Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are still working to improve our skills in reading, writing and math. The ISAT will be given beginning March 1, - March 12, 2010. ISAT testing starts promptly at 9:00a.m. Please make sure your child arrives on time with two sharpened number two pencils.

We have been working hard in all areas however we could still improve  in writing expository compositions and writing extended responses to a prompt based on a reading selection. I am finding that our children are capable, some obviously read and write at higher levels than others. However I think we need to stress to the children we expect them to use what they have learned throughout the year and to above all to do their very best!

I have found that the children are in a hurry to say what they have to say. Adding more details to support their reasons for saying something is what third graders should by now be able to do. Most writing should include at least three paragraphs with four or more sentences to support the topic sentence. Staying on the topic is also very important. Proofreading for errors such as incomplete sentences, grammar and spelling are important however for the sake of the ISAT,  focused and well organized compositions is what the scorers will be looking for. We will also practice using "descriptive" words to add interest to our writing.

We do want our children to make certain they check their spelling and we want them to write neatly. We do want them to complete their papers as a well written conclusion is a part of the grade. I will be sending home examples of what I consider to be good papers the children have written as well as model ISAT writing. I will also send home the rubric for extended response answers as well as the rubric for expository writing.

I will send home a practice ISAT practice test booklet with an extended response question at the end of the reading selection. The children have been instructed to first read the question before reading the selection so they know what to expect before they begin writing their answer.  Based on our detective unit in reading, I have told the children to think like a detective when looking for support from a particular reading selection. The key here is for the children to make statements such as; "In the text it state.........; or In paragraph five it says tha......." I have instructed the children to put the idea in their own words.

We have also practiced highlighting important details in the story that can be used to support our answers. I will ask that you time the test including the extended response question so you can get an idea where your child might need support.  At this writing I am not sure of the time frame for each test.  I will send a letter to inform you of the exact amount of time you should allow your child to take this practice test. I will ask that you grade your child's test as well as offer suggestions as to how your child can improve their answer to the extended response. I will also send an expository prompt home for your child to write about. This will be a prompt that ask  your child to explain or describe something from their point of view. We have done a lot of this! 

I know this can cause stress for all of us as we want our student's to do well. Please help your child to understand doing their best is what is expected. We have certainly been working hard and I think our third graders are looking forward to the challenge. Proper rest, a good breakfast and getting to school on time is vital to supporting our children's efforts.

<strong>REMINDER:</strong>

<strong>We will have the Black History Walk-Through on Friday, February 26, 2010. There will be a celebration in the lunchroom at 8:00a.m. After this you will be able to see the work of all  our students as it relates to Black History. Again, I thank you for all your supp0rt in this venture. The symbols were wonderful as were the dioramas depicting a scene with the student and their selected famous African-American. This will count as a large part of their social studies grade this marking period.</strong>

THIS WEEK WE WILL BE WORKING ON THE FOLLOWING:

LANGUAGE ARTS:

We will continue with ISAT practice test. I have explained much of what we will do at home above. In school we will continue to practice test taking strategies. This includes focusing on the test until completion, reading for understanding, working carefully but not too slowly as to finish the test, checking our work after we have finished, and above all doing our best.

We are reading the novel, <strong>"Scraps of Time, Abbey Takes a Stand." </strong> The children are loving this story of Aggie, a grandmother who is sharing her story of living in the south during the sixties. The children will receive their books to take home when we are finished. Most of the children have paid for their books. The books were $5.00. I have paid for the books and greatly appreciate your support in this endeavor. We will be writing about this story as well as taking a test on the book after ISAT. We will also have a culminating experience based on a "special" experience in the book. Ask your child to guess what we might be doing to celebrate the end of the book. I won't tell them. I want it to be a surprise.

We weren't able to take a comprehension test on <em>"The Boy Who Didn't Believe in Spring" </em>last week. As I have written before, this is always a time during which the planned lessons might have to be adjusted according to where I think the children need more support. We will take the test this week.

HOMEWORK:

Refer to the beginning of this newsletter for details. I will send home a packet of helpful things for you to support your child. I think you have done a great job of supporting them thus far. Again, I think we should really push our children to write thoughtfully and with details to support their reasons.

MATH:

We will continue practice ISAT test. We will review the geometry unit in the ISAT test booklet and we will review the answers in class. We will also practice the lattice method for multiplication. Please continue to use various strategies to help your child learn the multiplication tables.

The student's will be expected to write an explanation of how they got an answer in math. We have practiced this in class as well as in our ISAT practice booklets. The expectation is that the children label a problem appropriately, draw a picture or a table to help explain the process used to answer the question and then to write in words the steps taken to solve the problem. We have been practicing this skill all year. Please encourage your child to do their best in this area. 

HOMEWORK:

ISAT practice test book as assigned, multiplication practice, extended response writing practice.

SOCIAL STUDIES:

We have written an expository composition explaining why the African- American role model we chose to write about was selected. We also made our diorama's and film strips and made a symbol to represent our family. The social studies grade will include these assignments.

We are also learning the southern states. We will continue in Map Essentials. The next activity in Map Essentials is Activity Six,<em> "Looking at Hemispheres."</em>

SCIENCE:

We will be working integrating  S panish and Science with Mr. Walter after the ISAT.

<strong><em>HAVE            A            GREAT            WEEK!               </em></strong>

<strong><em>LOOK FOR UPDATES ON MY BLOG OR THROUGH </em></strong>

<strong><em>LETTERS SENT HOME WITH THE CHILDREN</em></strong>