Mindfulness ABC´s

A strong foundation in phonics helps with decoding more difficult words.

Here are a few suggestions for working with the weekly spelling words:

-Write the words in cursive.

-Rainbow roll-n-write the words.

-Write each word 3-5 times each.

-Write the words in a sentence.

-Draw a picture with each word.

In Math, we're finishing our module on multiplication and division. We will continue using the terms

Labeled Tape Diagram, Array, Number Bond and Equation. This helps students develop a deeper understanding of multiplication and division.

In our next Module we will: 1. Explore time as a continuous measurement using a stopwatch. 2. Relate skip-counting by 5 on the clock and telling

time to a continuous measurement model, the number line.

3. Count by five and one on the number line as a strategy to tell time to the nearest

minute on the clock. 4. Solve word problems involving time intervals within 1 hour by counting backwards

and forwards using a number line and clock. 5. Solve word problems involving time intervals within an hour by adding and

subtracting on the number line.

Bridges Math Unit 3-
Multi- Digit Addition and Subtraction

Please click on the Parent Letter and FAQs  to learn more about the upcoming unit. 

This week we concluded our science Structures of Life Module. Third grades loved exploring owl pellets and the human skeleton. Next week we will begin our Water and Climate Module.  

Water is a unique earth material, the only material on Earth that occurs naturally in all three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. Next to the air we breathe, water is probably the most important thing in our lives. Your child will learn these interesting things and more as we investigate water, its properties, and what it can do in the FOSS Water and Climate Module. One of the goals of this module is to help students focus their observation skills on water—to begin seeing water in a new light. Through their investigations into the properties of water (how it reacts to heating and cooling and the processes of evaporation and condensation), students will begin to appreciate how important this unique material is. We will also use tools and the Internet to monitor weather conditions in our local area and compare forecasts to actual measurements. We will be introduced to climate and how climate regions are determined around North America and the world. You can help your child focus on the properties of water and its uses in several ways. Use the Internet to find the source of your local water. Take a trip to the public library and check out books about water, water conservation, and recycling. Plan a visit to a garden shop and find out more about irrigation systems and water drainage in different kinds of soil. Visit a dam, reservoir, lake, or stream to observe the flow and interactions of water with the earth. Consider ways to conserve water in your home and community. Take a walk around the block after a rainstorm, looking for evidence of precipitation, condensation, evaporation, and flowing water. Follow weather conditions in the broadcasts and in newspapers and discuss them with your child. You can get more information on this module by going to www.FOSSweb.com. We’re looking forward to weeks of exciting investigations in the world of water and climate! 

New Accelerated Reader Reading Goals 

This week begins the second trimester for AR Goals (Nov. 13th - March 5th)

Each student has been assigned an "AR Goal." The goals were calculated according to each student's performance on the computerized AR star test.  The Accelerated Reader program ("AR") is a computerized program that tests reading comprehension. Students select books on their reading level, read independently, and take an independent comprehension test on a school computer. Each book is worth a certain number of points based on its length and reading level. Students get a percentage of these points based on how many of the test questions they get right. The program tracks their progress over the course of the school year. You may track your student’s progress in Home Connect. Here is a link to the Parent's Guide to AR. Accelerated Reader

Off to a Great Start

Welcome to the third grade blog. Each month we will work to share a glimpse
of the upcoming curriculum.

Save the Dates!

• Parent Alliance: Thursday, September 13th @ 6:30
• Movie Night: Friday, September 14th @ 6:00pm

• Picture Day: Friday, September 21st
  

Reading:

Charlotte's Web by E. B. White

The Third Graders are in the middle of reading Charlotte's Web.
This classic will be our inspiration for the first set of Third Grade reading
and writing standards. The students will write a letter to a character in the book,
Mr. Zuckerman, persuading him to save Wilbur the Pig.
We will also focus on character and plot development,
along with the many enriching vocabulary words and thought provoking
reading comprehension.

"Just Right" Reading

We have been focusing on how to choose "just right" books and why it is so
important to choose books that we are able to read. Research shows when children
are reading independently, they should be reading books they can read and understand.
Reading books that are too challenging can lead to frustration, inability to
understand the story, thus causing reading to no longer be enjoyable.
We want children to love reading, which means it is important they are reading books
they are interested in and on their just right level!

Research also shows that children are motivated to read when they can
choose their own books. The strategy we will use in class to choose
just right books is called IPICK. You can use the poster to help your child in
picking good fit books at home.

This year we will be focusing on applying reading strategies to a variety of literary genre.
Our class will learn how to read fiction stories and nonfiction articles carefully.
We will learn the basic skills that we will use in our reading throughout the year.  
Ask your child what genre we focused on this week. (Hint: It has characters, setting,
or events that can not exist in real life, animals have human-like characteristics, and
these stories teach a lesson.)

During our reading time we will focus on:

• Ways to talk about their reading with partners and the class.
• Strategies to help pronounce long words.
• Strategies to figure out the meanings of hard words.
• How to find important details in fiction stories and nonfiction articles.

• How to analyze what we read and write about it.

Here are a couple of activities you can do to help your child.

• Read together a fiction story. Discuss what happens in the story and who the characters are.
• Read together a nonfiction book or article. Ask your child what the story is about.
• Discuss what kinds of photos and images they see. What can they learn from these images?

Math:

Bridges in Mathematics Grade 3

Unit 1 Addition & Subtraction Patterns

In this unit your child will:

❚ Use efficient math strategies to build fluency with basic addition and subtraction facts

❚ Determine whether two expressions are equal

❚ Write equations to represent one step story problems

❚ Use strategies based on place value, properties of operations, or the relationship
between addition and subtraction to fluently add and subtract within 100

Writing: Writer's Workshop is well underway and students have been having
a lot of fun learning about what writers do to "gather" ideas for writing true stories.
Students have gathered ideas by recalling "first times" in their lives, writing about
moments they experienced strong emotions such as sadness, happiness,
embarrassment, and fear. They also generated ideas based on things they love.
This week they will choose two of their ideas to take to a quick write,
share those quick writes with partners, and then select one of those ideas
to begin drafting their stories. We love the ownership this process gives
them in their writing. One student told us that, "I feel like Writer's Workshop is
like our own secret club!" It's so wonderful to hear that kids call out, "Yay!"
when we announce it's time for writing. They have been so open and willing to
share their ideas for writing as well (and boy did we hear about some VERY
embarrassing moments). It's really a happy time in our classrooms.

Accelerated Reader

Each student has been assigned an "AR Goal." The goals were calculated according to each student's performance on the computerized AR star test.  The Accelerated Reader program ("AR") is a computerized program that tests reading comprehension. Students select books on their reading level, read independently, and take an independent comprehension test on a school computer. Each book is worth a certain number of points based on its length and reading level. You can look up a particular book in AR Book Finder. Students get a percentage of these points based on how many of the test questions they get right. The program tracks their progress over the course of the school year. You may track your student’s progress in Home Connect. Here is a link to the Parent's Guide to AR. Accelerated Reader Hopefully, this will answer your questions. The goal dates are as follows: Aug 16- Nov. 21 Nov.22 - Feb 28 Mar.1- June 1

Welcome to Room 24

Dear Families,

Every year, the first day of school gets me as excited as when I was a child.  I pick out my clothes, get my lunch ready and wake up super early. I remember one year getting new purple knickers to wear on the first day of school. I couldn't wait for the the year to begin. Things haven't changed much since then (except no purple knickers). I'm ready for a wonderful school year and a positive learning environment.

I look forward to communicating early and often with you this year. The easiest way for me to make sure you see the blog is to send you an occasional e-mail when the blog has been updated. I will include a link to make it easier to get there. There is also an option to Subscribe to e-mail updates. Signing up for this will ensure that you get an e-mail notifying you that the blog has been updated.

Please take the time to send me a quick e-mail (virginia_nosky@pvusd.net) so I can start making a list of all your e-mail addresses. Please include both your child's name and yours in that first email to me.

I look forward to meeting each child and seeing his or her special talents. 

Mrs. Nosky

First Day of School ~ Wednesday, August 15th 7:52-2:10

Welcome to Third Grade

Optional School Supply List -not required

• 1 dozen sharpened Dixon Ticonderoga #2

• reusable water bottle-labeled
• Colored sharpies
• Black, blue, and red pen
• Glue stick
• chisel tip EXPO brand Dry Erase Markers (low odor)
• 1 8"X10" canvas board (flat canvas on cardboard, no wood frame involved)
• black sharpies

Donations

Class supplies are always much needed and greatly appreciated.

• Kleenex
• Baby wipes
• Clorox wipes for cleaning desks
• Hand sanitizer (pump bottles)
• Paper towels
• Popcorn
• Pizza Party (talk to Mrs. Nosky)
• Amazon gift cards (To purchase... “NOW” oils...Nature’s Shield, Lavender, or Eucalyptus...Also, to purchase flexible seating for children).
• Avery labels 5160
• Ziploc bags (assorted sizes)
• Reams of printer paper
• Dollar Tree gift cards
• Donations to class funds (write a check to Rio del Mar Parent Alliance, RDPA, Teacher Name in the memo)

“How can I help?”

• Donations to our class fund; art projects, science experiments, math activities, etc...

• Volunteering in the classroom
• Sharing a skill: art, yoga, PE, science, sewing, woodwork, any creative activity!
• Chaperoning on field trips

Contact: Bloomz  access code: R89YHZ

virginia_nosky@pvusd.net

Seahawks Soar to Success !