Our class is continuing to work towards reading 50% fiction and 50% non fiction. Currently, we are at about a 75/25. Please keep encouraging your kids to read non fiction! Students are digging deeply into the study of fictional characters. They are currently working on noticing not only the challenges faced by characters, but their reactions to those challenges. In other words, answering the question: "When facing a problem, my character is the sort of person who will........" Deep thinking!!! Students also created their own book clubs in class this week. These clubs will continue after spring break using fictional chapter books. A few kids shared their parents' experiences with book clubs too. They feel so grown up, doing the same activities their moms and dads also do! We have begun a self-guided unit in math. By using Schoology, students will move through this geometry based unit at their own pace. This means 99% of the work will be done at school and less HW will come home. Yeah for technology! When we return from spring break, there is no school on April 12 (teacher PD day) and we are taking a field trip on April 14th. Lunch will happen as normal on field trip day. Whether you are traveling or staying home, please have a safe and relaxing spring break! Here are some important dates to mark on your calendars:
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March is such a pleasant time here at Jeffers. Not only because spring arrives, but also because our March is Reading Month committee does such an amazing job making the activities so enjoyable. Check out the "Photos" page of the website to see pics of real, actual authors and illustrators who have come in to have some fun with us this month!
During our class reading time, we are continuing to closely and carefully study the characters in our chapter books. We've worked really hard on noticing actions and thoughts of characters and growing an idea from those observations. For example:
We started our next unit in math. The focus is geometry, specifically polygons, perimeter, and area. This will be a self-guided unit which means students will mostly work at their own individual paces. It is a terrific way to individualize lessons according to each student's needs. Thanks to Celeste & Mackenzie who earned a movie for the class by saving up and combining their O'Bucks! Parents, it was such a pleasure to meet with you and celebrate the hard work your child has been doing this year. I feel so, so, SO fortunate to teach in a community that values education as much as Spring Lake does! Thank you to each and every one of you for taking the time to meet with me and support your child's learning.
We are continuing our character studies during fiction reading. Students are making lots of sticky notes, noting where they see the characters say or do something that tells us about what they're like inside. Remember baggie book exchange is taking place strictly on Fridays now for almost all students. Read those two baggie books during the week and be ready for an AR test on Friday. Our class is working on reading 50% fiction and 50% non-fiction. So far, we're at 73% fiction and 27% non-fiction. Yikes! Is your child reading their share of non-fiction? Any encouragement is appreciated! We will be finishing unit 5 soon and taking our assessment. This was a challenging unit for may kiddos. If you child is looking for ways to prep for the upcoming test, Schoology has lots of resources for that. Information books are coming due soon in science. Mr. Talmadge has been working hard with students to ensure they will be the best they can be. Feel free to contact him with questions. I hope your child is enjoying reading The Cricket in Times Square. There are sill many more fun activities planned for March is Reading Month yet to come. Check your calendars. Important upcoming dates:
We finally wrapped up our reading unit focusing on non-fiction . What a tremendous job the kids did throughout this unit!!! Being able to learn from what we read is such an essential skill for these kids as they grow older. Acquiring these skills requires hard, hard work and these third graders definitely rose to the challenge.
By the way, look for reading logs to return next week. In math, we are still working on unit 5. This unit focuses on solving multi-step word problems. Have you asked your child how our math lessons have changed lately? We have "flipped" things around. I will be happy to tell you more about flipping lessons during our conferences. March is Reading Month has officially begun. I do hope you're enjoying The Cricket In Times Square. There are many exciting events happening throughout the month. Today we had our first school-wide DEAR time (Drop Everything And Read). On Monday we will have a puppet assembly! Hopefully you have all received clarification on Wednesdays field trip. I am so sorry for the confusion with chaperons. I really am only trying to make things fair. As a full-time working parent of two kids myself, I understand the frustration. Again, my apologies. Book Fair will be open during conferences next week. And our class will be going during the day on Wednesday. If you would like for your child to make any purchases, Wednesday is the day. FYI, the book fair will NOT be open the evening of March 15th conferences. Enjoy the sunshine!!! |
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