Hello Families!

This week the kids will take their Unit 3 Test in both reading and math.  They will also take their Fractions Intervention post test.  Test, test, test…lucky kids!  🙂  Thankfully, the tests will be broken up over several days so they aren’t overwhelmed all at once.  There will be no spelling this week, and I anticipate homework only on Monday in my math class.

Speaking of fractions, the kids have been learning about them the past few weeks at Interventions.  After each lesson, the kids get a chance to answer an “exit question” and earn a “piece of the pie” coupon for each question.  Today, one lucky winner from each homeroom will have their name drawn from that coupon basket, and have a chance to throw a pie in Mr. Roberson’s face!  🙂  This will take place Thursday morning in the lunch room.  It’s always a riot to see Mr. R get the kids all worked up, and they LOVE getting a chance to see that pie go splat!

Another exciting aspect to the week is that the school has earned their next 10,000 blue coupon reward.  To celebrate, the kids are welcome to wear pajamas on Thursday.

Lastly, my uncle passed away last Saturday after a lengthy battle with cancer.  While it is very sad, we are all so thankful he is out of pain.  As a result, I will be gone on Tuesday and Wednesday to attend to his funeral in Iowa.  There is nothing I hate more than missing school, especially during a test week.  But, I will prep the kids today about my absence, and I hope all goes well during the time I’m gone.

Thanks for reading, have a great week and an especially great holiday season!

Eric Wachter

Hello Families!

This week the kids will learn through a variety of expository texts that focus on history from the 1800s.  They will read about the Oregon Trail, as well as learn about the transcontinental railroad.  In the process, they will practice summarizing, sequencing and suffixes.  This is the 5th week of Unit 3, so the kids will have one more spelling list before our Unit 3 Test next week.

In math class, we’ll be wrapping up our study of addition and subtraction, then do some review activities for next week’s test.  I’m really torn with homework this week, as I’m not sure how the lessons will go.  Tentatively, I anticipate assignments on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings.  I might need to push one back, and have an assignment Friday.  We’ll play it by ear!

In writing, most kids are just about finished with the the final draft of their research reports.  I’m hoping to have the kids share them with each other by the end of the week.  Then, we should have some time for a little December poetry towards the end of the week or early next week.

Lastly, this Thursday the kids are welcome to bring a board game or card game from home to celebrate the school earning another 10,000 Character Coupons.  Rubik’s Cubes seem to be very popular with the kids this year, and those would be another perfect game to play.  Don’t feel like you have to bring anything, as we have plenty of games the kids can play here in the classroom.

Thanks for reading and have a great week!

Eric Wachter

Hello Families!

I hope you all had a restful Thanksgiving break, and were able to spend some quality time with your friends and families.  It’s hard to believe, but we’re down to the last three weeks of the first semester.  Crazy how time flies!

This week, the kids will take their mid-year MAP reading test.  This is the same test they took in the fall, and will take again at the end of the year.  It monitors progress, and allows teachers to analyze the results and direct instruction towards areas of need or weakness.  Our class will take part one on Wednesday at 10:35, and part 2 on Friday at 10:35.

We’ll also sandwich our regular curriculum around those tests.  Our stories this week will focus on Earth and outer space.  We’ll read some cool expository texts about space, and practice summarizing, main idea and suffixes.  We will have a spelling list this week, and you can expect a practice list to come home this evening.

In math class, we’ll continue to practice addition and subtraction methods.  I’ve been really impressed with my group and what they retained from last year.  I anticipate home each evening this week, unless a lesson goes sideways and we need more time.

In writing class, we’re finishing up our research reports this week and will begin writing our final drafts.  I’m excited at how this process has gone, and I look forward to sharing them with you at conferences.

Thanks for reading and have a great week!

Eric Wachter

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

Hello Families!

I hope you all had a great fall break, and were able to spend a little quality time relaxing.  Quarter two starts this week, and the kids will spend their week learning about animals, and how we can protect them.  We’ll practice rereading difficult texts, discuss author’s point of view, and learn about suffixes in our expository texts.  This is week 4 of unit 2, so we will have a spelling list this week.

In math class, we’re in the middle of Unit 2 still, and will spend the week practicing word problems, and begin to learn about the order of operations when it comes to equations with more than one operation.  We’ll also learn a couple of easy tricks to multiply numbers by ten.  In my class, I anticipate having homework every evening this week.  However, I might have to amend that plan if a lesson becomes too tricky, especially considering we’re learning a couple of new concepts.

Thanks for reading and have a great week!

Eric Wachter

Hello Families!

This week the class will read and learn from stories about how our government works.  They will learn how the voting process works, and what it takes to be a candidate for election.  These expository texts will teach us about author’s point of view, the importance of rereading, as well as practice prefixes.  Since it’s a short week, we will not have spelling.

In math class, the kids will continue practicing 6s, 7s and 8s in word problems.  We’ll also take a quick quiz to monitor progress.  In my class, I anticipate homework on Monday and Tuesday of this week.

On Wednesday, the kids can wear a hat to school to celebrate earning another 10,000 coupons as a school!  Please congratulate your child for helping our school reach another goal!

Have a great week and a super fall break!

Eric Wachter

Hello Families!

This week the class will learn through a variety of stories detailing immigration, and learn how our great country was shaped by so many people from around the world.  We’ll practice making predictions, finding the theme of a story and finding similes within our historical fiction stories.  You can expect a spelling (Unit 2, Week 2) list to come home on Monday, and a test on Friday.

In Math class, we’ll explore 8s and 7s, as well as practice more word problems.  Towards the end of the week, we’ll begin to learn about square numbers.  In my math class, I anticipate homework on the following evenings.  However, please note adjustments might need to be made if the kids struggle with a lesson.

Monday – Homework 2-3

Tuesday – None

Wednesday – Homework 2-4

Thursday – Homework 2-5

Friday – Homework 2-6

Thanks for reading, and have a great week!

Eric Wachter