Opinion Writing

This week during Writer's Workshop, we began a new genre of writing: persuasive speeches or opinion writing.  We began by discussing that persuasive speech ideas are often generated when we see changes that we might like to make in our home, school, community, and world.  As a class, we brainstormed changes we might like to make in school, such as longer brain break, earlier recess, healthier food in the cafeteria, and even a door in our classroom.  After choosing a change he or she would like to see in the world, your child began writing a speech which included an opinion (thesis statement) and reasons with details.  What did your child write about this week?

In Reader's Workshop, we continued reading Stone Fox.  We are certainly intrigued by this story!  This week we focused on the comprehension strategy of making predictions based on clues in the story. We then took our predictions to a higher-level by not only predicting what will happen next in Stone Fox, but also by explaining how we thought it would happen.  We accurately predicted that Little Willy will find a way to get the $500 to save his Grandfather's farm.  Ask your child how Little Willy is going to do this!

During math, we continue to discuss and work on a variety of strategies to add and subtract two-digit numbers.  This week we worked on those strategies by solving story problems. Through our discussions we found that third graders are using base ten piece sketches, number lines, and equations to help show their thinking.  We also learned a new game called Target 100.  Be sure to ask your child how to play and what strategies he or she used to add up numbers to 100 in this game!

Please note there is no school on Wednesday, October 12th in observance of Yom Kippur.  Picture Day is on Thursday, October 27th.  You will receive your child's portraits that day! Have a lovely fall weekend!