3rd Grade News
Ms. Ballard's Class -- January 10, 2016
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, January 12 - Ballet Hispanico field trip - Ordway
Friday, January 15 - APEX Fun Run - 1:20 pm
Monday, January 18 - No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Wednesday, January 27 - PUPPET SHOW - 1:30 in Mr. Jones' room - 2232
Friday, January 29 - No School - Professional Development Day
Monday, February 8 - African American Family Involvement Day
Friday, January 15 - APEX Fun Run - 1:20 pm
Monday, January 18 - No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Wednesday, January 27 - PUPPET SHOW - 1:30 in Mr. Jones' room - 2232
Friday, January 29 - No School - Professional Development Day
Monday, February 8 - African American Family Involvement Day
What We've Been Up To
MIA Visit
Rowen did a stellar job mimicking George Washington as we learned about this beautiful painting on our MIA field trip.
UFP Success
The UFP conference was so much fun for all of us. Thank you all for helping your children with their projects. I hope that you enjoyed the experience as much as the students did.
We are ALMOST done with the Solar System study. We are finishing up our planet research and non-fiction text feature books this week. And the PUPPET SHOW will be on Thursday, January 27 at 1:30.
We are ALMOST done with the Solar System study. We are finishing up our planet research and non-fiction text feature books this week. And the PUPPET SHOW will be on Thursday, January 27 at 1:30.
We Get Movin'
Each day we take breaks to get our bodies moving to get the jitters out. There is a wonderful website we use called GoNoodle. It has lots of fun songs, chants, math routines, and calming activities.
Coming Up in the Classroom
Stories are Everywhere!!
We have been reading realistic fiction pictures books which will be used as mentor texts in this unit of study. From this unit, we want students to realize that stories are everywhere! Authors often 'make up' their stories based on their own experiences. The students will gather ideas for stories from their own lives, and write them as "story blurbs." They are plans for short realistic fiction stories that they will write this month.
We will work through the writing process developing strong fiction text features of character traits, setting, a "problem" or "situation" and "resolution."
We will work through the writing process developing strong fiction text features of character traits, setting, a "problem" or "situation" and "resolution."
Structures of Life Science
We will begin a science inquiry module on structures of life using crayfish. In this unit the students will:
- observe and record some of the structures of a crustacean, the crayfish
- establish a feeding and maintenance schedule for the organism
- use inquiry to investigate crayfish behavior and map where the crayfish spend time within their habitat
- learn about adaptations of organisms in different environments.
Scholastic Book Orders
Periodically I will send home book order forms. There is no obligation to order books. If you do wish to order books you may send in the order forms with cash or checks written to Scholastic Reading Club, or your may order on line. To order online follow these directions using our class code.
* go to https://clubs2.scholastic.com
* enter your child's name and other requested information
* our class code is DT9V8
* If you order online, you may order from any of the available fliers.
* the books will be delivered to school in approximately one week from the due date
* The current orders are due by Friday, January 15
* go to https://clubs2.scholastic.com
* enter your child's name and other requested information
* our class code is DT9V8
* If you order online, you may order from any of the available fliers.
* the books will be delivered to school in approximately one week from the due date
* The current orders are due by Friday, January 15
Spelling * Word Study * Words Their Way
We will be starting "spelling" this week. Some of the students had exposure to the "Words Their Way" curriculum last year. Words Their Way is not just memorizing the spelling of words. It is actually a 'word study' where children learn letter patterns and irregularities of words, as they learn to spell. It is phonics based. They sort word based on their letter patterns. Their are many hands on activities that help spellers learn about the words. This week we are going to do a practice round of the routines that can be used to practice the words. Next week your child will bring home word lists and cards to study. There will be three different spelling lists each week, based on where individual students are as spellers (we took a pre-test last week). Spelling tests will be on different days for different groups. I will send home a packet of information with different activities and the days of the tests. If you have any questions, please let me know.
Lindsay Ballard
Email: lindsay.ballard@spps.org
Location: 560 Concordia Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, United States
Phone: 651-744-4520