Blog Archives

Weekly Update #6: September 26 - September 30

9/30/2016

Homework: This will start on Monday. The kids will get their homework spiral notebook and this week's homework sheet (printed for them). I will go over what the expectations are for homework on Monday with the kids. Starting on October 10th, your child or you will need to go to the 3rd Grade Website for the weekly homework. In an effort to save paper, we are asking that the kids just "pull up" the homework assignment on the home computer or laptop and complete the work in the homework spiral notebook. The link to the 3rd grade website is on the "Welcome" page. Students are expected to turn in their homework spiral notebook every Friday morning.
Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences: October 10th. Please, click on the link to sign up for a time slot. If one of these times does not work for you, we can always do a conference over the phone and/or email me a time. I will see what I can do to accommodate your schedule. Thanks! Fall Conference Sign Up
Homework: This will start on Monday. Homework is due each Friday morning. For this first week I will print out the homework for the kids and go over the expectations with them on Monday. Then, each week it will be up to the parents and child to look for the homework online.
Xtramath - Great website for students to brush up on their math facts! This will be perfect for when homework starts up (math facts)! I sent home an Xtramath enrollment information flyer yesterday in Thursday folders. Please, take a few moments to enroll your child.
Bluebonnet Book Program - Check out the list of Bluebonnet books HERE Our class also has a Bluebonnet Book Wish List - Click Here. The kids are loving this program!!!
Home Access Center: Make sure to start checking Home Access every week! Link to Home Access Center.
Wobble Stools - Wobble stools are an alternative seating option for your child. Wobble stools help provide students with the ability to wiggle as they sit. They help some students to focus more on their work too. This is a parent purchased item. With that said, at the end of the year the wobble stool is yours. Your child can then use them in 4th and 5th grade. I would recommend the 18" or 20" stool (depending on your child's current height). The 14" stool is just too short. Here are a couple of websites of where to make this purchase if you are interested. Really Good Stuff - Wobble Stool and Active Learning Stool - Amazon.com
Optional - Headphones: Your child may still want headphones or earbuds for our classroom. A few of them have already broken. I would ask your child. These can be purchased at Target, Walmart, HEB, etc. The headphones/earbuds will be left here at school.

Upcoming Dates:

October 4th - Math DCA Test - Place Value, Rounding/Estimation, Addition/Subtraction Strategies, Comparing Numbers (greater than, less than).
October 10th - No School Day - Fall Parents/Student/Teacher Conferences
October 13th - Family Fitness Night @ Elsa England. Starts at 6:00pm - 7:30pm.

***Wow!! Thank you parents for all the wonderful Scholastic Book Orders. Our class received over 1400 points that we can use to buy books for our classroom! Plus, Scholastic gave us 10 free books! Many of you bought Bluebonnet Books too. :)

Class Happenings:
In writing, we finished our final drafts of our personal narratives this week!! Our next unit is poetry.

In reading, we continue to learn many different reading strategies in which to help us as better understand the text we are reading. We did a quick mini-lesson on character traits. How we can infer about a character's trait or personality by what they say, do, think and feel. We also competed a short lesson on using the retell/summary strategy. This is also called the "Somebody-wanted-but-so-then" summary strategy. I read the class, Flat Stanley Goes Camping and completed a Somebody-wanted-but-so-then graphic organizer. We ended the week with our Unit 1 reading DCA test.

In math, our focus was on addition and subtraction strategies this week. The kids practice adding (counting on) and subtracting (counting back) on a number line. We also learned our to organize or structure an addition or subtraction problem using a Strip Diagram. We also reviewed the 2-digit and 3-digit addition strategy called Partial Sums (also called Expanded Addition). The kids have brought home a math packet of many of the concepts we have covered these last two weeks. This packet is optional. This packet is not due and is not being graded. It's just for additional practice at home. Our test over place value, rounding, data/graphs, addition and subtraction will be on October 4th.

In science, we started our next unit called "Changes in Matter and Mixtures". We've done some small group work using our new vocabulary for this unit. Plus, we conducted a Go Temp! Activity with Ms. Potral and Mrs. Eaton's classes today. We will finish writing our reflection for this Go Temp Activity on Monday.

In social studies, we did another short lesson on "Loyalty" and what it is to be a good member of your community or school. We watched an online story called, Library Lion. Then, completed a reading comprehension question worksheet.

*On another note, I read the bluebonnet book, John Roy Lynch to the class this week. I've been trying to read the shorter (picture book type) bluebonnet books to the kids in class during Read Aloud. Then, I send them to the library to take the bluebonnet quiz on the book! Many of our students have already read 5 books!!!

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Weekly Update #5: September 19 - September 23

9/22/2016

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Early Release Day - Lunch Our early release day schedule is a bit different this year. The kids will need to bring a lunch from home (lunch box or sack lunch). The cafeteria will not be open for regular lunch choices. We will be eating in our classroom at 10:30am. Students are dismissed at 12:00 (noon).
Xtramath - Great website for students to brush up on their math facts! This will be perfect for when homework starts up (math facts)! I sent home an Xtramath enrollment information flyer yesterday in Thursday folders. Please, take a few moments to enroll your child.
Bluebonnet Book Program - Check out the list of Bluebonnet books HERE Our class also has a Bluebonnet Book Wish List - Click Here. The kids are loving this program!!!
Home Access Center: Make sure to start checking Home Access soon. I will begin to post grades next week. Link to Home Access Center.
Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences: October 10th. Please, click on the link to sign up for a time slot. If one of these times does not work for you, we can always do a conference over the phone and/or email me a time. I will see what I can do to accommodate your schedule. Thanks! Fall Conference Sign Up
Wobble Stools - Wobble stools are an alternative seating option for your child. Wobble stools help provide students with the ability to wiggle as they sit. They help some students to focus more on their work too. This is a parent purchased item. With that said, at the end of the year the wobble stool is yours. Your child can then use them in 4th and 5th grade. I would recommend the 18" or 20" stool (depending on your child's current height). The 14" stool is just too short. Here are a couple of websites of where to make this purchase if you are interested. Really Good Stuff - Wobble Stool and Active Learning Stool - Amazon.com
Optional - Headphones: Your child may still want headphones or earbuds for our classroom. A few of them have already broken. I would ask your child. These can be purchased at Target, Walmart, HEB, etc. The headphones/earbuds will be left here at school.

Upcoming Dates:

September 28th - Early Release Day -must provide sack lunch - lunch is at 10:30, pick up 12:00
October 10th - No School Day - Fall Parents/Student/Teacher Conferences

***Thank you parents for your September Scholastic Book Orders! I will place the orders on Monday.

Class Happenings:
In writing, we continue to work our small moment idea that will turn into our personal narrative. The kids did a storyboard of their small moment (like a movie director). Then, they created an exciting, grab-your-attention lead. On Monday, we will begin drafting our personal narratives. We will edit and revise our writing on Wednesday. Then, our final drafts will be due on Thursday. If I notice a student is falling behind on this next week, I will have your child bring home his/her writing journal to catch up. The final draft of our personal narrative will be a "test" grade.

In reading, we continue to learn many different reading strategies in which to help us as better understand the text we are reading. We did a fun inference activity with photographs (table groups), then ended the week with an "asking questions and inferencing activity" using the book, Just A Dream. The kids also completed a visualization strategy assignment using the book, The Seashore Book. Both of these will be graded.

In math, our focus was on rounding and estimation this week. I might suggest that your son/daughter continue to work on Estimation and Rounding concepts at home by going to ixl.com. We've also started the 2-digit and 3-digit addition strategies, beginning with Partial Sums Algorithm (also called Expanded Addition). Our test over place value, rounding, data/graphs, addition and subtraction will be probably on October 4th.

In science, we wrapped up our matter unit with a fun sink and float experiment called "Don't Sink The Boat". Our test over this unit was today.

In social studies, we looked at the word "Loyalty" this week and learned about our country's constitution. The Loyalty Padlet is below.

Created with Padlet

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Weekly Update #4: September 12 - September 16

9/15/2016

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Optional - Headphones: Your child may still want headphones or earbuds for our classroom. A few of them have already broken. I would ask your child. These can be purchased at Target, Walmart, HEB, etc. The headphones/earbuds will be left here at school.
Scholastic Book Orders due on September 26th (online orders - Your Class Activation Code NP79X). The link to order is here Scholastic Book Clubs . We have a Class Wish List here if you so choose to purchase books for our classroom library as well. These kids love to read!!! Plus, I get points for every book order that is placed, which means tons of FREE books for our classroom. Please, take a moment to look at the flyers online and place an order. You can order from other grade levels too!
Xtramath - Great website for students to brush up on their math facts! This will be perfect for when homework starts up (math facts)! I sent home an Xtramath enrollment information flyer yesterday in Thursday folders. Please, take a few moments to enroll your child.
Bluebonnet Book Program - Check out the list of Bluebonnet books HERE Our class also has a Bluebonnet Book Wish List - Click Here. The kids are loving this program!!!
Home Access Center: Make sure to start checking Home Access soon. I will begin to post grades next week. Link to Home Access Center.
Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences: October 10th. Please, click on the link to sign up for a time slot. If one of these times does not work for you, we can always do a conference over the phone and/or email me a time. I will see what I can do to accommodate your schedule. Thanks! Fall Conference Sign Up
Wobble Stools - As I mentioned in last night's parent night presentation, wobble stools are an alternative seating option for your child. Wobble stools help provide students with the ability to wiggle as they sit. They help some students to focus more on their work too. This is a parent purchased item. With that said, at the end of the year the wobble stool is yours. Your child can then use them in 4th and 5th grade. I would recommend the 18" or 20" stool (depending on your child's current height). The 14" stool is just too short. Here are a couple of websites of where to make this purchase if you are interested. Really Good Stuff - Wobble Stool and Active Learning Stool - Amazon.com
Parent Night Presentations - If you were unable to make to Parent Night last night, here are the main presentation that was shown in the cafeteria. Third Grade Presentation

*Special "Thank You" to parents who have placed Scholastic Book Orders - James's parents, Justin's parents and Benjamin's parents. Thank you, these book orders help us to earn FREE books for our classroom! Keep those book orders coming!

Upcoming Dates:

September 21st - Author Aaron Reynolds Book purchases due
September 28th - Early Release Day -must provide sack lunch - lunch is at 10:30, pick up 12:00
October 10th - No School Day - Fall Parents/Student/Teacher Conferences

Class Happenings:
In writing, we continue to generate ideas and small moments in preparation of our personal narrative. This week we learned about "Watermelon Ideas" compared to "Seed Ideas" with a tasty treat - I brought in watermelon for the class. Ask your child the difference! We also began organizing our thinking for our personal narratives by zooming in on our seed moment.

In reading, we continue to build up our reading stamina and examine ourselves as "good" readers. The kids did a Stop & Jot reading response for a grade. We also learned a new reading strategy - Visualization! To visualize and picture the what's going on in the book in our minds. We practiced this skill with a section from Charlotte's Web. Next week, we will do another visualization for a grade. The kids are also getting time to go and take Bluebonnet Quizzes during reading. They have really embraced this awesome reading program!

In math, our focus was on place value. I might suggest that your son/daughter continue to work on place value concepts at home by going to ixl.com. The kids know how to log into ixl.com, plus I sent home their log in information in their Thursday folders a couple of weeks ago. Area of focus: Place Value. They can continue with the skills in this specific area. Google Classroom also has some math links that I have shared with them in class. Last but not least, I have tons of math links on my website "Math Links". Next week, we will continue with place value and jump into addition and subtraction with 2-digit and 3-digit numbers.

In science, we dug deep in to our matter unit. The kids love the matter stations we did with Ms. Frost's class out in the common area on Wednesday (pictures below). We will continue with matter next week. I'll keep you posted to when the quiz will be coming.

In social studies, we continued with our growth mindset study. The kids wrote down their thoughts about growth mindset and fixed mindset on a few "brains". Then, we colored, cut and glue them together. Super fun project that turned out great!

Below is an assignment we did a couple weeks ago (Sept 2nd) on Famous Scientist using a program called Padlet.

Created with Padlet

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Weekly Update #3: September 6 - September 9

9/8/2016

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Announcements:

Class Dojo - We started a fun, interactive behavior communication program this week. All of our parents are logged. Whoo Hoo! As you may already be noticing that I use Class Dojo as a way of communicating with you throughout the day. If you have yet to download the FREE app on your smart phone, I highly recommend it. You'll get instant message updates from me and can see your child's behavior/following our class's social contract daily.
Library Day every Tuesday.
Back to School Parent Night - This Thursday, September 15 @ 6:30pm - 7:30pm. Meet in the cafeteria.
Scholastic Book Orders due by September 23rd. Place your orders online - Your Class Activation Code NP79X). The link to order is HERE. Reading is thinking, so keep on reading!!! We have a Class Wish List here too if you so choose to purchase books for our classroom library as well. These kids love to read!!! Plus, I get points for every book order that is placed, which means tons of FREE books for our classroom. Please, take a moment to look at the flyers online and place an order. You can order from other grade levels too!
Early Release Day on September 28

*Homework will start later in September. Until then, take time to brush up on math facts (kids are encouraged to play math games on my website) and read!!!

*I will begin putting grades into the Home Access for assignments and quizzes next week. If you are unsure how to set up Home Access so you can view your child's progress (grades), please click HERE.

Special Thank You to Simrah's parents, Viraj's parents and Arnav's parents for bringing in supplies from the 3rd Grade Supply List. Natasha's parents donated extra snack for our class, so if your child forgets one day we have something for him/her. Please, don't rely on this extra snack. This will be used just in case your child has forgotten. Also, a special thank you goes out to James' parents and Benjamin's parents for already submitting their Scholastic book orders. Another set of Scholastic flyers went home in Thursday folders yesterday. You can place your order online by logging in with our Class Code by clicking Here (Scholastic Book Orders).

This Week's Class Happenings:
In writing, we discussed what it means to be a good friend and what we want in a friend. Then, the kids wrote "Friend Wanted" ads that will be displayed outside our classroom for parent night on Thursday.

In reading, we dove into learning about reading strategies that good readers use to understand and comprehend what they have read. We learned how to Stop & Jot down our thinking as we read on post it notes. As a class, we read the book, The Stranger. We learned another reading strategy called Asking Questions. Good reader ask questions before, during and after reading. We then took these questions and categorized them in to two types of questions: Thin and Think. Thin questions are ones we as a reader can find the answer quickly and easily in the text. Thick questions require a reader to predict and infer about the text using the clues found within the story.

In math, we've been working on our first unit of study, Charts and Graphs. We examined and created a bar graph, pictograph and a dot plot graph. Our vocabulary for this unit is: data, frequency chart, tally chart, key, bar graph, pictograph, dot plot graph, scale, x-axis and y-axis as it applies to these 3 types of graphs. The kids built upon there understanding of reading and answer questions from graphs by completing a few worksheets in class, working with partners on a graph, using ixl.com and as a class doing some "whiteboard math" problems.

In Social Studies, we have learned what it is to have a Fixed Mindset and a Growth Mindset. We have agreed that it is best to grow our brains by having a Growth Mindset. Ask your kids what this means!!! This goes along with our new Class Dojo program too. :)

In Science, we have started our first big unit on Classifying Matter. We did an activity called "Balloon Pop" which we identified and described what a solid, liquid and a gas are. We also brainstormed what are the Physical Properties of Matter (how can we classify matter) by texture, size, shape, smell, how it feels, color, volume, density (sink or float), magnetism. Next week we will explore matter by classifying matter in various stations in our Common area. We will also log in for the first time into STEMscopes and do a few activities on the Chrome books.