We had Mr. Calvagno visit our classroom last Monday morning and he explained how electricity is used to make other forms of energy for our use. He also did an outstanding job of explaining and demonstrating how electrons move along a path  (a circuit), what happens when they meet with resistance in a thin wire, and how batteries become ineffective over time and use. We had a wonderful time, and were more than ready to take the hands-on portion of our electricity test on Tuesday.

 I have updated the Social Studies links for research projects...just go to the pages section on your right and scroll down to find "Websites for Social Studies Research" and you may use these sites for your project.  I have also added the scoring "rubric" to the class forms page.

Welcome to Third Grade with Mrs. O'Shea

Monday, May 14, 2012

    I must begin this week's wiki page with a huge thank you to all of the children and parents for last week's celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week.  It came as a complete surprise to me, as I didn't even know it was Teacher Appreciation Week until the students came in with little treats and notes.  So thank you, thank you, thank you for the cards and notes, flowers, treats, and gifts.  None of it was necessary, as I love what I do, but I want you to know how much Mrs. Hasselbach and I appreciated each and every day of the planning and the execution by the children and Mrs. Doyle and Mrs. Taranto-Watson.

     We will have our second research time with Mrs. Collen in the Library this afternoon.  We are going to concentrate on printed sources and internet sources.  I will review the process for collecting information for a bibliography and hand out world/country maps and flag templates for their potato athletes.  I also have Time For Kids magazines related to most of the countries that students have chosen for their research topics. Then we will begin the process of drafting our informational essays.  If anyone didn't receive the guidelines and timelines for the Social Studies project or the grading rubric, please look to the right and they may be downloaded from the "Classroom Forms" page.

     At the end of last week, we began collecting data to support our stance for our persuasive essays/letters.  Part of this data is from formulating interview questions that would provide information to support our opinion about our chosen topics.  Depending on the topics, some questions are being asked of students and others are being asked of adults who are experts in their fields or in positions of authority.

     We have been talking about a pizza lunch in our classroom (a perfect celebration of the conclusion of our unit about fractions!).  Would anyone have any problems if I host a pizza party for your children on Friday?  I usually offer a choice of two or three types of toppings and, if no one objects, break our healthy eating rule for one day and provide a cup of decaffeinated soda.  Please don't hesitate to let me know if you would prefer that I make changes to the plan.

     Our new math focus this week will be multiple digit multiplication and division.  And the class would love to learn how to multiply fractions, so I'm going to do so before the end of school.  They are definitely a group that loves a challenge!

     As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

     Our class would like to do its own community service project connected to improving our own skills as speakers and writers.  In an effort to reduce how often we use nonspecific words, such as fun, awesome, and cool, we will each contribute a penny to our class fund for each time we say one of those words or write it.  Then we will distribute our collection to a variety of worthy causes chosen by the children.  So far, we are thinking of an animal shelter and the victims of hurricane Irene from August. I have heard many children say things like "I just saw the a-word!"  That isn't cursing; it's recognition of the words awesome, fun and stuff.  But it catches you off guard as an adult!

       Check the wiki each day if you'd like to confirm the homework assignments or see if new photos or information has been posted.  There is a monthly calendar posted for your convenience, as well, and a link to BC@Home for e-mail or other contact information.

 Reading logs are now available on the wiki in the folder labeled Class Room Forms (see side bar)