Week Four Sept. 28- Oct. 2

It's the end of September already! 3A is a busy place to be. We have a wide range of interests and learning styles in our room as well as a wide range of strengths. As part of our citizenship discussions, we often say that what is easy for one may be difficult for another. It has been a challenge to assess where each student is in areas of reading, writing, math and problem solving. I'm learning everyday. As a result, some supports are now in place for small groups to provide remediation as well as challenge. I am establishing routines with the students to allow small group and independent work to happen.

*What is "just right" reading materials? Just right reading materials are not so challenging that students are solely occupied with figuring out how to decode the words and not so easy that they are unlikely to learn anything new. It should allow the child to concentrate on comprehension. A strong foundation of sight words is key to reading as well as confidence and use of reading strategies. We have been working on word families so students can see spelling patterns. When we do our guided reading, your child will be bringing home a book that has been read at school but needs a second reading to practice the specific skill. Please make nightly reading a H.W. priority. If a school book does not come home for H.W. , your child may choose one of his/her own, a library book or maybe a chapter book you are reading together.

*We added 4 new math sheets in your child's H.W. duotang last week. These are tools for you to help your child with his/her math facts. You will see what addition and subtraction facts you child needs to know for Grade 3. Please practice nightly even if it is not on H.W. Students have a math game for H.W. this week to make this practice fun. Everyone has played it so you child should be able to teach you.

*Today we added a "rime sheet" to our H.W. duotang. Again it is a tool for you to help your child become a better reader and speller. ie: Pick one "rime" and challenge your child to "Who can make the most words?"

*Scholastic book orders for Sept. went home today and will be due Mon. Oct 5. Please make cheques payable to "Scholastic Book Club". Cash is fine but I cannot make change. Sorry. Oct. 5 will also be the final day to reply to the Highlights magazine order that went home last week.

*Food order forms for Oct. went home today. They are due Thurs. Oct 1.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.

Week Three: September 21 - 25

Fall officially arrives this week. Please be sure that your child is dressed appropriately for the changing seasons. It is much easier for your child to leave a hat, extra sweater and maybe even light mittens in the backpack than to be cold and have nothing to put on. Our Lost & Found becomes home to many unclaimed items so please label your child's belongings.

Our breakfast program starts on Wednesday morning so please remind or bring your child to the main entrance and directly into the building upon arrival each morning.

It was a pleasure to meet those who attended our "Meet The Teacher Night" last week. I'm looking forward to working together with all of you this year.

The children are settling into the routines in 3A and are presently working on "teambuilding" activities so that our classroom can be a safe learning environment for all. I am sending home 2 reading books Tuesday for the week. These books many be easy, just right or too hard. Please make a comment on your child's reading on each sticky note provided and return each day for in class work. Please remember that reading is getting meaning from print so ask your child questions about the book to check his/her understanding. A just right book is one that the child reads smoothly with expression, proper attention to punctuation and understands what he/she has just read. We will continue to review and learn new reading strategies to improve comprehension. In math, we will continue to review addition strategies for our basic facts. It is really important that your child knows the basic facts as they are building blocks for 2 and 3 digit addition and essential to understanding subtraction, multiplication and division. Please practice nightly at home.

Have a great week!

Week Two: September 14 - 18

"Meet the Teacher" is tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. I hope to meet you then. I'm looking forward to showing you some of the curriculum resources for Grade 3 and well as explaining our routines. Thank you to all who sent in milk, pizza, sub and agenda money in well labelled baggies. I was a bit overwhelmed this morning so please let me know if your child's order isn't right in the days ahead. We started using the agendas today. Homework this week consists of reading nightly (record in reading log and return each day) and studying the Unit 1 spelling list for a spelling test on Friday, Sept. 18. Students learned some strategies to learn their words today and were encouraged to work on these word each night. If you have internet, I recommend this spelling site as a tool for your child to learn his/her spelling each week: www.spellingcity.com . Learning can be fun!

Welcome to Grade Three!

Welcome Back to School!

I'm happy to be your child's Grade 3 English teacher for this school year and am looking forward to meeting all the children on Tuesday. Our "Meet the Teacher" night is Sept. 15 and at that time I'll highlight the curriculum and talk with you about our routines, expectations, etc. I'm new to Greenfield Elem. this year so I'll be learning along with the children. "Blogging", for example, is new to me but I'll do my best to share classroom/school news, homework info., important dates, etc. on a weekly basis. Please check it regularily. The student agenda is also key and should be checked and signed nightly. It is important that there is communication between home and school as we work together to support your child's learning.

Feel free to contact me by e-mail at sdharrington@edu.pe.ca.

Thank-you, Ms. Harrington