Sunday, September 27, 2015

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.


Friday, September 18, 2015

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 28th 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. 
 

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

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.

Friday, September 11, 2015

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. 

Friday, September 4, 2015

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)