See you at the Craft Fair tomorrow!

Esprit Third Grade had a quiet week back from the Thanksgiving Break, with no extra activities happening.  It was a good chance for the children to get back into the routine of school and of our classroom and school expectations. We spent the week working hard and learning many new things.

We are still working hard writing our non-fiction teaching books during Writer's Workshop.  This week we spent some time peer editing and finalizing our rough drafts.  During peer editing, the children read through each other's work and filled out a rubric, commenting on the organization of the piece and making suggestions on how to enhance the writing by adding more details and facts. It was fun to watch them have these conversations with each other.  They were like little editors!  We are now beginning to publish our work and hope to have our final copies completed in time for the Holiday Break.

This week, our Reader's Workshop focused on comprehensions strategies strong readers use when reading information text.  We are practicing these strategies using Scholastic News and other non-fiction texts.  We are working hard to become better at finding the main idea and paraphrasing it, as well as finding evidence to support it.

Our Math learning focused on three-digit subtraction strategies this week.  We practiced using the difference and removal strategies, and compared them to determine when it is most efficient to use each of these strategies.  We also learned about "constant difference".  Constant difference is a strategy mathematicians can use when subtracting numbers.  This strategy is used to make combinations easier to solve by adding or subtracting the same number to or from both the smaller number and the bigger number. For example, 63-39 has the same difference as 64-40; however, 64-40 might be a friendlier equation to solve.  We will continue learning about constant difference next week.

In Science, we worked in groups to learn about the five different climates.  We read articles and shared important learning about those climates.  We will use our knowledge of climates when making a travel suitcase project next week.  Tom Messner, Channel 5 Chief Meteorologist, will be joining us this Tuesday to teach us more about weather and answer questions we have.  Be sure to tune into the news on WPTZ that night and look for Shelburne Third Grade!

This week's Friday Folder will include a School Spelling Bee Study List.  Third graders are invited to participate in the Scripps Spelling Bee, which will take place in January.  This is an optional activity. If your child is not interested in participating, you can disregard the list that is coming home.  If your child would like to participate, please use the list to help him/her prepare for this event.  There is an informational meeting in Christine Hertz's room after school on Wednesday, December 16th, that will give details about the Scripps Spelling Bee.

In two weeks, Susannah, from the Flynn Theater, will be visiting our team with some more Words Come Alive activities for us to participate in.  This week's activities will be connected to this year's Red Clover books.  We look forward to this coming week's activities.



We hope to see everyone at the Holiday Craft Fair tomorrow.  Our soap dishes, soap, and lavender sachets will be displayed and ready to be sold at the Esprit table.  Your children created some beautiful clay pieces that would be a terrific addition to any home.  Stop by and see how talented your children are!
Have a great weekend!