The week of December 12th through 16th, 2016

Spelling:Spelling Test for list #6 will be on Tuesday morning.  We will not do another list before Christmas break but we will be working with some holiday and seasonal words in class.


Math:
CCSS:  Modeling the relationship between multiplication and division.  


Mountain Math:  We will practice a variety of third grade skills throughout the week in class using mountain math.

Reading and Language:

Grammar:  We will take an assessment over the first 10 rules of grammar we have covered this year so far.  

Vocabulary focus on words:  annual,  commence,  increase,  orbit.

Reading stories and answering comprehension questions in partner groups.  

Mountain Language:  We have started using Mountain Language to focus on grammar, capitalization, alphabetic order, sentence parts, punctuation and spelling.  A test will be given every other week to assess their retention of language arts skills.

We are reading Roald Dahl's, The BFG  and should finish it this week. We will watch the cartoon version that is rated G after we finish and do a compare/contrast between the book and the movie.  It has been a lot of fun and so many "Giant" vocabulary words that make us laugh!

Homework:

• Students will have paper math homework on Tuesday and Thursday focusing on the lessons we do in class. 
• IXL homework on Monday and Wednesday. IXL homework has a yellow star next to them on the website but I will also list it here.  IXL homework below- 
• Under Time:  Do lessons T.6 Elapsed time and T.7 Elapsed time and word problems.

• Nightly reading. The November reading calendars were due December 2nd.  Students who read 400 minutes or more will receive full credit and a pizza coupon. Please return your child's minutes with your signature.

Christmas Party:  

We will celebrate our Christmas Party on Monday, December 19th from 10:30 am to 12:15 pm.  We will be doing 7 stations and would love to have some parent helpers to help at each station.  We will also need donations for our cookie decorating station. 

Supplies needed are:  

• 32 sugar cookies
• 3-4 frostings:  white, red or green
• sprinkles and candies to decorate cookies
• spoons
• paper plates
• napkins
• drinks
• parent helpers

Please let me know if you would be able to help or to send in any of the supplies needed on the list above.

Dates 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.

Monday, December 19th:  Class Christmas Party from 10:30 am to 12:15 pm.

Monday, December 19th:  Elementary Christmas Program at 6:00 pm at the Nampa First Church of the Nazarene.  

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! 

The week of December 5th through 9th, 2016

Spelling List #6:  Words with Silent e:
smile     note     skate     cube     plate    arrive     globe     stripe     flame     rose     white     pancake
beware     confuse     become    

Review words:  though     option     lollipop

Challenge words:  extreme     escape

**Spelling test for list #6 will be on this Friday, December 9th, 2016.


Math:
CCSS:  Applying the distributive property and the fact 9 = 10-1 as a strategy to multiply.
      For example:   9 sixes = 10 sixes - 1 sixes  to solve 9 x 6.    
9 x 6 = 10 x 6 minus 1 x 6 which equals 60-6 = 54, so 9 x 6 = 54.

CCSS:  Interpret the unknown in multiplication and division to model and solve problems.           For example:  Eliza finds a bag of marbles and runs to share them with 8 of her friends  She's so excited that she drops the bag and loses 18 marbles.  How many marbles will Eliza and her friends get?  72-18 = m  m=54   so 54 divided by 9 = 6  Eliza and her friends will each get 6 marbles.

Mountain Math:  We will practice a variety of third grade skills throughout the week in class using mountain math.

Reading and Language:

Grammar Rule 10:  A Possessive noun tells who or what owns something. For example:  For singular nouns- add an apostrophe and s ('s)  Kate's.  For plural nouns that end in s- add an apostrophe (')  bees'.  For plural nouns that do not end in s- add an apostrophe and s ('s)  men's.

Vocabulary focus on words:  annual,  commence,  increase,  orbit.

Reading stories and answering comprehension questions in partner groups.  

Mountain Language:  We have started using Mountain Language to focus on grammar, capitalization, alphabetic order, sentence parts, punctuation and spelling.  A test will be given every other week to assess their retention of language arts skills.

We are reading Roald Dahl's, The BFG.  It has been a lot of fun and so many "Giant" vocabulary words that make us laugh!

Homework:

• Students will have paper math homework on Tuesday and Thursday focusing on the lessons we do in class. 
• IXL homework on Monday and Wednesday. IXL homework has a yellow star next to them on the website but I will also list it here.  IXL homework below- 
• Under Data and Graphs please do U.8 Create Line Plots
• Under Geometric Measurements please do FF.4 Find the area of figures made of unit squares.

• Nightly reading. The November reading calendars were due this  past Friday, December 2nd.  Students who read 400 minutes or more will receive full credit and a pizza coupon. Please return your child's minutes with your signature.

Dates 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.

Monday, December 19th:  Elementary Christmas Program at 6:00 pm at the Nampa First Church of the Nazarene.  

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! 

The week of November 28th through December 2nd, 2016

Spelling List #6:  Words with Silent e:
smile     note     skate     cube     plate    arrive     globe     stripe     flame     rose     white     pancake
beware     confuse     become    

Review words:  though     option     lollipop

Challenge words:  extreme     escape

Spelling test for list #6 will be on Friday, December 9th, 2016.


Math:

CCSS:  Use the distributive property as a strategy to multiply and divide using units or 6 and 7.  


CCSS:  Model the associative property as a strategy to multiply.



Mountain Math:  We will practice a variety of third grade skills throughout the week in class using mountain math.

Reading and Language:

Grammar Rule 9:  Using I and Me.  Name yourself last when you are talking about another person and yourself.  For example:  Jim and I play soccer rather than Jim and me play soccer.

Vocabulary focus on words:  annual,  commence,  increase,  orbit.

Reading stories and answering comprehension questions in partner groups.  

Mountain Language:  We have started using Mountain Language to focus on grammar, capitalization, alphabetic order, sentence parts, punctuation and spelling.  A test will be given every other week to assess their retention of language arts skills.

Homework:

• Students will have paper math homework on Tuesday and Thursday focusing on the lessons we do in class. 
• IXL homework on Monday and Wednesday. IXL homework has a yellow star next to them on the website but I will also list it here.  IXL homework below- 
• Under Data and Graphs do U.7 Interpreting line plots.
• Under Geometric Measurement do FF.3 Perimeter-word problems.

• Nightly reading. The November reading calendar is due this Friday, December 2nd.  Students who read 400 minutes or more will receive full credit and a pizza coupon.

Dates to Remember

Wednesday, November 30th:  Fit for Fun forms are due.  This form must be signed by a parent and returned to school by Wednesday to receive one free pass to Wahooz.

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.

Swimming at the YMCA:  This Friday, December 2nd, will be our last swimming day unfortunately.  It was so much fun watching the kids learn swimming and water safety skills!  They will be allowed to play and use the slide and diving board for their last day. 

Monday, December 19th:  Elementary Christmas Program at 6:00 pm at the Nampa First Church of the Nazarene.  

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! 

The week of November 14th through 18th, 2016

No spelling list this week.  We will restart on November 28th.

We will be doing make up tests for any grade lower than a 70%.

Math:

CCSS:  Multiply and divide with familiar facts using a letter to represent the unknown.  For example: 24 divided n = 8, where n = 3 and 8 x n = 24, where n = 3.

Mountain Math:  We have started using mountain math which covers 16 varieties of math skills each week.  There will be a math test on Friday that will assess their retention of math skills covered.  

Reading and Language:

Grammar Rule 8: Pronouns: A pronoun is a word that takes the place of one or more nouns. For example:  Mark -- he,  Mark and Kyle --- them.

Vocabulary focus on words:  canine, considerate, instruct, and scold.

Reading stories and answering comprehension questions in partner groups.  

Mountain Language:  We have started using Mountain Language to focus on grammar, capitalization, alphabetic order, sentence parts, punctuation and spelling.  A test will be given every other week to assess their retention of language arts skills.

Homework:

• Students will have paper math homework on Tuesday and Thursday focusing on the lessons we do in class. 
• IXL homework on Monday and Wednesday. IXL homework has a yellow star next to them on the website but I will also list it here.  IXL homework below- 
• FF.2 Perimeter:  Finding the missing side length
• H.4  Multiplication input/output tables

• Nightly reading.  If your child has not returned their October reading calendar please have them bring it to school or email me their minutes so that I can record it for a grade.  

Dates to Remember
Food drive for Vision Families- Help us gather food to help others

The 2016 VCS Canned Food Drive will take place from November 7-16. The Food Drive will be a campus-wide, K-12 effort.

Elementary Classes (Grades K-6) are being asked to collect non-perishable food items. These must be manufacturer canned or boxed foods. We cannot accept any home-canned, home-baked, opened, or expired items. Gift cards will also be accepted to help families.

Each donated item will count as a point for the student’s classroom. A popcorn party will be awarded to the K-3 class with the most points and the 4-6 class with the most points.

The VCS Middle School and High School Advisories will each be adopting a family and collecting donated items to complete special Thanksgiving Holiday Baskets.

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.

Swimming at the YMCA this Friday, November 18th.  We have 2 more YMCA sessions left. Friday, December 2nd will be a fun day. 

Thanksgiving Break is November 21st through 25th- No school.

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! 

Food drive for Vision Families

The 2016 VCS Canned Food Drive will take place from November 7-16. The Food Drive will be a campus-wide, K-12 effort.

Elementary Classes (Grades K-6) are being asked to collect non-perishable food items. These must be manufacturer canned or boxed foods. We cannot accept any home-canned, home-baked, opened, or expired items. Gift cards will also be accepted to help families.

Each donated item will count as a point for the student’s classroom. A popcorn party will be awarded to the K-3 class with the most points and the 4-6 class with the most points.

The VCS Middle School and High School Advisories will each be adopting a family and collecting donated items to complete special Thanksgiving Holiday Baskets.

The week of November 7th through 11th, 2016

Spelling:  Spelling List #5 focusing on long oo and long u
fruit     cute     mule     stool     few     rules     new     knew     bedroom     musical
rescue     spoon     computer     moon     perfume  

Review words:  height     silent     reply

Challenge words:  barbecue     suitcase

Test for spelling list #5 will be on this Friday, November 11th.

Math:

CCSS:  Practicing communative properties of facts 6, 7, 8 and 9.  For example:  6 x 9 = 54, 9 x 6 = 54, 54 divided by 9 = 6, 54 divided by 6 = 9.  Also learning the distributive and commutative properties to relate multiplication facts 5 x n + n =  ___  where n is the size of the unit.  

Mountain Math:  We have started using mountain math which covers 16 varieties of math skills each week.  There will be a math test on Friday that will assess their retention of math skills covered.  

Reading and Language:

Grammar Rule 7:  Some nouns have special plural forms.  These are called irregular plurals.  For example:  man to men, goose to geese, child to children.

Vocabulary focus on words:  canine, considerate, instruct, and scold.

Reading stories and answering comprehension questions in partner groups.  

Mountain Language:  We have started using Mountain Language to focus on grammar, capitalization, alphabetic order, sentence parts, punctuation and spelling.  A test will be given every other week to assess their retention of language arts skills.

Homework:

• Students will have paper math homework on Tuesday and Thursday focusing on the lessons we do in class. 
• IXL homework on Monday and Wednesday. IXL homework has a yellow star next to them on the website but I will also list it here.  IXL homework below- 
• G.5 Multiplication tables for 6's, 7's, 8's and 9's.
• H.9  Multiply one-digit numbers by two-digit numbers:  word problems
• FF.1 Perimeter

• Nightly reading.  If your child has not returned their October reading calendar please have them bring it to school or email me their minutes so that I can record it for a grade.  

Dates to Remember

**Tuesday:  November 8th  Scholastic Book orders due.  You can order online using the link to the right or send in an order with a check or cash and an order form.  

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.

Swimming at the YMCA this Friday, November 11th.  We have a lot of women for help but could really use a man to help in the boys' bathroom if anyone can.  We really appreciate the help!  We have 3 lessons left.  Please let me know if you can come help during the lesson.

Thanksgiving Break is November 21st through 25th- No school.

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! 

The week of October 31st through November 4th, 2016

Monday the 31st:  Dress up as your favorite character from the book The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.  Students are allowed to dress up as any character from the book.  It does not have to be elaborate at all.  Face paint, hair coloring, wigs and masks.  No weapons of any kind even toy ones.  
We will watch the animated version of the movie and enjoy snacks while we watch. Thank you to the parents you have volunteered to send in some treats for the kids to enjoy during the movie.

Spelling:  Spelling List #5 focusing on long oo and long u
fruit     cute     mule     stool     few     rules     new     knew     bedroom     musical
rescue     spoon     computer     moon     perfume  

Review words:  height     silent     reply

Challenge words:  barbecue     suitcase

Test for spelling list #5 will be on Friday, November 11th.

Math:

CCSS:  End of unit 1 math assessment.  We will work on our first unit assessment in class.  

Mountain Math:  We have started using mountain math which covers 16 varieties of math skills each week.  There will be a math test on Friday that will assess their retention of math skills covered.  

Reading and Language:

Grammar Rule 6:  Plural nouns-add s or es. Most nouns just add s:  clocks, boats.  Nouns ending in s, sh, ch, x, or z add es:  peaches, watches, foxes.  Nouns ending in a consonant followed by y-change y to i and add es:  babies,  cherries,   berries.

Vocabulary focus on words:  drought,  fragile,   prepare,    spectacular

Reading stories and answering comprehension questions in partner groups.  

Mountain Language:  We have started using Mountain Language to focus on grammar, capitalization, alphabetic order, sentence parts, punctuation and spelling.  A test will be given every other week to assess their retention of language arts skills.

Homework:

• Students will have paper math homework on Tuesday and Thursday.  They will have flashcards coming home with them to create and bring back to school.  They may make a set to keep at home as well.  
• IXL homework on Monday and Wednesday. IXL homework below-

     Monday:  Third grade- Estimation and Rounding P.1 and P.2 and Multiplication Fluency G.4.
     Wednesday:  Third grade-Multiplication skill builder F.6 and Subtraction D.4

• Nightly reading.  Please sign your child's October reading calendar and return to school by Friday.

Dates 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.

Swimming at the YMCA this Friday, November 4th.  We have a lot of women for help but could really use a man to help in the boys' bathroom if anyone can.  We really appreciate the help!  We have 4 lessons left.  Please let me know if you can come help during the lesson.

Thanksgiving Break is November 21st through 25th- No school.

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!