Word Study in 3C

Dear Parents,

I'm writing with an update about how spelling is taught in our class. This year, students will investigate how English words are built and how they function to communicate sense and meaning. Instead of studying random lists of words, we will collect words that share meaning and letter patterns, ask questions and test hypotheses! Here's what we have done so far:

By studying the word <migrate> and its relatives, we learned:

• English words have a rich history from Greek, Latin and other languages.
• English words follow a structure: prefix+base+suffix (Some words are simply base words)
• By adding prefixes and suffixes, we create new words with a shared meaning.
• There are conventions for adding suffixes that affect spelling.

We have learned that there are 2 categories of words: Content and Function Words.

• Content words carry meaning and are easy to define. They are the words we use to express ideas.
• Function words are needed to connect content words; they help English language function so that we can best understand.
• Next, we will explore English grammar to learn the 8 kinds of words that fit into these 2 categories, otherwise known as the Parts of Speech.
• All of these studies will help us grow all of our literacy skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking.

We have begun the Homophone Challenge! We are collecting words that sound the same, but have different meanings and therefore different spellings. 

• How many homophones can we find? 
• Looking online is not allowed! The joy of learning is in the discovery :) Students notice homophones when they read, write and speak with others.
• So far, 3C has discovered 30 homophones and the list is growing!!!

Please encourage your child to be intellectually curious about words and language!

Lower School Update - September 30, 2019

Managing Technology at Home

Please join us tomorrow, October 1, for our parent coffee about managing technology at home. We will be sharing guidance, some tools for support and discussing how to keep your child safe.  We look forward to seeing you at 8:30 am in the Black Box Theatre.   

Learning Community D Assembly

This Thursday, October 4, Learning Community D has invited grandparents and special friends to a special assembly. We hope to have many community members on our campus for this special event. Please remember this is only Community D this week, students from other communities will have their own event (and as such, please do not remove children from their homerooms to attend this assembly as they will miss learning). The assembly will take place from 8:15-8:50 and classroom activities with grandparents/special friends from 9:00-9:30. 

Intellectual Curiosity

Every month, the Lower School focuses on one of the Graded Core Values.  Our value for October is intellectual curiosity. Sometimes, this is described as having a “hungry mind.”  Here’s an article about how to nurture curiosity in your child. In addition, “The Kids Should See This,” is a great website for kids to explore some new ideas. 

Upcoming Important Dates

October 1	8:30 am LS and MS Parent Coffee: Managing Technology at Home (Black Box Theater)
October 3	8:15 am LS Community D Assembly (Auditorium) Grandparents and Special Friends
October 8	5th Grade Field Trip - Jardim Botanico (Kitto & Gehrels)
October 10	5th Grade Field Trip - Jardim Botancio (Wilganowski, Wolfe & Gaines)
October 11	Professional Learning Day for Teachers  (No school for students)
October 14	4:00 pm Report Cards 0nline
October 16	No school - Parent-Teacher Conferences
October 17	No school - Parent-Teacher Conferences
October 18	Graded Run Against Cancer (Night Run)
October 21 to 25	PTA - Teacher Appreciation Week
October 24 to 30	Visiting Author - Peter Reynolds
October 29	8:30 am LS Parent Coffee: Visiting Author - Peter Reynolds (Innovation Studio)

Around the Lower School 

SEPTEMBER 27 CURRICULUM UPDATE

SEPTEMBER 27 CURRICULUM UPDATE

MATH:

In math, we are finishing Eureka Module 1. In our previous blog post you will find the latest Parent Tip Sheet about our last math lessons before we give Module 1 assessment by the end of next week. 

SOCIAL STUDIES:
We are now beginning our new social studies unit on culture. We will focus on learning about cultures from around the world.  Students will be reading from a variety of nonfiction texts as well as stories and fables from around the world.  Readings, videos, and classroom discussions will revolve around the characteristics that contribute to a culture's identity: art, music, language, religion, sports, daily life, jobs, clothes, transportation, housing, school time, environment, celebrations, holidays, and food.  Students will explore the similarities and differences in a number of different cultures. Understanding these can help us to better appreciate cultures, including our own.

LANGUAGE ARTS:
The third graders are now into our unit on characterisation. We have practice identifying character traits and supporting our ideas with evidence with from our books. We've learned that reading a new book is like making a new friend and that we can watch what a character says and does to determine what they are like on the inside.
In writing, the students are working hard to put their finishing touch on their adapted fairy tales. Students have been able to see how altering specific story elements allows them to create new and unique stories of their own. 

The Dot! - Ms. Kulikowsky / Ms. Takamura

In class, we read The Dot! by Peter H. Reynolds.  "The Dot tells the story of a caring teacher who reaches a reluctant student in a remarkably creative way. In Peter’s book, the teacher dares a very resistant Vashti to “make her mark.” Vashti’s breakthrough begins with a simple dot on a piece of paper. Encouraged by her teacher she sets off on a journey of self-discovery, letting her creativity bloom and, ultimately, inspire others."

We then worked in teams with the Breakout EDU Kits. Each team had worked collaboratively and creatively to solve clues to unlock each box until the last box was opened... each student was able to make his/her mark!

On the previous blog post, you will find our video from the day we worked with the Breakout EDU Kits.  Enjoy!

Finally, students planned to "encourage someone else". This time, they decided to encourage adults around school to make their own marks.

Stop by our hallway to see our creative work around "The Dot!" on display on the board outside our classroom.

Make Your Mark! Video - Ms. Kulikowsky / Ms. Takamura

Lower School Update - September 23, 2019

Managing Technology at Home

On Tuesday, October 1, our parent coffee discussion will revolve around managing technology at home.  We would love for you to join us on this very relevant topic. There’s been a lot of research about devices and screen time in the past few years. Here’s an article from Psychology Today that discusses the effects and some practical tips and tools for parents.  

Learning Community C Assembly

This Thursday, September 26, Learning Community C has invited grandparents and special friends to a special assembly. We hope to have many community members on our campus for this special event. Please remember this is only Community C this week, students from other communities will have their own event (and as such, please do not remove children from their homerooms to attend this assembly as they will miss learning). The assembly will take place from 8:15-8:50 and classroom activities with grandparents/special friends from 9:00-9:30. 

Students After School

For your child’s safety, we kindly ask you to ensure that all Lower School students are with an adult after school. This includes around the Lower School but also in the Student Center.  Sometimes, our students are choosing to play with friends while drivers wait and this is not allowed. If students are not with an adult, they will be asked to go to the Lower School Office, where an adult will be contacted. 

Upcoming Important Dates

September 23	LS Special Rotation Day A
September 24	LS Special Rotation Day B
September 25	LS Special Rotation Day C 1st Grade Field Trip - Fundação Dorina Nowill (England & Heineberg)
September 26	LS Special Rotation Day D 1st Grade Field Trip - Fundação Dorina Nowill (Wilker & Burnquist) 8:15 am LS Community C Assembly (Auditorium) Grandparents and Special Friends
September 27	Professional Learning Day for Teachers (No school for students)
October 1	8:30 am LS and MS Parent Coffee: Managing Technology at Home (Black Box Theater)
October 3	8:15 am LS Community D Assembly (Auditorium) Grandparents and Special Friends
October 8	5th Grade Field Trip - Jardim Botanico (Kitto & Gehrels)
October 10	5th Grade Field Trip - Jardim Botancio (Wilganowski, Wolfe & Gaines)
October 11	Professional Learning Day for Teachers  (No school for students)
October 14	4:00 pm Report Cards 0nline
October 16	No school - Parent-Teacher Conferences
October 17	No school - Parent-Teacher Conferences
October 18	Graded Run Against Cancer (Night Run)
October 21 to 25	PTA - Teacher Appreciation Week
October 24 to 30	Visiting Author - Peter Reynolds
October 29	8:30 am LS Parent Coffee: Visiting Author - Peter Reynolds (Innovation Studio)

Around the Lower School 

Math Tips For Parents - September 23

A aranha arranha a rã

O uso das consoantes duplas em português

Diferentemente do inglês, em português, consoantes dobradas alteram a pronúncia da palavra. É o caso de R e RR. São letras usadas para diferenciar as palavras "caro" e "carro", por exemplo.

Fazendo diversas atividades para refletir sobre esse aspecto de nossa língua, os alunos aprenderam se divertindo com caça-palavras, detetive de palavras, recitando poemas, trava-línguas etc. 

And the winner is...

...The Secret Life of Pets 2!

We can't wait to see you on Friday night!  Remember, snacks start at 3:30 pm on the Lower School playground.  Movie will start at 4:15 pm in the Lower School gym.

Lower School Update - September 16, 2019

International Dot Day

We are excited about the author visit from Peter Reynolds in October.  One of his books, The Dot, has inspired International Dot Day, which occurs every year around September 15th.  You can celebrate with your children by drawing a dot and letting your imagination take over.  Here’s a video to get you started!  If you’d also like to sing along to The Dot, Emily Arrow has created this fun song. 

Lower School Movie Night

Join us this Friday after school for some fun on the playground and a movie in the LS Gym! There will be snacks and drinks available at 3:30, with the movie starting at 4:15. If you haven’t already, please RSVP here and vote for your movie selection. The winning movie will be posted on the blogs on Wednesday. 

Learning Community B Assembly

This Thursday, Learning Community B has invited grandparents and special friends to a special assembly. We hope to have many community members on our campus for this special event. Please remember this is only Community B this week, students from other communities will have their own event (and as such, please do not remove children from their homerooms to attend this assembly as they will miss learning). The assembly will take place from 8:15-8:50 and classroom activities with grandparents/special friends from 9:00-9:30. 

Time Outs

This past weekend, the BBC news site had an article about giving children time outs as a consequence for inappropriate behavior. If you would like to learn more about what the article reported, follow this link: 'Time outs' don't do any harm, parents told

Upcoming Important Dates

September 18	3rd Grade Field trip - Museu da Imigração.
September 19	8:15 am LS Community B Assembly (Auditorium) Grandparents and Special Friends
September 20	Lower School Movie Night
September 23	LS Special Rotation Day A
September 24	LS Special Rotation Day B
September 25	LS Special Rotation Day C 1st Grade Field Trip - Fundação Dorina Nowill ( L.England & D. Heinberg)
September 26	LS Special Rotation Day D 1st Grade Field Trip - Fundação Dorina Nowill (S. Wilker & S. Burnquist) 8:15 am LS Community C Assembly (Auditorium) Grandparents and Special Friends
September 27	No school for students
October 1	8:30 am LS and MS Parent Coffee: Managing Technology at Home (Black Box Theater)
October 3	8:15 am LS Community D Assembly (Auditorium) Grandparents and Special Friends
October 8	5th Grade Field Trip - Jardim Botanico ( N. Kitto & P. Gehrels)
October 10	5th Grade Field Trip - Jardim Botancio (C.Wilganowski, J. Wolfe & L. Gaines)
October 11	No school for students
October 14	Report Cards online
October 16	No school - Parent-Teacher Conferences
October 17	No school - Parent-Teacher Conferences
October 18	Graded Run Against Cancer ( Night Run)
October 21 to 25	PTA - Teacher Appreciation Week
October 24 to 30	Visiting Author - Peter Reynolds
October 29	LS Parent Coffee - Visiting Author - Peter Reynolds

Around the Lower School