Weeks of 12/14/09 - 1/4/10

This week, we will be attempting to wrap up as many units as we can. For English, students will be tested on Unit 3 - (verbs) on Tuesday. Students' Native Americans projects turned out to be fantastic! They are displayed in the hallway outside of our room. Please feel free to come by and check them out. Students will also have a math test over Chapter 3 - (Addition and Subtraction of larger numbers) on Thursday. Don't forget about the field trip to the Nutcracker on Horseback on Wednesday. Students will need to bring a healthy snack that can be easily eaten on a bus. They may also bring carrots and apples to feed to the horses. On Friday, we will have a classroom Christmas party. Feel free to bring food or drinks for the class. Since students have finished Charlotte's Web, we will watch the movie on Friday as well.

When we get back from break, students will complete one last Charlotte's Web assignment. This will be an in-school assignment that will incorporate the use of computers. In social studies, students will begin a new unit on the many cultures within our country. For math, we will begin a very short review unit on measurement. We will continue to learn about weather and the water cycle in science. Adjectives and Adverbs are the next topics of concern in English.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Weeks of 11/30/09 and 12/7/09

Parents/Guardians:

We have a busy stretch before Christmas break! We have started celebrating the season of Advent. We will have a prayer service each week to light the four candles on the wreath. This week, students will finish their Native Americans project for Social Studies. The projects will be due by Tuesday, December 8th. If students need more time after Friday, they are welcome to take their projects home over the weekend and get together to finish it. Students will get to present their projects to the class and share their expertise on their culture areas. We will hopefully wrap up Charlotte's Web before break. Be on the lookout for a project handout in the next few weeks.

We will be busy practicing for the Christmas concert this week. The concert is this Sunday, December 6th at 4:00 p.m. Following the concert, there will be a potluck dinner in Schwinn Hall. Those students who attend the concert will have a free dress down on the following Monday. I hope to see everyone there. Progress reports will be sent home this Friday, December 4th. Please sign and return them as soon as possible. Don't forget that we have a field trip on Wednesday, December 16th. If your child has not returned the permission slip or money, please make sure they do so by the end of this week.

Week of Sept. 7th

Back to School Night is this week.  Wednesday night will be the designated evening for our third grade class.  It is important that parents/guardians are able to attend.  We will be discussing the curriculum and classroom policies that are to be expected this year.  I know, personally, how busy and hectic schedules can be.  However, if there is a prior engagement that is scheduled at the same time that you are able to cancel, it would really be beneficial for your child's education.

There have already been severe issues with getting homework completed and turned in.  Parents, please make sure to check your child's assignment notebook every night.  Even if they have completed an assignment, it should still be recorded in their notebook and brought home with them for you to check it over.  Also, they should have a homework sticker chart taped into either the front or back cover of their notebook.  If a sticker is missing, that means they did not complete their work for that day.

This Friday, we will be doing an activity to remember those who lost their lives during the September 11th tragedy.

Weeks of: Aug. 24th & Aug. 31st

Welcome to the 2009-2010 3rd grade school year!  I am so excited to get the ball rolling!  The first few days of school will be spent getting organized, going over rules and procedures, and pre-testing.  The pre-tests will not be graded.  Their purpose is purely for me to observe each student's level of understanding in reading and math.  By Thursday, August 27th, we will be in the full swing of things, and students will have homework to complete that evening.  

I have sent home a packet of information with your child.  The packet includes a welcome letter, a list of this year's curriculum, information about homework and monitoring student progress, a questionnaire, a teacher/student contract, and a pick-up policy sheet.  Please take time to look over the letter and curriculum.  Also, the questionnaire, contract, and pick-up policy sheet need to be filled in and returned to me by Monday, August 31st.  I am sure that there will be many questions during this first week or two.  Please feel free to call me or stop by with any questions.

Take Care,

Miss Jones

Weeks of 3-2-09 and 3-9-09

For the week of 3-2-09, students are taking the Terra Nova test. It is a lot of tedious work, but it is also very important. For this reason, there will be no homework assigned this week. Also, there will be no homework club. Make sure your child gets plenty of rest, eats a healthy breakfast, and brings a snack with them to school. Their snack should be something healthy that can be eaten quickly without making a big mess. Some ideas are grapes, apples, carrot sticks, crackers, and pretzels.

On Wednesday, March 25th, we will be taking a field trip to the Museum of Science and Industry. Permissions slip have been handed out, and are due by Friday, March 13th. Please return the permission slips along with the $7.00 fee for the cost of the bus and labs as soon as possible.

Next week (3-9-09) we will be easing back into the curriculum. I will not be here on Monday and possibly Tuesday. I have a family matter to attend to, and I am not quite sure of the duration of time that I will be gone. Students will have a substitute Monday and possibly Tuesday. Students that missed any days during Terra Nova testing will make up any missed tests this week. We will be starting a new unit in English, Math, and Social Studies. In Reading, we will continue with Because of Winn Dixie.

During this season of Lent, it may be helpful to reinforce what your child is learning in school, by talking with him or her at home about the importance of charity.

Week of February 2-6

Welcome back from a long weekend!

This shortened week will be a bit wacky for students.  I am leaving on Wednesday for a vacation.  Therefore, students will have a substitute teacher Wednesday through Friday.

•   Students will be able to spend this week practicing skills covered in the Terra Nova for English.  
• Students will be able to celebrate the conclusion of the book Charlotte's Web by watching the movie.  Students will also be given class time to work on their brochures for the book.  They should summarize the beginning, middle, and end of the story and include an illustration (colored) for each section.  These will be due Monday, February 9th.  Students will be able to take them home Friday if extra time is needed.
• In math, students will continue to learn and practice their multiplication skills.  They will learn how to multiply by 3s, 4s, 1s, and 0s.  They will begin taking timed multiplication tests this week.  This will assist students in the memorization of multiplication facts.  They will track their progress on a chart in the classroom.  Flash cards at home would be a great way to prepare for these tests and to practice.
  
• In science, students will continue to learn about the solar system on Tuesday.  However, the lesson will be put on hold until my return.  We will review for chapter C3 next week.  Students will take this test on Thursday, February 12th.
• Social studies will also be put on hold this week.  We have completed the unit on Native Americans, and I do not want to start a new topic until I return.