Inside Third Grade
January 26, 2016
We are working on:
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Determine the relevance of information using text
features.
Asking and answering questions to identify the
characteristics of historical fiction (Anna, Grandpa,
and the Big Storm.)
Asking questions to check our understanding of a
text topic.
Identifying changes in the lives of the characters,
setting, and events that the author has included as
a part of our literature analysis (Anna, Grandpa,
and the Big Storm) and recording what we are
discussing on a Change Matrix graphic organizer.
Recounting stories using key details.
Explaining how events in the story build on each
other.
Asking and answering about information from a
speaker to clarify understanding about a text or
topic.
Reading and analyzing the main character in Brave
Irene to record her character traits, motivators,
and how she solves the story’s problems as a part
of our Marking Period 3 long-term Literary Analysis
reading/writing project.
Stating opinions and justifying them with
supporting and detailed reasons.
Comparing texts about a common topic.
Organizing information into paragraphs with a
topic sentence, supporting details that elaborate
on a point, and concluding or transitional
sentences in whole group modeling, small group
and/or individually.
Using root words as a clue to the meaning of an
unknown word(s).
Locating, counting, and labeling fractional lengths
of a whole on a number line diagram (halves,
fourths, eighths).
Discussing how people utilize the physical/natural
characteristics of the land (elevation, location of
water for food and transportation, etc.) to survive.
Identifying how objects impact ice and change it
(chemical change/physical change).
Teachers’ Corner:
We are now into our third Marking
Period together. This marking period we
will focus on the Thinking and Academic
Success Skills (T.A.S.S.) of Original Thinking
and Intellectual Risk-Taking.
Original Thinking pushes students to
create new ideas and products by considering
the following statements:
• I explain, draw, use technology, or act out my
answers in new and inventive ways.
• I create different solutions to problems.
• I turn others’ ideas and products into
something new.
• I see problems as a chance to solve
something in a new way.
Intellectual Risk-taking encourages
students to consider the following:
I ask questions to help me understand—every
day.
• I share what I am thinking in my group.
• I share my ideas and answer questions, even
when I am unsure.
• I challenge myself to rise to the next level.
Important Dates to Remember:
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January- Winter MAP-R and MAP-M
testing window is ongoing; Fountas and
Pinnell individualized reading testing is
ongoing.
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Jan. 26- Red Monday Folders come
home; return to school on next day of
school signed
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We intend to have a Math Quick Quiz
this week. Students will be asked to
write the date of the quiz into their
Planner.
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Feb. 12- Valentine’s Day Parties in p.m.;
please let your child’s teacher know if
your child will be participating in the
Alternate Activity instead as soon as
possible. 