Ms. Cox's Blog

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.

newsletter 3/12

News:  There was a great turn out for the book fair this week.  Thanks to all who participated and helped out our wonderful school. 

We will be going to the Root House this Thursday, March 15.  I just found out that I need one more chaperone.  You will have to pay $3.00 and drive or carpool with other parents.  If anyone is interested please let me know.  Thank you in advance.

Please remember to have your child practice the CRCT online.  It is very important. 

The end of the nine weeks is next week.  Students who have made their AR goal will be able to go to Dairy Queen with me and I will buy them an ice cream cone.  Please encourage your child to read each night.  I know how difficult it is, but it is vey important.

Math:  We will work with decimals- locating them on a number line, adding and subtracting, and comparing.  Continue to have your child study multiplication facts.  We will have our ice cream sundae celebration at the end of March.  Also starting next week the third grade classes will be playing each other in Math Baseball to find the third grade Multiplication champions.  Please review so that we can advance.

Spelling:  Core- living, black, eat, short, United States; Review- there, about, could, use, after, because, along, life, pages, high, story, white, across, hear, city.  Skill this week is the /k/ sound spelled c, k, ck, qu, ch.

English:  We will focus on compound subjects and predicates and review contractions and parts of speech such as nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives.

Writing:  students will write a narrative focussing on descriptive language.

Reading:  We will focus on cause and effect and continue to review testing strategies.  We will also work on inferencing.

Social Studies.  Next week we will begin studying Georgia.  Our EQs:  What are Georgia's natural resources?  What are Georgia's regions?

Dates to Remember:

Thursday, 3/15- Root House field trip

Tuesday, 3/27- Environmental field trip

Monday,4/2-Friday, 4/6 Spring Break 

newsletter 3/5

Well the third grade had their spelling bee and our own Olivia Hagerty came in second!  We are so proud of both of our participants.  Way to go!!

Concepts for the week: 

Math:  We will continue comparing fractions, working on area and perimeter, and measurement both customary and metric lengths.  Students still need to study multiplication facts.  We will begin March Mathness soon.  Third grade classes will play "Math Baseball"  against other classes and we will find the Multiplication Champs of third grade.  Please review with your child so that we can advance in Mrch Nathness.  Thanks!

Spelling:  Core- true, half, red, fish, plants; Review- they, there, their, many, would, its, through, own, world, animals, above, country, picture, since, group  The skill we will work on is silent letters in words such as the k in kneel, the gh in straight.

English:  Students have done very well with adjectives.  We will review them and focus on compound subjects and predicates.

Reading:  We will continue in our guided reading groups to work on skills such as visualization, and asking questions while reading.  We will continue to work on testing strategies also.

Science:  Students were given a study guide this week.  The test will be next Friday, March 9.  Please review with your child.

Dates to remember:

Book Fair- all week

Wed, 3/7-Early Release

Thurs, 3/15- Root House field trip

newsletter 2/26

Hello Parents,

CONGRATULATIONS TO:  OLIVIA HAGERTY!!  She is our class Spelling Bee champion.  CONGRATULATIONS TO:  HOUSTON HUNT!!  He is our runner-up.  These wonderful spellers will compete against the winners from the other third grade classes Wednesday, February 28 @ 8:00a.m. in the Media Center.  Good Luck to Olivia and Houston!!

For the Week:

Math:  Our focus will be comparing fractions and frational parts of a set.  Our EQs:  Which fraction is larger/small?  How do I find the fractional parts of a set?

English:  We will look for grammatical errors as well as capitalization and punctuation errors in sentences, review contractions, and find the subject and the predicate.  We will begin learning about adjectives and compound sentences.

Spelling:  Our skill will be compound words.  Core:  face, door, cut, done, group;  Review:  there, first, only, too, between, something, always, school, important, hand, second, white, it's, example, turn

ORAL PRESENTATIONS  ARE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27.  Students need to refer to the rubric when planning their presentation.

Media Center: Monday, February 26.  Students need to return  over due books.

Dates to Remember:

Wednesday, March 7 Early Release, Performing Arts program @ 8:15

Wednesday, March 14 Visiting Author @ 8:00

Thursday, March 15 Root House field trip

newsletter 2/21

Thanks to all for the Valentine's treats.

Math:  we will review perimeter and area.  Students will design a playground.

Spelling:  Core- upon, family, later, turn, move; Review- there, up, its, water, long, most, another, work, along, often, once, animals, sure, it's, several.  We will review possessive nouns.

English:  we will review common and proper nouns.

Reminders:

February 19 & 20: Student holidays/ Teacher Professional Learning Day

Students should practice their oral presentation next week.  Please refer to the rubric that was with the original directions.

Tuesday, February 27:  Oral presentations

Wednesday, March 7:  Early Release

Wednesday, March 14:  Visiting author

Thursday, March 15:  Root House field trip

Tuesday, March 27:  Environmental field trip at Herritage Park "Nature's Neighbors"

newsletter 2/12

Thanks to all the parents that came to our Curriculum Night.  We had a great time.

Math:  Our focus next week will be customary and metric units of measurement of length.  Our EQ:  Which measurement of length is appropriate?   M3M2.b Measure to the nearest 1/4 inch, 1/2 inch and millimeter (mm) in addition to the previously learned inch, foot, yard, centimeter, and meter.  Students need to continue studying multiplication facts.  We will have our Ice Cream Sundae Celebration in March.

Reading: 

Essential Question(s)

Unit:  How do I read and comprehend fiction/nonfiction text?

Lesson questions:

·         How do I decide what the text is mostly about?

What does the author think is most important and how do I know?

Spelling:  Core- didn't, car, morning, I'm, body; Review- their, said, others, people, made, right, because, something, thought, soon, best, try, several, himself, usually.  Skill reinforced:  homophones.

English:  EQ:  Which type of sentence it this?  and What is the subject? predicate?

Writing:

Essential Question(s)

Unit:  How do I write to persuade?

Lessons:

·         What does it mean to persuade someone?

·         Where do I get information needed to persuade someone?

·         Should my information be accurate/relevant or can it just be opinion?

·         Should my opinions be based on fact?

Is there a pattern to follow when writing to persuade?

Students will begin Science with Mrs. Keasler.

Reminders:

Wednesday, Feb. 14-Valentine's Day Bring for all students

Thursday, Feb. 15-Six hour reading for Six Flags ticket is due

Friday, Feb. 16- Environmental lesson:  Endangered Species; Final draft of famous person report

Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 19 & 20 Student holidays, Teacher learning day

Friday, Feb. 23- Mystery Reader, Melinda Carter

Tuesday, Feb. 27- Oral Presentation of Famous Person

Wednesday, March 7- Early Release

Thursday, March 15- Field trip to Root House