The week of August 29th through Sept. 1st, 2016

Assessments:  We are finishing up with our MAP assessments that will set our learning goals for the year.  We have completed the Math test and will take the Reading and Language tests this week.  The kids were amazing at signing on easily and quickly!  Great job listening!

Math:  Starting Multiplication this week!  CCSS: Students will learn how to use multiplication to understand "groups of" and number of groups.  Students will have homework on the days we have a math lesson.  Please see the homework section below.

     Math4Today:  working on rounding numbers to nearest 10 & nearest 100, addition and subtraction problems, gathering information from graph, story problems.  

Reading:  Starting our first class chapter book:  Charlotte's Web!  We will work on vocabulary and comprehension questions as we enjoy our way through our first book!  

Language:  Grammar lesson #1:  A sentence expresses a complete thought and every sentence has two parts- a subject and a predicate.

Word of the Day vocabulary:  impatient, appliance, appropriate, mumble.

DOL:  Daily Oral Language-fixing grammar, spelling and punctuation errors in sentences.

ART:  Piet Mondrian- Composition of red, blue, yellow and black:  Students created their own interpretation of Mondrian's art form. They look awesome!!

Date to Remember:

Tuesday:  Pizza orders due for Wednesday lunch. (The senior class sells pizza every week to raise money for their class trip at the end of the year.  Students can purchase a slice of cheese or pepperoni for $1 each.  We collect the orders and money on Tuesdays and the students receive their pizza at their lunch time on Wednesday.  Students cannot purchase pizza on Wednesday.

NO SCHOOL on Friday, September 2nd and Monday 5th for the Labor Day weekend.  Enjoy four days off together!!

Friday, September 9th:  First swimming lesson at the YMCA!  

Reminder:  Please remind your child to bring a snack each day, especially those eating hot lunch as we eat very late in our day at 12:40 pm.  We stop each day at 10:20 am for a snack to keep ourselves fueled up for learning!  

Share days and taking Shelby home will start on Tuesday, September 6th.

Week of August 22nd through 26th, 2016

This week in 3rd grade:

Getting to know each other activities and games: We will work in teams and in pairs to solve problems and create things using our imagination and teamwork!

Assessments:  I have been doing some math and reading assessments with the kids to determine their starting point and reading levels.  

Math:  Refreshing our skills in addition and subtraction as well as number sense. Homework will start soon.  I will let you know when you should expect to see nightly homework.

Science:  We are working on writing the procedures partners used to save Fred.  Have your child tell you all about Fred the gummy worm and his life preserver!  It was fun to watch them solve the problem and work together.

Art:  This month's artist focus is on Piet Mondrian.  We will work on creating a block pattern piece that resembles his attention to line and color.

Date to Remember:
Tuesday:  Pizza orders due for Wednesday lunch. (The senior class sells pizza every week to raise money for their class trip at the end of the year.  Students can purchase a slice of cheese or pepperoni for $1 each.  We collect the orders and money on Tuesdays and the students receive their pizza at their lunch time on Wednesday.  Students cannot purchase pizza on Wednesday.

Friday, August 26th:  YMCA swim forms due back to school.  This is an exciting opportunity and it's all FREE!!  Students can use their own suit or one at the Y and they can even leave them there between lessons and the Y will launder them and have them ready for the next lesson!  There are also clean towels available at each lesson and they are laundered after each lesson as well!  Lessons are for 30 minutes and will vary depending on the students experience and ability.  Students who are already great swimmers will be challenged to strengthen their swimming and taught other skills that will keep them improving in their swimming skills. 

NO SCHOOL on Friday, September 2nd and Monday 5th for the Labor Day weekend.  Enjoy four days off together!!

First Day of School!! August 16, 2016

I am really excited to get started in school tomorrow!  We will have a lot of fun getting to know each other!

Tomorrow:  Snack is at 10:10 am
                    Lunch is at 12:40 pm

Tomorrow's Special is Music!

If you have any forms to turn in please send them to school with your child.

I will be sending more information home tomorrow with your child.

Happy sleeping tonight!! See you tomorrow!

This week in third grade! May 16th through 19th, 2016

I really can't believe we are looking at the final week of school's schedule!  Time flies when you are having fun and I have had a wonderful year with your children!  I have been amazed by, entertained by, and loved by your children and so proud of your children and I am thankful for all of it!  Here is a look at our busy last week:

Monday, May 23rd:  

• Pen Pal Get Together:  We will be meeting with our second grade pen pals to reveal our real identities and enjoy a snack and a game or two for fun! 

Tuesday, May 24th:  

• Math Carnival:  We will be going over to Mrs. Collins' classroom to enjoy some math games made by her high school math students!  
•  We will enjoy watching the dress rehearsal of the RAD performance!  The actual performance will be at 7:00 PM in the VCS high school gym.

Wednesday, May 24th:  

• Class Pizza Party!  I am treating the kids to a pizza party picnic on Wednesday.  I will provide a juice box, chips and 2 slices of pizza for each student. Students can bring their lunches or get school lunch as well if they want more than that.  
•  3rd through 5th grade Music Talent Show in the gym.  

Thursday, May 26th:  

• Field Day outside from 1:30 PM to 2:40 PM.  Please remember a water bottle, sunscreen and hats for the sunny weather!

Friday, May 27th:  

• Awards assembly in the gym from 11:55 AM to 12:40 PM.
• Early Release at 1:40 PM.  

Share Days:

Monday the 23rd:  Hannah and Laken and Russell

This week in third grade! May 16th through 19th, 2016

CCSS Math:  Reviewing third grade math skills that we have covered so far in third grade-multiplication and types of problems, division, area, perimeter, fractions and graphing. Math4Today  Comparing fractional pieces, plotting whole numbers and fractions on a number line, dividing shapes into fractional units, irregular fractions, multiplication and division and story problems.

Homework:  Paper homework is done for the rest of the year.  I appreciate the support parents have given their children to practice the many skills they have learned this year.  I know it can be hectic to get homework done along with everything else in life but it truly helps the kids retain new learning. 

Nightly reading and recording minutes read on May Calendars.  April Reading calendars are due.  May reading calendar is now due.  It is worth 100 points.  

***Any missing reading calendars should be turned in this week at the latest.  Missing calendars are worth 200 points in the grade book and can lower a student's grade a whole letter grade or more. Fourth Quarter has March, April and half of May reading posted.

Share Days:

Monday, the 16th:  Diego and Jesse
Tuesday the 17th:  Preston and Sebastian
Wednesday the 18th:  Makenzie and Addi

Thursday the 19th:  Sydney and Aiden
Friday the 20th: No School
Monday the 23rd:  Hannah and Laken and Russell

Summer Birthdays:  If your child has a birthday after the last day of school (May 27th), we will take a moment to celebrate them on Wednesday, May 18th.  If your child has a summer birthday you can send in treats on Wednesday for them to share with their classmates.  We will go outside and pass out the treats and sing happy birthday to each student and then have a short recess.  We have 29 students in our class.

Read in Day!: Thursday, May 19th.  Reading is our big focus in third grade and we will enjoy a day of a lot of reading including some guest readers from the school who will come in and read to our class throughout the day!  Students can bring books from home to read if they would like to as well as a pillow and blanket or one stuffed friend to enjoy the relaxing reading day!  Everything should be able to fit in their backpack so they can manage getting to and from school.  

School Carnival!:  Thursday, May 19th from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM the PFA will be putting on an amazing carnival for the school.  Please plan to attend and have a wonderful time!  There will be games, raffles and bigger rides/attractions!  See you there!  

Carnival help needed: The carnival is a fun event put on by our school's PFA.  They have asked each teacher to find volunteers to share some time to help out with the "attractions."  Ours is called the dingle hopper and looks fun!  I have spots for one hour or 30 minutes.  Please let me know if you can help out for 30 minutes or even 60.  Thank you so much!!!! 

Field Day:  May 26th from K-3 1:20 to 2:40 pm. If any parents are interested in helping during any of the field day activities please let me know.  Students do need help with some of the games and activities so more hands are always appreciated!!  Students will need to remember a water bottle and sunscreen for the afternoon activities outside.

Dates to remember:

Tuesday, May 17th: Pizza orders due.  $1 a slice

Wednesday, May 18th:  Summer Birthday celebration

Thursday, May 19th:  Read in day

Thursday, May 19th:  School Carnival from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Thursday, May 26th:  Field Day

Friday, May 27th:  Last day of school 

Final Scholastic Book order due by Tuesday, May 10th.  I  sent home a book order this past Thursday.  There are a lot of great books for summer reading!  Please use the link to right and our class code GWNL2 to order books or send in your order with cash or checks.  Thank you for supporting our classroom library as well!  I have used my points to purchase 38 new books this year!

This week in third grade! May 9th through 13th, 2016

Spelling list #12 was our last spelling list for this year.  Any test retakes will be finished up this week.

Words of the day this week: creative, flexible, include, and insist.

CCSS Math:  Reviewing third grade math skills that we have covered so far in third grade-multiplication and types of problems, division, area, perimeter, fractions and graphing. Math4Today  Comparing fractional pieces, plotting whole numbers and fractions on a number line, dividing shapes into fractional units, irregular fractions, multiplication and division and story problems.

Homework:  Students will have Math paper homework on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week and fitting in IXL on any of those days will be highly beneficial. Thursday and Friday homework is IXL. It is so important for students to work on their homework and bring it with them the next day as we use it as a learning tool and go over it as a class the next day and it does not benefit students who have not attempted the work on their own first.  I appreciate the time you give to helping your child and the rest of the class be prepared for learning the next day!

Nightly reading and recording minutes read on May Calendars.  April Reading calendars are due.  

***Any missing reading calendars should be turned in this week at the latest.  Missing calendars are worth 200 points in the grade book and can lower a student's grade a whole letter grade or more. Fourth Quarter has March, April and half of May reading posted.

** Practicing multiplication facts using flashcards we made in class. (multiples of 1's through 12's) Starting timed tests in class. Very important to practice facts throughout the week.

IXL Information:  All students have received a username and password to log into IXL.  You can log in through this blog or if  search IXL make sure your child includes @visioncharter after their username to ensure that it ties into my class roster.  They have a free option that won't come up in my class roster.  This is homework as far as an invitation to practice as much as you feel is ok.  It is not for a grade but will help them prepare for their end of third grade tests as well as be more prepared for fourth grade.  It is a highly suggested addition to homework but not required. On nights when students don't have paper homework I will suggest that they do IXL that evening.  I will include it in the homework section.  

Third Grade Testing: Monday, May 9th:  Math performance Task Test for ISAT.  This will be the kids last test.  On this one they are asked to write explanations on how to solve a math situation.  Usually in story problem form with multiple steps and more writing (typing).  This test is generally shorter than the others we did this past week.  The kids have worked hard and tried their best and I am very proud of them!  I am anxious to see the results that come out in the summer. 

**Monday students may bring snacks for the test again.

Share Days:

Monday, the 9th:  Timber
Tuesday the 10th:  Gabe
Wednesday the 11th:  Anthony

Thursday the 12th:  Ravyn
Friday the 13th:  Hunter
Monday the 16th:  Diego

Carnival help needed: The carnival is a fun event put on by our school's PFA.  They have asked each teacher to find volunteers to share some time to help out with the "attractions."  Ours is called the dingle hopper and looks fun!  I have spots for one hour or 30 minutes.  Please let me know if you can help out for 30 minutes or even 60.  Thank you so much!!!! 

Field Day:  May 26th from K-3 1:20 to 2:40 pm. If any parents are interested in helping during any of the field day activities please let me know.  Students do need help with some of the games and activities so more hands are always appreciated!!  Students will need to remember a water bottle and sunscreen for the afternoon activities outside.

Dates to remember:

Tuesday, May 10th:   Pizza orders due.  $1 a slice

Friday, May 13th: Jeans Day for $1 and snack shack

Thursday, May 19th:  School Carnival from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Thursday, May 26th:  Field Day

Friday, May 27th:  Last day of school