We got off to a great start for the week! Yea us! I have several important events and responsibilities to discuss with you in this blog. I apologize upfront for the blog being so long and taking up your time at home to read. However, there is a lot going on that I wanted to share with you.
This Wednesday is Spirit Day! The children are allowed to wear their Shorecrest items keeping in mind the Shorecrest colors of green and gold. Friday is our field day when the children wear a T-shirt the color of their team. If they have forgotten the color of their team, they should let me know tomorrow so they can plan ahead. But tell them to check their agenda first. The festivities of field day will begin promptly at 9 and will be over by 11. The remainder of the day will be a normal working day, let's hope!
Inside your child's homework folder, you will find some forms that you need to read. One of the forms is about our picture day on April 5. The children should bring in their orders as soon as they can to avoid the late fee. I will keep their money for them as they bring it in. Please make sure your child is appropriately dressed on that day complete with belts. There is also a notice about the Duathlon on April 16th. The last form that you should be aware of is a special secret assignment that has a paperclip holding two gray pieces of paper. This is a surprise and so if you have any questions, I am sure you can call a room mom to get further instructions.
On Friday, April 23, the third grade children will be singing as a part of our Celebrate the Arts celebration week. The children have been asked to wear jeans/jeans skirts and a white t-shirt for the performance. They will be allowed to wear that all day or if the children want to change back into their school uniform that day, that is fine by me. Again, if the pants require a belt, then the children need to wear one.
Scholastic Book money is due by Wednesday, March 31.
The Idita-read is still in full swing. So far we are holding on to our lead with over 15 thousand minutes/miles read. Please continue to encourage the tracking of the time read at home. I have also required that each child submit an Idita-read book review. The summary portion at the bottom of the form should be at least 5 or 6 sentences. They don't have to submit it on the computer, but they must turn in the written copy to me by this Friday.
I will be sending home new baggy books beginning tomorrow. You will notice that these baggy books are lengthy and may require a couple of nights to read orally and independently. The main focus of these stories is the perspective of the characters in the story. Even though the activities make look simple, they may not be that simple to answer if the children do not read the story carefully.
This week we will be doing a practice writing to a prompt activity. This is in preparation for the WrAP testing that will take place on April 6 and 7. I will share more information with you as that time approaches.
Tonight the children have the following work.
Spelling- abc order with the new list.. they will receive the dictation tomorrow with the test on Friday
Vocabulary Cloze Activity- these words are the focus words for the reamainder of our stories in our reading book
Math- review the practice test that they worked on over the weekend and study the additional sheet that we reviewed in class today on angles and triangles... I will not give the test tomorrow but on Wednesday.. so two night to prepare! YEA!!
We are moving along in our class novel, George Washington's Socks. You will want to ask your child later on this week if there is any signs of hope that the characters are ever going to make their way out of the American Revolutionary War.
We are working on our last Native American group and our chart is almost completed. The culminating activity will be for the children to choose the group that they either would like to be a part of or enjoyed learning about. Each child will write an essay from that Native American's perspective sharing as many details that they have learned as they can. This writing acitivity may take a few days as I will be very picky in the content as well as the editing stage.
We hope to have a writing celebration soon. They have a couple of personal narratives that we would like to share. But I would like to combine a poem or two to the celebration as well. I will let you know as soon as we have completed this activity and are ready to share.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read this very long blog. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me via email.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Marvelous Monday!
The children seemed refreshed as is their teacher. I hope that everyone had a lovely week and enjoyed whatever your days held for you.
I wanted to touch base about a few things that are coming up. March 24 is Purple Day to celebrate Relay for Life. The children are allowed to wear shirts and accessories that are purple. It looks as if our Field Day will be April 2. The children are encouraged to wear the color of their team.
The children will have a homophone quiz on Wednesday. They should study the sheet that I gave them prior to spring break entitled, Breezing Through Homophones. This Thursday is class picture day. Please make sure they are dressed appropriately.
Homework tonight is as follows:
Spelling- abc order
Reading-Balto comprehension questions.... I read the story to them right at the end of the day as a listening exercise. They must answer the questions by restating and giving details that were in the story.
Sign and return the work envelopes
Bring cereal in a ziploc bag if they haven't done so already. I did ask the children to bring in a cereal box if there was one in the cupboard that you could sacrifice.We go to the science lab tomorrow to complete two experiments. You will want to ask your child what we are doing with the cereal, magnets, and apple cider vinegar as well.
We have much to accomplish this week as always. We will begin our big explorer project this week in the computer lab. I will fill you in on the details as they occur. You are going to be SOOOOO impressed.
I wanted to touch base about a few things that are coming up. March 24 is Purple Day to celebrate Relay for Life. The children are allowed to wear shirts and accessories that are purple. It looks as if our Field Day will be April 2. The children are encouraged to wear the color of their team.
The children will have a homophone quiz on Wednesday. They should study the sheet that I gave them prior to spring break entitled, Breezing Through Homophones. This Thursday is class picture day. Please make sure they are dressed appropriately.
Homework tonight is as follows:
Spelling- abc order
Reading-Balto comprehension questions.... I read the story to them right at the end of the day as a listening exercise. They must answer the questions by restating and giving details that were in the story.
Sign and return the work envelopes
Bring cereal in a ziploc bag if they haven't done so already. I did ask the children to bring in a cereal box if there was one in the cupboard that you could sacrifice.We go to the science lab tomorrow to complete two experiments. You will want to ask your child what we are doing with the cereal, magnets, and apple cider vinegar as well.
We have much to accomplish this week as always. We will begin our big explorer project this week in the computer lab. I will fill you in on the details as they occur. You are going to be SOOOOO impressed.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Twirling Thursday!
I am sure you will hear all about our visitors today. As soon as I have any information about the filming that was done, I will let you know. Our visitors got to see your children making Geo-Panes as a review of angles, faces, sides and vertices. If you see many marshmallows floating around in their bookbags, you'll know why. Not all the children got to construct all the Geo-Panes. But they will be given an opportunity tomorrow during math class.
Don't forget tomorrow is Field Day. The children are to wear items of their team's color. There is a possibility that the events for the day will be canceled. It will be announced at 7:30 tomorrow morning. I will let you know the make up date and they can wear the same clothes on that day. Not to worry if they are out of dress code tomorrow.
If the children didn't bring in a small ziploc bag of cereal today, they need to do so by tomorrow for a science experiment. Don't worry if the cereal is stale. That will add to the suspense of the experiment.
Homework tonight is as follows:
Spelling test and dictation
Wordly Wise Quiz - Lesson 9
Read for the Idita-Read.. we are making great progress!!!
I hope everyone has a relaxing spring break whether it is away or in your own home. We have lots more to accomplish in third grade and I need the children to come back refreshed and ready to take it all on!!!!
Don't forget tomorrow is Field Day. The children are to wear items of their team's color. There is a possibility that the events for the day will be canceled. It will be announced at 7:30 tomorrow morning. I will let you know the make up date and they can wear the same clothes on that day. Not to worry if they are out of dress code tomorrow.
If the children didn't bring in a small ziploc bag of cereal today, they need to do so by tomorrow for a science experiment. Don't worry if the cereal is stale. That will add to the suspense of the experiment.
Homework tonight is as follows:
Spelling test and dictation
Wordly Wise Quiz - Lesson 9
Read for the Idita-Read.. we are making great progress!!!
I hope everyone has a relaxing spring break whether it is away or in your own home. We have lots more to accomplish in third grade and I need the children to come back refreshed and ready to take it all on!!!!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Working Wednesday!
We are having another productive week. I know that Spring Break is just around the corner, but if you could just give them a little reminder in the morning to be active listeners, I would greatly appreciate it.
Tomorrow we are having some visitors in our classroom during our Math lesson. We are working on angles, faces, a vertex, and 3-dimensional shapes. I have asked the children to make sure they are in dress code. If their shorts or pants have a belt straps, then they should be wearing a belt. Whether girl or boy, unless a dress is being worn, their shirts must be tucked in at all times. Thank for helping me with this. I do find that a child's appearance can sometimes dictate attitude and behavior.
Tonight's homework is as follows:
Spelling- Study words and dictation for test on Friday
Math- Workbook page 137
Leprechaun Sentence Sheet
Handwriting practice
Please try and have your child log in their Idita-read minutes at home as much as possible. This helps to eliminate the confusion in class. The computers are here for them to use, but today particularly it consumed their thoughts with having to log on their minutes.
We did complete an acrostic poem on George Washington complete with portrait. The children found a tremendous amount of facts about our first president. The objective was to learn not only new facts about him, but to make sure that we were using facts and not writing opinions.
Thank you for your help with the Peppy Pepper experiment. We had many scientists that took it to another level in using other items in the water and with the detergent. It made for quite the class discussion. I will be sending home another experiment tomorrow entitled, Using Our Senses to Detect Changes in Apple Cider Vinegar. They will have over spring break to complete this one. Once you get it going, you just leave it in a sunny windowsill for a few days. That way if you are planning on taking a trip, you won't have to worry about it... other than the smell perhaps.
Tomorrow we are having some visitors in our classroom during our Math lesson. We are working on angles, faces, a vertex, and 3-dimensional shapes. I have asked the children to make sure they are in dress code. If their shorts or pants have a belt straps, then they should be wearing a belt. Whether girl or boy, unless a dress is being worn, their shirts must be tucked in at all times. Thank for helping me with this. I do find that a child's appearance can sometimes dictate attitude and behavior.
Tonight's homework is as follows:
Spelling- Study words and dictation for test on Friday
Math- Workbook page 137
Leprechaun Sentence Sheet
Handwriting practice
Please try and have your child log in their Idita-read minutes at home as much as possible. This helps to eliminate the confusion in class. The computers are here for them to use, but today particularly it consumed their thoughts with having to log on their minutes.
We did complete an acrostic poem on George Washington complete with portrait. The children found a tremendous amount of facts about our first president. The objective was to learn not only new facts about him, but to make sure that we were using facts and not writing opinions.
Thank you for your help with the Peppy Pepper experiment. We had many scientists that took it to another level in using other items in the water and with the detergent. It made for quite the class discussion. I will be sending home another experiment tomorrow entitled, Using Our Senses to Detect Changes in Apple Cider Vinegar. They will have over spring break to complete this one. Once you get it going, you just leave it in a sunny windowsill for a few days. That way if you are planning on taking a trip, you won't have to worry about it... other than the smell perhaps.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Whew... Friday!
We have had great difficulty today focusing, listening, and have been quite chatty. I am thinking that a restful weekend will certainly cure this.
A reminder that the Iditarod begins on Sunday. The children can begin logging in their reading minutes/miles. If they have any difficulty logging in , just have them fill in the reading form that I sent home and Mrs. Baralt and I can help them on Monday. I did put the two important websites on my blog to make it easy for the chidlren to assess these websites. Also, they must type in their name and password just as it was given to them on the sheet. Each child chose a random number today between 2 and 72. Then they matched that number with a musher. They have completed the research on their musher and have a sheet to keep track of the musher's progress at each station. We will also choose a class musher and follow the progress of that person as well. It is very interesting to learn where these people entering the Iditarod live and how they became interested in even raising these dogs and competing in such a daring race. I learned a lot today just by reading over your child's shoulder as they completed their mind map on their own musher. You will want to ask them to tell you a little bit about their musher. Many of the mushers have hobbies that have nothing to do with dog sledding.
Oldie Goldie was a huge success in our room. The children have many books to bring home and have even had a chance to read a couple in school.
Some of the children did not complete the science experiment, Peppy Pepper, last night. This experiment is due no later than Monday. They must bring the sheet in with the details on that sheet that I gave them in class.
Have a wonderful weekend. Seems funny to say while living here, but stay warm!
A reminder that the Iditarod begins on Sunday. The children can begin logging in their reading minutes/miles. If they have any difficulty logging in , just have them fill in the reading form that I sent home and Mrs. Baralt and I can help them on Monday. I did put the two important websites on my blog to make it easy for the chidlren to assess these websites. Also, they must type in their name and password just as it was given to them on the sheet. Each child chose a random number today between 2 and 72. Then they matched that number with a musher. They have completed the research on their musher and have a sheet to keep track of the musher's progress at each station. We will also choose a class musher and follow the progress of that person as well. It is very interesting to learn where these people entering the Iditarod live and how they became interested in even raising these dogs and competing in such a daring race. I learned a lot today just by reading over your child's shoulder as they completed their mind map on their own musher. You will want to ask them to tell you a little bit about their musher. Many of the mushers have hobbies that have nothing to do with dog sledding.
Oldie Goldie was a huge success in our room. The children have many books to bring home and have even had a chance to read a couple in school.
Some of the children did not complete the science experiment, Peppy Pepper, last night. This experiment is due no later than Monday. They must bring the sheet in with the details on that sheet that I gave them in class.
Have a wonderful weekend. Seems funny to say while living here, but stay warm!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Windy Wednesday!
This week is moving right along! We are working hard and being quite productive.
Tonight's homework is as follows:
Spelling: Study spelling words and dictation for the test on Friday.
Math: Workbook page 135 and a Counting Triangles Sheet
Wordly Wise: page 85.. complete the first 5 questions to the story, Bully Solutions
We are reading in our new class novel, George Washington's Socks. You will want to ask your child about this historical fiction. Ask them to tell you about the characters and how the children in the story have ended up in the middle of crossing the Delaware River during the Revolutionary War. It is quite the adventure book.
Tomorrow is the last day to collect Oldie Goldie books. If the children could make one last sweep through the bookshelves, that would be great. Then on Friday they can purchase a few 'new' books to bring home to read as well as read in the classroom.
Don't forget.. the Iditarod begins this Sunday. The children will be choosing their own musher and will be responsible for following their musher along the trail. I will give them a little packet of information that they will need to complete during the race. Also on Sunday, they can officially begin the Idita-Read. I have the computers in the classroom ready to go so the children can log in their minutes/miles during the day if they don't get a chance to do so at home. They just need to read!!!!! Mush on!
Tonight's homework is as follows:
Spelling: Study spelling words and dictation for the test on Friday.
Math: Workbook page 135 and a Counting Triangles Sheet
Wordly Wise: page 85.. complete the first 5 questions to the story, Bully Solutions
We are reading in our new class novel, George Washington's Socks. You will want to ask your child about this historical fiction. Ask them to tell you about the characters and how the children in the story have ended up in the middle of crossing the Delaware River during the Revolutionary War. It is quite the adventure book.
Tomorrow is the last day to collect Oldie Goldie books. If the children could make one last sweep through the bookshelves, that would be great. Then on Friday they can purchase a few 'new' books to bring home to read as well as read in the classroom.
Don't forget.. the Iditarod begins this Sunday. The children will be choosing their own musher and will be responsible for following their musher along the trail. I will give them a little packet of information that they will need to complete during the race. Also on Sunday, they can officially begin the Idita-Read. I have the computers in the classroom ready to go so the children can log in their minutes/miles during the day if they don't get a chance to do so at home. They just need to read!!!!! Mush on!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Magnificent Monday!
Today was great! We returned to our schedule and had some very productive teaching time. We also had time to make it to the library today to check out books. Yea Us!
Our Oldie Goldie Book Fair is this Friday. I have asked the children to search their bedrooms or playrooms one more time for books that they would like to donate.
Tonight for homework is as follows:
Wordly Wise: workbook pages 81 and 82
Math: workbook page 133
Spelling: activity sheet to categorize the words based on the ar sound
The children will receive the dictation for this week tomorrow. They will write the sentences in their spelling notebook and then bring the sheet home to practice. I have suggested that they write each sentence at least twice before the actual test on Friday.
Each child was to complete as least one of the science water experiments that I sent home a couple of weeks ago. Many children have completed the expectation and then gone on to complete the others for extra credit and fun.
Remember... Oldie Goldie on Friday!
Our Oldie Goldie Book Fair is this Friday. I have asked the children to search their bedrooms or playrooms one more time for books that they would like to donate.
Tonight for homework is as follows:
Wordly Wise: workbook pages 81 and 82
Math: workbook page 133
Spelling: activity sheet to categorize the words based on the ar sound
The children will receive the dictation for this week tomorrow. They will write the sentences in their spelling notebook and then bring the sheet home to practice. I have suggested that they write each sentence at least twice before the actual test on Friday.
Each child was to complete as least one of the science water experiments that I sent home a couple of weeks ago. Many children have completed the expectation and then gone on to complete the others for extra credit and fun.
Remember... Oldie Goldie on Friday!
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