Williamstown 3/4 Humanities: October 2018

Thursday, October 25, 2018

10/25/2018 Third Grade

10/25/2018

Dear Families,
We have had a wonderful week of learning in third grade! We have been so impressed with how focused and insightful our students have been. Here is an update:

Reading: We have been focused on our reading 'grit'. Students completed a reading grit survey, analyzed it, and then made goals to improve their grit. We also selected our October Reader's of the Month! We are excited to announce that Weston and Dom were chosen for their excitement and focus during reading time.

Writing: We focused on building our writing stamina by completing Memory Bingo and a memory write in our writer's notebooks. We also launched our first writing piece, a personal narrative! Students will be learning about characteristics of a personal narrative and ways to brainstorm possible writing topics.

Halloween Information:

Early Release- noon dismissal

Please feel free to send in any healthy or sweet treat for your child to share with their homeroom class at snack time! (Both homerooms have 13 students.)

Costumes

Students can wear costumes all day
NO masks
NO props

High/Low

High- we got to write in our writer’s notebooks

Low- it’s really cold

High- we got to write in our writer’s notebooks again

Low- it’s snowing

High- we did our memory write

Low- it’s snowing

High- it’s snowing

Low- it isn’t snowing a lot

High- almost Halloween

Low- I have to keep waiting

High- I really like Halloween and it’s coming up

Low- hope it’s not too cold

High- we are going to talk about our Halloween party

High- we get to write memory writes, talk about Halloween party

Low- Halloween is not here

High- I have all of you as friends

High- First school Halloween party

High- It’s almost Halloween

High- Halloween is coming up, Memory writes

HIgh- I got here

HIgh- It’s snowing, Halloween is coming

High- we might have a Halloween party

Low- it’s snowing

High- The Halloween party is coming

High- Halloween is on a school day so I can see your costumes

Low- I have a lot of homework to do for my class

High- Halloween is coming up

Low- Ms. Franklin wasn’t here

High- Seeing you all so focused in your writer’s notebooks on your memory writes!

10/18/18 Third Grade

10/18/18

Dear Families,
There was a lot of excitement this morning with the arrival of our first snow! While it won't last long this time, it is a great reminder that it is time to pull out all of our winter gear. Students go outside for recess everyday unless the temperatures are below

Reading: Students have been working on how we can understand a story better. This week we focused on summarizing the big parts of their book. We are practicing this skill during our read aloud, Stone Fox.

Writing: We have been working on making our writing better by adding precise verbs, color words, and sound words. We also have been brainstorming writing topics by playing Memory Bingo. We will soon move into our first writing piece, a personal narrative.

Halloween: The 31st is a noon dismissal. Students are allowed to wear costumes to school but Mr. Kinnarney does not allow masks or props. If students choose, they may bring in a special treat to share with the class at snack.

Upcoming Dates:
10/31 Noon Dismissal

High/Low
High- we are reading Stone Fox

High- we got to swing on the ropes in elective

Low- we didn’t get a lot of snow

High- we are going to play outside today

High- it snowed at our school

Low- it’s outdoor recess

High- we got to read more of Stone Fox

Low- it’s snowing

High- snow means we may get to make igloos, we are at a really interesting part of Stone Fox

Low- it’s really chilly out

High- we read two more interesting parts of the book

Low- we are going to have more snow in the next few days

High- we have snow, winter is finally here, 3 things of multiplication

High- it’s snowing

High- Miss Pam read us Never Say Boo, it’s snowing

Low- I wasn’t here for buddy reading

High- the teachers are back, it’s snowing

High- it’s finally snowing

Low- it’s freezing

High- it’s snowing, we earned a new word, onomatopoeia

High- it’s snowing

High- it’s snowing winter is my favorite season

Low- feel like the week is dragging by

High- Mrs. T is back, having Miss Bri in our room

Low- we haven’t gotten Lexia fixed for everyone

High- the snow

Low- being out one day

Thursday, October 11, 2018

10/11/18 Third Grade

10/11/18

Dear Families,
What a week! We welcomed students from the Middle High School on Wednesday who taught us about stereotypes. They wrote books that they read and led small group discussions on common stereotypes. On Thursday, students from the Middle High School came down to continue teaching third graders American Sign Language. It is so nice to see students from both campuses learning together! Here is what else we have been doing:

Reading: We started Stone Fox. Students will be working on stopping and doing quick comprehension checks by asking common questions.

Writing: We are working on being more precise with our word choices in our writing. Students have brainstormed precise verbs and color words. We will also explore how we can add sound words to our writing in order to make it more interesting.

***Tomorrow is our All School Hike! PLEASE make sure students are dressed appropriately. We anticipate the trail will be wet so if they have waterproof hiking shoes please make sure they wear them.

Upcoming Dates:
10/12 All School Hike
10/31 Early Release Day

High/Low

High- we got to read Stone Fox

Low- it’s raining

High- we have the hike tomorrow, we have been doing lexia and typing club

Low- the rain

High- we started a new book

Low- it’s raining

High- Maybe my sister is coming down

Low- we might not go on the hike

High- I got to a new level in Lexia

Low- it’s raining

High- I leveled up in Lexia

High- we are going on the hike

High- the high schoolers came to read to us

High- The high schoolers are coming to teach us sign language

Low- it might rain all day

High- the all school hike, we got to listen to the middle schoolers read

High- we got to listen to the middle schoolers read

High- we did the color words and the high schoolers came to read

High- the sign language people are coming today and the high schoolers came to read

Low- it’s been rainy

High- the hike tomorrow, sign language, Stone Fox

Low- haven’t been able to go to the lower field

High- the sign language group is coming

Low- it’s raining

High- the hike

Low- it might rain tomorrow

High- the hike is tomorrow

Low- it might rain tomorrow

High- being with all my friends

Low- it’s raining

High- it won’t rain on the hike

High- we are going on the hike

Low- if we don’t I will be sad

High- the hike

Low- it’s raining

High- the sign language people are coming

Low- it’s raining

High- we get to have sign language

Low- it’s raining

High- Having the high schoolers come down and watching you all interact, seeing former students

Low- I am nervous about the weather for tomorrow

Thursday, October 4, 2018

Third Grade 10/4/18

Dear Families,
We are disappointed that our hike has been postponed! Hopefully next Friday will be a beautiful fall day for hiking! Here is what we have been up to:

Reading: We have finished, The Twits but are continuing to work on character traits and how the setting impacts our story. They are working hard in their reader's notebooks. We are continuing conferencing with students as they finish books as well as using Lexia.

Writing: We are working hard in our writer's notebooks! Students have learned how to choose a topic that they are in the mood to write about and know a lot of details about. Students also are learning how to replace 'boring' action words with precise verbs in order to make their writing more interesting.

Upcoming Dates:
10/5 No School (Teacher In-service)
10/8 No School, Columbus Day
10/9 Picture Day
10/12 All School Hike
10/31 Noon Dismissal

High/Low

High- the Blue Devil came