Team 3C: September 16th Update

Over the last week, we have fine tuned the routines of the classroom and everyone is settling in nicely!

Curriculum Update

Literacy

We have continued with our read alouds each day and the students are all very good listeners during this time. We have focused on a few accuracy strategies (cross checking, read around the word) and some comprehension strategies (check for understanding, back up and reread) during our read aloud lessons. We have read a variety of fiction (Chowder, The Incredible Bouncing Chowder by Peter Brown) and nonfiction (Going To Yellowstone by Peter & Connie Roop). Our read to self time is also going well and I am now able to conference with a couple of readers each period. We had our first Making Words lesson this week and the students handled it very well. Making Words lessons are a big part of our word study time. We investigate different spelling patterns, often focusing on vowel sounds/combinations, while creating a variety of words. This teacher led activity helps students build their confidence in working with words during reading and writing activities. You can watch this short video if you want to see what a lesson looks like, Sample Making Words Lesson. We also fit in some journal writing this week. The students enjoy the freedom of writing about what they chose during this time.

Numeracy

We started our patterning unit this week in math and the students handled things very well! Patterns in grade three are a bit trickier than in previous grades. In the lower grades, the focus is on visual patterns.

In grade three, the focus is on numerical patterns.

What number comes next?

2, 5, 8, 11, __

This task can be quite tricky for students! Our JumpMath program does a fantastic job in breaking this task down into manageable parts! The first thing that a student needs to be able to do is to figure out how the pattern is growing? What are they adding to 2 to get to 5? This is called "The Gap".

If a student is unable to do this in their head, they can use this trick:

After they can determine "the gap", they are ready for the next step...adding the gap to a number.

The final step is putting those two tasks together, find the gap, double check the gap, and add it to the last number in the pattern to continue the pattern.

To this point, we have been focusing on increasing/growing patterns. Coming up, we will use these same strategies with decreasing patterns.

Science

The students are very excited to be studying Rocks and Minerals in science! We have started the unit by discussing properties. We have investigated the different properties that geologists focus on when studying rocks: smell, feel, shape, luster, light, hardness, magnetism and streak colour.

Physical Education

This week we focused on locomotion and following the rules in the gymnasium.

Other News

Bus Safety

The students and I joined Mr. Coffin and his grade four class for Bus Safety this week. The students enjoyed the Jeopardy style game that we played to review the rules of riding the bus and our emergency evacuation drill outside!

Silent 30 Reward

Team 3C earned their first Silent 30 reward in record time and earned 30 minutes of free play time using our indoor recess games and activities! The students had a blast and are eagerly working towards their next Silent 30 reward!