Dec. 16-19

Hi Families,
The holiday season has finally arrived and we are down to our last week of school for 2013!!  We will be trying to get a bit of work done this week, amongst a few fun holiday activities. 

Upcoming reminders:
Thurs., Dec. 19th--End of the 2nd Quarter
Class Winter Party-- begins at 3:00
Fri., Dec. 20th- Mon., Jan. 6th-- NO SCHOOL--Winter Break
Tues., Jan. 7th-- School resumes
Thurs., Jan. 16th--School of Economics Field Trip
Mon., Jan. 20th--No School- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Math-  We completed Topic 8 on Friday and instead of starting a new topic before break, we will spend this week reviewing and practicing addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.  There won't be any math homework this week!!

Spelling- There will not be any spelling this week!

Reading-  We will finish reading The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.  There is a short movie version of this book that I am hoping to get so that we can watch it later this week.  We will then do a compare and contrast activity about the book and the movie.

Writing-  Students will be publishing their letters to Santa and will write out an envelope so they can send it to them.  Ask your child if they know their address?  They will need to know it in order to write it as their return address on the envelope.

Social Studies-  The 3rd grade will be separating into groups (shops) to begin to prepare for The School of Economics field trip.  They will begin to prepare for opening their shops!  If any of you are available to join us on January 16, please let me know.  I will be able to take 5 volunteers for this field trip.

Dec. 9-13

Hi Families,

Brr!!  It sure has gotten cold outside!  Make sure to send your child to school with a jacket.  If the temperature is above 20 degrees the students WILL go outside for recess!

Our class (and school) has sure been hit by the stomach bug!!  I had the class sanitize their desks on Friday and then again today when we came in this morning.  I sure hope we can all stay healthy to make it to (and through) the holiday season. 

The 2nd quarter is winding down quickly!  We just have 2 weeks until the halfway point of the school year.

Upcoming reminders:
Thurs., Dec. 19th--End of the 2nd Quarter
Class Winter Party-- begins at 3:00
Fri., Dec. 20th- Mon., Jan. 6th-- NO SCHOOL--Winter Break
Tues., Jan. 7th-- School resumes
Thurs., Jan. 16th--School of Economics Field Trip
Mon., Jan. 20th--No School- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Spelling-
We will be having our classroom spelling bee on Thursday this week.  The two winners from our class will participate in the school-wide spelling bee in January.

The students learned Economics vocabulary last week and will continue to study them this week.  The class will be tested on both the spelling and vocabulary this Friday, Dec. 13.

Reading- 
We are continuing to read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and the class is LOVING the story!!  We will also read more about economics in our Source Books while practicing the reading strategy 'compare and contrast'.

Writing-
Students will be drafting a letter to Santa trying to persuade him to take them off the naughty list and put them back onto the nice list. 

Math-
We will complete our study on division this week with a final test on Friday.  The class will be expected to know their division facts by the end of 3rd grade so it is crucial that they continue to practice them after we complete this unit.

Social Studies-
Students are going to start preparing for our January 16th field trip to the School of Economics this week.  The students will learn about being a producer and decide on which type of business they would like to run.  There will be a variety of food and craft stores for them to choose from, as well as, the possibiliy of becoming the banker or loan officer. 

Have a wonderful week!

December 2-6

Hi Families,
Just 22 shopping days left until Christmas!!  Are you ready yet?  I most certainly am not even close! 
It sure was a beautiful, long holiday weekend!  Now it is time to re-focus and get some serious work done before the next holiday! We have a lot of learning planned for the next 3 weeks.

Upcoming reminders:
Thurs., Dec. 19th--End of the 2nd Quarter
                               Class Winter Party-- begins at 3:00
Fri., Dec. 20th- Mon., Jan. 6th-- NO SCHOOL--Winter Break
Tues., Jan. 7th-- School resumes

This week:
Math- Our math focus this week will be on learning division facts. 

Reading-  We will be starting a new novel, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by  Barbara Robinson. This is a very funny story that I think the kids will really enjoy!

Social Studies- The students will be introduced to Economics.  They will learn about needs, wants, goods, services, scarcity and distribution.

Spelling and Vocabulary- There will be a new list in your child's Monday folder tonight.  The list will be words related to Economics.  The final test will be on Dec. 13.

Writing- We are going to begin brainstorming ways we have been "good" this year and will use this list to persuade Santa to put us on his good list and take us off of his naughty list. 

Have a great week!

November 18-22

Hi Families,
Can you believe that next week is Thanksgiving already?  I will not be updating my blog next week so here is all the information for the next two weeks.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! I love what it stands for and all of the yummy food that goes along with it.   I have so much to be thankful for with a wonderful family, students that I adore and a job I enjoy going to everyday! I hope that you have some time in the next couple of weeks to just sit back and enjoy all of your own blessings!

Upcoming Reminders:
Mon. Nov. 18(TONIGHT)-  PTO Skate Party from 6-8
Nov. 27-29- No school--Thanksgiving Holiday
Dec. 19-  Last Day of the 2nd Quarter
                Winter Party- 3:00
Dec. 20-Jan. 6 No School-- Winter Break

Reading-
We will continue to read How to be a Perfect Person in Just 3 Days as a whole class and will finish it before Thanksgiving.  The students are really enjoying the story.  Ask them what they are learning about being a perfect person?

Writing-
We will be doing some fun Thanksgiving writing this week.  We will write about what we are thankful for, as well as, write creative stories about turkeys in trouble.

Math-
We have finished learning about multiplication.  The students should know all of their basic facts now and we will continue to practice them regularly.  This week the students will begin Topic 7, the meaning of division.

Spelling and Vocabulary-
Our Force, Motion and Magnet test will be this Friday. Make sure you child is studying daily.

Science-
Our study this week will switch to magnets.  We will learn about what attracts and repels magnets and how magnets work.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

November 11-15

Hi Families,

Happy Veterans Day! I hope you all had a great weekend! I hear the cold front is coming in quickly! Please make sure your child brings a coat and warm clothing for recess!  (I told them today that they will not be allowed to go outside to play if they were wearing shorts and/or if they do not have a coat with them).

 

Upcoming Reminders:

Tues., Nov. 12-  Picture Retake Day
Mon., Nov. 18- Skate Party at Skate City from 6-8
Nov. 27-29-  Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend

Thanksgiving lunch-
Parents are invited to join students for a wonderful Thanksgiving lunch prepared by our amazing kitchen staff on Wednesday, November 20^th. To ensure we have enough food for all attending, parents are asked to RSVP their reservations by calling the office no later than Monday, November 18^th at 667-1800.
Pen Pals to Taiwan-
Students began writing their pen pal letters today to students in Taiwan.  They will be bringing them home for a parent to edit.  I would really appreciate your help in checking for spelling, conventions, and sentence clarity.  They should have 3 paragraphs written.  Here is an outline of what should be included in the letter:
      1st-  all about me and who I am
      2nd-  all about my family
      3rd- interests, sports, hobbies, or activities I like
PLEASE MAKE SURE TO SEND A PICTURE FOR YOUR CHILD TO INCLUDE WITH HIS LETTER.

Reading- 
We will begin a whole class novel this week, Be a Perfect Person in Just 3 Days. Not only will the students practice a variety of reading strategies while reading this novel, but they will also look a little closer at "How to..." texts. 

Math-
Our study on multiplication will end this week with a final test on Friday.  The students have now learned all of their basic multiplication facts and should continue to study them at home for practice. 

Science-
This week the students will have the opportunity to learn about the forces and motions of airplanes (paper) and roller coasters.  Students will work in groups to build a roller coaster model.

Vocabulary and Spelling-
There will be a new list coming home today in your child's Monday folder.  This list is about magnetism. 

Reading Logs- 
The students have been doing a really nice job completing their logs weekly and turning them in on time.  We have just 2 more weeks left of this reading program.  Keep reading!!

Have a super week!

November 4-8

Hi Families,

I hope you all enjoyed your Halloween and are doing your best to control your sugar/candy laden children!!  :)  I would like to thank all of the parents that helped plan the party, donated items or goodies for the party, or that were here at the party helping.  The boys and girls had  such a great time, and I appreciate your help in making it a fun day for everyone.

Video-Taping @ MVHS- On Thursday, our class will be walking to Mill Valley High School.  The video production class will be recording the script that our class created.  We will be gone from PRE from about 11:00-1:00.  Because we will more than likely arrive to school after our lunch hour, the students should bring a sack lunch with them.  We will be eating lunch together in the classroom that day. 
Also, for the filming process, students are not allowed to wear the color green---NO GREEN!!  The backdrop is green, therefore anybody who wears green will appear invisible.

Food Drive begins today:
Monday- Pasta
Tuesday-PB&J
Wednesday-Breakfast items
Thursday- Canned fruits and vegetables
Friday- Cake Mix

Edmodo Update- So far we have 19 students that have signed up.   If you have not yet signed up, please try to do so.  Over the weekend, I posted a question in a "poll" format for the students to answer. www.edmodo.com 

Science-  We will be reading about forces and interactions this week, as well as, experimenting with gravity, force and motion. 

Spelling and Vocabulary-  Our test will be this Friday, so continue to have your child practicing the word list.  Here is the link to practice the spelling words at Spellingcity.com:
http://www.spellingcity.com/view-spelling-list.html?listId=14994847
Kids can also practice the meanings of the words here:
http://www.classtools.net/mob/quiz_21/Forces_and_Interactions_Test_Nov_8_ZVcnx.htm

ELA-
Reading- We will begin reading a class novel together later this week.  It's a really fun novel titled How to be a Perfect Person in Just 3 Days.  This will be a nice introduction for the students as they practice reading strategies through novel reading.
Reading logs are due tomorrow if you did not send them today. Please continue to have your child read regularly each night. The goal is 100 minutes a week.
Grammar- We will learn about nouns and verbs this week.

Math-  We will learn the last of our multiplication facts this week usings 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 as factors.

Have a stupendous week!

October 28-November1

Hi Families,

Happy Halloween!!  As you know we will be having our class party on Thursday!  Students can bring their costumes to school on Thursday and we will give them time to change before the parade.  The parade begins at 2:45 and the party will take place in the classroom immediately afterwards.  I hope you can stop by and see your little monsters!

Red Ribbon Week-
This week is Red Ribbon Week!  Students will learn about staying Drug Free.  There will be a spirit day each day of this week.  Here is the schedule for you:
Monday (today)--Wear Red
Tuesday-- Pajama Day
Wednesday-- Wear sweats or active wear
Thursday-- Crazy Sock Day
Friday-- Hat Day

Technology-- I am beginning to introduce the class to a few new fun ways to use technology.  We have been creating stories using the site Storybird.  This week I am going to introduce them to EdModo.  This is an interactive page where I can pose questions for the students and they can each write a response.  I will need each of them to set up an account.  I have a class ID number that will allow them to access our class' page. 

Math--  Students are having so much fun learning mulitplication facts!!  We will take our Topic 5 test on Thursday.

Spelling and Vocabulary-- There will be a new list in your child's Monday folder.  Our topic is Forces and Interactions.

Science and Reading-- As we learn the vocabulary for Forces and Interactions, we will also be reading and experimenting to learn more about these topics. 
Reading logs are due tomorrow!  Please continue to have your child reading regularly.  The goal is 100 minutes a week.

Writing-- Our class will be walking to MVHS next Thursday.  We will be writing a skit this week that will be video-taped by Cindy Schwartz's film class.  This is such a fun project for the kiddos and they learn a lot about video production.

October 22-25

Hi Families,

Today is the first day of the 2nd quarter.  Report cards this year will be 'paperless', which means we will NOT be sending a copy home for you.  You will be able to log-on to your child's Skyward account and view his or her report card from there.  The report cards will be officially posted on Friday, October 25. 

Field Trip Tomorrow!!!  Sorry for the late notice.  We will be completing our study on Communities this week and will be taking the class on a walk.  As we walk the community they will make observations about why our community is a place in which many people choose to live?  We will make a pit stop at McDonalds for an afternoon treat!  So please send only a couple of dollars with them.  They will still be eating lunch at school.  We will begin our walk immediately after lunch. 

The class Halloween Parade/Party will be on Thursday, October 31st.  The parade will begin at 2:45, and the party will begin at 3:00.

I will be introducing the class to Genius Hour this week.  This will allow the students to embark on a project or topic in which they want to learn about.  Here is a blog that you can read that will help explain it a little better. 
http://www.geniushour.com/what-is-genius-hour/
I will be sending home a 3 question survey for students to complete.  I would like for them to really think deeply about things they want to learn about.  I would LOVE for you to help them out with gathering their ideas.

Reading- We will continue to read about different communities around the world.  Students will practice comparing and contrasting the texts that they read. 

Spelling- There will be no spelling this week.

Writing-  As students finish publishing their 'Descriptions', they will begin to write a creative story online using the website Storybird.

Social Studies- We will complete our study about Communities: Then and Now this week.  The students will work in collaborative groups to create 3-dimensional maps showing how Shawnee has changed over time.

Math- The students will begin learning their multiplication facts this week.  We will learn how to multiply by 2, 5, 9, 1, and 0. 

Have a wonderful week!!

October 14-18

Hi Families,

Can you believe that this week marks the end of the 1st quarter already?  The students have already grown and learned so much. 

Remember there is no school this Friday or next Monday for students.  These days are for teachers to have professional development time.

Upcoming Reminders:
Wednesday, Oct. 16--Soccer Reader's Club- field trip
Thursday, Oct. 17-- Picture Day AND last day of the 1st quarter
Fri., Oct. 18 and Mon. Oct. 21-- No School for students
Thurs., Oct. 31-- Halloween Parade (2:45) and Party (3:00)

This week:
Reading-
Students will practice making connections to a variety of texts as we read about different types of communities.

Writing-
The students have worked on drafting, revising and editing a descriptive essay.  This week they will put the finishing touches on their writing as they publish their work.

Spelling-
The final test on spelling and vocabulary for Communities list #2 will be this Friday.

Math- 
We started learning about multiplication last week and are moving quickly through this topic.  Students are learning the meaning of multiplication.  We will test on topic 4 this Thursday.

Social Studies-
Students will be reading about communities and cities around the state of Kansas and comparing them to Shawnee.

Have a wonderful week!

October 7-11

Hi Families,

Today in your child's Monday folder you will find a few extra things.  The school is beginning the first Reading Program for the year, therefore, you will find a reading log in it.  The students are to keep track of how many minutes they read every night and fill out the log with their total.  I will collect them on Monday OR Tuesday the following week.  You will recieve a new reading log every Monday during the reading program.  If for some reason, you misplace it, you can simply write the minutes down on a piece of paper and send it back to school with your signature.

You will also be recieving an October book order form.  I left the order date open for a few weeks.  If you would like books for Halloween, I would order them sooner rather than later. Scholastic is pretty quick about getting books back to the school in about a week from ordering. 

Reminders:
Tues., Oct. 8-- McRidge Night @ McDonalds- This is a PTO fundraiser. I will be working the 5:30-6:00 shift. I hope to see many of my students having dinner while I am there.
Oct. 7-11- Anti-Bullying Week--Tomorrow is Crazy Sock Day!
Thurs., Oct. 17- Picture Day
                           End of the 1st Qtr.
Fri., Oct 18 and Mon. Oct. 21-- NO SCHOOL for students
Thurs., Oct. 31-- Halloween Parade (2:45) and Party (3:00-3:45)

Here are the plans for this week:
Reading- We will continue to read about a variety of different communities, while practicing our reading strategies. 

Writing-  The students will continue to write a descriptive essay about a special object.

Spelling-  There is a new spelling/voabulary list coming home in Monday folders today.  This is the 2nd list related to communities.  The final test will be on Oct. 17th. 

Math- We will finish our topic about adding and subtracting 3 digit numbers on Thursday with a final test.  We will be moving into multiplication facts next.

Social Studies-  Students will learn about the history of Shawnee.  They will learn how it was settled and how it grew.  We will also compare Shawnee to a variety of cities and towns around the state of Kansas.  Students will learn about the pioneer life of the early settlers.

Have a super week!!

Sept. 30- Oct. 4

Hi Families,

It was so great to meet with all of you last week at Parent Conferences.  I always look forward to meeting with my students' parents because it helps me get to know them a little better.  I appreciate that you took the time to come conference with me.

Upcoming Reminders:
Tues., Oct. 8-- McRidge Night @ McDonalds-  This is a PTO fundraiser.  I will be working the 5:30-6:00 shift.  I hope to see many of my students having dinner while I am there.
Oct. 7-11-  Anti-Bullying Week
Thurs., Oct. 17-  Picture Day
                           End of the 1st Qtr.
Fri., Oct 18 and Mon. Oct. 21-- NO SCHOOL for students
Thurs., Oct. 31-- Halloween Parade and Party

Since the students had a nice long weeekend, they should be rested and ready to get back to work.  Here are our plans for this week:

Reading-  We will be learning about the history of our community.  We will read several texts that will allow students to compare and contrast our community NOW with our community LONG AGO. 

Spelling-  The spelling and vocubulary test will be this Friday.  The list contains words related to "community".

Math-  Students will add 3 or more numbers, draw a picture to solve problems, and learn to subtract using models, and breaking apart methods. 

Writing-  The class will begin a new writing assignment this week.  It will be a descriptive writing assignment.

Social Studies-  As we move into our study on communities, we will review the 3 main types--rural, urban, and suburban-- as well as, identify physical and human characteristics related to each type.

Have a wonderful week!!

September 23-26

Hi Families,

I hope you have had a chance to sign up for Parent Conferenes.  They are this Wednesday evening and all day on Thursday.  If you have not signed up, you still have time.  Simply go to the Prairie Ridge website.  There is a link on the homepage that you can click on to get signed up.  I am really looking forward to meeting with all of you later this week.  I have always found that once I get the opportunity to sit down and talk with my students' parents, I have a much better understanding of each of them.

Reminders:
Sept. 23-26-- Book Fair week-- Our class will visit the book fair later this week.  If you would like to send them with money to buy books, send it with them on Wednesday.  You can also visit the book fair while you are here for Parent Conferences.
Sept. 25-26-- Parent Conferences
Sept. 26-27-- No school for students
Oct. 8-- McRidge Night-- This is a PTO fundraiser.  They will donate a % of PRE sales from that night to our school.
Oct. 18-- End of the 1st quarter
Oct. 19 and 21--No school for students

This week will be a week of finishing some things up and preparing for confernces.

Reading:
We will finish our first book for our small reading groups this week.  We also have a few more "weather" related stories and informational texts to read about.  We will practice finding important details in the text.

Spelling:
I will distribute the new spelling/vocabulary list today.  The list will reflect our next topic, Communities.  The final test will be on Oct. 4. 

Writing:
Students will work on a cover for their Harris Burdick stories.

Science:
We will complete our study on weather this week.  The students will present a weather forecast to the class and create a safety plan to go with it.

Math:
Students will begin Topic 3 today.  They will learn about adding and subtracting larger numbers.

Have a great week!!

September 16-20

Hi Families,

Parent Teacher conferences are very quickly approaching.  Have you signed up yet for a conference?  If you haven't, there is still plenty of time.  Conferences are next week.  If you need to schedule one, you can visit the Prairie Ridge website, or click on this link: http://www.usd232.org/education/components/form/default.php?sectiondetailid=33036&

Reminders:
Sept. 25- 26-- Parent Teacher Conferences
Sept. 27-- No School
Oct. 8-- McRidge Night at McDonald's-- I will be working the 5-5:30 shift.  I hope to see you there
Oct. 17-- End of the 1st Quarter
Oct. 18 and 21-- No School for Students

Here are our plans for this week:
Reading-
We will continue to read about natural hazards while finding main ideas with supporting details; and to find important facts within a text.  Students will also meet in small reading groups to develop comprehension skills. 

Writing-
The students should be writing a final draft of their Harris Burdick stories.  The publishing stage is the last stage in the writing process.

Spelling/ Vocabulary- 
We will have our test on Friday this week.  Students will be given the list in a standard spelling test format and then be asked to use several of the words in a story or in sentences to test how well they understand the meaning of each word.

Math- 
We will complete Topic 2 this Friday with a final test.  We will reveiw the mental math and rounding concepts each day and will also practice these skills while problem solving.

Science- 
Students have been researching information about a natural weather disaster.  The groups are going to create a weather forecast and a safety plan related to the weather in which they are studying.

Have a great week!

September 9-13

Hi Families,

I hope you were all able to stay as cool and hydrated as possible this weekend.  I am personally looking forward to some cooler temperatures in a few days. With the next few days still being hot, please make sure your child has a water bottle with them at school.

Third graders will be taking their first round of MAP tests beginning tomorrow.  We will test from 9:00-10:30, so please try to arrange appointments around this time frame.  MAP stands for Measures of Academic Progress.  These tests are used by the school district as a tool to help monitor students' progress.  I will share your child's results with you at Parent Teacher Conferences.

Your child should have brought home aPTO Lap-a-thon envelope on Friday.  Since we’ve made the switch to being a  PTO, everyone is now a member! There are no dues like there have been in the past. I am so grateful for the support of the parents and PTO at PRE. Thank you for helping support our students, teachers and staff here!Lap-a-thon is this Friday from 10:20-10:50.

Reminders:
Sept. 10-12-- MAP Testing
Fri. Sept. 13-- Lap-A-Thon
Sept. 25-26-- Parent-Teacher Conferences-  Please sign-up on the PRE website

Here is a look at the rest of what we have going on this week:

ELA-- Students will be working on finding the main idea and details within a text.  I will also be meeting with small reading groups while the others will be working independently at their seats on writing, spelling, vocabulary and reading practice.  Students will read a variety of texts that go along with our weather unit.  This week we will be learning more about the types of weather.

Spelling--  Students will be recieving their next list today- types of weather.  Look for the list in your child's Monday folder.  We will spend the next two weeks learning how to spell the words, as well as, learning the meaning of them.  The final test will be on Friday, Sept. 20.

Writing--  Students will continue drafting their Harris Burdick adventures and will practice editing and revising their work once they are completely written.

Science-- The students will be working with groups to research information about a specific hazardous weather.  Today they chose which weather they felt made the largest impact on society. Then groups were formed based on which weather they each chose. 

Math-- Students will be learning about using mental math to solve problems.  This is pretty tricky for them so any reinforcement you can provide at home would be very valuable.  The students will also practice rounding numbers to the nearest hundred.

Have a super week!

Sept. 3-6

Hi Families,

I hope you all enjoyed your long weekend and had a chance to spend some time with your families.  We are officially off and running in 3rd grade.  The boys and girls should be bringing home their agendas EVERY night and they should be having you sign it every day to confirm you have checked their homework.

REMINDERS:
Sept. 4 & 5-- Make Solar Cookers and Solar Cookout
Sept. 10-12-- MAP Testing
Fri. Sept. 13-- Lap-A-Thon
Sept. 25-26-- Parent-Teacher Conferences

Here is what we will be working on this week:

Reading- Our weather unit will be integrated into our reading time.  This week we will start to read about severe types of weather.  Students will also continue to practice Daily 5 routines.  I will begin to work with small groups during reading time.

Writing- The students are beginning a fun writing assignment.  I read them a story called, "The Mysteries of Harris Burdick".  After viewing the 14 photos in the book the students will choose one to creaet a story about.  We will be prewriting and drafting our stories this week.  Students will learn about plot and how each story should have a beginning, middle and end.

Spelling- Our first spelling/vocabulary test will be this Friday.  Students will be given a standard spelling test over these words, and will then be asked to use 5 of them in a sentence.

Math-  We will be completing Topic 1 this week with a test on Thursday.  There will be a review sent home for them to complete tomorrow night. 
Also, today in your child's Monday folder I sent home some directions for getting to the "online textbook" . This can help you if you ever need to help your child with a math assignment.

Science-  Students will be making a solar cooker using a pizza box on Wednesday.  Thursday morning we will assemble chips with cheese inside of the cookers, and some cinnamon apples inside large cookers for the class.  We will place them outside in the sunlight for the entire day to let them cook.  We will check on their progress periodically throughout the day and will enjoy our cooked nachos and apples as a late afternoon snack.  If you have anything to send in for this project please send it in tomorrow or Thursday.

That's all for now!
Have a super week!

August 26-30

Hi Families,

Welcome to my third grade blog!!  I will update my blog weekly and send out the link to you on Mondays.  In this blog, I will let you know what things we have planned for the week, which include lessons, projects, assignments, and field trips.  I will also highlight dates for upcoming events. 

Upcoming Reminders:
Tues., Aug. 27-- 3rd Grade Parent Information Night 7:30-8:00
Mon., Sept. 2-- Labor Day-- NO SCHOOL
Sept. 10-12-- MAP Testing
Fri. Sept. 13-- Lap-A-Thon
Sept. 25-26-- Parent-Teacher Conferences

Here is a peek at what we will be learning about in class this week:
Math: We began Topic 1 last week which is all about place value.  This week our lessons will be about:

• great numbers
• understanding number lines and finding patterns to help them count on a number line
• comparing 3 and 4 digit numbers
• ordering 3 and 4 digit numbers

Reading:  Students will be reviewing Daily 5 activities this week and practicing the correct way to work quietly at their seats.  We will also be reading several informational texts about solar energy and the sun.  By the end of the week, I hope to meet with small reading groups at least once to go over reading group rules and expectations.

Spelling:  Students will all be given the same spelling list.  The list will come home today in your child's Monday folder.  This list combines spelling practice along with vocabulary.  The students will have 2 weeks to practice this list because they will be tested on both spelling and vocabulary.  The first test will be on Friday, Sept. 6.  The first list will contain vocabulary words related to weather tools and instruments.

Science:  We are beginning the year with a solar energy unit and will be shifting to weather next week.  The students are learning about the sun and how we can use the energy from it in our everday lives.  The entire 3rd grade will be assembling solar cookers next Wednesday.  Then, on Thursday we will have a solar cookout.  Look for more information about this today in your child's Monday folder.

Writing: This week the students will practice using their Learning Log to respond to different lessons throughout the week.  The Learning Log will be used as a tool for students write about or reflect upon things they have learned about in class.

Have a wonderful week!!

May 13-17

Hi Families,

We have just 9 more days of school!  This will be my last official blog entry for the year, but I will keep you updated with important information via email through these last two weeks.

The students did such a FANTASTIC job on their Science Fair Projects!  Hopefully, you were able to see their final project when they brought it home on Friday.

Here are a list of important "end-of-the-year" dates:
Tues., May 21--Assessment Reward Party at the Park (bring a sack lunch)
Thurs., May 23-- Field Day/ Last Day of School (this will be a FULL day of school) (bring a sack lunch)

This Week:
Reading-  We will be ending the year with a fun Cinderella unit.  The students will read and compare a variety of "Cinderella" books written from different cultures. 
We will also meet for the last time in our reading groups to discuss the ending of the chapter books in which we have been reading.

Writing-  We will complete our poetry unit by making a typed Poetry Book. 

Math-  The students will finish learning about Area this week with a final test on Friday.  Students will also continue to practice their addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts.  They need to be able to complete 100 problems of each kind in 5 minutes. 

Science-  We will spend this week discussing ecosystems.

Have a wonderful week!  Enjoy the warm temperatures and the sunshine!

May 6-10

Hi Families,

The weather this spring has been crazy!!  But I've gotta tell you, this California girl LOVES that you never know what to expect from one day to the next!  We are HOPEFUL that the spring weather will be holding out for the remainder of the school year now. 

The forecast for today and tomorrow are pretty nice!  So we will go ahead and have our Nature Scavenger Hunt tomorrow!!!  Make sure your child wears shoes appropriate for lots of walking and that they bring a sack lunch with them.  We are also planning on doing a little neighborhood clean-up in the morning.

Friday is the Science Fair!  The students completed their experiments and have turned in everything they need.  We will be working on the display boards in class this week.  I will provide any construction paper that they would like to use as backing for all of their typed work.  We are collecing $2 from everyone to pay for the display board. 
You are more than welcome to come by the Science Fair for a viewing of all the fabulous experiments that the 3rd graders completed.  It will be held in the cafeteria from 2:15-3:00.

Here are some final dates for the remainder of the year:
Tues., May 7-- Nature Scavenger Hunt (wear tennis shoes and bring a sack lunch)
Fri., May 10-- Science Fair (2:15-3:00)
Fri., May 10--PTA Auction/ Talent Show/ Raffle-- 6-9pm
Tues., May 21--Assessment Reward Party at the Park
Thurs., May 23-- Field Day/ Last Day of School (this will be a FULL day of school)

Here are our plans for this week:
Reading-- We will be completing our novels this week.  Students will use the computers to create a final book project.

Writing-- We will continue to write, type, and illustrate a variety of poems.

Spelling-- There will be NO more spelling for the year!

Math-- We will continue to learn about and practice how to find the area of a shape or space.

Science-- We will complete Science Fair projects in class during the week and will be ready for the Science Fair on Friday.

Have a wonderful week!!

April 22-26

Hi Families,

We are down to our last month of school! We still have plenty of learning to do and will continue working hard right up to the end!

The students began MAP testing this morning.  MAP assessments are a tool that is used by the district to show the growth that the students make.  We will be testing on Tuesday and Thursday mornings this week, as well. 

Our Ernie Miller field trip is this Wednesday--rain or shine!  Make sure your child brings a sack lunch to school on Wednesday.
We have not yet decided when our walking Nature Scavenger Hunt will be yet.  We will be watching the weather to determine a nice afternoon for a stroll to the park!

Science Week is next week!  Please check the sign up in the email I sent earlier if you are able to volunteer some of your time. 

Here is a look at some dates for the remainder of the school year:
April 22, 23, 25-- Spring MAP Assessments
Arpil 24-- Ernie Miller Field Trip
April 29-May 3-- Science Week
May 10-- Science Fair
May 10 - PTA Talent Show and Basket RaffleMay 21-- Assessment Reward- walk to the park
May 23-- Field Day and LAST Day of School

Here are the plans for this week:
Reading- Students will continue to work in small groups as they read through a novel together. 

Spelling-  The pattern this week is the "f" sound created by different digraphs-- "ff", "gh", and "ph".
The final test will be on Friday.

Writing- The students will continue writing a variety of poems. 

Math- We will begin Topic 13 this week.  The students will be learning how to find the perimeter of different shapes.

Science-  We will continue to learn about Matter.  Also, the next portion of the Science Fair project is due on Wednesday.  Students need to create a "Hypothesis or  Educated Guess" about how they think their experiment will turn out.

Have a wonderful week!

April 15-19

Hi Families,

The end of the year is quickly approaching and we still have a few more important learning opportunities available.  The 3rd graders will be holding a Science Fair on May 10.  In your child's Monday folder you will find a packet of information about the project in which your child will be completing.  Please read through the packet, and make note of the due dates for each specific section of the project.  I will need you to return only the front page of the packet with your signature.  Thanks in advance for all of your help!

Here is a peek at what's coming up:
April 16- PRE Skate Party
April 19--Earth Day Scavenger Hunt
    Spirit Day- Color War Day-- 3rd graders should wear YELLOW!!
April 22, 23, 25-- Spring MAP Assessments
Arpil 24-- Ernie Miller Field Trip
April 29-May 3-- Science Week
May 10-- Science Fair
May 21-- Assessment Reward- walk to the park
May 23-- Field Day and LAST Day of School

We have another busy week:
Reading- We will be reading and practicing skills with Theme 15 about Precious Resources.  The students will continue to read through a novel in their small reading groups. 

Writing-  As we complete our Fairy Tale stories, we will begin working on poetry.  The students will have a lot of fun writing a variety of poems.

Spelling-  The spelling pattern this week are the suffixes -ion, -tion, -ment, and -ness.  The final test will be Friday morning.

Math-  We will finish our unit on fractions this week with a final test on Friday morning. 

Science-  We are completing our unit on recycling and taking care of the earth by doing a Nature Scavenger Hunt this Friday.  Students need to bring a sack lunch to school on Friday.  (No volunteers will be needed for this field trip).

We will also begin learning about Matter in science this week. 

April 8-12

Hi Families,

April Showers, bring May flowers....I love a good late night thunderstorm in the spring, don't you?! 

We have officially completed our state assessments and the kiddos did fantastic!!  I will be letting them know how they did on the math portion today, and will send home the same information to you in Monday folders. 

Here is a peek at what's coming up:
April 19--Earth Day Scavenger Hunt
                Spirit Day- Color War Day-- 3rd graders need to wear YELLOW!
April 22, 23, 25-- Spring MAP Assessments
Arpil 24-- Ernie Miller Field Trip
April 29-May 3-- Science Week
May 10-- Science Fair
May 21-- Assessment Reward- walk to the park
May 23-- Field Day and LAST Day of School

Things will be returning to "fairly" normal this week with our regular learning and routines:
Reading-  We will be reading stories from Theme 16 which correlates with our science unit, recycling and natural resources.  They will also be working in reading groups.  The students have all transitioned into chapter books for their small reading group time. 

Spelling- The spelling lists this week will contain words that require consonant doubling.  The test will be on Friday.

Writing- Students will be doing some creative writing this week.  We will be reading several childrens stories aloud, such as The Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood.  They will be learning about Point of View as they re-write one of these stories from a different characters' perspective. 

Math- We will be learning more about fractions this week.  This week's focus is learning how to compare fractions using several different strategies.

Science- We will continue to learn about recycling and natural resources.

Have a super week!

Hi Families,
I hope you all enjoyed your Easter yesterday with a wonderful spring day and family time!!  We really enjoyed getting OUTSIDE this weekend and soaked up as much sunshine as we could!

Tomorrow begins our MATH STATE ASSESSMENTS!!
The 3rd graders will be taking their state math tests on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings this week. Here are a few things that you can do to help your child prepare for them and to help them do their best:
1. Make sure your child goes to bed at a reasonable hour ensuring that they get a good night's sleep.
2. Make sure your child eats a healthy breakfast. Some suggestions are eggs and toast, yogurt and fruit, or oatmeal. They will be testing first thing in the morning, so eating breakfast is crucial for optimal performance.
3. Avoid having morning appointments for your child for these 3 mornings. Although, your child can always make-up the test, they are often less stressed when they can take it with the rest of the class.

Thanks for your help, I know they will do GREAT!!
Here are some important dates for you to know for the remainder of the year:
March 29– College/Professional SportsApril 2-4-- Math State Assessments
April 19--Earth Day Scavenger Hunt
April 22, 23, 25-- Spring MAP Assessments
Arpil 24-- Ernie Miller Field Trip
April 29-May 3-- Science Week
May 10-- Science Fair
May 21-- Assessment Reward- walk to the park
May 23-- Field Day and LAST Day of School

This week:
Reading and Science-
We will be reading about and learning about recycling this week.  We have an entire reading theme based on this topic as well as, a science unit to go along with it.

Spelling-- No spelling this week, due to State Assessments.  We want the boys and girls to focus on doing their best on them. 

Math-- We will not have math this week either, because of state assessments.

Have a great week!

March 25-29

Hi Families,
I hope you were all able to enjoy some family time during Spring Break!  I have to admit, I love snow, but like most people, I am ready for winter to be over.  Hopefully this weekend's storm was the last blast for the season. 

Now that we have returned, we are back in full swing.  MATH STATE ASSESSMENTS are next week!  We will be doing a lot of final preparation and review this week.  Your child should be bringing home a Math Playbook that he or she should be studying EVERY night.

Here are some important dates for you to know for the remainder of the year:
March 26-- Mother/ Son Skate Night
March 28--Spring Pictures
March 29– College/Professional SportsApril 2-4-- Math State Assessments
April 19--Earth Day Scavenger Hunt
April 22, 23, 25-- Spring MAP Assessments
Arpil 24-- Ernie Miller Field Trip
April 29-May 3-- Science Week
May 10-- Science Fair
May 21-- Assessment Reward- walk to the park
May 23-- Field Day and LAST Day of School

Here is a look at this week:
Reading-  This week in reading we will begin reading about inventors.

Math-  The students will be reviewing important assessment topics this week.  Each teacher will specialize in one topic and all of the classess will rotate from room to room for a review.   There will be a review homework assignment each night.

Spelling-  No spelling this week!  Have students study their Math Playbook instead.

Social Studies- The students will continue to learn about economics this week.  They will be hosting a lemonade stand on Friday for all of the 1st and 2nd graders.  The students will be selling lemonade and fruit snacks for $.50 each.  The money they earn will be donated to Alex's Lemonade Stand whic is an organization that helping to fight childhood cancer.

Have a great week!!

March 11-14

Hi Families,

The class was so focused last week and they all performed their very best on the test.  We have received the preliminary scores of the Kansas State Reading Assessments. Today, I will inform your child of the performance category in which he or she scored on the assessment. They will also be bringing home a paper showing that information to you as well.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Upcoming Dates:
March 14-- Last day of the 3rd quarter
March 15-24-- No School-- SPRING BREAK
March 26-- Mother/Son Skate Party
April 2-4-- Math State Assessments

A look at this week

Reading and Social Studies:
We will be reading about Economics in a cross-curricular unit this week.  The class will learn about some key economic ideas such as, goods, services, budgets, wants and needs. 

Spelling:
The spelling list this week will also be related to Economics.  The focus will be on vocabulary words related to this topic.  The final test will be on Thursday.

Math: 
We will complete Topic 9, about fractions, with a final test on Wednesday.  We will also be tying all of our economic study into a fun final assignment involving fractions with pizza. If your child would like to by pizza on Thursday, I will be collecting  $2 for each slice each one of them would like.  Students will be limited to only 2 slices, since this will be considered and afternoon snack, rather than lunch.

Science:
We are completing our study on Force and Motion this week.  The students will be working in groups to create and build roller coasters.  They will test them out with marbles. 

Writing:
Published books are due Wednesday!!  Students have beeen working very hard to complete them and several have already finished.  We will be mailing their completed work to the publishing company by the end of this week.  If you have NOT signed your parent form that will allow your child to receive a free book, PLEASE SEND IT IN BY WEDNESDAY!

Enjoy your Spring Break!  Hopefully, we will have some warming temperatures for it!

March 4-8

Hi Families,

Well, it looks like we may have a FULL week of school this week!!  It seems like a long time ago that the kids have spent 5 days at school in a row! 

The time has finally arrived:  READING STATE ASSESSMENTS!!
The 3rd graders will be taking their state reading tests on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings this week.  Here are a few things that you can do to help your child prepare for them and to help them do their best:
1.  Make sure your child goes to bed at a reasonable hour ensuring that they get a good night's sleep.
2. Make sure your child eats a healthy breakfast.  Some suggestions are eggs and toast, yogurt and fruit, or oatmeal.  They will be testing first thing in the morning, so eating breakfast is crucial for optimal performance.
3.  Avoid having morning appointments for your child for these 3 mornings.  Although, your child can always make-up the test, they are often less stressed when they can take it with the rest of the class.

Thanks for your help, I know they will do GREAT!!

Here is a list of some important upcoming dates:
March 4-- A new reading program is beginning today.  Your child should have a reading log to fill out in their Monday folder.
March 14-- Last day of the 3rd quarter
March 15-24-- No School-- SPRING BREAK
April 2-4-- Math State Assessments

Here is what we will be working on this week in class:
Reading-- State Assessments

Spelling-- No list this week due to assessments

Math-- We began learning about fractions last week and will continue learning about them this week.  Students will learn about fractional parts of a set, locate fractions on a number line, and identify benchmark fractions (the most common ones like 1/2 and 1/4).

Writing-- Students will be creating an autobiography that will be PUBLISHED into a real book.  In your child's Monday folder today, you will recieve a form that will allow you to order books.  You will get ONE FREE, but are able to order more.  I need a parent signature for EVERY child in order for them to recieve the free book.

Science-- We will complete our study about Force, Motion and Sound this week.

Have a super week!

February 19-22

Hi Families,
Thank you all for taking the time to come to Student Led Conferences.  It is always nice to see you and discuss with you how your child is doing at school.  I especially love the spring conference because it gives me a first hand view of your child interacting with you.  I appreciate you taking the time to visit with me!!

Here is a list of upcoming dates:
Feb. 22- Bling Day
Feb. 23- Father/Daughter Dance
March 5-7 Reading State Assessments
March 15-24- Spring Break
April 2-4- Math State Assessments

Here is what's happening in class this week:
Reading- The students will be learning about things Then and Now--how things have changed over time.  We will also be learning about and reading biographies.
PLAYBOOK-- your child will be bringing home a playbook to study.  This should STAY in his or her folder so that he or she can be bringing it back and forth from school to home.  The playbook is a large study guide that will help prepare the students for State Assessments.  Please study it with them whenever you have free time.

Writing-The students are getting ready to publish their own book.  They will be writing autobiographies.  We will begin prewriting for this assignment.

Spelling- We will have our 2nd list of suffix words.  The focus is on the suffixes, -ing (which means 'now'), -ly (which means 'in a ___ way'), and -y (which means 'full of').  The final test will be on Friday.

Math- We will complete topic 11 on Thursday with the final test. Your child learned MANY new words and will need to be able to identify different shapes and geometric symbols. 
Our next unit will be on fractions.

Science- We will be studying Force and Motion this week.

Have a great week and try to stay warm!

February 4-8

Hi Families,

The week has finally arrived for our International Festival.  If you have any last minute questions please don't hesitate to ask.  Students will change into their clothes after lunch.  Therefore they do not need to come to school dressed up.  Here is the schedule for that day, as well as, important dates through Spring Break.

Thursday, Feb. 7th--International Festival
Taste Fest and music program
Students will need to bring a food to school that day (60-90 bite-size samples) that represents their country, as well as, wear clothing that would be worn in that country. If you are able to attend or help out please join us that afternoon.
    Taste Fest will begin at 1:30
    Music program will begin at 3:00
The evening concert will begin at 7:00.  Students need to arrive at 6:45.

Feb. 12th-- Valentine's Day Party-- This will be our third, and final party, of the year. Students will exchange valentines and have some treats. We will make a Valentine holder in class, so it is NOT required for your child to bring a decorated box into class from home. (If they want to that is fine with me.) http://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084AA8AD238-february

Feb. 12th-- Field Trip to the Symphony (no parent volunteers will be necessary for this trip)
Students will need to bring a SACK LUNCH to school this day since we will be gone from 10:30-1:00.

Feb. 13th and 14th-- Student Led Confences- please make sure to visit the school website so that you can sign up for a time that fits your schedule. They will be given on a first come, first serve basis. Keep in mind as you are plannng this, that your child will need to attend this confence with you.

Feb. 15-18--President's Weekend--No School

March (beginning of the month)--DAD'S DOOR!!!! I still need one of you amazingly creative fathers to volunteer to decorate our classroom door for the month of March. I already have a couple of helper dad's for you, I just need ONE who will lead the pack!

March 5-7-- Reading State Assessments

March 15-24-- Spring Break!!!

Here is what we will be doing in class this week:


Reading-- In reading we will be identifying the Author's Purpose within a text.  The students were given the acronym of PIE to help them remember the three types of author's purposes-- to persuade, to inform, or to entertain.


Spelling-- Students will be learning about suffixes this week.  The final test will be Friday.
   -ed means 'did'.
   -ing means 'now'
   -er means 'more'
   -est means 'most'


Math--  We are back to using the EnVision math program this week.  We are beginning to learn about geometry.  This week the students will be able to identify these geometric figures:  point, line, line segment, intersecting lines, parallel lines, ray, types of angles, vertex, perpendicular lines, different polygons, types of triangles, and quadrilaterals.


Writing-- The students will begin writing a prodecural text that gives directions on how to do something.


Social Studies-- We are completing our International Festival projects by sharing their final posters with the class.





Have a wonderful week!!!

January 28- February 1

Hi Families,

January is just about over and we still have a lot to do this year.  Here are a few important upcoming dates:
Feb. 7th--International Festival- Taste Fest and music program
        Students will need to bring a food to school that day (60-90 bite-size samples) that represents their country, as well as, wear clothing that would be worn in that country.

Feb. 12th-- Valentine's Day Party-- This will be our third, and final party, of the year.  Students will exchange valentines and have some treats. We will make a Valentine holder in class, so it is NOT required for your child to bring a decorated box into class from home.  (If they want to that is fine with me.) 

Feb. 12th-- Field Trip to the Symphony (no parent volunteers will be necessary for this trip)

Feb. 13th and 14th-- Student Led Confences- please make sure to visit the school website so that you can sign up for a time that fits your schedule.  They will be given on a first come, first serve basis.  Keep in mind as you are plannng this, that your child will need to attend this confence with you. 

Feb. 15-18--President's Weekend--No School

March (beginning of the month)--DAD'S DOOR!!!!  I still need one of you amazingly creative fathers to volunteer to decorate our classroom door for the month of March.  I already have a couple of helper dad's for you, I just need ONE who will lead the pack!

March 5-7-- Reading State Assessments

March 15-24-- Spring Break!!!

Here is what we are doing this week:
Reading-

We will complete our novel study this week. The students will also be practicing how to compare and contrast different texts.

Spelling- Prefixes- week #2
This week we will review the prefixes we practiced last week, as well as, add two new prefixes to the list.  The final test will be on Friday.
  pre- = before
  mis- = wrong
  un- = not
  re- = again
  pro- = for, in favor of

Math-  Money and Measures of Central Tendency
We have taken a 2 week detour away from the EnVision program so that we can learn about money, which will appear on State Assessments.  We will also spend some time this week learning how to find the central value from a group of numbers in a variety of ways:
   *mode--  the most often
   *median-- the middle number
   *range-- the difference between the largest number and the smallest number

(Note:  We will also learn about the mean, or average, however, this is not a required standard for 3rd graders to know).

Social Studies and Writing-
International Festival update-- Students are just about finished typing their paragraphs.  Thank you all VERY much for helping to edit your child's work.  We are also completing our posters and finalizing our fact packets.  This week the students will be creating tissue paper flags.

January 14-18

Hi Families,

The weather has been rather wintery lately, which I love!  However, I would like to remind you that if the temperature outside is above 20 degrees, the 3rd graders will be going out to recess.  The students will need to be wearing pants and have a WARM coat on in order for us to allow them outside.  If they come to school only wearing shorts and a sweatshirt, when the temperatures are this low, we will make those students stay inside for recess.

Here is a list of some important upcoming dates
Jan. 14-- Report Cards will be coming home in Monday Folders today.
Jan. 21-- No School-- MLK Jr. Day
Jan. 25--Crazy Hair Day
Jan. 26--Father Daughter Dance
Feb. 7-- 3rd Grade International Festival (afternoon- 1-3:45)

Here is what we have planned for learning this week:
Reading- We will continue to practice synthesizing this week as we read a variety of picture books.  We are also continuing our author study on Patricia Polacco.

Reading Groups--The 3rd graders will be working on a novel study in their reading groups for the next 3 weeks.  The students will be divided into 4 ability groups and will get to practice reading strategies as they read a novel within these groups.  Each 3rd grade teacher will be teaching one group.  So your child may get to experience reading with a different teacher for the next few weeks.

Spelling-  The pattern this week are words that contain these long vowel combinations: ow, oa, ie, igh.  The final test will be on Friday.

Math- We will finish learning about division this week with our Topic 8 test on Friday.  The students should continue to practice multiplication and division facts at home now that they have learned them all.

Social Studies and Writing-  This week our research focus will be to organize all the information that we have gathered into an outline, and to write 2 paragraphs.  The first paragraph will be an introduction (using facts that were researched) and the second paragraph will be a persuasive paragraph (also using facts that were researched).  They will try to convince the reader to visit the country in which they are studying. 
PARENT EDIT-- Students will be bringing home their 2 paragraphs this weekend for parents to edit. This will be on Tuesday Jan. 22.
                
Have a wonderful week!!                

January 7-11

Hi Families,

Welcome to the New Year!! We are halfway through 3rd grade and are gearing up for a fabulous second semester.  Now that we are at the midway point, our focus is going to change a little bit.  Students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade spend this time preparing for State Assessments.   The students will be learning how to be better test takers and should be ready for them in March.

Tomorrow we will have our International Festival parent meeting.  If you are able to attend at 11:15 in the morning, please let me know.

Reading logs for the past 3 weeks are due tomorrow.  A new reading log for this week will be coming home in Monday folders.

Here is what we have planned for this week:
Reading- 
We will be starting Theme 4 this week, How Does Electricity Work?  We will be practicing how to 'syntehesize' information when we read.  This is when new ideas are created after reading a text.  We have several picture books we will be using to practice this skill. 

We will also be doing an author study about Patricia Polacco.  We will read several of her picture books and then compare them with each other. 

Spelling-
The spelling lists this week are made up of words that contain one of these patterns:  ai, ay, ea, or ee.

Math-
Before break the students learned the meaning of division.  We will pick up right where we left off, and learn about fact families and many of our division facts.

Social Studies and Writing- 
International Festival Project-- the students are completing their research and will begin to organize the information in which they gathered.  They will be creating an outline for the paragraphs they will be writing and filling out fact sheets.