Finally but Fabulous Friday!

Thank you all very much for coming today! The children's performance brought tears to my eyes! Bravo!!!!!!!!!

The cake was magnificent!!!! What a memory you helped to create for me and for your child.

I don't have any requests for the weekend other than to relax and have fun!!! Maybe throw in a little reading to get ready for the Idita-Read.

Terrific Thursday!

The children were great today! I am sure they will be in full swing for you tomorrow as well! I sent out an email yesterday asking you to deliver the cake to the third grade hallway in the morning. Have your child enter my classroom from the door on the parking lot side. They are not to enter the third grade hallway. I have reviewed this with them, but they may need a little reminder in the midst of the excitement. Please have the children wear their costume to school in the morning. I did let them leave the hat ,if they had one, in the room. Make sure that they have their regular school clothes either in a separate bag or in their book bag. They must be in uniform after the performance.

We are going to have the children leave the stage at the end of the performance before you all are asked to depart the theater. The children will quickly come back to the Lower School and change into their uniform and will be anxiously awaiting your arrival for the serving of the cake. The children will be served first and then the parents. The plan is for you and your child to take the dessert out to the picnic area to enjoy, so please make sure you bring a jacket. We anticipate that the festivities should begin to wind down around 10am. The children will continue on with their day. We have USA activities planned for them as well as making ice cream in the Science Lab.

Please note: The March 3 parent workshop, Kids Today, has been canceled.

Tonight for homework:
Science: Matter activity sheet on elements and compounds
Practice lines one last time
Get to bed on time to get a good night's sleep
Don't drink milk in the morning... just water

You are going to love it! Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Terrific Tuesday Again!

We successfully made it through the program today without stopping. The children were marvelous! You are going to be in such awe of your child's talent. Please make sure that they review their lines one more time and that they have all their costume pieces with them on Thursday morning, if they don't already have them at school. I hope you all are having fun researching and preparing your "piece of cake".

The children do have some work to complete prior to Thursday.
Wordly Wise: Complete Lesson 8 cloze procedure activity. Sometimes they have to add an ending such as -ed, -ing, or -ly to the vocabulary word in order for it to make sense in the sentence.

Math Activity Sheet on creating angles. They do create very cool optical illusions when they are finished.

You should notice that they have three sheets in their homework folder that deal with the Iditarod. The most important one that they can't loose is the one with their user name and password. This gives them access to enter their reading minutes. They are in training now, but as of March 6, the real race begins. My goal is that all the children in the room will read the 1,112 minutes to travel the 1,112 miles. You will also see a sheet for them to write a book review of one of the books that they read. I have told the children that they must turn in one of those sheets to me and to also remember to enter the information on the computer. I will show them what an ISBN number and review all the components on that sheet on Thursday. If they don't have time to do the computer work at home, they can do so in the classroom while they are working independently. The third sheet is the log sheet that they can keep as they are reading. I will happily provide more if needed.

Tomorrow is going to be a long day for me and I promise that I will do everything I can to stay on time. I have many components of your child's education to share with you. If for any reason we are not able to complete our conversation within the time allowed, please know that we can schedule a follow-up conference. The focus of the conference tomorrow will be to share the report card with you and for me to verbalize the strengths and possible difficulties that your child may be having and suggest way to reinforce these weaknesses. I will share their last writing sample with you and give you a chance to look at their writing portfolio that we have so proudly named 'Big B,' which stands for Binder.

Thank you again for all your help with the costumes, the line review, and the baking!

Merry Monday!

I just received an email that tomorrow will be Spirit Day to celebrate the victory of the basketball team.

We will have the children try on their costumes tomorrow to see how they work on stage in the event that we have to make some last minute changes. Please make sure your child comes to school tomorrow with all the parts to their costume. If you have ordered a costume and it won't come in until Wednesday, but have a hat, please send in the hat at least.

Please make sure that the children get lots of rest this week. We will have only one more long morning of practice and then it's showtime on Thursday and Friday morning.

Tonight the children have some comprehension questions about Stone Fox and they are to complete the final drawing of the Race Map.

I have also sent home a list of the 50 states. I am going to give them a little quiz on Tuesday where they have to list the states in (abc) order according to the song they are singing in the program. I will provide the states so they don't have to worry with the spelling, but they do have to list them in order. The quiz is worth 50 points.

We are working on another round of "baggy books". I would like all the children to return their baggy books by tomorrow if they received them last week. Please make sure they are reading the story orally with you practicing their fluency and accuracy of each word.

By the end of the day, we will have completed our class novel, Stone Fox. We will read the ending chapter that often brings tears. Now that I have a dog, I may cry even more than I usually do. If you discuss the book at home, please help to reinforce that they can not share the story and especially the ending with others in third grade as the other classes have not finished the book.

I am looking forward to seeing you all on Wednesday. I have a great deal to accomplish in each conference. I will try my best to be on time.

BRAVO! BRAVO!

The third grade went to the theater today for the first time to begin the stage practice of our America program. You are going to LOVE it! It was a very tiring but productive practice today. We are very proud of how much they have learned and how much energy and enthusiasm each child is bringing to the stage. Please make sure that your child continues to review his/her lines each night. We will have practice on Monday and Tuesday only with a day of break for parent conferences before we perform for the school on Thursday and then for you on Friday. Please make sure that your child comes with the costume on Monday in a bag with their name on it. That way if any changes or additions need to be made, we have a few days to do so.

We have begun our study of Geometry in Math. The children are bringing home a very important parent letter today sharing some of the terminology that they will be responsible for throughout the unit.

We did not get a chance to begin our drawing of the route of the race in our novel, Stone Fox. I am going to send home a piece of drawing paper and a list of details that needs to be included in the drawing. The children are to work on a rough draft of this race over the weekend and then on Monday we will produce the final drawing.

We will continue our study of the various Native Americans that crossed the United States. Next week we will focus on the Anasazi and the Northwest Coast.

Due to the program practice and production and the shortened week for parent conferences, we will not have spelling words nor will we have our Daily Oral Language activities. But do not fret, we have plenty to learn and accomplish.

I look forward to meeting with each of you next Wednesday. If you see a problem with your time or you may not be able to attend now that the time is approaching, please let me know and we can alternative arrangements.

Have a great weekend!

Wild And Woolly Wednesday!

The children are doing a great job with the change of our daily schedule due to program practice. Please continue to have your child recite their lines before they go to bed at night.

Tonight for homework is as follows:
Spelling: study dictation sentences for the test on Friday
Wordly Wise: page 76 answer questions 1-5... they do not have to restate, but they do have to
write in complete sentences
Science: How Do Things Shape Up? worksheet...all the facts for the outline can be found in the
reading portion of the activity
Olympics: Bring in a picture from the newspaper or a magazine that has something to do with
the Olympic games
Stone Fox Literature Study: Complete the vocabulary match...we worked on half in class and
they are to complete by using a dictionary if necessary

We are beginning our Idita-Read. You will want your child to fill you in on this contest. I will be sending home all the information that you and your child will need to successfully get credit for all the reading that they do. I have told the children that they can just combing the time that they should already be reading every night and add to that as they have the time.

We are studying Matter in Science. Last night's experiment demonstrated the difference in a physical change and a chemical change. I have a couple more experiments that I am going to send home over the next couple of weeks that reinforce our unit of study. In Science Lab, we will be attempting to make ice cream. Do you think this is a physical or chemical change?

I am looking forward to our parent conferences. At that time I will share the report card with you along with the reading assessments that I will have completed with your child. We will also discuss improvements/ progress and areas that we need to continue to support.

Cupid Has Left the Building

TOMORROW IS SPIRIT DAY!

I hope everyone had a relaxing and fun long weekend. I think both the children and their aging teacher both needed the rest. We are on the America Program countdown. Please make sure that your child reviews their lines every night before they go to bed. We are stressing speaking clearly and making sure that they recite their lines slowly with expression.

The children are also coming home today with a very important envelope. In this envelope you will find the state that they have been assigned that will contribute to the cake of the USA that everyone will get to enjoy the day of the program. I discussed with the children that they should first begin to research to learn a little about their state. The cake and the icing can be any flavor. But how they choose to decorate it should be very specific to the state itself. Their state must include the name of the state and perhaps the capitol with any distinguishing geographic features. The rest is left to research and creativity.

This week there will be no spelling list, but I am going to send home some dictation sentences that review last week's spelling list. They will have a check up on these sentences on Friday.

Tonight they have a reading comprehension sheet and a science experiment. The science experiment is on page 150 in the science book that I reminded them to bring home twice in the last 15 minutes of the day.

Tomorrow is the last day to bring in money to order Scholastic Books.

As a "dinner challenge", I have asked the children to ask you if you have ever in the past or present named a non-living object such as your first car. You will want to ask your child about the story, The Woman Who Named Things and the lesson that she perhaps learned.

Tuesday Update!

The biography's are wonderful. By the end of today, we hope to have all of them read to the class. The covers are very creative and well done. Thank you for all your help with this project.

I wanted to share with you that tonight the children will begin what may be a weekly assignment of writing sentences in their spelling notebook using the spelling words for the week correctly in the sentence. There are a few guidelines for these sentences that I wanted you to know about in case your child needs any help. First, there will 5 to 10 sentences they will have to write. I will explain to the children that they can put more than one spelling word in the sentence, but they still have to have the correct number of sentences. The sentences must not be just a definition of the word, but a sentence that let's me know they know the meaning using adjectives and adverbs for better detail. I am going to set a limit on the number of words that each sentence should meet.For now, that limit is no less than 10 words per sentence. Words such as a, an, and, and the do not count as words. They must also begin each sentence in a different way. The children should proofread their sentences and write them neatly in their notebook.

Reminders:

Valentine's Poem to recite is due onFebruary 11.
Special delivery boxes with Valentines should be brought to school on February 10. Our Valentine's treat along with a Valentine exchange will take place on February 11 from 11:30 to 12:10.

I am sending home a Lucky Book Club order form today. My children are capable of reading more difficult books, but they do love many of the books that are offered and the science kit on rubberbands looked like GREAT fun! They are not obligated to order, but I just wanted to make it available in case the children needed some fun books to have at home. The order form is due on February 17. I will place the order on that day.

You will want to ask your child about our literature study of Stone Fox. The excitement if building to the big race.

Make sure you check out Mrs. Baralt's website through our blog. She has some really good information on the Iditarod.

Finally Friday!

Grandparents and Special Friends Day was a great success. I just love meeting all the special people in my children's lives. The children wrote a special paragraph just for their visitor and were so proud to show off all the work around the room and school. Our special visitors are always amazed at what the children are able to accomplish.

We continued our day as planned. We reviewed for our math test on Monday and talked about the biography that is due as well. I am looking forward to learning on Monday what the children learned.

The math test on Monday will cover decimals, a new skill, and ballpark estimates, an old skill. Please continue to review multiplication tables. They will have a 100 problem test on all the tables on Tuesday.

We have begun our study of the Iditarod in computer lab. We are going to pick a musher and follow this sled once the race begins on March 6 in downtown Anchorage, Alaska. The children began important research on the Iditarod in computer lab today. Those that were absent, are responsible for answering these questions on their own time. Mrs. Baralt has the information for the children to read nicely organized on her website.

Next week is a big week.. what's new.. right? We have biography museum and math test on Monday, Valentine boxes due on Wednesday, poem due on Thursday along with enjoying our special Valentine treat. The children must stay in dress code on Thursday but I did tell them that they could wear some read and pink to add to the festivities of the day.

I will also be beginning some additional reading assessments that I will be sharing with you during our parent/teacher conferences on February 24.

Twirling Thursday!

The title of this blog scarily describes how this week has passed. We have begun practicing for the program on top of the reading week activities on top of normal curriculum work. We have asked the children to know their parts without visual help by tomorrow. Please make sure they are pronouncing the words correctly and accurately.

Tomorrow is a big day as well, but it is a regular day. The children will arrive at school as they normally do and will follow the morning schedule until the grandparents and special friends arrive at the classroom at 10am. Our visitors should not arrive at the classroom prior to that time. There is a program specifically for our visitors in the JRT at 9:00am. We will have a writing piece to share and if time allows, we will perform a reader's theater. Then the children will escort their special visitors around the Lower School campus and return to the classroom by 11am. We will resume our daily schedule at 11am. Many of you have asked if the children can leave at that time. This day is not intended to be an early release day. However, if your child must leave at that time, they are responsible for the work they miss. I know they will miss the math review for the test on Monday as well as be unable to complete the computer project, Scratch, that they are currently working on for credit.

For homework tonight, the children have to study for a spelling test, complete a math review, and complete/proofread their writing piece about their special friends.

I did share with the children all about the Valentine's treat and the special delivery box that they can decorate to bring to school on February 10 along with the prepared Valentine's that will be delivered on February 11 during our Valentine celebration. The box that they decorate should not be any bigger than a shoe box and they should make sure that the opening in the top is big enough for Valentines.

The biography due date is getting closer. The children should be beginning to write their report and at least finish the cover. I can't wait for them to share these orally in class. You may want to encourage your child to read their report out loud at home to make sure they are comfortable reading in front of the class.

Thank you for helping to make sure your child was prepared for our Shorecrest Gets a "Charge" Out of Reading activities this week.

Reading Week.... Tuesday!

The children were quite creative today with not only their character choice, but with the costume that went with it. I loved seeing them come to school this morning and sharing who they were. The Town Meeting was quite festive and the children really loved guessing who all the characters were. Some of the children got to go to the front, particularly all the Fancy Nancy's.

Tonight the children have to complete a few math boxes on different pages. However, if they do not have their workbook with them, we will assume that they completed the work in class.

They do need to complete the Chapter 1 comprehension check up for Stone Fox. You will want to ask your child what the new problem or conflict is in the story that little Willy is now facing.

They need to study their compound spelling words and continue working on the biography.

My little Valentine sweethearts are getting anxious about sending their special deliveries for Valentines. So to avoid having to answer the same questions over and over, I thought I would share what the plan is ahead of time. Since Valentine's Day does not fall on a school day and the children are out on that Friday, we are going to celebrate Valentine's Day on February 11. The children and I will talk tomorrow about decorating a Valentine mailbox and sending Valentines. We will discuss that all children in our classroom should be involved and considered for a special delivery. If there are special deliveries that need to be made in other third grade classes, time will be allowed to do so during the course of that day. If you must attach a sweet treat to the Valentine, please make sure it is wrapped and sealed. The children will receive a yummy treat that day thanks to the room moms, so additional treats are really not necessary. I would like the Valentine sweethearts to bring the special delivery boxes in on February 10 along with the valentines so that cupid can prepare for his special day! The children will pass out their Valentines on the day of our celebration. I know the children will be excited about Valentine's Day and all the little surprises that come with it. I will encourage the children to wear something red, white, or pink along with their school uniform on February 11. Thank you for all your support!

Tomorrow is drop everything and read. I told the children that they could bring a book from home, library book, or read a book that they are working on in class as long as it is a chapter book. It must be a book that will sustain them for at least 25 minutes.