10-26-17

3rd Grade News

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

10-26-17

Science

Students are learning about animal behavior. The class discussed instincts and learned behaviors. Students have also been learning about what happens when animals are not able to meet their needs. Students are researching about animals that are threatened, endangered, or extinct.

Reading/Language Arts

This week third grade read the folktale "The Harvest Birds" in which a young man has desire to live off the land. The townspeople doubt his abilities, but Juan Zanate believes in himself. With the the help of some "friends" Juan achieves his goal. The comprehension skill covered drawing conclusions. The vocabulary strategy focused on using context clues to figure out meanings. In grammar, student focused on using commas with words in a series and addresses. The phonics skills had students working on the silent letter of wr- and kn-.

The results of the lesson 7 weekly assessment have been included in the take home folder. These are yours to keep.

Math

Students have interpreted data on a picture graph and a bar graph. The class continues to work on the basic addition and subtraction facts.

Halloween Activities

Halloween activities are scheduled for the afternoon of Tuesday, October 31st. The Civics club will have activities for the students to participate in after lunch/recess. The parade will begin at 2:30 PM in the gym. Parents are more than welcome to come and watch the parade. Students have time prior to the parade to change into their costumes.

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Parent/teacher conferences are scheduled for Thursday, November 2nd from 1:00-5:00 PM and 6:00-9:30 PM. School dismisses at 12:10 PM on  this day. There is no school on Friday, November 3rd.

Reading Incentive Program

The month of October is quickly coming to an end. Please return October reading calendars by Monday, November 6th. The goal for the month of October is 400 total minutes read.

November calendars have been included in the take home folder. The goal again is 400 minutes total read.

Field Trip

Students in first, second, and third grade will be attending a performance of A Little House Christmas at the Des Moines Playhouse on Tuesday, November 14th. A note with all of the details and a permission slip has been included in today's take home folder.  Please return the permission slip and $7 to cover the cost of the ticket to school by Friday, November 10th. Students will also need to bring a sack lunch on the field trip.  A sign up genius will be sent out on Monday, November 6th at noon for two third grade parent volunteers to chaperone this field trip.  Volunteers will need to pay the $7 for the ticket to the performance.

Important Dates

Saturday, October 28th-PTO Vendor Fair

Tuesday, October 31st-Halloween Parade (2:30 PM)

Thursday, November 2nd-12:10 Dismissal

Thursday-November 2nd-Parent/Teacher Conferences

Friday, November 3rd-NO SCHOOL

Thursday, November 9th-STEM Night at 5:30 PM

Friday, November 10th-Spirit Day ($1)

Tuesday, November 14th-1st, 2nd, 3rd Grade Field Trip

Thursday, November 16th-PTO Meeting

10-19-17

3rd Grade News

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

10-19-17

Math

Students are learning about analyzing and interpreting data. We have worked with tally tables and frequency tables.

Reading/Language Arts

The informational text read this week entitled "What Illustrators Do?" presented facts about the job of an illustrator.  The comprehension skill covered text and graphic features.  The vocabulary strategy focused on synonyms.  The phonics skill covered three letter clusters (scr, str, str, and thr). Students worked on verb tense (present, past, and future) for the grammar skill.

The results of the lesson 6 weekly assessment have been included in the take home folder for parents to view. These are yours to keep.

Science

The third grade class continues to learn about animals in science. Students have learned about birds, fish, and amphibians.

Mass

Third, fourth, and fifth grades have the mass scheduled for Wednesday, October 25th. Because of the number of students involved, not all third graders will have an assigned part. Please check your child's take home folder to see if your child has a part in the liturgy. There is a coffee and doughnut reception following the mass for third, fourth, and fifth grade parents and special guests.

Halloween Activities

Halloween will be celebrated at St. Malachy School on during the afternoon of Tuesday, October 31st. The Civics Club will provide activities for the students to participate in after lunch on this day. The parade begins at 2:30 PM. There will be time prior to the parade for the students to change into costumes. Parents are invited to come and watch the parade.

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Parent/Teacher conferences are scheduled for Thursday, November 2nd. Times are from 1:00-5:00 PM and 6:00-9:30 PM. Please sign up for a time slot using the included link 2017 Fall Conferences. There is no school on Friday, November 3rd.

Important Dates

Thursday, October 19th-PTO Meeting at 6 PM

Friday, October 20th-Spirit Day

Saturday, October 21st-Spaghetti Supper

Wednesday, October 25th-3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Mass followed by a reception

Saturday, October 28th-PTO Vendor Fair

Tuesday, October 31st-Halloween Parade 2:30 PM

Thursday, November 2nd-Parent/Teacher Conferences

Friday, November 3rd-NO SCHOOL

10-12-17

3rd Grade News

10-12-17

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

Reading/Language Arts

Students are reading a narrative nonfiction selection called "Bats Love the Night" in which readers learn about the night activity of bats.  The comprehension skill covered sequence of events.  The vocabulary skill focused on the suffixes of -able and -ible.  The phonics skill went over long and short vowel words with VCV pattern (camel, president, shiver). The grammar skill focused on verbs (action and being). Students played "Action Verbs" Charades to aid in their understanding of the skill.

Last week third grade students took the Unit 1 Benchmark test. The results have been included in the take home folder. These tests assess the students' understanding and application of the skills taught in the five stories discussed. The "Reading and Analyzing" section covered comprehension and vocabulary strategies. The comprehension skills included story structure, compare/contrast, story message, conclusions, cause/effect, literal/nonliteral meanings, analyze illustrations, understand characters, and author's word choice. The vocabulary strategies included antonyms, word families, context clues, dictionary/glossary, and prefixes. The "Revising and Editing" section covered grammar strategies such kinds of sentences, capitalization, and nouns. The writing traits covered sentence fluency, and the spelling strategies focused on long vowels of a, i, and o. The class completed the "Reading Complex Text" section together, so students would have an understanding of how to complete on their own on Benchmark test for Unit 2.

Math

Chapter 2 will focus on representing and interpreting data. Students will organize data, use and make picture graphs, use and make picture graphs, and use and make line plots.

Science

Students continue to learn about mammals. The class has studied amphibians, fish, and reptiles.

Important Dates

Friday, October 13th-NO SCHOOL (Professional Development)

Monday, October 16th-NO SCHOOL (Professional Development)

Thursday, October 19th-Muffins with Mom 7:30-8:00 AM

Thursday, October 19th-PTO Meeting 6:00 PM

Friday, October 20th-Spirit Day ($1)

Saturday, October 21st-Spaghetti Supper 

10-5-17

3rd Grade News

10-5-17

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

Math

Third grade continues to work on subtraction strategies. Students have solved problems combining place value and regrouping. Students also continue to work on estimation skills.

The chapter one math test will be next week. This test will cover estimation of sums and differences, addition and subtraction with regrouping, and mental math strategies. A review is being sent home in the take home folder this week. It does not need returned to school.

Science

Students have been learning about animals in science. In class, third grade is learning about the vertebrate group of animals. Students have learned about mammals and birds.

Reading/Language Arts

This week the class has been taking the Unit 1 Benchmark test. Please look for the results in next week's take home folder.

Next week third grade will be back in the reading textbook and doing spelling with lesson 6. There will be a packet to complete. The spelling post test and packet will be due on Thursday, October 12, since there is no school on Friday.

Students are also writing a personal narrative about a place that is special to them. Students have worked through the writing process by prewriting, drafting, and editing. The class learned about topic sentences, details, and a conclusion. A published copy will be available for viewing at parent/teacher conferences.

Mass

Third grade is scheduled to be in charge of the mass on Wednesday, October 11th. Parts for the mass have been included in the take home folder. If your child has a speaking part, please have them practice at home to improve fluency of the the reading. Parts will also be practiced at school.

Book Order

An October book order has been included in the take home folder. Orders are due back to school (cash or check made payable to Scholastic Book Clubs) or online (credit card) at Scholastic Book Clubs. Orders are due by Thursday, October 12th.

Important Dates

Friday, October 6th-Volunteer at Food Pantry

Wednesday, October 11th-3rd Grade Mass

Friday, October 13th-No School (Professional Development)

Monday, October 16th-No School (Professional Development)

Thursday, October 19th-Muffins With Mom  7:30 AM

Thursday, October 19th-PTO Meeting  6:00 PM

Friday, October 20th-Spirit Day ($1)

Saturday, October 21st-Spaghetti Supper