Weekly Update #19: January 16 - January 20

• 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)

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?

​*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.