November

Thanks to our parent coordinator and party coordinator for making our Halloween celebration a success!  The students had a lot of fun, and took home great prizes. We appreciate all the parents who helped, behind the scenes, by sending in and purchasing items for the children.


In reading we are working on naming character traits by using the evidence in the text.  We look for what the character says or does and name the trait.  Students are working hard on this and practiced using adjectives in observations of a lima bean as well as many other science observations. 

In writing we have been using leaf observations to write a compare and contrast essay about 2 leaves. Students are really working hard to organize their writing. 

Our math study includes subtraction with regrouping up to 4 digit numbers.  Keep practicing math facts, and this will become more automatic.

We still need about 10 - 2 liter bottles. If you have any extra, please send them in!  They should be washed with water only- no soap please!  Thanks to our parent coordinator for cutting the bottles for us in preparation for another fun science project!

  We appreciate our classroom volunteers who have come in recently to work with our third graders! Thank you so  much!



Please contact me if you have any questions, or concerns!

October 2013

Third grade has been a busy place this fall.  In reading we are working on retelling stories and reading with phrasing.  Students have been working very hard to accomplish their objectives every day.
In math, we are beginning addition with regrouping.  We continue to problem solve everyday and share strategies that we use to solve these problems.  We have been doing observations and experiements in science.  Students are working on vocabulary and writing in science, too.  In writing workshop we are learning about the writing process firsthand through practice. Students created an authority list and then chose one topic to expand on in prewriting.  They drew some fantastic webs with topics, main ideas and details.  It is exciting to watch them participating in the
writing process. 
 Thanks to our room parent for organizing the parent information flyer and the volunteers for our three parties this school year. Please consider donating items or helping with the party.
Classroom volunteers will start soon.
 The third grade teachers will work on a schedule after conferences. Thank you for your willingness to help our children.
We will be going on our field trip to the Grove soon. If you can chaperone, please contact me. You will need a background check.  The main office can help you do this.
I look forward to meeting with parents during our triad conferences next week. Please remember that this is a student led conference. Your child has an important role in the conference and should attend with you.

It has been a busy and productive month in room 16!  Students are settling in well.  We have created our rules and class mission statement.  Reading and writing workshop are up and running. In math we are working on number sense by finding patterns, place value and rounding numbers. In science students have been using their observational skills, including using all their senses.    Thank you for all your support at home. Remember reading logs should come in daily as part of students' homework.

What Can Poetry Do for Parents? by Elliott Vanskike

What Can Poetry Do for Parents? by Elliott Vanskike

Wanted - Items from home

These are items that we will be using in the classroom later this year.  I wanted to let you know in advance and would appreciate it if  you could save them until we need them.  I will let you know when to send them in!

• clear 2 liter pop bottles- labels removed, rinse with hot water, NO soap please
• metal lids from frozen juice concentrate containers

Welcome 2012 Third Graders

Welcome new families to MG!
This school year promises to be filled with lots of learning! I am excited to meet all the new third graders and their families.  Please email me at school with any questions at any time:
jpalmer@d75.lake.k12.il.us
Also, check the district website with your new sign in i.d. to see my webpage and links to student blogs, and district and school calendars.

February

Students have been exploring science forces and motion concepts through simple machines. In math we are continuing measurement, customary and metric. We continue to study problem solving strategies.
In reading we are determining the importance of a text, using note taking techniques and discussion. We continue to write about literature, science and math. We are also focusing on revising narrative writing using good word choice.
Our Valentines day party will be coming up. Thanks for all your help. Thanks to Mrs. G. for organizing another party.
If possible, can you please send in more pencils. We are very low on our supply. Also, we are looking for donations of word games, such as scrabble, or other age appropriate word games for third grade. If you are able to donate a game, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your support!

New Year

Welcome back, and happy 2012 to all our families. This year we will begin with a review of our goals, and revising them as needed. We will continue with our study of forces and motion in science. In reading we are working on determining importance in text. In writing we are writing expository essays. We have been using Patriccia Pollacco books as inspiration. We are working on measurement in math. Keep reading with your child and thanks for all your support.