We Say Goodbye

We have to say goodbye and good luck to our classmate Krizma. She and her family are moving to the United States. Krizma has been a wonderful addition to our classroom community and we will miss her.

Black and Orange Day on Monday October 31st, 2011

On Monday we will have a quiet party to celebrate Halloween. Your child may bring a board game to play. If you are sending treats please send enough for all the students (17) and be sure that they are nut free.Have a fun, safe Halloween evening.

Math- Patterns in Addition and Subtraction- Chapter 2

In math we have started chapter 2. This chapter teaches your child strategies they can use to add and subtract. It is also very helpful if your child has a very sound knowledge of number facts to 20. Please practise this at home if you have time.We will be adding and subtracting with regrouping, so you will see drill sheets coming home as we practise. If you are out shopping and want to pick up a math book that has similar practise pages, your child will benefit from working at home. We will also be applying our knowledge to solve problems. We will be starting a take home math program in November.As always it will be optional.

Writing News

So far we have learned to write a paragraph. We know that it must have the following parts:
1/a topic sentence that tells the reader what the paragraph will be about
2/several supporting sentences that provide details about the topic
3/a closing sentence that refers back to the topic sentence

We have written many paragraphs both together and independently. Your child has also practised revising and editing their work by using checklists that they keep in their writing folders.Currently we are finishing up paragraphs that will be handed in to be evaluated according to a rubric that was reviewed and given to your child before they wrote their last paragraph. A rubric is a chart that sets out all the things that will be evaluated and shows how your child have they can achieve level 4 work.

Reading strategies

In our classroom we are implementing a program which gives your child many reading comprehension choices.Each month I will teach new options and we practise those choices during guided reading. So far we have learned:
1/ as you read, stop periodically and check to make you are understanding what you are reading
2/ back up and re-read if you are not clear
3/ look at a word you don't know and make sure it looks right, sounds right and makes sense (ask your child to show you the actions for this)

4/ pay attention to interesting vocabulary as you read. You can use it when you are speaking or writing

Current Events

Tomorrow your child will bring home an explanation and calendar for Current Events. This is a chance for your child to prepare a short talk to present to the class. Please consult the notice coming home for details. Each child is responsible for three talks throughout the year. I will try to remind them a week ahead of their date.

Tests in Grade Three

I understand that the word "test" creates some anxiety for both students and parents. Please understand that my goal is to study with your child in class so that home study is a bonus and not a requirement. We review together and if your child has worked hard they will be prepared. In math, we usually take several questions directly out of the textbook so that your child is familiar with them. I do expect your child to be able to put their math textbook in their backpack when I remind them each night. I do not check backpacks. They must learn to be responsible!!

Math Test

We will be having our first math test on Thursday October 5th.It will be on Chapter 5 Sorting and Data Management. Each student has been given a numbered math text in order to help them study. Please return the text each day as we need them for math lessons in class. Please take good care of these books as the replacement cost is about $42 per text!!! I suggest you study a little bit each night. We have covered every lesson so review the math principles of each lesson with your child and do one or two questions from each lesson. If you have any questions please call me at the school.