Room
13 News!
It is amazing how much we have accomplished in just one
month! I hope your students are enjoying the journey as much as I am and taking
time to share their experience with you! Please do not hesitate to contact me
with any questions, concerns, and excitements throughout the year!
Below I want to give you a detailed overview of where we are
with curriculum as well as an explanation of some of the structures that are in
place for school and home.
Curriculum Overview
Language Arts:
We have spent much time focusing on genres where we not only
determine fiction and non-fiction, but add more depth by analyzing
sub-categories such as fantasy, mystery, traditional literature, etc. Each student
has a genre guide in his or her reading folder at school and homework folder.
Mrs. Smithson, our Library Media Specialist, has come in to work with us on
genres and help us see how they are organized in the library. The true depth
and complexity has come when students come across books that fit into multiple
genres. We are working on sharing our thoughts and justifying them with
evidence (in alignment with the gifted
benchmark). Students questioned and discussed what we determined to be an “exception
to the rule” as they connected to their previous research done on Betsy Ross. While each book/source is different,
what do we do when we have a legend about a person from history? This challenged
our thinking and led us in new directions.
We are developing our vocabulary by identifying new words,
looking at their use in the text, creating our own ideas, and transferring our
understanding to other stories and in our writing. When first studying the word
“astonished”, students realized there were other examples in the text we read, The Banza, besides the one we discussed.
Students connected this across different stories and used it in their writing.
We will continue to take this approach throughout the year. (It comes from Junior Great Books that you will hear
more about next week!)
Students have begun work in language arts small groups. During
this time, students work in a variety of ways. They work independently on tasks
and have to complete them in a designated time frame. They meet with me to
read, discuss, develop skills and have a needs-based focus on a fiction or non-fiction
book or piece of literature. They read independently and choose how they’d like
to share their understanding. There are writing components that may integrate
the social studies or science we are studying. What is constant is the fact
that their skills being developed are language arts drive- with reading and writing
as the heart of each and every task.
The DRA,
Developmental Reading Assessment, has been used as a tool to determine individual
student reading levels through the application of language arts skills. I can
show you this and explain it further at our conference if you’d like.
In writing we “got back to the basics” and grounded
ourselves in a well written paragraph. We have focused on adding more detail to
our writing so that we achieve the purpose we have set for our audience. We
have learned to write for different reasons: note-taking, a persuasive letter, facts for research in our own words, blogging,
a simple report and journaling. At this point in the year, the basics such as
capitals, periods, common sight words spelled correctly (there, here, who, how,
etc.) and complete sentences should be secure and used appropriately given the
context of the writing. Please take a moment to review your student’s writing journal when you come to your
conference.
We have also focused on homophones. We not only need to know
what homophones are (there, their), but need to understand their meanings and apply
them correctly in reading and writing.
Word study will
begin next week. Students will work with words on their developmental level
during class. They will also bring them home once during the week to share
their understanding with you.
Math:
We just wrapped up our numeration unit. You will be able to
view your student’s assessments when you come to the conference. While there is
an end of unit assessment, we assess as the unit goes on as to provide
differentiated instruction that is tailored to the needs of your child. In this
unit we studied numbers and our base-10 system (reading and writing 6 digit
numbers, comparing numbers, rounding, and looking for patterns). We used
resources such as Groundworks which
embeds algebraic thinking, Math
Exemplars to show application and understanding in an open-ended word
problem, and M3 that adds depth and
complexity to concepts so that we go deeper into the targeted objectives.
Students practiced skills through a variety of ways- small groups targeting a
skill, math games, whole group lessons to anchor us in a concept, verbally
sharing understanding through class discussion and also independently using the
Show Me app, and writing in math to organize
and explain our thinking. We regularly visited our theme, STRUCTURES, and looked at how the structures within numeration bring
understanding and order. We used Kaplan
Icons to focus us on the correct language of the discipline, details needed
to explain our thinking, and linking back to the big idea that is present
(structures!). These icons are visual reminders of our focus and are used to
promote depth and complexity.
Where are we headed? Our next unit is on computation:
addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Automaticity in basic math
facts will provide a strong foundation that will aid in their success. We will
introduce an online math resource titled Mangahigh Math that will allow students
a means to practice and track progress at school and at home. Our work in this
unit will begin with addition and subtraction.
Science:
Matter is everywhere! Through hands-on experiments and activities as well as research, students deepened
their understanding of this topic that they have studied in previous years. The
third grade unit put a strong focus on
observable physical properties and the connection between these and how we can
change matter. Students investigated this concept and designed their own
experiment, with support, to show what they had learned. The use of a concept map solidified our understanding
as we saw the organization of what we studied. From the start, their questions proved
to go beyond third grade curriculum as they wanted to learn about dark matter
and plasma, in particular. These sparked great conversation regarding best practices
in research and how to connect to
such advanced science concepts. One thing led us to another and modeled for us
how good researchers start with one question, but end up adding new questions
as they learn more. (Example- What is plasma?--- in natural form is the Northern
Lights. What are the Northern Lights?) Much of their work was completed in
their process logs that you can
review when you come to your conference.
Social Studies:
We started the year with a quick, mini-unit on being a good
citizen and how we can help our community. This idea of community will tie into
diversity and government as we revisit it throughout the year. We are currently just beginning our Geography
Unit. Google Earth proves to be a
powerful tool to truly “see” what is being discussed. We will develop our mapping
skills by identifying particular places across a world map as well as map features
that help us understand maps. Students will think like geographers as they
design their own maps. (Basics to know/review: continents, oceans, location of:
Great Lakes, Huang He River, Mississippi River, Rio Grande River, Appalachian Mountains,
Rocky Mountains, China, Egypt, and the USA.)
Personal Goals:
Students have created personal short-term and long-term
goals for themselves. They are continuing their work to outline their medium
term goals. In conjunction with the story, Thank you, Mr. Falker, we used
Creative Problem Solving Tools to
work us through this process. We first logged into Edmodo and thought creatively and brainstorm by
posting possible goals we could make. This allowed us to instantly view everyone’s
ideas. We then narrowed it down using a SML
chart (Short, Medium and Long). Students thought critically as they chose goals that applied to themselves
and added them to the appropriate areas of the chart. Their short term goal is
written in their planner each week. We will reflect on it throughout the week
and evaluate it at the end of the week. I have checked in with students daily
to see if they need resources and/or support in reaching their goal.
Homework: It’s simplistic, but meaningful…
Reading logs-
Students record their reading done at home. The expectation is that they have a
book they are reading and read on a regular basis. It can be a combination of
them reading alone, you reading to them, or you reading together.
Edmodo- Questions
and discussions are posted weekly. The expectation is that students log-in and
comment at least once a week. This can be tailored to their own personal
schedule. (If there is ever an issue with internet access, please send me a
note and they can log-in from school.)
Other assignments:
Unfinished work, other assignments, or support on a skill that needs more
practice will come home. These are on a needs-basis.
I hope it proved to be beneficial in understanding where we
have been and where we are headed. Our online
communication tools (Twitter, Facebook, Blog) have given brief overviews of
much of what is discussed here. Please make sure you check one of those on a
regular basis.
I look forward to seeing you at our designated conference
time! It is a tight schedule as I work to ensure I can meet with all parents in
the beginning of October. Your prompt arrival is much appreciated.
Thank you!
Melissa Follin
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