Froggy Bloggy

Week of January 3rd - 6th

2012-01-05T16:06:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday break!

A special thanks to those that donated food, supplies, or time to our winter party in December. The students enjoyed eating, making crafts, and talking with their classmates. We appreciate everything you did to help make it run smoothly!

We've begun studying procedural text during reading instruction. We've discussed the purpose (to learn how to do something) and features such as bullet points, sequential / numbered instructions, pictures, diagrams, and phrases. Procedural texts might include How To books for making crafts, science experiments, or magic tricks, recipes, or game instructions. Today we read the instructions for a card game called Ratuki and discussed the features on the instructions.

In science, we're learning about the weather and water cycle. Next, we will move into studying the solar system. Yesterday we discussed hot and cold fronts and how the rain & temperature is different for each of them. We've also learned about recording precipitation using a rain guage or snow board (not the one for skiing) and a wind sock for measuring wind direction. Next week, stay tuned for clay models of the sun!

This week we've been using a "broken" ruler to measure length. We're learning about how we are NOT counting the actual numbers on the ruler. Ask your child what we ARE counting when we measure with a ruler. We've used our broken rulers to measure various sizes of notecards and discussed why we should all have the same measurement regardless of what numbers are on the rulers.

Week of December 5 - 9

2011-12-09T16:36:00.000-06:00

I don't know if it's the cold weather, anticipation of the holidays, or both, but the kids are excited! The countdown began as soon as I changed the calendar to December.

We've been reading various forms of poetry the last couple of weeks. The students have been writing a few different types themselves. We learned about alliteration on Wednesday which is the repetition of the same sound at the beginning of each line. We talked about how these are like tongue twisters and then the students wrote their own. Yesterday we read a funny book of poems called Take Me Out of the Bathtub in which all the poems are set to tunes of songs like Take me Out to the Ballgame, I'm a Little Teacup, and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Then the students tried writing their own poem to the tune of a song. Today we tried out Haiku poems which consist of 3 lines. The first line has 5 syllables, the second line 7 syllables, and the last line 5 syllables. They did a great job! Next week we'll also be looking at narrative and lyrical styles as well as specific lyrical poems such as cinquain and acrostics.

Our math work has focused on patterns and using charts as a strategy for solving word problems with patterns. Today we used a chocolate chip cookie recipe to create a chart and solve problems. For example, a batch of cookies takes 3 eggs to make 1 dozen cookies. If we want to make 3 batches, how many eggs will we need? How many eggs for 8 batches? If we make enough cookies for all 3rd grades students, how many batches will we make? How many eggs will we need? We can use several strategies to fill in the chart such as counting up, skip counting, or multiplying.

We finished up our unit on force & motion and began a social studies unit on citizenship. We've been talking about what good citizens do and why we need them in our communities and state. Next week we'll be talking about things we want to change in our school and how to go about doing that.

Have a great weekend!

Week of Nov. 28 - Dec. 2

2011-12-01T15:33:00.002-06:00

Wow! It's been a busy few weeks. I'm not sure where November went!

Tomorrow is our word study quiz. Please refer to the new Word Study Lists tab if your child has misplaced his / her words.

Yesterday morning we visited the Performing Arts Center to watch Peter Pan and Wendy. The play was wonderful and the students did a great job as an audience. The crocodile was especially funny!

We're finishing up learning about multiplication (for now) and are starting on patterns and algebraic reasoning. Today the students used playing cards to identify patterns or commonalities and placed them in groups. Then they worked with a partner to share and discuss his / her groups of cards.

In science, we're finishing up the Force & Motion unit. Just before Thanksgiving break, the students learned about the relationship of height and speed as they measured the distance that hotwheels cars travel down a ramp from a given height on the ramp. They also incorporated a 2nd car for one to push the other or to move together down the ramp.

In language arts, we've begun to study poetry. Today we read several poems aloud and discussed the features of poetry such as rhythm, rhyme, tempo (speed), and descriptive language. Then the students reviewed poems with partners, identified various features, and created a poster representing their findings. The students will also be writing their own poetry over the next couple of weeks.

It is time for our middle of the year Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA). This is where the students read a specific book aloud to me and answer various questions to demonstrate comprehension skills. The read aloud measures their fluency (speed and ease of reading) and accuracy (reading words correctly). This data will be used to determine the instructional level and small reading groups. Groups will be adjusted starting in January since it will take the remainder of December to complete the individual testing.

Week of October 31st - November 4th

2011-11-02T15:19:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween! It's been a busy couple of weeks and I'm sorry I didn't get anything posted last week.
In writing, we're finishing up our expository narratives (informational) about a topic of the student's choice. Some of the students' topics include frogs, apes, and diseases. We've spent the last 4 weeks learning about the research process by choosing a topic, gathering and recording facts, writing a narrative, editing, and publishing by typing the story on the computer. Next week we'll start talking about Biographies and Autobiographies.

In math, we've been working on identifying patterns. This might include sequential patterns on a number line, such as 3, 6, 9, 12 or patterns in shapes. Today we began our study of clocks and time by talking about a sundial and how to estimate the time based on just the hour hand. Students worked in partners and rotated to clocks around the room where they estimated the time based on clocks with just an hour hand. They discussed why they chose that time and how you can tell if it's closed to the quarter or half hour.

We've been learning about geography in social studies which included landforms and natural hazards. Last week the students discussed the effects of various natural hazards such as earthquakes and hurricanes. We've moved on to government at the local, state, and federal levels where we've been learning about the different jobs at each level. We've been discussing vocabulary like elect, appoint, and veto. The last couple days the students have been sketching a picture of government. They got to choose the level and what people would work in various positions. I've seen many students working as presidents and governors in their sketches! In the next few days, we'll be starting a new science unit on force and motion.

Red Ribbon Week Oct. 24 - Oct. 28

2011-10-21T15:27:00.001-05:00

Monday
“Winners Don’t Do Drugs” - wear sports team jersey
October Poster & Essay Contest entries due
Professional Soccer player will distribute “Be Drug Free” stickers at lunch

Tuesday
“Too Cool to Do Drugs” – wear your sunglasses
Stony Point Football players distribute “Be Drug Free” stickers at lunch

Wednesday
“Hats Off to a Drug Free Life” – Hat Day
Poster and Essay Contest Winners announced

Thursday
“Follow Your Dreams” – Pajama Day
8:15 a.m. “Be Alcohol Free Until 21” assembly for grades 3-5

Friday
“Coyotes CAN Be Drug Free” – wear Forest Creek shirt
Can Donation Collection

Week of October 10th - 14th

2011-10-11T17:18:00.001-05:00

I enjoyed meeting with each of you during parent conferences. I appreciate you taking time out of your schedules to talk with me about your child. Thanks so much!

We've had some exciting activities in science as we're learning about matter. We discussed physical changes last week and made a mixture (chex mix) and solution (koolaid poweder & water) on Friday. We discussed how one can be separated by hand and one cannot, however, the solution can be separated through evaporation. This week we're also talking about chemical changes. If you have any rusty steel wool, please feel free to send it to school! We'll be making something called gak so don't be alarmed if your child brings home something white and gooey in a baggy. The unit test over matter will be either this Friday or early next week. A study guide will be coming home in your child's binder tomorrow.

We're continuing to work on subtraction in math. Students should know how to subtract with regrouping (borrowing) and without regrouping as well as from zeros. They need to be able to subtract accurately with numbers that have a mix of regrouping, not regrouping, and zeros. For example:
708    OR    392
-526           - 186

In the first problem, the ones place (8) does not need regrouping, however, the zero does. In the second problem, the ones place needs regrouping but the tens place does not. We will continue to work on this with number problems as well as word problems throughout this week. We will have a test over subtraction by the end of next week. Today we also talked about estimation. We use this phrase to help us remember what to do: 5 or more, go up one more.    4 or less, give it a rest (keep the # the same). Estimating our numbers and then subtracting them helps us to see if our answer is reasonable on our subtraction problem.

Last week we started a unit on nonfiction books and writing an expository piece (factual). We are learning about how to write down the name of a source and facts from that book. The students chose a topic and are researching it in various books from the library. We will continue working on this throughout the next week and the final result will be creating an expository piece of writing based on individual research.

Week of October 3 - 7

2011-10-04T22:04:00.001-05:00

I can't believe it's already October! The weeks are flying by!

We're continuing to work on subtraction in math. We've learned how to regroup (also known as borrowing) and will be subtracting from 0s by the end of the week. When we do subtraction problems, the first thing we do is look at the bottom number in the problem. We ask ourselves if the bottom number is bigger. If it is, we know we better borrow from our neighbor. For example, in 423 - 157, the bottom number is 7. This is bigger than the 3 so they need to borrow from the neighbor, which is the 2.
This week we will also be working on a mix of math problems where some require borrowing and some don't. Using the phrase "if the bottom number is bigger you better borrow" will help identify when borrowing is necessary and remind students what to do (go to the neighbor!) We should have a test over subtraction by the end of next week.

In science, we're learning about the 3 states of matter (solid, liquid, and gas) and how heat or cold effects them. We're discussing condensation, evaporation, melting and freezing. On Monday, the students worked in pairs to observe ice cubes melting on grid paper. We used a timer to observe and record how many cubes on the grid were covered in melted ice cube every 2 minutes over a period of time. The students discussed the changes in states of matter and what occurred with the atoms (particles) as the ice changed from a solid to a liquid.
Today they explored magnets and the various materials that are magnetic. In addition, we discussed the north and south poles of magnets and which ones attract or repel each other. This week and next week we'll also be learning about physical and chemical changes as we create mixtures and make something fun called gak. Thank you to those who donated items (or offered :) to our science activities!  Please help your child study for the Matter vocabulary quiz this Friday. A copy of the word list should be enclosed in your child's binder.

We've begun our study of non-fiction books and the various features of non-fiction including photographs, captions, diagrams, titles, headings, and drawings. The students have made a list of various topics they'd like to research. Today they drew a concept map which included things they already know and things they'd like to learn about a topic of their choosing. Over the next few weeks, students will be researching information in non-fiction books and on the internet to write an expository narrative about their topic.

Some word study (spelling) activities are expected to be completed at home throughout the week. Your child has a new list of words this week which should be enclosed in the manila envelope inside his / her binder. Some activities require their spelling notebook so I will try to remind them to bring it home. The purpose of this type of word study is to identify patterns / commonalities among the words and make generalizations about the words. These generalizations can then be applied to other words.   It is ok if the individual word study activities need to be completed on a different evening during the week to work with your family's schedule. The important thing is that they're practicing the words, identifying various ways to sort them and make generalizations, and then applying the generalizations to other words. Please see the tab labeled Word Study for additional information. The Our next word study quiz is next Friday, October 14th.

Fall picture day at Forest Creek is Wednesday, October 12th. Order forms will be enclosed in this week's Thursday folder.   Hearing & Vision screenings are Wednesday and Thursday, October 19th and 20th.

Have a great week!

Email notifications of blog posting

2011-09-22T16:44:00.002-05:00

If you would like to receive email notifications when something is posted to this blog, please enter your email address above this posting where it says FOLLOW BY EMAIL. Click submit. Then check your email for a confirmation email. You MUST click the link in the confirmation email before it can send you notifications. Check your spam folder if you don't find it right away.
If you have a google account (gmail), you can become a follower which is in google reader. This places the class blog in a list of blogs that you follow. If you set it as your computer homepage, then you can easily glance at it when you sit down at your computer and catch up on blog reading. Happy blogging!

Week of September 19

2011-09-21T17:22:00.000-05:00

It's another fun week in 3rd grade!

This week we began discussing two prefixes - un and re - for our word study. We've sorted the words into groups, discussed the meaning of the prefixes and identified words that appear to have the prefix but don't actually. For example, uncle has un at the beginning, however, it is not actually a prefix because there is no base word when it is removed. Refill has a prefix because it has the base word fill when the prefix is removed. Please continue practicing these words with your child. The quiz will be next Friday, September 30.

This week we're working on adding 3 digit numbers in math. We're also discussing key words such as altogether, total, and how many to help us know that we need to add. In our word problems, we're circling key words and numbers that we need to use, crossing out extra information that we don't use, and labeling our answers. Please reinforce these strategies at home while completing homework. Our addition test will be on Friday, September 23.

We're also continuing our study of matter as we discuss physical properties as well as solids, liquids, and gases. We used peppermint patties to identify physical properties related to their smell, taste, touch, sound, and sight (appearance). We will be having our quiz over matter vocabulary this Friday as well.

This is Freedom Week so we've been discussing the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, Constitution, and many other important people and events. Happy Freedom Week!

Week of September 12th

2011-09-12T16:54:00.001-05:00

Just a reminder that Scholastic book orders are due this Friday!

This week we begin our study of matter in science. Today the students received a new set of vocabulary words, a copy of which is in their binder. Please know that we will have a quiz over these next Friday, September 23rd (not the 16th as indicated on the top of the word list). It should be written in their agenda for Sept. 23rd. We will be studying properties of matter for the next couple of weeks.

Tomorrow is our math assessment over value and place up to the hundred thousands. The skills they are expected to know include the following:

value of a given number (such as the value of the 8 in the number 843,216 is 800,000)
place (ones, tens, hundreds, etc)
comparing numbers using greater and less than
standard form, expanded form, and written form
finding a number BETWEEN two other numbers

We are continuing to build our skills using the contractions from last week's word study. There will be a quiz over this on Friday, Sept. 16th. Please know that contractions that are NOT on the word study list but follow the same spelling pattern may be included in the quiz to demonstrate that the student understands the concept and can transfer it to other words.

Today we talked about synonyms and will talk about antonyms tomorrow. We are also continuing to work on asking ourselves THICK questions (questions that we have to think about) as we read in order to increase our comprehension (understanding) of what we've read. Thick questions might include How would I feel if....?, What caused...?, What would happen if...?, What character traits describe...?
Thin questions are ones that can be found directly on the page of the book such as Who, What, When.

Week of August 29th

2011-08-29T16:05:00.000-05:00

Our first homework assignment was sent home inside students' binders on Friday. It is a packet of 3 - 4 pages which are all due on Friday of this. This will be the typical routine each week -- sent home on Friday and due the following Friday. This homework schedule is to allow for other activities your family may have going on throughout the week and give your child opportunity to complete it when convenient for your family schedule. Please be sure that your child brings the binder back to school daily as it will be used to store other forms as well. An agenda (planner) was also given to each student to keep inside the binder. We will be recording our homework in it and I may leave comments it is as well.

A form will be coming home this week for your child to record the number of minutes he / she reads at home. This will be part of homework. Please record any reading minutes that are completed this week once the form comes home.

We began our first group of "spelling" words today. Please see the Word Study link at the top of this page to read about this program. I'll be referring to it as word study as it is different from the traditional spelling list where words are simply memorized.

Today our classes rotated to each 3rd grade teacher to learn about a different science tool. These included balance scales, proscopes, hands lenses, thermometers and several others. Please ask your child about the tools they explored today and what each one is used for.

Ms. Davenport's Fabulous Frogs

2011-08-28T17:05:00.000-05:00

1st Two Days

2011-08-24T15:49:00.001-05:00

We've had a great 1st two days of 3rd grade! Class photo coming soon!
We've started our first two days learning about reading workshop and what we call Read to Self. This is independent reading time with a book of the student's choosing. Today we read "A Quiet Place" and discussed how and why we choose a quiet spot to read. In math, we've begun our week talking about the definitions of place value, digit, value, and place. We will be studying place value throughout the year. If you are interested in donating items to our class, please see the Donation Station tab for an item related to place value. We are always looking for small items for our treasure box as well!
We've also talked about scientists, what they do, and how to be safe during science activities. The students brought home thier science journals which have a safety contract for parents to review and sign.

HOMEWORK!
In addition, we reviewed some PBS (Positive Behavior Support) vocabulary today. The students' homework today is to complete the PBS examples sheet based on the definitions inside their science journals. Please help your child remember to complete and return the homework tomorrow along with the science journal. Today we discussed finding a safe place at home to always put homework, books, or other things that need to go back to school the next day. This structure and repetition will help your child remember the things he / she needs each day.

At the end of the day, a chapter of a selected book will typically be read aloud to the class. Today we started a book called The Boys Start the War by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. Ask your child questions about the characters, setting, and plot (what happened) in today's chapter. You might also ask questions about their favorite part, any connections they made to themselves or other books they've read, and any wonderings they might have such as what the boys will do next.

Thank you!

2011-08-20T16:17:00.000-05:00

The following email was sent out today. If you did not receive it, please contact me as I may have mistyped your email address or not have received the correct email for you. My email address is bonnie_davenport@roundrockisd.org

I want to thank you for taking the time to stop by on Friday for "Meet the Teacher" and supply drop off. It is always a very busy time for me and I always wish I had more time to talk with each family. If you were unable to attend, I look forward to meeting you soon!

Please look at the way this email is addressed to you and let me know if there are any changes you would like made. I know that there are changes in last names or simply my spelling errors and it isn't my intent to send anything out incorrectly.

Please also check with your spouse or significant other to ensure both of you received this email. Email addresses were obtained from the pink / blue student information forms you completed at supply drop-off. If someone did not receive it, please let me know the correct email address as I may have misread or mistyped it.

A couple of brief reminders:

I would like the "first day packet" information returned as promptly as possible.
Have students bring a filled water bottle each day.
Forest Creek is a nut-free campus and this will be enforced in the classroom. In addition, please do not pack peanut products for consumption in the cafeteria. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to call me or the office.
Prepare your kids for the possibility of "inside" recess. The district will be making day-to-day decisions based on the heat index.
Third grade will line up in the rear of the cafeteria each morning. Please have your kids there by 7:20 (earlier if they will be eating breakfast); we exit as a class at about 7:25 am.
Kids will have to wear tennis shoes for PE on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays!
Back to School Night is scheduled for August 30th from 6:30-7:15pm.

This is our class webpage: http://bonniedavenport.blogspot.com/
While some information is subject to change, I try to keep it up-to-date and post weekly information about classroom and school happenings.
Looking forward to working with you and your child for a fantastic year!

Welcome to 3rd grade!

2011-08-16T17:25:00.000-05:00

I can't believe that the summer is already over! I hope yours was wonderful and you are ready to start an exciting year in 3rd grade! My first year at Forest Creek was Kindergarten three years ago so I'm hoping to see some familiar faces this year!
Please stop by school supply drop-off this Friday, August 19th. Students with last names beginning with A - L are scheduled for 4:00 - 4:30 pm. Students with last names beginning with M - Z are scheduled for 4:45 - 5:15pm. If your family has multiple students at Forest Creek, please feel free to come anytime between 4:00 - 5:15 pm.
I’m looking forward to meeting you on Friday and having a fantastic year in 3rd grade!