Third Grade Newsletter October 22, 2007

Good day, Families

Our stories in reading again look at how traditions are passed from one generation to another. This week we are reading about a Korean family, a family from Ghana, and a Mexican-American family. We are practicing summarizing (Telling the beginning, middle, and ending of the story with key elements included in three or four sentences) and asking questions to help us comprehend what we are reading. Additionally, we are categorizing and classifying details and drawing conclusions.

We are learning when to capitalize proper names of nouns and the difference between singular and plural nouns. We are introducing the study of contractions which will continue for several weeks. We are also learning to use the words from a question to write a complete sentence for an answer. An exciting writing adventure we are starting this week is pen pal letters to Mrs. Studeny’s third grade class in NE Ohio (very near the Firestone Golf Course). The children from Mrs. McGowan’s class last year loved their Irish pen pals, so we decided to continue writing to pen pals. Dr. Kimble’s daughter teaches a third grade class too, so we are exchanging letters with her students in Ohio. They are already watching our temperatures and making a daily weather chart of how our weather (doesn’t) change compared to how theirs does!

As we continue to learn to tell time in math, we are starting to practice addition facts. Please help your child know their addition facts very assuredly and quickly. A good way to do that is to ask three facts before certain activities. For example, if you are going to play a Nintendo game, first you have to tell me 3+4, 5+4, and 9+2. Of course, it is helpful to continue to have your child telling you the time—now he/she should be able to tell you it is a quarter after 7 or 45 minutes before 8. Please continue to have them tell you the time in different ways. That constant practice is so very helpful. Thanks!

Our big social studies projects about Asian countries are progressing nicely. Students are learning to research reliable sources and scan read for certain information. This week we will be learning to take notes and do oral reports as several of the students are reporting on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

We were all glad Mrs. Layton returned safely from her trip through New England. We especially thought it was “sweet” of her to bring us each a maple sugar candy treat, some beautiful colored leaves, and send postcards.

We hope to see many of you at LS visitation on Monday morning. Thanks for your support of the silent auction Birthday Games and Fun Basket. Have a terrific week!

Mrs. Layton and Dr. Kimble