Week of 1/9/17

Ahoy!

Can you believe all of the snow that we are getting! I have enjoyed watching the flakes fall and being able to sleep in... but I am so ready to have a full week with my kids! Here is what we are going to be doing if this week's weather cooperates.

Reading: We are learning about the Athabascans of Central Alaska. Our focus is on finding the main idea and supporting details of a text. Asking ourselves what the text is mostly about is a great way to focus in on the main idea.

Writing: Using the text that we are reading, the students will begin creating a fictional story about an Athabascan. We will be researching more about these people and how they live their lives. Students will then be taking that and applying it to their writing.

Math: This week we are diving into our new math unit. At the end of last week we started working on rounding to the nearest 10's. We will continue working on this, talking about how we can then round to the nearest 100's or 1000's. We also learned a new strategy for adding today called "give and take". We will be working on using this strategy the rest of the week. For example. When adding 99+36 students can take one from the 36 and give it to the 99 to create 100+35. Look for a green handout that came home today which helps to explain what your student will be learning in this unit; as well as some the strategies that we will be focusing on.

Homework:
Students have math homework this week. It is due on Friday.
No spelling this week.

Mystery Questions:
Students need to write 10 compound words down in their very neatest handwriting. To be turned in on Wednesday if we have school. If not turn in Thursday.

Events to Remember:
1/13- Family Game Night @6:00 pm.
1/16- No School MLK day.

Thanks for all you do to help your child!
Miss Irwin

Week of 1/3/17

Wow! Can you believe 2017 is here?!

It was a great first day back at school with our students. In music the class received a giant purple spotcha; the music teacher informed me that she didn't have to redirect the class one time, that they were practically perfect! Music to a 3rd grade teacher's ear :) Here is what is happening this week in 204/205!

Reading: This week we are starting our next reading unit! Students will be learning about the Athabascan Natives in Central Alaska. We will be focusing on finding the main idea of the text and using evidence to support our main idea.

Writing: Students are studying subject/predicate. They will also be starting to write a new narrative at the end of the week.

Math: Tomorrow will be our first day of Unit 3 in math. We will be working on adding and subtracting multi-digit numbers. Keep an eye out for a handout coming home giving an overview of the unit.

Auction: The auction will be held this Friday. It will begin at 12:45. If you would like to come and help please try to be here a little early. Parents are always welcome. 

Report Cards are coming home on Wednesday. 

There is no spelling or homework this week.

Mystery Question.... that's not really a question at all.
If student has an emergency number (home phone, parent cell phone, etc.) memorized they will receive $10.

Dates to Remember:
1/4- Character Education Assembly
1/4- Report Cards come home
1/13- Family Game Night @ 6:00 pm

Hope you had a great Christmas Break!
Miss Irwin

Week of 11/28/2016

Ahoy! Sorry for the late post! I hope that your week has been off to a great start! We are working feverishly here at school to wrap up some of our learning before the Holiday Break. Here is what is going on.

Reading: We are continuing our unit on finding the central message or main idea of a text. Yesterday we finished reading Treasure in the Trees and worked on finding its central message. We teach the kids that the central message is what the author is trying to teach the reader. Today we will start with a new book titled About Earth. The end of next week we will be taking our reading assessment for this unit.

Math: This is our last week of Unit 2. The students are doing a great job of understanding the concept of multiplication. This week we are working on the concept of doubling and halving. We will be taking our unit test next week!

Writing: Students are continuing to work on their informational essays. We might be sending work home if we feel that it would help your child get their work done. Kids are working on the idea that there needs to be an intro, 3 details, and a conclusion. This works both for the entire essay as well as each paragraph!

Spelling: (Test Friday)
life
little
left
without
once
thought
another
house
took
animal
there
enough
know
something
these
find

Mystery Questions:
1. What's the birthstone for someone born in December?
2. What day is the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack in Hawaii during World War ll?
3. On what day in December did the Write Brothers make their first flight?
4. "Jingle Bells" was originally written for what holiday?
5. If the Farmer's Almanac prediction states there will be snow fall on Christmas Day, what weather is predicted for Easter Sunday?
6. What is the first day of winter?

Stuff the Bus is happening this week! Please bring in cans! 

Thanks, 

Miss Irwin 

Week of 11/14/2016

Ahoy! Welcome to the last full week before Thanksgiving Break! I can't believe how fast time is flying by! Here is what you need to know for this week and next!

Reading- We are focusing heavily on main idea and central message in rooms 204/205. The focus of the last few days is finding text evidence that supports our main idea or message. We need to be able to "prove" why we believe what we believe. Today we started a new book titled Treasure in the Trees. As your students what they think Nisha's secret is!

Writing- Students are working on informational writing. This week they are picking and researching their topics. As your student what their topic is and what their subtopics are.

Math- We are continuing to power through Unit 2 in math. Our focus for this week is using our strategies of repeated addition, skip counting, and arrays to solve multiplication problems.

Spelling- (test Friday)
large
form
land
from
side
its
feet
without
home
different
boys
their
around
too
could
been

Mystery Questions:
1) What year was the first Thanksgiving celebrated?
2) Who organized the first Thanksgiving?
3) In what year did Thanksgiving become a legal holiday?
4) What does it mean when one lucky turkey gets a pardon every year on Thanksgiving?
5) What famous parade is on Thanksgiving Day?
6) What chemical is in turkey that makes people sleepy?
7) Which state consumes the most turkey on Thanksgiving?
8) What famous Thanksgiving food did Campbell's soup create 50 years ago?

Dates to Remember:
11/18 @ 6:00- Finding Dory Movie Night
11/21- Inventions are due
11/22 @ 12:50- Inventions Presentations

Thanks,
Miss Irwin

Week of 11/7/2016

Ahoy! What a beautiful week we are having. It feel like April not November! Here is a peek at what is happening in 204!

Reading: Today students took their Module 1 assessment. We will be starting Module 2 on Thursday. Module 2 will be looking at more non-fiction pieces of writing. I am excited to dive into the new materials!

Writing: Students are continuing to work on figurative language. Along with the new reading unit they will be starting a new writing piece on Thursday.

Math: We are continuing to work on the introduction to multiplication. We have been looking at how we can use multiplication to find the length of something (the door is 3 times as tall as the chair). We are also looking at multiplication as groups of something! Please start working with your child to learn their multiplication facts!

Spelling: (test Thursday)
which
children
important
form
keep
food
their
want
great
until
went
again
more
always
because
first

Mystery Question:
This week we are switching it up... instead of mystery questions please write a paragraph about why you think it's important to honor our country's Veterans on Veterans Day. Please include ways we can honor them besides our assembly.

Thanks,
Miss Irwin

Week of 10/31/016

Ahoy!

Can you believe it is NOVEMBER! Where did the time go? We have some great things coming up in the next few weeks.

Reading: This is our last week of module 1. We will start working on informational reading and writing here in the next week. The students have done a good job of understanding characters; their traits and motivations.

Writing: Students are learning all about figurative language. Yesterday the students learned about idioms. Yesterday Mrs. Blair passed out the students fictional narrative. As to be expected at this time of the year some students were surprised by the scores. Do not fret, students scores will improve the more they write :)

Math: This week we are beginning our unit 2 in math. We are focusing on the very beginnings of multiplication. We are looking at the idea that multiplication is just groups of things. Math homework will not be coming home the next few weeks, however, if you would like some work so that you can help your student at home please email me!

Homework: Over the next three weeks students will be working on their inventions. The first paper for the invention project is due TOMORROW!!!! We will be giving students an envelope to store their papers in over the course of this project. If you have any questions please feel free to email me. There will be no homework journal or math during this time.

Spelling: (test is Friday)
what
asked
always
want
world
help
school
each
going
show
right
important
around
there
write
another

Mystery Questions:
1) What is the purpose of Veterans Day?
2) What is the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?
3) Where is the ceremony held in the U.S. to honor all who have died in war?
4) List three wars our nation has fought in.
5) What was the original name for veterans Day before the 1940's?

Events to Remember:
11/2- First handout for inventions due
11/3- School Picture Retake
11/10- Veterans Day Assembly @ 2:30
11/11- No School
11/21- Inventions are Due
11/23-11/25-Thanksgiving Break

Thanks,
Miss Irwin

Week of 10/24/016

Ahoy!

We have a very busy schedule this week with conferences. I am enjoying my time getting to sit and chit chat with you all.

Reading: We are finishing up the first Module in Unit 1 this week. We will be working on comparing and contrasting the stories we have read. We will continue working on a character's motivation and how it drives the story.

Writing: Students should be finished with the fictional narratives. If they are not they are coming home tonight to finish. Please return tomorrow. They will be in the purple folder if they are not finished and can be returned in the purple folder.

Math: We are starting unit 2 this week. This unit focuses on the basics of multiplication. The concept that multiplication is simply groups of something is a hot topic for the next few weeks. This week we are finishing up our Array Cities and then diving in the to first couple of lessons.

Spelling:
No spelling this week!

Homework:
No homework this week!

Reminders:
-Early release all week
-10/29 is the Harvest carnival. It is from 4 to 7. They are still in need of volunteers. You can sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c48aeaa2aa1fe3-2016

Mystery Questions:
1) What are Mrs. Blair's two dogs named?
2) What big purchase did Miss Irwin buy recently?
3) What are Mrs. Blair's two daughters names?
4) What was the name of the rogue hamster who lived in the Blair family's wall?
5) What is the big event called where everyone gets to bid on items with Blairwin Bucks?
6) What is Mrs. Blair's favorite place to go in the whole world?
7) Where did Miss Irwin go to visit her sister last year (hint: it's in Europe)?

I will award $20 on Wednesday and Thursday if students would like to come ask me or Mrs. Blair a question.

Have a great week!
Miss Irwin