The teacher provides an update on the various academic activities of her third grade classroom over the past month. She discusses their recent state testing, reading curriculum focusing on iBook novels, writing assignments, grammar lessons on pronouns, new math unit on multiplication and division, science unit on habitats and new classroom pets, and an upcoming student challenge to create a food web. Upcoming classroom events are also noted.

1. Crandall Chronicle April 2013
Classroom News from 3-1
Welcome back! I hope you all I enjoyed meeting with all of
had a very relaxing and you during Parent/Teacher
enjoyable spring break. The conferences before spring
class definitely earned it! break. It was nice sharing all
March was a very busy month of the successes and progress
for the third graders. They the children have been
put forth a lot of effort in making throughout the school
studying for and taking the year.
ISATs, and I am very proud An exciting opportunity will
of all their hard work. We had soon be coming to our class.
a great time celebrating our The school has a grade level
achievements and the set of iPads that are being
culmination of the state shared throughout the
testing during our ISAT party. grades. It is our turn to
Thank you to everyone who incorporate them into our
brought in movies, activities, daily instruction over a three-
games, and electronics to week period. Ask your child
share with the class. The to share with you the
students certainly had fun! engaging ways we are using
In this issue: them!
Reading 1
Cursive 2
Writing 2
Grammar 2
Math 3 What We’re Studying
Science 3 Reading
Student
During the last few weeks of have been learning
Challenge 4
March before spring break, throughout the school year.
Reminders 4 we took a brief break from We will continue to use a
Dates/Events 4 our Treasures reading variety of comprehension
program. We focused on strategies along with some
delving deeper into a single wonderful digital tools as we
piece of literature, using all of begin reading some iBook
the reading strategies we novels in guided reading.

2. PAGE 2 OF 4
As we approach the end of the school Please encourage your child to use
year, students will be completing a cursive regularly at home. Ask him or
greater number of assignments in her to help you write out a grocery
cursive. I will also be using only list, address an envelope, or even jot
cursive in the classroom to help down a note for another family
ensure that students are able to read member. This additional practice will
things that have been written in help the children to improve their
cursive. cursive writing skills.
Writing This week we began the third unit,
The students are continuing to work which teaches students how to write
on their writing using the Writers’ well-developed realistic fiction stories.
Express program (WEX). They The students began by selecting a
recently finished the second unit, photograph on which to base their
which focused on writing responses to first character. They used their
literature. Please look for a copy of observations of the children in the
their final published piece and a rubric photographs to develop an
explaining how it was graded. They understanding, based on inferences,
did a very nice job combining their of that character’s personality traits
own ideas with details from the novel, and the setting. I look forward to
My Name is Maria Isabel, by Alma Flor helping them create adventures for
Ada. these new characters to experience!
Grammar
In grammar, we are currently learning revealing them to their classmates
about pronouns and their correct and teacher. After practicing to
usage. Through the use of the iPad identify and correctly use pronouns in
app “DoodleBuddies,” the students a variety of sentences, students will
will be able to remain engaged during learn about other types of nouns and
the lessons and actively participate by parts of speech.
writing answers on the iPad and

3. PAGE 3 OF 4
Math
During March, we concluded Unit 6 and units, the class was introduced to
spent a couple of weeks preparing for several of the basic multiplication
the math portion of the ISAT. Students facts, and this unit introduced the
were required not only to correctly remaining facts along with some more
solve a math problem, but they then complex concepts.
had to describe the steps they took Please continue to have your child
toward solving the problem and also practice not only his or her math facts
explain why they did each step. that correlate with the weekly timed
This was challenging for the students, fact tests, but practice all of the
but they worked hard and showed multiplication facts as well. I am very
tremendous progress each time that we pleased with how the students are
did the exercise. I am extremely improving their timed fact test scores
pleased with all their efforts! Our and are progressing through the math
current unit in math focuses on facts. Way to go!
multiplication and division. In prior
Science
The students have really been Perhaps the most excitement in our
enjoying our new science unit. We class came from our three new class
began studying habitats this week pets. Our hermit crabs arrived to help
with an emphasis on organisms and teach about habitats, organisms, and
their basic survival needs. The survival needs. The students have been
students learned about the different so eager to observe their every move.
organisms that live in and around an We voted on names for our new critters
oak tree and how they have an impact and the winning names are Sandy,
on one another. Each student created Little Claw, and Mr. Fill. The students
an organism to add to our oak tree will take turns caring for the crabs and
bulletin board and we had a rich making sure that their survival needs
discussion about how each of them are being met accurately. Visit our class
either provide a survival need or blog to see photographs of our hermit
receive a survival need from another crabs and updates on their activities.
organism.

4. PAGE 4 OF 4
Student Challenge
Research the plants and animals that live in one habitat.
Create a food web that involves a total of at least 20 plants and animals.
(20 total, not each)
Use pictures cut out of magazines, printed from the computer, or your own
drawings.
Label each picture (tell me what type of plant or animal it is) and don’t
forget to draw the arrows showing where the energy is going!
Remember to use only plants and animals from a single habitat.
Turn your food web in any day in April.
Some habitats you might choose from = desert, ocean, grasslands, rain
forest, tundra, forest, marsh, lake, etc.
MONTHLY REMINDERS
* I am sending home the last Scholastic book order for the year. Please return any order
forms to school by Friday, April 12th or online by Saturday, April 13th.
* The students’ assignment notebooks are communication tools that help keep the
students organized and the parents informed of homework assignments and
upcoming tests or projects. Please check your child’s assignment notebook each
night. This is a great way to stay involved and informed.
* Don’t forget to return your child’s report card envelope. Thanks!
IMPORTANT DATES & UPCOMING EVENTS
April 8 – Bus Evacuation
April 8 – Robert Crown Presentation
April 11 – Dryden Roller Skating Party (Orbit)
April 13 – Just Move it Challenge
April 16 – Robert Crown Presentation
April 22 – Earth Day
April 23 – Robert Crown Presentation
April 23 – MAP Testing Begins
April 29 – Arbor Day / Walk to School Day
April 30 – Robert Crown Presentation