Mrs. Magina's Third Grade Classroom 2012-2013

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Math Test Reschedule

We've readjusted and modified the Unit 6 Math Test, and decided that students will be taking one assessment (instead it into two smaller tests as first planned).  With that being said, there will be no test over division this upcoming Monday.  Instead, students will take the Unit 6 Math Test early in the week of February 11th.  A Unit 6 Review sheet will go home next week.  Thanks!

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Division Practice

A great tool for your child to practice division is the IXL website.  The following areas will be great practice for your child to continue to develop their skills, and review and prepare for their assessment Monday - (Grade 4) E16, E17, E18, E19.  The E7 area correlates with the math lesson that will be instructed tomorrow, 6.4: Interpreting Remainders.  

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Rappin' About Rocks!


After discovering how sedimentary rocks are formed, students created a rap about this process!  They also used hand motions that correlated with each step.  ENJOY!

Monday, January 28, 2013

Classroom Library Donation

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A big thanks to Ben's family for donating the Sammy Keyes series to the classroom.  Students are already looking forward to diving into this engaging, mystery series! 

A Sneak Peek at Our Week ...


  • Word Work:  The focus this week will be on the affixes mis- and de-.  
  • Writing:  Students will continue to practice writing math extended responses.  I have been impressed with how hard they are working, and with how reflective they have been about their.  I have seen a lot of improvement and growth!
  • Math: This week, students will finish practicing dividing by one digit divisors using the traditional method OR the partial quotients.  Mid-week students will learn how to use both methods to divide by two-digit divisors.  We will end our week focusing on remainders, and deciding how to express the remainder (whole number, fraction, or not included) in story-problems.  There will be a test over Part 1 of Unit 6 on Monday, February 4th that will focus solely on division.  For extra practice, this website has a lot of worksheets focused on different division skills: Division Worksheets.  
*** On this assessment, students do not have to use both methods for division - they can choose whichever method works best for them!
  • Reading:  This week students are continuing to practice the three steps needed to write a complete, thoughtful response to reading.  On the following part of the third grade website, Extended Response Sentence Starters, I have included sentence starters to all three parts of the response (text reference, explanation of reference, and voice).  This is an updated handout to what was previously posted.  
  • Science:  Students have truly learned that rocks ROCK!  This week students will wrap-up investigations around the following key questions:  How are metamorphic rocks formed?  How are igneous rocks formed?  and How do rocks change?  The final unit test will be this Thursday, January 31st.  Because of the limited time to review and reinforce concepts, students will be able to use their science note-books on this test.  They will be taking their notebooks home to review on Wednesday. Be sure to explore the Rocks & Minerals part of the third grade website, as their are many great resources for your child to explore!
*** Reminders:  Just a friendly reminder there is no school this Friday, February 1st!

Magazines

If you have any child-friendly magazines, we are looking for donations.  We'll be using these magazines on the next half day near the end of February.  Thanks!

Thursday, January 24, 2013

IXL Practice

Today students will learn the third strategy for dividing by one digit-divisors - the Partial Quotients Division Method.  For the last two days students have learned and practiced the Traditional, long-division method.  

IXL is a great tool for your child to be using for extra practice to reinforce mathematical concepts taught in the classroom.  On the IXL page, have your child go to "Grade 4", then to the category "Division E4" to practice similar problems.  If they have mastered and feel confident with this skill, they can choose to go up a grade level to be exposed to more challenging problems.  

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Thanks!

A big thanks to Ben's family for donating ziploc bags to the classroom!

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Reading Extended Response Homework

Similar to last week, students will have a small packet of ISAT prep homework.  This packet will be due next Monday, January 28th.  They have one math extended response to complete and part of a reading one as well.  For the reading extended response, students will practice finding text references, and then explaining how/why their text reference works as evidence.  On the Third Grade website, I have included a document that contains Text Reference/Reference Explanation Starters: Response Starters.  This is a very helpful tool for students!  

Thanks!

A big thanks to Bailey's family for donating mechanical pencils to the classroom!  

Monday, January 21, 2013

A Sneak Peek at Our Week ...

Word Work:  For the last 6 weeks, students have focused on learning two different affixes each week.  They will have a quiz this Friday.  Students will bring home their note-cards (containing each affix and their definitions and their Morning Work Journals with vocabulary words to help them review.   

Writing:  This week, students will continue practicing writing extended responses for math word problems.  Students have been working very hard, and have demonstrated a lot of great work!

Math:  Division is the focus of Unit 6.  This week, students will learn two different methods for dividing numbers by 1 and 2 digit divisors.  The first is the Partial-Algorithm method, and the second is the Traditional Method.  (Last week they learned the Multiples Method).  What's important is that students feel comfortable and "click" with one strategy, and that they use the strategy that works best for them.  Please remember - the following link is a great resource for parents, explaining each of the algorithms more clearly: Algorithms in Everyday Math.

Reading:  This week students will focus on crafting thoughtful and complete responses to informational and fictional text.  Last week students focused on finding strong text references.  This week, students will focus on finding these text references and then explaining HOW and WHY each reference supports the prompt.  Sentence starters for both of these tasks can be found on the Third Grade Website: Response Sentence Starters. (Will be posted Tuesday)

Science: Students will continue to investigate the rock cycle this week.  They will learn more deeply about the processes of weathering and erosion, and how they are involved in the formation of sedimentary rocks.  The guiding key questions of the week are How are sedimentary rocks formed? and How are metamorphic rocks formed?  We will continue to use their crayon models to represent each of the three rock formations.  

Important Information:  Science Fair projects are due this week!  The final due date for this project is Friday, January 25th.  Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions!

Friday, January 18, 2013

Thanks!

A big thanks to Matthew's family for donating some cards to the classroom! :)

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Exploring Sediments!

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Students have been highly engaged and enthusiastic during our science unit on Rocks & Minerals!  Students have observed sediments, differentiating between the different types (gravel, sand, silt, and clay) and comparing and contrasting the granule size of each.  Today, students discovered that sediments are created through the process of weathering.  Because this process takes millions of years, a model of this process needed to be used.  Students used tools like a grater, pencil sharpener, penny, paper clip, and plastic knife to represent different types of weathering - wind, rain, sleet, ice, etc.  Then, they "weathered" a "rock" which was a crayon.  Students enjoyed "weathering sediments" and learning about this important process!

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

ISAT Practice Packet

Today the ISAT practice packet was sent home with students to complete by next Tuesday, January 22nd.  For the Math Extended Response practice, students have practiced taking specific steps to help them write a complete response.  The steps are available on the Third Grade Website: Math Extended Response Steps.  

Monday, January 14, 2013

St. Jude's Math-A-Thon


Skinner North Elementary is participating in the St. Jude Children's Research Math-A-Thon.  In third grade, we are shooting for 100% student involvement.  Last week, students were given a packet explaining this fundraiser.  Students will find sponsors to give donations, and then complete math problems and puzzles from an online or printed booklet.  Afterwards, they will collect donations.  

I told all of the students that if they completed a workbook, I would donate $1.00 to each of them.  So, if your family is not quite interested in finding sponsors/donations, they have a $1.00 donation from me which is sufficient enough :) - I emphasized how even $1.00 is a great contribution.  Students can work on the math booklet at home, or in class when there is free time.  It is great practice and review for them!

I have received some permission slips.  An e-mail verification saying that you will allow your son/daughter to participate is OK too!  All permission forms/online permission e-mails need to be sent or turn in by tomorrow.  

If you are not interested, I completely understand and respect your family's decision.  

Thanks for your support, let me know if you have any questions!

Decks of Cards

Room 203 is still in need of decks of cards!  This item is on the classroom wish list! :)

A Sneak Peek at Our Week ...

Writing:  Students will continue working on how to write a math extended-response.  This week, the final two steps are being added - writing why you took each step, and restating your answer to conclude your thinking.  

Math: Today students learned the traditional multiplication method.  They will take the Unit 5 test on Tuesday, take the Unit 6 pre-test Wednesday, and complete lessons 6.1: Multiplication and Division Number Stories and 6.2: Strategies for Division Thursday and Friday.  

Interactive Read-Aloud:  Room 203 will begin reading a new novel this week, Holes by Louis Sachar.  

Reading:  Lessons and practice on author's purpose will be wrapped up this week.  For the final lesson, students will find details in the text that support/show proof of an author's purpose, and then evaluate the text evidence to determine the overall purpose (they will find examples of different purposes within a text).  We will also focus on how to construct complete, thoughtful responses to our reading.  Steps that will be instructed include how to restate the prompt, and find strong text evidence to support our thinking.  

Science:  Students are learning that rocks ROCK!  This week, guiding questions that students will discover are: What are rocks made of?  How are sediments formed? and What effect do wind, precipitation, and ice have on rocks?    

ISAT Practice Homework:  Beginning tomorrow, students will be given a small packet of ISAT practice related materials.  Usually the packet will be given on Monday, and be due the following Monday.  Giving students a week to complete the work will hopefully be more conducive to your busy at home schedules! :)  As a class, we will review all work sent home.  A tab has been added to the Third Grade Website: ISAT.  When Mrs. de Nazarie or I have any important information to include about ISAT testing we will post information on the website and be sure to update you on our blogs!

Unit 2 Quarter Project - Science:  Just a friendly reminder that the science fair project is due January 25th.  Please e-mail me with any questions you and your child may have!

Friday, January 11, 2013

Math Test - Moved to Tuesday!

The Unit 5 Math Test has been moved to Tuesday, January 15th.  Mrs. de Nazarie and I decided to take one more day to review, meet with small groups, and practice concepts within this unit.  Your child should still study/review over the weekend.  

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Back in Action!

A big welcome back to everyone!  I hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing break with your families.  We have been fully back in action in Room 203, and students have been busily working in the classroom.  Here is a brief look at our week:


  • Writing:  Students will begin learning steps to take when constructing extended responses in math.  Our focus for the next couple months will be having students explain their thinking when it comes to problem solving, being clear as to why they take certain mathematical steps.    
  • Math:  Students will finish Unit 5 this week.  A study guide will be sent home, and the Unit 5 test will be next Monday.  A review session will take place on Friday.  
  • Reading:  We will spend the next couple months reviewing and reinforcing different concepts in reading.  This week, students will focus on author's purpose.  For additional practice on this topic, this is a great resource for your child to use: Author's Purpose Practice Activities.  There is an even an author's purpose battle-ship game!
  • Social Studies & Science: Using the website wordle.net, students created "word clouds" representing the many different topics and concepts related to how Chicago came to be the thriving city it is today.  They created covers to their alphabet books using the wordles.  Science instruction will begin this Wednesday.  Unit 2 will focus on rocks and minerals.  Resources and activities can be found on the third grade website:  Unit 2: Rocks & Minerals