Last Week of February

This week’s reading selection is an informational text called, Washington Weed Whackers. Students will us the compare/contrast strategy. We have used this strategy with narrative texts and next will use it with informational texts. Students will look at the text structure and look for clue words that help them know when an author is writing about how topics are the same and different. The spelling words this week come from Unit 4/Week 3 and are words with soft g and c. Students will learn that when those letters are followed by the letters e, i, or y, the sound changes.

In writing, we are diligently working on our Young Author’s Day books and know that our deadline for the printer is looming! Your child brought home an order form for extra books last week. This form needs to be returned even if you don’t want to order extra books. Each child gets one FREE book and additional copies can be ordered for $19.95 each.

In math, we have started a unit on division. Students will soon see how multiplication and division are related. Please continue to practice the multiplication facts with your child. You can call out some factors while you drive and ask them to give you the product. It is essential that students know these facts by the time they leave third grade. Knowing their facts and being able to recite them quickly is known as math fluency. Math fluency gives them confidence and helps them spend more of their thinking time on problem solving instead of trying to count using their fingers.

In science, we are starting a unit on Forces and Motion. The vocabulary words are on the blog. Students will be given a Summary Sheet of the chapter tomorrow that is an excellent study guide. The test on Forces and Motion will be Friday. Please help your child study and be prepared for the test.

Spring pictures will be taken on February 29. This year, money is collected on the day of the pictures. If your child does not have money for pictures, their picture will not be taken.

Wednesday, February 29, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM, is Literacy Night and the PTA Art Auction. We have created an array of lighthouses in Michigan. Students really showcased their artistic talents with this project and our hope is that it generates plenty of money for the PTA. Hope to see you there to learn some new literacy activities and make a bid on some art for your home.