Holiday Party .... check

A huge thank-you to the Party team lead by Mrs. Rives including Mrs. Hardy and Mrs. Faccone.  Another huge thanks to all the parents that cooked, sliced, glued, got styrofoam balls bounced on them, doled out way too much delicious food and were so very generous.

I get really reflective this time of year, and I am so blessed to have such a sweet class.  They have attitude, it's up to me to find a way to channel that into academic effort.

I have a collection of containers that I will make sure get returned to you; if you can identify something just shoot me an email.

I hope you and yours have a happy and healthy break -- but let your kids talk to you!  I find they crave adult conversation.  

If you want to check out some class pictures, they are under "Current Handouts" in the Class Picture folder.

Until next year ... or the next email : )  
Mrs. S

"Dolphinella" made a splash at Literacy Night!

The students worked so hard on our fractured fairy tale version of Cinderella, so it was wonderful to see readers enjoy their work and leave comments.  If you want to read it, it is posted here on the handouts page in the Reading and Writing folder.

Such a busy time of year!

We have been super busy this week.  So busy that I need to update my blog by Wednesday!  I just am so excited about our class project that will be presented on Thursday at "Passport to Literacy Night".  The Third grade team was assigned the continent of North America.  With some flexing of language arts units and a lot of creativity, we turned this presentation into a Project Based Learning experience for our students.

First we studied many different types of Traditional Tales noticing that there were similar elements despite the country of origin.  Then we specifically looked at some from North America looking for the cultural influences reflected in the stories.  

The most amazing learning we did was to write our own Cinderella/Fairy tale after learning about a plot diagram.  The draft was written by pairs of students working on specific parts.  Then we used our ARMS writing strategy to revise the story as a class.  That left a day for us to completely illustrate it and it turned out GREAT!  Please come see it Lit night.  After that I'm sure I can find some way to attach it here.

The other huge event this week is the WORLD WIDE Hour of Code.  Writing computer code is a billion dollar industry and a major employment opportunity for our children.  Our class is beginning our Hour on Thursday but they will be able to do additional coding lessons/activities at home.  I believe there is a total of 80 hours available.

When you consider that we have been creating custom maps, writing individual traditional tales, working on multiplication too it is pretty amazing.

Not a minute to waste

Dear Parents:

It has been a crazy busy week!  We had a mini field trip, multiple science investigations with earthquakes, landslides and volcanos.  Plus there was the Thanksgiving luncheon and the fabulous Groovy O Rama.  It's been a challenge but in the midst of all that excitement the kids completed several district common assessments and learning.

More than anything I hope that your family has a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.  The year is speeding by and we'll only have a few weeks before our Winter Break.  We have some of the best learning units coming up, but they'll require that everyone is well rested and ready to commit to learning.  Coming up quick is our Passport to Literacy Night and the international Hour of Code event.

Please!  Continue to enforce a reading routine over every break.    Students should read at least 20 minutes a day in one position without getting up to get a snack or to talk.  When reading with students I can tell by listening to them if they have skipped the weekend.  And that's just the decoding part of reading -- the comprehension muscle gets weak as well.

But speaking of talking ... Let them!  I wish I were just kidding, but they will talk your ear off - and you need to let them.  I cannot be the only adult conversation they have all day and they seem desperate for it.   Please engage them in lots and lots of conversations so that they don't feel compelled to talk all day at school.  Kids talking are not listeners and they are missing key information.

Correct them in the moment if their grammar is wrong. Insist that they use specific language -- wanting to do "that thing, you know, that's kinda like" takes forever to understand and wastes precious time.   Reiterate that they should not interrupt people talking to begin their own conversation.  


I've initiated harsher penalties  for interrupting the learning in the classroom.  I'm stunned.  It is the first time in years that I have had to "punish" kids for their behavior.  It's not "bad" behavior like hitting someone at all.  It is careless behavior:  not turning in work correctly, playing in the bathroom, talking during tests, repeating a behavior like being off task immediately after being reminded to get on task.  For me, having your kids be as successful as possible is a non-negotiable -- it just makes it a grind to have to punish rather than praise.  If you have to ask your child to do something more than once, please consider that I have that scenario x 21.

If you are a Veteran, please visit with us Nov. 11, so that children can put a face to the word 'military'

It's hard to teach kids about abstract concepts such as freedom and heroism and sacrifice, yet those ideas are so very important.  Help me help them understand by taking time out of your day on November 11th for the free breakfast and assembly.

I am in awe of those that have served our country and I felt good as a citizen when I saw military applauded in airports.  Tell me how you as a veteran wish lay people would behave or what you want our children to know.  Don't be modest.

 Veterans Day Celebration 

 

 

 

 

!!!!!!ATTENTION ALL VETERANS!!!!!

FCE would like to celebrate YOU! Please join us on November 11, 2015 in the FCE cafeteria.  We would like to serve you breakfast and honor you with 2 Veterans Day assemblies!! The district will provide breakfast between 7:15am and 7:45am. Our choir will serenade you at the assemblies.  The first assembly is at 8:30am, and the second one is at 9:15am. We welcome you to stay for one or both! See you there!!!

A Perfect Storm for Teachers

Full Moon
Red Ribbon Week
Halloween
Thunderstorm
Portable Evacuation


So ... today was interesting.  The class actually did a great job of staying calm and being flexible.

This week's soapbox the inability of students to listen .  Not just when I am doing a mini-lesson, (which could be low on the entertainment scale); but also when students are given direct instructions (even in a small group).  They say "Yes, Ma'am" very respectfully -- but repeat the same behavior whether it's neglecting to regroup or bothering a friend.

When the class had the opportunity to watch a Magic School Bus today, they talked most of the way through it.  They weren't talking about other things, they were responding to the video aloud and repeatedly.  "Ralphie's so funny", "Seriously?" "Oh, look at that." and repeating snippets of dialogue. 10 out of 21 speakers blocking out the presentation.  

I am asking you to observe what your child does at home.  It seems like there's a trend for kids and parents to watch TV separately, and so they're not monitoring their behavior for other viewers.  If they have to talk and interact with the TV, chances are they're the ones doing it here at school too.  The difficulty is that although that is a fun medium of instruction they are blocking out the intended message.  Watch something together!

Official report cards will be in next Thursday's folders (November 5th).

Consider a direct donation -- no one needs kiddos peddling wrapping paper : )

Direct Donation Drive Week 4 Results

100% back to our kids!   100% tax deductible!   100% NO catalog sales!

DONATE INSTANTLY CLICK HERE!!

Or, return your check or cash and flyer in the envelope sent home from school. 

$22,500.00

We are only $1500 away from the kids earning pajama day at school!!

Week 1 totals were $2700.

Week 2 totals were $2700. 

Week 3 totals were $1470.

Week 4 totals were $1875.

With corporate matching added in, we are at $9500

We are roughly at 42% of our goal of $22,500.  

And 38% of our FCE families have contributed so far.

We need 100% participation from all FCE families!

We are asking for at least $25 per student to support our budgeted programs and services as well add a second SUNSHADE to our playground. 

If you have not done so already, PLEASE MAKE YOUR DONATION TODAY! 

 We cannot do it without your help!

October? Seriously? Time is flying by .... Week 6

This week was jam-packed!

In Language Arts we've been focused on inferencing and drawing conclusions. We completed our first Reading Unit Test and reviewed it to gain test taking strategies.  In the gradebook, you see the combined grade (the grade level passage with 10 questions and the district passage which had 3 questions). Then you will see the District Grade by itself for 0%.  This is the information that is saved in your child's cumulative folder by the district.  

Unit 2 in Language Arts is one of my favorites -- Poetry.  Kids generally like it too and really enjoy looking deeper into shorter pieces of text.

In writing we reviewed and practiced the parts of a friendly letter and took the District Writing Assessment.  This is graded on a mastery rubric, not a grade.  

In science we've been focusing on physical properties and states of matter.  We will continue matter next week focusing on changes in matter with heat and mixtures.

Math has returned to multiplication.  This is the pattern outlined for the year: spiraling back through multiplication about every other unit.  This week through next Wednesday our focus is x2 and x4.  The next unit will be a return to place value, but greater numbers.

FALL CONFERENCES!  I will be sending out the schedule of available dates and times.  Can't wait to meet and talk about your child.

Celebration for the Week - Kids seem to be more confident in math
Area to work on - Talking is excessive.  Clip move  and requiring "line order" are not changing the behaviors and valuable time is being lost.

My plug for the PTA:  They support our school in so many ways from the mimeo technology we are using in the classroom, to subscriptions to BrainPop, books for the lit library and performances.  Consider a donation!  I know as a parent I would have appreciated not having door to door sales : )

Our Direct Donation Drive is underway!  

You can go online to make your donation at:

 http://forestcreekpta.my-pta.org/ .  

Or, return your check or cash and flyer in the envelope sent home from school. There are also flyers in the office and 

on the bulletin board in the front hall. 

Week 5

This week seemed crazier than most.  I was out for team training, we had an early release, book fair preview and a jazz concert (which the kids were wild for).  The week seemed to fly by.

Interim Progress Reports ... they can be unnecessarily stressful, particularly this early in the year for 3rd graders who are getting their first letter grades.  Here's the conversation I hope is happening at home:  "Are you doing your best?",  "Are you proud of your work?", "Are you learning from your mistakes?"

Some of the averages are low because we have very few grades.  Others might be low because of work that could be corrected to 70 has not been turned in, or there is missing work.  The good news is that you can see all grades entered on Home Access.  You will see if an M is entered as well as notes about reteach and corrections on specific assignments.
Always feel like you can email me if you are concerned or have questions.

I sent home the kids' xtra math passwords.  This is a great way to build math fact fluency. There are several math links on our class page that are educational and engaging. This is also the easiest way I know to start building a child's confidence in math.

This week :

• Comprehension building in Reading, looking for support within text and inferencing.
• Lots of fun activities in Science as we start our unit on Physical Properties and States of Matter.
• Return to multiplication (focusing on x2 "doubling" and x4 "double double" strategies)
• New Spelling unit, writing a friendly letter and a short writing benchmark.

Week 4 Flying By

What a week!

This was Freedom week, so we took a break from Science to do some Social Studies.  It's important for children to realize that the freedoms and privileges we enjoy are not given to all people of the world.  I am always surprised how big their hearts are when we discuss the sacrifices made by our military and how offended they are by the concept of inequality.

Our biggest hurdle was math this week.  We've done "review" but a lot of it was more "new" than "review.  We covered rounding to the nearest ten, addition with regrouping and subtraction with regrouping.  We need lots of practice to make sure those understandings grow.  Just a tip:  ultimately I want students to have ready recall of their basic addition and subtraction facts.  But the concept of regrouping is confusing.  I encourage students that aren't experts to use a number line so that they are getting the correct difference or sum.

Reading seems to be coming along slowly.  The students are transitioning from "learning to read" to "reading to learn".  Please make sure you are reading with your child if possible, when reading aloud they are less likely to skip words and do the work to sound them out.  Just for your information, the reading passages that we send home for homework are second grade level. 

As a class, we upped our technology quotient.  We tried out the brand new Chromebooks and downloaded the Google Classroom app and completed (most students) a reading assignment.

We are almost at the halfway mark for the first nine weeks.  I am trying to get work turned in by a few stragglers.  Math grades look pretty strong, but reading looks low.  Try not to stress as parents as this is your child's first experience with being graded on their reading comprehension and recall.  I will be in contact with you if I feel there is a substantial concern.

 Box Tops Contest Underway! 

 

 

Our school collects labels such as "Box Tops for Education",  "Campbell's Labels for Education", "My Coke Rewards", "Community Coffee Cash For Schools", and "Tyson A+ Labels", to earn prizes and rewards for our school.

 

Get your scissors ready for clipping! We are having a "Box Tops For Education" contest for the month of September!

September 14-September 28^th send in your Box Tops either on the page provided to you in your student’s Thursday folder or in a labeled baggie. Click Here to print off additional collection sheets.

 

The top 3 classes will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a class popcorn snack and the teacher will win a $20 gift card.

 

Parents, This year when collecting Box Tops, please follow the rules below. 

 

1. Glue or tape the Box Tops in the appropriate spaces. Please do not staple them. 
2. If you have more than 10 box tops, please place the remaining box tops in a Ziploc Baggie labeled with your child’s name, grade, and teacher’s name. OR CLICK HERE for additional sheets. 

 

There are some people that make the world a better place with their presence. A neighborhood becomes a community ... a school is a family.  We can't make sense of the loss of these souls, but can try to continue their efforts and share their loving message. Please join me in thinking supportive and healing thoughts for the Pilcher family.

Week 3 Up to Speed

It was a jam-packed week; it's hard to believe it was only 4 days.  We had our first fire drill and our first spelling and dictation test and did on-line activities in the computer lab. Academically ...

We completed our first unit in math and moved onto place value with "the chair game" and "trash ball".  We looked at rounding and estimation which will continue next week.

In our study of forms of energy, we made a lot of noise (while learning that vibration creates sound) and enjoyed a sweet treat as we demonstrated thermal energy

We continue to look at fiction in Reading and learn how to expand and improve our personal narratives with details and word choice.

Next week we'll shift our focus to Social Studies during Freedom Week.

Third grade got new Chromebooks this year, so we'll learn how they differ from the desktops and attempt to join the Salamander Google Classroom.

In terms of how the class is running, I'd say we're at about 80%.  Third grade is an increase in academic pace and rigor and some students are having difficulty with the structure.  I assure you this will change and that they will begin to appreciate their own efforts in rising to the challenge.  I've seen it happen over and over again.

Please encourage independence!  If your child asks you what time it is, point at the clock.  Have them participate in household jobs -- without pay, just because they are a member of the family.  Let them fold laundry, help with dinner and record their own reading log.  It absolutely will not be perfect, but that's learning!

Enjoy your weekend. 

Week 2 and everything is running smoothly

First of all, thank you to the parents that attended the Open House on Thursday night.  As my husband said, it was the first night of football after all!

If you were not able to make it, my full PowerPoint is listed on the documents page, in the Other Documents folder.  Feel free to email me any questions.

I feel like we made some headway internalizing our routines.  The kids transition efficiently to most of the music cues and can anticipate materials.  Excessive chatting is still slowing down some parts of our day resulting in students not hearing or understanding directions even when they have been repeated.

We mastered our first trip to the computer lab and did our required Acceptable Use Policy class but did not get an opportunity to log in.  Introduction to the Chromebooks and Google Classroom will come in the next couple of weeks.

Academically:

• In reading our focus is on fiction (making meaningful connections, visualizing, asking "thick questions")
• In writing we are adding details and description and we have practiced some word work activities.  This will continue next week, but students should practice their words and dictation sentences at home as well.
• In math we are concluding our first (of nine) multiplication units and are going to place value, addition, subtraction and estimation.
• In science our look at different forms of energy continues

Next week is a Purple week, so kids will go back to the library on Friday.

Tuesday, September 8 - PTA General Meeting, 11am-12pm.

Tuesday, September 8 - Watch DOG Pizza Kick off event for dads.  RSVP here!

Tuesday, September 8 - Homeroom Parent and Volunteer Orientation at 6:45pm.

Friday, September 11 - Grandparent's Day during your lunch time.  RSVP here!

Monday, September 14 - Homeroom Parent and Volunteer Orientation, 9:30-10:30am (same info as 9/18)

Week One and Done!

Every single year I am amazed at how quickly I form attachments to my class.  This group of 21 is an extremely sweet group of kiddos.

We survived Week One ... and I'm grateful it was only a four day week.  As a class we're starting to get up to speed.  We've touched on all subjects except for Spelling/Word Work which will officially start next Monday [the mysterious red spiral!]

The units we will be studying for next week are as follows:

• Delving deeper into Fiction in Reading
• Writing a personal narrative in Writing
• Long and short vowels in Spelling
• Multiplication continues in Math
• Energy in Science

Third grade is an adjustment for students.  They are asked to be more independent.  I've noticed that socializing is a skill we do NOT need to work on, but listening carefully and working independently is.

I am not a silent classroom!  Ask your kids, we have played several games for "pride" not "prize" in science and do partner and group work frequently.  The difficulty is turning that level of conversation off and getting started on a task.  This next week I will contact you if your child in particular needs support in this area.

This is a GREEN week, so our specials area will be Music.  Monday is our new FCE Spirit wear day so dig out those coyote shirts and all hues of purple and green.  If you haven't already done so, consider signing up for Remind.com for class announcements.  The directions are in the post below.

SAVE THE DATE:  Thursday 9/3 is Back to School Night.  We'll meet at 6:00 - 6:30 in the classroom and then move to the cafeteria at 6:45 for some information from Mrs. Lehnick (if you attend that session with another grade it will be the same).

As always ... if you have a question or concern please drop me an email or give me a call.  I am happy to clarify in any way I can.

Back to School

It was wonderful meeting my new Salamander families on Friday.  Already I can see the personalities in our class.  

If you were here and filled out a blue form for me, you just got invited to "Remind".  This is a great site that allows me to send updates to you quickly via text (or you can choose email).  You have the option to unsubscribe at any time.

One reason I really like this site is that our grading system that has all the contact information for the school only includes one primary guardian.  This way I can include multiple people on messages.

The way I see it working is I may send a reminder that a project is due.  I do not anticipate sending out weekly reminders for homework, library day or spelling tests.  

This class is my guinea pig and I will be learning along with you.  "Remind" will not replace my other long winded emails or the weekly updates posted on this class site.

To receive messages via text, text @2015sala to 81010.  If you have trouble using the 81010 you can try texting @2015sala to (830) 355-2416.  To receive messages via email instead, send an email to 2015sala@mail.remind.com.  Again with either option you can unsubscribe at any time.  Please note that standard text message rates apply.

If it turns out you are a Salamander ...

First of all ... Yippee! Secondly ... about those school supply lists: Everything is really important, but if you haven't already made your trip to buy the big bag of supplies please know that you do not have to bring sandwich or quart bags. They doubled the quantity this year and we just aren't going to be using that many. 

What we will need is tissues! Those allergies hit, and we run through the tissues pretty quickly. I would greatly appreciate an extra box throughout the year. 

Third (best grade "evah" by the way) One last thought: Students are allowed to have a water bottle at their desks. Sports nozzles are the best spill-proof option. This does not have to be enormous! We have water cooler in the room, and I want the kids to be hydrated and enjoy a cool drink -- ideally without wasting a few gallons a day. 

 If you are a Salamander, I hope very much to meet you at Supply Drop Off. 
This will be Friday August 21st. The official times are as follows:

• 3:00 pm Kinder/Special Ed, TAG 
• 4:00 - 4:30 for grades 1-5 Last Names A-L 
• 4:45 - 5:15 for grades 1-5 Last Names M-Z

I love meeting the new class and having them meet each other.  Rest assured if the schedule above doesn't quite fit your schedule I will be here starting at 3:00pm for kids that may need a quiet introduction and will be here until 6:00pm.  If for some reason you would like a different day or time, drop me an email and we'll see what we can work out.

The smell of School Supplies is in the Air!

Welcome to the Shogan Salamander webpage. It is a little sparse as we have changed programs from last year.  I assure you this space will be chock (chalk! 😝) full of information for students and families.  I am back at school preparing the classroom and wondering who my new favorite faces will be.  ((For my former salamanders, a piece of my heart and all my pride and support venture forth with you)).