, and angles.
Science
Students celebrated their science in technology study with a grade level Invention Convention. I was so pleased with their work, presentation boards, prototypes and sharing. It can be very intimidating for third graders to share, especially to adults, but they did a great job! Here are a few photos of them sharing their ideas. Thanks to all of the parents who were able to come and share in our celebration. I meant a lot to the students!
Important Dates & Reminders
It's Kid Fest Raffle Basket time again and PTO needs your help sending out the SignUpGenius link below to your class and collecting the students' donations. Each classroom will have a box for donated items and a separate envelope for money. We will try to come through and collect items every few days, so your classrooms don't become too cluttered. You may either keep all of the money until the April 14th deadline or give it to us on collection days. I will be out of town from April 2 -11, so Heather Petzinger will collect items from the classes.
Again, thank you for everything. Our children are so very lucky. Windermere is a very special place because of YOU!
Warmest thoughts,
Brooks Whitcomb
Important 4th Quarter Dates & Reminders
April 9, 2015 - Spring Picture Day
April 13 through May 22, 2015 - District Writing Diagnostic Testing
April 14, 2015 - Progress Reports sent home
April 14 & 15, 2015 - PARCC Math Assessment
April 22, 2015 - Ohio Reading Achievement Assessment
April 24, 2015 - Kid Fest
April 28, 2015 - Film Festival of Book Recommendations (Tremont Library 7-8pm)
April 28 through 29, 2015 - Math State EOY
May 1 through 29, 2015 - STAR Reading and Math Diagnostic Testing
May 9, 2015 - Wish Run
May 25, 2015 - No School Memorial Day
June 1, 2015 - Field Day
June 3, 2015 - End of fourth quarter/Last day for students, Classroom parties 12:05 till 1:05pm
June 9, 2015 - Progress Reports sent home
