This week in Language Arts:
In reading we focused on using our prior knowledge of a topic to help us work out what challenging words might be in a text.
In writing we focused on writing topic sentences. We talked about how our topic sentence should inform the reader about the content of the paragraph and that often times we come up with our topic sentence after we decide on the content of the paragraph.
In grammar we are still focusing on when to use capital letters. There are many rules to remember. Many of the children are beginning to use them correctly in their writing.
Our novel study is on going. We are practicing answering questions that don't have direct answers in the text but require inferencing and opinions. We are also practicing comparing and contrasting characters and summarizing events.
This week in Math:
We began looking at multiplication. We have discussed why we use multiplication and how it is repeated addition. We looked at the variety of ways we can represent multiplication and focused specifically on using arrays to solve multiplication word problems. The class has done very well overall with this topic. They do however need to practice their multiplication facts for speed and accuracy. This is one of the reasons the class is now using xtramath. This program allows children to practice basic math facts for a few minutes daily working on speed and accuracy.
Xtramath: Each child has received a enrollment notice that has been sent home. This is one way you can support your child in improving their math skills at home. Their pin will be taped to the plastic pocket of their planner with their Mathletics log in.
Speech Arts:
The children will be reading the Bible readings this Wednesday to Friday. They still have 2 weeks to memorize and practice their poems which will be presented on February 14th or 15th. A reminder that the poems must be a minimum of 1 minute long.
Other Upcoming Events:
Monday, January 30th 3 - 3:30pm Praise and Worship Club
Sunday, February 5th 12:00pm -2:30pm Open House
February 9th and 10th - No School Catholic Educators' Conference
Sunday 29 January 2017
Saturday 21 January 2017
Week beginning January 16th
Dear Parents,
We had another busy week in Language Arts: In reading we focused on Voracious reading and began looking at the Monitor and Fix up strategy. In writing we practiced writing supporting sentences for a topic sentence. We also continued on with our novel study, grammar (capital letters), and Monthly News.
Next week, in reading we will continue to focus on the Monitor and Fix Up strategy and using prior knowledge to connect with a text. In writing we will continue practicing writing paragraphs with a clear topic sentence and connected supporting sentences. We will also start thinking about closing sentences.
This week in Math, we concluded our time with subtraction with subtraction word problems. We also began looking at multiplication with a focus on arrays.
Next week we will continue with multiplication. It is important that students practice their multiplication facts. The quicker they get at reciting their facts the easier the next steps in multiplication will be.
Speech Arts is not too far away. Please practice the scripture passages at home with your child as we do not do this in school. I have received a couple of poems from students in the week. Please send a copy of your child's poem choice. If your child chose one of the poems from the class dojo posts, I just need the name of the poem and I can make a copy myself. These poems must be a minute long and memorized.
Reminders:
No School Monday
CCS Open House - Feb 5th
We had another busy week in Language Arts: In reading we focused on Voracious reading and began looking at the Monitor and Fix up strategy. In writing we practiced writing supporting sentences for a topic sentence. We also continued on with our novel study, grammar (capital letters), and Monthly News.
Next week, in reading we will continue to focus on the Monitor and Fix Up strategy and using prior knowledge to connect with a text. In writing we will continue practicing writing paragraphs with a clear topic sentence and connected supporting sentences. We will also start thinking about closing sentences.
This week in Math, we concluded our time with subtraction with subtraction word problems. We also began looking at multiplication with a focus on arrays.
Next week we will continue with multiplication. It is important that students practice their multiplication facts. The quicker they get at reciting their facts the easier the next steps in multiplication will be.
Speech Arts is not too far away. Please practice the scripture passages at home with your child as we do not do this in school. I have received a couple of poems from students in the week. Please send a copy of your child's poem choice. If your child chose one of the poems from the class dojo posts, I just need the name of the poem and I can make a copy myself. These poems must be a minute long and memorized.
Reminders:
No School Monday
CCS Open House - Feb 5th
Tuesday 17 January 2017
Speech Arts
Today I handed out the three bible readings that the students need to practice for Speech Arts. They DO NOT need to MEMORIZE them but they should be familiar with the readings, as they will be given them at random to recite in front of the class. We will present them on February 1st-3rd.
Students will also need to learn a poem of their own choosing. We will have a classroom Speech Arts on February 14th - 15th. They may choose any poem they like but it need to be a minimum of one minute in length orally. They must provide the title and author of the poem at the beginning of the recitation. They need to memorize the poem and recite it in front of the class. I have poems the students can choose from. If they are choosing one that is not from the collection I have in class, please provide a copy for me for marking.
Poetry4kids is a good site for children's poems. Shel Silverstein is a popular children's poet as well.
Students will also need to learn a poem of their own choosing. We will have a classroom Speech Arts on February 14th - 15th. They may choose any poem they like but it need to be a minimum of one minute in length orally. They must provide the title and author of the poem at the beginning of the recitation. They need to memorize the poem and recite it in front of the class. I have poems the students can choose from. If they are choosing one that is not from the collection I have in class, please provide a copy for me for marking.
Poetry4kids is a good site for children's poems. Shel Silverstein is a popular children's poet as well.
Friday 13 January 2017
Week beginning January 9th
Dear Parents,
We have had a busy week!
This week in Literacy we have been learning and practicing the reading strategies: check for understanding ( check if you can summarize the main points in a reading every few pages) , back up and reread (when meaning breaks down, go back and reread to understand the meaning of the section), cross checking (ask yourself: does the word look right, does it sound right, does it make sense) and tuning into interesting words. We have began reviewing and practicing when to use capital letters. In writing we began to look at how to write a paragraph and focused on the topic sentence. Our Novel Study: Third Grade Angels will be on going.
Next week we will look at the following reading strategies: review of the importance of good fit books, Monitor and Fix up (stop and think if the reading makes sense and the understand what it is about, if not they go back and fix it [summarize it, go back and adjust reading rate, read the text and read carefully, etc.) and voracious reading (readers become more fluent by increasing their volume of reading). We will also continue to review the reading strategies from this week. In grammar we will keep practicing capital letter rules and in writing we will looking at topic sentences again and if we are ready, start looking at supporting sentences. Third Grade Angels and Monthly News comprehension will be ongoing.
In Math we completed our time unit. We will return to it again next term. We also began working on subtraction with regrouping. We will continue on with this next week and begin looking at multiplication at the end of the week if we are ready.
Uniforms:
Please ensure PE strips, school tops, school pants and sweaters are labeled. Also, could you please the items you have at home. A few children in the class are missing various articles of clothing. It would be wonderful if they were found!
Up coming events:
Praise and Worship club every Monday from 3 - 3:30
Professional Development Day on the 23rd of January - No School
Open House - February 5th
We have had a busy week!
This week in Literacy we have been learning and practicing the reading strategies: check for understanding ( check if you can summarize the main points in a reading every few pages) , back up and reread (when meaning breaks down, go back and reread to understand the meaning of the section), cross checking (ask yourself: does the word look right, does it sound right, does it make sense) and tuning into interesting words. We have began reviewing and practicing when to use capital letters. In writing we began to look at how to write a paragraph and focused on the topic sentence. Our Novel Study: Third Grade Angels will be on going.
Next week we will look at the following reading strategies: review of the importance of good fit books, Monitor and Fix up (stop and think if the reading makes sense and the understand what it is about, if not they go back and fix it [summarize it, go back and adjust reading rate, read the text and read carefully, etc.) and voracious reading (readers become more fluent by increasing their volume of reading). We will also continue to review the reading strategies from this week. In grammar we will keep practicing capital letter rules and in writing we will looking at topic sentences again and if we are ready, start looking at supporting sentences. Third Grade Angels and Monthly News comprehension will be ongoing.
In Math we completed our time unit. We will return to it again next term. We also began working on subtraction with regrouping. We will continue on with this next week and begin looking at multiplication at the end of the week if we are ready.
Uniforms:
Please ensure PE strips, school tops, school pants and sweaters are labeled. Also, could you please the items you have at home. A few children in the class are missing various articles of clothing. It would be wonderful if they were found!
Up coming events:
Praise and Worship club every Monday from 3 - 3:30
Professional Development Day on the 23rd of January - No School
Open House - February 5th
Saturday 7 January 2017
Happy New Year!
Dear Parents,
I hope your Christmas holidays were filled with joy, laughter and relaxation! I pray that this new year be filled with God's abundant love and grace for you and your family, as Psalm 65 beautifully expresses. I also want to say a huge thank you to you for all the Christmas gifts. It was very kind and thoughtful of you!
We had a great first week back at school. Our class was responsible for the Friday Mass this week and the readers read beautifully!
In Religion we reviewed and continued discussing aspects of the Christmas story. We also reflected on what our gift to Jesus would be for the Christmas season and new year. We will begin looking at parts of the mass this term and digging deeper into meaning of the Our Father, Hail Mary and Apostle Creed.
In Language Arts we continued to work on practicing reading comprehension through the Current Events Monthly News booklet. We also began a novel study with the book Third Grade Angels. This will be the focus of our small group guided reading sessions for the next couple months. The children will also continue to look at different reading strategies during Daily 5. In writing, we will continue practicing writing descriptive sentences with adjectives, adverbs, similes and by using capital letters in the right place. We will also begin looking at paragraph writing.
In Math we looked at reading analog clocks to the nearest minute this week. We will continue this topic for a few more days next week and then revisit subtraction with regrouping. We worked on this briefly before Christmas.
Upcoming Events:
- Professional Development Day on January 23rd - No School
Have a wonderful weekend and a Blessed week!
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