Oct. 24-28, 2011

Hope you are all enjoying the wonderful fall weather! This will be my last blog until I return from maternity leave. Miss Terry will notify you all by email and/or letter when she begins the week of Oct. 31. It has been wonderful working with your children and will be nice to see all of the progress they make by the time I return in the Spring.

Here are some updates for the week. The homework packet for Dancing Rainbows will go home tomorrow and is due on Friday. We kicked off multiplication last week and will continue learning/practicing the facts over the next month or so. Please be sure to practice at home as the 1-10s need to be memorized by the end of 3rd grade. Many students were very excited to finally dive into multiplication.

This Tuesday we are going on a field trip to the Aptos Museum. Our tour is from 10:15-11:15, so if you are driving, please show up at 9:55 so we can load up the cars and head over. It is located at the Visitor Center across the street from the Best Western on State Park Dr.

Also, lice has been going around our school once again. If notice any itchy heads, our school nurse can check your child for nits.

Our Halloween Party is planned for Oct. 31 from 10-11:00. Contact Mrs. Star if you are volunteering or have any questions.

Happy Sunday!

Wish List: Please send in wipes and tissues as the flu season approaches. Sharpened #2 pencils are also welcome.

Oct. 17-21, 2011

It was great meeting with you all during conferences. I hope the feedback you received about your child was helpful and will help them to succeed this school year. Miss Terry was excited to sit in and work with your children this past week. It should be a smooth transition for everyone.

The homework packet for this week is for The Talking Cloth. We just finished up subtraction and will move on to multiplication. You will find an attached multiplication fact sheet for the remainder of the school year. Please help your child learn these facts as they are crucial for 4th grade.

Our Halloween party is underway for Oct. 31. If you would like to help, please email Mrs. Star.

That's all for now. Have a great weekend!

Oct. 10-14 Conference Week

Hope you are enjoying the sun. What a bizarre week we just had with the rain!

This week students will have a homework packet for Born to Rope due on Friday. Again, please complete the reading log every night. We will continue to work on subtracting greater numbers. Check your child's homework to be sure they are getting all of the steps. This can be a confusing concept for 3rd graders especially when subtracting across zeros.

Students were given their first lit circle job last wednesday. We did most of the reading in class, but whatever is not complete will need to be done at home and turned in by Wednesday or earlier.

Mrs. Star and I will be working out the details for the Halloween party on Oct. 31st. Keep your eyes out for an email. That will also be my last day with your kids for a while. Mrs. Terry will transition in that day and be with your children full time beginning November 1.

Have a great weekend and I'll see many of you this week at conferences.

Wish list: sharpened pencils

Oct. 3-7, 2011

Hope you are enjoying the first days of October. Can't believe how quickly time is flying. On Monday I am sending home a reminder for Conference Week (Oct 10-14). If you signed up then please be sure your calendars are marked. If for some reason you can not make the time you signed up for, please let me know ASAP so we can change it. Also, there are a few who did not sign up. Please pick 2 times on the signup sheet and I will do my best to accommodate you. Mrs. Terry will join me during conferences to meet you.

The spelling packet for this week is back to normal. It consists of a spelling list for The Keeping Quilt,a practice book page, math subtraction, and a reading log. Be sure to sign the reading log each night.

Students will also be assigned their first Lit Circle book this week on Wednesday. Most of this will be done in class, but whatever is not complete by Friday will become homework. Students will not get into their groups until next week, so volunteers please begin coming then. I will call or email my Lit. Circle volunteers this week.

If you have not sent in the permission form or $1.00 for our field trip to the Aptos Museum on October 24, please do so this week.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sept. 26-30, 2011

Here are some updates for the week. Spelling packet will consist of 25 Review words from Theme 1 and a reading log. There will be no additional math page attached, just the nightly HM math homework.

A field trip form went home last week for the Aptos Museum scheduled for the end of October. If you are interested in driving, please sign the driver form and be sure your insurance is updated in the office. Each child will need to send in $1.00 to cover the cost of this field trip.

Also, if you haven't signed up for a conference for the week of October 10, please contact me so we can schedule a time for you. This will be a great opportunity to meet Mrs. Terry and discuss your child's goals for the year.

Hope you are staying dry today and have a great week!

Sept. 19-23, 2011

Well, the sun has finally made it's appearance nearly a month into school. Hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend! I am happy to announce that Rebecca Terry will be my long term sub while I am on maternity leave. Many of you may know her from 2nd grade. She took over for Mrs. Sandman's class when she was on leave last year. If you don't, rest assured, your children are in great hands. She will do a wonderful job. Students already know her from rotations in 2nd grade and she has already been into our class to see the children.

For this week a homework packet will go home Monday for The Waterfall and is due on Friday. Attached is a subtraction facts practice page along with the reading log. We have moved into chapter 2 with rounding (a challenging skill) and will continue with that this week before going to greater addition in Chapter 3.

THANK YOU to ALL the chaperones and drivers who came along to the County Fair. Kids had a wonderful time, and once again no one got lost:)

If you were unable to attend Back to School Night, please send in your email so I can forward it to Mrs. Star. She is putting together a list for parents in our class. Also, please contact me so we can set up a conference in October. I can meet you in person or have a meeting over the phone at your convenience. Miss Terry has also offered to come to conferences as a chance to meet you all.

Have a great week!

Sept. 12-16, 2011

It was wonderful seeing you all at Back to School Night. I hope all of your questions were answered. If you were unable to attend, Mrs. Star is collecting email addresses for a class roster. Please send me your email so I can forward it to her. Also if you were unable to sign up for a conference I have a few time slots available. I can also do a phone conference for those of you with busy schedules.

This week your child will receive a spelling packet for the Ballad of Mulan due on Friday. We are going to finish up place value in math with a chapter 1 test on Tuesday and move into chapter 2 mid week.

Our field trip to the county fair is coming up this Thursday. If you are driving, please show up by 8:30. Doors to the fair open at 9:00. We will be gone most of the school day so a sack lunch is necessary. Please do not send your child with money because we won't allow them to shop there.

Have a great weekend!

Sept. 6-9, 2011

Hope you are all enjoying the Labor Day weekend. It's nice having an extra day to catch up on things.

Homework packet for this week will consist of a subtraction math page and reading page only. There will be no spelling due to the short week and Back to School Night this Thursday. Nightly math will be the same. Please be sure your child is completing his/her reading log each night with a simple summary. Some of the reading logs are coming back with no summary,genre, parent signature, or missing a complete day. If something comes up and the log can not be filled out for a night, please let me know.

Thank you to those who have donated items to the classroom. Pencils and sanitizing wipes are always needed.

Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you Thursday evening. A volunteer sheet as well as a conference schedule will be out for you to sign up. I welcome phone interviews and will have a day aside for those who have busy schedules.

Aug. 29- Sept. 2, 2011

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend! Here are a few updates for the week.

Weekly homework packet will consist of spelling from the Lost and Found. Please have your child study the words and sentences on the back. There will be a spelling test on Friday. Be sure ALL pages in the packet are complete and turned in by Friday. The reading log must have a short 1-2 sentence summary for each night even if the same book is read. For math we are finishing up graphing and going to probability. There was some confusion on last weeks homework. Unfortunately the district has us beginning at chapters 22-23, and some of the skills have not been introduced. Hang in there, we will begin chapter 1 next week.

Also being sent home Monday is a field trip form to the Santa Cruz County Fair on Thursday, September 15 and a Highlights Magazine paper. If you are interested in driving please fill out the top page and insurance information in the office. For the Highlights magazine, this does not need to be ordered but please sign and return if you are NOT interested. Our class can receive free prizes even for NO responses.

Thanks for all who have donated to the classroom. Have a great day!

August 22-27, 2011

Whew! Made it through the first week of school. It was wonderful seeing so many happy faces on Wednesday morning. Kids were overall very excited to see their friends and begin 3rd grade. It was great meeting parents too! Thank you for all of the wipes, pencils, and other supplies you donated. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

A weekly homework packet will go home on Monday and is due on Friday, AUGUST 27. This packet includes a weekly reading log as well as an attached subtraction fact page. Don't worry about the AR level on the reading log just yet. Students will take the STAR computer test either this week or next to determine their reading level. I also began assessing students on comprehension and fluency. I will send home a printed copy of their score once all students have taken the test. If you have not signed the computer authorization form, please do so this week. It was sent home with the emergency cards on Wednesday in the green newsprint packet. If you overlooked the form I can send a copy with your child. Students will not be allowed to use the computer until this form is signed.

Most of you have probably seen the nightly Houghton Mifflin math homework. Kids are required to complete the front and choose at least 3 leveled word problems on the back. As you have noticed, some are harder than others. If your child attempts the problems but can not get through, just write a note on the math page. Homework should not take more than 45 minutes to complete.

That's all for now. Have a GREAT weekend!

Welcome Back!

Hello and welcome to 3rd grade! I'm looking forward to meeting many smiley, and probably tired faces this Wednesday morning.

Here are a list of supplies I would like each child to bring in:

1) several sharpened #2 pencils (Ticonderoga work the best)
2) An EXPO white board marker labeled with name, any color
3) Homework folder. Inside right pocket should be labeled homework, left side should
be labeled teacher/parent notes and completed work
4) Weekly planner to write assignments for each day
5) Anti bacterial WIPES to share with the class. I already have gel
6) Small head phones/headset to use in class and in the computer lab. Please send in
a ziplock bag with student name and room number

Your child will not need a pencil box as they take up too much space on the desks. I have plenty of markers, crayons, scissors, and glue for students to share, so no need to buy those either.

Here are some optional items to bring along:
*a flash drive
*a copy of Charlotte's Web if you have one. We will begin reading on the first day of school.

Wish List:
Staples/Kaleidescope gift card
Ticonderoga #2 pencils, sharpened
Bag of gummy bears or starbursts
Roll of red tickets(found at Staples)
Items for the prize box
Dixie cups

I am looking for a volunteer to take pictures of students the first week of school. If you are interested please email me at athena_maraldo@pvusd.net. I am also looking for a few helpers to tear out pages in our math homework book. This can be done at home.

On another note, as many of you may or may not know, I am expecting a child due in November, another boy! I know this probably isn't the most ideal situation for some, but Mrs. Dorney and I are working on finding a wonderful, experienced interim teacher to cover my maternity leave. If you have any concerns, please contact her. I am excited to start the year off with your children. See you Wednesday morning at 7:55!

Last week of school, June 2011

A big THANKYOU to all of the parents who have helped volunteer in one way or another to our class this year. You have been a huge help and I can't express how much I appreciate all you do. As the year comes to a closing, I hope your child has built on his/her foundation and have grown both academically and socially. Keep practicing those times tables, reading, and writing this summer. But, have FUN too!

Here are a few reminders for this week. The field trip to Seacliff beach is in on Wednesday, June 1.We will leave school at 9:30. Chaperones can come around 9:20. I still need permission forms and $5.00 from the following students: Abby, Kylie, and Dylan. I also need only $5:00 from the following: Ethan, Emily, Tess, and Aiden.

The librarian has also send home notes to Maya, Ethan, John, and Kylie about books that need to be either turned in or paid for. Students will not receive their report cards if they have an overdue book that is not turned in or accounted for.

Yearbooks will also go home this week. I will pass them out on Thursday.

Have a great long weekend and wonderful summer! It's been a pleasure teaching your children!

May 23-27, 2011

This week students should be prepping for their famous American speeches that will begin on Friday. A schedule was sent home a few days ago with the day your child will be presenting. Please help them practice every night until they are well prepared. Our last Lit Circle will be due this Wednesday. PLEASE look around your house for any books that belong to either me or the school. I am still missing many leveled books. I will try to send home a list of missing books soon.

Math homework will continue this week only. The last week of school there will be no homework. Our end of the year party is underway. If you haven't sent in the permission form and $5.00 please so so ASAP. I'd like to get the money to the organizers or the party ahead of time.

Thanks for ALL of your help and support this year. I hope your child has had a wonderful year! I will do one more post next week. Have a great weekend!

May 16-20, 2011

Great to see all of the families who made it to Open House.

This week students will have their last spelling packet due Friday. We will continue daily math homework through next week. Lit circles will end on May 25. I am missing several lit circle books, so a list will be sent home this week. Please check your house for any books that look like they belong to the school.

By now, most students should be done with taking notes on their famous Americans. A letter was sent home last week describing the project. Most of the speeches will be held on Friday, May 27 and Tuesday, May 31. A few can sign up for Thursday, june 2. It is very important that your child practice in front of you several times.

Our end of the year party will be on Wednesday, June 1 at Seacliff Beach. Please save the date if you plan on driving. We are asking all students to contribute $5.00 towards the cost of food. A big thank you to the parents who were able up drive on our last field trip. Without your help, we couldn't have gone.

3 more weeks to go!

May 9-13, 2011

Happy Mother's Day! I hope you are having a special and relaxing day today.

The count down is officially on until the end of the year. CST testing is done, phew, and we are back to a somewhat normal schedule. A new spelling packet will be sent home Monday due on Friday. We are done reading out of the HM anthology so the spelling lists are good review of 3rd grade words. Attached to the packet is the multiplication timed sheet we have been working on weekly. Normal daily math homework will resume. Students will need to complete 3 word problems on the back.

We began working on notetakong for the Famous America speeches. Students who did not finish paragraphs 1,2, & 3 were required to finish at home. This MUST be done and turned in by tomorrow. We will continue working on paragraphs 4,5, & 6 this week. Once the notes are finished, we will then write a draft in the first person.( For example: Hello, my name is George Washington and I was the first president of the US. I was born on... in...) Once the notes are written in paragraph form, students will take it home, edit and either type or write a final version to practice for their speech. Speeches will be done in class beginning on Friday, May 27. A sign up sheet will be sent around. I am looking for 1-2 parents who would like to come and video tape the children doing their speeches. Last year a parent was able to give a copy of the video to each child.

Our field trip to the Agricultural History Museum is scheduled for this Thursday, however, we are in need of 2 more drivers in order to go. If we don't have enough drivers then I will have to cancel the trip. We need to find cars for 9 more students. If you have already confirmed driving, then I will let you know on Wednesday if we can go or not. We are having our end of the year party on Wednesday, June 1st. We are asking for $5.00 per student and drivers to the beach as well.

Hope you can make it to Open House this Thursday, May 12. See you then!

May 2-6, 2011

Hope everyone had a wonderful Spring Break. This week we will finish off testing with the English Language Arts section of the CST. Testing will resume on Tuesday, May 3 and finish on Thursday, May 5. Please be sure your child had an ample breakfast and snack. Testing will happen at 9:30 each day. Homework again will be minimal. Math will be sent home nightly, but students only need to do 1 word problem on the back.

Students will begin working on their famous american reports today. Most students picked their person before Spring Break and already gathered an article of research from the computer lab. We will begin paragraph 1 today and continue with a paragraph each day. If your child is unable to finish in class, it will be sent home for homework.

Lit Circles will also continue this week. We will go until the end if the school year. I will not need any other classroom volunteers(besides lit circles) this week due to testing.

Next week on May 12 we are going on a field trip to the Ag History Museum in Watsonville. If you signed up to drive I will send a reminder next week. Please send in $3:00 to cover the cost. Our end of the year party is also coming up on Wednesday, June 1. All classes are asking for $5:00 to cover the cost of food. Permission forms will be sent home soon.

Have a great week!

April 18-21, 2011

Students did a wonderful job on their animal reports and dioramas. I am very proud of the work that was turned in! I will send home a grade for the dioramas next week and return the reports after Spring break. The next project we'll be working on in class is the famous American biography. Students should know who they want to learn about by Monday, April 18. On Tuesday, our class will go to the computer lab to print out research articles (if they didn't get one last week). Their job over break is to read about their famous American and come back after Spring Break prepared to begin note taking. A letter expaining this will be sent home early May.

CST testing will also begin this Tuesday, April 19. 3rd grade classes will be testing around 9:30 for the math portion of the test. There are 3 parts, so we will do one each day; Part 1 on Tuesday, Part 2 on Wednesday, and part 3 on Thursday. Please be sure your child has a sufficient breakfast and snack to help them through. Sugar free gum will be allowed ONLY during testing time. Students are to bring gum for themselves or to share with the class. If any student is inappropriate with the gum, it will be taken away. Gum will then be collected in the trash cans after testing is complete.

Homework for the week will be minimal. There will be no spelling packet, but some math. Students will continue with Lit. Circles and can read their books in class after testing.

Have a wonderful weekend and Spring Break!

April 11-15, 2011

This Friday, April 15, animal reports and dioramas are due. Reports are to be typed or neatly written in 5 paragraphs. They may be turned in early if you like. Since this project is due on Friday, there will be no spelling packet sent home this week, just the daily math.

CST testing will begin on Tuesday April 19. We will begin with the math section and then finish up ELA when we return from break. If you will miss any testing, let me know ahead of time so we can have your child take a make up test.

As you may know from your child, I spoke to them about the famous American project coming up next month. I would like all students to choose a person by Monday, April 18. This does not mean they will begin rresearch on that day, I just want them to have a person in mind to read and learn about over Spring Break. We will then begin taking notes IN CLASS beginning May 2. A letter will be sent home explaining more about this project in a few weeks.

Have a great weekend!

Wipes and pencils are greatly appreciated

April 4-8, 2011

A letter was sent home today explaining the directions for the animal reports. If you have any questions about it, feel free to email and let me know. Otherwise, the final report and dioramas are due on Friday, April 15. Don't be obligated to buy any materials for the project. Look for things around the house that can be used to construct the mammal and its habitat.

A spelling packet will go home for Ramona Quimby. This packet will be due on Friday, April 8. The following week there will be no spelling packet because we want students to complete the animal project.

I wanted to give you all a heads up that California Standards Testing will begin the week of April 18 (before Spring Break). If your child will be out for any reason, please let me know so we can have them do a make up test. Testing will begin on Tuesday, April 19-Thursday April 21 in the morning. We also have a field trip coming up on May 12 to the Agricultural History museum in Watsonville. Permission forms will be sent out soon.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the sun!

March 25, 2011

This weeks spelling packet for Poppa's New Pants will be sent home Monday and due on Friday. A note explaining the animal dioramas will also be sent home on Monday. Students are working on the reports in class and will finish up paragraph 5. I will then send their rough draft home for you to edit, probably on Tuesday. Please sit with your child and look over what they have written. Many have done a great job and others still may need to find a few specifics. The final draft of their report should be typed at home. If this is an issue, please talk to me and we can work something out. The final report will be due on April 15 (tax day, I know!) along with the diorama.

On a side note, I am still missing several Literature Circle books. Please check around the house for any books that either say Maraldo on the front or have a Lexile sticker on the back. I will have students take an AR Star test in the computer lab on Tuesday and will send home their current reading level shortly after.

Thank you for some of the wipes and Kleenex that came in this week. I can always use pencils too. It's amazing how fast they go.

Have a great weekend!

March 21-25, 2011

This weeks spelling packet will go home for Pepita Talks Twice due on Friday. Please be sure your child is studying the sentences on the back. It is clear that some have them down every week and others make several mistakes.

We began taking notes for our animal reports. This week we will continue with note taking and then write into paragraph form. Students are excited about their research and are having a fun time with it. I may send home a rough draft for you to edit either later this week or next.

If you haven't sent in $5.00 to Mrs. Lee for the auction project, please send it in with your child this week. The umbrella and towels turned out very nice. The kids enjoyed putting their handprints on.

Wipes, wipes, wipes please. So many students have runny noses these days including myself. If you have any extra, our class could really use them. Thanks!

Feb. 14-18, 2011

The spelling packet for this week will consist of Theme 5 Review words and the usual multiplication practice. I'm seeing a big improvement
for students finishing their timed test. Our class record this week was 2 minutes 55 seconds. Way to go Kidasi! Our runner ups have been Abed and Barbara. Keep up the good work everyone!

On Monday we will begin our animal reports in class. We will begin by taking notes for paragraph 1. This report will consist of 5 total paragraphs, mostly done in class with the research students have gathered in the computer lab. Once the report is complete students will then construct a diorama at home. As I mentioned earlier, a letter from the 3rd grade team will go home soon explaining this project.

Jenni Ward from Spectra Arts will also be joining us every Monday for the next 4 weeks for ceramics. She has some great projects and the kids love her. Without fundraisers and our yearly Rio auction, we would not be able to have Spectra Artists come to our school. On that note, our class project is underway. If you have not yet sent in $5.00 to Wendy Lee, please do so this week.

Have a wonderful weekend!

March 7-11, 2011

This week report cards will be sent home on Tuesday for our 2nd trimester. Can't believe we only have a few months to go until summer break. Please be sure to sign and return the report card envelope with your child the next day.

The spelling packet will go home for Trapped by the Ice. This is based on a true story. If anyone has a copy of The Endurance, please send it in. It is a documentary of Shackleton's journey to Antarctica. The packet is due Friday. We will continue to work on fractions this week. We will be adding and subtracting fractions. Lit Circles are due Wednesday as usual. Please check around your house for any Lit Circle books that have not been turned in. I am missing several copies of books that belong to the school. If a book has been lost or damaged, please replace it or let me know so I can purchase it.

This week students have to decide which animal they would like to do for the mammal report. I'll be asking each child for additional resources about their mammal either with a book or another internet article. The 3rd grade team will get a letter to send home explaining the project. We will begin in class either the end of this week or next week. Most of the writing will be done in class. Students will follow a note taking guide each day. Some support will be needed at home if work is not done in class. This project isn't due until sometime in April. Date is TBD.

Hope you are having a great weekend! Please continue to send in pencils, they are very much appreciated. Thank you to Mrs. Thrasher for giving me a new printer for the classroom. This will come in handy when students need to print in color.

Feb 28- Mar 4, 2011

This week a new spelling packet will go home for Yunmi and Halmoni's Trip. This packet is due on Friday. Please be sure your child is practicing his or her multiplication facts. We will have a timed test every Thursday. We have moved onto fractions, but will continue to review multiplication and division. Lit circles are due on Wednesday as usual. I will be printing out an AR quiz report soon to send home with report cards as well as current reading levels.

Wish list : pencils and goodies for the prize box.
Have a great week!

Feb. 21-25, 2011

Hope you are all enjoying yet another 3 day weekend. This is it for a while until Spring Break, so hopefully students are well rested. The spelling packet for Across the Wide Dark Sea was sent home last week and is due this Friday, February 25th. Students had 2 weeks to complete so EVERYONE should turn this in on time. We are wrapping up division in class (for now) and moving onto fractions and decimals. Please be sure your child continues to practice the multiplication facts for the test we have every Thursday. A big THANK YOU to Alison McKenna for correcting these for the class. I hope that as these tests come home weekly, you and your child can reflect on improvements and obstacles. The 2nd trimester report cards will be sent home in early March and these will reflect their current grades for geometry, multiplication, division, and fractions.

In March, all 3rd grade classes will begin working on a mammal report. Tomorrow in the computer lab, I will introduce students to a website where they will review a list of mammals and decide which one they would like to research. If a mammal not on the list is chosen, students will need pre-approval from me in order to proceed. The 3rd grade team thought it was important to have a website already in place that students could get their information from. Otherwise, students come with internet articles that are too advanced that they can not read or understand. This type of research will be a nice lead in to our Famous American reports that we'll be working on in May. A letter will go home shortly explaining the mammal project.

Wish list: pencils, antibacterial wipes

Thanks and Happy Presidents Day!

Feb. 15-18, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day!

Due to the next 2 short weeks, the spelling packet fot Across the Wide Dark Sea will not be due until Friday, February 25. We will have a spelling test for these words on that day. Please be sure to check that your child's name is on his/her packet and that ALL pages are complete. I also encourage you and your child to practice the multiplication page on the back of the packet. Every Thursday your child will have a test on these facts. By 3rd grade the facts to the 10s should be memorized. We are still working on division and long division will be introduced this week.

That's it for now. Please send in sharpened pencils with your child. I am down to only 2 packs. Have a great weekend and stay healthy!

Feb. 7-11, 2011

What beautiful weather we are having. I hope you and your families are enjoying the outdoors. I sure am!

This weeks spelling packet will consist of 25 review words from Theme 4, Animal Habitats. Attached you will find a multiplication page with facts to the 12s. As I mentioned in last weeks blog, we will have a test on this page every Thursday. Please hold on to these tests as they come home, so you and your child can keep track of their progress. We are also continuing with division and will begin some long division as well.

This Friday we will have a low key Valentine exchange. We have 28 students in the class. Please have your child bring a Valentine for everyone if they'd like to participate. Here are the student names: Abby, Abed, Anwar, Aiden, Barbara, Dylan, Ian F, Ian H, John, Kidasi, Kylie, Lily, Emily , Estelle, Maya, Monira, Sebastian, Owen, Ethan , Taye, Tess, Victoria,Maggie, Sam , Zack , Bryeanna, Noah and Nathan.

Have a wonderful day! Happy Superbowl.

Jan. 31-Feb. 4, 2011

This weeks spelling packet will go home for Two Days in May. This is due on Friday. Attached you will find a page of multiplication facts to the 12s. If these facts are not memorized, it's time to practice each night until they become automatic. Unfortunately there is no easy way besides practicing on a daily basis. The standard for 3rd grade is to have the facts to the 10s memorized. I added the 11s and 12a for those who like the extra challenge. Each week (probably on Thursdays) students will have a 10 minute timed quiz on this homework page. As we do these quizzes each week the overall time and performance should increase. If you would like extra copies to practice at home please let me know and I can send them with your child.

Mrs. Ortiz and I talked about having a Valentine exchange on Friday, February 11th. We will pass out Valentines and do a craft after lunch around 12:15. It will be a low key party. Be sure your child has a valentine for everyone if they would like to participate. If anyone has the Charlie Brown Valentine's video, please send it in.

Thank you to all the drivers to our field trip to the MAH. Kids had a great time. Our last field trip to the Agricultural History Museum won't be until May.

Wish list: pencils and antibacterial wipes. Thanks!

Jan. 24-Jan. 28, 2011

What a wonderful weekend we are having. It's hard to believe that it's winter. This is our first full week back to school. The spelling packet for Seal Surfer will go home monday and is due on Friday. We will end chapter 11 in math covering area, perimeter, and volume this week. Lit circles are due on Wednesday as always. I'd like to reiterate the importance of coming prepared for lit circles. This means that books should be read, jobs done, and all students are ready for discussion.

Last week we began Spectra Art with cartooning. We will have 5 full art lessons for the next month. So far kids are loving it! We also have a field trip coming up to the Museum of Art History in Downtown Santa Cruz this Thursday the 27th. We will leave school around 8:30 and arrive back before lunch around 11:30. There is no need to pack a sack lunch since we'll be eating back at school. We are asking each child for $2.00 to cover the admission. Be sure to send that in with the permission form.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone enjoyed their long winter break. I sure did and found that we all needed some time to rejuvenate ourselves. This Wednesday we return to a full day of school. We will begin the day with Lit circles. I hope everyone read their book over vacation? Also a new spelling packet will go home for Nights of the Pufflings. This packet will be due the following Friday on January 21. Attached are multiplication facts for 6s and 7s. If your child does not have the facts memorized to the 5s by now, they must study every night from here on out. Knowing these facts is crucial for 4th grade.

We have a field trip coming up this month to the MAH. Permission forms will go home on Wednesday. Please keep an eye out for this. More info to follow.

Let's have a great year!