What We Learned This Week
Word Study
We are continuing to review our most basic syllable types: closed syllables (vowel closed by a consonant produces a short vowel sound, e.g., hiccup ) and VCe (vowel followed by a consonant and a silent e produces a long vowel sound, e.g., ice). We look for a visual pattern and listen for auditory confirmation of the syllable type. This attention to syllable types and the importance of vowels will help us to decode and encode. Here is a short video (with a few grammatical errors) that demonstrates how we mark words. The following chart is also helpful in demonstrating how we identify and mark syllable types.
I also introduced keyboarding. My goal is to ensure students are familiar with the location of all keys and can improved their rate and production when they compose on their devices, as they are typically much slower and produce much less than when they write. I do ask them to use the correct finger for each letter.
Reading Workshop
We are continuing to focus on summarizing the main idea of a short passage or reading selection. This has proven to be fairly challenging. The main idea may contain any of the 5 W's (who, what, where, when, and why) but must have a who (noun, subject) and a what (verb, predicate). Students are also differentiating between main ideas and supporting details.
Writing Workshop
We began our first paragraphs to our pen pals in Oman. Students also started working with partners to revise their writing. Here is a link to our pen pals' school AGS Muscat if you'd like to learn more about them. It looks like a nice place to visit:)
Math Workshop
We added doubles and near-doubles. I will introduce our hardest, but most beneficial strategy, (7's, 8's, & 9's) next week.
I postponed this week's math assessment. We are reviewing second grade numeracy. There are several challenging standards: fact fluency, time, subtraction with borrowing across zeroes, rounding to estimate and multistep story problems. I am working to ensure students are not blindly applying algorithms to numbers. I may give them three regrouping problems and then present one that does not require regrouping to make sure they are really understanding as some will go ahead and apply the borrowing across zeroes algorithm. This takes time, but it creates a solid foundation for problem solving. The story problems require students to do two operations, but they typically stop after the first operation. Example: Ananta spent $25 on a concert ticket. She bought a second ticket the day of the concert for $15 more than she spent on the first ticket. How much did she spend? Most students stop at solving for the price of the second ticket ($40), and do not add the cost of the first and second ticket together. We will get there through practice.
Science
We took our field trip to Thompson Park to begin documenting change over time. I was very impressed with students' observations and look forward to our next field trip in October. Please email if you are able to chaperone. Thank you to yesterday's volunteers. I know how busy you are. Your students are always thrilled to have you join us at school.
Guidance
Ms. O'Keefe taught a lesson on perseverance and grit.
Working together to build a pipe cleaner tower.
From Ms. O'Keefe...
This week I was in your child’s classroom. I focused on an aspect of Growth Mindsets for this first lesson, based on feedback I received from teachers, students, and parents (if you haven’t taken my Fall Parent Survey, please take a minute to do so!). Find more parent resources on the Facebook Page.
In 3rd grade, we focused on Perseverance, Grit and Determination. Students took a self- assessment about how “gritty” they are. This gave some insight into what “grit” means and why it’s important. We talked about how our brain grows as we learn from our mistakes and from new experiences.
We then did the Pipcleaner Challenge. Students worked together in teams of 4 to build the highest structure using only pipe cleaners. They encountered obstacles/challenges along the way.
Some questions you can ask your child about this week’s guidance lesson:
- What did you learn about how your brain grows? (making mistakes, new experiences, etc.)
- What did the groups need to do in order to be successful at this challenge?
- What was the best part of the challenge: trying to win or the challenge of the activity?
- How does this relate to school?
Library
Mrs. Hemmelgarn celebrated 101 years with Roald Dahl. She read from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG, Witches, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox and George's Marvelous Medicine.
Sam's Marvelous Medicine :)
Important Dates and Reminders
I will highlight changes and new dates in red.
September 2017
20 Walking Wednesday
21 Fall School Pictures
25 Book Fair Week
27 Early Release 1:00
27 Walking Wednesday
29 Fall Family Fun Night 5:30-7:30 p.m.
October 2017
October 2017
TBD Third Grade Reading AIR Testing
4 Walking Wednesday
11 Walking Wednesday
9-13 Collection Days for “Box Tops for Education”
16 No School for Students: Work Day/PT Conference Day
16 Parent Teacher Conferences 12:20 - 7pm
18 Walking Wednesday
19 Parent Teacher Conferences 3:20 - 7pm
20 Fall Picture Retake
20 Field Trip 9am-11am Thompson Park Tree Trek. Please email if you can chaperone.
20 Field Trip 9am-11am Thompson Park Tree Trek. Please email if you can chaperone.
24 & 25 3rd Grade State of Ohio Reading Assessment
25 Walking Wednesday
25 Walking Wednesday
26 Early Dismissal at 11:05
27 Halloween Parties & School wide Parade starting at 1:30 pm
31 Beggar’s Night 5:30-8 p.m. in UA
November 2017
November 2017
1 Walking Wednesday
6 End of First Trimester
7 No School for Students: Faculty In-service Day
8 Walking Wednesday
15 Walking Wednesday
21 Progress Reports go Home
21 Scarlet and Gray School Spirit Day
22-24 Thanksgiving Holiday
December 2017
December 2017
21 Holiday Parties 2:00 pm
December 22-January 4 Winter Break
January 2018
January 2018
5 No School for Students: Teacher Workday/PD Day
8 School Resumes
15 No School for Staff or Students: Martin Luther King’s Birthday
18 PT Conferences grade 1-5 (students are dismissed at 11:05)
February 2018
February 2018
5 State of the Schools at UAHS 5-8 p.m.
5-9 Collection Days for “Box Tops for Education”
8 Third Grade Musical
11-14 Ohio Wildlife Center donation drive
14 Ohio Wildlife Center
8 Third Grade Musical
11-14 Ohio Wildlife Center donation drive
14 Ohio Wildlife Center
19 No School Staff or Students: Presidents’ Day
28 Early Release 1:00 (NO LIFT)
March 2018
March 2018
5 Spring Pictures
9 End of Second Trimester
9 Invention Convention 10-10:30am in the Multipurpose Room/Cafeteria
9 Invention Convention 10-10:30am in the Multipurpose Room/Cafeteria
12-16 Spring Break
19 No School for Students: Teacher Grading Day
27 Progress Reports go Home
30 Good Friday: No School for Students or Staff
April 2018
April 2018
4 Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at Windermere 11-12 in lounge
May 2018
May 2018
April 30-May 4 Scholastic Book Fair
4 KidFest, 5-8 p.m.
8 NO School for students or certified staff - Ohio Primary Elections
21 Field Day
28 No School Staff: Memorial Day
30 Last Day for Students
30 End of third trimester
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