Reach for the Stars!
Noteworthy News for the Week of 1/13/20
District 112 Education Foundation iRead!
The iRead logs were distributed to the stars on Thursday! Since 30 minutes may be counted at school, and any reading at home should be noted on the log, we all decided to keep the reading logs in our binder pockets for safe keeping.
Mrs. Weiss will ask students to provide weekly totals of how many minutes they have read. We will use these totals to fill our class' goal thermometer! We can't wait to watch our thermometer rise as we read, read, read this month!
Since the Sherwood School school wide expectation is for all students to be reading for enjoyment at least 20 minutes a night (weeknights) we will ask that all students record their reading on their iRead logs. Be sure to check out the additional iRead information will also be included in Mrs. Filippi's Panda Prints! Thank you all for your support!
ELA
This week we were amazed by Stephen Davies' book,The Song of Sky and Sand. We felt as though we took a journey to Africa through the book's words and illustrations. We recognize that reading can take us places all around the world! This week we’ll continue to focus on how key details can help us determine the central message, use a variety of text features to help ask and answer questions and consider points of view across these nonfiction and fiction texts. The students will continue to utilize their analytical thinking skills to make connections and compare and contrast information as a reader. Writing partners are currently drafting their compare and contrast pieces after utilizing Venn Diagrams and other graphic organizers to help with the brainstorming process. These pieces serve as a lead in to the explanatory compare and contrast using our mentor text. Clearly, our authors are hard at work! We are so proud of the way the students navigate between the role of a reader and an author!
Figurative Language!
Ask your child all about their Figurative Language Flipbook! This week everything was coming up roses as we explored the world of figurative language! We’re on a roll and sure feel like we’re From idioms and alliteration to hyperboles and similes, the world is our oyster as we explore these special phrases!
Spelling Update!
Math
Today, we discussed how we can measure to the nearest half and quarter inch. In order to do so, we used fractions on a number line. We will continue our study of measurement in the form of fractions and begin a multi-session investigation of fractions next week. We'll be taking part in a hands-on activity in which they will make imaginary cookies. They'll be sharing these with varying numbers of people by folding paper rectangles to create and label halves, thirds, fourths, sixths, and eighths. As a class, we will compare the different unit fractions, noting that fractions do not have to be congruent to be equivalent. Students will also compare and order unit fractions from greatest to least, first using the paper rectangles they folded and labeled. Students will uncover that the larger the number of people sharing something, the smaller each share. The "whole" class is excited about this "part" of mathematics!
Water & Climate (Science)
This week, the meteorologists are excited to kick off our unit on Water and Climate. We will be conducting investigations to observe the properties of water, Earth’s most precious resource! They’ll compare how water drops interact with four materials: paper towel, waxed paper, aluminum foil, and writing paper to observe how water absorbency. Students will engage in a challenge to measure how much water a dry sponge can soak up. They’ll determine this by measuring mass, volume, or perhaps even both. Integrating what they’ve learned in our math sessions will add for opportunities to explore real world experiences!
Panda Jar Celebration!
The Stars of 3K have set their next goal.....A Writer's Circle Sharing Session! What a unique and inspirational idea! The Kilen Kudos have selected this as their next Panda Jar Celebration! Based on their incredible ability to work together collaboratively and follow our Class Contract, we've been rapidly earning the pandas and filling our jar! Authors, be sure to start spinning your stories...we're almost there!
Save the Date for the Sherwood Carnival!
Opportunity Knocks
Thank You!
The Stars of 3K!
Email: vlariviere@nssd112.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/nssd112.org/sherwood-3rd-grade-2020/home
Location: Sherwood Elementary School, Stratford Road, Highland Park, IL, USA
Phone: (224) 765-3822
Twitter: @3KPandaPride