Monday 3 December 2018

Mrs. Garlow's Classroom Blog

Reading

In reading, students are continuing to set reading goals for themselves.  Some students are working on using comprehension strategies such as envisioning or retelling, while others are working on attending to punctuation to read with greater fluency and expression.  This month we will monitor our progress towards achieving these reading goals.  The Grade 3s have also been learning about figurative language.  They have been studying figurative language through our weekly poems as well as through our mentor texts.   Some have also been using it in their true stories.  It’s so exciting to see!

Writing
In writing, students are continuing to revise and edit their true stories based on a small meaningful moment in their personal lives.  They are using feedback from their self-assessments, teacher feedback as well as feedback from their peers to improve the quality of their written work.  It’s truly amazing to see these young authors at work!  Our focus will shift from editing to finally publishing these stories.   We are hoping to have all narratives complete before the holidays so we can invite all families into our classroom community for an author celebration!


Math

Students have been working hard on learning how to add and subtract with three-digit numbers with and without regrouping through the context of measurements (length and perimeter).  Our mathematicians have been working on developing efficient strategies by using tools such as an open number line and a table.  Please regularly review basic addition and subtraction facts with your child at home. Quick recall and proficiency of these basic facts is essential to their success with adding and subtracting larger numbers.


As in all math units, an emphasis will be on problem solving and justifying answers. Students must be able to explain their thinking. The Grade 3s have been working on solving problems in a variety of ways, making their thinking visible and using mathematical vocabulary.


Science
Our scientists are about to start another mini-inquiry into historical structures that have stood the test of time.  Students will research about what made these structures strong and stable and endure various forces.  Students will then move onto experimenting with materials to strengthen and stabilize structures. Throughout their learning, students will be reminded to consider the impact of the structures on the environment and the impact of the environment on these structures. 


Social Studies

Students have researched how Canada is made up of many different environments and how the environment and land affected the ways of life in communities. The Grade 3s have also learned how Indigenous peoples shared their knowledge of using the resources from the land to survive such as food, medicine, shelter, as well as transportation.  Students have been busy creating dioramas to depict life in a First Nations, Metis, or Inuit community to present to the class.      


Winter Electives

Our grade 1 - 3 students will be given the opportunity to enjoy two, fun-filled days.  The first outing has been scheduled for Wednesday, January 9th at The ROC in Georgina, Ontario and the second outing has been scheduled for Thursday, January 24th at the Stronach Aurora Recreation Complex.  Sign up your child for skating, tobogganing, or tubing.  Registration packages outlining all the details have been sent home with every student.  Please make your payments using School Cash Online and return your completed forms by December 7th.  We are also in need of volunteers in order to make this happen.  We will need help with supervision, helping students tie on their skates, assisting students while they are on skating on the ice as well as with tubing and tobogganing.