Jan 19-22

Reading 3rd and 4th:
We continued working on main ideas and supporting details. We had a Latin/Greek test. The students did great on this test!  This week we will have a spelling test on Thursday. Please remind your student to study.

Writing:
We finished our inventor papers. The students typed their papers using different text freatures. Some of the students finished early and researched a person for Black History Month.

Grammar:
We reviewed and then took an assessment on simple and compound sentences. The students all did great on this assessment!

Projects:
We reviewed the different types of simple machines. We then went over the requirements for our egg drop project. Then they got with their partner and came up with two prototypes. They picked one and decided on what materials will be needed. The students are very excited about this project and many want to work on it at home, however they must only work on it at school with their partner. They can bring materials from home that are needed if they want.

1/12- 1/15

Reading:
We worked on finding the main idea and supporting details.  This has been quite tricky for them so we will continue working on it again this week.  We also are working on nonfiction text.  So far we are doing this in bookclub together in order to make sure we are going back into the text to support our answers.  Next week I hope to start edmodo again.  We will get new spelling words this week and have a Latin/Greek test on Thursday.

Writing:
We continued writing our inventor papers.  As students finish they are typing up their paper using the different text features that we have learned about.  They are then going to use this to create a newspaper page.

Grammar:
We reviewed subject, predicate and simple sentences.  We then combined the simple sentences to make a compound sentence using a conjunction.

Projects:
We learned about simple machines this week.  The students moved through different centers to learn about each of the simple machines.  We briefly talked about our next project the "egg drop".  The students are going to design a complex machine with their partner in order to get their egg safely to the floor.  In partners the students will design their prototypes this week.

Report card time!

Be sure to look for your child's report card. I had them put them in their binders.  Have a great weekend!

Dec. 8-11

Reading:
The 3rd graders learned about similes this week and the 4th graders learned about metaphors.  We also had a Latin/Greek test.
The students received new spelling words.  This week their words are contractions.  They will need to know how to spell the contraction, what two words make up the contraction, and what letters are missing in the contraction.

Writing:
We finished up our Christmas Around the World informational papers.

Grammar:
We reviewed abstract and concrete nouns on Monday by playing a slap game.  Then on Wednesday we took the assessment.  The students did a great job on this assessment!

Projects:
We finished up and presented our 51st state projects this week.  When we come back after Christmas we will be starting science!

Secret Santa:
The students drew names for their Secret Santa. Remember to have their gift to school no later than Wednesday.  Label who the gift is to but don't put who it is from.

Have a great week!!

December 1-4

Reading:  In reading we learned about literal and non-literal meanings of words.  The 3rd graders were given a phrase then had to draw the literal and non-literal meaning of that phrase.  The 4th graders learned about similes.  They then created a simile portrait about themselves.  We will share these on Monday.

Writing:  The students finished their research on how their country celebrates Christmas.  They then began to do an informative writing about their country.  Some of the countries have some very interesting traditions!

Grammar:  They learned about abstract and concrete nouns on Monday by watching some fun videos that had a very catchy song!  Then on Wednesday they completed a sort with abstract and concrete nouns.

Projects: All the projects are just about complete.  The students have worked very hard creating their new state.  We will be practicing presenting on Monday and Tuesday.  On Wednesday they will present their project for the parents.

The students were very excited to receive new dictionaries this week from Rotary.  What a great thing the Rotary does every year for 3rd grade students.

**  Project presentation will be on Wednesday 12/10  at 2:00 in the cafeteria.  Come see all the hard work the students have put in to create their 51st state.

I can't believe it is already December!  Only 3 weeks until Christmas break!

Reading:  Last week we presented our author studies.  Your student also received a new spelling list and will be tested on these words this week.

Writing:  We are starting a new writing project researching Christmas in other countries.  Each student in our class is paired up with a student in Mrs. Windriver's class to research their country.  Then they will write their papers on their own.

Grammar:  We are learning about abstract and concrete nouns

Projects:  We are finishing up our 51st state projects.

Misc:

Christmas break is December 22-January 4

We will be having a secret Santa gift exchange.  More details to come soon.

Nov. 17-20

Reading:
The students worked in partners to complete an author study.  They will present these to the class on Tuesday.

Writing:
The students got to choose a prompt to complete their narrative assessment.

Grammar:
We reviewed dialogue and took an assessment.

Projects:
We continued working on our 51st state projects.  They are having to complete a power point, create a flag and a map on their 51st state.  They are being very creative!  I can't wait to see the finished products. They will be presenting these to other classes and families.  I will keep you updated on when this will happen.


**This week is a short week.  We only have 2 days!  Enjoy your time with you family on Thanksgiving!