Isaac Fox Elementary s
THE MATRAS
September 11, 2015 s
Ph: (847)540-2815s
kerri.matras@lz95.org s
MINUTE
A Summary of Third Grade Happenings
Reading/Language Arts
Reading
Our focus during reading has been on launching
reading workshop. Activities have centered on
providing the third graders models for reading
behaviors, rituals, and routines. Active listening,
thinking engagement, and participation are all
expectations for reading workshop. Establishing
a community that fosters these behaviors is vital
and will help us, as readers, develop and grow.
Mathematics
In our first module, the third graders have been
using a number line to review and extend
comparing, ordering, and rounding of three-digit
numbers. The number line helps students with
these skills because it shows them the position of
one number relative to others around it, making
judgments about two or more numbers easier.
In this module, we are also reviewing the concept
of multiplication. We are using equal groups and
array models to help support the understanding of
We have read some excellent books that
multiplication. The array is important because it
provided us with opportunities to practice these
shows a useful connection that helps the learning
behaviors. We read Henry and The Buccaneer
Bunnies and learned how reading books enables of number facts. For example, if students know
8x5=40 they will also know 5x8=40. This
us to become stronger and more confident
mathematical property is reinforced in this module
readers. We also read The Girl Who Hated
and used to introduce fact strategies for tens and
Books and discovered that in order to grow as
fives.
readers we should read for different purposes
and read a variety of texts.
Writing
This year, the third graders will be keeping a
Writer’s Notebook. The purpose of the notebook
is to provide a place for students to practice
writing. It’s a place for them to generate text,
find ideas, and practice what they know about
spelling and grammar. With our first piece of
writing, we will be working on writing about the
history of our name.
.
Science
This trimester, we will be learning how different
living things live in environments that meet their
needs. Last week, our lessons focused on land
and water environments. The third graders
learned that these environments support a
diversity of plants and animals. This week, we
began learning about food chains.
Social Studies
This trimester, our focus is on map skills. The third
graders learned the difference between a map and
globe and what kind of information we can gather
from each.
Quick Tidbits
Dates to Remember:
September 14th and 16th: MAP Testing
September 12th: Back to School Picnic (11-2pm)
September 15th: Culver’s Night (5-8pm)
September 24th: Institute Day-No School
September 29-October 1st: Fall Book Fair
September 29th: Family Night at Book Fair (68pm)
September 30th: Early Release-12:50 dismissal