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ROOM 230
CLASSROOM NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2007
Dear Parents,
Welcome to Third Grade! Our class is settling with some fun group activities and we are looking forward building on our learning skills.
The class has spent time discussing and agreeing upon some classroom behaviors and student expectations. I think that responsibility is an important attribute to be modeled and encouraged. I expect that this will form the basis for a positive, challenging and rewarding experience for us all.
Attached is a parent insight sheet that will give you a chance to share any information about your child. Your responses will give me the opportunity to learn a little more about the students and their numerous interests. I welcome your input throughout the year.
On the subject of homework, the teachers at our grade level will be meeting to plan more about our weekly homework activities. However, I have attached a sheet that considers where homework should be done. It is a useful tool to set up the the right learning environment.
I look forward to working with you and your children in the school year ahead. See you at back to School Night!
Colm McDermott
& Rajni Dyal (assist.)
NOTES:
Classroom donations of tissues and hand soap most appreciated.
ROOM 230
CLASSROOM NEWS
OCTOBER 2007
Parents,
Just a few curriculum notes to keep you up to date....
MATH
In recent lessons we have been looking at different strategies to use for addition and subtraction. Activities have included collecting and presenting data in graphs. We have talked about a need to learn our math facts in these areas and will begin some practice in class. The games played for math homework are also a vehicle for building these skills. In our next unit we will explore the
concept of multiplication.
LANGUAGE ARTS
Our use of the Bradley program provides us with lessons that examine the phonetic sounds in words, as well as writing them in sentences and paragraphs. Dictation activities allow us to practice our printing, spelling and grammar. Playing a game called “sparkle” and solving a “secret word” are also a way of learning these skills.
Ongoing is the use of teaching strategies from the programs Project Read” and “Empowering Writers”. We are learning and practicing the the skills of descriptive writing. Quality descriptive writing from literature is often shared and we examine how the author constructs these passages.
SOCIAL STUDIES & SCIENCE
We are currently looking at Massachusetts geography and utilizing maps to present features.
Tied in to our science study is a book we are reading called Harry the Poisonous Centipede by Lynne Reid Banks. We will be constructing small compost bags with worms and the insect link to soil. Our science study is examining the components of soil.
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ROOM 230
CLASSROOM NEWS
DECEMBER 2007
Parents,
Some curriculum notes to keep you up to date...........
MATH
We have investigated the multiplication concept explaining that multiples are groups of things. Students have have seen that repeated addition is the best strategy and that there is a shortcut using the multiplication algorithm.
The class has also been looking at area and perimeter. We’ve found the area of different shapes using square units to measure.
LANGUAGE ARTS
Ongoing are the Bradley and Project Read programs with phonics, grammar, reading and dictation activities.
Our writing skills are developing as we are looking at how paragraphs are planned and then written. We have discussed key points of a paragraph, topic sentences that state the point and the details that support it.
In literature we have finished reading Harry the Poisonous Centipede by Lynne Reid Banks. The class had fun creating and writing an “extra” chapter.
We are also reading the book Squanto by C.R. Bulla. Students are being exposed to different reading strategies. For example, making connections from text to self, text to text or text to world. These strategies are designed to enhance reading comprehension.
SOCIAL STUDIES & SCIENCE
Connected with reading Squanto we are exploring the culture of local Native American tribes such as the Wampanoag. We’ll be balancing that alongside a colony reenactment activity that follows the events of the Pilgrim colonists and the cultural clash with Native Americans. Our field trip to Plimoth Plantation added to our background knowledge of these topics.
In science we have created compost bags providing a habitat for worms. weekly observations and discussions develop our knowledge of what is happening to the soil and the worms’ impact.
NOTES...........
Some more donations of tissues and soap to the classroom would be appreciated.
Thank you for the craft materials to help us with book making. Plus thanks for other holiday gifts.
We have set up Scholastic Book orders online and we’ll work out the kinks as we go along.
The classroom web page has some photos/notes about Plimoth Plantation and some information about our science investigation of soil and compost.
Any questions, let us know,
Holiday Greetings! Colm & Rajni
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ROOM 230
CLASSROOM NEWS
SPRING 2008
Parents,
Some curriculum notes to keep you posted....
MATH
We have been working on understanding fractions. A fraction depends on the meaning of a whole. Students have learned that one-fourth is not just one of any four parts; it is one of four equal parts. We have played games that involve fractions and you could also play those at home.
The class is currently investigating the multiples seen in arrays of tiles. We are learning that two factors multiply to give a product. The arrays of tiles show why some numbers are called square numbers. Examining a multiplication table revealed many patterns.
LANGUAGE ARTS
The class has put to use their skills in composing informative paragraphs to write a bird report. This expository report was a chance for students to show their composition skills. A type of note taking was practiced and provided an important part of the report’s structure.
As a class we have been reading books in the Jean Fritz series about people and events leading up to the Revolutionary War. Our latest Reading is the book, “Why don’t you get a Horse, Sam Adams?” The stories effectively describe the start of colonial dissent with deft humor.
SOCIAL STUDIES & SCIENCE
We are creating a pop-up book that will illustrate some of the main historical figures and events of Massachusetts colonial history. We’ll be using literature from the classroom and utilizing a web site called Enchanted Learning.com to collect information.
Our June field trip to the former textile mills in Lowell will enhance our investigation of the industrial revolution in New England. We also plan to look at the immense economic growth of the cities of Massachusetts and the immigration, innovators and capital that fueled it.
Science studies have us looking at simple electric circuits through hands on experiments using batteries, wires bulbs and supportive materials.
We will wrap up the year with a unit called chemical tests. Students will learn the procedures to carry out simple tests on some everyday chemicals.
NOTES......
The cold season doesn’t seem to have left us yet this year; tissue donations would be appreciated.
Any questions, let us know.
Thanks, Colm & Rajni
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