This week we are rolling out a new Spelling Homework routine that is part of the Words Their Way Program, New Reading Assignments on Raz Kids, and New Math practice of Multiplication facts. Please read below to find out more about each. I will also update the Home Page for easy reference.
Spelling:
Students were tested at the end of Term 1 and groups were shuffled to reflect the individual spelling abilities of each student. All student have a lable in their agenda and spelling notebook to indicate which group they are now in. Always remember, Spelling words can be found on the Third Grade website if you ever need them.
In Term 2 Students will be completing a different activity each night of the week. Activities will not change throughout the term, but the word lists will.
In class we will go over each new spelling homework routine so it is familiar with them. If you should have any questions in regards to how the activity should be completed, please contact me or have your student ask me to show them again in class. A packet will be sent home on Monday and student may use this to do their work or they can continue to use their spelling notebook if that is working for you. Either one will be accepted.
We will no longer be using the Spelling Activities previously handed out, these will only be used on the weeks we have High Frequency Words or can be used to enrich your child's applied spelling skills.
Tests will still be taken every Friday.
Reading: Now that Raz Kids is up and running, Students are asked to read or listen to a story for 10-15 minutes 3 times a week. (or combined it all for a 30-45 minute session) I realize that computer time is often hard to come by, we will have time throughout our week at school to login to Raz Kids as well. It is my hope that students will be able to take at least one reading Quiz per week at home. If Computer time is not available at home, please let me know and I will designate time throughout the week for your child to access teh computer.
If you login under the parent section and add your email address, you will be sent updates as to how well your child is doing and the types of questions that they are getting incorrect.
I am finding this to be an amazing resource with instant data on each child. Focus groups are in the works and students will be pulled during Daily 5 to work on specific reading skills.
Today the class retook the Scholastic Reading Inventory and I'm happy to report that almost ALL of the students have already made significant growth in their reading levels. Raz kids books will be adjusted tonight as students begin to read in their new Lexile Good Fit book levels.
Math: Things seem to be multiplying!
We began our journey into multiplication and division today. Students will be quizzed every Tuesday and Friday on their times tables. Quizzes consist of 25 problems on a page and students are given 3 minutes to complete as many problems as possible. If a student does not pass a quiz on Tuesday they will have another chance to retake it on Friday. Subsiquently, if they do not pass it on Friday it will be retaken on the following Tuesday.
Once a student successfully answers 25 problems in 3 minutes, they will move on to the next times tables. After 4 attempts, students will be allowed to move on to the next times tables and encouraged to continue to study the facts they did not complete.
You should have already seen the 2's tables come home on Friday. Keep your eye open for the 3's quiz tomorrow.
When a student successfully passes they will be given practice fact cards for their next times tables. We will not be going in order from 1-12, please refer to the chart/table sent home today for the order in which we will be quizzed.
Spelling and Reading and Math...Oh My! Today FLEW by with all of our new routines! It felt like the first day of school all over again. I'm looking forward to getting back to the basics tomorrow!