Week of 9/26/2016

Ahoy!

Happy 4th week of school! We are getting really close to being back in to the full swing of things! Here are the happenings for this week!

Math: This week we are working on adding multi-digit numbers together using a numberline, or decomposing numbers. We will learn the standard algorithm later in the year, but not right now.

Reading: We are working how a character's motivation affects the sequence of events in a story. Ask your student about what happened in the latest chapter of our class book!

Writing: The students are working on using sequencing words, adding in sensory details, and creating more complex sentences. Students are on the mission for "Apostrophe Catastrophes" (ex. Ann's Wig's... yes that was really someone's sign.) They can earn $30 if they bring in a picture or email one in.

Homework: Math homework and journals came home today. They are due friday. The journal prompt for this week is... "Write about your favorite parts of fall." Students need to use sesory details and adjectives to describe the season.

Spelling Words: (TEST FRIDAY)
from
there
their
said
could
first
back
right
help
between
never
below
saw
something
thought
both

Dates to remember:
9/27 (Tomorrow)- Picture Day. We will take pictures at 10:35, before first recess.
9/27 (Tomorrow)- Fall Family Learning Night from 6-8
9/28- Grand's Breakfast @ 8:00 AM
9/30- Sport-a-thon. Please sign up to be a volunteer! http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c48aeaa2aa1fe3-sportathon2

10/5- Character Education Assembly @ 9:15

Mystery Questions:
I have not explained this to students yet, I will be explaining tomorrow. Write answers down on a piece of paper and put in purple folders. Students can receive up to $20 Blair-win Bucks.

1) If it's autumn here, what season is it in Australia?
2) In the fall is there more or less sunlight?
3) Do squirrels hibernate?
4) Name four trees that lose their leaves.

Thanks for all of your support!
Miss Irwin

Week of 9/19/2016

Ahoy!

We are off to a great start to the week! Students walked in the door ready to read. I love starting the morning with some quiet reading time. Here is the plan for the week!

Reading: We are continuing to look at how characters drive a story. Tomorrow we will begin reading The Case of the Gasping Garbage as a class. This is a very fun and silly book that allows students to see how a character can change the direction of the story. Be sure to check in with your student each night to see what is happening in the story.

Writing: Students are going to continue working on generating ideas while writing. They are working on using their five senses to recount a story. They are also continuing to work on the idea of writing a narrative.

Math: This week students will continue exploring patterns. We will be looking at patterns in subtraction and reviewing some subtraction strategies. We will be continuing to work on our strategies for addition and subtraction. On Wednesdays we will focus on problem solving.

Spelling: (Test is Friday)
there while
small
along
with
because
would
never
been
next
sound
great
one
think
little
might

Dates to remember:
9/27- School Pictures
9/27- Fall Family Learning Night
9/30- Sport-a-thon ends

Thanks,
Miss Irwin

Week of 9/12/16

Ahoy!

Wow I fall more in love with your kiddos everyday! They are full of kindness and compassion, while having a deep desire for knowledge. I love the way they work together to learn, and inspire. I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR! It is going to be a good one. Here is what happened this week. (I will start updating the blog in the beginning of the week so you can know what is coming up.)

Math: We are working on getting back into the hang of things. This week our focus was looking at patterns in math. We focused on our addition facts. We will be moving on to subtraction next week. Just a reminder, this unit is mostly review from 2nd grade. My goal is that my students have a solid base before learning new information in the coming months.

Reading: This week we started with our new curriculum! Our first focus is about characters and how their motivations drive a story. We are reading a book called the Lemonade War! Ask your students to retell it to you! We also learned about finding evidence in a text to support our ideas.

Writing: This first week of writing class has been all about the writing process. Looking at how we go from prewriting to drafting, editing, revising, and finally publishing. Students also learned about the editing code that we will use this year.

Spelling: Spelling tests will begin next week. We do a pre-test on Monday and the post test on Friday. Words will be written in planners as well as posted here on our blog.

Homework: I had almost everyone's homework turned in today! I am hoping that we can have 100% next week! I know we can do it! Homework will come home on Monday and be due on Friday.

Reminders:
-If you have not turned in your permission slip for the instagram and facebook accounts please do so. If you have turned yours in please search for us on Facebook. I am unable to find you account if it is private.
-Fall Family Learning Night is the 27th from 6-8
-P.E. days are Monday and Friday

If you have any questions please let me know!
Thanks,
Miss Irwin

Week of 9/6/2016

Ahoy!

Wow! What a great first week. It is truly a joy to be able to teach all of your kids. They are a sweet, kind, hard-working class!

As the school year gets rolling this blog will be very helpful for many class updates. I will updated it weekly with the happenings of the week, important dates, spelling words, and mystery questions. If you ever have any questions please feel free to email or call!

The first week was mostly about getting to know each other, starting to assess students academic levels, and looking at how Lara and I can best teach each student. I can tell you we are both very excited for this year! One thing to be looking for is a permission slip for our class facebook and instagram pages. This is another way in which Lara and I work to keep parents in the loop, while also providing a place to create a 3rd grade community outside of school. This should be coming home today.

If you have any questions let me know!
Miss Irwin

P.S. I will be working on contacting those who signed up to volunteer this week. My hope is to start having volunteers next week :)