Blog Archives

Weekly Update #21: January 30 - February 3

1/31/2017

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Valentine's Door Decorating: Contact Mrs. Lilleboe if you would like to decorate our classroom door and/or windows for Valentine's Day. The kids would love it. :)
Valentines Day Party: The party will be held in the 3rd grade common area on Tuesday, February 14 from 1:30pm-2:30pm. The students will rotate through 8 different stations including games, a dance party, treats, and a movie.This party will be sponsored by the 3rd grade parents, so your help and involvement are essential to making it a big success! Please send in supply donations no later than Monday, February 13th. Please let me know if you have any questions at all!You can sign-up to help provide items or volunteer at the party here: Valentine's Day Party Sign-Up As always, if it's easier to donate money and have Mrs. Hamrick shop, she is happy to do so! You can use Venmo or PayPal and make a note that it is for the Valentine's Day Party and she will pick up items that we still need. PayPal: brookehamrick@gmail.com Venmo: @brookehamrick
Valentine Boxes and Valentine cards: Decorate a card board box (shoe box, cereal box, etc) and bring in Valentine cards for ALL of our class members on February 14th.
Scholastic Book Orders: February orders are due by This Monday, February 27th. Please, consider buying your child a book or a next year's 2017 Bluebonnet book. Some of the books that are offered on Scholastic are: Lola Lavine Drama Queen (ONLY $4.00), Towers Falling ($12.00), The Key to Extraordinary (ONLY $5.00), The Last Kids on Earth (ONLY $5.00), The Princess and The Warrior ($12.00), Maybe a Fox (ONLY $5.00), The Great Shelby Holmes (ONLY $4.00), Some Kind of Courage ($5.00) and Soar ($16.00). So many books are offered!!! Student book orders give us class points to go and buy these books for our classroom library. The kids love helping me pick out new books and they want more Bluebonnet Books! Scholastic Book Link Class Code - NP79X
Home Access Updated: I will continue to post grades weekly into Home Access. Please, check this regularly to stay on top of your kiddos performance in class. I will forewarn you that second semester can be more challenging as we prepare these kiddos for STAAR and 4th grade. Expectations on graded work will increase. Home Access Link
STAAR Ready prep tests (dates posted below) and STAAR tests (early-May): They are just around the corner. Want to help prepare your child at home? Suggestions for math: Xtramath, timed quizzes, ixl.com, and khan academy are excellent online resources your child has access to. The links to these sites can be found under the "Math Links" tab. Suggestions for reading: reading comprehension passages with questions. Check out the "Reading Links" tab for tons of great online resources.
Unusual Reading Spot Contest: Does your kiddo love to read in fun and unusual spots? Check into this fun contest! Get contest rules and info by clicking here - The 5th Annual Unusual Reading Spot Contest

Upcoming Dates:

February 7 - Class Picture Day - return forms if you are interested in purchasing the class picture
February 10 - Last day to turn in money for fundraiser (coupon cards)
February 13 - STAAR Ready (practice reading test)
February 17 - Spelling test
February 20 - No School
February 22 - Six Flags Reading Log due
February 23 - Science DCA - Weather and Water Cycle
February 24 - Field Trip to Westcave Preserve (Lilleboe/Raney classes)
February 27 - STAAR Ready (practice math test)
February 28 - Scholastic book orders for the month of February due
March 9 - The 3rd grade Economics Fair (start at 8:15am)

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Weekly Update #20: January 23 - January 27

1/26/2017

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Parent Volunteers Needed: The String Art group (Interest group during our Enrichment group time) is in need of some parent volunteers. The art activity they will be doing next Friday requires the students to use a hammer to set their nails into their boards. Please, let me know if you are available to help out next Friday, February 3rd from 7:45 - 8:45am. Thank you!!
Scholastic Book Orders: January orders are due by This Monday, January 30th. Please, consider buying your child a book or a next year's 2017 Bluebonnet book. Some of the books that are offered on Scholastic are: Lola Lavine Drama Queen (ONLY $4.00), Towers Falling ($12.00), The Key to Extraordinary (ONLY $5.00), The Last Kids on Earth (ONLY $5.00), The Princess and The Warrior ($12.00), Maybe a Fox (ONLY $5.00), The Great Shelby Holmes (ONLY $4.00), Some Kind of Courage ($5.00) and Soar ($16.00). So many books are offered!!! Student book orders give us class points to go and buy these books for our classroom library. The kids love helping me pick out new books and they want more Bluebonnet Books! Scholastic Book Link Class Code - NP79X
Home Access Updated: I will continue to post grades weekly into Home Access. Please, check this regularly to stay on top of your kiddos performance in class. I will forewarn you that second semester can be more challenging as we prepare these kiddos for STAAR and 4th grade. Expectations on graded work will increase. Home Access Link With that said, student behavior is critical in academic performance as well. I will now be taking points away from students on Class Dojo if they are not following our Social Contract or PAWS expectations. This will begin next week. I will begin to print off a Class Dojo "report" every 2 weeks or so. It will be in your child's Thursday folder to review.
STAAR Ready prep tests (dates posted below) and STAAR tests (early-May): They are just around the corner. Want to help prepare your child at home? Suggestions for math: Xtramath, timed quizzes, ixl.com, and khan academy are excellent online resources your child has access to. The links to these sites can be found under the "Math Links" tab. Suggestions for reading: reading comprehension passages with questions. Check out the "Reading Links" tab for tons of great online resources.
Six Flags Reading Program - Reading program encouraging kids to read at home by rewarding them with a FREE Six Flags pass. Kids read the required number of minutes and log it on the reading log. Turn in the form no later than February 22nd.
Unusual Reading Spot Contest: Does your kiddo love to read in fun and unusual spots? Check into this fun contest! Get contest rules and info by clicking here - The 5th Annual Unusual Reading Spot Contest
Wobble Stools: The wobble stools are a hit in the classroom. Thank you to those parents that have already purchased their child a wobble stool. I wish I had one for each student. They all want one! Please, talk to your child about possibly getting him or her a wobble stool. I know they are not cheap, but the stool is your child's stool. Therefore, your child can use the stool in 4th grade and 5th grade. I would recommend the 18" or 20" stool "Active Learning Stool" Click HERE. The other great option is the 18" wobble chair by KORE Click HERE.

Upcoming Dates:

January 30 - Scholastic book orders for the month of January due
January 31 - Soil and Natural Resource Unit DCA and Math DCA (Geometry, Area, Fractions)
February 3 - Spelling Test and Last day to turn in Field Trip forms (blue forms)
February 13 - STAAR Ready (practice reading test)
February 20 - No School
February 22 - Six Flags Reading Log due
February 24 - Field Trip to Westcave Preserve (Lilleboe/Raney classes)
February 27 - STAAR Ready (practice math test)
February 28 - Scholastic book orders for the month of February due
March 9 - The 3rd grade Economics Fair (start at 8:15am)

Class Happenings:
In Writing and Reading, our new unit is Traditional Tales (legends, fables, folktales and myths). We will begin the unit reading some of our favorites like Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs. Then, we'll dive in and read some tales that we may not be so familiar with. We'll approach the reading material using a few reading strategies: compare/contrast, cause/effect, themes (lesson/morals), sequence of events, etc. Some of the essential questions that will be answered are:

What skills and strategies help me read for understanding and meaning?
What elements set folktales, fables, legends, and myths apart from realistic fiction?
How can my understanding of fiction help me comprehend folktales, fables, legends, and myths?
How do characters, plot, and setting work together in this story?
How is the setting similar and different to setting in other stories of this genre?
How can understanding the theme support my comprehension of this story?
What can I learn from mentor writers as I gather ideas and compose imaginative stories?
How do writers use the writing process as they compose imaginative stories?

In math, we turned our focus towards comparing fractions and equivalent fractions this week. Use created our own fraction bars using colored construction paper. This really helped many of the students to see equivalent fractions. Kids can practice at home using ixl.com (equivalent fractions). The DCA for this unit is combined with our last unit; Geometry, Area and Equivalent Fractions/Comparing Fractions. The DCA will be on Tuesday, January 31.

In science, we have started our next unit, Formation of Soils and Natural Resources. We've learned all about soil: color, types of soil - clay, sand, loam, hummus, soil horizon or layers. Plus, we've discussed what weathering and erosion are and the difference between them. The DCA will be on January 31.

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Weekly Update #19: January 16 - January 20

1/20/2017

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Bluebonnet Book Program - The Bluebonnet Book Program will end THIS Wednesday, January 25th. Check out the list of Bluebonnet books HERE. This year's books and some of next year's books are listed on my Mrs. Lilleboe's Bluebonnet Book List.
Home Access Updated: I will continue to post grades weekly into Home Access. Please, check this regularly to stay on top of your kiddos performance in class. I will forewarn you that second semester can be more challenging as we prepare these kiddos for STAAR and 4th grade. Expectations on graded work will increase. Home Access Link With that said, student behavior is critical in academic performance as well. I will now be taking points away from students on Class Dojo if they are not following our Social Contract or PAWS expectations. This will begin next week. I will begin to print off a Class Dojo "report" every 2 weeks. It will be in your child's Thursday folder to review.
Scholastic Book Orders: January orders are due by Monday, January 30th. Please, consider buying your child a book or a next year Bluebonnet book. Student book orders give us class points to go and buy books for our classroom library. The kids love helping me pick out new books! Scholastic Book Link
STAAR Ready prep tests (dates posted below) and STAAR tests (early-May): They are just around the corner. Want to help prepare your child at home? Suggestions for math: Xtramath, timed quizzes, ixl.com, and khan academy are excellent online resources your child has access to. The links to these sites can be found under the "Math Links" tab. Suggestions for reading: reading comprehension passages with questions. Check out the "Reading Links" tab for tons of great online resources.
Six Flags Reading Program - Reading program encouraging kids to read at home by rewarding them with a FREE Six Flags pass. Kids read the required number of minutes and log it on the reading log. Turn in the form no later than February 22nd.
Unusual Reading Spot Contest: Does your kiddo love to read in fun and unusual spots? Check into this fun contest! Get contest rules and info by clicking here - The 5th Annual Unusual Reading Spot Contest
Wobble Stools: The wobble stools are a hit in the classroom. Thank you to those parents that have already purchased their child a wobble stool. I wish I had one for each student. They all want one! Please, talk to your child about possibly getting him or her a wobble stool. I know they are not cheap, but the stool is your child's stool. Therefore, your child can use the stool in 4th grade and 5th grade. I would recommend the 18" or 20" stool "Active Learning Stool" Click HERE. The other great option is the 18" wobble chair by KORE Click HERE.

Upcoming Dates:

January 25 - Last day to take a Bluebonnet Book Quiz
January 30 - Scholastic book orders for the month of January due
January 31 - Soil and Natural Resource Unit DCA and Math DCA (Geometry, Area, Fractions)
February 3 - Spelling Test and Last day to turn in Field Trip forms (blue forms)
February 13 - STAAR Ready (practice reading test)
February 20 - No School
February 22 - Six Flags Reading Log due
February 24 - Field Trip to Westcave Preserve (Lilleboe/Raney classes)
February 27 - STAAR Ready (practice math test)
March 9 - The 3rd grade Economics Fair (start at 8:15am)

What skills and strategies help me read for understanding and meaning?
What elements set folktales, fables, legends, and myths apart from realistic fiction?
How can my understanding of fiction help me comprehend folktales, fables, legends, and myths?
How do characters, plot, and setting work together in this story?
How is the setting similar and different to setting in other stories of this genre?
How can understanding the theme support my comprehension of this story?
What can I learn from mentor writers as I gather ideas and compose imaginative stories?
How do writers use the writing process as they compose imaginative stories?

*We also have worked on some grammar and conventions in writing - Punctuation and Adverbs this week!

In math, we turned our focus towards comparing fractions and equivalent fractions this week. Use created our own fraction bars using colored construction paper. This really helped many of the students to see equivalent fractions. Kids can practice at home using ixl.com (equivalent fractions). The DCA for this unit is combined with our last unit; Geometry and Equivalent Fractions/Comparing Fractions. The DCA will be in a couple of weeks (last week of January).

In science, we have started our next unit, Formation of Soils and Natural Resources. We've learned all about soil: color, types of soil - clay, sand, loam, hummus, soil horizon or layers. Plus, we've discussed what weathering and erosion are and the difference between them. The DCA will be on January 31.

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Weekly Update #18: January 9 - January 13

1/13/2017

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Bluebonnet Book Program - The Bluebonnet Book Program will end January 25th. Check out the list of Bluebonnet books HERE. This year's books and some of next year's books are listed on my Mrs. Lilleboe's Bluebonnet Book List.
Home Access Updated: I will continue to post grades weekly into Home Access. Please, check this regularly to stay on top of your kiddos performance in class. I will forewarn you that second semester can be more challenging as we prepare these kiddos for STAAR and 4th grade. Expectations on graded work will increase. Home Access Link With that said, student behavior is critical in academic performance as well. I will now be taking points away from students on Class Dojo if they are not following our Social Contract or PAWS expectations. This will begin next week.
Scholastic Book Orders: January orders are due by Monday, January 30th. Please, consider buying your child a book or a next year Bluebonnet book. Student book orders give us class points to go and buy books for our classroom library. The kids love helping me pick out new books! Scholastic Book Link
STAAR Ready prep tests (dates posted below) and STAAR tests (early-May): They are just around the corner. Want to help prepare your child at home? Suggestions for math: Xtramath, timed quizzes, ixl.com, and khan academy are excellent online resources your child has access to. The links to these sites can be found under the "Math Links" tab. Suggestions for reading: reading comprehension passages with questions. Check out the "Reading Links" tab for tons of great online resources.
Six Flags Reading Program - Reading program encouraging kids to read at home by rewarding them with a FREE Six Flags pass. Kids read the required number of minutes and log it on the reading log. Turn in the form no later than February 22nd.
Unusual Reading Spot Contest: Does your kiddo love to read in fun and unusual spots? Check into this fun contest! Get contest rules and info by clicking here - The 5th Annual Unusual Reading Spot Contest
Wobble Stools: The wobble stools are a hit in the classroom. Thank you to those parents that have already purchased their child a wobble stool. I wish I had one for each student. They all want one! Please, talk to your child about possibly getting him or her a wobble stool. I know they are not cheap, but the stool is your child's stool. Therefore, your child can use the stool in 4th grade and 5th grade. I would recommend the 18" or 20" stool "Active Learning Stool" Click HERE. The other great option is the 18" wobble chair by KORE Click HERE.

Upcoming Dates:

January 16 - No School
January 19 - 2nd and 3rd grade Math Night from 6:00 - 7:00pm
January 20 - Spelling Test
January 25 - Last day to take a Bluebonnet Book Quiz
January 30 - Scholastic book orders for the month of January due
February 13 - STAAR Ready (practice reading test)
February 20 - No School
February 22 - Six Flags Reading Log due
February 24 - Field Trip to Westcave Preserve (Lilleboe/Raney classes)
February 27 - STAAR Ready (practice math test)
March 9 - The 3rd grade Economics Fair (start at 8:15am)

What skills and strategies help me read for understanding and meaning?
What elements set folktales, fables, legends, and myths apart from realistic fiction?
How can my understanding of fiction help me comprehend folktales, fables, legends, and myths?
How do characters, plot, and setting work together in this story?
How is the setting similar and different to setting in other stories of this genre?
How can understanding the theme support my comprehension of this story?
What can I learn from mentor writers as I gather ideas and compose imaginative stories?
How do writers use the writing process as they compose imaginative stories?

In math, we continued to review 3D shapes this week. But, our big focus this week was finding area of an irregular shape. This was a very difficult concept for most. We learned that we can break this space up in to 2 or more smaller rectangles to find the total area of the space. Please, continue to practice this skill on ixl.com (Geometry section). Next week, we will continue to review area but begin to turn our focus towards comparing fractions and equivalent fractions. The DCA for this unit is combined with our last unit; Geometry and Equivalent Fractions/Comparing Fractions. The DCA will be in a couple of weeks (last week of January).

In science, we have started our next unit, Formation of Soils and Natural Resources. The DCA will be in a couple of weeks.

In social studies, the kids completed The One Little Word activity. These One Little Words are on display in our classroom for the rest of the school year. We also did a Scholastic News and discussion on Ellis Island.

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Weekly Update #17: January 3 - January 6

1/5/2017

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Thank You! Wow, I have some truly amazing parents and students this year. Thank you all for helping out with our holiday party (providing supplies or volunteering). I was so sick that day and was unable to attend our party. Thank goodness I have amazing parents and kids like you to "go on with the show" as they say! I also can't thank you all enough for the wonderful, thoughtful holiday gifts. I am so humbled and grateful.
PBL and Field Trip T-Shirt - Order forms were placed in your child's Thursday folder yesterday. All 3rd graders will wear their Planet Protector t-shirt for our field trip day, Economics Fair and for our 3rd grade assembly in the spring. Please, complete the form and return it with money in an envelope or ziplock bag by Tuesday, January 10th. Checks can be made out to Elsa England Elementary.
Bluebonnet Book Program - The Bluebonnet Book Program will end January 25th. Check out the list of Bluebonnet books HERE. This year's books and some of next year's books are listed on my Mrs. Lilleboe's Bluebonnet Book List.
Six Flags Reading Program - Reading program encouraging kids to read at home by rewarding them with a FREE Six Flags pass. Kids read the required number of minutes and log it on the reading log. Turn in the form no later than February 22nd.
Wobble Stools: The wobble stools are a hit in the classroom. Thank you to those parents that have already purchased their child a wobble stool. I wish I had one for each student. They all want one! Please, talk to your child about possibly getting him or her a wobble stool. I know they are not cheap, but the stool is your child's stool. Therefore, your child can use the stool in 4th grade and 5th grade. I would recommend the 18" or 20" stool "Active Learning Stool" Click HERE. The other great option is the 18" wobble chair by KORE Click HERE.
Home Access Center: Make sure to start checking Home Access every week! Link to Home Access Center.

Upcoming Dates:

January 10 - 3rd Grade Planet Protector tshirt order form due.
January 10 - Science DCA: Landforms and Earth's Forces (earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides)
January 12 - Math Quiz: Geometry (2D and 3D shapes, finding the area). Expository Essay Due.
January 12 - Ziploc bag of soil
January 13 - Morning assembly and Reading DCA: Biographies
January 16 - No School
January 19 - 2nd and 3rd grade Math Night from 6:00 - 7:00pm
January 20 - Spelling Test

Class Happenings:
In writing, we sorted our PBL notefacts into our PBL journals in preparation for our written project before the winter break. There are still a few kids that need to finish this portion of the project. We will begin our written PBL project in about a week. Right now, we are learning about and writing an expository essay. The kids have brainstormed on the topic (DCA prompt that was given this week) and will complete a rough draft, revise and edit their rough draft and write their final draft all next week. If I find your child is having difficulty in class completing each step along the way, he or she will be bringing home their writing notebook to complete the day's task at home for homework. The expository essay will be due Thursday morning (next week). No later.

In reading, we started a new unit - Biographies. The kids have read a variety of short biographies this week and completed a reading response for each book. These will be graded and put into Home Access soon. Our reading DCA for this unit is scheduled for next Friday, Jan. 13th.

In math, we continued to explore 2D and 3D shapes this week. We also dabbled in learning about the area of a shape. We measured the area of various Hershey bars using centimeter cubes to find the largest and smallest candy bar. There will be a geometry quiz next week. The DCA for this unit is combined with the next unit, Equivalent Fractions/Comparing Fractions. The DCA will be in a couple of weeks.

In science, we continued our exploration and inquiry into Earth's Forces (Volcanos, Earthquakes and Landslides) with a few fun experiments this week. Check out the pictures below. The DCA for this unit will be on Tuesday. We will review right before the test with a fun quiz review on Kahoot!

In social studies, the kids have been searching for their One Little Word that they want to strive and work towards. The One Little Word represents goals the kids have created for themselves in hopes of accomplishing more in their lives in 2017. These One Little Words will be on display in our classroom for the rest of the school year.