- Many Thanks! Thank you to Heidi, Rashmi and Lucas's parents for bringing in classroom donations. We really needed the glue sticks and mini pencil sharpeners!! Many thanks!
- Wildlife Warrior t-shirts: Please, make sure to wash your t-shirt in cold water and hang to dry. These shirts are famous for shrinking! The kids are free to wear their shirt when they want to. We will ask that they wear the t-shirt on our field trip day (date to be announced) and for our 3rd grade assembly (April).
- Bluebonnet Reading Program Update: The fun reading program is over. As a class we did amazing!!! Here are results of our class:
- Students who read 5 or more books (Voting Party): ANVAY, BODIE, DHRUV, HEIDI, JAZZ, KAELI, LUCAS, NITHILA, PARAM, PRANITA, RASHMI, SEAN, SHARVI, SHLOK, SHREY
- Students who read 10 or more books (Breakfast Party): ANVAY, BODIE, HEIDI, JAZZ, KAELI, LUCAS, NITHILA, PARAM, RASHMI, SEAN
- Students who read ALL 20 books: BODIE, NITHILA
- Wobble Chair: Wiggly kiddos need the wobble chair. This new innovative chair allows kids to wiggle and release excess energy while they work. Watch this video of a teacher who uses the Wobble Chair in her classroom. Video Interested in buying one for your child that can be used this year in 3rd grade and moved on up to 4th and 5th grade? Check out Really Good Stuff website for the best prices. A bit more expensive is the Hokki Stool (same concept) available at Discount School Supply. We already have 2 wobble chairs in class and the kids love them!! For taller students, I would recommend the 18" chair.
- Souper Bowl of Caring: The 4th grade Hunger Heroes are taking on local hunger needs for their PBL project. Please, bring in nonperishable food items (cans, boxes) to school. Last day is February 5th.
- Scholastic Book Orders: Our kids love to read! Scholastic book orders can be placed anytime. Just click on the link! Class code: NP79X Link: Scholastic Books. Thank you to Lucas's parents for placing a book order. This helps us to earn points to buy FREE books! Thank you!
- Six Flags Reading Program: Flyer with reading log went home in Thursday folders yesterday about this super fun way for kids to be rewarded for all their amazing reading they do at home. Complete the reading log on the back of the flyer by February 21st and return it to school no later than February 22nd (last day).
- STAAR Ready prep tests (late Feb and early March) and STAAR tests (mid-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. Check out this link for test questions from 2015, 2014 and 2013. STAAR Test Questions
- 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 4th Annual Unusual Reading Spot Contest
- 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 4th grade. Expectations on graded work will increase. Home Access Link
- Wish Lists: If you are able and wanting to contribute other resources to our learning, go to my other wish list on Amazon. "Mrs. Lilleboe's Wish List" to find my classroom wish list. Thank you!
- Xtramath & Timed Quizzes- Get those math facts down....and fast with Xtramath and timed quizzes! Find links to these sites under the "Math Links" tab and other great math websites!! Keep up the good work!
Upcoming Dates:
- January 28: Math Night (2nd and 3rd Grades)
- January 29: PTA Sponsored Family Movie Night 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Cafeteria
- February 3: Early Release Day @ 12:45pm
- February 5: Spirit Assembly in the morning
- February 12: 3rd Grade Valentine's Day Party @ 1:30pm (bring your valentines for your classmates)
- February 15: No School - President's Day
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 wrapped up our Geometry unit! Our big focus this week was finding area of an irregular shape. This was a very difficult concept for most. Please, continue to practice this skill on ixl.com (Geometry section)
In Science, we started our new unit, Ecosystems (habitats, food chains, adaptations, populations, etc). We had a guest speaker come in and talk to us about where the new middle school will be built and the habitats affected by this construction. There are oodles of Brainpop videos on ecosystems. Review these videos and do the quizzes for fun to brush up! Ecosystem Videos Login username: elsaengland password: leopards
In Social Studies, we continued our learning on Martin Luther King Jr.