Landforms

We continued our study of landforms! Students used resources from National Geographic to analyze how different landforms look around the globe. We discussed many similarities and differences. We also learned what landforms we can find near Arlington Heights and in Illinois. At the end of the week, students began researching information about their favorite landforms! 

Writing

This week we learned more about Eloise Greenfield by reading a biographical account of her life. Students also participated in their first “quick write”, where they spent five minutes writing down their ideas about a certain topic. We also read the book Silver Seeds, that included acrostic poems about nature. Students loved writing their own acrostic poems about a variety of topics. In grammar, students learned about simple and compound sentences. 

Landforms

Landforms and bodies of water were our areas of focus this week in Social Studies!  We read a nonfiction book that compared various places on Earth. Students did an. excellent job sketch noting the key ideas with pictures and words. We also welcomed Mrs. Goldstein into our room to teach us a geography lesson using google slides!  We will continue to explore landforms over the next couple of weeks.

Chapter 2 Update

We dove right into chapter 2! Students learned two mental math strategies for addition: “add the tens, then add the ones” and “add the tens, then subtract the extra ones”. They utilized number bonds to help them with these strategies. They also learned other mental math strategies for subtraction and addition problems with large numbers. At the end of the week, we worked on rounding!

Since this unit includes concepts that we will continue to learn and practice throughout the year, we will not assess this unit at this time.  

Chapter 2 Math

During Chapter 2, students will have the opportunity to learn about rounding and estimation.  They will also practice adding larger numbers in their heads using various mental strategies.  Here are some helpful videos:

Welcome Miss Feldkamp!

We are so excited to welcome Olivia Feldkamp to 3-4!  She is a practicum student at Elmhurst University.  She will be spending time in our classroom once a week her first semester this year.  She will be learning all about third grade and will be working with the class.  We are so excited to have her joining us!

Social Emotional Learning

During SEL, we began crating our classroom charter! We read

the book Each Kindness, which helped us think about the type of classroom community

we want to have. Students brainstormed words to describe how they would like to feel

while they are in our class.  We will finish our class charter next week.

Reading

We had the opportunity to read the book Swirl by Swirl by Joyce Sidman.

We discussed how poetry is beautiful but can sometimes contain challenging

vocabulary. We focused on strategies that good readers use when they approach

difficult words. 

Geography Unit

We continued our study of geography. Students brainstormed key geographical terms in groups and then we created a class web of important concepts.  We also explored various maps and globes. They worked together to compare and contrast their features.

Chapter 1 Math

This week, we continued working on place value and number patterns.  Students also learned a new game during fact fluency time that incorporated multiplication 10s facts. Next week, we will be reviewing key concepts from unit 1. Students will take their unit 1 test on Friday, September 9th.  A review guide will be going home prior to the test.  This review does not include every question included on the test.

Curriculum Night

 It was so wonderful meeting all of you that could attend Curriculum Night!  For those of you who were not able to attend, I sent home a folder with all the information shared.

Social Studies- Geograhy

Students were excited to start our geography unit! We learned that geography is the study of Earth and its land. We discovered how the equator and prime meridian divide our planet into 4 hemispheres. Students also learned a song to remember the 7 continents.

Reading

We were so excited to start Reading Workshop in our classroom this week!  We discussed everyone’s roles and responsibilities as a reader. Students also got into the routine of selecting their own books during independent reading time. We reflected on our lives as readers and completed reading surveys about our literary interests.  Students also enjoyed listening to Henry and the Buccaneer Bunnies and The Plot Chickens. As we read these books, we talked about the importance of making text-to-self connections.

Chapter 1 Math

We started Chapter 1 this week.  In this unit your child will be learning about place value, the value of certain digits and numbers.  They will also review greater than and less than.  Here are some videos to help your child as they are practicing these skills at home.

Base 10

Place Value

Expanded Form

Comparing Numbers

Chapter 1 Home link Letter

 We have begun Chapter 1 in our math program.  Videos are linked on my blog to help your child with the concepts covered during this unit.  Here is the Chapter 1 Home link letter with more information about this chapter.

Chapter 1 Letter