We are wrapping up our second marking period and looking ahead to the second half of our school year. Our third grade students have been working so hard and have completed some awesome projects along the way!

Language Arts: In language arts, we have focused on text features in nonfiction texts. Students had the opportunity to learn about various text features and then explore them in National Geographic Explorer Magazines. As an end to the text feature mini-unit, students were put into groups to research an animal. Using their research, students created a magazine to display their information along with 7 different text features. These projects turned out great and I’m so proud of the students’ hard work!

We then moved to text structure and we are still working on this skill. Students are learning about nonfiction text structures such as compare and contrast, description, problem and solution, cause and effect, and sequence. We will continue to work with this skill using a variety of texts and we will have a quiz on January 27th.

Looking ahead, we will focusing on author’s point of view next.

Please continue to read for 20 minutes each night and complete the Reading Log weekly. My language arts class has bi-weekly spelling tests and we are looking to have our next test on January 28th. Students will be getting their lists and words to sort on Tuesday, January 24th.

Writing: In writing, we are working on using dialogue in our writing, using strong verbs, and writing a how-to piece. Each third grade homeroom will rotate through this writing cycle before we move on to new skills. I’m looking forward to reading about what students know how to do well!

Math: In math we are wrapping up our measurement unit. Students have learned about telling time to the minute, calculating elapsed time to the minute, completing problems involving liquid volume and mass, counting and comparing coins, making change up to $5.00, and measuring to the nearest 1/4 inch and centimeter. We will be reviewing all of these skills before holding our post-test the week of January 30th.

Students will be pre-tested for our new unit and some students may be switching math classes. Please be on the lookout for information regarding math classes in your child’s Friday Folder in the coming weeks. Please continue to review multiplication facts each night and complete the weekly math packets.

Odds & Ends:

No School – 1/23

Report Cards home – 1/27

Early Dismissal PM KDG – 2/16

No School – 2/17

No School – 2/20

PTO STEM Fair – 2/24

As always if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. Have a wonderful weekend!

Thanks you,

Miss Gentile