Bring Backpacks!

Hi All,

Please be sure kids come to school with backpacks tomorrow.  We'll be cleaning out desks today AND tomorrow!   Thanks!

Homework: 

• BRING BACK CLASSROOM BOOKS! :) 
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Missing classroom books: Please check at home for any books that belong to our classroom library.  These books will be marked with "H. SMITH" or "O'NEILL" in the top right corner of the cover.  Thank you!

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

Our Bridges!

In Science, the kids are using the Engineering Design Process to plan, create, test and improve our bridges.  

Homework: 

• BRING BACK CLASSROOM BOOKS! :) 
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• 
  
• Missing classroom books: Please check at home for any books that belong to our classroom library.  These books will be marked with "H. SMITH" or "O'NEILL" in the top right corner of the cover.  Thank you!

Classroom Supplies:  A special thank you to families who have donated to our classroom throughout the year.  Thank you so much for your support!

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

3rd Grade Picnic Tomorrow

Just a friendly reminder that our 3rd Grade Picnic is tomorrow at 12:15.  As we will be on the basketball courts, please be sure your child packs a towel;  the courts can get quite hot this time of year. Thank you!

In Writers' Workshop, students are manipulating their research essays and considering their audience to write an informational picture book for kindergartners. These elements of writers' craft: considering audience, writing for an authentic purpose, and creating multiple pieces of writing off of one topic, all are covered in the Common Core State Standards.

In Science, students are using the Engineering Design Process to ask, imagine, and plan their bridges.

In Readers' Workshop, all book clubs have finished for the year! This means students will be working in their book clubs to create a project that reflects their thinking about their book.

Homework: 

• Math homework 
• Division facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• 3rd Grade Picnic:  Tomorrow, June 16 at 12:15.  Please remember towels!
• Missing classroom books: Please check at home for any books that belong to our classroom library.  These books will be marked with "H. SMITH" or "O'NEILL" in the top right corner of the cover.  Thank you!

Classroom Supplies:  A special thank you to families who have donated to our classroom throughout the year.  Thank you so much for your support!

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

Graphic Novels

As the school year begins to come to a close and we start to think about summer reading, I wanted to share information regarding graphic novels. Graphic novels not only foster intrinsic reading motivation, but also appeal to reluctant readers, thereby increasing the number of words kids encounter. What this comes down to is, we want kids reading.  The more kids read, the wider their vocabulary.  Statistically, students' vocabulary is the number one indicator of their academic achievement.  So regardless if kids are reading novels, graphic novels, or complex picture books, we just want them to read and build their motivation.

Next week, because I'm such a lover of books and advocate for reading, I'll be sure to send home a list of titles to encourage kids to read over the summer. This is by no means "assigned reading"; just suggestions to motivate and keep kids reading over them summer.

Homework: 

• Math homework 
• Division facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• 3rd Grade Picnic:  Tuesday, June 16 at 12:15
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 

Classroom Supplies:  A special thank you to families who have donated to our classroom throughout the year.  Thank you so much for your support!

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

Tuesday

Homework: 

• Math homework (double-sided)
• Division facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• 3rd Grade Picnic:  Tuesday, June 16 at 12:15
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 

Classroom Supplies:  A special thank you to families who have donated to our classroom throughout the year.  Thank you so much for your support!

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

Picnic

Hi All,

Our 3rd grade picnic is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16 at 12:15.  I will send home a flyer this week with additional information.

Thank you!

Homework: 

• Math homework
• Division facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• 3rd Grade Picnic:  Tuesday, June 16 at 12:15
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 

Classroom Supplies:  A special thank you to families who have donated to our classroom throughout the year.  Thank you so much for your support!

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

Printable Math Games

Our next Unit of Study in Math Workshop is place value, specifically concentrating on ten-thousands to ones.  Below are some snapshots from the kids playing "Place Value Top It". In this game, they have to think strategically, use their understanding of place value, and number sense to win the game.  This link, Printable Place Value Top It, should take you a PDF where you can print out the directions and game cards (note: game cards are NOT required! We play with a deck of cards. Ace-9 = 1-9, anything else is a zero).

Homework: 

• Math homework
• Division facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Clip Hall of Fame Celebration: June 5, at 9:30 AM  (Please make sure your child received an invitation) 
• I will be out of the building this Thursday afternoon and all of  Friday. Some of you may know that I've been having some health matters to deal with for the past year and a half. As such, my upcoming absences are due to a procedure I need to undergo.  Please contact the office regarding changes in dismissal, etc.  Thank you!
• Earl Dismissal this Friday
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 

Classroom Supplies:  A special thank you to families who have sent their kids in with tissues!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

• Dry erase markers
• Sticky notes

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

Unit 9 Review

Our Unit 9 Assessment Review is coming home today for homework.  Students only need to complete the starred problems.  Any additional problems are there in case they want extra practice.  Our test is tomorrow. Thank you!

Homework: 

• Math review (only starred problems)
• Division facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Unit 9 Multiplication and Division Assessment: tomorrow
• Clip Hall of Fame Celebration: June 5, at 9:30 AM  (Please make sure your child received an invitation) 
• I will be out of the building this Friday.  Please contact the office regarding changes in dismissal, etc.  Thank you!
• Earl Dismissal this Friday
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 

Classroom Supplies:  A special thank you to families who have sent their kids in with tissues!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

• Dry erase markers
• Sticky notes

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

Fraction Games

Below are links to some great online games that work on equivalent fractions, ordering fractions, and division fluency.   Please encourage your child to try them out and practice over the weekend! In the future these games can be found in the Educational Links tab.

• Ordering Fractions
• Equivalent Fractions 
• Division Math Man 
• Division Fruit Splat 

  Homework: 

• Division facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Unit 9 Multiplication and Division Assessment: Tuesday, June 2.
• Unit 8 Math Assessment sign & returns due ASAP
• Clip Hall of Fame Celebration: June 5, at 9:30 AM  (Please make sure your child received an invitation) 
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 

Classroom Supplies:  A special thank you to families who have sent their kids in with tissues!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

• Dry erase markers
• Sticky notes

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

Clip Hall of Fame Invitations

In Math Workshop, students used pictures, equal groups, etc. to solve and show multiplication word problems.  At stations, students practiced creating side lengths for a given perimeter, multiplication and division, and ordering fractions.

In Writers' Workshop, students learned a pre-writing strategy to help them focus their research and planning.  The kids used their text maps and text structures that they created in their notebooks yesterday; they listed facts they already knew within those topics, and jotted down questions that they need answered when we research.

In Readers' Workshop, students learned that we wonder before, during, and after reading to help us think about and comprehend texts.  We use sticky notes to help make our thinking clear.

In Social Studies, students closely studied an economic resource map to help them explore other purposes for maps.

 Homework: 

• Math homework due tomorrow 
• Division facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Unit 9 Multiplication and Division Assessment: Tuesday, June 2.
• Unit 8 Math Assessment sign & returns due ASAP
• Clip Hall of Fame Celebration: June 5, at 9:30 AM  (Please make sure your child received an invitation) 
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 

Classroom Supplies:  A special thank you to families who have sent their kids in with tissues!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

• Dry erase markers
• Sticky notes

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

Math Test

Next Tuesday, we will have our Unit 9 Math Assessment on multi-digit multiplication and division.  As always, we will spend time reviewing in class, and I will send home a review for homework.  If you have not yet signed and returned your child's Unit 8 Assessment, please be sure to do so at your earliest convenience.  Thank you!

Homework: 

• Math homework due tomorrow 
• Multiplication/ division facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Unit 9 Multiplication and Division Assessment: Tuesday, June 2.
• Unit 8 Math Assessment sign & returns due ASAP
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 

Classroom Supplies:  A special thank you to families who have sent their kids in with tissues!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

• Dry erase markers
• Sticky notes

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

Sticky Notes!

In Readers' Workshop this week, students will be learning how to use sticky notes as tools to aid in their comprehension and foster critical thinking.  Today, the kids learned that as they're reading, they can stop and jot down what they're wondering to help them think about and understand what they're reading.

In Writers' Workshop, we started our Research Unit of Study.  Students will learn research strategies and elements of writer's craft within this domain.

In Math Workshop, students practiced decomposing irregular polygons to solve for area and perimeter.

In Social Studies, we further explored additional purposes for maps (aside from directions).  Today, the kids studied characteristics of a topographic map to help them explore its functions.

In Cursive, students used a "curve forward" and "curve under" to write a lowercase "k".  Additionally students learned how to write a lower case "r" using slants.

Homework: 

• Math homework due tomorrow 
• Multiplication/ division facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 

Classroom Supplies:  A special thank you to families who have sent their kids in with tissues!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

• Dry erase markers
• Sticky notes

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

Maps & Movement

In Math Workshop, students worked with partners to decompose irregular polygons to rectangles and squares to help them solve for perimeter and area.  To work through this concept, we physically cut the irregular polygons to regular polygons, found side lengths, and used multiplication and addition to solve for area and perimeter (see below).

In Writers' Workshop, students continued typing their fairy tales. The kids are making fantastic progress!

In Readers' Workshop, students worked independently to identify Aha Moments and consider (and write) how this might change this for the character. 

Today begins our next unit of study in Social Studies: Maps and Movement.  This unit will introduce students to the geography of Harford County. Students will identify and interpret map elements to help them determine the location of Harford County on various maps.  Additionally, they will explore maps and tools used by geographers and their respective purposes.  Finally, students will explore how communication and transportation connect us to other parts of the world.

Homework: 

• Math homework due tomorrow (double-sided)
• Multiplication/ division facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Early Dismissal: tomorrow
• No school: Monday, May 25.
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 

Classroom Supplies:  A special thank you to families who have sent their kids in with tissues!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

• Tissues
• Dry erase markers

Thank you,

Ms. Smith

Two Hands!

In Math Workshop, students used multiplication and division fact families to make sense of and solve problems involving said operations.

In Writers' Workshop we were in the lab, typing up our fairy tales (due Friday).  While typing, students are working on using TWO hands when typing; i.e., we're working on our word processing skills (see below).

In Readers' Workshop, students worked with their literacy partner to read, identify, and grow ideas about theme through Aha Moments.

Students' science quiz will come home in their Beaver Folder on Friday.

During our new "Cursive Time", students learned to make letters using one swift motion and words using connected strokes (not lifting our pencils after each letter).

In place of Specials today, students had the opportunity to attend the music concert in the afternoon.

Homework: 

• Math homework due tomorrow (double-sided)
• Multiplication/ division facts 0-12: 10-20 minutes
• Read: 20 minutes

Reminders:

• Early Dismissal: Friday, May 22.
• No school: Monday, May 25.
• Missing classroom books: 
• Exclamation Mark 
• My Life As A Stunt Boy

Classroom Supplies:  We are completely out of tissues, due to allergy season.  If you could consider sending in a box or two, the kids would really appreciate it.  Thank you!

• Tissues
• Dry erase markers

Thank you,

Ms. Smith