Norris News

1/12/2012 – 1/18/2012

No School this Monday – Martin Luther King Jr. Observed

System 44 – We will meet Tuesday – Friday next week. Please have your child in class and ready to work by 8:00 a.m.

Next week is a testing week. Please try not to be absent.

We have begun our third Independent Reading Project presentations. Congratulations to Justin for getting through his like a champ! We love ya!!!!! All of the presenters so far have improved.  I look forward to hearing the rest of them as we can get to them.

I still need IRP #2 from the following students: 15, 17

I need IRP #3 from the following students: 0,24,8,25,16,13,22,17,15,1

Please turn in these projects immediately. Our Indian Research papers and Science Fair presentations come back to back immediately following IRP #4 so catch up this weekend if you are behind so you can turn in #4 on time.

The period of time blocked for the final IRP #4 has begun. The project should be completed exactly like the last three. It is due on 2/27th. Pick a book with characters, problem/solution, beginning/middle/end…..write a sloppy copy on the Characterization and Summary form, have it edited, and rewrite in either on a new form or incorporate the writing in the art project. Prepare a 5 minute presentation.

Homework- I new our productivity and focused slipped some during the holidays but I didn’t realize how much until I updated our classroom charts. This week has also been a huge challenge in terms of trying to get many students thinking about school again and getting back into our routines. Please help our child get back on track. Most students took the last week of November and the 3 weeks of December off for homework. I need everyone to get back to completing all 6 (4 this week. There is no new spelling or vocabulary) areas of study and to turn in a complete homework packet this Thursday.

As discussed at Back to School Night, our math curriculum moves quickly into more difficult multiplication skills and division skills at this point. If your child is still memorizing the 3 or 4 tables, we can expect the regular math to become very difficult. The only solution is to help them learn the facts quickly so they can concentrate on new skills rather than drawing and counting multiplication tables as they complete problems.

Patriotic Performance – See the Link on the Web Site

Looking Ahead – TheScience Project comes together very quickly for most students. See the link for detailed information. For now, I want to explain that it is a WONDER project, not a demonstration. What this means is your child will demonstrate his/her understanding of the Scientific Method by conducting and displaying an investigation that answers a WONDER. (This is not the assignment to build a circuit board or a volcano that erupts!) Instead, you answer questions like, “I wonder how many licks it would take to finish a Tootsie Pop versus a Blow Pop?” Or, “I wonder which bat hits the farthest? A wooden bar or an aluminum bat? Another third grade wonder may be, “Which brand of gum really tastes best the longest? Juicy Fruit, Ice Breakers, or Hubba Bubba? I mention this because the making of the display board can happen in a week or a weekend but the experiment may take minutes or months. So, I’d like to get you and your child thinking about what his/her wonder is JUST IN CASE the investigation takes time.

For example, my son wondered about how “green” all the paper was from the major fast food restaurants. He picked six restaurants. We photographed him eating and then burying all the “meal wrappers” in our back yard. In 4 months, we dug them up and photographed how much each restaurant’s products had decomposed. He then compared the actual results to the predictions he had made based on the restaurants claims on how “eco-friendly” their products were. The results were amazing. (I forgot to mention, he also buried plain old fruit as a sort of control for the decomposition.) Anyway, this was a fairly easy investigation, inexpensive, and relevant but he needed time. Therefore, I’d like you to start thinking about it so you can determine if your “wonder” investigation needs to be done soon in order to have enough time to complete it. The Science Fair investigations will be due in May.

IXL - - Still working our way through multiplication.

In class, we are now moving into the chapters on multiplication. I had already placed the IXL standards on multiplication on this list as I taught it the first two weeks of school knowing it takes a full year for some students to learn their fact tables. Therefore I will not be adding more standards until we move into division.

I told you I would include a weekly list of standards your child should be able to play with little or no help. They are as follows:

A1 – A 12

B1 – B9

C1 – C16

D1 – D9

E1, E2 and

F1 – F13

I1, I2

J1 – J7

K1 – K3

L1 - L5

M1 – M6

N1 – N9

Q1 – Q13 We started measurement and conversions this week. (We discussed all American and Metric forms of measurement for distance and began conversions for inches, feet, yards, mm and cm) This conversion section is a challenge. I suggest you start early and be ready to read the explanation box and offer help in the beginning of each new standard. 

Guessing really has steep penalties in this program. Instead, train him/her to use pencil and paper to “really” figure problems out, re-read, draw pictures…..Also, when a problem is missed, train him/her to use the explanation box so the next problem can be answered correctly the next time. 

Rewards – We won the Box Top challenge again for third grade!!!! Root beer float party on Friday at 2:30.

Test/Quizzes/classwork – Remember to place them all in a safe place at home so you can review them with your child as time permits. It’s very important that you praise and support your child’s efforts on a consistent basis.

PTA - Thank you for joining PTA. It’s not too late to become a member. Keep sending in those box tops. 

Web Site - You only need to check my web site on Thursday or Friday. Each Thursday or Friday, please read and respond to Norris News, start our new vocabulary and spelling, and print or write up a new reading log for the week. Some of you may also elect to print the vocabulary Thinking Maps and 2 - 100 problem math fact worksheets as well. I will not update the site repeatedly throughout the week so there is no need to check it repeatedly. 

Check your child’s backpack every night. Give positive feedback or support where needed. Please spend extra time supporting and correcting missed concepts on weekly tests. 

UQIA – on weekly comprehension test means – Use Question in Answer. It’s required and your child will get half credit just for copying the question into the answer. Our master at this is Justin!!!! Go Justin. 

CS – means write your response in a complete sentence. (Subject/Predicate, capital, and some kind of end mark)

Vocabulary (Back) – support your child if they are continuing to miss the dictionary skills found on the back of each vocabulary test. For some reason, some students just have a really hard time and may need repeated one-on-one instruction.

Homework Summary

Every Day – read and log it, multiplication facts, IXL

As Needed with pre-tests – vocabulary, spelling, other activities

Ticket To Read – Read and pass one passage with 80% or above

If your child does not have internet access for any reason, he/she must come to class. Six computers are available before school, after school, recess, and lunch. 

If your child needs something printed, just have them ask.  Remember, a printer is not necessary. Simply work the 6 study areas in ways that do not require a printer. (Or ask me.) 

***** Now begin to look at your child’s study methods and activities and compare them to quiz and test scores. If your child is not being successful, change the method of study.  It’s a wonderful gift to learn how to learn!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Norris