JOHNSONS JOURNAL

Issue No. Seventeen

November 3, 2014
Dear Parents and Guardians,
The children and I would like to extend a thank you to
our Halloween party planner, Mrs. Davis, and to
everyone who made our party a success. The children
really enjoyed themselves. Thank you so much!
Looking ahead to our Christmas festivities, the
children will have a gift exchange on Wednesday,
December 17th. The gift exchange will be a wrapped
chapter book. (Please keep the cost under $4.00.)
Information about the gift exchange has been emailed,
and you can nd it online at johnson3d.weebly.com.
Our classroom Christmas party will be on Friday,
December 19th from 1:00-2:15.

Reading
Here are some frequently-asked questions:
How can I tell if my child is reading a just right book?
A just right book is one at your childs independent
(DRA) reading level. This level is best for practicing
reading since very few words are unknown. Heres
more information about nding just right books.
How can reading just right books improve my childs reading?
Shouldnt my child be reading more difcult books?
Reading practice is best done using texts within the
independent reading level. Reading strategies instruction
is best taught using texts within an instructional (slightly
challenging) level. Strategies are taught in class with
various texts. Books that are way too difcult, known
as the frustration level, do very little to improve skills.
My child doesnt like to read, what should I do?
Your child will be more apt to read if provided with
interesting, just right materials and a quiet, cozy,
distraction-free place.
How long should my child read at home?
As long as possible! Most third graders should be able
to read one book for a minimum of 20 minutes a day.
Some students are reading up to an hour each night!
No single literacy activity has more positive effect on
students comprehension, vocabulary knowledge,
spelling, writing ability, and overall academic
achievement than free voluntary reading.
-Stephen Krashen, educational researcher
Writing
We recently learned how to write effective leads and
endings for our personal narratives. This week we will
edit our work using a rubric to check for required
elements and for what we refer to as CUPS:
Capitalization, Usage of complete sentences,
Punctuation, and Spelling.
Mathematics
In addition to our work on adding with regrouping,
weve been following problem-solving steps to answer
word/story problems. Next, well work on subtraction.
Math Lab
Math Lab instruction is intended to ll gaps in skills
that were expected to be mastered prior to third grade.
All students participate and are grouped according to
needs. Currently, we are working on addition facts.
Science & Social Studies
Well have a science test on Wednesday. A study guide
was sent home on Friday. In social studies, were
writing complete paragraphs (topic sentence, detail/
supporting sentences, and closing sentence) about each
of Michigans state symbols.
M
R
S
. J O
H
N
S
O
N
P
I N
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R
I V
E
R
E
L
E
M
E
N
T
A
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Y E
M
A
I L
:
J O
H
N
S
O
N
D
@
B
C
R
E
E
K
. O
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G
W
E
B
S
I T
E
:
J O
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3
D
. W
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. C
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M
JOHNSONS JOURNAL
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By 2nd or 3rd grade, virtually every student could be reading 15-20 chapter books a year.
Dr. Mike Schmoker, educational researcher
Recess Policy
Our schools recess policy is that the children will go
outside for recess daily unless its raining, the
temperature is under 15 degrees, or the wind chill is
below zero. Please contact our schools counselor,
Mrs. Bickel, or me if you need assistance providing
outdoor clothing for your child.
Important Dates
November 3
PTO Meeting (6:30 PM in Pine River Library)
November 20
Food Drive Ends
November 21
1st Trimester Ends
PTO Popcorn Day
November 25
Friendship Salad
(More information will come home soon.)
November 26 - 28
No School (Thanksgiving Break)
December 17
Christmas Gift Exchange
(See email or johnson3d.weebly.com for more info.)
December 19
Christmas Party (1:00-2:15 P.M.)
December 22 - January 2
No School (Christmas Break)
January 5
School Resumes
Mark Your Calendars!
* * *
Michigans 3rd Grade
State Assessments Schedule:
May 19 & 20
English Language Arts, Parts 1 & 2
(Approximately 4 hours each day)
May 27 & 28
Mathematics, Parts 1 & 2
(Approximately 3 hours each day)
Click here to read more about the testing.
Our Classroom Family
2014 - 2015