Language Arts
This month we are starting our first unit, "Off to Adventure!" By reading a variety of stories, we will focus on a variety of skills. Students will deepen their reading comprehension skills by practicing sequencing key events, making inferences, as well as identifying cause and effect. You will find your child’s spelling list with their homework. In addition, we will be focusing on grammar using Daily Language Review and a variety of targeted mini-lessons.
The Accelerated Reader (AR) program has been launched!
Writing
In writing we will be launching Writer’s Workshop. Students will be learning about the difference between watermelon stories and seed stories. They will be brainstorming seed ideas and beginning to write drafts of memorable moments in their lives in preparation for writing their first personal narrative.
Math
We are using common core math strategies to focus on place value for the first few weeks. The main difference between common core and California State Standards is that we cover fewer topics in greater depth. Students are asked to explain their thinking and to come up with multiple ways of solving problems. Students also need to memorize their basic addition and subtraction facts as well.
When we finish place value, we will focus on rounding, and then move onto regrouping in addition and subtraction.
Social Studies
3rd Grade students will begin the year studying Geography. We will focus on their local community and landmarks, as well as world geography and map skills. All children will be making their own World Geography coloring book after doing fun research activities in class.
Technology
All 3rd grade students at Bel Aire will be using iPads in our one-to-one classrooms to enhance their learning. iBooks, KeyNotes, Explain Everything, ShowMe, DoodleBuddy, and Notability are just a few of the Apps students will be using and becoming very comfortable working with.
We will be using Edmodo as a tool not only for conversations, but to complete assignments as well. Students will be able to "discuss" books and literature they read in the classroom using Edmodo.
We will be focusing on "Depth and Complexity" questions that direct the students to take a deeper look at the story they are reading. Students are learning that online comments must be kind, important, and necessary. Students may occasionally have homework in Edmodo.
Depth and Complexity
A common, universal language that helps promote critical thinking and gives students a chance to make connections between past knowledge and new knowledge and ultimately integrate that to the real world!
This Month's Icons
Relate Over Time - How are elements related in terms of the past, present, and future? How and why do things change? What doesn’t change?
Big Idea - What theory or general statement applies to these ideas? How do these ideas relate to broad concepts such as change, systems, chaos vs. order, etc.? What is the main idea?
Scholarly Attributes
These attributes distinguish strong and promising scholars from ordinary academics. We discuss these ideas in depth and promote the behaviors frequently in class.
This Month's Icons
Communicator - Scholars express themselves with confidence and clarity. They collaborate and actively listen to others while honoring multiple perspectives.
Productive - Scholars come ready to learn with the necessary tools and materials. They set goals, gather resources, and complete tasks.
This month we are starting our first unit, "Off to Adventure!" By reading a variety of stories, we will focus on a variety of skills. Students will deepen their reading comprehension skills by practicing sequencing key events, making inferences, as well as identifying cause and effect. You will find your child’s spelling list with their homework. In addition, we will be focusing on grammar using Daily Language Review and a variety of targeted mini-lessons.
The Accelerated Reader (AR) program has been launched!
Writing
In writing we will be launching Writer’s Workshop. Students will be learning about the difference between watermelon stories and seed stories. They will be brainstorming seed ideas and beginning to write drafts of memorable moments in their lives in preparation for writing their first personal narrative.
Math
We are using common core math strategies to focus on place value for the first few weeks. The main difference between common core and California State Standards is that we cover fewer topics in greater depth. Students are asked to explain their thinking and to come up with multiple ways of solving problems. Students also need to memorize their basic addition and subtraction facts as well.
When we finish place value, we will focus on rounding, and then move onto regrouping in addition and subtraction.
Social Studies
3rd Grade students will begin the year studying Geography. We will focus on their local community and landmarks, as well as world geography and map skills. All children will be making their own World Geography coloring book after doing fun research activities in class.
Technology
All 3rd grade students at Bel Aire will be using iPads in our one-to-one classrooms to enhance their learning. iBooks, KeyNotes, Explain Everything, ShowMe, DoodleBuddy, and Notability are just a few of the Apps students will be using and becoming very comfortable working with.
We will be using Edmodo as a tool not only for conversations, but to complete assignments as well. Students will be able to "discuss" books and literature they read in the classroom using Edmodo.
We will be focusing on "Depth and Complexity" questions that direct the students to take a deeper look at the story they are reading. Students are learning that online comments must be kind, important, and necessary. Students may occasionally have homework in Edmodo.
Depth and Complexity
A common, universal language that helps promote critical thinking and gives students a chance to make connections between past knowledge and new knowledge and ultimately integrate that to the real world!
This Month's Icons
Relate Over Time - How are elements related in terms of the past, present, and future? How and why do things change? What doesn’t change?
Big Idea - What theory or general statement applies to these ideas? How do these ideas relate to broad concepts such as change, systems, chaos vs. order, etc.? What is the main idea?
Scholarly Attributes
These attributes distinguish strong and promising scholars from ordinary academics. We discuss these ideas in depth and promote the behaviors frequently in class.
This Month's Icons
Communicator - Scholars express themselves with confidence and clarity. They collaborate and actively listen to others while honoring multiple perspectives.
Productive - Scholars come ready to learn with the necessary tools and materials. They set goals, gather resources, and complete tasks.