3rd Grade Peek at the Week News September 25, 2011

Dear 3rd Grade Parents,

Please take a look at this week's highlights:

Vocabulary/Spelling: Finish Unit 7 in the textbook (due tomorrow). Vocabulary Quiz on Thursday. Spelling Test on Friday. We are spending more time in class using multisensory techniques to learn our words and use them in the correct context. We say the word, we see the picture, we use the word in a sentence, and we use graphic organizers on the Smartboard to help us learn and retain the information.

Math: 3rd graders are still in the experimental stages of using the ALEKS, or Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Space. Aleks is a web-based program that uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately determine exactly what a student knows and doesn't know in a Math course. ALEKS then instructs the student on the topics he or she is most ready to learn. As a student works through a Math course, ALEKS periodically reassesses the student to ensure that topics learned are also retained. It is important that your child is able to access the program from his or her home computer, as we will regularly use this in class and at home. 3rd graders are currently assigned two ALEKS homework. "Quiz 2" homework is due tomorrow. "Quick Tables" Math facts practice is due on Thursday, September 29th. Instructions for tonight's ALEKS homework are sent home today.

English: We are currently reviewing our previous learning such as: Sentences, Kinds of Sentences, Punctuating Sentences, Complete and Simple Subjects, Nouns in Subjects, Combining Sentences, Complete and Simple Predicates, Verbs in Predicates, and Compound Predicates.

Notes/Reminder:
Our first guest speaker last Friday was a success! Special thanks to Mr. Michael Medina for speaking to the class on time management, organization, and healthy habits to become a successful student. Pictures to follow.  If you would like to be a guest speaker about a particular topic that might be helpful to our class, please contact Virginia Gonzalez to schedule a session: virginia.gonzalez@tx.rr.com.