Veteran's Day

On Veteran's day we learned several valuable lessons from one of our parents who served in the military.  Major Cliff Flowers, who served in the Air Force Reserves, taught the third graders about the branches of the military.  He also shared about his experiences serving in Iraq.  We thank Major Flowers and all of our veterans for their service to our country!

Novemember December Newsletter

Literacy

Reading: Questioning and Inferring

We have been focusing on the strategy of questioning.  Your reader will understand that good readers ask questions before, during, and after they are reading and that some questions will not have answers provided within the text.  We will also work on the structure of writing a paragraph and what the main components of a paragraph are.

We will then be transferring into the strategy of Inferring. Inferring is a strategy that involves reading between the lines. Students will know that a good inference comes when you use your background knowledge and text clues to make an educated inference. (BK + TC= I) When students infer, you might hear language like, “I think that…because…”  “My clues from the text are…” or “Maybe it means…because…” Third graders will practice creating, confirming and revising reasonable predictions when reading. Students will also have to think about why authors write different texts, for example, to inform or persuade. Additionally, they will begin to communicate inferences about plot, setting, character and problem/solution before, during and after reading. Finally, students will attempt to determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, distinguishing literal from figurative language.

Writing: Informational Writing

Informational writing has been a fun way for students to express what they are interested in, and how they are experts at many different topics. Students should include:

·      An interesting beginning that sets the context for a topic.

·      Have organizational structure that has a clear focus throughout the piece of writing.

·      Students will include details and explanations that will help the reader understand their ideas clearly.

·      Communicate big ideas, insights, possibly statistics and teach the reader new information by using multiple non-fiction elements. 

·      Use diagrams, charts or illustrations which are appropriate and that support the text. 

·      Have a conclusion or ending section that is logical

·      Include a glossary of related terms if needed to explain expert words used. 

Math:

Visual Displays are used to Describe Data

What can data tell you about your class or school? How does data displays help us understand information? These are a few guiding questions that are helping our student think about why data collection and data representation are important mathematical strategies. In our current unit, students have started to collect, represent, describe, categorize, and interpret both categorical and numerical data. They are using the 21^st century skill of Problem Solving by reasoning abstractly and quantitatively to analyze data and generate solutions. They have already begun the important work of seeing a data set as a whole as they design and carry out their own data investigations, create representations of the data collected, and compare and discuss these representations. By the end of this unit, students will be able to draw scaled picture graphs and scaled bar graphs to represent a data set with several categories. Additionally, students will solve one- and two-step “how many more” and “how many less” problems using information presented in scaled bar graphs.

Number Sense and Measurement

Later in this unit students will work on students’ collections of numerical data that includes measuring length in inches and feet. Students will review the basic units of inches, feet, and

yards and their relationships by measuring lengths longer than one foot. Students practice and refine their strategies for solving addition problems with three-digit numbers and subtraction problems with two- and three-digit numbers. In addition to solving removal problems, they expand their understanding of subtraction as they solve comparison problems and problems in which they find the missing part of a whole. They will increase their understanding of place-value as they extend their work into three-digit numbers up to 1,000 and study the structure of 1,000.

Social Studies: Civics

Third grade students have learned that in our civics unit, citizens respect the views and rights of others as components of a democratic society. They studied the origin, structure, and basic function of governments. We will continue to build off of this throughout the year when we hit other social studies units.

Science: Matter

Throughout every science unit, all third graders are using critical thinking to demonstrate the process of inquiry. By experimenting, reading articles, discussing and reflecting.. Students will learn the scientific process and how that is essential with their new learning with identifying the states of different types of matter. Through Foss Investigations, videos, literature and class activities, students will discuss different attributes of solids, liquids, gases and plasma while using evidence to develop a scientific explanation around how heating and cooling affects states of matter. Our grade-level science day later in the year will allow students to practice analyze, interpret and write observations about matter as it freezes and melts, and boils and condenses.

Thanksgiving Feast

Thanksgiving Feast

Thanksgiving will be here before you know it! At Gold Rush we celebrate as a larger school community by hosting a Thanksgiving feast for students and their families on Wednesday, November 18.  The cost per parent and sibling is $4.00 per person.  You are able make a reservation online starting November 1^st by clicking here.  Gold Rush students will pay using their lunch accounts.  Please bring your printed receipt as your meal ticket . We will provide you with additional information regarding children’s modified lunch schedules in future blog posts.

Halloween Data Display Homework

Step 1: Write a hypothesis before Saturday.

Step 2:  Collect Data.... aka: Candy!

Step 3:  Dump out your candy and sort into categories that you choose.

Step 4:  Create a Data Display you can bring to class on Wednesday the 4th of November.

Halloween Party

For our party we will be munching on yummy breakfast snacks and the kiddos will be completing a fun Halloween Craft. The party will be from 9:15-10:15.

At 10:15 we will then be walking through the building for a Halloween parade.  Mrs. Brown sent some general information about our Halloween party and parade. I cut and pasted the information below.

I also created a sign up genius page that has items we are needing for our party to be a success. Please click on the link and sign up for an item to bring.  Parents are welcome to join and would love to see you there.  Thanks so much for your help and support!

Halloween Party Sign Up Genius

Halloween Party:  Students will arrive at school in their costumes. They should NOT have weapons, masks or inappropriate costumes. 

Parties will be held from 9:15-10:15.  We will begin the parade at 10:15 and it will end at 10:40. Regular classroom routine will resume at 10:40. 

If you have students who do not wish to participate in the Halloween festivities, they can arrive at school at 10:40.

October News

Math

In this unit, students collect, represent, describe, categorize, and interpret both categorical and numerical data. They begin the important work of seeing a data set as a whole as they design and carry out their own data investigations, create representations of the data collected, and compare and discuss these representations. Students draw conclusions about the data by identifying characteristics in their representations. (Where is most of the data clumped? Where is the mode?) Students’ collection of numerical data includes measuring length in inches and feet. Students review the basic units of inches, feet, and yards and their relationships (e.g., one foot is equivalent to 12 inches, one yard is equivalent to 3 feet or 36 inches) by measuring lengths longer than one foot.

Student Handbook: Page 88-109

Literacy

In reading we have focused on building on our schema and applying our background knowledge to new learning through activating, and building on our connections. We have modeled these strategies and students have independently applied this skill through text to various content areas.

We will be working on finding evidence from our reading to support written responses. Then we will focus on asking questions when we read. Your reading will understand that good readers ask questions before, during, and after they are reading and that some questions will not have answers provided within the text. Asking questions about our reading helps us find new information, solve problems, extend our understanding, and clear up our confusion.

Writer’s Workshop we will work on finishing up our personal narratives. We will also work on starting our information writing. This will focus on using nonfiction text as models, using expert works, and including nonfiction text features. We will also work on the structure of writing a paragraph and what the main components of a paragraph are.

Social Studies

We have compared and contrasted Parker and how it has changed overtime. We will finish up working on our reflections from our interviews so that we can get a deeper understanding of how the past has influences our lives in the present. We had a great time during our presentations from our “Now and Then Interview”. Thank you to all the friends and family that came to support our students’ hard work and new learning!

Students will learn that citizens join a community to live, work and play. Being a responsible citizen, students will add to their background knowledge, to analyze and take action on how to become a positive influence within our community through making a difference projects.  For a better understanding, after fall break we will implement "Peace Fridays". On Fridays we will be exploring the lives of Nobel Laureates through literacy, geography, history & civics. In addition to using our thinking strategies while reading about the laureate's childhood stories, we will also be analyzing the characteristics of effective citizenship, learning about locations around the globe where the laureates live, as well as comparing and contrasting those communities to our own community here in Parker. It's truly amazing how "Peace" can weave itself into every part of our 3rd grade year.

Dates to Remember: 
October 7th: Now and Then Project Due
October 8th: Now and Then Gallery 3rd grade rooms, from 9:40-10:20
October 9-18th: Fall Break
October 30th: Halloween Parties (9:15-10:15) and Parade (10:15-10:30)

Homework Passes:

Homework Passes:

Question: My child has a homework pass! What does that mean? 

Answer: Students are welcome to use their homework pass at any time and that will cover any homework assignment for that week. (math nightly homework, one 2o min. night of reading, one math facts session) 

For nightly math, simply staple the pass to the homework page, and turn it in as is on its due date.  For 20 min. of reading or for math facts, they will bring the pass in on the Tuesday the homework is due.



Your child will still be able to participate in Homeworkopoly. Passes aren't validated for Break packets since those are optional. 

Now and Then Gallery

Gold Rush Elementary

October 8th

9:40 - 10:20 AM

Each Third Grade class will be hosting a gallery.  We would love for you to visit each of the 3rd grade classrooms and celebrate with them.

Digger Dash This Friday 10/2

Remember to Wear Red!

Digger Dash Schedule:

Grades                                                Stretching Times                   Running Times

Pre-School & K                                 9:20-9:35                               9:35-9:50

1^st & 2^nd                                             9:40-9:55                               9:55-10:25

3^rd & 4^th                                             10:15-10:30                          10:30-11:15

5^th                                                       11:05-11:20                          11:20-12:05

How to Sign-Up for Parent Teacher Conferences

How to Sign-Up for Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences

Online Scheduling

Available September 14th – September 27th

Please follow the instructions below to schedule your back to school goal setting conference time for either September 29th or October 1st.

Step-By-Step Parent/Guardian Instructions

1. Visit the school’s homepage http://gre.dcsdk12.org and select the Online Conferences Scheduler link on the GRE home page.
2. From the Online Scheduler Home Page
1. Choose your student’s school from the drop down list and click “GO”
2. Enter the school password  digger
3. Enter your student’s “Student ID”.  If you do not know their Student ID, use the LOOKUP STUDENT ID button to access the system.
4. Verify the student’s birth date  
5. A list of your student’s teachers will be displayed.  Check the box next to the name of each teacher(s) you would like to meet with.
6. If you have more than one student in the school you can see all of your students’ teachers’ schedules at one time by answering YES to this question “Do you want to schedule conferences for another student?” then repeat the steps above for your other students.  If you only have one student, answer NO to that question.
7. You will then see the available time slots for each teacher you selected.
8. Select the times that work best for your schedule.  
9. Enter your email address (recommended) if you would like an email reminder sent to you. (Your email address is kept private.)
10. Once you have finished you can confirm your appointment details and print your conference schedule.
11. Write down the Confirmation Number (you will need this number if you need to cancel your appointment(s))  

Need help?  Contact the GRE’s Online Scheduler™ specialist:                   Name:  Anita Rudman

Email: anita.rudman@dcsdk12.org

Phone: 303-387-7700

Click on the reading tab above to view examples of what we did this week in reading. 

Monthly Newsletter...

MATH

In math students are solving addition and subtraction problems with two and three-digit numbers. Students are finding combinations of numbers that add to 100, and working with coins and coin values. Their understanding of place value is developing as they add and subtract 10s to form three-digit numbers. In this unit students have learned to break three-digit numbers into hundreds, tens, and ones in different ways, and solve story problems involving missing addends.

LITERACY

Reading comprehension refers to the ability to acquire meaning from written text. When students enter third grade, they are no longer learning to read; they are now reading to learn. In order to allow for the utmost growth as "comprehenders" in third grade, our reading curriculum relies heavily on comprehension strategies instruction. That is, students are taught a variety of strategies to apply before reading, during reading, and after reading in order to make the most meaning from a text. (Block, Gambrell, & Pressley, 2002; Robinson, McKenna, & Wedman, 2004) In reading our first strategy has been activating our schema with building our knowledge through different types of connections and making sure that we are choosing books that are at their level. 

For Writer’s Workshop we have been focusing on Personal Narratives. Students are learning to take everyday events of their lives and stretch them out into a well-structured story. Students are learning that in order to do their very best to communicate these stories they need to create a plan, then apply that to their writing. 

SOCIAL STUDIES

For our social studies unit we started our learning with comparing communities from the past to the present. Students now have an understanding of what makes a community.  We will be exploring local history that will allow students to grasp how communities change overtime. Later in the month we will be going to the Plains Conservation Center and we will also be listening to a historian tell us about the “good old days”. 

DATES TO REMEMBER

September 7^th: Labor Day-No School

September 14-16: CogAT Testing

September 21^st: Castro, Schwartz and Russell’s Field Trip to the Plains Conservation Center

September 23^rd: Shepperd and Merideth’s Field Trip to the Plains Conservation Center

September 29^th: Parent Teacher Conferences

October 1^st: Parent Teacher Conferences

Word Cloud Homework

For more information click on the HOMEWORK tab above.

As part of your Homework this week you are going to create a Word Cloud online at tagxedo.com that tells our class more about you.