Mrs. Johnson's
Third Grade Class
Week of November 2, 2009
Language Arts
This cycle we are reviewing everything we read in Unit 1
Skills Covered this cycle:
- Reading Comprehension - problem/solution, characters, plot, and setting
- Writing- personal narrative
- Vocabulary Words- perfect, challenge, healthy, satisfy, manage, scratch, appetite
- Word Wall Words-no, know, new, knew, their, they're, there
- Phonics- words with long and short vowels
- Grammar- subject, predicate, and compound sentences
- Spelling-this week's spelling list is linked below under "files". Spelling homework is assigned on day 1 and due on day 6. Spelling tests are given on day 6.
- Handwriting- we will begin manuscript review this week
- Rhino Reading-please use the monthly calendar in the agenda to log Rhino Reading Minutes each night. Parents MUST initial each day's minutes in order for them to count each week. Minutes will be collected/tallied EVERY MONDAY. Rhino Reading is considered a homework assignment Mon-Fri.
November Reading Challenge
Read, Read, Read this month!
Students should be reading at least 30 minutes every day, with a total of AT LEAST 100 minutes each week. Your goal is to read 1,000 minutes total this month.
Any student reading 1,000 minutes or more will receive a homework pass and a Pizza Hut Certificate at the end of the month.
If the entire class reads 1,000 minutes each, we will have a week without homework!
Math
Current Unit: Unit 2: Adding and Subtracting Whole Numbers
Students will
- Review fact families and number families; review the inverse relationship between addition and subtraction
- Review ways in which basic addition and subtraction facts are used to solve problems with larger numbers
- Review and solve “What’s My Rule?” problems
- Use parts-and-total diagrams to help solve parts-and-total number stories
- Use change diagrams to help solve change number stories
- Use comparison diagrams to help solve comparison number stories
- Make ballpark estimates; practice the partial-sums algorithm for 2- and 3-digit numbers
- Review making ballpark estimates; review counting-up and trade-first subtraction algorithms
- Solve number stories having three or more addends
- Unit 2 test Thursday, 10/29
The Weekly Word Problem (WWP) is assigned on Monday and due on Thursday.
Info About Rocket Math
We practice every day in class and then children take their leveled timed quiz in which they try to meet or beat their personal goal. Personal goals are based on the speed each child can write. Goals are generally between 25 and 40 problems per minute. As children meet or beat their goal, they move through the levels of math facts, which increase by 2 facts per level. In addition to the writing fluency assessment to determine each child's goal, they completed a skill test to determine which level they would start at. Every child learns at his or her own speed, which is why Rocket Math allows them to study and progress at their own pace, attaining goals within their reach. Goals may be adjusted as necessary.
Completed pages will come home every night. Please sign pages on which your child HAS NOT met or beat his or her goal. Use sheets to practice and return signed sheets to school the next day.
Students should be practicing math facts every night for at least 10 minutes. Use flash cards, games, or just ask your child to recite the facts to you! Multiflyer.com and MemorizeInMinutes.com are web sites with games the kids can use to practice. Both are linked below.
Social Studies
Current Unit: Communities Around Us
Students will
- Explain how neighborhoods and communities around the world are alike and different
- Understand that citizens are part of a community and culture
- Explain how people in a community rely on one another and help each other
- Recognize that communities use rules and laws to keep us safe.
- Identify the difference between rural, urban, and suburban communities
- Community Brochure Project due 10/20
Science
Current Unit: Weather and Space
Chapter 7:
Students will
- Define and describe characteristics of weather
- Infer how condensation occurs and rain forms in the atmosphere
- Describe the water cycle and relate it to weather
- Explain why climate varies from place to place
- Summarize how seasons differ from place to place
Chapter 8:
Students will
- Explain what causes day and night and the seasons
- describe the Sun
- identify the phases of the Moon and explain why the Moon seems to change shape
- Describe features of the Moon
- Describe our solar system and the inner and outer planets
- describe stars and constellations and why different constellations can be seen during different seasons
- Student book online access code: CF499773AD
Science Enrichment Lessons with Mrs. Ellersick in the Synergistics Lab: day 4
Announcements
- Order Scholastic Books Online! Book orders are due by the 15th of every month. Go to www.scholastic.com; class user name: johnsonthirdgrade; password: thirdgrade
- Students should not arrive to school prior to 8:10am.
- Not sure what day it is in the cycle? Print out "Our Schedule 2008-2009", under files, and the monthly calendar each month.
Week of
| Mon | Tues | Wed | Thurs | Fri |
| Language Arts | - Rhino Reading 30+
- Spelling review activities
| - Rhino Reading 30+
- spelling review activities
| - Rhino Reading 30+
- spelling review activities
| | - Rhino Reading 30+
 |
| Math | | | | | Have a great weekend! |
| Science/Social Studies | | | | | |
| Keep Track | | | | | |
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