Happy December! It feels like the school year just got started, and we are already almost half way through it.  Wow!

This week has been a busy one academically.  We are hunkering down and trying to get a lot of learning done in the next 3 weeks.  In math, third graders are learning how to add and subtract up and down a number line using a story context.  They are learning how to represent story problems with equations and how to move up or down the number line to the next landmark number in order to be efficient.  This is hard work, but they are all able to do it!  4th graders and working with numbers in the ten thousands -- adding and subtracting using the US algorithm across multiple zeroes!  Learning to regroup and what it means is conceptually challenging, but I am pleased with the progress I see.  This class is a math thinking machine!

During reading we are focusing on main idea  and supporting details. From my years of experience, I know this is a tough thing to grasp. To understand that the main idea is NOT the same thing as the topic is tricky. We are looking at topic sentences and trying to figure out how the text is structured (problem/solution, chronology, compare and contrast. etc.) to help us figure out what they author is trying to teach us. 

In writing, we are finally drafting our expert books! We are learning all about how non-fiction writers elaborate, and we are figuring out how the chapters of our books should go -- in order, of equal importance, not repetitive.  Once that work is done, the expert book almost writes itself! I particularly love how this unit helps students think about organizing their thoughts. I always see huge progress in paragraphing and organizing as a result of the expert book completion!

Our science  unit on natural resources is winding down. This week we thought about how each of us could be a "Lorax" and do our part to save energy. Now the students are researching one renewable and one non-renewable natural resource to do a quick comparison.  They are becoming experts in energy -- learning about geothermal, propane, wind, coal, solar, oil,  and even nuclear.  They are learning what is meant by a fossil fuel and how they can be informed consumers.  I can't wait to see how they all present their research.

I am hoping we can use the outdoor wood-fired oven to bake something the day before the holiday vacation.  I have been thinking about what would be easy and fun and different to bake. One idea I have is to make challah dough in bread machines and then let each student make their own mini challah loaf.  We can either make them and bake them on the same day, or make them ahead of time and freeze them until Friday 12/20 when we can use the oven.  I am looking for some volunteers to help with this. If you are free on Thursday 12/19 or Friday 12/20, please let me know so I can figure out how to fit this in.  I am also open to other suggestions for things to bake. I like the idea of challah because I have a wonderful recipe for making the dough in the bread machine, and it would be satisfying to make dough, then bake it outdoors for a change rather than in the machine itself.  And who doesn't love braiding bread dough?

Finally, many of the students have been asking to go out to recess without their snow gear or boots.  Mrs. Graf sent out an email recently asking teachers to inform students that they need to wear their winter gear outside.  This means boots, coats, snow pants, hats, and gloves or mittens.  Of course I will be reasonable and not enforce this if the weather changes drastically, but my general policy is that students should wear what you send in their backpacks.  If you have questions about this, please contact me.  I know it feels "cool" to not care about the cold, but it's not so great to be in wet clothes and shoes for the afternoon!

That is all for this week. I hope you all have a relaxing weekend!