Holiday Sharing Time

December is a month of celebrations. Our classmates celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas. I am sure each of us have special family traditions, food and fun activities. Please share some of your favorite holiday customs with us!  Also share if you are going anywhere special over the holidays!!! Please write four to five sentences and check for capitalization and periods.

Independent Reading Checking In!!!

Books can really add a lot of joy to your life! I always like to have a good fiction book around...like a good friend. Lately, I have been reading a book called Edge of Eternity. This book is historical fiction, and it is for enjoyment. Historical fiction is based on historical events and people that are true but the story is fiction.  Books can be entertaining and POWERFUL!

What have you all been reading lately? How has the book entertained you? Please tell us about the book you are reading in 4 to 5 complete sentences.  Be sure to use the correct grammar and punctuation. 

Cheyenne Again

Today, we discussed the difference between plot and theme. We focused on the different themes or big ideas from our book Cheyenne Again.  Please write about some of the themes you discovered in your reading with your partners or what we read-aloud and give examples.  For example,  one theme was about treating the Indians unfairly in school when they taught them lies or left out important facts about their culture and some of the battles they had won.  Please write three to four sentence with the correct punctuation. 

This is a picture of an off-reservation Indian boarding school!!!

Panda Path

This week, we visited the Panda Path pre-k students at the Spring Branch Family Development Center. We brought books to read and donate. Please describe your experience. You may write about what you enjoyed and what was challenging. How did it feel to give away the gift of a book? Did you learn anything about your buddy? Would you like to return? Please write four to five complete sentences using the correct punctuation. 

  

Legend Brainstorming!!!

As we have read several Native American legends, we have enjoyed creating our own list of the important elements of a good legend.  Most importantly, we now know that the main purpose of a legend is to explain something in the natural world.

Let's brainstorm some ideas for our legends!

What will your legend explain? What are some possible character names that you will use? Think about our character list that we started in class.  Will the Creator/Great Spirit have a role in your legend? What about the number 4?  Be sure to write 4 to 5 good sentences with the correct grammar and punctuation. 

Science Test!!!

Monday is your first science test, which is mainly on nutrition and a little bit on the metric system.  I know that you are already studying, and I would love to hear four to five fact or interesting things that you have learned during this unit.  Please share in four to five complete sentences.  Be sure to use the correct punctuation and capitalization.

E Reading

We have really enjoyed "E" reading each week.

So far we have focused on...

• True Flixs
• Book Flixs
• Follett Shelf 
• Kid Rex Safe Searches
• Infobits

Please share your thoughts on "E" reading. What is your favorite text to read? Do you love to read books on Follett Shelf? Do you love the True Flix books? Which do you really prefer "E" reading or paper book reading?  Write 4 to 5 sentences with correct grammar telling us what you like to read!  Also look at the poll on the right and vote on what you like!

The Wolf Girls!!!

Were there really wolf girls?  Were two girls ages 2 and 8 really raised by wolves?  This is a true story, sort of.  The two girls were brought to an orphanage in India in 1920.  They could not speak.  They ran around on all fours and ate raw meat.  Joseph Singh, the person who brought the girls to the orphanage, said he found the girls in a wolf den.  We have only Mr. Singh's journal as evidence that the girls were found in a wolf den.  Some people who saw the girls said they acted like animals, but that's not really proof that the girls were raised by wolves.  Did Mr. Singh make it all up?  Were the girls really raised by wolves?  Did they not speak because they had a mental or physical problem?  Or were they just abandoned by their family and raised by a kind man?  Those are the four most popular theories given.  Are any of them right?  Nobody knows for sure.  It is a mystery still waiting to be solved. Which theory do you like best or do you have your own theory of what happened to the wolf girls of Midnapore, India?  Please share your theory with us in three to four well written sentences.  Be sure to tell us why you believe in that theory.  

Pet Peeves

We all have "pet peeves" or things that really bug and annoy us.  A pet peeve is when someone, something, or an action is done that really irritates you.  Pet Peeves can be different for everybody.  My major pet peeve is when people constantly interrupt me or blurt out while I am talking.  That bothers me because first it is rude and second it interrupts my train of thought.  So get on your soapbox and tell us your pet peeve and why it annoys you.  Write about four to five complete sentences using the correct capitalization and punctuation.  

Native American

We had a great time today "viewing to learn!" We also had fun using the online databases and books to begin learning about Native Americans.  Think and reflect about all your new learning and what you found most interesting. Please tell at least four new things you have learned about Native Americans in complete sentences.  If you need or want to look at more videos, don't forget there is a hot link on the left and the video below!  Have fun learning!!!  We will soon be choosing our Texas Indian tribe!

High School Friends!!!

We have had a great week of new learning with our high school buddies!  Tell us three new interesting facts that you learned this week about Native Americans.  Tell us about the project your group is doing to show what you know.  How did your high school friend teach you new information this week? Write 4 to 5 well written and thought out sentences using the correct capital letters and periods about your new learning and project!

Third Grade Angels

We just finished our first read aloud book, Third Grade Angels by Jerry Spinelli. Our main character, Suds, experiences some challenges on being "good" for the wrong reasons...just to get a halo from his teacher!
Have you ever had a struggle similar to Suds's? Maybe you wanted to do the right thing, but for the wrong reason? How do you feel about the ending of our book? Please write four to five complete sentences and use the correct capitalization and punctuation. 

Math is Everywhere!!!

Look around...we see and use math everywhere and every day!!!  We see and use math at the grocery store, on TV, looking out the window of a car, or at home. We use math adding scores when playing sports, paying money when  shopping, telling time, measuring for cooking, and doing so many other things! Write three or more sentences sharing how YOU see and  use math in your real life. Remember - use complete sentences and proper punctuation!  I am excited to see how you see and use math every day!!!

Independent Reading Rocks!!!

I love to read for fun!!!  I read every night, and I like to read everything I get my hands on.  Please share the book you are reading and why you like it! Let's have a reading conversation.  Make me and others want to read your book!!!  Be sure to write in four to five complete sentences.  Please be sure to use capital letters and periods. 

Third Graders

You are now four weeks into school!  We have already learned a lot in a month!!!  We are off to a great start!  We have a lot to look forward to this year!  We are going to be busy this year learning, reading, playing with numbers, creating, computing and lots of other fun activities, so hold on to your hat!  Please write four to five sentences of what you have enjoyed so far this year, what you are looking forward to, and what you like best about third grade.  Write with complete sentences and check your periods and capital letters. 

Summer Reading!!!

 

Let's Make This a Summer of Reading!!!

Summer is coming quickly! Mrs. Holloway and Mrs. Cox have been talking to us about our summer reading. We will have a chance to buy some of the books at our upcoming Summer Book Sale. 
     Take a look at the 3rd and 4th grade HAISLN list to see which books spark your interest! Choose three to four and tell us which ones you plan to read and why! Will you stick with your favorite author or series? Are you going to branch out and read a new genre? I have a stack of books at home and am anxiously waiting to dive in!

Pioneer Reflections

We had wonderful time sharing our Westward Expansion projects and work samples! I am curious. What was your favorite activity that we did during this unit? Was is the journal, the iBook with widgets, the chest with your story once you got to Oregon, pioneer math story, map, brain tracking, making butter or viewing to learn with Little House on the Prairie? Please give a detailed explanation about what you liked or did not enjoy as much and why.  Write four to five complete sentences with correct punctuation and grammar. 

What is Your Dream???

Dan Yaccarino

Charlie Escher

 In the past two weeks, we met two inspirational men who shared the same message. Even though these men have extremely different careers, they both spent time when they were young thinking about what they love doing and what they were interested in. Mr. Escher and Mr. Yaccarino studied and worked hard to make their passion a career. Dan Yacarrino suggested we take time to close our eyes and think about the thing we most love to do and what makes us happiest. Please reflect on your interests. What do you love to do? What do you hope you can do every day in your work when you grow up?  Please write four to five sentences using the correct grammar and punctuation.

Dan Yaccarino uses his passion of drawing every day as an illustrator, animator and art teacher!

 

Charlie Escher uses his passion for action, space and planes every day as a Navy pilot!

Science Test on Bridges and Electricity!!!

Make Mrs. Sayuk and myself proud! Teach me some information about circuits and electricity. Teach me also about bridges. Impress me with your knowledge.  Write at least three well written sentences about electricity and write three well written sentences about bridges.  Use your notes and review if you need to!!!  Have fun!!!

The Corpus Christi Bridge!!!

Dan Yaccarino

In less than two weeks the author, Dan Yaccarino, will be visiting our school.  He has written some great books.  Today we read All the Way to America, which was a great book on immigration.  We also read Jacques Cousteau (please watch) who became our guide of the oceans.  Please pursue Mr. Yaccarino's website and read more about him.  Also watch a few of his videos that our on his website.  As you can see he has written many books for children and even a television show.  Please tell us what you have learned about Mr. Yaccarino and write 3 to 4 questions that you would like to ask him. Be original!!!