Ms. Cox's Blog

August 24

Here is what we will be doing this week:

Reading: We will using our prior knowledge and making predictions in our reading.  We will be discussing why we need to have a purpose in our reading and learning about books that fit  reading purposes; whether that purpose is to inform, entertain, persuade, or learn.

Spelling:This week, we will be identifying words with consonant, vowel, vowel, consonant (CVVC) patterns.  We will be specifically be looking at words with vowel patterns ai, oa, ee, ea, ui, oo.  We will again sort our words into these vowel patterns and do different activities to help us learn the spelling of these words.

Writing: We will begin working on descriptive writing seeing how to write descriptively in poetry.  We will work on the trait of organization in our writing applying this trait to writing a descriptive free verse poem.

Math:  We will continue to work on place value through the ten thousands.  Vocabulary they should know: expanded form, standard form, models, written form, place value, and value of a digit.  We will also review patterns by skip counting.  Students will learn how to determine the relative size of a number by adding and/or subtracting 10s and 100s.  For instance if the child has the number 65,327 they will learn how to determine what the new number is if they add 300 and then subtract 20.

Students will also be given a 7 minute timed test on math facts each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  We will start with addition.  A child must make a 100 to move on to subtraction.  Once the student makes a 100 on subtraction they may begin working on multiplication.  Please make sure your child is studying nightly. 

Homework: Please remember homework should not take more than thirty minutes.  Just stop at that point if you feel your child has used this thirty minute time wisely.  20 minutes of reading is in addition to this thirty minutes.

Monday: Math- Study facts, Book p. 16 Set A & B, Spelling: Tear out word cards, cut out and place in ziploc bag in envelope in Word Study Notebook,write words in agenda

Tuesday: Math- Study facts, Place Value Puzzle 3 & 4, Spelling: Write words in ABC order

Wednesday: Math- Study facts, Book p. 16 Set C & D, Write 5 sentences with as many words as you can

Thursday: Math- Study facts, Spelling: Study words

Dates to Remember: 

Thursday, August 27-School pictures

Thursday, Sept. 3- Open House

Wednesday-Friday, Sept. 9-11 Cognative Abilites Test (CogAT)

Monday-Friday, Sept. 14-21Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS)  Please remember not to make any appointments during this week and a half.  Try to make sure your child has a good breakfast and is on time to school.

August 17

Well the first week back was great!!  We really enjoyed it.  We have a super super group of students. 

Thanks so much for starting our routine of checking the agenda nightly.  Students will have all homework written down daily for you.  We have placed labels in their binder.  In the front are papers that need to be returned to school.  The back are papers that may be kept at home.  Please have your child empty the contents of these pockets daily so that their binder will stay organized.  Remember students need to read 20 minutes at least four nights a week. 

I will send out this blog periodically to keep you updated on what we are doing. 

Words Their Way (Spelling):  Students will focus more on phonics rules than in the past.  We will do a lot of sorting to find common pattern with words. This week we will focus on CVCe pattern. 

Shared Reading:  We will look at how to treat our books and why reading important.  We will also begin finding words that are singular and plural.

GUMS (English): Our topic will be simple and compound subjects.

Writing: This week will reinforce the importance of reading and how reading and writing are connected. 

Math:  We will begin number sense.  Students will learn place value through 99,999.  Remember to review addition and subtraction facts daily. 

Science:  Our focus will be on the scientific method.  Be sure to ask your child about the raw egg activity.

Dates to remember:

Tues, Sept. 1: Open House-We will be going over classroom procedures, expectations, communication, the new report card, and curriculum.

Sept. 9-11: Cognative Abilities Test- Please make sure your child is present and at school on time and has eaten a good breakfast.

Sept. 14-18:  Iowa Test of Basic Skills- Please make sure your child is present and at school on time and has eaten a good breakfast.

Please remember that if you ever have a question or concern let us know.  We are here to work with you to help your child learn and grow.

Welome Back!!

What an exciting week it has been already.  Mrs. Addison and I are really enjoying these wonderful children.  We have been working on how to succeed in third grade.  All of the students are so eager to learn.  That is so exciting to see. 

Remember parents, we are a team.  Our goal is to help these children grow so if you ever have a problem please let us know. 

Dates to Remember:

Sept. 1- Open House

Sept. 7- Labor Day Holiday

There will be more to come.

Traditional Literature

The students are learning the different types of traditional literature.  We have learned about fairy tales.  We are currently working on fables.  Students have learned the characteristics of a fable and applied this knowledge by writing their own fable.  We will share the stories soon.

Once we finish fables we will move on to Tall Tales.  Students will read a variety of tall tales and learn the characteristics of them.  We will work on writing a summary of the tales they read and then write a response to the literature read.

Traditional Literature

The students are learning the different types of traditional literature.  We have learned about fairy tales.  We are currently working on fables.  Students have learned the characteristics of a fable and applied this knowledge by writing their own fable.  We will share the stories soon.

Once we finish fables we will move on to Tall Tales.  Students will read a variety of tall tales and learn the characteristics of them.  We will work on writing a summary of the tales they read and then write a response to the literature read.

News for 4/30

We have a lot happening in the next few weeks.  Please remember the following dates:

Monday, 4/30 Evening in the Garden

I would love to see you Monday night at Evening in the Garden.  Don't forget you can have dinner while you're here.

Friday, 5/11 Muffins for Mom (8-9)

The students will be reading to their moms.  We would love to see you.  If you are not able to attend please let me know in advance.  Thanks!!

Tuesday, 5/15 Field Day

We need parents willing to help at each of the stations so that the students will have a good time.  If you are able to volunteer, please return the bottom portion of the blue paper that went home.  If you have missplaced it, just send in a note with your name, child's name on it saying you are able to help.  We would appreciate your help that day. 

Lessons for the Week:

Math- Students are doing better with their multiplication facts.  We will continue to test a lot.  Please continue to work on these.  We will continue to work on partial product (students are doing great) and partial quotient.  This is a different way to complete long division.  It is really easier than the way you and I learned.  I know we as parents want to teach our children the way we learned, but please try to refrain from this.  I know in fourth grade all they allow is partial product and partial puotient.  The logic is for students to better understand place value.  Thanks for your help and support.

Spelling- Core:learned, brought,close, nothing, though  Review:  there, its, use, too, different, next, thought, enough, head, paper, today, it's, body, turn, face.  The skill we will work on is rhyming words.

Reading:  We will read a fictional story called Esmeralda.  We will continue to work on drawing conclusions, sequencing, and vocabulary.

We will also be working on our Mother's Day gifts.  To help with this students will need to learn the names of their grandparents and know the correct spelling.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

News 4/23

We did it!!  Testing is complete!  We will get back to normal next week.

Math- We will continue working on partial product.  We will also learn how to estimate products and begin division using partial quotient.  Please continue to review math facts.  We will have several 100 problem timed tests next week. 

Spelling-  Core: inside, age, sad, early, I'll; Review:  remember, really, later, morning, answer, several, until, thought, another, through, only, than, each, there.  The skill we will be working on is contractions.

Reading-   We will read The Wednesday Surprise.  We will work on comprehension skills such as reading for meaning and visualizing.  Students will preview and predict as well figure out the problem, solution, and major events.

English-  We will review many of the skills that we have learned this year.

Dates to Remember:

Monday, 4/23- Media Center

Monday, 4/30- Evening in the Garden

News 4/9

Wow!  It is hard to believe that it is time for Spring Break.  The year has flown by.  A big thank you to all who sent in supplies for our multiplication sundae celebration.  It was so good to see the students want to participate and be responsible for bringing in the supplies.  A big thanks to Mrs. Hagerty, Mrs. Carter, and Mrs. Cox for helping our during our celebration. 

Math:  Students are doing great with partial product.  We will continue this and one night they will need to teach you how it is done.   We are not done with multiplication facts even though we had our ice cream sundae celebration.  Students will be given a seven minute timed test 0-12 facts on Friday.  This will count as a grade so make sure your child continues to study even over the break if you can.  We will begin mixing in division which will come much easier if children know multiplication.

English: We will continue with DOL.  Students will have to correct the punctuation and capitalization in sentences, review cause and effect, pronouns, quotations, suffixes, syllables, and homophones.  Students will have a quiz Friday.  Please review their DOL sheet Thursday.  We will also work on test taking strategies and do a little CRCT review.  Please remember to have your child complete the CRCT practice at https://georgiaoas.org/servlet/a2l.  There are tests that can be printed at https://georgiaoas.org/servlet/a2l.

Spelling:  Core- tree, course, front, American, space; Review- what, there, which, its, people, very, around, because, great, own, might, want, usually, family, table.

Social Studies:  Students have been working hard on their Georgia symbol books.  We will finish these and review about Native Americans, natural resources in Georgia, and jobs in Georgia.

Reminders:

April 16-20- CRCT  Please make sure your child gets plenty of rest and a good breakfast each morning.  Remember, students will not be allowed in their class once testing has begun so being on time is a must.

Thanks for all you do!!!  Have a great week!!

News 3/26

We have had a great week, learning a lot!!  Students have learned the commutative and distributive properties.  We played math baseball against Mrs. Huebener's class.  Unfortunately we don't our facts as well as her class.  They beat us 7-0.  Please have your child study these facts.  It is extremely important that they learn them.  AAAmath.com is a great resource.  There are other sites listed on the Computer Lab web page.  Please take advantage of these.  Students have worked very hard writing a persuasive essay.  They are very interesting.  And we have learned about Georgia this week.  Ms. Koontz talked to the third grade about the history of Georgia.  Then the students wrote her thank you letters telling information they learned from her presentation.  We have also been learning about Georgia's natural resources.

A big thank you to Mrs. Carter.  She was a great help today making our flip books for next week. 

Things to Remember:

Please remember to encourage your child to take AR tests.  I am glad to say that almost everyone took at least one test this week.  Students must take tests on books within their level and keep a percentage of 85% or higher.  Every student that makes their goal following these guidelines will be able to go with me to Dairy Queen at the end of the nine weeks.

CRCT Practice- Don't forget to have your child practice the CRCT online at   https://georgiaoas.org/servlet/a2l. If you have forgotten your child's login, look on the index card stapled to their agenda.  If the card is missing let me know and I will get you the login username.  The password is education.   Another good site to print tests is http://www.henry.k12.ga.us/uge/crct04.htm.  Please take advantage of these.

Dates to Remember:

Tues, 3/27- Heritage Park field trip 

Fri, 3/30- Multiplication Sundae Party

Mon, 4/2- Fri, 4/6- Spring Break

Mon, 4/16- Fri, 4/20- CRCT   Please make sure your child is well rested.

This Week:

Math:  We will focus on multiplying 2 digit by 1 digit.  Please note that your child will not be learning how to multiply like you and I did.  This new way is called partial product.  If you would like for me to explain it to you let me know.  We will also learn how to multiply by 10 and 100.

Spelling:  Core- ground, cold, really, table, remember;  Review- they, there, your, some, first, people, water, because, large, until, enough, it's, learn, morning, United, States.  The skill this week will be consonant blends.

Writing:  Students have worked hard this week writing a persuasive essay.  We will finish this and begin an informational essay about the field trip to Heritage Park.

English:  We will continue learning about quotation marks.

Social Studies:  Students will make a flip book showing Georgia's symbols.

newsletter 3/19

Wow!!  We have had an exciting week.  Students saw a Power Point about the Root House Monday.  We went on the field trip Thursday and had a great time.  Students saw what life was like in the mid 1800's in Cobb County.  We also visited the Marietta Museum where the class was able to see how clothing and appliances have changed through the years.  They also have Civil War room where students were able to see artifacts fromthe war.  It was an exciting day.  Thanks so much to Mrs. Carter and Mrs. Johnson for being our wonderful chaperones.

We are beginning the last nine weeks!!  This year has flown by.  I want to congratulate Julia Kelly.  She received 100 AR points this nine weeks.  Way to go!!  I want to also congratulate the following students for reaching their AR goal with 85% accuracy:  Olivia Hagerty and Ryan Parker.  Please encourage your child to take AR tests.  A new nine weeks has begun. 

Math:  We will begin our new unit which will extend the learning of multiplication and division.  The Power Standards are:  M3N3 Number and Operations: Multiplication [details]

Students will further develop their understanding of multiplication of whole numbers and develop the ability to apply it in problem solving.

Element: M3N3.a

Describe the relationship between addition and multiplication, i.e., multiplication is defined as repeated addition.

Element: M3N3.b

Know the multiplication facts with understanding and fluency to 10 x 10.

Element: M3N3.c

Use arrays and area models to develop understanding of the distributive property and to determine partial products for multiplication of 2- or 3-digit numbers by a 1-digit number.

Element: M3N3.d

Understand the effect on the product when multiplying by multiples of 10.

Element: M3N3.e

Apply the identity, commutative, and associative properties of multiplication and verify the results.

Element: M3N3.f

Use mental math and estimation strategies to multiply.

Element: M3N3.g

Solve problems requiring multiplication.

Please continue to work with you child on multiplication facts daily.  This will help them to master the standards above.  We will play Mrs. Huebener's class next week in Multiplication Baseball.

Spelling:  Core- run, book, gave, order, open; Review- were, there, their, about, these, first, its, find, such, important, food, life, needed, years, told, living.  The skill we will focus on is past tense verbs where we add -ed and irregular past tense verbs where the spelling is changed.

English:  We will work on contractions and quotation marks this week.

Writing:  Students will be taking a mock writing assessment to help prepare them for the fifth grade writing assessment.  Students will also work on a persuasive essay.

Social Studies:  We will focus on Georgia's natural resources and the different regions of Georgia.

Dates to Remember:

Tuesday, March 27- Environmental field trip

Monday, April 2-Friday, April 6- Spring Break

Monday, April 16-Friday, April 20 CRCT  Please make sure your child is rested and arrives at school on time.  We will begin each morning right after announcements.  Once we begin a child is not allowed in the room.