Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Third Grade Community,

We are excited about the start of a new year, and to it, we add new expectations, new goals, and a new excitement for what’s to come. Here’s our week at a glance (and beyond):

Literacy

Making Meaning (Comprehension): In this unit, we are continuing to focus on Asking Questions and Wondering. However, we will be practicing these important skills with nonfiction text.  This week, we are reading biographies. I asked each student to also choose a biography to read during their independent reading time.  I have a ton of biographies so I am confident each student chose a book that fits their reading level.

NEW EXPECTATION: Students will now be expected to complete a book project each month.  Students will be given time in class to complete the project, but may also need to work on this project at home as needed. Please check student folders for more information. I will also be providing more information on the blog.

Writing

We are drafting our fictional stories and taking them through the writing process. I’m excited to see students’ final writing piece. They’ve been working hard on creating interesting plots and intriguing characters.

Vocabulary

We will be focusing on using context clues to figure out word meaning over the course of the next few weeks.

Social Studies/Science

In Social Studies, we are focusing on “Economics.” Before break, we learned about “goods and services.” We will also be talking about “supply and demand.”

Science

After our focus on Social Studies, we will dive into states of matter.

Math

Though we have finished our multiplication unit, we are not done with developing these skills. Students will still receive practice in class and through homework relating to all things multiplication.

In our current unit, students will be learning how to find the area and perimeter of a plane figure (two-dimensional shape). Look for a family letter to come home by Thursday going over the learning goals, vocabulary, and a practice study guide.

“Classroom Pulse Check”

I am so proud of the students in the Best Class! Before break, they earned a pizza party because they reached their classroom money tree goal!

I have seen a huge improvement in reading fluency, so keep encouraging students to read, read, read! 🙂

We are in need of paper towels and disinfectant wipes. If you are able to donate these items, we would greatly appreciate it!

Enjoy your week and please know  your kiddos care deeply cared about in the Best Class!

~Mrs. Best

December 3rd Week at a Glance

Dear Third Grade Community,

Is December really here? Wow! It’s hard to believe we’re in the last month of the year. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving break. The holidays seem to sneak up on us so quickly every year. 🙂

Here’s what’s happening in the BEST class…

Literacy-Making Meaning: We’ve been practicing our “wondering/questioning” strategy while we read. Third grade students are asking great questions about their books before, during, and after reading. They are also learning that we can use the text to answer some questions and for those questions not answered, we simply can infer (smart guess) using evidence from the text and our background knowledge to draw conclusions.

Writing: We just finished our unit on personal narratives. We created a class book that is proudly displayed on our table of each students’ personal narrative. These will go home later in the year.

We are now exploring fiction as a writing genre. Many students have already enjoyed brainstorming their characters and the story plot. More to come! 🙂

Math: We’re still exploring all things multiplication. We work on fluency everyday via drills, interactive activities, including games. We’re also continuing to learn strategies that’s found in associative, commutative, and distributive properties. We are tackling real world situations that require us to multiply as well. Please check your child’s folder for practiced math facts. At this point, students should be fluent with multiplying by 2s, 3s, 5s, 10, and 11s. We are practicing 4s this week. Next week, we will dive into 9s. Ask your kiddo what they’re “go to” strategy is when solving multiplication!

Science: We will be finishing up our unit on the life cycle of plants.

Please make sure your child reads regularly at home. It’s important that your child can find a cozy place to relax and get lost in a good book.  🙂

Homework: This week’s homework is graphing review. Please note we are still working on multiplication. If you can, have your kiddos play a math game! 🙂

Have a wonderful evening and the BEST week! 🙂

Mrs. Best

I’m Back! :)

Hello Third Grade Community,

The kiddos in the BEST CLASS greeted me so warmly with hugs, high fives, hand shakes, and posters! These students are so precious and I am thankful for them.

The transition back was smooth as students obviously did a great job with following their procedures and working hard with Mrs. Knorr. Here’s what is planned in the coming days:

Literacy

Making Meaning: We’re “Questioning/Wondering” about texts. When we take the time to ask questions, it sets us up for success! Our brains are ready to read and think deeply.

Writing: Personal narratives. We’ve been practicing “zooming in” on a moment by adding lots of details to a story.  We will also take this writing piece through the writing process.

Math

Multiplication! At this point, students should begin to show fluency in multiplying by 0, 1s, 2s, 3s, 5s, 10s.  Please take time each week to review these facts. It’s important students can recall these facts quickly.

Science

Plant life cycle: Students are growing seeds and we’re observing to see if they sprout! Students are also learning about how seeds travel, parts of a plant, and how to classify plants.

I’m looking forward to a great week!

Mrs. Best

An Update from Mrs. Best

Hello Third Grade Community,

I’m hearing the BEST CLASS is doing very well while I’m away taking care of baby Asher Job Best. Mr. Best and I are enjoying bonding with our little guy. It’s hard to believe he will be three weeks old tomorrow.

Just to let you know, I will return to Holly Hill on November 6th. With that said, Mrs. Knorr will be able to meet with those who schedule a conference on November 5th. I know she is enjoying getting to know your kiddos will be able to give you feedback on their performance for first quarter.

Take care and enjoy your Sunday!

Mrs. Best

Update for Week of September 9/17

Happy Monday to the BEST Third Grade Community,

I’m so proud of the kiddos in the Best Class. They are working very hard and you should be proud.

Personal Update: This will be my last week for awhile, as my husband and I make preparations for the baby boy that we will be adding to our family. You will be in good hands with Mrs. Knorr beginning next week. 🙂

Reading:  This week (and next week), we will be continuing practicing our reading strategy, visualizing. This strategy helps students picture what is happening in a story, which supports comprehension, as well as allows a reader to become “hooked” into a story.

Writing: Students are continuing to write freely. During writing, I read a variety of genres, to expand their writing ideas. Very soon, we will choose a writing piece and taking it through the writing process.

Math: We are working on adding and subtracting within 1,000.  Students have practiced a variety of strategies, including the traditional algorithm (regrouping by carrying/borrowing). Today and the rest of the week, we will continue practicing these skills, and learning about estimation by rounding.

Students learn to estimate the numbers they are working with, then solve to compare if their answer is reasonable. Estimation is an important skill.

Social Studies: We will continue exploring maps, including locating the 7 continents, the United States, the oceans, and determining the difference between a political and  a physical map.

SeeSaw: Please don’t forget to check out SeeSaw. This app allows you as the parents to hear videos your child makes about his/her reading, and/or pictures of their books.

Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. Best

 

 

 

Week at a Glance for September 4th

Hello Third Grade Community!

Welcome September! I don’t know about you, but I am definitely ready for fall to…”fall” upon us! 🙂

Thank you to those who placed Scholastic orders; they have been submitted and should be here within a week.

You also should have received a letter from me last week explaining that I will be out for six weeks to welcome a baby boy that Mr. Best and I are in the process of adopting. 🙂 We are very excited and the kiddos will be in great hands with Mrs. Knorr. This will take place towards the end of September.

Literacy

Students have been practicing thinking strategies: inferring, using schema, and being metacognitive. This week, we will visualize what we read to help us get hooked into books and to assist in comprehending what the author wants us to know.

In writing, we will be expanding writing ideas by using brainstorming strategies. Students love their writing time because they get to choose what they want to write about. Today, we sketched and wrote about the pictures we store in our minds; precious memories we hold.

Math

We’re chugging along with adding within 1,000. Your kiddos should be able to tell you about decomposing numbers, compatible numbers, expanded form, and the break apart strategy. There are lots of strategies when solving.

Thank you for your continued support. Please make sure to check your child’s planner every single day and the performance tracker.

I’m looking forward to a great week with the BEST kiddos!

~Mrs. Best

Week at a Glance

Hello Third Grade Community! I hope you are enjoying your weekend and are finding time to relax and rejuvenate after a busy week. 🙂

Here’s an update on what to expect this week:

Reading: Last week, we began discussing a very important term: Metacognition. This is the ability to “think about thinking.” When students are metacognitive, they are able to tell someone their thoughts. We discussed what “real reading” looked like by making a “real reading salad.” Students noticed that there was more “lettuce” (thoughts) than “tomatoes” (text) in our salad. Ask your kiddo about our real reading salad.

This week, we will continue discussing metacognition. We will also learn about “schema” and “inferring.”

Schema: Using our background knowledge to connect to text

Inferring: Making smart guesses about characters, setting, plot, and theme; things that authors don’t tell us.

Writing: Expanding our writing ideas

Math: We’re going to do a quick yet targeted approach to telling time. I’ve noticed most kiddos are still struggling with telling time, so this will be a review. Also, please look for the Unit 1 family newsletter I will be sending home, along with a study guide students can practice with throughout the unit.

Homework: Students will receive their first packet of math homework tomorrow, which will be due on Thursday.

Extras:

We will be taking our first MAP reading test on Tuesday, so please make sure students are here. This information will help me navigate instruction.

Scholastic orders! 🙂  On Friday, Scholastic magazines went home. There are really great deals! Students must be reading, so why not take advantage of some great deals on some great books? 🙂  Simply fill out the order form on the back or follow the directions on the back of the magazine to place an online order. Students wrote down our classroom code in case online ordering is your choice.

I’m looking forward to a great week!

Mrs. Best

 

And We’re Off!

Dear Third Grade Community,

Days 1 and 2 are now in the history books! I couldn’t be more proud of your kiddo! I can see why I have the BEST class;)

Students have been learning classroom routines and expectations. Today, we continued practicing our routines and meeting expectations. Students are modeling respect to, not only me, but their peers; You should be proud.

Today, we enriched our learning by discussing what real readers do and how real readers read. Did you know that there are three ways to read?? Ask your third grader the three ways they can read! 🙂

We also talked about “I-PICK” books. I-PICK stands for:

I-I choose the books I want to read

P-Purpose. I understand the reason to read a certain book (i.e, to be entertained, to learn, to practice a skill, etc.)

I-Interest. The book interests me! 🙂

C-Comprehend. I can understand what I am reading

K-Know the words: I don’t miss too many words

If students are able to do all of these things, then the book is a match! Please use this strategy when visiting the library or purchasing a fun book for your kiddo.

We set up our writing and math notebooks as well today.

It’s been a super busy week, but a great one! I’m looking forward to getting to know your student and family better. Please continue sending in any important papers. Enjoy some family time tonight and please know that your child is cared about. ❤

~Mrs. Best

Tell Me it Isn’t So…

11 more days?? Wow, this year has flown.  I’m really going to miss your kiddos! I am super proud of all of their hard work and growth they’ve made this year. I am thankful for each one of them that play a part in our classroom community. Thank you, parents, for all of your support.

 

We’re not done! There’s still a lot of learning happening in the Best Class! 🙂

We’re finishing up our Science research and presentations. Students have been excited about the diorama project they’re creating at home with you. Dioramas are due Friday. 🙂

This Friday, I am giving students their last multiplication fluency assessment. At this point, your child should know facts 0-10 fluently and working towards mastery of 11-12s.

Fraction assessments went home yesterday, along with other graded work. Please make sure you check your child’s folder nightly and clear out any papers that need to stay home.

Please know that though we’re in the last days of this school year, we are working hard and still enjoying our learning time.

Have a great night!

Mrs. Best

A Long Awaited Post

Where has third quarter gone? My apologies for the severely delayed update, so here we go!

First, I want to add that our field trip was a huge success! We couldn’t have asked for a prettier day. Thankful for the fun, laughs, and great entertainment provided by the talented actors from the cast of the Cincinnati Children’s Theatre in, “Mary Poppins.”  (Pictures to be posted!)

UPCOMING STATE TESTING SCHEDULE

I cannot stress enough how important it is for your child to be at school every single day, especially in the weeks to prep for testing. I am still teaching, and so even missing a day can put a student behind in new learning. During testing, please make sure your child is getting plenty of rest the night before, eats a good breakfast, and arrives at school on time.

Wednesday, April 18th–Writing Assessment

STATE ASSESSMENT

Tuesday, April 24–Literacy in the morning

Wednesday, April 25th–Literacy in the morning

STATE ASSESSMENT

Tuesday May 1– Math in the morning

Wednesday May 2–Math in the morning

 

Third Grade Guarantee:

You will receive notice by the end of the school year if your child will need to attend our summer reading program (in June) if he/she doesn’t meet the qualifying score.  By now, I have spoken with parents with students who did not meet the benchmark when our first round of scores were received over the winter.

 

Math:

We are still learning all things fractions. So, your child has received fraction homework this week. All assignments are skills that your child should be able to do independently. If you see your child struggling, please jot a note or email me because all homework is review.

In addition to fractions, we are also diving into measurement and data which includes:

• Telling time to the nearest minute
• elapsed time
• Linear measurement to the nearest 1/4 inch
• measuring volume, area, perimeter
• Adding/subtracting with money

This week, we are focusing on telling time to the nearest minute and elapsed time. There are a handful of students who are still struggling with telling time to the nearest minute. At this point in the year, your child should be able to tell time on an analog clock. Please practice this life skill at home. If you don’t have an analog clock, I encourage you to get a hold of one so your child can reference telling time on a daily basis. In my classroom, students have been using an analog clock all year.

FACT PRACTICE–I still have many students struggling with multiplication and division facts. Please continue to practice these facts daily at home. 5 minutes a day makes all the difference.

Literacy

We’re still reading a plethora of text and practicing our thinking skills. We have been discussing text structures (the way an author structures his/her writing). The five structures we’ve been discussing are:

1. Compare/Contrast
2. Description
3. Sequence
4. Problem and Solution
5. Cause and Effect

I am super proud that most students are able to read a nonfiction text and determine the structure the author used to give us information.  We also have been practicing determining the main idea of a text and supporting it with details. This is a challenging skill, so we will continue to perfect it! 🙂

Have a wonderful night! Don’t forget to check out the tab for extra math practice! Any extra work turned in gets a husky paw!

~Mrs. Best