January 20th Update

Hope you are all staying warm! We welcome back Mr. Knight, who is here everyday this trimester to do his student teaching. Thank you to the families who have confirmed their conference day and time. If you haven't had the opportunity to check the schedule, please do so and email me with your confirmation or request for a change. I will send a finalized schedule to you by Monday, January 30th. It's been a fast, busy week.

Here's what you can ask your third grader about:

* MAPS testing in reading (library) and math (lab)

* Current event topics - "Around the World in 5 minutes," "World's Most Expensive (non-existent) Sword," "Wakawaka Lights Bring Light to Africa"

* Reading "Dear Juno" (our Treasures story of the week - a fictional story) on the Smartboard

* Practicing the grammar skill of the week - subject & verb agreement with present tense

* Reinforcing the reading comprehension skill of the week - character, setting, plot

* Writing a paragraph about how we will help the world like Mary McCleod Bethune

* Working in a homework packet with the spelling rule of the week - r controlled vowels (or, ar)

* Using fictional leveled readers titled "Dear Ghana," "Faraway Home," "The E-Mail Pals" for guided reading groups

* Working with place value and higher numbers in math

* Talking about American heros and Dr.King in social studies

* Preparing for the Contraption Convention - next week, we start with our new science unit (force, motion & simple machines). At the end of the unit, we will have a Contraption Convention as a culminating activity. We need your help to make it happen. Please send us any recyclable materials that can be used to make a contraption like toilet paper rolls, clean milk cartons, etc.

Important Dates and Events:

* Rajashekar Conferences - Wednesday, February 1st & Thursday, February 2nd

* Half-days of school (dismissal at 11am) - Thursday, February 2nd & Friday, February 3rd

* Contraption Convention - Tuesday, March 20th

Please remember that the best way to contact me is via email (vrajashekar@op97.org). Thank you for your support and partnership. Have a great weekend!