Week of January 28 - February 1

It is amazing to say, but we are halfway through third grade!  The beginning of the second semester begins on Monday, January 28!  We will continue to work hard building skills that will help prepare students for 4^th grade.  Ways you can help at home are to practice multiplication facts and be sure to read daily.  Reading aloud is a different skill than silent reading and one that takes practice in order to be fluent.  After your child reads a few pages, you can stop and check for understanding.  Asking questions such as Who and What can help with retelling and comprehension.

In reading this week, we will read a selection called The Jones Family Express.   (Unit 3, Week 4)  We will practice the strategy of inferring.  Authors do not always tell everything about the characters and events in a story.  Often readers must make inferences, or use story clues, illustrations, and their own experiences to determine what was left out.   Students will learn about future-tense verbs in grammar and words with the /ȕ/ sound in spelling.    In writing, students are writing opinion pieces and supporting their point of view with reasons.   In math, we are beginning Chapter 6 on division.  Here’s where knowing the multiplication facts really comes in handy.  In science, we will begin learning about animal adaptations.

Important Dates:

January 29  Popcorn Day

January 31  PTA Chili Cook-off  (We are still accepting donations for the coffee basket that our classroom is presenting for the Silent Auction.)

February 1 Report Cards sent home