March 30, 2012

 

Greetings from Room 107!

It was great to see everyone at the recorder concert today! What a beautiful way to end the week! Unfortunately March does not appear to be going out in lamb-like fashion, but the new baby lambs have arrived to the Taylor Bray Farm in Yarmouth Port. They are very cute and worth a trip!

Here is a quick summary of our week:

Math: We spent lots of time using different tools to measure a wide variety of items around the room. We also conducted a virtual redesign of my house and yard as we discussed the concepts of perimeter and area. (Too bad it was all hypothetical!)

ELA: We completed Unit 22 (homophones) in spelling and continued our biography reading groups. We also published our spring haikus.

SS: We started researching colonial trades.

Science: We made a cloud in a bottle and then created pictures to illustrate the four main types of clouds.

Other:  We learned how to use the program Excel in Computers and worked on specific math skills during Study Island.

Please note that the EHB Community Fair will be held this Saturday, March 31, from 9:00 to 11:30 am. Next Wednesday, April 4,is the Scholastic Book Fair, and there will be no school next Friday, April 6. Also the Grade 3 Grandparents Breakfast will be held on Monday, April 9th.

Best wishes for a warm weekend!

Sincerely,

Ms. Feeney

 

March 23, 2012

 

Greetings from Room 116!

Happy Spring to all of our families! This week, we successfully concluded our first round of MCAS testing. Everyone put forth terrific effort, working hard and using the strategies we have been practicing. In addition to the ELA MCAS, we were busy with many other things:

ELA: We continued our study of the biography genre, working in small reading groups and on independent research projects. We also began writing haiku poetry to accompany the Japanese floral paintings we created in art.

Math: We wrote and solved elapsed time number stories, in addition to doing some hands-on measurement using both standard and non-standard units.

Science/SS: In science we conducted several experiments to examine the effects of wind, heat, and surface area on the process of evaporation. While in social studies we learned more about the important roles in a colonial village.

Other: We took advantage of the gorgeous weather to play multiplication baseball outside and to do some observation writing.

Please remember that our recorder concert will be held next Friday, March 30, from 11:15-11:45. Hope you can make it! Have a wonderful weekend!!

Sincerely,

Ms. Feeney

March 16, 2012

 

Greetings from Room 116!

Here is a quick review of our very busy week:

ELA: We practiced our QAR and underlining strategies to help build reading comprehension as we prepare for the upcoming ELA MCAS. We also worked on our biographies and continued with the “r”-controlled vowel patterns.

Math: We focused on measuring elapsed time.

Science/SS: In science we created water collages and viewed several informative videos. While in social studies we read about colonial schools and trades.

Other: We explored water cycle web sites in computers and worked on ELA skills in Study Island.

Please note that the entire third grade will do a practice MCAS on Monday, March 19, with official test administration occurring on Tuesday, March 20, and Wednesday, March 21. Make up days will be available for any students who are absent on the actual test days. During this assessment period, it is very important that students are well rested and that they arrive to school on time. Breakfast will be served free of charge on Tuesday and Wednesday; however, I encourage students to eat something at home in case they do not like the school’s breakfast offerings. I also suggest dressing in comfortable layers, as the temperature in our classroom can be somewhat variable. Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.

Best wishes to all for a warm and wonderful weekend! Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!!!

Sincerely,

Ms. Feeney

 

March 9, 2012

 

Greetings from Room 107!

It was great to see everyone at conferences this week to discuss the wonderful progress our class has made since fall. We are all working very hard, and it shows. Following is a quick recap of this week’s work:

Math: We finished our focus on fractions and will be moving on to measurement on Monday.

ELA: We completed Unit 20 (‘r’ controlled vowels) in spelling and continued our biography reading groups, in addition to practicing specific test-taking strategies.

SS: We made colonial people for our replica village.

Science: We started our Water Cycle unit with a look at the various sources and uses of water.

Other:  We began work on a Wordle in Computers using important Water Cycle vocabulary. We also worked on specific ELA skills during Study Island.

Please note that the ELA MCAS is scheduled for Tuesday, March 20, and Wednesday, March 21, with make-ups to follow. It is very important that students are well rested during this period of test preparation and administration. Please help your child at home by making sure that he/she is using underlining strategies with all homework assignments (including math). Students should always read related questions first before reading the passage, and they should underline any answers as they read.

Best wishes for a warm weekend!

Sincerely,

Ms. Feeney

March 2, 2012

 

Greetings from Room 107!

Well, March came in like a lion, so let’s hope that it goes out like a lamb!! In the meantime, we are forging ahead here in Room 116. This week’s work included:

Math: We spent more time on fractions, exploring their relationship to multiplication and division. Students should continue to practice multiplication facts at home with to help build automaticity.

ELA/SS: We completed Unit 19 in spelling and began new biography book groups. We also spent time each day on MCAS instruction. In social studies, we developed colonial personas and began construction of a colonial village.

Science: We concluded our exploration of stars and constellations with an entertaining game of Solar System Jeopardy.

Other:  In Second Step, we created posters to highlight various behavior management strategies that we have learned over the course of this school year. On Wednesday, we participated in a school wide DEAR time; while on Friday, the whole school came together to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday with a pledge, a song, and a story.

Best wishes to everyone for a spring-like weekend!

Sincerely,

Ms. Feeney

P.S. Please remember to send in conference forms on Monday if you haven’t already done so.