RECENT CORRESPONDENCE

November 19, 2008

Dear Families of Third Graders,

As you know the firsttrimester is winding down. All students have a working knowledge of theclassroom policies and procedures, from lining up properly to reading with apartner. Behavior is good, and almost everyone has recovered from the shock ofthe work load and level of responsibility required of a typical third grader.

I wanted to take a fewminutes of your time to inform you of some changes that have been made sincethe beginning of the year, let you know what we have been doing, and what wewill be doing in the coming months.

Book Reports

Book reports will be assignedevery month. All book reports are due on the last day of the month. If the lastday falls on a weekend or holiday break, students have two options: pass it inearly or pass it in the next school day. For example, the last day of Novemberis Sunday. Book reports are expected the next school day, Monday, December 1.

Internet Classroom Connection

I deleted the monthly studysite; it was much too much work. The portaportal will have all the currentsites that have been used in the classroom as well as old sites. There areplenty of math and language arts games to be found in the portaportal. Also, Ichanged our classroom portaportal. This should be more appealing to the kids.The new portaportal is located at www.portaportal.com.Students will need to sign in as a guest. The guest login name is bluestars. (Blue Stars is what we’ve dubbed ourselves.) Or youcan simply go to http://guest.portaportal.com/bluestars.

Don’t forget that the mathtextbook and parts of the reading textbook are online, including vocabulary. Atthe beginning of the school year I sent out two rounds of letters with yourchild’s password. The site is a wonderful resource, especially when preparingfor tests. In fact, I use the site daily to teach math. There are also links tomath games on the site. You can access the texts through the Johnson Schoolwebsite under the Important Linkssection at PearsonSuccessNet Teacher Login. Students simply login as themselves with their own password. It’salso in the portaportal.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Conferences will be held inearly December. They are only 15 minutes long. We can make the most of thistime if you come prepared with a list of questions and/or concerns you have. Iwill have a copy of the report card available during the conference.

MCAS Homework Night

As you know, last week gradestwo through six began MCAS homework night. Third graders’ homework will consistof a multiple choice exercise and an open response question. While I do teachthe children how to do this work, it would be extremely helpful—and worth thetime it takes—for you to reinforce my method at home. This homework will notonly help your child be a better test taker, but it will also help your childbecome a better, more thoughtful reader. Please keep the attached MCAS TestingProcedure as a reference tool.

Math

We’ve been very busy in math.By the time the report card is issued we will have completed the first fourchapters in our math book. The second trimester brings the study ofmultiplication and division concepts and facts, geometry, and measurement. Atypical math unit is scheduled to last about two and one-half weeks,culminating in a chapter test. The end of each trimester is marked with abenchmark test consisting of most of the material taught up to that time.

Reading and Language Arts

We’ve been working just ashard in reading. We will have completed two entire units, including theaccompanying unit assessments. Like the weekly reading tests, these assessmentstest reading comprehension, vocabulary concepts, grammar, phonics and spelling,and an open response essay. We’ll have finished three formal writing processpieces, too: a personal narrative, a third-person narrative (imaginative), anda set of rules (informational). We will continue with the third and fourthunits in our reading text books in the second trimester, and process writingwill consist of a friendly letter (descriptive), a persuasive writing piece,poetry, and possibly a comparative writing piece.

Social Studies

We will wrap up our study ofNative Americans and turn our attention to colonial America, focusing on thePilgrims, Puritans, and the daily lives of these early settlers. A field tripto the Peabody Essex Museum with Mrs. Beebe will be announced soon. Mrs. Beebehas been working on Native American art projects with the children. She willalso incorporate our Native American legend research into her art curriculum.

Science

Currently we are in themiddle of two units: Soil Scienceand Plant and Animal Life Cycles.I decided to combine the units because they complement each other in so manyways. We will continue to work on these units, then begin a marine scienceunit.

Our vermicomposting projectis a huge success! We find many baby worms every time we feed them, so we knowthe environment in which they are kept is just right. If anyone needs worms togo fishing, just let me know. Seriously.

On a personal note, it hasbeen simply luxurious having the bulk of my photocopying done for me. It maynot seem like a big deal, but every minute I don’t spend a the photocopier is aminute that I can work with a child, correct a paper, or prepare for the nextday/week/month. Thank you to everyone who has been able to volunteer. Rumor hasit that some of you even enjoy doing it!

Thank you for taking the timeto read this. Please keep the attachment for future reference.

Attachment:

MCAS Testing Procedures

Multiple Choice Questions

Step 1

Read whatever directionsappear. Number each new direction. For example:

Readeach story. After each story you will answer questions about the facts in thestory. Fill in the circle next to your answer choice.

 Students will number asfollows:

1Readeach story. After each story you will 2answerquestions about the facts in the story. 3Fillin the circle next to your answer choice.

Step 2

Number each paragraph andstudy any picture/graphic that accompanies the story.

Step 3

Read the passage three times.

Step 4

Read the first question andall the answer choices.

Step 5

Put an X after any answerchoice that is obviously incorrect. Usually one or two answers can beeliminated.

Step 6

Choose a key word or phrasefrom the question, then skim and scan the passage for key word in the passage.This helps to locate the answer to the question. (I suggest rereading eachtopic sentence in nonfiction writing as well.)

Step 7

Underline the evidence in thepassage that supports the bestanswer choice. (Sometimes there are two good answers, but there is only one best answer.)

Step 8

Choose the answer. If fillingin bubbles, the bubble must be filled in completely.

Step 9

Repeat steps 4 through 8until all answers have been selected.

Step 10

Review all questions andanswers that have been chosen.

Open Response Questions

1. Follow step 1, above.
2. Restate the question in your answer.
1. Question:        What is your name?           
2. Answer:           My name is Bob.
3. Use complete sentences and the best spelling and punctuation you can manage without a dictionary or thesaurus.
4. Think! Think about the question. Think about your answer; write notes in the margin or even create a web to organize your thoughts and ideas.
5. Answer each part of the question. Label a, b, etc. for questions requiring more than one answer.
6. Use specific examples to “back up” your answer. This is the evidence that helps to prove your point. If the question is related to a story, review the story for examples.

THINGS TO KNOW...

Physical education is on Monday and Tuesday. Please make sure your child either wears or brings sneakers to school.

Art is held on Wednesday, music on Thursday, and chorus on Friday, which is conducted with the fourth graders.