Third Grade Tidings
Week of October 7-11
A Note From Your Third Grade Teachers
What a windy way to end the week! Conferences are coming up at the end of the month. We'll have more information about scheduling next week, but your students are excited to share with you their progress and goals for the year.
Your 3rd Grade Teachers,
Mrs. Bates, Mrs. Evans, Mr. Nakano, Mrs. Thompson, and Ms. Wong
Important Dates
Monday, October 14th - NO SCHOOL
Thursday, October 17th - CPK Day (fundraiser)
- All Wednesdays are early dismissal. Please pick up your child at 1:20 on Wednesdays.
- Popsicles are being sold every Wednesday for $1 after school to help support 6th grade science camp!
Curriculum at a Glance
Global Read Aloud - Stella Diaz Has Something to Say
We have been participating in the Global Read Aloud this month. The Global Read Aloud connects thousands of students around the world as they discuss and enjoy a book together. This year's book for the early elementary readers is Stella Diaz Has Something to Say.
Stella Diaz loves marine animals, especially her betta fish, Pancho. But Stella Diaz is not a betta fish. Betta fish like to be alone, while Stella loves spending time with her mom and brother and her best friend Jenny. Trouble is, Jenny is in another class this year, and Stella feels very lonely.
When a new boy arrives in Stella’s class, she really wants to be his friend, but sometimes Stella accidentally speaks Spanish instead of English and pronounces words wrong, which makes her turn roja. Plus, she has to speak in front of her whole class for a big presentation at school! But she better get over her fears soon, because Stella Díaz has something to say!
We're excited to hear more about Stella's friendships, how they're much like our own, and what she has to say!
Math
Science
Ask your scientist what information they learned from their circuit building. Some students made fans move. Other students could turn on a light, just like the circuits at home. There was definitely a lot of energy in the room and it wasn't just electricity!
This Week's Mentor Sentence
"I'm the speediest snake in the jungle and I'm still turning green."
Trying to stop turning green, Verdi tries playing around constantly to keep his energy up. Bursting with fun and energy, it all catches up to him as he falls through the treetops. It is the old green snakes who nurse him back to health, where he learns that they too were once as energetic and fun as he was.
Verdi learns to appreciate growing up and when young yellow snakes start to snicker at him, he shows off his still young energy by performing a figure eight in the air.
Students learned the meaning of Verdi is green in Italian, but they also noticed that other spelling of verdi can be green in other languages.
Ask your scholar what comparative adjective they used in their mentor sentence, like "speediest" that helped their reader to paint a better image of the story.
Parent Corner
Reading With Your Child
Fluency seems to improve based on the amount of time spent reading. It does not matter whether this time is spent reading new things or re-reading favorite selections. Encourage your child to re-read his or her favorite book one more time. It may not be interesting to you, but it is helping your child become fluent.
Read aloud not only to your child, but WITH your child.
Research has shown that you, as the parent, can serve as a good model of a fluent reader for your child. Read out loud TOGETHER with your child. This is sometimes called choral, paired or assisted reading. Let your child pick something interesting to read. At first, you will take the lead and your child will follow you. Point to the words as you pronounce them. Read clearly and with expression. Go at a pace that is comfortable to your child. Let him or her follow along with your voice and point to the words that you are both saying. If your child wants to read a bit alone, let him. Step in when he struggles over a word. Pronounce the word correctly and begin reading aloud together at the start of that sentence.
Model the rhythm and expression of our language.
You, or the voice of the speakers on a book-on-tape, are a role model for reading with expression. By listening to expressive reading at a good pace, your child is learning how to group words into meaningful phrases. Good skill at rhythm and expression help readers understand and enjoy what they are reading.
In Case You Missed It
Eastwood Explorers
Website: https://eastwood.iusd.org/
Location: 99 Meander, Irvine, CA, USA
Phone: (949) 936-8100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eastwoodexplorers/
Twitter: @eastwood_iusd