Word Study
I assessed and sent home this week's word study assessment over long and short o patterns and contractions. Students expanded their long o patterns to include VCC patterns. This can be very confusing. Up till now, all VC/VCC patterns have represented closed syllables and produced short vowel sounds (e.g., clock, mop). Students are now learning long o VCC words (e.g., ghost, post).
Reading Workshop
Students took the Ohio 3rd Grade English Language Arts Assessment (AIR) this week.
Students are meeting with me one-to-one for reading conferences where I am assessing their ability to choose appropriately leveled texts, introducing them to new genres, observing and modeling decoding skills (e.g., sounding out, applying word study patterns, using context clues), and discussing their reading for comprehension (including basic 5 W's and higher level connections, predictions, inferring, etc.).
Writing Workshop
We received our pen pal letters with much excitement. These letters provided rich material for discussion and learning. We are expanding our introductions and conclusions beyond a single sentence. We will be sharing what we plan to do over winter holiday, recommending favorite books and responding to pen pals' letters.
Math
As most of the class has mastered the partial products algorithm, we are moving on to the traditional algorithm (the way most adults learned multi-digit multiplication). With a strong understanding of partial products, we can explain the traditional algorithm, rather than just memorizing steps to solving a problem without any understanding of what we are doing.
Partial Products example
452
x 5
10 5 x 2 = 10
250 5 x 50 = 250
2000 5 x 400 = 2000
2260
Note that students are asked to write each partial products equation to the right of the products and underline the basic (single digit) fact in each. Students' understanding of expanded form and the distributive property are relied on heavily.
Traditional Algorithm example
2 1
452
x 5
2260
Note the ten and two hundred from the above partial products are "carried" to their respective place value columns.
Science
We are concluding our life science unit with the game Into The Forest. This award winning card game teaches students the importance of the different roles in an ecosystem (decomposers, producers, consumers) and how they are interdependent. I also enjoy games because they develop problem solving and strategic thinking.
Upper Arlington Rotary Visit
Windermere parent and Upper Arlington Rotary president, Mr. Bill Cloyd, visited our class to inspire and educate. Students learned about the challenges young students in Guatemala have overcome and how the Rotary has assisted them. We are hoping to partner with the UA Rotary to develop a service learning project.
Paul O. Zelinsky Visit
Caldecott winning author-illustrator, Paul O. Zelinsky, visited on Friday to talk about his craft.
Important Dates and RemindersI will highlight new and changed dates on subsequent posts in red.
November 30 - December 10 - Student Council - Coat Drive.
December 21 through January 1 - Winter Break
January 8 - End of Second Quarter
January 11 - No School Teacher Grading Day
January 18 - No School Martin Luther King Day
January 21 - Conferences, Early Dismissal at 11:05, NO LUNCH SERVICE
January 27 - Early Dismissal Professional Development 1pm
February 1 through 16 - Ohio Wildlife Center donation drive
February 15 - No School Presidents' Day
February 16 - Ohio Wildlife Center Visit
March 2 - Early Dismissal Professional Development 1pm
March 18 - End of Third Quarter
March 21 through 25 - No School Spring Break
March 28 - No School Teacher Grading Day
April 6 - Early Dismissal Professional Development 1pm
April 12 and 13 - Ohio English Language Arts Assessment
April 20 and 21 - Ohio Mathematics Assessment
May 27 - Last Day of School for Students
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