Waters, Mrs. Mary (3-4)
Room 10 News
All of us in Room 10 are participating in the Scholastic Book Club Classrooms Care Program - Reading is Giving. Classrooms around the country are reading 100 books, and Scholastic is teaming up with different charities to donate one million books to kids in need. Our room is joining Eli Manning's team and counting our Accelerated Reading books that we read. When we reach 100, we will notifiy Scholastic Book Club and know that we helped donate books to needy children!
Religion
During the months of November and December we will study how Jesus shows us how to forgive, the meaning of compassion, mercy, and Advent. The students will review the steps in the sacrament of Reconciliation. We will continue to attend the 8:00 am Mass on Tuesday morning. All parents are welcome to attend.
Third Grade Reading
The third graders are well into the second unit in their reader. In this unit we have been discussing the difference between fantasy, reality, fact, and opinion. We will be reviewing the parts of a book, how to determine the author's purpose for writing, making inferences, and multiple-meaning words. There is a great amount of learning going on in third grade!
- While your students' reading is definitely improving, I am noticing that many third graders are making a number of errors while reading in class. This is after they have read the selection for homework. These errors often change the meaning of the sentence or paragraph, and then affect the student's comprehension of what is being read. Therefore, I am asking that your child reads his/her selection orally to you when he/she has it for homework. Please sit with your child and correct any mistakes made while reading. This will help fluency (being able to read smoothly, easily, and with few mistakes)which aids comprehension. This second reading could be done silently if you feel your child has good knowledge of the vocabulary, and is reading the selection fluently. Children become fluent readers through practice and I see the effects of this every day. I also see a growing love of reading for pleasure in children who are becoming more self-assured readers because they practice until they can read a selection confidently.
Third Grade Novel News
- To encourage the idea of reading for pleasure and enjoyment, the third graders read Mr. Popper's Penguins in class during National Young Reader's Week. We read most of it in class together, but the children did bring the book home to read a chapter or two orally for homework. This novel was published in 1938, and the students had a great time discovering the meaning of some different, but very interesting, vocabulary words!
- Mrs. Cuttone generously saw to it that each student was given his/her own copy of this delightful novel to read, and then keep (hopefully to read over and over again!) Thank you, Mrs. Cuttone!
Fourth Grade Reading
The students in fourth grade are continuing to do well in Reading class. Their stories continue to challenge and interest them, and all the students are applying the skills being taught in class. They will continue to expand on these skills as we read further in the reader. Some of the skills they will discuss are: the use of primary sources, word origins, fact and opinion, figurative language, and alliteration. The fourth graders will also review parts of a book, making inferences, and the author's purpose for writing.
Fourth Grade Novel News
To encourage the idea of reading for pleasure and enjoyment, the fourth graders read the novel Stone Fox in class during National Young Reader's Week. We read most of it in class together, but the children did bring the book home to read a chapter or two for homework. This students loved the story, and enjoyed being able to read the same novel all together as a class.
Communication
It is my policy to notify you “sooner than later” if a problem arises, so we can work together to resolve the issue. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.
