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!