Every week your child will read an anchor text as well as a paired text. The anchor text is used to work on fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary skills and strategies. The paired text may be similar in theme and or genre. This text will reinforce vocabulary usage. Student understanding of the anchor text and vocabulary will be assessed on Fridays.

Students will also work on grammar and spelling throughout the week. Assigned spelling words will be assessed on Fridays.

MSTEP Prep

On Friday, third graders will bring home 10 M-STEP vocabulary words to study at home and an extra credit crossword puzzle. If students complete and return the extra credit crossword puzzle, they will earn 1 extra credit point on the quiz. On Fridays, the students will be quizzed on these words. When your child earns 80% or better on Friday’s quiz, he/she will earn a charm for his/her M-STEP charm necklace. Students will be quizzed on Friday, February, 21st.

Weekly Reading

Every Friday, your child is assigned reading material for the week. This assignment will be in the form of an electronic article using ReadWorks. Login info is in your child’s planner. Your child is required to read and answer questions that are Common Core based. Similar questions will appear on the M-STEP. The electronic submission is due by the following Thursday. All short answer questions MUST be answered in complete sentences and contain proper punctuation in order to earn credit. If your child doesn’t submit or return the reading homework by Thursday, he/she will miss out on valuable skill practice, and it will be noted as a missing assignment in Parent Connect. It is imperative that students complete the assigned articles and questions on time. After a certain date, the article will no longer be available in the student’s ReadWorks account for late submission.

ReadWorks Article: Out West due 2/20/2020

Encourage your child to use the following steps to complete the assignment:

1. Read the article noting any unknown words.
2. Explore vocabulary section or use a dictionary to define the words.
3. Read through the questions.
4. Listen to the text aloud using the audio option available stopping to note any possible answers to the questions.
5. Answer the questions using evidence in the text and note it in the text where possible.
6. Reread until all other questions are answered.
7. Double check to make sure all answers are completed and reasonable.

Congratulations!!

Hard work pays off. These students studied all week and earned a charm for their necklaces by scoring 80% on their MSTEP Vocabulary Quiz. Way to go! I hope to see more students receive a reward for their efforts next week. I hope all students are creating flash cards at home to use as a study tool. I also have practice activities set up in SpellingCity that students are able to use.

Mystery Science: Where do clouds come from?

This week in science we explored the mystery, “Where do clouds come from?” Your child observed important clues, such as the fact that water changes from a liquid to a gas (even without boiling!). You can continue to support your child’s curiosity by pointing out water vapor whenever you see it rising off hot water in the kitchen or bath, or pointing out tiny droplets of water forming on a mirror, windows, or glasses. Engage their minds by asking, “Wow, why do you think this is happening?”

Student Lesson Link: https://mysteryscience.com/weather/mystery-1/water-cycle-phases-of-matter/46?code=NzY5MTAxMA&t=student