Hello Families!

This week we will continue to build on the skills we practiced last week.  We’ll practice cause and effect, visualization and idioms while reading about the history of Thanksgiving.  We’ll also read a couple of different kinds of silly Thanksgiving poems.  Since the week is only two days long, we will not have spelling or a literacy homework.

In my Math class, we’ll continue to practice addition and subtraction, as well as review rounding numbers.  I anticipate a homework assignment on Monday, but not Tuesday.  No one should worry about doing homework during the break when they should be focused on eating turkey and having some family fun.  🙂

Don’t forget to turn in your book orders by Tuesday.  Thanks to all of you that have ordered a book or two.  Kids really love receiving something with these orders, and you can’t beat the gift of reading!

Have a great week and I hope you and your family have a great Thanksgiving!

Eric Wachter

Hello Families!

This week, the class will learn through a variety of historical texts about Abraham Lincoln.  They’ll learn a bit about slavery, and the lengths that Lincoln went to end the division of our country during his time as president.  The kids will practice visualization again this week, as well as cause and effect, and idioms.  This is unit 3, week 2 of our curriculum, and you can expect a spelling list to come home Monday evening.

In math class, we’ll continue to practice rounding to the nearest ten and hundred.  We’ll also begin practicing multi-digit addition.  I’m anticipating homework in my math class on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings.  This, of course, is subject to change if the class struggles with a lesson.

In writing, the kids are in the middle of their research projects.  My class is currently writing a rough draft, which should take most of the week.

We had a great lesson last week in Second Step regarding recognizing bullying.  This week, we’ll complete lesson two, which focuses on reporting bullying.

Lastly, the kids will also be bringing home a book order form on Monday.  This isn’t due until Tuesday, November 26th, so you have plenty of time to look through the forms.  You can also order online using this code:  https://orders.scholastic.com/DGFDC  Any books you order earn me points, which I in turn use to buy free books for the class!

Thanks for reading and have a great week!

Eric Wachter

Hello Families!

This week, the kids will begin Unit 3 in reading.  We’ll learn about visualization and practice problem solving while reading a variety of folktales.  We’ll also begin learning about verbs, and revisit synonyms during our word work lessons.  You can expect a spelling list to come home Monday, and we’ll have a test on Friday.

In math, we’ll begin to learn how to round numbers.  This is a new, and often difficult skill to master for third graders.  By the end of the week, we’ll have practiced rounding to the nearest hundred and to the nearest ten.  Provided the lessons go according to plan, I anticipate homework in my math class on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday evenings.

Our Second Step (a behavior program) lesson this week will be the beginning of our Bullying Unit.  There are four very important lessons that help the kids understand, recognize and learn to respond to bullying.  Everyone deserves the right to feel safe and welcome in school, and we will reinforce what they already know, and how to make Arnold an even safer place to be.

Thanks for reading and have a great week!

Eric Wachter

Hello Families,

This week, your child will wrap up testing for Unit 2 in Math, and take his/her Unit 2 Test in reading.  We’ll spread the reading test out over several days, so they are not overwhelmed with the tasks.  We will not have spelling this week, as a result.

After the math test, we’ll begin Unit 3 on Wednesday.  We’ll shift gears and begin reviewing and expanding our knowledge of addition and subtraction this unit.  We’ll also continue to review multiplication and division daily so we stay sharp with those skills.  In my math class, I anticipate we’ll only have homework on Wednesday and Thursday of this week due to testing, and a two-day lesson we’ll begin on Friday.

In writing class, the kids have (or will soon) begin a research project.  They’ll learn to use textbooks, as well as digital resources, to take notes, write a rough draft, and eventually create a final draft of what they learn.  This is a lengthy process and will take place over the next several weeks.

Thanks for reading and have a great week!

Eric Wachter