1. Crandall Chronicle February 2013
Classroom News from 3-1
We had a terrific Valentine’s
Day party yesterday! Thank
you to all of the parents who
donated treats and other
items for the party. A huge
thank you to the parents who
spent time planning the fun
festivities!
What We’re Studying
Writing
In February, we began the Over the next few weeks, the
second unit of the WEX students will be working on
(Writers’ Express) writing their final response to
program. This new unit literature piece of writing,
introduces the students to which uses their own ideas
Responses to Literature. As about the characters as well
we read the novel My Name as specific details from the
In this issue: is María Isabel by Alma Flor story. We will complete the
Ada, the students are writing writing process by revising,
Writing 1 responses to the story and editing, and creating a final
Reading 2 analyzing the main character, polished piece of writing.
Social Studies 3 María Isabel. This has been a
Math 3 very challenging concept for
**********
Science 4 the children since they are no
Web Updates 5 longer describing their own Each month the students
experiences like they did receive a new list of monthly
Dates/Events 5
during the previous unit with writing words, which they are
Student
the personal narratives. tested on at the end of the
Challenge 6 Instead they are reflecting on month with a cumulative test.
the literature and using Please continue to help your
textual evidence to support child to practice and prepare
their claims about the for these tests.
characters and events.
2. PAGE 2 OF 6
Reading
A few weeks ago, the students While your child is reading at home,
completed the third unit of our please take a moment to ask him or
Treasures literacy program. The her to share what they are reading
students were assessed on key and their thoughts about the book
reading strategies that have been with you. Some conversation starters
focused on during the past six weeks. include:
These skills and strategies include * Give me a summary of what
visualizing, making inferences, you read today.
identifying cause and effect
relationships, and describing a * Were you surprised by
sequence of events within a story. anything that happened in
your book?
The students continue to practice new
vocabulary that is introduced in the * Do the characters or events in
weekly stories. These words are listed the story remind you of
on the informational letter from anything?
Treasures that comes home each * If you were the character,
week. Please ask your child to share what would you have done?
with you what they know about these
* How do you think the
new words at home.
character felt?
The class also continues to practice
* Why do you think the author
reading fluency daily using the Six
wrote this?
Minute Solution program. Students
read with partners and provide By talking with your child about the
comments about each other’s literature they are reading, it will
intonation, tempo, and expression. show them that you are interested,
Please ask your child to read out loud reading is valuable, and it will
to you at home every once in a while encourage them to reflect on their
so that you get the opportunity to reading, which will assist them with
hear how he or she reads with their comprehension and
expression! understanding of the text.
You can reinforce these skills at home This week in guided reading we began
by having your child look up reading novels. The students are very
unfamiliar or confusing words that excited about the new literature they
they encounter while reading or are reading and eager to meet in our
through daily conversation at home. groups to discuss the books. I am so
excited to see this eagerness to read!
3. PAGE 3 OF 6
Social Studies
Our current social studies unit is The students have already been
Illinois. The students will continue to tested on the Midwest and Northeast
learn all about the history, economy, states and capitals. Your child will be
and people that have impacted our bringing home flashcards and a map
state. On February 26th a program for the western states, which is the
director from the Illinois Farm Bureau next region that the class will be
will be coming to our class to teach us tested on. Please make sure that your
about the importance of agriculture in child is studying and preparing for the
Illinois. It is a free field trip, so no test. The students will be responsible
money or permission slips are for locating the states on a blank map
required. An informational letter came and matching the states with their
home last week. capitals. There are many links to fun
websites on our class blog. They can
be found on the Race Across the
States page.
Please make sure that your child is
Math practicing his or her math facts at
We recently completed Unit 6: home. By memorizing their addition,
subtraction, and multiplication facts,
Geometry in Everyday Math. The
it will be much easier for them to
students worked very hard to learn
calculate more challenging math
and understand the new vocabulary problems in class and on their
that was introduced in this unit. homework.
Throughout the month of February,
the students will be learning many Quiz your child anywhere and at any
new math concepts through small time! Here are a few ways you can
take advantage of your time to help
mini-lessons. These will help prepare
your child practice his or her facts:
them for problems they will encounter * in the car
on the ISAT test, which will be in the * waiting in line at the store
beginning of March. Some of the * while clearing off the table
concepts include using parentheses, * during a commercial break
plotting coordinates, and measuring
volume. Remember, every little bit of practice
helps!
4. PAGE 4 OF 6
Science
The students really enjoyed our most make more precise observations about
recent science unit: Light. We the amount of light being emitted from
explored light through a variety of various light sources and the amount of
hands-on activities and experiments. light that passes through different
The class was given the opportunity to objects.
utilize some exciting new technology
to assist in our learning about the new
light concepts and show our We completed this science unit a few
understanding. weeks ago. To see some videos and
other photographs from our lessons,
The use of a light sensor or probe look at previous posts on our class
provided students with the ability to blog.
Class Website Updates!
Visit our class website and check out these recently added items:
Student Techspert Reports
Photographs of Art Appreciation
Class Pet Adventure Stories
Photographs from our Valentine’s Day Party
IMPORTANT DATES & UPCOMING EVENTS
February 14 – Valentine’s Day Party
February 18 – President’s Day (NO SCHOOL)
February 21 – Monday Schedule
February 22 – Dolphin Spirit Day
February 26 – Ag in the Classroom (In-School Field Trip)
February 27 – First Grade Musical
February 28 – Third Grade Spelling Bee
5. PAGE 6 OF 6
Student Challenge
This month’s student challenge will involve doing some
thinking! The students have enjoyed trying to solve some
brain busters in class, so the challenge will involve solving a
packet of tricky mind benders and puzzles. They will need to
be creative with their answers and do a lot of thinking.
Students: Remember, the student challenge is to be
completed by you! If you need help, you may ask someone
for help, but do not ask anyone to do the work for you!
Good luck and have fun!