Mrs. Adkins’ Class

Third Grade Newsletter

Volume 7, Number 8                    sadkins@pennoyerschool.org                 Halloween, 2008

Hello Parents!  Happy Halloween everyone!  What a week we had.  The kids are so glad that this day is finally here, and so am I.  We had some kids making some poor choices this week, but we talked about it and they did much better yesterday and today.  Those darn consequences will get you every time!  It is always hard for children to concentrate when a fun holiday is so close.  I hope many of you were able to see our parade from this afternoon – what a lovely day!  We sure got lucky with the weather.  We had a busy week, so here’s what’s been happening:

Reading ~ Our story for this week was informational non-fiction.  We had fabulous discussions about this!  I have been teaching the kids new words to associate with reading while we are practicing skills that good readers do.  I introduced the word schema, (pronounced skeema) which means your background knowledge – what you already know.  We have also been using the word metacognitive, which means thinking about what you are thinking about while you are reading.  Good readers ask questions while they read, and I did a number of think alouds with the children to model for them my thinking while I read a story.  The kids have responded extremely well to these “fancy” words, and have enjoyed using them all week.  I will continue to use these words and focus on these skills with the kids throughout the year.  We have practiced using these words lots of times this week, so please ask your child to explain to you what they mean.

Language Arts ~ Our grammar lesson for this week was on irregular plural nouns.  Some words change completely (or don’t change at all!) when they become plural and they don’t follow the normal rules that we learned last week.  Some examples are: child becomes children, man becomes men, and fish stays fish.  The children did very well with this as they were familiar with those plural versions already.  You could say they were already stored in their schema. J During our writing time, I have been able to have mini conferences with each of the children while they work.  Everyone got their four square done this week, and they did very well.  We will get started on our rough draft next week and get into a little editing as well.

Math ~ We had a lesson on subtracting across zero on Monday, and explaining their answers on Tuesday.  We reviewed Wednesday and the kids took their chapter 5 test yesterday.  Please look for this test in your child’s Friday papers.  This will be their final math grade for the quarter, so please have your child correct it if they got a D or F.  Many of the mistakes I noticed were either simple subtraction mistakes, or else they regrouped incorrectly at one or two places.  We had a fun day today, and we will get started next week on chapter 6.

Science ~ We did our final experiment this week on weather maps, and we read through the final section of this chapter.  Please have your child start reviewing for our test.  It will take place on Monday, November 17.  They should at the very least bring home their green science notebook to review the vocabulary definitions twice a week.  I will remind them in class as well.

Social Studies ~ This past week in social studies we have identified that George Washington was our country’s first President.  Also we used information on a map to identify locations and we compared and contrasted cities, suburbs, and rural areas.  The lesson students learned is that communities range from small to large.  They learned that cities are the largest communities and that a capital city is where the leaders of a state or country’s government work.  Students learn that the smaller communities are suburbs and rural areas.  We ended the week with a discussion about the two candidates running for presidency.  Voting takes place next Tuesday.  Just as your child is going to vote in school, we hope you vote as well.

Other Areas of Interest:

      Today is the final day of the first grading quarter.  Report cards will go home next Friday, November 7.  I will meet with you on Monday, November 24 to discuss any concerns and/or questions you may have regarding your child.

      Since the quarter ends today, I will not be able to accept any late or corrected work for this quarter after Tuesday.  On Monday I will send home any low grades that need correction from their tests taken today so that your child can get that done and returned to me the next day.  I will officially close the books for this quarter on Tuesday.

      I sent home the November Book-It form today.  Again, your child needs to read at least four chapter books in the month of November.  Please have them record their book on their paper as they finish it, and I will accept the forms any time on or before Monday, December 1.

* We had two birthdays to celebrate this week, both on the same day!  Justyna and Matthew both turned 9 this past Tuesday.  What fun to celebrate a double birthday!  We sure don’t see that very often.  Happy birthday Justyna and Matthew!

That’s it for now!  I would like to thank all of our room parents for helping contribute to our party today, with a special thank you to Mrs. Plesha who took charge and helped me organize the day.  I wish you all a fun and exciting weekend, and please be safe out there tonight.  Remember to vote on Tuesday if you haven’t already!  It is exciting to see such a historical event taking place this week.  Remember to keep your child reading!

Mrs. Sarah Adkins

Third Grade Newsletter

Volume 7, Number 7                        sadkins@pennoyerschool.org                         October 24, 2008

Hello Parents!  This has been an interesting week we have had together.  Some students are still struggling with behavior (we have not had a class reward at all this month due to the loss of more than four apples in a week) but the kids are mostly pulling themselves together.  I was able to try some new things with them that were very successful.  My favorite is a chart we started on book recommendations.  Whenever a student finishes a chapter book and they liked it, they have the opportunity to recommend it to someone else.  The books are reviewed, and these reviews are available for everyone to look at.  This will help the kids when they choose a new book.  Sometimes they seem rather lost and don’t know what book to pick to read, so this list of recommendations should help.  The whole class has been very enthusiastic about this idea, and they have added quite a few books to our chart already.  We had a busy week, so here’s what’s been happening:

Reading ~ Our story for this week was a fantasy story called Wolf!  Most of the kids seemed to enjoy this story, as did I.  Personally, fantasy stories have always been a favorite of mine since it evokes the imagination to think about things that are not possible.  Be sure to ask your child what they thought of the story!  The kids need more practice with summaries, so you could also ask your child to give you a summary of the book.  This is a good thing to do after every book they read.  You could even have your child tell you a summary of each chapter they read while they are still working their way through the book.  Another important skill that good readers have is making predictions.  It is always a good idea to ask your child what they think will happen next.  We work on these things in class, and any reinforcement you can give at home will be very helpful.

Language Arts ~ Our grammar lesson this week was on singular and plural nouns.  This is where we start getting into those tricky grammar rules.  Most nouns just need an s to make them plural – the exceptions are words that end in s, sh, ch, x, or y.  They did pretty well with this in class, but the test from today will tell the true story!  The kids have finally started working on their own expository stories in our writing time.  They had two topics to choose from: Write about a real life hero that you know, or write about your favorite subject in school.  Be sure to ask your child which topic they chose!  We just started working with our four squares today, and I have been having mini conferences with each child about their writing to make sure they are on the right track.  So far so good!  Once the four squares are filled out, the actual writing of the paper is easy.  Ask your child to tell you the chant we have that goes along with our four square!

Math ~ We got into regrouping this week!  On Monday the kids rounded numbers to find differences (they are rounding pros by now!) and then we got into regrouping Tuesday and Thursday.  We spent Wednesday in our centers, reviewing the chapter up to that point.  There were quite a few kids who struggled with regrouping (even though they learned it last year) so I spent time in the afternoons helping those kids who needed it.  You should be able to find those extra practice papers in their folders.  I feel pretty confident that the kids have a grasp on regrouping now.  Next week the kids will learn how to subtract across zero and how to explain an answer.  Their chapter 5 test will be next Thursday, October 30.

Science ~ We had an experiment on Monday this week where the kids created simple thermometers.  Please ask your child to explain this experiment to you!  We read through the next section of our chapter and completed the final four vocabulary words.  We still have another section to go, but the test is coming up quickly.  It looks like it will happen on Monday, November 17.  Our schedule gets goofy with days off in November.  Please encourage your child to bring home their green science notebook to start practicing their vocabulary words and definitions.

Social Studies ~ This week in social studies we used information on a map to identify locations.  We watched a short video that used exciting footage of Washington, D.C.   The children were able to watch and explore the many types of maps, the differences between maps and globes.  We discovered the necessity of using maps to help learn about and navigate around the nation’s capital.  In the next couple of weeks, we will be discussing some general information about the two candidates that are running for presidency, and what each stands for.  We will hold a mock election on November 4th.  If you have not already, please begin to inform your child about the two candidates that are running for presidency and what each stand for.  The results will be given on November 5th.

Other Areas of Interest:

      Next Friday is Halloween.  Students may dress up in costume, but please no weapons or masks.  Your child needs to be able to work in their costume, so please do not dress them in anything too cumbersome.  We will participate in a parade along the back of the school at 1:15 and parents are invited to attend!  Do not send any candy to school with your child on that day.  Our room parents will take care of treats for our party in the afternoon.  We are all looking forward to this extra fun day!

      Halloween is also the last day of the first quarter.  Report cards will go home the following Friday, November 7.

      The Book-It forms are due on Halloween.  Your child should have been reading one chapter book a week in order to complete their goal.  Please have those forms turned in to me by Halloween at the latest.  This is a mandatory assignment and is worth 100 points of your child’s reading grade.

That’s it for now!  It looks like the weather is taking a turn for the worse next week, with highs in only the upper 30’s on Monday and Tuesday.  Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather!  Also, toys coming to school have continued to be a problem.  You would not believe the amount of Lego’s I have taken away just this week!  When I see toys in my classroom, they will remain in my possession until Friday.  Please do not let your child bring toys to school.  I wish you all a wonderful weekend and remember to keep your child reading!

Mrs. Sarah Adkins

Third Grade Newsletter

Volume 7, Number 6                                                                                      October 17, 2008

Hello Parents!  We have had an interesting week together.  We had the opportunity to experience the Dome Theater on Tuesday afternoon, and we watched a show called Passport to the Universe.  It was something new for us, and the kids really seemed to like it.  Some of the effects were really cool.  This group of children tends to get really chatty when they are excited, so I experienced some frustration with all the talking that was going on throughout the show.  It was almost pitch black inside the dome, so it was difficult to see who was talking and stop them.  I spent quite a bit of time this week talking about making the right choice and doing the right thing, even if you would rather be chatting with your friend.  Not only do you miss out, but you are disturbing others around you.  I would appreciate any reinforcement you can give me on this topic at home.  Be sure to ask your child all about the dome if you have not already heard.  We had a busy week, so here’s what’s been happening:

Reading ~ Our story for this week was a play called The Strongest One.  I hope your child read it aloud to you Tuesday night!  We spent some time discussing a script and which words are to be spoken aloud, and which ones were not.  Our leveled books were also plays, so I took time Wednesday afternoon for each group to meet and then perform their play.  They weren’t bad for a first try!  I really tried to emphasize using your voice differently and using your body to show what is being said.  I hope to have another opportunity like this later in the year so the kids can try acting again.  Some of them have real talent!  Ask your child what their play was called and what part they played.

Language Arts ~ Our grammar lesson this week was on common and proper nouns.  Proper nouns are spelled with a capital letter.  This is a good hint for the kids to look for.  They did very well with this in class, and I expect successful test scores from this morning.  We spent our writing time on expository writing.  I showed them examples of five paragraph papers and we discussed at length exactly how they are formatted.  I also showed them our graphic organizer, the four square that we will be using to organize our thoughts before we write our papers.  I showed them the rubric I use to grade their papers as well so that my expectations are clear to them.  Today we started writing a five paragraph paper together on the importance of trees.

Math ~ The kids took their chapter 4 test yesterday on addition.  They have done so well with this chapter in class, I really expected the test to be fairly easy for them.  They ended up having a lot of questions for me once they got started, which was a little alarming.  I stayed up late last night to get those tests graded for today, so please look for them in your child’s Friday papers and go over the test with them.  We got started right away today on our next chapter on subtraction.

Science ~ The Dome Theater was our science class early in the week, and yesterday we focused on the types of storms that take place across our planet.  We learned about storm chasers, and the kids each decided what kind of storm chaser they would like to be.   We had quite a discussion about it and the kids were very enthusiastic to share stories and experiences they have had with the various types of storms.  We made a list of nine storms – ask your child if they can name all nine!  We will get back to our regular science schedule next week.

Social Studies ~ This week in social studies we were introduced to Chapter 2, Where on Earth Is Your Community?  We read and used information on a map to identify locations.  We compared and contrasted a map and a globe by creating a Venn diagram and listing our responses.  We also learned to describe a location by hemisphere.  We have learned to locate the equator, Northern Hemisphere, Southern Hemisphere, Eastern Hemisphere, and Western Hemisphere.  We also are able to identify the North and South Poles.  We found out that the Himalaya Mountains are the highest mountains in the world and that the plains in Africa can stretch for miles.  We have read pages 36 – 41 and have taken notes.  Feel free to reread the lesson with your child and review all notes.

Other Areas of Interest:

      Today is Edward’s 9^th birthday!  We were delighted to celebrate with him on his actual birthday.  Happy birthday Edward!

      Next Friday, October 24 is a school improvement day.  That means early dismissal for the children and meetings in the afternoon for me.  The kids will be dismissed at 11:30 next Friday, so please make arrangements for them to be home early.  Buses will take them home at 11:30 if they normally ride the bus.

      Please remind your child to write down the books they are reading on their Book-It form.  They may include their book club book for this month as well.  Please check up on your child that they are reading every night.

That’s it for now!  This is such a fun time of year for various fall fest type activities, and I hope you and your family are able to take advantage of it.  Red Ribbon Week begins with a walk this Sunday.  We will be doing all kinds of activities and having special days next week: Monday:  Your future is bright without drugs – wear sunglasses!  Tuesday: Scare away drugs – wear your hair crazy!  Wednesday: Be your self, be drug free – wear mismatched clothes!  Thursday: Drugs turn your life inside out – wear clothes inside out!  Friday: Follow your dreams, be drug free – wear pajamas!  That should be fun for all of us next week.  I wish you all a wonderful weekend and remember to keep your child reading!

Mrs. Sarah Adkins

Third Grade Newsletter

Volume 7, Number 5                                                                                                  October 3, 2008

Hello Parents!  I would like to welcome our new student, Fatima.  We are glad to have her here, and it has been heartwarming to see our class welcome her so nicely.  Our class size is now up to 17.  Her timing was good as I was able to include her in our All About Me book.  That book has been put together, and will be making its rounds to your homes starting next week.  Each child will have a turn to bring the book home for one night to share with their families.  Each page is so unique, and I hope you can all appreciate everyone’s hard work.  When the book does come to your home, please make sure it is well taken care of (it will arrive in a bag) and returned to school the next day.  We had a busy week together, so here’s what’s been happening:

Reading ~ Our story for this week was called The Perfect Pet.  Please remember to have your child read these stories to you on Monday nights.  The genre of this story is humorous fiction, although I found that much of the humor was over the children’s heads.  It’s not as funny when you have to explain everything. J Next week there will not be any reading, spelling, or grammar because of the Terra Nova testing.  I will not send home any homework next week so that the kids can go to bed early and be well rested for the testing.  Please see the end of this Newsletter for more information about the Terra Nova tests in the Other Areas of Interest section.

Language Arts ~ Our grammar lesson this was sentence combining, which ended up being easy for the kids.  They only had to combine two related sentences with a comma and the word and or but.  Hopefully this will be a nice grade booster for everyone in grammar.  We spent our writing time this week doing really fun things.  The kids loved creating figures out of toothpicks and marshmallows, then having to explain how to make the same structure to their partner who was sitting back-to-back with them.  Many of them really caught on to the importance of using lots of detail and did a terrific job.  Be sure to ask your child about it.  We took Wednesday’s writing time to decorate our classroom.  It now feels spooky in here and is all decked out for Halloween.  The kids did a terrific job decorating and I appreciated their help.

Math ~ We started chapter 4 on addition this week.  The kids learned about the three properties of addition – associative, zero, and commutative properties.  Ask your child to explain each property to you!  We also worked on estimating answers by rounding, and regrouping numbers in the tens and ones place.  Today we learned how to solve problems by guess and check.  These problems can be difficult, so I sent home an explanation on a separate paper with your child today to help them with their homework this weekend.  We will continue to work on this chapter next week, although no math homework will go home.

Science ~ We started our new chapter this week on weather.  We did a couple of experiments on Monday that proved two of the three properties of air.  Give your child a quick quiz to see if they remember the three properties. (Air takes up space, exerts pressure, and has weight.)  Ask your child to explain our experiments to you!  We read through the first section of this chapter, and your child got their first three definitions written out.  Be sure to review those vocabulary words with your child at least once a week.

Social Studies ~ This past week in social studies we identified reasons people have formed communities, including a need for security and law.  We gave suggestions on possible courses of action that could be taken in given situations, and assess the consequences of irresponsible behavior.  Finally, we identified and explained the importance of acts of civic responsibility, including obeying laws.  Your child completed many vocabulary definitions and note taking.  We will conclude Chapter One this week and the test will take place next Friday, October 10th.  Please make sure your child prepares for this test.  Review all notes from his/her yellow notebook, pages 12 – 31 from the social studies book, and the review sheet.

Other Areas of Interest:

      Terra Nova testing is next week.  Our schedule is as follows: Monday testing will be from 8:20 – 11:00.  Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday testing will be from 8:20 – 10:30.  There is no testing on Friday.  We will continue to have science and social studies in the afternoons, but no homework will go home next week except that the kids need to study for their social studies test on Friday.  No other tests will be given on Friday.  I will not write a Newsletter next week as our regular subjects are mostly put on hold.  You may send your child to school with a healthy snack to eat after testing is over each day.  Please do not send pop or candy for a snack.  Your child will need to be well rested and on time for school as we start promptly at 8:20 and your child will have to wait in the office until we have a break in testing if they are late.  Please feel free to send me an e-mail or note if you have questions about this testing.  Remember, the purpose of having no homework next week is so your child to go to bed early and be well rested so they can perform their best on the test.

      The October Book-It form is included in your child’s Friday papers they took home today.  Sorry I did not get that out to you on Wednesday.  Your child can write down any book they have read starting October 1.  Each child needs to read 4 chapter books for this month, and the form is due back to me by Friday, October 31.

That’s it for now!  What a disappointment in our baseball teams this week!  Hopefully the Cubs and Sox can pull it together this weekend and start winning some games.  Hopefully our economy will turn around after the House votes today on the new plan.  We are all in need of some good news here!  If you were able to watch the vice presidential debates last night, it is a good idea to talk about them with your child.  This upcoming election is so important to our nation, and your child should know about it and your personal views on the matter.  I am hoping that next week’s presidential debate will be more interesting than the last one!  I wish you all a wonderful weekend and remember to keep your child reading!

Mrs. Sarah Adkins