Welcome to Room 19!

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Happy Spring!
Spring is in the air...

Dear Families,

            It was a pleasure to meet with you again at spring conferences.   I enjoyed discussing your child’s progress and where we are headed for the remainder of third grade.  

Spring fever is in the air with only two months left of school.   I know the kids are excited.   We still have quite a bit to get through before the end of the year so it’s important that they find time to continue to keep up with homework and classwork.   I am sure we can throw some fun in the mix as well!

Below are a few reminders and updates about Room 19.   Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments!

Sincerely,

Jillian Chaiken

 

Room 19 Important Information Sign up for Readers Café May and June MAPS testing for Room 19 will be Thursday, May 8th and May 15th.   Please make sure your child comes to school on time and well-rested.   This assessment is to monitor your child’s growth over the course of the year. There is no school on Monday, May 26th in observance of Memorial Day. Field Trip money is due ASAP.  Thanks for volunteering- we do not need any more chaperones.

Literacy   Reading- ·   Our new reading theme is Voyagers.   We are focusing on texts where characters take voyages to far away places and thinking about how the characters are feeling and what they are experiencing.   A strategy of focus is inferencing.   This helps us to understand what is happening in the text and how characters are feeling by using the text and our background knowledge.        ·   We are continuing to expand our knowledge of the various reading strategies ~ how we use them and how they aid our comprehension of the text.   ·   Students should continue to read on their independent reading levels and choose books that are challenging.   Reading books at a just right level will help to improve vocabulary and students will acquire more information about the world.   ·   Groups are now into their second set of literature circles.   The focus is on biographies.   This is an extension of the work we did in our guided reading groups.   I am impressed with the discussions I have heard so far.   It is important that the students remember to be prepared ahead of time for their groups’ discussions.   Writing- ·         We have been doing a good deal of poetry in Room 19 and trying out different forms of poetry.   The students had opportunities to choose a type of poetry to use for PSSA poems and Earth Day writing activities.   ·         Currently, the students are working on writing biographies of another student in the classroom.   We are focusing on expanding the content of the text and determining what is most important as an author of this genre.

 

***Any students who have summer birthday, please contact me so that we can arrange a date in mid-May or early June to celebrate!

Have a happy May!!!

                                                           Room 19 News

• Check out some of the websites listed below.
• Continue responding to your child's WFMJ every weekend to see their thoughts on the week.
• Our zoo field trip is Friday, May 30th!!!
• We now have a class portal with links to interesting and educational websites.  I am working on getting more up but there are quite a few to begin browsing.  We will also be using this in the classroom.  Check it out at http://portaportal.com.  Then log in as a guest: Scenic19.  Have fun exploring the internet!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

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Third Grade Curriculum Information

Math:Everyday Math program

Reading:Houghton Miffling - Horizons

Science:Units include Plants, Water, and Sound

Social Studies:Our Community and Beyond

Handwriting:Zaner Bloser- cursive

  100 Book Challenge    

Goal for Friday 10/12: 100+ steps

Everyday we will read 2-steps in school and homework will be to read for 30 minutes (or 2-steps).  Please make sure you sign your student's log every night!

*Remember- 1-step=15 minutes of reading (not 1-step per book )

In the 100 Book Challenge we are practicing reading silently by using books that are FUN, FAST and EASY.  Independent reading helps students to develop fluency and reinforce comprehension strategies.  Books that come home must be returned to school the next day.    

Here are some tips for the at home READING TIMES:

1. Read while your child reads.  This way you set a positive example of the importance of reading. 

2. Remind your child not to just stop at 15 minute increments but to finish whatever it is they were reading.  If there is a lot of the book left, have children use bookmarks or post-its so that they can return ot the book another time.

3. Have your child read silently for a portion of the time and then read aloud for another portion. 

4. Have your child first does a picture walk through the book, then reads the book and finally goes back and re-reads the books they have taken home.

5. Talk about books with your children and have them share books they are reading with their siblings and friends!

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Specials 

Monday~  Art with Mrs. Kobylarz 

  Tuesday~  Computer/Instructional Technology with Mrs. Laubach and Mrs. Loro

   Wednesday~ Music with Mr. Jones

Thursday~ Phys Ed with Mr. Patella *(remember to wear sneakers!!!)

 Friday~ LMC with Mrs. Deierlein  *(Don't forget your library books)/ Guidance with Mrs. Speakes

Emergency Information: