Week of October 1st, 2017 - 18

Reminders for the Week

READING

This week in Reading, students in the third grade will begin the study of particular literary genres. We will start our new unit focusing on Mystery. As students explore, investigate and become familiar with the specific elements of mystery, they will turn into reading detectives, stepping into the shoes of the main characters and solving mysteries alongside these characters. They will also practice looking for clues and determining importance while synthesizing and predicting to better understand their stories. 

WRITING

'Breaking Writing News'

Unfortunately our writing celebration that was planned for 8th October has been cancelled. 

Because of unforeseen circumstances we are no longer able to have the celebration.

This week in writing we are finishing up our 'Crafting True Stories' unit. We will be looking at editing our writing by using our 'Narrative Checklist'. Later in the week we will publish our story. 

At the end of the week students will have an opportunity to show what they have learned by writing an 'On Demand' sample. Please encourage them to think about a small moment they could use to show their learning from this unit.

MATH

This week students will continue to develop estimation strategies using familiar objects to establish mental benchmarks of weight. Our mathematicians will practice using scales to determine the weight in grams and/or kilograms of various objects and they will solve one-step word problems involving the addition and subtraction of units of weight (kilograms (kg) and grams (g)). By the end of the week, students will have hands on practice decomposing a liter into smaller, equal parts and learn how to use a vertical number line to measure liquid volume in liters and milliliters.

Important vocabulary includes: estimation, kilogram (kg), grams (g), liters (l), milliliters (ml), and volume.

SCIENCE

Third Grade Social Scientists will start the week by exploring the features of Atlases. Students will look at a variety of different maps that display different information. i.e. Equator, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic, Ocean, 60 degrees W, 30oN, 90oE, Europe, Africa, North America, South America, Hemisphere. Students will also learn how to use a map key. This is all building towards students understand that WHERE people live affects HOW people live.

We continue to monitor our soil experiments, recording our findings.

Coming Up

Parents of Students in Grade 3 - 9

Individual student MAP reports will be distributed on Wednesday, October 4.  Please look for them on your child.

On Wednesday, October 11, David Chadwell (Director of Teaching and Learning) will hold a session for parents with students in grades 3-9 to explain the reports, provide some overviews regarding MAP performance, and answer questions. Elementary School 1st Floor Common Room - 1:15 -- 1:45 pm

Promoting Writing With Your Child

Christy Curran, a literacy consultant with extensive experience as a classroom teacher and coach, is returning to CAC. She will be leading a Coaching Institute with CAC teachers and coaches from other international schools in the region, teaching model lessons in classrooms, and running workshops for teachers and parents. We hope you can join us Wednesday, 11 October, 2:00 to 3:00pm in the 1st Floor Common Room for a presentation on Promoting Writing With Your Child. We are excited to have her back! Christy has worked at the internationally renowned Teachers College Reading and Writing Project as a staff developer.