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October 18, 2013 Highlights from our week....

Field Trip Volunteers Needed! A huge thank you to our parent chaperones who attend our Thompson Park field trip on Thursday. We were lucky to have good weather! The students noticed changes that have happened to their tree. More photos will be posted on the Tree Trek blog soon. On Friday, October 25, the third grade classes are going on a Field Trip to High Banks Metro Park. We will be leaving school around 9:00 a.m. and we would return around 1:00 p.m.! Please let me know if you are interested in chaperoning for either field trip. Both promise to be wonderful experiences for the students and we are very excited! O.A.A. We completed the reading section of the Ohio Achievement Assessment on October 8th. You can expect your student's results emailed directly to your home some time around Thanksgiving. Please remember that this test is an end of year assessment. The test includes content that is directed for a student who has completed third grade. All of the third grade students will be retaking the Reading OAA at the end of April. We will also be taking the math section of the O.A.A. in the spring as well. Please do not worry if your student scored lower then you expected as we spend a good amount of time in the spring preparing the students to retake the assessment. The Importance of Reading Aloud.... STILL! Your child is now an independent reader! Isnt it wonderful that he/she can sit and enjoy a book independently? Yes, it is! In our classroom, we read daily and the students have time to discuss what they are reading in reading group, with me, and with classmates. However, a very critical part of our reading time is me reading aloud to them. We are currently reading Stone Fox. Reading aloud allows us to have rich conversations as a class about predicting, comprehending, inferring, vocabulary, descriptive language, etc. I encourage you to take time to read aloud at home, too! Even though your child can read independently, listening to reading is still beneficial. Any literature that is read aloud-- picture books, nonfiction books, chapter books, news articles, etc.-- is an opportunity for fluency and expression to be modeled. Discussions about the book or text that you read aloud are great opportunities for your child to predict, comprehend, and learn vocabulary words. And, what better bonding time could there be then the shared joy in reading a great book? Word Study Each week, we focus on a different spelling generalization. It is essential that your child continue studying these words at home in order to best learn the spelling pattern discussed in class.

Writing We had the wonderful opportunity to hear author Mark Walter speak today! We are familiar with his two published books, particularly Buckeyes A to Z. His presentation was about the writing process. His powerful words that the third graders can relate to will allow Mr. Walter to be a great role model for students as they grow as writers. Math In math, we did two- and three-digit addition with and without regrouping. Students had hands on experience by using base-ten blocks to see what actually happens to numbers and place value when regrouping happens. . Science A highlight of our week was cracking open geodes! Geodes are sphere shaped rock that are hollow with crystals inside. Pictures will be posted on our website soon! We are also creating crystal sculptures. Using epsom salts, warm water, and food coloring, we created sculptures with pipe cleaners. Once the water evaporates, we will have crystal sculptures! Walk a Mile in My Shoes Day Next Wednesday, October 23, is Walk a Mile in My Shoes Day at Windermere!! Following a lesson about empathy, each student completed a sign that says, Im walking a mile for _____.! Some possible ways to finish that sentence would be, a soldier far from home doing a hard job, or, someone who is sick in the hospital. Then next Wednesday morning, with these signs taped to our backs, well walk twice around the Windermere block (total distance of one mile) and think about how we can take what we learn and use that knowledge and skill outside the walls of Windermere to make the world a better place. Please sign the permission slip that was sent home. Also, please help your child remember to wear warm clothes and good shoes for walking next Wednesday.! Thank you! Windermere Walking Club The P.T.O. is looking for volunteers to help with the Walking Club. The Walking Club is something wonderful that the P.T.O. offers and they need your help to make it successful! http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0A49A4A929A57-walking ! Restaurant Night! Windermeres next Restaurant Night is this coming Thursday, October 24th at Bob Evans on Riverside Drive. A flyer will come home with students next week. Dining at Bob Evans anytime between 6:00 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Thursday will help support the Windermere P.T.O. Enjoy your weekend! Noelle