March 14-18
Welcome to 4th Quarter
News This Week
Hello 4th Quarter!
We are flying through this year! Remember that AR goals will reset this week. I will send new information with goals out sometime this week.
HOT HOT HOT Attendance
School-wide we are trying to be Here On Time everyday. Students who are here on time all week get to wear jeans on Friday each week this quarter!
Important Dates
- April 11 is the week of testing. Please plan to be at school this week.
- April 19 is a field trip to Alligator Alley. Forms will come home after spring break.
Note About Testing
Testing
I know third grade is the first year of testing, and it certainly is in the news a ton. We will be testing the week of April 11. Our students DO NOT have tons of testing to do, but it is important they are here and ready each day. They will test for about an hour in one subject using a paper and pencil test. The have mostly multiple choice questions, but will have some open-response questions, which count more, just like on our classroom tests. There are approximately 22 questions on each test. They take one test in science, math, and reading each. These DO NOT determine going to 4th grade, but they do matter for our school and will show achievement in certain areas.
Things you can do to help:
- Remind students this is important and to use all their skills, but do not make it "all about the test".
- Don't lie - we will not retain a student based on this test alone.
- Be supportive - "I know you've learned so much this year. I can't wait for you to be able to show it!"
- Encourage reading for longer lengths of time. The biggest issue is kids get tired of reading so much during the test. It is a reasonable amount, but kids struggle if they aren't used to reading in longer chunks of time (i.e. the suggested 20-25 minutes of nightly reading).
I hope that helps clear up some confusion and pressure. Every state is different, so please don't trust Facebook for news on education. If you have concerns, please ask me, and I'll be happy to tell you what I know! There is no reason for you or your child to be stressed about this! :)
No School Good Friday - March 25
Spring Break | March 28 - April 1
Studies this Week
Reading:
Review and Test -
RI 3.3 Compare and Contrast
RI 3.5 Text Features
New Skill -
RI 3.6 Point of View - Reading about two point of view on video games and healthy eating.
Spelling
Unit 5 Week 3
Vowel sound as in /ball/ (ough, augh)
New words will be introduced on Tuesday.
Students should study all 20 words every night.
We will play “sparkle” on Wednesday
- The test will be given on Thursday, March 18.
- You can find the skill at: spellingcity.com/lblackmon
- thought, fought, bought, taught, caught, walk, cough, talk, daughter, ought, sought, brought, trough, chalk, stalk, sidewalk, distraught, afterthought, overwrought, beanstalk
Math
- Data & Measurement
- Objectives: 3.MD3, 3.MD4, 3.NBT2, 3.OA8
- Rocket Math - Review drill sheet daily.
- Multiplication/Division - Fact family cards are in your child’s folder. They should review these each night. Students will take their weekly drill on these facts on Thursday. All of these drill sheets will be averaged for one grade at the end of the quarter.
- Math Lesson - Expect written homework most nights. Please go over this with your child and check his or her work.
Vocabulary
- ancient, climate, cling, custom, decay, disturb, expose, perform, remote, timid
- Next Test: March 23
Writing
- Opinion Writing
Do You Believe in Leprechauns?
Grammar
- 3.L4c Use a known root word as a clue to the meaning of an unknown word with the same root (company/ companion)
Science
- Why are some apples red and some green? (Inheritance, Traits, and Selection)
- 3-LS1-1. Develop models to describe that organisms have unique and diverse life cycles but all have in common birth, growth, reproduction, and death.
- 3-LS3-2. Use evidence to support the explanation that traits can be influenced by the environment.
- 3-LS4-3. Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
- 3-LS3-1. Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence that plants and animals have traits inherited from parents and that variation of these traits exists in a group of similar organisms.
Social Studies
- Daily Geography - A Physical Map of Massachusetts
Special Snack is Cancelled This Week
Questions for Reading
- What does the author want the reader to understand about this topic?
- Think about what the author is telling you in this text. Do you agree or disagree with the author’s thinking?
- How does the author feel about the topic? Do you agree or disagree? Explain why or why not.
- The author says _____ (object) is ____(adjective). What is another word to describe the object? Explain why you chose this word.
- Do you agree with ____ (author’s point of view)? Explain your answer. Use a detail from the text in your answer.
Important Dates
March
18- LifeSouth Blood Drive
Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
21 - Bus Driver Appreciation Week
22 - Snow Wizard
25 - Good Friday Holiday
28-1 Spring Break
April
11-15 - ACT Aspire Testing Week
19 - Field Trip to Alligator Alley (limited bus space, but parents may follow the bus)
May
24 - 3rd Grade Honors Program for All Students (time TBD)