10/3

Good afternoon to all,

We had a short but joyful week in 3B.  A highlight was our virtual field trip to the Smithsonian National Zoo to launch into our new CKLA unit on Animal Classification!

We are collecting milliliters and liters as part of Number Corner this month and are in need of empty liter bottles.  Please send them in with your child IF/when you are about to toss them in recycling! Thank you in advance!

Here is what we have been up to in each content area:

Peacebuilders

-Brainstormed specific emotion words to describe the feeling of happiness

-Plotted the brainstormed words for happy on the mood meter

-Listened to different scenarios where people were feeling strong emotions

-Labeled each scenario with an emotion word

-Plotted the words from each scenario on the mood meter


CKLA

Animal Classification 

-Went on a virtual field trip to the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservatory

-Observed and described characteristics of animals at the zoo 

-Recorded our observations on a graphic organizer

-Defined and identified text features in our reader

-Learned the 1-1-1 doubling rule for spelling (hop --> hopping, hopped)

-Defined and determined the author's point of view about animal classification

-Identified nouns, verbs, and adjectives in sentences


Mathematics

Introduction to Multiplication 

Number Corner Focus:  Geometry and Liquid Volume

-Wrote equations to represent equal groups of objects in an image of a Pet Store

-Calculated the total costs of groups of stamps

-Shared strategies for calculating the total costs of groups of stamps

-Completed our Unit 2 Screener


Hope you all are enjoying the extended weekend! 

--Jill

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9/26

Hello to all, 

We had a great week together in Grade 3.  We completed our first units in Math and CKLA. Next week will begin to explore the concept of multiplication, animal classifications, and launch into our first science unit of the year on Water and Climate! 

Thank you all for your support on Wednesday for our Lids for Lukas spirit day! Lukas loved the pictures of all of his classmates in their "lids" and your donations were delivered directly to the Christoforakis family.  

From Nurse Hughes:  

Extra Clothes: Please send in an extra set of clothes (underwear, socks, pants, shirt) for your child to keep in their locker/backpack.  You never know when something could happen and a change of clothes is necessary!

Water Bottles: Please send your student to school with a water bottle filled with water each day.

Here is what we have been up to in each content area:


Peacebuilders

Emotion Management 

Read Aloud:  Lily's Purple Plastic Purse

-Learned about how taking a break can help us regulate strong emotions 

-Shared other strategies we use to help us regulate strong emotions

-Learned about the RULER tool the Meta-Moment 


CKLA

Classic Tales

-Finished reading Alice and the Adventures in Wonderland

-Asked and answered questions about what we read

-Compared characters in The Wind in the Willows

-Celebrated the end of our unit by watching a film adaptation of The Wind in the Willows

-Completed our beginning of the year spelling inventory



Math Workshop

Addition and Subtraction Patterns

Number Corner Focus:  Multiplication Models and Graphing

-Discussed strategies for subtracting two-digit numbers

-Solved multi-step subtraction problems

-Reviewed for our end of unit assessment

-Completed our end of unit assessment


Have a great weekend, 

--Jill

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9/19

Happy Carnival Day! 

A HUGE thank you to all that attended Back to School Night this week! It was a wonderful night, and I am extremely grateful for your support and partnership. I am looking forward to our year ahead! 

If you were not able to attend the presentations, or need a refresher on the information that was presented, please click here to find the slideshow that was shared.  


Here is what we have been up to in each content area:


Peacebuilders

Emotion Management 

-Reviewed that emotions provide us with information

-Used contextual and behavioral cues to tell the difference between emotions in the red quadrant of the mood meter 

-Learned that feeling emotions such as annoyed, angry, or frustrated can make it difficult to think clearly

-Shared strategies for calming our bodies when we are feeling emotions such as annoyed, angry, or frustrated


CKLA

Classic Tales

-Finished listening to The Wind in the Willows 

-Drafted an opinion paragraph on the themes present in The Wind in the Willows

-Finished reading Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 

-Began reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

-Asked and answered questions about our reading using text based evidence

-Learned about the text elements characters, setting, plot

 

Math Workshop

Addition and Subtraction Patterns

Number Corner Focus:  Multiplication Models and Graphing

-Practiced adding tens

-Adding two-digit numbers by getting to a friendly number

-Practiced adding hundreds

-Solved two-digit addition story problems

-Used the RACES strategy for writing about reading to assist us in solving our story problems

-Discussed our strategies for solving two-digit story problems


Enjoy the weekend! 

--Jill

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9/12

Good afternoon,

Our friends worked through their first full week of third grade with ease! We ended the week with an all school assembly where we enjoyed performances showcasing our SOAR principles and welcomed new cardinals to Center School. I look forward to officially welcoming you all to third grade, and discussing all things 3B, next week at Back to School night.


Here is what we have been up to in each content area:


Peacebuilders

Emotion Management 

-Plotted the characters from The Wind in the Willows on the Mood Meter

-Discussed the behaviors that may result from the emotional climate of a group 

-Learned about why emotions matter

-Created our 3B Class Charter


CKLA

Classic Tales

-Continued listening to The Wind in the Willows 

-Identified themes present in The Wind in the Willows

-Described the characters in The Wind in the Willows

-Read parts 1 and 2 of Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 

-Asked and answered questions about our reading using text based evidence

-Completed our fall DIBELS assessments

 

Math Workshop

Addition and Subtraction Patterns

Number Corner Focus:  Multiplication Models and Graphing

-Wrote addition and subtraction equations to match story problems

-Went on a length scavenger hunt in our classroom

-Added lengths

-Discussed our strategies for adding lengths

-Completed our adding lengths checkpoint


Have a great weekend, 

--Jill

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9/5

Hello to all, 

We enjoyed our second (shorter!) week together. We are beginning to settle into our routines and have begun to dig into our curriculum. It was wonderful to end the week with a sea of Cardinal red across the building!

Your child came home today with their orange Weekly Folders and agendas. Please be sure to sign and date the sheet in the Weekly Folder even on those Fridays where the folder comes home empty! Thank you for all of your support at home with our routines!

Here is what we have been up to in each content area:


Peacebuilders

Growth Mindset and Goal Setting

Read Alouds: Each Kindness 

-Learned about strategies we can use when practicing is not enough to reach our goals

-Developed our own growth mindset mottos

-Discussed the emotions people feel when they are not comfortable in their environment 


CKLA

Classic Tales

-Continued listening to The Wind in the Willows 

-Learned about the literary tools dialogue, narration, and perspective

-Rewrote a part of our read aloud from another character's perspective

-Identified themes present in The Wind in the Willows

-Asked and answered questions about The Wind in the Willows using text based evidence


Math Workshop

Addition and Subtraction Patterns

Number Corner Focus:  Multiplication Models and Graphing

-Reviewed how to use the number rack to add and subtract numbers

-Discussed addition strategies 

-Discussed subtraction strategies

-Completed our addition and subtraction checkpoint


Enjoy the weekend, 

--Jill

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8/29

Good afternoon to all,


We're back!!! We had a fabulous first week in third grade! I have been enjoying getting to know your wonderful children and am in awe of their thoughtfulness and participation... I am looking forward to our year ahead!  

Friends were sent home with their orange Weekly Folders and Agendas.  In the "Back to School" side of your child's Weekly Folder, you will find a form from Nurse Hughes to complete, a Picture Day order form, as well as a Parent Input Survey.  The Parent Input Survey will help me learn more about your family and your child's interests.  Thank you in advance for your input!


Here is what we have been up to in each content area:


Peacebuilders

Growth Mindset and Goal Setting

Read Alouds: Wemberly Worried, My Friend Is Sad, Be Kind

-Learned about the Mood Meter

-Plotted the characters in our read alouds on the Mood Meter

-Identified emotion words for each quadrant of the Mood Meter

-Learned that networks form in our brain when we learn something

-Learned that the more we practice, the faster the networks in our brain send messages

-Created cards for our classmate Lukas

-Participated in team building activities


CKLA

Classic Tales

-Began listening to The Wind in the Willows 

-Practiced our independent reading routines


Math Workshop

Addition and Subtraction Patterns

-Created glyphs that share information about ourselves as mathematicians

-Sorted and classified our glyphs

-Analyzed the Addition Table

-Solved addition problems


Wishing you a wonderful long weekend with your family and friends,

--Jill

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6/13

Good afternoon to all on day 180! 


What a week... what an incredibly special year that I will hold in my heart forever. 


*Thank you to Skye Condardo, Charlie Gamache, and Katie Standiford for joining us on our rainy (but joyful!) walking field trip around the Green! 


*Please enjoy our 3B's Got Talent Video


Here is what we have been up to in each content area:  


Peacebuilders

-Played board games brought in by our friends

-Dressed up in a theme of our choice

-Were wowed by the special talents of our grade at our Third Grade's Got Talent showcase

-Celebrated our fifth grade friends at our end of the year assembly



CKLA

Early Explorations of North America 

-Read about the founding of Jamestown

-Read about the relationship between the English settlers of Jamestown and the Powhatan Native Americans

-Read about plantation life in the Southern Colonies

-Read about the founding of Maryland and Georgia

-Identified the main idea of our readings

-Identify supporting details from the text to support our main ideas


Mathematics

Extending Multiplication and Fractions

Number Corner Focus:  Perimeter and Area, Collecting Products

-Multiplied single digit numbers by multiples of 10

-Worked on solving our multiplication facts quickly and accurately 


Science

Life Systems

-Learned about inherited traits

-Learned about acquired (environmental) traits

-Distinguished between learned and acquired traits


Wishing you all the very best summer filled with all of your favorite things! I will be forever grateful for all you have done for me.   

--Jill

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6/6

Hello to all, 


We had an incredibly memorable week in third grade.  We enjoyed listening to our Center School musicians, were wowed by the fourth grade's production of Alice in Wonderland, and spent the day yesterday exploring Old Sturbridge Village! Thank you to our chaperones Al Callahan, Corey Condardo, Sarah Kenney, Greg Morrison, and Lauren Vieira! Today, we celebrated Emma's birthday with a special read aloud.  Thank you to Phil Weinholtz for sharing his dad's/Emma's grandfather's story! 


Tuesday, 6/10, is our walking field trip where students will complete a scavenger hunt around the Town Green.  Please let me know if you will be able to join us on the walk.


Here is what we have been up to in each content area:  


Peacebuilders

-Completed student led crafts

-Brought in items for "show and tell"

-Built and created with legos 

-Created our own Readers' Theater scripts to perform for our class

-Discussed what it means to be an "upstander" in our community



CKLA

Early Explorations of North America 

-Completed our end of unit assessment

Colonial America

-Asked and answered questions about colonial America from a speaker

-Asked and answered questions requiring literal recall and understanding of details of the “Introduction to Living in Colonial America.”

-Retold the story of the Lost Colony in their own words


Mathematics

Extending Multiplication and Fractions

Number Corner Focus:  Perimeter and Area, Collecting Products

-Multiplied by 11

-Multiplied by 12

-Multiplied single digit numbers by multiples of 10


Science

Life Systems

-Dissected a lima bean sea

-Learned about the parts of a seed

-Read about the life cycle of a plant


Enjoy the weekend... in denial about next week...  

--Jill

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5/30

Good afternoon, 


We had a joyful week in third grade that began with a presentation from the Storrs Library about their summer reading program and ended with our annual Field Day! I loved observing all of our friends cheering each other on and supporting each other as they participated in each of the events.  They had a BLAST! 


Here is what we have been up to in each content area:  


Peacebuilders

-Watched a movie together in our PJs 

-Enjoyed some extra recess

-Built a standing bridge using makerspace materials - Congrats to Vivian, Annie, and Sara... Their bridge held up 16 CKLA readers making them our challenge winners!


CKLA

Early Explorations of North America 

-Described the long-term effects of Champlain’s expeditions in North America
-Evaluated and compared the success of European explorers in North America 

-Interpreted information from the text to assign character traits to Samuel de Champlain

-Explained the role of trading posts in the development of French colonies in present-day Canada

-Used examples from the unit to support our opinions of which explorer had the greatest success in North America



Mathematics

Extending Multiplication and Fractions

Number Corner Focus:  Perimeter and Area, Collecting Products

-Completed our unit 7 pre assessment 

-Completed our final Number Corner check-in

-Solved multiplication story problems

-Wrote equations to match multiplication story problems


Science

Life Systems

-Read about the purpose and function of fruit 

-Analyzed and counted seeds 


Have a great weekend, 

--Jill 

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5/23

Hello to all, 


Thank you all for the quick pivot as we postponed our Sturbridge trip to 6/5! We are hopeful for much better weather in a couple of weeks.  Students were sent home with permission forms for our Walking Field Trip around the Town Green on 6/10.  If you are able to join us on the walk, please let me know... The more the merrier!  


Also, our 3B countdown to summer continues on Tuesday with Pajama/Movie Day.  Please remind your child over the weekend!


Here is what we have been up to in each content area:  


Peacebuilders

-Enjoyed lunch together

-Enjoyed extra tech time


CKLA

Native Americans:  Regions and Cultures 

-Listened to “Francisco Vasquez de Coronado” and summarized facts about his explorations

-Identified areas Francisco Vasquez de Coronado explored

-Compared and contrasted the motivating factors and travel trajectories of John Cabot and Christopher Columbus

-Made predictions 

-Applied suffixes –er and –est to make comparisons

-Interpreted a painting illustrating John Cabot’s journey to find the Northwest Passage

-Used examples from the chapter to support their opinions of whether or not the hardships of life as a sailor on Cabot’s crew would be worth the glory or adventure

-Closely read and correctly answered comprehension questions about John Cabot with supporting evidence from the text


-Evaluated the success of Henry Hudson’s explorations of North America

-Compared the journeys and experiences of Henry Hudson to other explorers

-Determined cause and effect relationships between the events in the exploration and journey of Henry Hudson

-Identified cause and effect relationships between events in Hudson’s expeditions

-Evaluated the success of Hudson’s expeditions


Mathematics

Geometry

Number Corner Focus:  Perimeter and Area, Collecting Products

-Explored halves on a Geoboard

-Identified fraction amounts on a Geoboard

-Completed our spring benchmark assessments

-Completed our Unit 6 assessment


Science

-Completed engineering challenges using the forces of magnetism

-Investigated the effects of multiple forces on an object


Enjoy the long weekend and the unofficial start of summer! This weekend we also remember and honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms.  Thank you. 

--Jill 

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5/16

Happy Friyay to all, 


What a week! Third graders completed their math MCAS this week...  Your children BROUGHT IT this week! They used their strategies, took their time, and worked hard.  I could not ask for anything more.  


A few reminders for you as we head into the weekend: 


1. We will travel to Old Sturbridge Village on Thursday 5/22!  Students were sent home with some helpful information in their Weekly Folder.  

2. Third Grade's Got Talent Videos are due Thursday, 5/22.  Information was sent home about the project last week. 

3. Students were sent home with a review packet for our unit math test on Friday 5/23.  This will be their math homework for next week, but friends are welcome to begin to work through the review over the weekend.  


Here is what we have been up to in each content area:  


Peacebuilders

-Completed a makerspace challenge with Mrs. Erricolo's class Congrats to Annie and her second grade partners for being our challenge winners!

-Plotted our emotions on the mood meter before, during, and after the challenge


CKLA

Native Americans:  Regions and Cultures 

-Located key places visited by early explorers

-Answered questions about the European quest for spices and Toscanelli’s map

-Determined the main idea of “1492: A Year That Changed the World” and recounted the key details

-Answered questions about navigation in the Age of Exploration and explained how explorers kept track of where they were going by explicitly referring to the text

-Used a glossary to determine or clarify the precise meaning of key words and phrases

-Categorized and organized facts about the explorations of Christopher Columbus

-Closely read “Navigation in the Age of Exploration” and determined the meaning of words and phrases relevant to navigation

-Summarized facts about Juan Ponce de León’s explorations

-Read “El Castillo de San Marcos,” and answered questions by referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers

-Used linking words in the same way and in contrast to connect reasons

-Demonstrated understanding of the text using information gained from images and words presented about Hernando de Soto

-Connected ideas with categories of information using linking words

Mathematics

Geometry

Number Corner Focus:  Perimeter and Area, Collecting Products

-Reviewed the tools available to us when we take the math MCAS

-Completed our math MCAS

-Designed rectangular tables that have the same area but different perimeters

-Calculated area and perimeter of rectangular shapes

Science 

-Noticed how the starting position of a system impacts distance


Have a great weekend, 

--Jill 

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5/9

Hello to all, 


We had a great week of learning in 3B. We wrapped up our CKLA unit on Native Americans and celebrated by making our own wigwams! Thank you to Katie Standiford for assisting us with the activity.  We also visited the book fair during library... Thank you to Vera Goldberg for all of her hard work this week on the fair!  


Next week students will take the Math MCAS on Tuesday and Wednesday.  


Your child was sent home with information about our Third Grade's Got Talent showcase! Students are to select a talent to showcase over the weekend and return the Talent Selection form to school on Monday.


Here is what we have been up to in each content area:  


CKLA

Native Americans:  Regions and Cultures 

-Used spelling patterns and generalizations in writing words with the /ə/ sound spelled ‘al,’ ‘le,’ and ‘el,’ and /sh/ + /ə/ + /n/ spelled ‘tion’

-Asked and answered questions, orally and in writing, requiring recall and understanding of the details of “Adoette and Awan, the Bird Chasers,” by explicitly referring to the text

-Formed and used singular and plural possessive nouns

-Described characters in “Yutu, the Dog Trainer” and explained how their actions contributed to the sequence of events

-Described steps in procedures by identifying sequenced events related to the Native Americans of the Arctic/Subarctic region

-Explained how specific aspects of the illustrations in “The Hunting of the Great Bear: An Iroquois Tale” contributed to what is conveyed by the words of the story

-Described characters in “The Hunting of the Great Bear: An Iroquois Tale”

-Completed our end of unit assessment

-Created our own wigwams out of cardboard and natural materials


Mathematics

Geometry

Number Corner Focus:  Perimeter and Area, Collecting Products

-Calculated perimeter of quadrilaterals

-Constructed different rectangles that have the same perimeter

-Calculated area and perimeter using metric units


Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, happy Mother's Day to all of the special women in our 3B family!

--Jill 

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5/2

Good afternoon to all, 


Welcome back! I cannot believe we have entered the final stretch of our year together.  Over the past two weeks of school we celebrated two 3B birthdays.  Thank you to Mary Foley for leading us in an activity to celebrate John, and to the Standifords for joining us to celebrate Beau! This week we also attended a dress rehearsal of Mrs. Brydges' kindergarten play... Such a beloved Center tradition, and it brought back many wonderful memories for our friends.  


Here is what we have been up to in each content area:  


Peacebuilders

-Brainstormed traits that describe our "best selves"

-Learned about the "Meta Moment" and how it can help us regulate our emotions 

-Practiced taking a "Meta Moment"



CKLA

Native Americans:  Regions and Cultures 

-Used spelling patterns and generalizations in writing words spelling with /ə/ spelled ‘a’ and ‘e.’

-Described cause and effect events of the Native Americans of the Southwest

-Asked and answered questions requiring literal recall and understanding of the details of “Alemeda, the Basket Weaver” by explicitly referring to the text

-Used spelling patterns and generalizations in writing words with the /ə/ sound spelled ‘al,’ ‘le,’ and ‘el,’ and /sh/ + /ə/ + /n/ spelled ‘tion.’

-Closely read “Alemeda, the Basket Weaver”

-Formed and use plural possessive nouns and use a beginning dictionary to determine key words

-Described characters in “Alo, the Spirit Giver.”

-Compared and contrasted the key details presented in “Native Americans of the Southwest, Part 2” about cultural identity to those in “Native Americans of the Southwest, Part 1.”

-Formed and use plural possessive nouns

-Explained how specific aspects of the illustrations in “Meda and Flo, the Forest Children” contributed to what is conveyed by the words of the story

-Determined the main idea and supporting details in “Native Americans of the Northeast.”

-Recalled information from the reading and write a short reflection


Mathematics

Geometry

Number Corner Focus:  Fractions, Collecting Fractions of an Hour/Perimeter and Area, Collecting Products

-Reviewed the attributes of basic quadrilaterals

-Wrote quadrilateral riddles


Science 

Motion and Matter

-Reviewed our Motion and Matter vocabulary

-Discussed the role of engineers 

-Created carts using makerspace materials that were able to travel across our classroom floor... Congratulations to Ali for being our challenge winner!


Have a great weekend, 

--Jill