Third Grade Weekly News
Week of January 14th
Dates to Remember
- Monday, January 14th: Volunteer Training 5:45 pm; Avoid, Deny, Defend Presentation 6 pm; PTA Board Meeting 6:30 pm
- Tuesday, January 15th: Murphy Book Exchange; Play Rehearsal 3:45 pm
- Wednesday, January 16th: Chevalier Book Exchange
- Thursday, January 17th: Broomall Book Exchange; Play Rehearsal 3:45 pm
- Friday, January 18th: Pritts Book Exchange; Reading and Math Homework Due
Don't Forget Your Coat!
Homework
FREE ACCESS TO OVER 3,600 CAPSTONE EBOOKS UNTIL JANUARY 15
Keep your child engaged and reading throughout the winter break by accessing over 3,600 free e-books online! Go to www.mycapstonelibrary.com and sign in with Capstone Interactive.
Log in using:
username: capstonewinter
password: lovetoread
There's also a free iPad app called Capstone Interactive that allows for offline reading when WiFi is unavailable - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/capstone-interactive/id858534837?mt=8
Reading Homework for students:
On Mondays, students will glue their weekly assignment into their Reading Homework Booklet. Students should view and listen to the book online. Students will then answer the questions in their booklet by writing in complete sentences. Students should show understanding of the book and correct sentence mechanics (spelling, punctuation, capitalization). Homework is due on Fridays.
Language Arts
Reading:
This week, we will continue our novel unit. As students listen to a novel read aloud, as well as read novels in reading group, they will stop and jot their thoughts, wonders, and confusions (see picture to right).
Students will continue to ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of their novel, referring explicitly to the text as the basis of the answers. Students will determine the central message, lesson, moral or theme of the novel and explain how it is conveyed through key details and character traits. We will spend time describing the characters in their novel (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how these traits contribute to the sequence of events. Students will determine the point of view of the text We will generate a written response to questions about character traits, theme, and point of view, using text evidence to support their response.
Students will respond to questions using RACE response for the structure (see picture below)
Novels allow students to practice independent reading as well as engage in discussion and debate. We want our classrooms to be abuzz with conversations and debates about character traits, theme and point of view. We want to hear students supporting their claims using evidence and ideas from the text.
Novels are extremely engaging. They allow students to engage in the turn of events and get to know the characters and their traits. This allows students to participate in deep thinking about reading comprehension strategies.
Here are few benefits to teaching novels in third grade…..
Building background and world exposure
Authentic vocabulary building
Communication and dialogue skills
Development of social skills
Engagement and excitement for learning
Writing:
During writing, students have been guided through informative essay writing and taught paragraph structure, elaborating on facts, etc.. Now they will apply these lessons and skills as they take more ownership and write independently. We will also work on adding text features.
Students will evaluate the writing of previous third grade students. Students will mark if the students work meets expectations, approaching expectations, or needs support, in the areas of…
Clear topic in the introduction
Important facts that teach about the topic
Definitions, examples, and details tell about the topic
Linking words are used
Text features support the topic
Closing is clear
As a class will review our post checklist evaluation, as we prepare for our post writing sample next week.
Math
This week, we will continue Unit 6 in math. Students will begin by exploring the concept of perimeter. Perimeter refers to the distance around an object. Students will solve problems involving finding the perimeter of an object or using a given perimeter to find the length of an unknown side.
Later in the week, students will use rounding strategies to estimate reasonable answers when problem solving. Students will create number lines using benchmark numbers in order to round to the nearest 10 or 100. Then, students will use this estimate to determine if their solution to a problem is reasonable.
Students will also use the 3 step problem solving model while solving both 1 and 2 step problems. Students have been working on making sense of the problem by taking notes. This week, they will continue to work on using those notes to figure out the appropriate operation(s) to use when solving the problem.
Click here for an overview of the unit and ideas to try at home!
Social Studies/Science
This week, students will continue our new science unit called Forces and Interactions. The driving question for this unit is: How do forces, motion, and magnetism help us perform real life tasks?.
This week students will explore how the mass of an object impacts its motion when the same amount of force is applied.
Later in the week, they will explore the concept of friction by driving a toy car across various surfaces to determine if friction affects the motion of the car.
Students will also use a shark tracker to track the motion of a shark and determine the cause of its motion.
Quarterly Expectations
Important News
PTA
Please take a moment and become a member of the PTA. Your membership entitles you to discounts in and around Frederick County. More importantly, your membership says that you are in support of our school. We would love to have you join us. Our next PTA meeting is Monday, January 14th @ 6:30pm. ALL ARE WELCOME!
Upcoming PTA Events:
January 14 - PTA Meeting - 6:30 pm
Skate Whittier Fundraiser: Skate Frederick on Rt 26
Saturday, February 2nd
2pm-5pm: Open Skate. If you can't make it the entire time, that's fine! Cost is $10 per person and $5 is donated back to Whittier Elementary!
Monday, February 25th
6:30pm-7:30pm: Media Center
*Feel free to stay after and help count box tops if you are able!
BOX TOPS WILL BE DUE FEBRUARY 22ND!
PTA membership is always appreciated in order to support your children and the PTA’s mission. Volunteering is not required! Sign up at WhittierElementaryPTA.com and follow us on Facebook to keep up to date on all events!
Check out the PTA website! http://whittierelementarypta.com
Follow the PTA on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/WhittierPTAFrederick/
Email them! WhittierPTAFrederick@gmail.com
Please let us know if you have any questions.
Amy Broomall
240-236-3160
Jaime Chevalier
240-236-3158
Robin Murphy
240-236-3156
Megan Pritts
240-236-3154