December 21, 2012

Happy winter break!

We don't have any homework or assignments over break. Take this time to relax and enjoy family time! Students can continue to read & fill in reading logs! I also encourage math fact practice.

What's coming up:
We will begin James & the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl in reading class on Monday, January 7.  We have an author visit in January and we will read that book again in class and complete a few projects pertaining to this visit on our first 3 days back.

We will have a "show what you know" quiz over social studies concepts on Friday, 1/4. We have been studying this for 3 weeks. We will review on Wednesday & Thursday upon our return and have our quiz on Friday. This will cover the 3 levels of government (local, state & national), 3 branches of government (judicial-enforces laws, executive-carries out the laws, legislative -makes laws), federal government/ Congress is made of the House of Representatives and Senate.

We will begin our next science unit on 1/7.

Rest & be well.
School resumes on Wednesday, January 2. I will see you all then!

Friday 12/14 - Friday 12/21

HOMEWORK-

Language Studies: 
Idiom of the Week (courtesy of Leora): a watched pot never boils
it means: waiting impatiently for something to happen and it feels like it is taking a long time.

We do have a spelling test next week. There are two lists yellow & blue.
yellow:
main, waiting, maybe, saying, agree, yesterday, explain
review: convince & bonus: apostrophe

blue: 
explain, yesterday, maybe, eerie, degree, cheated, eastern
review: convince & bonus: apostrophe

Math:
HomeLink 2-9 front side only (pg 51)

GENERAL NEWS-
I would like to start James & the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl with the entire group for our reading class on January 2.  This was not on the original curriculum, so please let me know if you have concerns about this. For all of you who have already emailed me, I thank you for your quick response!

In math, we are finishing Unit 2 and will begin measurement and multiplication after break!

We are completing our American government unit learning about our duties as citizens and the federal and local government.

As for our social skills growth, Mrs. Vottero continues to come to us 3 Wednesdays a month to help us with our communication skills. We also continue to have our classroom team meetings to practice our skills and build our team mentality. Additionally, we've been exercising our manners and the third grade can be heard to say "please," "thank you," and "excuse me" all over our school and in our classroom! I am very proud of them! I know they are consciously working to improve these valuable skills. I hope you are hearing them at home too!

Friday 12/7-Friday 12/15

HOMEWORK:
No Language Studies/spelling this week due to Chanukah. No test on 12/14

Math: Complete the circled/starred problems on the "Pattern Wheel" handout. This is from our in-class addition subtraction w/borrowing & carrying "boot camp." I provided lined paper for students to re-write and correct the problems. This packet is due next TH 12/13.

Keep READING! Complete the reading log! Parents, please initial completed rows.


A note from Mrs. Stock:
I was so thrilled with the OAT scores that came back from October testing! This really opens the doors of possibility and gives us the opportunity to begin some fun units after winter break. We will be reading Stone Fox, Charlotte's Web and Sarah Plain and Tall. I would really like to also do Poppy by Avi as well. It is not on the current school curriculum, so I will send out a permission notice home in order that we all agree it is a book your child is permitted to read.

We will begin multiplication after winter break as well. Please keep practicing basic addition and subtraction facts at home!