This week the homework packet for Raising Dragons will go home tomorrow due on Friday. The spelling list will focus on homophones. Please practice these words with your child as they can be quite confusing. In math we'll continue with Geometry. A Chapter 9 test will be given later this week as well as a multiplication quiz of 3s, 4,s and 5,s.
Our field trip is this Tuesday to the Museum of Natural History. We will be leaving from the computer lab at 11:00. You can meet us either at the lab at 11:00 or in the quad near the office. Our tour at the museum will begin at 11:30, so 30 minutes should be plenty of time to drive to Santa Cruz. I will have students eat their lunches before we go around 10:15. If you are a chaperone, please be sure your insurance information is updated.
Also, the holiday party will be Wednesday after lunch from 12:15-1:15 on Wednesday, December 22. If you would like to help or have any ideas please contact Eve Ortiz.
See you soon!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Dec. 5-9, 2010
This week the homework packet for Raising Dragons will be due on Friday. Please be sure to sign and/or initial each page in the packet. We finished up chapter 8 (measurement) on Friday and will begin Geometry on Monday. Please continue to review multiplication facts with your child, especially the 6s through 9s. Students are expected to learn and know these after Winter Break.
The new reading log was sent home for both December and January. Several students forget to bring them in on Friday for me to check, so if you can remind them that would be great!
Our field trip to the Museum of Natural History is coming up on December 14. Mrs. Colassa has contacted you if the driver insurance needs to be updated. Also, if you would like to chaperone and drive with another parent, let me know. We have a lot of drivers and can double up if you like. The cost of this field trip is $2.00 per student (parents are free).
I also spoke to Mrs. Ortiz about organizing the holiday party. We were thinking about Wednesday, December 22 from 12:15 to 1:15. Parents can set up while the students are at lunch. An email should be coming your way soon. Let us know if you are free to help or have a nice art project.
Thanks for all the pencils that have come in this week. Please continue to send them our way. If you have Dixon pencils, even better. I've noticed that they work the best.
The new reading log was sent home for both December and January. Several students forget to bring them in on Friday for me to check, so if you can remind them that would be great!
Our field trip to the Museum of Natural History is coming up on December 14. Mrs. Colassa has contacted you if the driver insurance needs to be updated. Also, if you would like to chaperone and drive with another parent, let me know. We have a lot of drivers and can double up if you like. The cost of this field trip is $2.00 per student (parents are free).
I also spoke to Mrs. Ortiz about organizing the holiday party. We were thinking about Wednesday, December 22 from 12:15 to 1:15. Parents can set up while the students are at lunch. An email should be coming your way soon. Let us know if you are free to help or have a nice art project.
Thanks for all the pencils that have come in this week. Please continue to send them our way. If you have Dixon pencils, even better. I've noticed that they work the best.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Nov 29-Dec 3, 2010
I hope you all are having a wonderful Thanksgiving Break!
This week the spelling howework packet for The Giant of Barletta will be due on Friday. Please be sure your child is practicing their multiplication facts daily. We will have another timed test before Winter Break. Lit. Circles are also due this Wednesday. Students should have this turned in on time and be prepared to discuss the book with their fellow peers. In math we are beginning measurement. Daily homework for Chapter 8 will be sent home.
The field trip to the Museum of Natural History is coming up on Tuesday, December 14. If you have not turned in the permission form, please do so this week. We have plenty of drivers, so I may have a few parents carpool together.
We are going through pencils quickly these days, so if you have some to share with the class, feel free to send them in with your child. Also, with the cold weather, wipes and tissues will be needed soon. Thank you!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
This week the spelling howework packet for The Giant of Barletta will be due on Friday. Please be sure your child is practicing their multiplication facts daily. We will have another timed test before Winter Break. Lit. Circles are also due this Wednesday. Students should have this turned in on time and be prepared to discuss the book with their fellow peers. In math we are beginning measurement. Daily homework for Chapter 8 will be sent home.
The field trip to the Museum of Natural History is coming up on Tuesday, December 14. If you have not turned in the permission form, please do so this week. We have plenty of drivers, so I may have a few parents carpool together.
We are going through pencils quickly these days, so if you have some to share with the class, feel free to send them in with your child. Also, with the cold weather, wipes and tissues will be needed soon. Thank you!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Thanksgiving Week
Looks like the rain is here! I hope it tapers off so you can all travel safely this week.
Due to the short week, again, there will be no spelling homework packet. Students will get homework Monday night for math only. Students took the Unit 3 multiplication test on Friday and will bring that home on Monday as well. I mentioned that we would begin division in the last blog, but realized that we take a break with measurement and geometry. However, we will continue practicing multiplication facts throughout the month of December. Lit Circles will be due the Wednesday we return. ALL students should be able to turn this in on time. I sent a Lit Circle packet home the other day that read "Important Keep" at the top. I hope that you were all able to take a look at it. It's important to check your child's work before they turn it in to me. Some kids are putting little effort into their job and it shows when there are several mistakes and low quiz scores. If the books are too challenging for your child, please let me know so I can adjust their level.
I made a mistake with the date of the field trip to the Museum of Natural History. We are going TUESDAY, December 14. Please be sure to send in the permission form with $2.00. Also, if I haven't received your child's report card envelope, you can send it in this week.
WISH LIST: Pencils
Have a WONDERFUL, RELAXING THANKSGIVING this week! On that note, A big THANK YOU to all of my parent helpers this year. All of the little things you do from correcting papers, pulling pages from practice books, photocopying, ... save me so much time and allow me to enjoy my family in the evenings. I am very thankful to have such wonderful volunteers.
Due to the short week, again, there will be no spelling homework packet. Students will get homework Monday night for math only. Students took the Unit 3 multiplication test on Friday and will bring that home on Monday as well. I mentioned that we would begin division in the last blog, but realized that we take a break with measurement and geometry. However, we will continue practicing multiplication facts throughout the month of December. Lit Circles will be due the Wednesday we return. ALL students should be able to turn this in on time. I sent a Lit Circle packet home the other day that read "Important Keep" at the top. I hope that you were all able to take a look at it. It's important to check your child's work before they turn it in to me. Some kids are putting little effort into their job and it shows when there are several mistakes and low quiz scores. If the books are too challenging for your child, please let me know so I can adjust their level.
I made a mistake with the date of the field trip to the Museum of Natural History. We are going TUESDAY, December 14. Please be sure to send in the permission form with $2.00. Also, if I haven't received your child's report card envelope, you can send it in this week.
WISH LIST: Pencils
Have a WONDERFUL, RELAXING THANKSGIVING this week! On that note, A big THANK YOU to all of my parent helpers this year. All of the little things you do from correcting papers, pulling pages from practice books, photocopying, ... save me so much time and allow me to enjoy my family in the evenings. I am very thankful to have such wonderful volunteers.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Novermber 15-19, 2010
This Monday some of the students from our class will be holding the Monday morning assembly with Mrs. Dorney. Six students (Barbara, Ian F., Kidasi, Monira, Sebastian, and Bryeanna) will recite a poem to honor Veteran's Day and 2 students (Abby and Kylie) will sing a song. If your child is participating, please try to see their performance.
The spelling homework packet for Dogzilla will go be sent home on Monday due Friday. Please check and INITIAL EVERY PAGE. We will continue with multiplication facts and move onto division later in the week. A unit test for chapters 5-7 (multiplication) will be given mid week. By now, ALL students should have the 2s through 5s memorized. If they are not learned, it is necessary they practice on a daily basis.
I did not stamp reading logs this past week. When I check on Friday, 8 boxes should be filled up. Lit. Circles are due every Wednesday. I expect this to be turned in on time with the books. I am getting excuses such as "I didn't have time to do Lit Circles" from about 2-3 kids per week. Students have ample time to complete their assignment. I am also having students take AR quizzes on these books. I attached a notice to the report card to show how your child is progressing in AR. Students who are reading longer chapter books only have a few quizzes while others have 5-7. If nothing is attached, then your child either hasn't taken a quiz or completed one.
Report cards will go home on Monday. Since we just had conferences in October, the comment box is written as "Discussed at Conferences." I added comments to the reading, writing and math sections. Also, since the 3rd grade team does rotations, there is only an effort grade for Social Studies, PE, Science, and Art. ALL 3rd grade teachers have an effort grade for this area only. Please sign the report card envelope (be sure you keep the report card) and return it with your child on Tuesday. I will be giving pencils to those students who bring the envelope back to me.
A reminder that the field trip to the Museum of Natural History is on Thursday, December 14. We are asking $2.00 per student to cover the cost of the admission. Parent Chaperones DO NOT need to pay.
Hope you are enjoying the long weekend! If your child is going to be missing school early for Thanksgiving, please shoot me an email this week so I can get any work together for them.
WISH LIST: Sharpened pencils, wipes
The spelling homework packet for Dogzilla will go be sent home on Monday due Friday. Please check and INITIAL EVERY PAGE. We will continue with multiplication facts and move onto division later in the week. A unit test for chapters 5-7 (multiplication) will be given mid week. By now, ALL students should have the 2s through 5s memorized. If they are not learned, it is necessary they practice on a daily basis.
I did not stamp reading logs this past week. When I check on Friday, 8 boxes should be filled up. Lit. Circles are due every Wednesday. I expect this to be turned in on time with the books. I am getting excuses such as "I didn't have time to do Lit Circles" from about 2-3 kids per week. Students have ample time to complete their assignment. I am also having students take AR quizzes on these books. I attached a notice to the report card to show how your child is progressing in AR. Students who are reading longer chapter books only have a few quizzes while others have 5-7. If nothing is attached, then your child either hasn't taken a quiz or completed one.
Report cards will go home on Monday. Since we just had conferences in October, the comment box is written as "Discussed at Conferences." I added comments to the reading, writing and math sections. Also, since the 3rd grade team does rotations, there is only an effort grade for Social Studies, PE, Science, and Art. ALL 3rd grade teachers have an effort grade for this area only. Please sign the report card envelope (be sure you keep the report card) and return it with your child on Tuesday. I will be giving pencils to those students who bring the envelope back to me.
A reminder that the field trip to the Museum of Natural History is on Thursday, December 14. We are asking $2.00 per student to cover the cost of the admission. Parent Chaperones DO NOT need to pay.
Hope you are enjoying the long weekend! If your child is going to be missing school early for Thanksgiving, please shoot me an email this week so I can get any work together for them.
WISH LIST: Sharpened pencils, wipes
Friday, November 5, 2010
November 8-12, 2010
Thank you to the parents who drove on the field trip to the Aptos Museum on Thursday. Kids had a great time and learned some valuable local history. We have another field trip coming up in December to teh Museum of Natural History in Santa Cruz (across the street from Seabright Beach). Permission forms will be sent home on Monday. We are asking $2.00 per student for the cost of this field trip. You will need to resubmit driver insurance information because the new trimester begins this week.
Due to the Veteran's holiday, there will be no weekly spelling homework packet sent home. Nightly math homework from the Houghton Mifflin program will continue as well as Lit Circles. When your child completes his/her Lit Circle book, he/she should take an AR quiz at school. I will be sending home an individual list of each child and the quizzes they have taken so for. Quizzes are 10 points and should be passed with at least 70%. If the quiz was not passed, then either the book was too hard or not read completely. Students are to keep track of their own progress in their reading logs at school. However, when I printed out a class list, I noticed that some kids had taken 6-7 quizzes while others had taken zero. Students who are reading easier books should be able to take 1 quiz per week. The more advanced readers will take less quizzes but will have accumulated more points. Third grade is a trial year for students to become familiar with the Accelerated Reader program. The points are really counted in 4th grade.
Don't forget to turn your clocks back this weekend. Enjoy!
Due to the Veteran's holiday, there will be no weekly spelling homework packet sent home. Nightly math homework from the Houghton Mifflin program will continue as well as Lit Circles. When your child completes his/her Lit Circle book, he/she should take an AR quiz at school. I will be sending home an individual list of each child and the quizzes they have taken so for. Quizzes are 10 points and should be passed with at least 70%. If the quiz was not passed, then either the book was too hard or not read completely. Students are to keep track of their own progress in their reading logs at school. However, when I printed out a class list, I noticed that some kids had taken 6-7 quizzes while others had taken zero. Students who are reading easier books should be able to take 1 quiz per week. The more advanced readers will take less quizzes but will have accumulated more points. Third grade is a trial year for students to become familiar with the Accelerated Reader program. The points are really counted in 4th grade.
Don't forget to turn your clocks back this weekend. Enjoy!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
November 1-5, 2010
Happy Halloween! Hope you are all having a great weekend with your little ones on one of their favorite days. THANK YOU to all who were able to help with our class party. What a success! Everything ran smooth and students had a great time. Hopefully the kids won't be too hyped up on candy Monday morning!
On Monday a new reading log for November will go home as well as the homework packet for Dancing Rainbows. Attached will be a multiplication facts packet to practice as well. We had our 3s, 4s, and 5,s quiz on Friday, so those will go home sometime this week for your review. Our trimester is coming to an end soon and it is really important for every 3rd grader to have these facts down. We just finished Chapter 5 and will begin Chapter 6 in Houghton Mifflin Math. I will give a unit test on Chapters 5-7 (multiplication through the 10s) in a couple of weeks. We will continue to work on borrowing as well as it can be tricky for many kids.
Lit Circles are due Wednesday. Be sure your child has the completed job and book by Wednesday. I may adjust a couple of groups depending on your child's reading level. Every student took a STAR reading test in the computer lab last week, and I will compare their level to what was scored in late August.
This Thursday we have a field trip to the Aptos History Museum. Our tour begins at 9:00, so we should leave by 8:45 to get their on time. We will return back to school around 10:15-10:30. We are asking for $1.00 per student to cover the cost. If you are a driver, make sure the office has all of your necessary insurance information.
Wish list: sharpened pencils, items for the prize box
Have a safe and Happy Halloween!
On Monday a new reading log for November will go home as well as the homework packet for Dancing Rainbows. Attached will be a multiplication facts packet to practice as well. We had our 3s, 4s, and 5,s quiz on Friday, so those will go home sometime this week for your review. Our trimester is coming to an end soon and it is really important for every 3rd grader to have these facts down. We just finished Chapter 5 and will begin Chapter 6 in Houghton Mifflin Math. I will give a unit test on Chapters 5-7 (multiplication through the 10s) in a couple of weeks. We will continue to work on borrowing as well as it can be tricky for many kids.
Lit Circles are due Wednesday. Be sure your child has the completed job and book by Wednesday. I may adjust a couple of groups depending on your child's reading level. Every student took a STAR reading test in the computer lab last week, and I will compare their level to what was scored in late August.
This Thursday we have a field trip to the Aptos History Museum. Our tour begins at 9:00, so we should leave by 8:45 to get their on time. We will return back to school around 10:15-10:30. We are asking for $1.00 per student to cover the cost. If you are a driver, make sure the office has all of your necessary insurance information.
Wish list: sharpened pencils, items for the prize box
Have a safe and Happy Halloween!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
October 24-29, 2010
Where did our nice Fall weather go? Hopefully the rain will taper off this week as we approach our school wide Halloween parade this Friday at 8:15. Mrs. Ortiz is organizing our Halloween party and is looking for volunteers to help out. We'll probably begin after recess around 9:30 and go for an hour or so. Also, if anyone has the movie Monsters Inc. we could borrow, that would be great. I will be giving the regular spelling test this Friday as well as a timed test for the 3s, 4s, and 5s. So although we will be having fun, there will still be some academics.
Spelling/math homework packets will go home Monday and are due on Friday. Please be sure to sign EVERY page of your child's packet. Many packets turned in do not have the student's name on every page or parent signature. Also, be sure your child completes his/her Lit Circle assignment. They need to read the assigned pages or chapters written in the upper right hand corner of the job. Your child's job should only cover this assigned section of the book. HINT: It may be helpful to write a draft and then transfer the content to the final paper. Be sure your child brings the BOOK AND JOB to school every Wednesday. Students give their reports at 8:05 AM. Be sure to have your child practice reading his/her report, so he/she can read it aloud on 10/27.
On Thursday, November 4th, we are scheduled to go to the Aptos Museum from 9:30-10:30. Permission forms will be sent home this week. If you are interested in chaperoning, let me know. Driver paperwork should be submitted to the office ASAP. If you drove to the County fair, we still have your insurance info in the office.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Spelling/math homework packets will go home Monday and are due on Friday. Please be sure to sign EVERY page of your child's packet. Many packets turned in do not have the student's name on every page or parent signature. Also, be sure your child completes his/her Lit Circle assignment. They need to read the assigned pages or chapters written in the upper right hand corner of the job. Your child's job should only cover this assigned section of the book. HINT: It may be helpful to write a draft and then transfer the content to the final paper. Be sure your child brings the BOOK AND JOB to school every Wednesday. Students give their reports at 8:05 AM. Be sure to have your child practice reading his/her report, so he/she can read it aloud on 10/27.
On Thursday, November 4th, we are scheduled to go to the Aptos Museum from 9:30-10:30. Permission forms will be sent home this week. If you are interested in chaperoning, let me know. Driver paperwork should be submitted to the office ASAP. If you drove to the County fair, we still have your insurance info in the office.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
October 18-22, 2010
It was great getting to chat with everyone during conferences. Thank you for taking time out of your schedule to meet and talk about your child. It was also nice seeing so many families at the Harvest Festival. I have to say, the pumpkins and jump house were a big hit for my son.
I am relieved to be back to a normal schedule this week. The regular homework/spelling packet will go home for the story Anthony Reynoso-Born to Rope including the multiplication facts for 3s, 4s, and 5s. We will have a quiz on these facts again next week. We are getting through Chapter 4 of subtracting greater numbers. Be sure your child understands how to borrow. Many have gotten the concept, but it is a hard one and needs a lot of reinforcement. Lit Circles are also underway. Every Wednesday your child will get a new job and book they need to read. Be sure your child is reading ALL of the assigned pages. I will be asking students to take AR quizzes on the computer covering these books. These books can also be used for the weekly reading log that is checked off every Friday.
Mrs. Ortiz is beginning to organize the Halloween party that will be held on Friday, October 29 in Room 21. If you are interested in helping please let her know. We are not sure of the exact time, but it will probably be in the morning after the Halloween parade.
Wish list: pencils. It's amazing how quickly we go through them. If you could send some in that would be great!
Have a great weekend!
I am relieved to be back to a normal schedule this week. The regular homework/spelling packet will go home for the story Anthony Reynoso-Born to Rope including the multiplication facts for 3s, 4s, and 5s. We will have a quiz on these facts again next week. We are getting through Chapter 4 of subtracting greater numbers. Be sure your child understands how to borrow. Many have gotten the concept, but it is a hard one and needs a lot of reinforcement. Lit Circles are also underway. Every Wednesday your child will get a new job and book they need to read. Be sure your child is reading ALL of the assigned pages. I will be asking students to take AR quizzes on the computer covering these books. These books can also be used for the weekly reading log that is checked off every Friday.
Mrs. Ortiz is beginning to organize the Halloween party that will be held on Friday, October 29 in Room 21. If you are interested in helping please let her know. We are not sure of the exact time, but it will probably be in the morning after the Halloween parade.
Wish list: pencils. It's amazing how quickly we go through them. If you could send some in that would be great!
Have a great weekend!
Saturday, October 9, 2010
October 11-15, 2010
Conference week begins this Monday. THERE WILL BE NO HOMEWORK CLUB. Everyday will be restructured with students getting out at 12:20. I look forward to speaking with all of you about your child's progress so far this year.
Instead of a spelling packet this week, there will be a comprehension page with main idea and details attached to multiplication of the 3's, 4's, and 5's. This packet will be due on Friday. Landform projects are due this Tuesday. Please be sure that every part is labeled and the dimensions are no more than 12x18 inches.
Literature Circle Job is due this Wednesday, October 13th. Please be sure your child reads ALL of the assigned pages or chapters written on the upper right or left hand corner of the job. Your child's job should only cover this assigned section of the book. HINT: It may be helpful to write a draft and then transfer the content to the final paper. On Wednesday, be sure your child brings the BOOK AND JOB to school. Students give their reports around 8:05 AM. Be sure to have your child practice reading his/her report, so he/she can read it aloud on 10/13. It's important that the book be turned in on time so that they do not get lost.
In math we are beginning subtraction up to the thousands with borrowing. Some students need to practice borrowing of 2 digit numbers before going further to larger numbers. Your child may need support with his/her homework. I will slow down a bit through this chapter, so math homework will vary this week and next.
We began the pig projects last week and need some more paper towel/toilet paper rolls on Monday so we can finish this week. I have had some wonderful help with this project and am very thankful to those who have come in to this gluey, messy project. They will be cute when finished, but it has not been an easy task.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Instead of a spelling packet this week, there will be a comprehension page with main idea and details attached to multiplication of the 3's, 4's, and 5's. This packet will be due on Friday. Landform projects are due this Tuesday. Please be sure that every part is labeled and the dimensions are no more than 12x18 inches.
Literature Circle Job is due this Wednesday, October 13th. Please be sure your child reads ALL of the assigned pages or chapters written on the upper right or left hand corner of the job. Your child's job should only cover this assigned section of the book. HINT: It may be helpful to write a draft and then transfer the content to the final paper. On Wednesday, be sure your child brings the BOOK AND JOB to school. Students give their reports around 8:05 AM. Be sure to have your child practice reading his/her report, so he/she can read it aloud on 10/13. It's important that the book be turned in on time so that they do not get lost.
In math we are beginning subtraction up to the thousands with borrowing. Some students need to practice borrowing of 2 digit numbers before going further to larger numbers. Your child may need support with his/her homework. I will slow down a bit through this chapter, so math homework will vary this week and next.
We began the pig projects last week and need some more paper towel/toilet paper rolls on Monday so we can finish this week. I have had some wonderful help with this project and am very thankful to those who have come in to this gluey, messy project. They will be cute when finished, but it has not been an easy task.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
October 4-8, 2010
This week we begin a new Theme in our reading curriculum called Celebrating Traditions. A spelling/homework packet for The Keeping Quilt will go home Monday due Friday. We will continue with Chapter 3 in HM Math on adding greater numbers. Your child should be able to add multiple 3 and 4 digit numbers. A timed test for the 2s, 3s, and 4s was given on Friday. Most kids did really well. For the next 4 weeks, we will focus on the 3s, 4s and 5s. I will show you how they did during conferences. A reminder for conferences was sent home on Thursday with your time and date. If you did not receive this please check your child's backpack or contact me.
This Wednesday the Rotary Club will donate free dictionaries to all 3rd grade classes at 8:00 a.m. These dictionaries are a great resource for home and school. We will not begin Lit Circles on that day, probably next week. We just finished Charlotte's Web on Friday. I was hoping to begin AR quizzes in the computer lab, but the lab has been on the brink. So, hopefully kids can begin soon. Since we are not doing Lit Circles this Wednesday, if parents would like to help later in the day with an art project, please let me know. Students will make a pig out of paper mache. This project takes about 3 steps and is VERY messy. I am collecting newspaper and paper towel/toilet paper cylinders for the project. Also, if you have any aluminum foil to donate that would be greatly appreciated. This is used to place the wet pigs on to dry. If volunteers would like to come Wednesday at 11:00, they can begin setting up and blowing balloons. We can set up the picnic tables and work on this project during PE time from 11:35-12:10.
I think that's all for now. Have a great weekend and see you soon!
This Wednesday the Rotary Club will donate free dictionaries to all 3rd grade classes at 8:00 a.m. These dictionaries are a great resource for home and school. We will not begin Lit Circles on that day, probably next week. We just finished Charlotte's Web on Friday. I was hoping to begin AR quizzes in the computer lab, but the lab has been on the brink. So, hopefully kids can begin soon. Since we are not doing Lit Circles this Wednesday, if parents would like to help later in the day with an art project, please let me know. Students will make a pig out of paper mache. This project takes about 3 steps and is VERY messy. I am collecting newspaper and paper towel/toilet paper cylinders for the project. Also, if you have any aluminum foil to donate that would be greatly appreciated. This is used to place the wet pigs on to dry. If volunteers would like to come Wednesday at 11:00, they can begin setting up and blowing balloons. We can set up the picnic tables and work on this project during PE time from 11:35-12:10.
I think that's all for now. Have a great weekend and see you soon!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Sept. 27-Oct.1, 2010
I can't believe October is just around the corner! We have already completed Theme 1 in our Houghton Mifflin Reading Series. A Theme test will be given this week covering grammar and reading skills from the stories The Lost and Found, The Ballad of Mulan, and The Waterfall. Be sure your child knows the difference between subject/predicate in a sentence as well as what a statement, command, exclamation, and question are. A Theme 1 Review Spelling list will go home Monday and is due Friday, Oct. 1. This packet will include a page for ABC order, practice book pages, and multiplication facts 2-4. A timed quiz will be given later in the week for these facts only. Also, a math test for Chapter 2 will be given on Tuesday. I have cut and paste a bit to make a test covering greater than, less than, rounding, and place value review. Math homework for Monday night will consist of a Chapter 2 practice test. Be sure your child understands rounding. It is a concept that is hard for many students and needs reinforcement. On Friday, October 1 I will collect the September reading log and a new one for October will be sent home on October 4. Also, we will begin Lit. Circles in a few weeks. Thanks to all who signed up to help. I will contact you soon.
Conferences are also coming up for the week of October 11-15. The whole week are restructured days, so students go home at 12:20. I am working on the master schedule and will send home a copy to you sometime this week. I tried my best to accommodate your time and a few parents still haven't signed up. If you have not signed up for a time, please send in 2-3 choices and I can fit you in. As mentioned at Back to School Night, a phone conference is perfectly fine and we can set that up in lieu of you coming in during the day.
Have a great weekend!
Conferences are also coming up for the week of October 11-15. The whole week are restructured days, so students go home at 12:20. I am working on the master schedule and will send home a copy to you sometime this week. I tried my best to accommodate your time and a few parents still haven't signed up. If you have not signed up for a time, please send in 2-3 choices and I can fit you in. As mentioned at Back to School Night, a phone conference is perfectly fine and we can set that up in lieu of you coming in during the day.
Have a great weekend!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Sept. 20-25, 2010
It was great meeting you all at Back to School Night. I hope all of your questions were answered, and feel free to email me when needed. I forgot to mention that this blog is updated weekly, so be sure to check regularly to see what is going on. Also, if you didn't get a chance to sign up for conferences, I can email you available times.
A spelling/homework packet for The Waterfall will be sent home Monday due on Friday. Attached are practice pages for 2s-4s. Students will be tested on these facts next week. We are having a place value test (Chapter 1) on Monday and beginning Chapter 2 in Houghton Mifflin Math.
Picture day is coming up this Thursday. If you haven't sent in an envelope to order pictures, please due so before Sept. 24. I will then distribute envelopes to the photographers at the time of your child's photo. Speaking of photographers, our class is still looking for someone who would like to be OUR photographer. This person can take pictures on field trips, parties, and other events. If you are interested please contact me or parent alliance.
Thank you to the drivers who came along to the County Fair. Students had a wonderful time and we always appreciate your help.
Have a great weekend!
A spelling/homework packet for The Waterfall will be sent home Monday due on Friday. Attached are practice pages for 2s-4s. Students will be tested on these facts next week. We are having a place value test (Chapter 1) on Monday and beginning Chapter 2 in Houghton Mifflin Math.
Picture day is coming up this Thursday. If you haven't sent in an envelope to order pictures, please due so before Sept. 24. I will then distribute envelopes to the photographers at the time of your child's photo. Speaking of photographers, our class is still looking for someone who would like to be OUR photographer. This person can take pictures on field trips, parties, and other events. If you are interested please contact me or parent alliance.
Thank you to the drivers who came along to the County Fair. Students had a wonderful time and we always appreciate your help.
Have a great weekend!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Sept. 13-17, 2010
Hope you are enjoying the lovely weekend. Here are the upcoming events for the week:
Homework packet for the Ballad of Mulan will be sent home on Monday, due Friday, along with 3 pages of multiplication facts 2-4. We will have a test on these facts in 2 weeks. Be sure you and your child review these facts continually throughout the year. It's crucial to learn them in 3rd grade. Also, there were several packets turned in without names written on the pages. Please be sure to check your child's work, initial each page, and be sure their name is written on ALL pages. We finished Graphing and Probability in math last week and have come back to Chapter 1 with Place Value. I was impressed with how well most students performed on the test.
On Friday a Volunteer Sign Up sheet was sent home with your child. Please choose how you would like to volunteer and I will do my best to acommodate your time. I have spots for volunteers in the classroom, as well as help that can be done at home. Please return this by Monday so I can get the schedule together by Back to School Night this Thursday at 6:00. Hope to see you all there.
Our first field trip is this Thursday to the SC County Fair. This will last most of the day so be sure to pack a sack lunch, water, and sunscreen. Students will not be allowed to buy food or other items at the fair, so please NO MONEY. All students are free and I have tickets to cover most if not all parents. You will just need to pay for parking.
Have a great weekend and see you soon!
Homework packet for the Ballad of Mulan will be sent home on Monday, due Friday, along with 3 pages of multiplication facts 2-4. We will have a test on these facts in 2 weeks. Be sure you and your child review these facts continually throughout the year. It's crucial to learn them in 3rd grade. Also, there were several packets turned in without names written on the pages. Please be sure to check your child's work, initial each page, and be sure their name is written on ALL pages. We finished Graphing and Probability in math last week and have come back to Chapter 1 with Place Value. I was impressed with how well most students performed on the test.
On Friday a Volunteer Sign Up sheet was sent home with your child. Please choose how you would like to volunteer and I will do my best to acommodate your time. I have spots for volunteers in the classroom, as well as help that can be done at home. Please return this by Monday so I can get the schedule together by Back to School Night this Thursday at 6:00. Hope to see you all there.
Our first field trip is this Thursday to the SC County Fair. This will last most of the day so be sure to pack a sack lunch, water, and sunscreen. Students will not be allowed to buy food or other items at the fair, so please NO MONEY. All students are free and I have tickets to cover most if not all parents. You will just need to pay for parking.
Have a great weekend and see you soon!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Sept. 7-10, 2010
Hope you are all enjoying the 3 day weekend. Students have been in school for 2 weeks by now and are beginning to get the procedures and routines of class. Most students are doing a wonderful job, but some need to be reminded to raise their hands as well as work quietly. I expect ALL students to be respectful of others learning and remind them that they can talk to their friends during recess. I have cracked down on going to the bathroom as well. I know we have a long stretch (2 hours) between 9:30 and 11:35, so if your child has an issue, please let me know ASAP. The rule is that students must go during their break time (as I do) and will miss 5 minutes of recess if class time is interrupted.
Since Monday is a holiday, a new homework/spelling packet will go home on Tuesday. The packet contains a Spelling List with ABC Order, sentences on the back to study for dictation, spelling practice page(s), and multiplication table practice due Friday, September 10. Please be sure that your child completes ALL PAGES NEATLY (All letters sitting on lines, mistakes erased completely & rewritten nicely). I stress the importance of nice handwriting too. By 3rd grade, this should not be an issue. FOR THE MATH SECTION OF THE PACKET, be sure to follow all of the directions on the sheets. It's very important that your child SAY and WRITE the answers aloud. The spelling test will be this Friday and the Math Fact Test on 2, 3, & 4's will be in 3 weeks. We will also have a math test (chapters 22 & 23) this Wednesday. This will cover Graphing and Probability. On Thursday we will begin with Chapter 1, so hopefully the review at the bottom will be more accurate.
A September reading log went home last week. Each student must be completing this on a daily basis. Every afternoon/evening, Monday-Thursday, your child is required to read ALOUD (not silently) to you for 15 minutes. You are required to sign EVERY box after he/she reads. Contracts are due every week on Friday with 8 boxes filled in. so that I can check progress. When Literature Circle Books are assigned, I want your child to read that book to you, but in the mean time NO PICTURE BOOKS. Your child should be reading books at his/her reading level to increase fluency (105 words per minute is the goal for 3rd grade.) Several students forgot to turn in their reading log last week. Please be sure your child turns in homework on time. EACH STUDENT should have ample time to complete assignments. If you would like to receive the weekly spelling homework on Friday, please let me know. I can accommodate your child if needed. Thank you for supporting your child with this very important task :-)
I'm looking for a volunteer who would like to do Scholastic Book Orders for the class. If you are interested, I have several pamphlets that can be sent home. Scholastic is offering extra bonus points for ordering this time of year. Let me know if you would like to help with this.
It looks like we are all set for the field trip on September 16. We have plenty of chaperones for the County Fair. I may double up a few parents to save on the cost of parking. Be sure to get in your driver information to the office.
That's all for now! I usually update my blog on the weekends, so be sure to check every week to see what's going on in Room 21. I would like to thank, again, the parents who have helped with getting homework packets stapled, papers corrected, pages pulled out of practice books and photocopying. I truly APPRECIATE your help and support.
Since Monday is a holiday, a new homework/spelling packet will go home on Tuesday. The packet contains a Spelling List with ABC Order, sentences on the back to study for dictation, spelling practice page(s), and multiplication table practice due Friday, September 10. Please be sure that your child completes ALL PAGES NEATLY (All letters sitting on lines, mistakes erased completely & rewritten nicely). I stress the importance of nice handwriting too. By 3rd grade, this should not be an issue. FOR THE MATH SECTION OF THE PACKET, be sure to follow all of the directions on the sheets. It's very important that your child SAY and WRITE the answers aloud. The spelling test will be this Friday and the Math Fact Test on 2, 3, & 4's will be in 3 weeks. We will also have a math test (chapters 22 & 23) this Wednesday. This will cover Graphing and Probability. On Thursday we will begin with Chapter 1, so hopefully the review at the bottom will be more accurate.
A September reading log went home last week. Each student must be completing this on a daily basis. Every afternoon/evening, Monday-Thursday, your child is required to read ALOUD (not silently) to you for 15 minutes. You are required to sign EVERY box after he/she reads. Contracts are due every week on Friday with 8 boxes filled in. so that I can check progress. When Literature Circle Books are assigned, I want your child to read that book to you, but in the mean time NO PICTURE BOOKS. Your child should be reading books at his/her reading level to increase fluency (105 words per minute is the goal for 3rd grade.) Several students forgot to turn in their reading log last week. Please be sure your child turns in homework on time. EACH STUDENT should have ample time to complete assignments. If you would like to receive the weekly spelling homework on Friday, please let me know. I can accommodate your child if needed. Thank you for supporting your child with this very important task :-)
I'm looking for a volunteer who would like to do Scholastic Book Orders for the class. If you are interested, I have several pamphlets that can be sent home. Scholastic is offering extra bonus points for ordering this time of year. Let me know if you would like to help with this.
It looks like we are all set for the field trip on September 16. We have plenty of chaperones for the County Fair. I may double up a few parents to save on the cost of parking. Be sure to get in your driver information to the office.
That's all for now! I usually update my blog on the weekends, so be sure to check every week to see what's going on in Room 21. I would like to thank, again, the parents who have helped with getting homework packets stapled, papers corrected, pages pulled out of practice books and photocopying. I truly APPRECIATE your help and support.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Aug 30-Sept 3, 2010
Happy first week of school! We made it despite the soaring temperatures on Monday and Tuesday. I have to say I was glad to see the fog roll in mid week. The students and I are getting to know each other and settling in. We've gone over school and class rules as well as procedures and expectations this week. Students brought home, in their own handwriting, the consequence chart as well as positive incentive chart. I will review this again at Back to School Night on September 16. All students were very excited to be back at school and beginning the 2nd week, we will really begin to dive into the curriculum.
I know last week an abundance of papers went home for you to sign. Most students brought in the yellow emergency card and internet agreement form. Both of these forms need to be turned in ASAP.
On Monday students will bring home a spelling list of the months and days of the week to study. This is due on Friday, but may be turned in sooner. Please be sure to check the homework. All homework must have the student's name and be done neatly in pencil only. A reading log for September will also be sent home on Monday. Children are to read OUT LOUD for 15 minutes each day and return the log to be stamped on Friday. This is an ORAL reading contract and doesn't include the hours of silent reading your child may do each week. Please sign the log each day, but your kid can fill out the rest.
As you probably noticed last week, the math homework can be quite challenging. We began with chapters 22 and 23 and will go back to the beginning with chapter 1 in a week or so. Since we skipped ahead, a lot of the review problems at the bottom have not been taught. Your child may attempt these problems, otherwise don't worry about them. I will try to cross off the problems that we haven't covered. I appreciate the support that you've given your kids. Please remember that homework needs to be turned in on time. We review the math in class every day and if a child has not done the homework, they are missing instructional time. I will accept late homework if there is a note sent to me. I know things come up, but prefer kids to keep up and develop the habits that they'll need throughout their school and work life. A few students also need to bring in their Mystery Bags, which were due on Friday.
On Monday students will be bringing home a permission slip for our first field trip, to the SC County Fair. Please return these slips immediately, especially if you are volunteering to drive. The district is requiring us to hand in the Driver Forms well in advance of the actual field trip, on the 16th of September. The first six volunteers to return their slips will get free admission to the fair; all others will have to pay their own admission. Students get in free.
A big thank you to all who were able to give donations to our classroom. Any contribution is greatly appreciated! Also, there have been many parents who have already helped out with putting together homework packets, pulling out math pages, photocopying, and correcting work. I can not thank you enough for this help. I know many of you are eager to help in the classroom, so a schedule will be passed around during Back to School Night.
I'm looking forward to a great year. Hope to meet all of you very soon!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Maraldo
I know last week an abundance of papers went home for you to sign. Most students brought in the yellow emergency card and internet agreement form. Both of these forms need to be turned in ASAP.
On Monday students will bring home a spelling list of the months and days of the week to study. This is due on Friday, but may be turned in sooner. Please be sure to check the homework. All homework must have the student's name and be done neatly in pencil only. A reading log for September will also be sent home on Monday. Children are to read OUT LOUD for 15 minutes each day and return the log to be stamped on Friday. This is an ORAL reading contract and doesn't include the hours of silent reading your child may do each week. Please sign the log each day, but your kid can fill out the rest.
As you probably noticed last week, the math homework can be quite challenging. We began with chapters 22 and 23 and will go back to the beginning with chapter 1 in a week or so. Since we skipped ahead, a lot of the review problems at the bottom have not been taught. Your child may attempt these problems, otherwise don't worry about them. I will try to cross off the problems that we haven't covered. I appreciate the support that you've given your kids. Please remember that homework needs to be turned in on time. We review the math in class every day and if a child has not done the homework, they are missing instructional time. I will accept late homework if there is a note sent to me. I know things come up, but prefer kids to keep up and develop the habits that they'll need throughout their school and work life. A few students also need to bring in their Mystery Bags, which were due on Friday.
On Monday students will be bringing home a permission slip for our first field trip, to the SC County Fair. Please return these slips immediately, especially if you are volunteering to drive. The district is requiring us to hand in the Driver Forms well in advance of the actual field trip, on the 16th of September. The first six volunteers to return their slips will get free admission to the fair; all others will have to pay their own admission. Students get in free.
A big thank you to all who were able to give donations to our classroom. Any contribution is greatly appreciated! Also, there have been many parents who have already helped out with putting together homework packets, pulling out math pages, photocopying, and correcting work. I can not thank you enough for this help. I know many of you are eager to help in the classroom, so a schedule will be passed around during Back to School Night.
I'm looking forward to a great year. Hope to meet all of you very soon!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Maraldo
Sunday, August 22, 2010
August 23-27, 2010
Dear Parents and Students,
Welcome to 3rd grade! It was great meeting some of you on Friday and also seeing familiar faces. A big thank you to those who came by to pick up practice books. ALL help this year will be greatly appreciated.
We will begin reading Charlotte's Web tomorrow in class, so if you have a copy please bring it in. An assignment called "Mystery Bags" will be sent home and due on Friday(I will explain this in class). Also, beginning on Tuesday, HM math homework will be sent home. Math homework is assigned Monday through Thursday and due the very next day. There will be a small note attached to the first math assignment which explains what the expectations are.
Remember to check my post every weekend. It will list upcoming events and homework assignments. Have a great last day of summer vacation. See you tomorrow!
Welcome to 3rd grade! It was great meeting some of you on Friday and also seeing familiar faces. A big thank you to those who came by to pick up practice books. ALL help this year will be greatly appreciated.
We will begin reading Charlotte's Web tomorrow in class, so if you have a copy please bring it in. An assignment called "Mystery Bags" will be sent home and due on Friday(I will explain this in class). Also, beginning on Tuesday, HM math homework will be sent home. Math homework is assigned Monday through Thursday and due the very next day. There will be a small note attached to the first math assignment which explains what the expectations are.
Remember to check my post every weekend. It will list upcoming events and homework assignments. Have a great last day of summer vacation. See you tomorrow!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Volunteers
Hello again! I won't be setting up an official volunteer schedule until Back to School Night, but I am looking for 2 volunteers who would be willing to tear out pages in both the math and language arts practice books during the first week of school. If you would like to help with this, let me know. You can drop by on Friday to pick them up or I can send practice books home with your child a little bit at a time.
Again, I look forward to meeting all of you very soon!
Again, I look forward to meeting all of you very soon!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Welcome Back!
I hope you all had a relaxing, wonderful summer. As sad as we are for it to end, we should also be excited and geared up to begin a new school year. I'm looking forward to all of your smiling faces on Monday, August 23. Here are some important changes for the year:
New start time is 7:55
End time 2:10
Restructured days are on Wednesday with a dismissal time of 12:10
Our class is now in Room 21 directly across from Mrs. Terribilini's class
Please take a look at the supply list on the right. I know many students enjoy pencil boxes, but please do not bring them in. They are too bulky and take up space. A small pouch is fine. Due to lack of funds, additional pencils, white copy paper, and wide ruled binder paper are always greatly appreciated.
My blog is updated weekly (usually every Sunday). It contains upcoming events and basic information about our class regarding homework, field trips, and projects. Please be sure to check on a regular basis. For the first week of school, I am looking for a volunteer who would like to take pictures of each student. If you are interested pleas email me: athena_maraldo@pvusd.net
Friday, May 28, 2010
Last Week! June 1-4, 2010
Can't believe this is it, our last week of school. Where did the year go!?
Being the final week of 3rd grade, there's not much as far as academics go. On Tuesday, students will have their last Spanish class in the morning, turn in their Literature Circle job and book (we are still missing a few books, please look around your house this weekend),and have a GATE test. All 3rd graders will be tested unless you sent in a form stating that your child NOT take the test. Yearbooks will also be given out on Tuesday.
On a side note, a few students need to turn in their library books. You will be notified if your child has a book out. The book needs to be turned in by Thursday or paid if lost.
As you all know, Wednesday is the end of the year party at Seacliff Beach. Due to an incident with the jumpy house last year, we have decided to enjoy a day at the beach instead. I was a bit disappointed when students complained about having to go to the beach again. Some students do not want to go and therefore have decided to miss school. Please remember that each day a child is out of school, the district loses money. This will be a fun day to enjoy with friends, even if they can't go in the water. We are very fortunate to live in such a beautiful place. How many students in the world can say that they are able go to the beach during a school day? If you haven't turned in the field trip form and $5.00, please do so by Tuesday. Mrs. Nigh is collecting money for all 3rd grade classes by June 1. The $5.00 covers the cost of food for the day.
On Thursday, students will clean up the classroom and take home any work or books that they would like to keep. Mrs. Maraldo will say goodbye to the kids then. Students will finish the last day with Mrs. Sandman. Final report cards will go home.
We would like to thank ALL of the families who helped and supported us this year. We couldn't do it without your dedication. Have a wonderful and restful summer!
Being the final week of 3rd grade, there's not much as far as academics go. On Tuesday, students will have their last Spanish class in the morning, turn in their Literature Circle job and book (we are still missing a few books, please look around your house this weekend),and have a GATE test. All 3rd graders will be tested unless you sent in a form stating that your child NOT take the test. Yearbooks will also be given out on Tuesday.
On a side note, a few students need to turn in their library books. You will be notified if your child has a book out. The book needs to be turned in by Thursday or paid if lost.
As you all know, Wednesday is the end of the year party at Seacliff Beach. Due to an incident with the jumpy house last year, we have decided to enjoy a day at the beach instead. I was a bit disappointed when students complained about having to go to the beach again. Some students do not want to go and therefore have decided to miss school. Please remember that each day a child is out of school, the district loses money. This will be a fun day to enjoy with friends, even if they can't go in the water. We are very fortunate to live in such a beautiful place. How many students in the world can say that they are able go to the beach during a school day? If you haven't turned in the field trip form and $5.00, please do so by Tuesday. Mrs. Nigh is collecting money for all 3rd grade classes by June 1. The $5.00 covers the cost of food for the day.
On Thursday, students will clean up the classroom and take home any work or books that they would like to keep. Mrs. Maraldo will say goodbye to the kids then. Students will finish the last day with Mrs. Sandman. Final report cards will go home.
We would like to thank ALL of the families who helped and supported us this year. We couldn't do it without your dedication. Have a wonderful and restful summer!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
May 24-28, 2010
Can't believe this is our last full week! We will try to keep the routines going this week so the students don't go completely wacky with summer on the rise.
The last spelling packet will go home on Monday due Friday. Students will read one more week of Lit. Circle books. We are still missing a few Catwings and other books, so please be sure to check your house for these. We'll finish off Chapter 27 in math covering capacity and volume. This would be a good time to cook with your child at home to reinforce these types of measurements.
The end of the year beach party is coming up next Wednesday, June 2. A permission form was sent home a few weeks ago about this. If you did not receive one, please send a note so I can get you another form. We are asking $5.00 for this trip to cover the cost of food. I will let the students know who needs to bring it in and the parents who are chaperoning. Thanks in advance for those who can join us for the party.
GATE testing for all 3rd grade students will be held on Tuesday, June 2. All students will be tested unless you send in the form not giving permission. If your child is identified, you'll get notice after testing is complete and scored.
That's all for now! Enjoy your weekend.
The last spelling packet will go home on Monday due Friday. Students will read one more week of Lit. Circle books. We are still missing a few Catwings and other books, so please be sure to check your house for these. We'll finish off Chapter 27 in math covering capacity and volume. This would be a good time to cook with your child at home to reinforce these types of measurements.
The end of the year beach party is coming up next Wednesday, June 2. A permission form was sent home a few weeks ago about this. If you did not receive one, please send a note so I can get you another form. We are asking $5.00 for this trip to cover the cost of food. I will let the students know who needs to bring it in and the parents who are chaperoning. Thanks in advance for those who can join us for the party.
GATE testing for all 3rd grade students will be held on Tuesday, June 2. All students will be tested unless you send in the form not giving permission. If your child is identified, you'll get notice after testing is complete and scored.
That's all for now! Enjoy your weekend.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
May 17-21, 2010
Hello parents! Thank you all for coming to Open House. The kids seemed excited to show you around and share their work as well as their classmates dioramas.
This week we are somewhat back to normal. A short spelling packet will go home on Monday and will be due on Friday. No sentences are required for homework this week. We have been practicing long division in math and are moving to 3 digit numbers. Some kids really get the process, while others are struggling but want to learn. This is great practice for 4th grade. Lit Circles will go until June 1. That means students will receive only 2 more jobs. Please be sure to check your house for any books that may belong to the school. We are missing a few Catwings (Catwings Returns and Alexander and Catwings) books and one e-search book.
Also, this Thursday all 1-3 grade classes will be attending The Princess and the Pea at the Mello Center in Watsonville. If you haven't submitted the permission form and $7.00 for admission (I know we've been asking for a lot these days), please do so before Thursday. If you are having a hardship and can not pay, just let us know. The end of the year party at Seacliff Beach is also coming up. Students need to turn in permission forms and $5.00 for this. We still need a few more drivers.
Hope you all have a restful, nice weekend. It was great seeing you on Thursday!
This week we are somewhat back to normal. A short spelling packet will go home on Monday and will be due on Friday. No sentences are required for homework this week. We have been practicing long division in math and are moving to 3 digit numbers. Some kids really get the process, while others are struggling but want to learn. This is great practice for 4th grade. Lit Circles will go until June 1. That means students will receive only 2 more jobs. Please be sure to check your house for any books that may belong to the school. We are missing a few Catwings (Catwings Returns and Alexander and Catwings) books and one e-search book.
Also, this Thursday all 1-3 grade classes will be attending The Princess and the Pea at the Mello Center in Watsonville. If you haven't submitted the permission form and $7.00 for admission (I know we've been asking for a lot these days), please do so before Thursday. If you are having a hardship and can not pay, just let us know. The end of the year party at Seacliff Beach is also coming up. Students need to turn in permission forms and $5.00 for this. We still need a few more drivers.
Hope you all have a restful, nice weekend. It was great seeing you on Thursday!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
May 10-14, 2010
A HUGE thank you to the parents who pitched in with tickets for us to go to the auction. It's wonderful seeing people donate and give to our school.
Our class is officially done with STAR testing. Students were eager to complete the test and many actually enjoyed it. Surprise, surprise! That's a great sign, because most students tried hard and felt confident. Hopefully the test scores will reflect what they learned this year.
With our dioramas and mammal reports due on Tuesday, there will be no spelling packet this week. On Monday, students should complete their covers and final drafts in class (if they didn't finish on Friday) to be turned in this Tuesday. For those who do not complete their final draft on Monday, they will need to bring it home to finish. Lit Circle jobs and books are also due on Tuesday, so please be sure both are brought to school. We continue to hear excuses as to why Lit. Circles are not done. Students have a whole week to complete their assignment, so please make this a priority. We know that school is coming to an end quickly, but still want to enforce the importance of turning in work on time.
A reminder that this Thursday is Open House from 6:30-8:00. Students will have their dioramas displayed on their desks and a video from the Biography speeches will be available to view. Mrs. Feldbrugge is putting the video together. There will be a sign up sheet to request a CD. Hope you all can make it!
See you soon!
Our class is officially done with STAR testing. Students were eager to complete the test and many actually enjoyed it. Surprise, surprise! That's a great sign, because most students tried hard and felt confident. Hopefully the test scores will reflect what they learned this year.
With our dioramas and mammal reports due on Tuesday, there will be no spelling packet this week. On Monday, students should complete their covers and final drafts in class (if they didn't finish on Friday) to be turned in this Tuesday. For those who do not complete their final draft on Monday, they will need to bring it home to finish. Lit Circle jobs and books are also due on Tuesday, so please be sure both are brought to school. We continue to hear excuses as to why Lit. Circles are not done. Students have a whole week to complete their assignment, so please make this a priority. We know that school is coming to an end quickly, but still want to enforce the importance of turning in work on time.
A reminder that this Thursday is Open House from 6:30-8:00. Students will have their dioramas displayed on their desks and a video from the Biography speeches will be available to view. Mrs. Feldbrugge is putting the video together. There will be a sign up sheet to request a CD. Hope you all can make it!
See you soon!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
May 3-7, 2010
Can't believe it's already May!
STAR testing began on Friday for Math. We will continue to test beginning again on Monday and hopefully will finish by Friday. Be sure that your child gets a good nights rest and a filling breakfast this week. Any students who are absent will have to do a make up test when they return back to school. They will be pulled from class to do this.
Homework will be fairly light this week. A short spelling packet will be sent home on Monday. Sentences will not be required this week. The usual HM Math will be sent home, but students will not need to do the leveled problems on the back, only the front of the math page. We are working on the rough draft of the animal reports this week. Paragraph #1 was started on Friday and hopefully students can finish this week. The rough draft will probably be sent home for parents to help edit. The final draft will be hand written in class (for early finishers), and at home (for those who need additional time). A speech is not required for this project, only the report and diorama. Dioramas are due on Tuesday, May 11. Late projects will not be accepted. Everyone should be able to turn in this assignment on time.
This Thursday we have another field trip to the Agricultural History Museum at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. Please be sure to send your child with a sack lunch. We will leave school at 9:15 and arrive back at approximately 12:30. The cost of this trip is $4.00 per student. We have another trip to see The Princess and the Pea at the Mello Center in Watsonville on May 20. We can only bring 3 chaperones per class. !st-3rd grade students will go on the school bus, while parents carpool with each other. The first 3 parents to send in their chaperone form will be able to go. The cost of this one is a little pricy, $7.00 per student. If you have a hardship, please let us know.
Our class started Spectra Art 2 weeks ago with drawing and painting. Student art work will be displayed at Open House for you to view. You will be very impressed with what your child has created. If you have any wipes to send in please do so as our desks get very messy from the paints.
Thank you SO MUCH to all of the volunteers and chaperones that have helped us out this year. You have been such a great support. Enjoy the sunshine this weekend!
STAR testing began on Friday for Math. We will continue to test beginning again on Monday and hopefully will finish by Friday. Be sure that your child gets a good nights rest and a filling breakfast this week. Any students who are absent will have to do a make up test when they return back to school. They will be pulled from class to do this.
Homework will be fairly light this week. A short spelling packet will be sent home on Monday. Sentences will not be required this week. The usual HM Math will be sent home, but students will not need to do the leveled problems on the back, only the front of the math page. We are working on the rough draft of the animal reports this week. Paragraph #1 was started on Friday and hopefully students can finish this week. The rough draft will probably be sent home for parents to help edit. The final draft will be hand written in class (for early finishers), and at home (for those who need additional time). A speech is not required for this project, only the report and diorama. Dioramas are due on Tuesday, May 11. Late projects will not be accepted. Everyone should be able to turn in this assignment on time.
This Thursday we have another field trip to the Agricultural History Museum at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. Please be sure to send your child with a sack lunch. We will leave school at 9:15 and arrive back at approximately 12:30. The cost of this trip is $4.00 per student. We have another trip to see The Princess and the Pea at the Mello Center in Watsonville on May 20. We can only bring 3 chaperones per class. !st-3rd grade students will go on the school bus, while parents carpool with each other. The first 3 parents to send in their chaperone form will be able to go. The cost of this one is a little pricy, $7.00 per student. If you have a hardship, please let us know.
Our class started Spectra Art 2 weeks ago with drawing and painting. Student art work will be displayed at Open House for you to view. You will be very impressed with what your child has created. If you have any wipes to send in please do so as our desks get very messy from the paints.
Thank you SO MUCH to all of the volunteers and chaperones that have helped us out this year. You have been such a great support. Enjoy the sunshine this weekend!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
April 26-30, 2010
A new spelling packet for Ramona Quimby will be due on Friday, April 30. Mammal reports were under way last week in class. All students should have completed the notes to paragraph 3 by last Friday. Tomorrow, we will continue on with paragraph 4, so if your child was absent or did not get the notes done in class, they will have to complete it for homework during the week. A letter was sent home describing the diorama that students should construct at home. These are due on Tuesday, May 11. The dioramas should be turned in on time, so plan accordingly. We are hearing several excuses from students about why their homework is not done or turned in. Most kids turn homework in on time, but there are a few that consistently forget to bring it, or simply tell us they didn't have time to finish. The nightly math should not take more than 30 minutes, tops. Spelling packets are simple and should take maybe 30-45 minutes per week. Reading logs are due every Friday for Mrs. Sandman to check. Lit circles may take some time to complete, but if the reading is spread out through the week, it can be done. As the year is coming to an end, we are stressing the importance of homework and responsibility, because there will be a lot more work in 4th grade. We want your child to be successful.
STAR Testing begins this week as well. Please be sure your child gets a good nights rest and solid breakfast this week and next. We have a field trip on Thursday to the MAH, so STAR testing will resume on Friday. We also have another field trip scheduled for Thursday, May 6th to the Agricultural History Museum in Watsonville. The cost is $4.00 per child. I believe chaperones are free, but will double check. If you would like to drive, please write a note on the field trip form with the number of students that can fit in your car. For the trip this week to the MAH, ALL students need to bring a sack lunch. We won't return back to school until noon, and they will miss the chance for hot lunch. We are not allowed to eat at the museum, so students may need to eat in the car or when they return back to school.
Thanks again for all of your help and support this year.
Wish list: wipes, sharpened pencils
STAR Testing begins this week as well. Please be sure your child gets a good nights rest and solid breakfast this week and next. We have a field trip on Thursday to the MAH, so STAR testing will resume on Friday. We also have another field trip scheduled for Thursday, May 6th to the Agricultural History Museum in Watsonville. The cost is $4.00 per child. I believe chaperones are free, but will double check. If you would like to drive, please write a note on the field trip form with the number of students that can fit in your car. For the trip this week to the MAH, ALL students need to bring a sack lunch. We won't return back to school until noon, and they will miss the chance for hot lunch. We are not allowed to eat at the museum, so students may need to eat in the car or when they return back to school.
Thanks again for all of your help and support this year.
Wish list: wipes, sharpened pencils
Friday, April 16, 2010
April 19-23, 2010
It was nice to see a lot of smiling faces when students returned this week after an eventful Spring Break. Hope it was restful for parents as well!
Students were asked last week to decide on a mammal they would like to research for the upcoming animal report. A sign up sheet was sent around on Wednesday and most students seemed pretty eager about what they wanted to study. They were taught the attributes of a mammal in science last week, and should have selected an animal with those characteristics. Over the weekend, please help your child find either a book or internet article (at their reading level) to bring in on Monday. I asked that all students read their article and/or begin reading their book so that Monday we could begin this project. It is very important that they come to school prepared. Otherwise, it is hard for them to get started. It was very difficult during Biographies to get to everyone when students did not know the information. A letter will be sent home this week describing the project more in detail. We would like to have this project due by Tuesday, May 11. That should give ample time to present to each other and display during open house.
The spelling packet for Poppa's New Pants will go home Monday, due Friday. Students will continue in their Houghton Mifflin (HM) math books. We wrapped up probability and will work on 2-3 digit multiplication. Students may have additional Excel review pages for homework as well. A reminder that Lit Circles are due every Tuesday. We are still missing many leveled books, so if you find one at home, please send it in.
Looks like we have just enough drivers for our field trip to the MAH on Thursday, April 29. We have another field trip to the Agricultural History Museum on Thursday, April 6. Permission forms have not been sent home yet, hopefully this week we'll get them out.
We'll also begin drawing this Wednesday with the Spectra Arts teacher. She will be with us for the next 5 weeks. I'm sure your child will have some nice pieces to display.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Wish List: wipes and pencils
Students were asked last week to decide on a mammal they would like to research for the upcoming animal report. A sign up sheet was sent around on Wednesday and most students seemed pretty eager about what they wanted to study. They were taught the attributes of a mammal in science last week, and should have selected an animal with those characteristics. Over the weekend, please help your child find either a book or internet article (at their reading level) to bring in on Monday. I asked that all students read their article and/or begin reading their book so that Monday we could begin this project. It is very important that they come to school prepared. Otherwise, it is hard for them to get started. It was very difficult during Biographies to get to everyone when students did not know the information. A letter will be sent home this week describing the project more in detail. We would like to have this project due by Tuesday, May 11. That should give ample time to present to each other and display during open house.
The spelling packet for Poppa's New Pants will go home Monday, due Friday. Students will continue in their Houghton Mifflin (HM) math books. We wrapped up probability and will work on 2-3 digit multiplication. Students may have additional Excel review pages for homework as well. A reminder that Lit Circles are due every Tuesday. We are still missing many leveled books, so if you find one at home, please send it in.
Looks like we have just enough drivers for our field trip to the MAH on Thursday, April 29. We have another field trip to the Agricultural History Museum on Thursday, April 6. Permission forms have not been sent home yet, hopefully this week we'll get them out.
We'll also begin drawing this Wednesday with the Spectra Arts teacher. She will be with us for the next 5 weeks. I'm sure your child will have some nice pieces to display.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Wish List: wipes and pencils
Friday, April 9, 2010
April 12-16, 2010
Hope everyone is enjoying Spring Break. It couldn't have come at a perfect time! As we return from break, with only 8 weeks of school to go, there's a lot of upcoming events.
This week a spelling packet will go home for Pepita Talks Twice, due on Friday. For math, we will continue with probability and begin reviewing past concepts for the upcoming CST. We only have 2 weeks until the testing window begins, so we have a lot of work to do. If you haven't turned in your parent education level form, please do so this week. We will let students know if we haven't received it yet.
The next big project will be a mammal report due sometime before Open House in May. The 3rd grade team will come up with a time line and directions for this project. A letter will be sent home either this week or next about the project. Students were asked before Spring Break to THINK of a mammal they are interested in. It was made clear that they are not supposed to do a report over break. We will begin shortly in class.
We have 2 upcoming field trips. The first is to the MAH in Santa Cruz on Thursday, April 29 from 8:30-11:30. We still need 1-2 more drivers. Please let us know if you are available. The cost of this field trip is $2.00 per child. Also, we have another trip scheduled for Thursday, May 6 to the Agricultural History Project at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. Permission slips for this field trip will go home later this week.
Thanks again to Mrs. Feldbrugge and Mr. Esche for taking time to video the biographies. They were wonderful!
Have a nice weekend and see you soon!
This week a spelling packet will go home for Pepita Talks Twice, due on Friday. For math, we will continue with probability and begin reviewing past concepts for the upcoming CST. We only have 2 weeks until the testing window begins, so we have a lot of work to do. If you haven't turned in your parent education level form, please do so this week. We will let students know if we haven't received it yet.
The next big project will be a mammal report due sometime before Open House in May. The 3rd grade team will come up with a time line and directions for this project. A letter will be sent home either this week or next about the project. Students were asked before Spring Break to THINK of a mammal they are interested in. It was made clear that they are not supposed to do a report over break. We will begin shortly in class.
We have 2 upcoming field trips. The first is to the MAH in Santa Cruz on Thursday, April 29 from 8:30-11:30. We still need 1-2 more drivers. Please let us know if you are available. The cost of this field trip is $2.00 per child. Also, we have another trip scheduled for Thursday, May 6 to the Agricultural History Project at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. Permission slips for this field trip will go home later this week.
Thanks again to Mrs. Feldbrugge and Mr. Esche for taking time to video the biographies. They were wonderful!
Have a nice weekend and see you soon!
Friday, March 26, 2010
March 29-April 1
Happy Friday! Your children have done such an amazing job on their speeches. We are very impressed with what we have seen so far and look forward to hearing more biographies this week. Speech grades will probably go home this week, but we'll need Spring Break to review their reports. On Tuesday, we will be going to the 1st grade play from 8:20-8:50 and will resume speeches when we return to class. Sorry about the time change, but we made the speech schedule before we knew the time of the play. If you plan on observing your child that day, please come in around 8:50. We will start right away when we return to class.
Due to the short week (no school on Friday), there will be no spelling packet going home. Students will continue with math homework and Lit Circles. Also, please send in the field trip form to the Museum of Art History (MAH) along with $2.00. This field trip is on Thursday, April 29 from 8:45-11:45.
That's all for now! Have a nice weekend!
Due to the short week (no school on Friday), there will be no spelling packet going home. Students will continue with math homework and Lit Circles. Also, please send in the field trip form to the Museum of Art History (MAH) along with $2.00. This field trip is on Thursday, April 29 from 8:45-11:45.
That's all for now! Have a nice weekend!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
March 22-26, 2010
What a wonderful break from the rain! Hope you are all enjoying the gorgeous weekend.
The spelling packet that was passed out for Trapped by the Ice last week is due this Friday. A reminder that Lit. Circles need to be completed every Tuesday. Sometimes students will read a few chapters one week and a few the next, so please check the page numbers written on their job. Also it is important that books are turned in on time. It's unfortunate when book sets are not complete because students fail to turn in the book.
This Thursday students will begin Biography speeches. A schedule was sent home last week with the day each student needs to present. Attached to the schedule was a 4 point scoring rubric that will be used to determine their grade for the presentation. Mrs. Feldbrugge and Mr. Esche have kindly offered to video students who would like to be on video. Parents are welcome to come in and watch their child. We're excited to see the enthusiasm of the students.
A field trip form to the Santa Cruz Museum of Art History (MAH) was also sent home last week for April 29th. If you are interested in chaperoning, please fill out the attached chaperone form. The cost for this field trip is $2.00 per student.
Thanks again for all your support this year!
The spelling packet that was passed out for Trapped by the Ice last week is due this Friday. A reminder that Lit. Circles need to be completed every Tuesday. Sometimes students will read a few chapters one week and a few the next, so please check the page numbers written on their job. Also it is important that books are turned in on time. It's unfortunate when book sets are not complete because students fail to turn in the book.
This Thursday students will begin Biography speeches. A schedule was sent home last week with the day each student needs to present. Attached to the schedule was a 4 point scoring rubric that will be used to determine their grade for the presentation. Mrs. Feldbrugge and Mr. Esche have kindly offered to video students who would like to be on video. Parents are welcome to come in and watch their child. We're excited to see the enthusiasm of the students.
A field trip form to the Santa Cruz Museum of Art History (MAH) was also sent home last week for April 29th. If you are interested in chaperoning, please fill out the attached chaperone form. The cost for this field trip is $2.00 per student.
Thanks again for all your support this year!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Spelling Packet Error
Hi all! I made a mistake with the spelling packet that is due next week. The words are for the story Trapped by the Ice. We already did Across the Wide Dark Sea. Sorry for the mistake.
Friday, March 12, 2010
March 15-19, 2010
A big THANK YOU to all who contributed to Mr. Harris' gift for Kaleidescope. He has done a wonderful job with the students and will be missed very much. It was nice having an extra teacher in the classroom for the past 2 months.
Biographies have come along nicely. All students should have their completed report turned in by Monday, March 15. Since we really want students to focus on their speeches over the next week and a half, the spelling packet for Across the Wide Dark Sea will be due in 2 weeks on March 26th. Speeches will begin on Thursday, March 25. We will have about 6 speeches a day, ending on Wednesday, March 31. Mrs. Feldbrugge has kindly offered to video tape on Monday the 29th and Tuesday the 30th. A sign up sheet will go around on this week for students to sign up the day they would like to present. Once all students have signed up, a copy of the schedule will be sent home along with a Speech Scoring Rubric. We hope this has been an enjoyable learning experience for your child.
On a side note, erasers and pencil squishies/grippers have become a hit in our classroom. Students are coming with several(10 or more), of these items. They are causing a distraction during class time and we are asking that these items stay at home. We are fine with 1-2 erasers at the most, but when kids begin trading, it breaks school rules. If we continue to see an abundance of these in/on a child's desk, they be collected. We had a problem with this earlier in the school year and now it has become a problem again. We don't want to punish students for these items, so it would be better for them to just stay at home. Thanks for your support on this.
Also, Jogging for the Arts raised almost $7500. Thank you for all of the donations!
Biographies have come along nicely. All students should have their completed report turned in by Monday, March 15. Since we really want students to focus on their speeches over the next week and a half, the spelling packet for Across the Wide Dark Sea will be due in 2 weeks on March 26th. Speeches will begin on Thursday, March 25. We will have about 6 speeches a day, ending on Wednesday, March 31. Mrs. Feldbrugge has kindly offered to video tape on Monday the 29th and Tuesday the 30th. A sign up sheet will go around on this week for students to sign up the day they would like to present. Once all students have signed up, a copy of the schedule will be sent home along with a Speech Scoring Rubric. We hope this has been an enjoyable learning experience for your child.
On a side note, erasers and pencil squishies/grippers have become a hit in our classroom. Students are coming with several(10 or more), of these items. They are causing a distraction during class time and we are asking that these items stay at home. We are fine with 1-2 erasers at the most, but when kids begin trading, it breaks school rules. If we continue to see an abundance of these in/on a child's desk, they be collected. We had a problem with this earlier in the school year and now it has become a problem again. We don't want to punish students for these items, so it would be better for them to just stay at home. Thanks for your support on this.
Also, Jogging for the Arts raised almost $7500. Thank you for all of the donations!
Friday, March 5, 2010
March 8-12, 2010
Mr. Harris' first week of his solo went very well. Students continued to work on their biographies and made a lot of progress. We will continue working on completing the report in class. Our goal is to have the final typed or hand written report due on Thursday, March 11. This should include a cover page with the title of their report and at least 1 picture. Most students have already started this in class. For those who need additional time, reports will be accepted until Monday, March 15 at the latest. Once the reports are turned in, students will have about 2 weeks to practice their speech and gather up either a costume or props for their project. In the past we have required students to memorize their speech, in first person (for example: I am Benjamin Franklin. I was born on ...), or use note cards. We don't want the students to simply read their report word for word in front of the class. We would like everyone to be prepared and ready by Thursday, March 25. We will begin that day for those who are ready and will go into the week before Spring Break. We will listen to 4-5 speeches per day. ALL speeches will be completed before Spring Break vacation. Mrs. Feldbrugge has offered to video tape those who would like to be video taped.
We apologize if the deadlines for this project have not been clear. You never know how long something like this will take a class to complete, especially with so many more students this year. It's been a challenge supporting everyone, and we appreciate the help you have done at home.
Since we are completing the biographies, there will be no spelling packet this week, only math homework and reading logs. Also, on Tuesday we are having a GATE icon lesson presented to our class and will hold Lit. Circles from 9:00-9:25. If you are a volunteer, please come at this time if you can. Again, some students are consistently forgetting to bring in their Lit. Circle job and book to class on Tuesdays. When their assignment and book is not turned in it can affect the whole group. Someone even turned in one of the books to the Aptos Branch Public Library. If you notice a book that is unfamiliar, please check to see if the book belongs to our classroom first.
Thank you again for all of your support this year! Have a nice, hopefully dry, weekend.
We apologize if the deadlines for this project have not been clear. You never know how long something like this will take a class to complete, especially with so many more students this year. It's been a challenge supporting everyone, and we appreciate the help you have done at home.
Since we are completing the biographies, there will be no spelling packet this week, only math homework and reading logs. Also, on Tuesday we are having a GATE icon lesson presented to our class and will hold Lit. Circles from 9:00-9:25. If you are a volunteer, please come at this time if you can. Again, some students are consistently forgetting to bring in their Lit. Circle job and book to class on Tuesdays. When their assignment and book is not turned in it can affect the whole group. Someone even turned in one of the books to the Aptos Branch Public Library. If you notice a book that is unfamiliar, please check to see if the book belongs to our classroom first.
Thank you again for all of your support this year! Have a nice, hopefully dry, weekend.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
March 1-5, 2010
This week Mr. Harris will begin his solo teaching assignment with the class. Over the past 6 weeks he has made a connection with the students and looks forward to having them for the next 2 weeks. Mrs. Sandman and I will pop in to help, but he will be teaching all lessons from the beginning of the day to the end. We will be available on campus, so if you have any questions, you will be able to reach us at school.
A new spelling packet for Yunmi and Halmoni's Trip will go home Monday (due on Friday). We will continue to practice long division, but have started a new chapter on fractions. Equivalent fractions are always tough, so students may need extra time and support to complete math homework this week. Also, a March reading log will be sent home on Monday as well. Can't believe it's March already.
A reminder that Lit. Circles are due on Tuesday. Several students forgot to bring their job and book last week, so please try to finish over the weekend and bring to school on Monday so they're ready to go. Most of the Lit. Circle books are from the leveled book room, and when they are not turned in, we lose out on the sets. If you find any at home, please send them in with your child.
Biographies are under way. Most students finished their outline last week and began writing their rough draft. Our goal was to have the first 2 paragraphs written out. Students will continue to write on Monday. Again, we will keep you posted on when they are due and when the speeches will be held. We're thinking if the rough draft can be finished this week in class, then next week they can begin their final copy either hand written or typed. Once the final draft is complete, then students can focus on their speech at home.
Again, if you have any questions don't hesitate to email: athena_maraldo@pvusd.net or mary_sandman@pvusd.net
Enjoy your weekend!
A new spelling packet for Yunmi and Halmoni's Trip will go home Monday (due on Friday). We will continue to practice long division, but have started a new chapter on fractions. Equivalent fractions are always tough, so students may need extra time and support to complete math homework this week. Also, a March reading log will be sent home on Monday as well. Can't believe it's March already.
A reminder that Lit. Circles are due on Tuesday. Several students forgot to bring their job and book last week, so please try to finish over the weekend and bring to school on Monday so they're ready to go. Most of the Lit. Circle books are from the leveled book room, and when they are not turned in, we lose out on the sets. If you find any at home, please send them in with your child.
Biographies are under way. Most students finished their outline last week and began writing their rough draft. Our goal was to have the first 2 paragraphs written out. Students will continue to write on Monday. Again, we will keep you posted on when they are due and when the speeches will be held. We're thinking if the rough draft can be finished this week in class, then next week they can begin their final copy either hand written or typed. Once the final draft is complete, then students can focus on their speech at home.
Again, if you have any questions don't hesitate to email: athena_maraldo@pvusd.net or mary_sandman@pvusd.net
Enjoy your weekend!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Feb. 22-26, 2010
Good morning! The blog is usually updated over the weekend, but I caught that nasty bug that has been going around. I apologize!
Spelling packets for Across the Wide Dark Sea will go home today and are due this Friday. We are wrapping up division in math this week and moving onto fractions. Chapter 14 math test will be given today. Our weekly timed tests are improving and many students are beating their time. Congrats to those who continue to work hard on memorizing their multiplication facts.
Students will begin writing their biography report in CLASS today. There seems to be a lot of confusion around the directions of this project. We would like students to begin and hopefully finish the written part in class. They have the option of typing out the final report or having a nicely written copy. We will also make a cover page as well as a poster for those who finish their writing. After the report is written, students will practice their speech at home. Students are to pretend THEY are the famous American and present to the class either in a costume or with props. Before we begin the speeches, a sign up sheet will be passed around for students to pick a day and time. Parents are welcome to come in at this time to watch their child. A list of times will be sent home a week prior to the presentations. We won't begin presentations for a few weeks, so students have plenty of time to finish their report and practice. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.
Spelling packets for Across the Wide Dark Sea will go home today and are due this Friday. We are wrapping up division in math this week and moving onto fractions. Chapter 14 math test will be given today. Our weekly timed tests are improving and many students are beating their time. Congrats to those who continue to work hard on memorizing their multiplication facts.
Students will begin writing their biography report in CLASS today. There seems to be a lot of confusion around the directions of this project. We would like students to begin and hopefully finish the written part in class. They have the option of typing out the final report or having a nicely written copy. We will also make a cover page as well as a poster for those who finish their writing. After the report is written, students will practice their speech at home. Students are to pretend THEY are the famous American and present to the class either in a costume or with props. Before we begin the speeches, a sign up sheet will be passed around for students to pick a day and time. Parents are welcome to come in at this time to watch their child. A list of times will be sent home a week prior to the presentations. We won't begin presentations for a few weeks, so students have plenty of time to finish their report and practice. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Feb. 16-20, 2010
Happy Valentine's Day and thank you for the yummy chocolates. Our favorite! Plus another 3 day weekend to enjoy with beautiful weather to top it off.
When we return on Tuesday, Literature Circles are due. Some students are neglecting to read the assigned pages and fudging through their job. Since this assignment will be done mainly as homework from this point on, please be sure your child is reading ALL of the assigned pages as well as completing their job. Assignments turned is sloppily will be sent home to correct. Again, Lit. Circles are assigned every Tuesday and due the following Tuesday.
In lieu of a spelling packet, students are to find a book about a famous American as well as a kid friendly internet article. Each student must turn in the Bibliography homework by Friday, February 20 and bring in their 2 resources to class. It is important to have the information readily available. Mr. Harris will give a lesson on note-taking and tell the students what information needs to be included in the report. Once their report is completed in class (typed or written), students will then prepare their speech at home. We know students are eager to begin, but for now, please just have your child read the book and internet article about their chosen American. As we move forward another letter will be sent home with the due date. We'll keep you posted.
Thank you for the handi wipes. If you have any more, please send them in.
When we return on Tuesday, Literature Circles are due. Some students are neglecting to read the assigned pages and fudging through their job. Since this assignment will be done mainly as homework from this point on, please be sure your child is reading ALL of the assigned pages as well as completing their job. Assignments turned is sloppily will be sent home to correct. Again, Lit. Circles are assigned every Tuesday and due the following Tuesday.
In lieu of a spelling packet, students are to find a book about a famous American as well as a kid friendly internet article. Each student must turn in the Bibliography homework by Friday, February 20 and bring in their 2 resources to class. It is important to have the information readily available. Mr. Harris will give a lesson on note-taking and tell the students what information needs to be included in the report. Once their report is completed in class (typed or written), students will then prepare their speech at home. We know students are eager to begin, but for now, please just have your child read the book and internet article about their chosen American. As we move forward another letter will be sent home with the due date. We'll keep you posted.
Thank you for the handi wipes. If you have any more, please send them in.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Feb. 9-12, 2010
Hope you are all enjoying this beautiful 3 day weekend!
We will begin Tuesday morning with Literature Circles. As I mentioned in last weeks post, this assignment is assigned every Tuesday and due the following Tuesday. Students are given only a short amount of time to work on this in class now, so most should finish as homework. If you have not seen this come home, inquire with your child. Please edit your child's work and be sure that they are writing in complete sentences. The reading from this assignment can be used for the reading log too.
We are taking a 2 week break from the usual spelling homework packet. Instead, students will be assigned to look for a book on a famous American and a grade appropriate internet article. A letter will be sent home on Tuesday to give more information about this project. Mr. Harris will begin teaching students about biographies over the next 2 weeks. Most of the written work will be completed in class (this is not a homework assignment). We'll begin with note taking and then transfer into a report. So again, NO spelling packet for the next 2 weeks.
On a side note, if anyone has any handy wipes to donate to the class, it would be much appreciated. Since we have clay once a week, we are using them more often to clean our desks and hands.
That's all for now! Have a great weekend!
We will begin Tuesday morning with Literature Circles. As I mentioned in last weeks post, this assignment is assigned every Tuesday and due the following Tuesday. Students are given only a short amount of time to work on this in class now, so most should finish as homework. If you have not seen this come home, inquire with your child. Please edit your child's work and be sure that they are writing in complete sentences. The reading from this assignment can be used for the reading log too.
We are taking a 2 week break from the usual spelling homework packet. Instead, students will be assigned to look for a book on a famous American and a grade appropriate internet article. A letter will be sent home on Tuesday to give more information about this project. Mr. Harris will begin teaching students about biographies over the next 2 weeks. Most of the written work will be completed in class (this is not a homework assignment). We'll begin with note taking and then transfer into a report. So again, NO spelling packet for the next 2 weeks.
On a side note, if anyone has any handy wipes to donate to the class, it would be much appreciated. Since we have clay once a week, we are using them more often to clean our desks and hands.
That's all for now! Have a great weekend!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Feb. 1-5, 2010
Tomorrow the day will begin with the Monday morning assembly in the upper grade playground. If your child is late to school, please remind them to look for the class there. It will be a nice way to kick off the week and beginning of February. Where has the time gone? We really only have 4 months of school to go until summer break.
The spelling packet for Two Days in May will go home tomorrow and will be due on Friday. A new reading log for February will also go home. You may begin to see Literature Circles come home for homework. Students get most of the work done in class, but will be given less time during the school day as we need to focus on writing. Lit. Circles are assigned every Tuesday and due the following Tuesday. Each child receives a book to read with a specific job to do (summarizer, discussion director, illustrator, passage picker, connector, and word watcher). If your child completes their job at home, please check and edit for them to correct. It should be neatly done and free of errors. It is important for each child to complete this assignment as it can impact their group when it is not complete.
In math, we began Chapter 12 (division) last week and will continue practicing this skill for the next 2 weeks. Please be sure to work on multiplication facts at home. As we know, there needs to be a strong understanding this year because it gets more complex in 4th grade.
Last, but not least, a big THANK YOU to the drivers who came on the field trip to the Aptos Museum on Friday. Remember that the next two Mondays (Feb. 8 and 15) are holidays, so we will not have school.
The spelling packet for Two Days in May will go home tomorrow and will be due on Friday. A new reading log for February will also go home. You may begin to see Literature Circles come home for homework. Students get most of the work done in class, but will be given less time during the school day as we need to focus on writing. Lit. Circles are assigned every Tuesday and due the following Tuesday. Each child receives a book to read with a specific job to do (summarizer, discussion director, illustrator, passage picker, connector, and word watcher). If your child completes their job at home, please check and edit for them to correct. It should be neatly done and free of errors. It is important for each child to complete this assignment as it can impact their group when it is not complete.
In math, we began Chapter 12 (division) last week and will continue practicing this skill for the next 2 weeks. Please be sure to work on multiplication facts at home. As we know, there needs to be a strong understanding this year because it gets more complex in 4th grade.
Last, but not least, a big THANK YOU to the drivers who came on the field trip to the Aptos Museum on Friday. Remember that the next two Mondays (Feb. 8 and 15) are holidays, so we will not have school.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Jan. 25-29, 2010
What a week! Lots and lots of rain and a power outage on Tuesday. Kudos to the parents who helped in the classroom and brought in light for us to see. We had flashlights, lanterns, headlamps... When situations like this arise, it reminds us of what a wonderful community of families we have at Rio del Mar. THANK YOU!
We're back to our regular homework schedule this week. A new spelling packet for Seal Surfer will go home Monday and is due Friday. We are finishing off Chapter 11 in math (solid figures and volume) and will have the test Monday. Chapter 12 will focus on division. Field trip permission forms are due this week with our field trip on Friday. We're still waiting for a few more and need 1-2 more drivers. The Aptos Museum asks for a $1.00 donation per student.
The Spectra Art teacher, Jenni Ward, will begin ceramics on Tuesday. She planned on beginning last Tuesday, but postponed her start time due to the weather. Mr. Harris also stepped into an unusual start to his student teaching assignment. I told him that as a teacher, you have to stay flexible because sometimes unexpected things like this happen. He is enjoying the students and learning their names and personalities. He will observe for 1 more week, then begin teaching a few lessons. In a few weeks, he will launch the 3rd grade Biography project. This is our Famous American project where the students are required to write a report and give an oral presentation. A letter explaining this project will go out in the next 2-3 weeks.
That's all for now! Enjoy the dry weekend.
We're back to our regular homework schedule this week. A new spelling packet for Seal Surfer will go home Monday and is due Friday. We are finishing off Chapter 11 in math (solid figures and volume) and will have the test Monday. Chapter 12 will focus on division. Field trip permission forms are due this week with our field trip on Friday. We're still waiting for a few more and need 1-2 more drivers. The Aptos Museum asks for a $1.00 donation per student.
The Spectra Art teacher, Jenni Ward, will begin ceramics on Tuesday. She planned on beginning last Tuesday, but postponed her start time due to the weather. Mr. Harris also stepped into an unusual start to his student teaching assignment. I told him that as a teacher, you have to stay flexible because sometimes unexpected things like this happen. He is enjoying the students and learning their names and personalities. He will observe for 1 more week, then begin teaching a few lessons. In a few weeks, he will launch the 3rd grade Biography project. This is our Famous American project where the students are required to write a report and give an oral presentation. A letter explaining this project will go out in the next 2-3 weeks.
That's all for now! Enjoy the dry weekend.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
January 19-22, 2010
What a great way to ease back into school with a 3 day weekend. It was nice to see many cheery faces this past week as school resumed. We have a few changes beginning this Tuesday. We will have a student teacher named Mr. Harris in our class for the next 9 weeks. He is working on his credential through CSUMB and will help in our class everyday, all day. It will be nice to have the extra help and students will surely benefit from another adult in the room. Also, Jenni Ward(the Spectra Arts teacher)will begin ceramics with our class for the next 4 weeks. Students will work on a few different pieces which will be painted and glazed.
A reminder that our field trip to the Aptos Museum is scheduled for Friday, January 29th. Each child needs to bring in $1.00 to contribute towards the cost. We forgot to mention this on the permission form. So far, we only have a few drivers. If anyone else is able to drive, please let us know. It's a fairly short field trip, and will be done by 11:30, if not earlier.
The spelling packet for Nights of the Pufflings will be due this Friday. Some students already turned it in. Be sure to study the words as the test will be on Friday. A one- minute timed multiplication test(40 problems, 38 to pass) was given the other day and only 1 student passed. Please take the time each day to quiz your child on their facts. It is necessary that students learn the facts THIS year.
Have a great weekend and thank you to those whose donated pencils!
A reminder that our field trip to the Aptos Museum is scheduled for Friday, January 29th. Each child needs to bring in $1.00 to contribute towards the cost. We forgot to mention this on the permission form. So far, we only have a few drivers. If anyone else is able to drive, please let us know. It's a fairly short field trip, and will be done by 11:30, if not earlier.
The spelling packet for Nights of the Pufflings will be due this Friday. Some students already turned it in. Be sure to study the words as the test will be on Friday. A one- minute timed multiplication test(40 problems, 38 to pass) was given the other day and only 1 student passed. Please take the time each day to quiz your child on their facts. It is necessary that students learn the facts THIS year.
Have a great weekend and thank you to those whose donated pencils!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
January 12-15, 2010
Happy New Year 2010! Thank you all for the wonderful Christmas gifts, especially the certificate to Caress Day Spa. Just what we needed, some relaxation. We hope you all had a fantastic break and look forward to seeing some smiling (yet tired) faces Tuesday morning. Since we have 2 short weeks back to back, the spelling packet for Nights of the Pufflings won't be due until Friday, January 22. Math will resume as usual with a new chapter in 3 dimensional figures. Field Trip permission forms to the Aptos Museum will go home on Tuesday. If you are interested in driving, mark your calendars for Friday, January 29.
Thank you all for your help and support in and out of the classroom. We are lucky to have such a supportive parent community. See you soon!
WISH LIST- We are running low on the following items:
Antibacterial wipes
pencils
prizes for the reward box
raffle tickets (does anyone have a roll they aren't using?)
Thank you all for your help and support in and out of the classroom. We are lucky to have such a supportive parent community. See you soon!
WISH LIST- We are running low on the following items:
Antibacterial wipes
pencils
prizes for the reward box
raffle tickets (does anyone have a roll they aren't using?)
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