September 25, 2014

3rd Grade News

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

9-25-14

Reading/Language Arts

Third grade read a biography this week about Roberto Clemente, a baseball player from the Pittsburgh Pirates from the late 1950s through the early 1970s.  The comprehension skill covered cause and effect.  The vocabulary strategy focused on the prefix mis-. The phonics skill covered long o.  In grammar students worked on singular and plural nouns. The class also reviewed common and proper nouns. This was an area of difficulty on last week's assessment.  Students seem to have a better understanding of this topic now.

Next week third grade will be taking the Unit 1 Benchmark test. This will cover skills learned throughout the first five lessons. Testing will take place during the scheduled center time.  During the scheduled reading/language arts time, third grade will be moving ahead in the series.

Math

Third grade continues to work on subtraction.  We have used a variety of strategies, such as a number line, friendly numbers, and place value, to solve problems.  There will be a test over addition and subtraction hopefully by the end of next week.

Science

Third grade is now learning about animals. Students have identified the needs of animals such as oxygen, water, food, and shelter.  We also discussed the differences between plant and animal cells.

STEM Training

Last spring I was awarded a STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) grant.  I will be away from school next Tuesday, September 30th to attend the training.  Mrs. Weihs will be the substitute teacher.

Important Dates
Tuesday, September 30th-Mrs. Burg gone all day at STEM training
Wednesday, October 1st-1 hour Early Dismissal
Friday, October 3rd-2 Hour Early Dismissal (Homecoming)
Wednesday, October 8th-1 Hour Early Dismissal
Friday, October 10th-NO SCHOOL (Teacher Professional Development)