Well... I'm sitting at my classroom computer and I have to admit... it's REALLY quiet in here today! I hope you're enjoying your long weekend. It's always nice to get caught up on planning and paperwork!
Down to business - here's what we've been doing and what we WILL be doing:
Language Arts: We've been discussing and practicing more of our "Mosaic of Thought" reading strategies. We're just finishing up with Synthesis - putting it all together. We read some great books to practice putting all of our thoughts together - "Charlie Anderson" and "Oliver Button is a Sissy" were favorites! Next week we'll begin talking about "Fix-up" strategies" - what happens when you aren't understanding... what happens when the word you read doesn't make sense...when should you reread... These are called "clunks" in our reading and we'll be discussing strategies to "fix" them.
Math: If your child has me for math we've been working with money. Some students may be coming home with cards that have coins on them that they need to practice counting. PLEASE practice counting coins with your child!
I'm so proud of how our fact test scores have improved! KEEP AT IT!!
Next week we'll continue with money and working with word problems. We should be taking our first unit assessment next week.
Social Studies: We're still talking about our Government. This week we had "expert" groups. Small groups of students were responsible for learning different types of governments - state, local, and national. They then had to share their facts with students of other groups. What an awesome class we had!! The sharing of information was unbelievable! We'll be getting ready for a quiz next week and then we'll be starting a Science unit.
Writing: Ideas is still our focus. We've talked about where good ideas come from, now we're talking about main ideas and details. Most are really enjoying our free writing time we sometimes have in the afternoon.
Word Study: Did you realize there were so many ways to make the /k/ sound? This coming week we'll be spelling /k/ with que, ke, and c.
I absolutely LOVE my class this year! They are very caring and responsible. I have, however, noticed some of them coming to school without a parent initial in their agendas. Please check over your child's homework - if there are lots of misspelled words, help them sound them out and correct them. It's a great learning opportunity for them and will show them that taking their time pays off!
Starting Monday, if your child comes without completed homework, without a signed checklist, or no parent initial, they will be losing some recess time. Please remind them how important it is!
Have a great weekend!
Faith Humerick
Friday, September 17, 2010
Happy Constitution Day!
We watched a very informative video today on the Constitution - ask your child about it!
We've really been working hard - not only academically, but as good citizens. As of this morning, our class has earned 20 Soaring with Pride stickers - WOW! It really shows how well they follow the rules and respect each other.
Here's what we've been doing and what we WILL be doing:
Language Arts: We're continuing to work with During Reading Strategies. This week we finished up with Questioning and Inferring - hope you enjoyed the homework! Next week we start with Synthesizing. That's when we "put it all together". While most of your children do this automatically when they read, it's nice to slow them down so they can THINK while they read.
Math: If your child is in my math class, we will continue working with numbers to 100. I was so proud of the timed addition tests! Some of these kids are definitely ready for subtraction!
Social Studies: In Social Studies we discussed rights vs. responsibilities and how people contribute to the common good of our society. Next we'll be looking at local, state, and national government.
Writing: Ideas for writing is still our focus.
Word Study: We'll be working with words that have different spellings for the /k/ sound at the end.
Remember that Friday is a day off for students.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Mrs. Humerick
We watched a very informative video today on the Constitution - ask your child about it!
We've really been working hard - not only academically, but as good citizens. As of this morning, our class has earned 20 Soaring with Pride stickers - WOW! It really shows how well they follow the rules and respect each other.
Here's what we've been doing and what we WILL be doing:
Language Arts: We're continuing to work with During Reading Strategies. This week we finished up with Questioning and Inferring - hope you enjoyed the homework! Next week we start with Synthesizing. That's when we "put it all together". While most of your children do this automatically when they read, it's nice to slow them down so they can THINK while they read.
Math: If your child is in my math class, we will continue working with numbers to 100. I was so proud of the timed addition tests! Some of these kids are definitely ready for subtraction!
Social Studies: In Social Studies we discussed rights vs. responsibilities and how people contribute to the common good of our society. Next we'll be looking at local, state, and national government.
Writing: Ideas for writing is still our focus.
Word Study: We'll be working with words that have different spellings for the /k/ sound at the end.
Remember that Friday is a day off for students.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Mrs. Humerick
Friday, September 10, 2010
Happy Weekend!
Thanks to everyone who came to Back To School Night to hear me ramble on about third grade and what a GREAT class I have! Here are some questions that were brought up that I want to address:
You must go through a volunteer training class to be able to help in the classroom or go on field trips. There are two options at this time - Sept. 13 6:00-7:00 pm - Sept. 15 9:30-10:30 am. As of right now, you only have to do the training once.
It was mentioned on the message from Mrs. Hollenbeck that all important papers will come home in a "Friday Folder". That is not true for my class. I send the folder home daily with papers in it. Please check it each day.
You were able to sign up for conferences. If you didn't make it Tuesday night, please call the office for available times.
Now - on to what we've been doing and what we WILL be doing:
Language Arts: We've been working with During Reading Strategies. We've made connections and used our sensory imagery. Next week we'll be working with Questioning. To practice this strategy we'll ask a question about a book we are going to read. During our reading, we'll adjust our questions according to what is happening in the story. This makes us THINK while we read.
Word Study: Our new focus this week will be words that have the /k/ sound at the beginning. There are patterns for this sound, and we'll be finding words that fit those patterns. Please practice these words every evening - even if they aren't given as homework.
Math: My math class continues to work with numbers in the ten's and hundred's. Your child should be able to take a number and 1)draw a picture, 2)write the words for it, 3)show it in expanded form, and 4)write the value of each of its digits. We're also really working with addition facts. Please read the note attached to your child's first math fact test.
Social Studies: This week we've been reading about laws and rules in different communities. Next week we'll be discussing rights and responsibilities. This is always an interesting topic with third graders! It seems they think a lot of things are their "right"!!!
Writing: Ask your child how to "funnel" an idea. This is when an idea is too broad of a topic to write about, like DOGS. When you put "dogs" in a funnel, what comes out should be a narrower topic, like How My Dog Plays Soccer With Me.
Other notes: your child may bring in a labeled water bottle that will be kept on the side counter. Please initial your child's agenda after checking his/her homework. Please check your child's Take Home folder daily. If your child is finishing up homework in fewer than thirty minutes, have him/her read or practice math facts!
Have a great weekend!
Faith Humerick
Thanks to everyone who came to Back To School Night to hear me ramble on about third grade and what a GREAT class I have! Here are some questions that were brought up that I want to address:
You must go through a volunteer training class to be able to help in the classroom or go on field trips. There are two options at this time - Sept. 13 6:00-7:00 pm - Sept. 15 9:30-10:30 am. As of right now, you only have to do the training once.
It was mentioned on the message from Mrs. Hollenbeck that all important papers will come home in a "Friday Folder". That is not true for my class. I send the folder home daily with papers in it. Please check it each day.
You were able to sign up for conferences. If you didn't make it Tuesday night, please call the office for available times.
Now - on to what we've been doing and what we WILL be doing:
Language Arts: We've been working with During Reading Strategies. We've made connections and used our sensory imagery. Next week we'll be working with Questioning. To practice this strategy we'll ask a question about a book we are going to read. During our reading, we'll adjust our questions according to what is happening in the story. This makes us THINK while we read.
Word Study: Our new focus this week will be words that have the /k/ sound at the beginning. There are patterns for this sound, and we'll be finding words that fit those patterns. Please practice these words every evening - even if they aren't given as homework.
Math: My math class continues to work with numbers in the ten's and hundred's. Your child should be able to take a number and 1)draw a picture, 2)write the words for it, 3)show it in expanded form, and 4)write the value of each of its digits. We're also really working with addition facts. Please read the note attached to your child's first math fact test.
Social Studies: This week we've been reading about laws and rules in different communities. Next week we'll be discussing rights and responsibilities. This is always an interesting topic with third graders! It seems they think a lot of things are their "right"!!!
Writing: Ask your child how to "funnel" an idea. This is when an idea is too broad of a topic to write about, like DOGS. When you put "dogs" in a funnel, what comes out should be a narrower topic, like How My Dog Plays Soccer With Me.
Other notes: your child may bring in a labeled water bottle that will be kept on the side counter. Please initial your child's agenda after checking his/her homework. Please check your child's Take Home folder daily. If your child is finishing up homework in fewer than thirty minutes, have him/her read or practice math facts!
Have a great weekend!
Faith Humerick
Friday, September 3, 2010
Happy Friday!
What a busy week we've had! I'm really getting to know your child as a person and as a learner. Here's what we've been doing... and what we'll BE doing....
Language Arts: We've been working on Before Reading Strategies - Setting a purpose, previewing the text, and coming up with a plan. On Thursday we began discussingDuring Reading Strategies. We're starting with Connections. This is when you think of how the ideas in the text remind you of something about yourself (text to self), how the ideas in the text are like another text (text to text), or how the ideas in the text are like something that is happening in the world (text to world). Next week we'll be reviewing Connections and then talking about Sensory Imagery - how do the words in the the text "sound" to you, "smell" to you, what would it "feel" like, etc.
Math: In my math class we've been using strategies to get to 100. We'll be continuing that - especially while using word problems. We have also been making our own addition fact cards. You may see these come home to be practiced - I've told them they have to be FAST with these. Subtraction will be next.
Social Studies: EVERYONE did so well on the Maps/Globes quiz! We're taking a break from that right now and moving on to Government since we'll be having elections in the area soon.
Writing: Wow! What great objects! The ideas are just flowing during writing time! I can't wait to read the final paragraphs!
Word Study: If your child has word study with me, we just worked with words that have the /f/ sound. We will not have any word lists next week since it's only a 3 day week.
I'm really hoping to see everyone at our Back To School night on September 7th. It starts at 7:00. There will be two 20-minute sessions in case you have more than one child. If you have any questions you want me to answer that would benefit everyone, please send them to me on Tuesday or email me this weekend.
Today (Friday) is the first Friday that your child will bring home a "checklist". I went over it with the class and explained they had to be signed and brought back to school on Mondays (Tuesday for this one). I truly think this is a powerful communication tool for all of us!
I'm going to end this now - Have a wonderful LONG weekend - remember no school on Monday or Thursday -
Mrs. Humerick
What a busy week we've had! I'm really getting to know your child as a person and as a learner. Here's what we've been doing... and what we'll BE doing....
Language Arts: We've been working on Before Reading Strategies - Setting a purpose, previewing the text, and coming up with a plan. On Thursday we began discussing
Math: In my math class we've been using strategies to get to 100. We'll be continuing that - especially while using word problems. We have also been making our own addition fact cards. You may see these come home to be practiced - I've told them they have to be FAST with these. Subtraction will be next.
Social Studies: EVERYONE did so well on the Maps/Globes quiz! We're taking a break from that right now and moving on to Government since we'll be having elections in the area soon.
Writing: Wow! What great objects! The ideas are just flowing during writing time! I can't wait to read the final paragraphs!
Word Study: If your child has word study with me, we just worked with words that have the /f/ sound. We will not have any word lists next week since it's only a 3 day week.
I'm really hoping to see everyone at our Back To School night on September 7th. It starts at 7:00. There will be two 20-minute sessions in case you have more than one child. If you have any questions you want me to answer that would benefit everyone, please send them to me on Tuesday or email me this weekend.
Today (Friday) is the first Friday that your child will bring home a "checklist". I went over it with the class and explained they had to be signed and brought back to school on Mondays (Tuesday for this one). I truly think this is a powerful communication tool for all of us!
I'm going to end this now - Have a wonderful LONG weekend - remember no school on Monday or Thursday -
Mrs. Humerick
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