Week of 3/30-4/3

Ahoy! I hope you all had a great weekend! We have one more week in room 204 before SPRING BREAK! I think we are all very excited; however, I reminded the students that there is still learning to be done! Please make sure your kids are getting to bed on-time, and are getting good breakfasts! 

This week is going to be packed full of all sorts of good stuff: 

Reading: We are continuing our learning about salmon and their life cycle. We are also focusing on how we summarize a story using character, setting, beginning, middle and end. 

Writing: We are really starting to dive in deep to our research on migratory animals. Each student has picked an animal to focus on. This research will turn into an informational writing piece. 

Math: We are really trying to buckle down and finish our unit on measurement and fractions this week. Tentatively we will be taking our unit test on friday. Remember to keep practicing your multiplication facts!! 

Spelling: 

I'm

because

said

car

morning

right

didn't

made

body

several

soon

thought

best

himself

usually

people

something

try

others

their

Challenge Words: 

explanation

leprechaun 

denominator

numerator

equivalent 

Have a great week! 

Miss Irwin 

Week of 3/23-3/27

Ahoy!

This week has sped by! Monday started with our students taking the first part of their state tests. I am so proud of the stamina that my students showed! Today (Thursday) is the second half of the English Language Arts test. After today our schedule will hopefully get back to normal!

In other news, report cards are coming home today. I wanted to remind you all that a 3 means that your student is progressing to where they should be at this time of year. It is difficult because it is a moving target. This means that your student has the potential to get a 2 in an area that they got a 3 last term. If you see this, it does not mean that your child has not made progress, they are just not as far as we would like. They still have the ability to be at a 3 by the end of the year. I will work to help all children succeed!

Thanks,
Miss Irwin

P.S. No homework this week!

3/16-3/20

Ahoy!

We are continuing to work hard to prepare for our SBAC testing that begins next week. We have been reviewing test taking strategies, doing practice tests in the computer lab, and working on improving our reading skills in class. I am so impressed with how hard the kids are working.

Reading: We are currently reviewing the skills that we have been working on all year. Finding the main idea or message of a text is our main focus. We are also working on inferring, as well as using the text to answer questions.

Writing: Our research is just beginning for writing our informational pieces. Today each student chose an animal of their choice that they will be researching. The kids are also learning the format of informational writing.

Math: Today was the beginning of our work on fractions. This is another one of those really big 3rd grade concepts that the students will need to be working really hard on. Continue to work on memorizing those multiplication facts.

Spelling:
himself
seen
however
usually
always
try
kind
paper
money
number
example
there
it's
five
sure
answer
seconds
would

Challenge Words:
including
amount
mystery
provide
application

Thanks for all you do!
Miss Irwin

Week of 3/9-3/13

Ahoy!

I hope you all enjoyed the wonderful weather that we have been having. I know the kids and I have! We have been doing read aloud and anything else that we can outside! With this nice weather please help me keep the kids focused with the understanding that it's not summer yet! Even though it feels like it!

Calendar Dates to Know!
March 13th: 2nd Trimester Ends
March 23rd: Smarter Balanced Assessment for Reading
March 26th: Smarter Balanced Assessment for Reading
March 26th: Report Cards come home
April 6-10: Spring Break

Testing:
Our class will be having our Smarter Balanced reading assessment the week of March 23rd. Please help me to get your students ready for this test by allowing them as much computer time as you feel comfortable with. The more comfortable the students are with typing, clicking, dragging, etc., the more comfortable they will be on test day!

Reading: In reading we are working on finding the main idea or main message of different sources, then finding text evidence to support our main idea or message. We are also working on testing strategies.

Math: We are continuing to work on measurement. Next week we will begin work on fractions. PLEASE BE WORKING WITH YOUR STUDENTS ON MULTIPLICATION FACTS!

Writing: Beginning to brainstorm for our information writing piece. Just finished our fictional piece.

Spelling: Same as last week

Thanks!
Miss Irwin  

Week of 3/2-3/6

Ahoy All!

Holy moly how is it already March! I cannot believe how fast this year is going! I must admit that I am so blessed to be working with this group of kiddos! They make me laugh and smile everyday. Thank you for letting me be part of their little lives.

Now on an academic note... we are knee deep in 3rd grade curriculum and material. I am impressed everyday at how much my students are learning.

Math: We have started our new unit. You should have received an overview of this unit. Currently we are working on measuring elapsed time, as well as using the metric and customary systems of measurement.

Reading: In reading we are working hard to get prepared for our SBAC test that will be administered the last week of March. We also started a new unit focusing on Salmon and their life cycles.

Writing: We are finishing our fictional stories. These have been a blast to read!

Spelling Words:
learn
little
children
play
city
there
point
about
which
its
young
toward
school
four
were ever
said
called

Challenge Words:
rhyme
spawning
instinct
smolt
vertebrates

Testing: Students are working hard to become familiar with the computer and testing in which they are required to take in a few weeks. If at all possible please allow your students to work on the computer. Things such as typing their homework journals, or some of the links that I have provided in other posts are great ways for students to practice. The more familiar students are with the computer the more comfortable they will fell on testing day!

Thanks for all you do!
Cassie Irwin

Week of 2/9/2015

Ahoy!

Wow has this been a busy time of year! I so impressed with the amount of learning that is taking place in our classroom.

Something I want to bring to your attention is a field trip that will be taking place NEXT WEDNESDAY THE 18TH! I know it's really soon! The field trip to Columbia Springs to the pollution levels of the Columbia River. Since winter break we have been learning about fresh water in both our reading unit and science units. This oppurtunity was presented to us, so we decided to take it! I will need parent volunteers to accompany us on this trip. The feild trip costs $8 per students. If your studnet could bring this in ASAP it would be very helpful!

On another fun note! We will be having a Valentines Day party in our classroom on Friday from 2:00-2:30. If you would like to send in Valentines please remember that all students need to get a Valentine; there are 24 kids in our class. If you would like to bring in a snack, please fill out the bottom of the sheet sent home on last Friday or Email me. We already have parents bringing in juice, popcorn, cheese, and crackers.

Reading: This week we are finishing up our freshwater reading unit. We will be taking the assessment for this unit on Tuesday.

Writing: Working on writing a persuasive piece. Students are focusing on elaborating on their reasons.

Math: We are also finishing up our Unit 3 in math. Our assessment will be on Thursday. Remember to keep practicing multiplication facts with your student.

Science: Continuing our lessons on water and the water cycle.

Spelling: 
there
thing
whole
since
young
knew
picture
little
across
through
sun
would
hear
however
said
don't
about
important

Challenge:

present
surface
competitor
exaggerate
thirty

Hope you all have a great week!
Miss Irwin

Week of 1/26-1/30

Howdy!

I hope everyone has had a fabulous week! Here in room 204 we are continuing to work hard! I am amazed everyday by how much these kids are learning! They are most definitely on their way to being 4th graders!

As we start the second half of the year I would love to see your students practicing their multiplication facts 10 minutes every night, as well as working on typing and computer skills. Having these computer skill will greatly benefit your students when it comes time to take the test. You could use websites such as...

Math Maven:
http://teacher.scholastic.com/maven/index.htm

Dance Mat Typing:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z3c6tfr

Story Starters:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/story-starters/

This website has links to a lot of different techniques that the kids will need to know how to do!
https://drycreek-trusd-ca.schoolloop.com/SBACskills

Student can also just practice using Word to type stories or their journal entries. There are also quite a few student friendly websites on the Lacamas Website.

This weeks spelling words:
know
world
however
never
during
something
said
best
there
very
could
air
then
would
across
why
don't
today

Challenge:
invention
stomach
popular
attached
complete

Have a great rest of the week and GO HAWKS!!!
Miss Irwin