Thursday, September 24, 2015

Thursday, September 24, 2015

3rd Grade News
nburg@crestonstmalachy.org
9-24-15

Reading/Language Arts
The story read this week was called "Pop's Bridge."  In this historical fiction story a young boy thinks his father's job is is the most important part of the process of building the Golden Gate Bridge.  After an accident occurs, the boy realizes that each of the jobs that the crew has is equally important to the completion of the project.  The comprehension skill focused on was compare and contrast. The vocabulary strategy was word families.  In grammar students learned about common and proper nouns.  The phonics skill focused on long o words, specifically words with oa and ow.

The weekly test results from lesson 3 have been included in the take home folder.  The results are yours to keep.  The tests measure the understanding of each concept covered during the week.  I am reminding the students that these tests are important.  They need to take their time and do their best each week.

Math
Third grade took a mid chapter quiz assessing the students on addition.  Students will now work on subtraction.  Please review the basic facts at home.

Science
Students took a test covering plants this past week.  Overall I was impressed with how well the students did.  Tests will be sent home for parents to review and sign.  The next chapter third grade will cover will be animals.


Reading Incentive Program
Students in kindergarten through fifth grade are going to be participating in a reading incentive program for the months of October through December.  The goal of the program is to get students reading at home and develop lifelong readers. Each month a calendar will be sent home with the students.  Keep track of the numbers of minutes read each day.  This can include what the child reads individually and the reading parents and students do together. At the end of the month, please calculate the number of minutes read, sign, and return the calendar to school.  The goal in third grade for the months of October, November, and December is 400 total minutes for the month.  The goal will increase in January, February, and March.  If your child meets the goal he or she can choose a gift certificate from Pizza Hut for a free personal pan pizza or a gift certificate from Pizza Ranch for a free mini single topping pizza.  You will see a spot on each calendar to circle the option your child would like to have.  The certificate your child receives can change from month to month if they would like.  Certificates will be sent home in take home folders. Please return the calendar each month even if your child does not make the goal for the month.  I will let the students know the total minutes read in third grade for each month.  Please let me know if you have any questions about the reading program.  The October calendar will come home in next week's take home folder.  Happy reading!


Homecoming Parade
Parents and students are needed to ride on the Homecoming float for the parade on Friday, September 25th.  Please let me know if would be of interest to you or your child. More information will be sent home in Thursday's take home folder.  You will need to meet at 1:45 PM at the destination to be named later.  Once the parade is over the pick up will be at Holy Spirit Church.

Important Dates
Friday, September 25th-Spirit Day (Pay $1 to wear sweats)
Friday, September 25th-2 Hour Early Dismissal
Wednesday, September 30th-1 Hour Early Dismissal
Friday, October 2nd-NO SCHOOL (Professional Development)
Wednesday, October 7th-3rd Grade Mass
Wednesday, October 7th-1 Hour Early Dismissal
Friday, October 9th-Spirit Day
Saturday, October 10th-PTO Spaghetti Supper


Thursday, September 17, 2015

Thursday, September 17, 2015

3rd Grade News
nburg@crestonstmalachy.org
9-17-15

Reading/Language Arts
Third grade read "Destiny's Gift" in which a young girl and a bookstore owner share a special friendship. Destiny sense that something is wrong with Mrs. Wade and learns that the store may have to close. Determined to save the store, Destiny rallies the community to help save the store.  The comprehension skill focused on analyzing the characters.  The vocabulary strategy covered antonyms. The phonics skill covered the long vowel pairs of ay, ai, ea, and ee. In grammar students learned about compound sentences.

The weekly assessment results from Lesson 2 have been included in the take home folder.  These are yours to keep.  These tests show the students' understanding of the concepts learned during the week.

Just a reminder to parents and students, please remember to return the spelling pretest along with the missed words that have been written for homework. Both papers need turned in together.  The students are reminded of this after each pretest.


Math
Third grade continues to work on using addition properties to do mental math. This week students learned about the Associative Property (group addends in different ways and still the the same sum).  An example of this is (16+7)+23=16+(7+23). Another strategy learned was breaking the numbers apart using place value. An example of this is 345+414=(300+40+5) + (400+10+4)=759.

Please continue to work on the addition basic facts at home.  This will greatly helps students in the skills we are currently working on in class.


Science
The class continues to learn about plants.  This week students learned about the process of photosynthesis.  Four components are needed for this process to take place.  Water and carbon dioxide combine with the chlorophyll in the plant using the sun's energy to make sugars the plants need.  The by product of this process is oxygen.   

Third grade is preparing for their first science test.  In class students have completing the chapter review.  Once the chapter review is complete we will check together in class.  We will complete the study guide together.  A test covering plants will be next week.


Dress Code
Just a reminder to parents about the dress code. The dress code states that leggings may be worn as long as the bottom of the dress, skirt, or short extends to at least mid-thigh.  Please follow accordingly.


Highlights Magazine
In your child's take home folder this week is an order form for Highlights magazine.  You are under no obligation to buy.  Please fill out the order form either way.  The class receives free gifts with returned order forms filled out yes or no.  Please return by Wednesday, September 23rd.

Class Meeting
In next week's class meeting we are going to discuss the importance of our names.  In your child's take home folder is an interview form.  Your child needs to ask a parent at home these questions about how he/she got his/her name. The child needs to be the one writing the answers on the paper.  Students will share at our class meeting on Tuesday, September 21nd.  Please have your child complete and return the form by Monday, September 22nd.

Important Dates
Wednesday, September 23rd-1 Hour Early Dismissal
Friday, September 25th-Spirit Day
Friday, September 25th-2 Hour Early Dismissal
Wednesday, September 30th-1 Hour Early Dismissal
Friday, October 2nd-NO SCHOOL (Teacher Professional Development)
Wednesday, October 7th-3rd Grade Mass
Wednesday, October 7th-1 Hour Early Dismissal




Thursday, September 10, 2015

Thursday, September 10, 2015

3rd Grade News
nburg@crestonstmalachy.org
9-10-15


Since this weekend is the Iowa versus Iowa State football game, please show your support by wearing your favorite team shirt.  This is not a Spirit Day to pay $1.  No windpants or sweatpants are allowed. Just wear your favorite team shirt.  GO HAWKS!!!!!!

Math
This week students worked on estimating sums by using compatible number and rounding. Students are working on rounding to the nearest ten and hundred.  Another skill we have covered in class is using mental math strategies to add.  Students are counting by tens and ones, using compatible numbers, and using friendly numbers.  Knowing the basic facts is a great way to aid in mental math.  Please practice the basic facts at home.

Reading/Language Arts
This week third grade read a fantasy selection entitled "The Trial of Cardigan Jones" in which a moose is put on trial and falsely accused of taking an apple pie.  Students worked on conclusions and inferring for the comprehension strategy. The vocabulary strategy focused on using a dictionary.  Students worked with long vowel words with the VCe pattern. The grammar skill identified the four types of sentences (declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory).

In the take home folder this week are the Lesson 1 weekly assessment results.  These are yours to keep.  The weekly assessments let me know if you child is understanding and applying strategies learned in class. 

Science
Third grade continues to study about plants.  We have also learned about seeds.  

Book Orders
A book order was sent home in last week's take home folder. If you are ordering by cash or check (made payable to Mrs. Burg), please return the order to school by Monday, September 11th.  Directions for ordering online with a credit card were also sent home with the students.  The website is www.scholastic.com.  

Important Dates
Friday, September 11th-Book Order Due
Sunday, September 13th-Holy Spirit International Food Fair (4-7 PM)
Wednesday, September 16th-1 Hour Early Dismissal
Wednesday, September 23rd-1 Hour Early Dismissal
Friday, September 25th-Spirit Day
Friday, September 25th-2 Hour Early Dismissal for Homecoming (1:10 PM)

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Thursday, September 3, 2015

3rd Grade News
nburg@crestonstmalachy.org
9-3-15


MATH
Concept covered in math this week have included number patterns and rounding.  Students were introduced to the Identity Property of Addition which states the sum of any number and zero is that number.  An example of this is 7 + 0=7.  Student also learned the Commutative Property of Addition which states that you can add two or more numbers in any order and get the same sum.  An example of this is 3 + 4=7 and 4 + 3=7.  The class also worked on rounding to the nearest ten and hundred.


READING/LANGUAGE ARTS
This week third grade read the humorous fiction story called A Fine, Fine School.  In this story a principal thinks everything about his school is fine,  so he decides to have school on the weekends which then leads to school during summer vacation.  The principal doesn't realize the kids are missing out on learning things away from school like teaching a dog to do tricks or a little brother to skip rope.  In the end, the principal decides school should only be on the weekdays so the kids can also learn new things away from school as well.  The comprehension skill covered learning about story structure.  Students identified the setting, characters, and the plot.  Students worked on short vowels for the phonics skill.  The vocabulary strategy demonstrated how to use context clues.  Students also learned about complete subjects and complete predicates in grammar.

Hopefully all students and parents understand how spelling works in third grade.  There will be a post test on Friday.  Please study the spelling list with your child.

There will be a weekly assessment given on Friday in reading.  It will cover the skills and concepts we worked on during the week. 


SCIENCE
Third grade continues to learn about plants in science.  The class has identified what plants need to live, plant parts, and looked at a plant cell.



STUDENT OF SERVICE
Creston High School has a program for seniors called Student of Service (SOS).  Students must complete a semester of service to graduate.  Paige Marxen will be completing her SOS this fall in the third grade classroom.  She will be here from 9:30-10:30 AM every other day.


CLASS MEETING
Third grade will be having weekly class meetings.  This past week the students developed a social contract.  A social contract is an agreement of behavior.  All of the students and myself signed the social contract.  The students know if they do not follow the social contract there are consequences.  You can find a copy of third grade's social contract in my blog pages. Please discuss the social contract with your child at home as you see necessary.



BOOK ORDERS
In this week's take home folders are a Scholastic book orders.  Please look to see if you would like to order.  The book order may be returned to school with cash or check (made payable to Nicole Burg) or orders can be submitted online following the directions attached to the order forms.  Book orders are due by Friday, September 11th.


IMPORTANT DATES
Friday, September 4th-Spirit Day
Tuesday, September 8th-PTO Meeting at 6 PM
Wednesday, September 9th-1 Hour Early Dismissal
Sunday, September 13th-Holy Spirit International Food Fair 4-7 PM





3/21/24

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