Room 303 News 3-12-2019

Weekly Updates and Reminders:

• UPCOMING FIELD TRIP permission slips and money DUE.  We will be spending the day on Monday, March 18th in Lansing.
• Our PTA is hosting another Family Skate Night at Bonaventure Skating Rink on Wednesday, March 13th.
• Friday, March 22nd will be a half-day of school.
• Friday, March 29th is our last day of school before SPRING BREAK!  School will resume on Monday, April 8.
• The second trimester ends this Friday, March 15.  Report cards will be posted on Skyward on Wednesday, March 27.
• MARCH IS READING MONTH!  Students are to read for AT LEAST 30 minutes each evening and write it on their log.  Please tally their minutes and send these logs to school every Monday for the month of March.

MATH
Students just took the Unit 5 assessment.  We will review the test on Monday and their results will be sent home.  Unit 6 students will compare different strategies to solving the same problem and reflect on which strategy is more efficient and appropriate.  Students will also learn how to model multi-step number stories with one or more equations and represent the unknown quantities with letters.  Students will also be introduced to the order of operations and learn how parentheses function as grouping symbols that affect the order of operations.
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SOCIAL STUDIES
We had great fun making a huge slice of pizza to enhance our learning about how Michigan's agriculture supplies many of the ingredients needed to make pizza, due in part to our state's unique geography and different types of climate.  Our learning also included how we produce, distribute and consume goods and services.  Look for this ART work outside our classroom!

SCIENCE
This week students determined the mass of a volume of vinegar and baking soda before mixing them.  They observed bubbling and fizzing, evidence that a new material- carbon dioxide gas- formed.  The new material is evidence that a chemical reaction occurred.  Students determined that the mass of the mixture after bubbling stops is less than the mass of the original materials.  This change in mass pushes students to infer that carbon dioxide has mass, which went into the air.


 Word Study/Grammar:

This week for grammar we are on Week Twenty-three.  The students are learning all about the Sound of Y and forming past-tense by adding -ed.

Writing:   

We have started Opinion Writing.  The students have been learning about the difference between a fact and an opinion.  We have also started making a list of our favorites to form our opinion.  We are also talking a lot about the importance of including reasons and examples.

 

Reading:

Last week we started Unit 3 in Reading where we are focusing on Non-fiction reading.  So far this year, our reading units have really been focused on fictional reading and character studies.  We will now be focusing on the very important skills that are needed when reading informational texts. 

We are also examining non-fiction articles, learning how to take notes, and write a summary including only the main ideas and details.  Ask your child to tell you about the article Extinct:  Famous Animals that are No More.We closely examined this article and then completed a written summary as a class.

Room 303 News: 03-01-19

Weekly Updates and Reminders:

• UPCOMING FIELD TRIP!  We are going to our State Capitol Building and Michigan Museum in Lansing, MI on Monday, March 18th.  Please send back the signed permission slips and money by Monday, March 11th. 

• Please mark your calendars:  Variety Show will take place on our Wixom Elementary stage on Friday, March 8th at 6:30 pm. Also, our PTA is hosting another Family Skate Night at Bonaventure Skating Rink on Wednesday, March 13th. We look forward to seeing lots of our families at both of these events.  






• Friday, March 22nd is a half day for students.  Dismissal at 12:09. 
• Friday, March 29th is our last day of school before SPRING BREAK!  

MATH
 We have been using several mathematical concepts and transferring such knowledge to a new mathematical situation.  In teaching, we call this a transfer of knowledge and it is our goal when students can naturally do this on their own. 
Below are a few pictures that relate to our doubling/multiplication strategy to find an area of a rectangle.  

Often times, parents will ask, Why do you teach it like that!?  and I believe the Mathematical Practices below really helps to explain the learning goals that mold our teaching method as well as the why behind your child's learning!  

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT

WEEKLY FACT FLUENCY TESTS

In addition to our curriculum, I have given the students a timed weekly fact fluency test each Friday since October.  To date, I am super proud to share that the majority of our students are secure in knowing ALL their facts up through 10.  

BRAVO, 3rd GRADERS😍

I have encouraged the students to study their multiplication tables at home, as well as practice in the classroom through work, games and online practice.  At this time, we WILL NO LONGER BE taking the weekly fact fluency tests because the majority of students are already fluent.  If your child is NOT SECURE, I will send home a note indicating what table they are still working on and it will be your responsibility at home to work with your child from this point on.  Indeed, our math lessons will continue to incorporate multiplication as well games to keep children fluent; however, I cannot express enough how important it is for your child to know their facts fluently by now.

SOCIAL STUDIES
We had great fun making a huge slice of pizza to enhance our learning about how Michigan's agriculture supplies many of the ingredients needed to make pizza, due in part to our state's unique geography and different types of climate.  Our learning also included how we produce, distribute and consume goods and services.  Look for this ART work outside our classroom!

SCIENCE
Students investigated a new type of system...the twirly bird! :)  Students first designed a standard model looking closely at the pattern of motion.  Then added a variable such as shortening the wings, adding more weight, adding additional wings, and shortening the wings' length in order to change the outcome.  They had great fun designing, testing, and redesigning their TWIRLY BIRDS!  

 Word Study/Grammar:

This week for grammar we are on Week Twenty-two.  The students are learning all about "ou" and "ow" words and irregular verbs.

Writing:   

The students have been working all year on writing a good paragraph.  To share what each of them did over their mid-winter break, the students wrote about their week in a 5-paragraph writing piece where they explained in detail the three highlights of their week.  Each writing piece included an introduction, 3 paragraphs describing their three main events, and a conclusion paragraph.  I am using this task to really see how the students are doing with writing a solid paragraph independently.  

We are also still finishing up our informational mini-books.  We will be starting our new writing unit next week where we will be focusing on Opinion and Persuasive Writing.  This is a fun and exciting unit for the students!  We will be also reading aloud some fun texts that really model good persuasive writing, including I Wanna Iguana and My Brother Dan is Delicious.

Reading:

Next week we will be starting unit 3 in Reading where we will be focusing on Non-fiction reading.  So far this year, our reading units have really been focused on fictional reading and character studies.  We will now be focusing on the very important skills that are needed when reading informational texts.  

Room 303 News: 2-11-19

Weekly Updates and Reminders:

• Next week, on Thursday, February 14 we will be celebrating Valentine's Day in the afternoon.  Students are invited to bring in valentines for their classmates.  We now have 29 students.
•  We have a new student in our class named Marcus Martinez.  Join us in welcoming him to Wixom Elementary!
• There will be NO SCHOOL February 18-22 due to mid-winter break.

MATH
Unit 5 has been a unit touching on many different mathematical concepts such as fractions, area and perimeter and multiplication strategies.  Students are enjoying using what they know in new math situations.  Such as using multiplication squares to solve unknown multiplication facts.

SOCIAL STUDIES
We have begun our next unit on the Economy of Michigan.  In this unit, students learn about the economy and business in the context of a local pizzeria!  For example, they will explore agriculture in Michigan by learning about the various Michigan farm products that are used to create pizzas.  In doing so, they learn about the geographic regions in which Michigan's diverse crops are grown and livestock is raised.

SCIENCE
Students continue to explore motion by designing simple carts/cars.  Our latest focus question was, How Can You Improve the Design of Your Cart to Meet the the Distance Challenge.  With this question, students measured the distance their original carts rolled, then redesigned their carts to go further.  They really enjoyed designing solutions to this challenge.  

 Word Study/Grammar:

This week for grammar we are on Week Twenty.  The students are learning all about "au" and "aw" words and punctuating dialogue.

Writing:   

We are working on publishing our Informational Writing books.  The students have worked very hard on these books.  Each book includes a title page, a table of contents, introduction, 5 sections with headings, conclusion, glossary, index, text features and text structures, and index.  We can't wait to share them!

Reading:

We are wrapping up our unit on Character Studies.  The students have really loved our two read aloud stories Because of Winn Dixie and Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel.  Both stories had a strong lead character, Opal and Dyamonde, and it was fun to compare/contrast the problem, theme, lesson, etc. The students also examined characters in their Book Clubs.  They have been having really great discussions and even "debates" about which character was the better problem solver.

Last week we had a Winn Dixie celebration where we watched the movie, enjoyed Wendy's frosties, had popcorn, and tried out a litmus lozenge.  The students loved comparing the movie to the book and we all agreed the book was better! :)

We also started our Room 303 Reading Challenge!  The students have been given a packet.  They need to read nine different books (in different genres) and complete the response page.  Each response page completed earns them a badge.  Once they have all nine badges, I will give them a pizza and slurpee lunch!  Happy Reading! :)

 

Room 303 News 01-11-19

Weekly Updates and Reminders:

• NO SCHOOL Monday, January 21st.  It is Martin Luther, King, Jr. Day!  

MATH
This week students took their iReady Math Diagnostic.  I will compare their growth from the first diagnostic and let you know if your child is not progressing.  Remember, ALL students have access to this online learning tool and can access it at home too!  

SOCIAL STUDIES
Students explored the concept of human/environment interactions by discussing the ways that humans in Michigan use, adapt to and modify their environment. The lesson was enhanced by reading the book, Letting Swift River Go, by Jane Yolen.

SCIENCE
Students rolled paper cups down ramps and observed with the different behaviors of rolling systems with two different sized wheels.  They observed the way cups roll and used the predictable curved rolling path to meet challenges.  They put cups together to make them roll straight and weighted them with pennies in various ways to see how weight affected rolling.  Our focus question was, WHAT RULES HELP PREDICT WHERE A ROLLING CUP WILL END UP?

Word Study/Grammar:

This week for grammar we are on Week Seventeen.  The students are learning about Long i Phonograms and Commas.

Writing:   

We continue to work on informational writing.  The students have been learning about the 5 different text structures and how to use those structures in their own writing.  We have been looking in mentor texts for these structures and reading other passages to examine the way authors use them so we can learn how they can fit into our writing as well. 

Reading:

This week we will be finishing our story Because of Winn Dixie.  The students have enjoyed following the main character, Opal, along the story mountain.  We are talking about how the main character changed from the beginning of the story to the end.  We are also examining what Opal learned and what we can learn from those life lessons as well.  

The students are also enjoying their own books with their Book Clubs where they are applying the skills we are learning during our mini-lessons.   They have enjoyed learning all about how to follow the main character's journey and examine what they learn along the way.  Next, we will be starting the book Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel.  We will be comparing and contrasting the main characters.

We will also be taking our iReady Reading diagnostic this week on Wednesday and Thursday.  I will be communicating their scores to you and also letting you know if they will need to be on an IRIP (Individualized Reading Improvement Plan).

Room 303 News 01-04-19

Weekly Updates and Reminders:

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

• NO SCHOOL Monday, January 21st.  It is Martin Luther, King, Jr. Day!  
• Thank you to all our parent volunteers who helped make the Polar Express party a memory to last a lifetime!  Your involvement and enthusiasm for this party was appreciated!   
  

MATH
We continue to incorporate multiplication practice during math workshop in the form of a game.  This week students were introduced to RACING RECTANGLES!  Students rolled two dice, then created an array with the two numbers.  Students then wrote the total number of squares inside (AREA :) the rectangle.  This also leads to our work on area since A=lxw!  

SOCIAL STUDIES
We have been working on completing our studies/understanding of Michigan's physical and human characteristics and how these define Michigan as a region.  Our school district has provided us with a CD Rom produced by Detroit Public Television titled Follow Your Path in Our Great Region.  As we view the CD Rom, we have a booklet which students demonstrate their understanding and work along as we view the CD Rom.  We will continue this learning for the next week and then have our unit test.     

SCIENCE
Students investigated the phenomenon of moving systems and the forces that cause motion.  They sought patterns in the behavior of the systems to predict future motion of new systems they designed.  For example, they observed two wheels of different diameters on an axle will roll in an arc down a slope, and two wheels of the same diameter on an axle will roll straight down a slope.  This investigation will continue as students begin to work as engineers developing solutions to problems as new criteria for their systems are introduced.

Word Study/Grammar:

Next week for grammar we will be on Week Sixteen.  The students will be learning about vowel digraphs with the Long E sound and Capitalization.

Writing:   

We are working on our Informational Writing Books.  This week we will be learning about the five text structures that you often find in non-fiction texts.  The students will be trying out these different structures in their own books. 

Reading:

We have been working hard in Unit 2 where we are learning all about how to study the characters in a story.  We are almost done with our story Because of Winn Dixie where we have followed Opal on her journey along a story mountain.  The students have really enjoyed this book.  They have been working in their Book Clubs to share and discuss their characters as well and how getting to know the character and the different role each supporting character plays in the story.  Next, we will be starting a new chapter book where we will examine what it's like to compare/contrast two main characters.