Third Grade News from Mrs. C
Feb. 29th- March 4th
Tidbits From the Teacher
Good Day Parents!
We had our first Culture Dress Up Day today and it was amazing to see so many different cultures represented and appreciated around the school! Thank you for helping your child figure out a creative way to show off the heritage of your family!
We have our final STAAR Ready testing on Monday. Please make sure your child is well rested, had a great breakfast and brings in snacks, water, and gum. YES, gum!! It's a great tool for thinking and focusing on a task that's going to take a while. Check out the research here!! Students can also take off their shoes so dress them in socks and comfortable clothes because this test will have 4 hours of time given to it!!
*Those who cannot have gum may bring in hard candies or lollipops to help them. Books from home are fine for reading after the test is completed.
School Climate Survey
Please help us celebrate our successes and continue to improve by completing our annual school climate survey.
This is your opportunity to tell what you love, what you wish were changed, and give shout outs at our school!!
Link to Survey: http://https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/rrisdparenteng
Homework
There will be no homework given for Monday night! The day will be long and the kids are going to need plenty of run about time. Trust me on this. I've watched elementary, middle school, and high school kids after a day of testing. It's always the same- they are C-R-A-Z-Y full of energy after school!!
I had hoped to start the new online math homework component last week but there have been absences and I'm trying to get everyone to the same starting place!
Wish List
We are going to create an animal model in science. We would love donations of the following items:
-Playdough
-Straws
-Toilet paper rolls/Paper towel rolls (Thanks Audrey!!)
-Cardboard, thick paper
-Small beads, pipe cleaners
-really anything to create an animal model to show adaptations and traits
Dates to Remember
Feb. 25th-March 1st: Book Fair during (school days only)
Feb. 26th: Movie Night at school
Feb. 29th: Math STAAR Ready Practice Test +LAST DAY TO RETURN 6 Flags Reading Form!!
March 1st: 20 for 20 Reading Challenge Begins (see note below)
Mar. 2nd: Early Release
Mar. 7th: Author Visit
Mar. 11th: Picture Day
Mar. 14-18th: Spring Break!!!! (Is it wrong that I am excited for this week?)
Mar. 25th: School Holiday (staff & students)
What We're Studying and Learning...
Reading-
This week in reading we will focus on point of view in fiction stories. We will also explore the world of media literacy. Ask your child how media affects their everyday lives.
Writing-
This week students will continue to work on how to best support and be supported by their writing partner. We will truly begin exploring with poetry. Each student will contribute an original poem to a class published book with an illustration. (more info to come about this)
Math-
On Monday, students will take the math STAAR Ready test. After that we will finalize our unit on learning strategies for our last multiplication facts: x3, x6 and x7 and will continue to work on division facts. Our next DCA will be on Friday, March 4th. We will NOT send home a review. This will simply be a benchmark score. That means teachers will use the data to drive homework decisions and reteaching/enrichment opportunities.
Science-
Students will be studying animal adaptations then how plants and animals have inherited traits such as number of limbs and recognizable learned behaviors. They will be creating an animal based on a story that they will read with their team. The animal will need to have specific adaptations and traits based from their book.
Social Studies-
We will continue to work on heroes in the community. These include artists, first responders, and military. Ask your child what makes a hero!
“20 for 20” Reading Challenge
Sommer Elementary is issuing a “20 for 20” reading challenge to our families during the month of March! Pledge to read with your children for twenty minutes a day, for twenty days this month. You can read to your child, your child can read to you, or you can read together -- you choose! Enjoy the time reading with your child during this challenge -- we know it will be worthwhile. Look for more information and a reading log in your child’s folder.