Monday, November 18th
- Music
- Mr. Peace Assembly @ 10am
Tuesday, November 19th
- Gym (Wear Tennis Shoes)
- Book Fair Preview from 10:30-11 (No Money Today)
Wednesday, November 20th
- Technology
- Book Fair Purchase from 9:30-10
- Students, with family permission, may bring in book fair money. Please label the book fair money in an envelope or ziploc bag.
- Parents are welcome to come during this time to puchase books with students.
- Early lunch time today, 12-12:40
- Parent/Teacher Conferences
Thursday, November 21st
- Half Day
- Parent/Teacher Conferences
- Weekly HW is DUE-ReadWorks Online Article, “A Brush with History”
Friday, November 22nd
- Media
- Reading Comprehension Quiz
- Spelling Test
- M-STEP #1 Vocabulary Quiz
- Start New Weekly HW: ReadWorks Online Article, “The First Thanksgiving”
- M-STEP #2 Vocabulary Words Sent Home
Book Fair
Our class will be previewing the Follett Book Fair at Arno on Tuesday, November 19th from 10:30-11am. Our purchasing date is set for Wednesday, November 20th from 9:30-10am. Please remember to include tax when sending in money for your child’s purchases. All checks can be made out to Arno PTA. The Book Fair will also be conveniently open during both conference nights.
Book Fair Volunteer Sign Up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/volunteer_signup_for_2019_follett_book_fair
Mystery Science
The topic of this week’s science mystery was dinosaurs: how do we know what they looked like on the outside, when all we have of them are fossil bones? Why are we always depicting them as scaly lizards? Your child is learning how we can infer what the outside of an animal looks like, by using clues about their skeleton. We are also exploring how the structure of an animal’s teeth say something about what kind of food the animal preferred to eat (i.e. meat, plants, or both).
Dinosaurs are very exciting and so are likely to be a topic on your child’s mind these next few weeks. You can continue to stoke this interest by choosing to watch an educational program on dinosaurs together, such as Walking with Dinosaurs. If you have any toothed pets, such as a cat, dog, or even hamster, you can also invite your child to classify these living animals as herbivore, carnivore, or omnivore by observing their teeth.
Thank You, Kiwanis!
Arno third graders had special visitors on Friday. Kiwanis Club members came to Room 129 to present our third graders with dictionaries! Increasing our vocabulary is such an important component to comprehension, or understanding what we read. These dictionaries are a great tool to use while reading other texts. With the use of these dictionaries, students are able to look up the meaning of unfamiliar words and increase their vocabulary and understanding of the text at the same time!
Fur Trader Project
Last Friday, the class discussed the French Fur Trader project and writing. Your student should have brought home the directions. Please do not feel you need to go out and buy supplies for this project. This assignment is due Friday, November 22nd.
Fur Trader Project Info. Packet
Dear Third Grade Families, 
Your child will be taking the MSTEP assessment this Spring. M-STEP is a 21st Century online test. It is designed to gauge how well students are mastering state standards. Also, the State of Michigan will be using this assessment to target students who will be retained in third grade. A passing score on the ELA MSTEP is a 1300. If your child scores a 1252 or lower, your child will automatically receive a retention letter from the State. In order to help prepare your child to do his/her best on this state assessment, we have some planned activities that take place both at home and at school.
In the classroom, we have already started using an online reading program called ReadWorks. Readworks is a program that requires reading, answering multiple choice questions, and written responses. Readworks passages and questions are similar to what will appear on the MSTEP.
Starting on Friday, November 15th, third graders will bring home 10 MSTEP 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. Starting in late January, after the students have had time to get use to studying for the words and taking the quiz, when your child earns a 80% or better on Friday’s quiz, he/she will earn a charm for his/her MSTEP charm necklace. Every Friday your child will bring home MSTEP vocabulary words and he/she will be quizzed on the following Friday.
Also, after the students take the Winter NWEA assessment (end of January), students who reach their personal growth goal will be rewarded during an assembly.
Starting on Thursday, February 27th, your child’s weekly homework will be MSTEP practice packets. If your child earns a 80% or better on their MSTEP practice weekly homework, they will earn a charm towards their MSTEP charm necklace. Homework packets will be sent home on Thursday and will be due back to school by the next Thursday.
Thank you for your continued support at home,
Mr. Zielinski
Mrs. Guyot
Mrs. Kalis
Mrs. Warneck
MSTEP Prep
On Friday, third graders brought 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, November 22nd.
Week 1 Vocabulary & Crossword
English Language Arts
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.
Book Buddies
We listened to the story Elmer and then helped our Young Fives book buddies make colorful elephants.
The Scarecrow
Dr. Chuby, retired literacy coach, read our class a story of kindness about a scarecrow and then we made scarecrows to help decorate the hallway. Thank you Dr. Chuby!
Conferences
Conferences will be on Wednesday, November 20th (5:00-7:30p.m.) and Thursday, November 21st (12:45-3:15 p.m. & 5:00-7:30 p.m.). Please sign up for a conference time. Because conferences are scheduled in 15 minute increments, please be respectful of others and arrive on time.
If you are unable to attend conferences, please send me a note or email.
Please click on the link to sign up for conferences: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0e4bacad22a4fd0-warneck1
