November 13, 2009

Dear 3rd and 5th Grade Families,

We have had a great start to our year working together in room 214. Both 3rd and 5th graders come down to my classroom throughout the day for either math or reading. Here are some updates for the different class sections:

3rd Grade Reading:

This week I had the opportunity to work with almost all of the 3rd graders in guided reading groups! It was great to get to know names and faces. Starting today (Friday), I met with the two guided reading groups that I will work with on a more regular basis. Today, we began our new novel (Reindeer Do Wear Striped Underwear by Marcia Thronton Jones and Debbie Dadey). We will be working with this book for the next week!

3rd Grade Math:

In math this week we have been talking about perimeter, line plots, data collection, and measuring! Next week, we will complete an exploration with geo dots and tiling on Monday. We will also learn how to figure out the area of a shape!

3rd Grade Writing:

Friday was the first writing lesson from Ms. Mulvahill in the 3rd grade. Students are working on generating story ideas. In their current story, they used pictures to help give them ideas. Ask your student about the story that they are writing!

5th Grade Reading:

5th graders met in Ms. Mulvahill's room twice a day this past week for reading and reading workshop. The skill that we focused on this week was: author's purpose. Ask your student about four of the reasons why authors write!

If your student enjoyed the story Eloise Greenfield, here are some other selection they might enjoy as well!

1. Honey, I Love, and Other Love Poems by Eloise Greenfield
2. Talk About a Family by Eloise Greenfield
3. Pioneer Girl: Growing Up on the Prairie by Andrea Warren

5th Grade Math:

5th grade math students met in Ms. Mulvahill's room this week to work in small groups on different lessons from our current unit. Ask your student to teach you: expanded notation, place value, and magnitude estimates! All students will have completed the chapter 2 test by early next week.



Thanks again for a warm welcome into the Sioux Trail team! It was a great first week getting to know and working with the students.

Throughout the school year I will be posting "blog points." Blog points are enrichment activities for my students to do at home after the school day or over the weekend. It is also a way for me to know that students are frequently checking the blog for homework and test reminders, and notes home to parents! Blog points do not go toward a student's grade, but they do go toward earning a reward at school! Please encourage your student to participate in our blog points and online activities. They will be labeled according to the grade and subject.


Have a great weekend!

Ms. Mulvahill