We are Running Out of Time! Too Much to Do!

I hope everyone enjoyed their four day weekend!  I spent most of mine sick in bed, but at least it was not a school day and the students did not have to have a sub.  Hard to believe that we have less than 30 days of school left.  Kind of stresses me out as we have so much to do in 3B!  Thus....the titled....."Crunch Time!".

3rd grade teachers have set the date for students to have their multiplication facts assessed and mastered.  The last day to have your facts assessed by me is April 27th.  That gives the students two weeks from tomorrow!  Based on what I have seen from the kids, there are only a handful of students in 3B who are going to make it.  This makes me a little sad as the effort from some students is not there.  Just a reminder that knowing your multiplication facts is something that needs to be worked on outside the normal school day.  I have reviewed this many times with students and they know that.  We do take time randomly to work on them, but it is something students need to work out at home.  Those that master all of their facts will participate in the "Walking Taco" celebration by eating and making walking tacos!  Those that don't, will spend the time working on their facts.  So, keep working on the facts and let me know when you are ready to be assessed 3B.  You can do it!!!

Last week I showed the students another great online resource to use for presentations.  It is called "Prezi", and I am sure the students will become very comfortable with the program throughout the next few years.  It is common to the traditional powerpoint, but a much better and enjoyable way to make them.  Many students in 3B used the program to for their last Inquiry Project, which I will post pictures soon to show.  It is an online program, similar to Animoto, in which students log in to use. My account is under my name and password, but students know those and are more than welcome to work in the program.

Book It at home reading program has concluded and there are many 3B students who read and returned their calendars every month!  Yeah!!!!  These students will be having lunch supplied by me next Friday, April 20th.  I will supply pizza, chips, and a beverage for those that successful read each month of Book-It.  Other students will have lunch in the cafeteria as normal.  So great job to those students who made it!

Our book clubs are going wonderful!  I am so impressed with the students reading at home and their awesome discussions with their book clubs!!!! It is interesting to listen to each group and what they share about their reading!  True thinking, deeper understanding, and learning happening!  For the most part, the students have been very responsible in getting the reading done that their group decides on and coming prepared with their information.  Most are also getting very good at accessing their activities on Google Docs to post their thoughts and questions!   Isn't technology amazing???  :)  We will continue with Book Clubs for a few more weeks as they are going great!

A reminder that if you are ordering a Cadets for a Cause t-shirt the orders are due tomorrow.  Information was sent home a few weeks ago with a reminder two weeks ago.  Please have your child get that to the office if you are interested in ordering.  A reminder to have your child bring in a "canned good" for the Cadets for a Cause fun day as well.  A note was sent home previously about this information as well.  May 9th, which is Cadets for a Cause day, will be here before you know it!

Enjoy the rest of the week and stay warm!

Last Month of School. . .So Much to Do!

Well, hard to believe, but May is here! I really can't believe how quickly the time has flown by! It seems like just yesterday we were starting school and now we are almost to the end. Kind of sad for me. . . although I do enjoy my summer. Well, I just hope the students stay focused and working as hard as they currently are. We are cruising through so much and it is going very well. Keep it up 3B!

I am sending home the math test from last week. Please notice that I have written the percent and grade each child would have received if they were given a grade as they will be in 4th grade. It is a little "eye opener" for some students who like to rush as well as for those students who need to try a little harder. While we don't give letter grades in 3rd grade, students will be given them in 4th grade. On the math test, every option for an answer was a point, whether correct or needing to stay blank. The reason for that was because some problems has more than one possible answer and students needed to check all options. I think you will see what I mean when you look at the test itself. These do not need to be returned to school, but I hope you take a moment to look them over. There are a ton of concepts and processes in geometry, but I was pleased with their understanding of the concepts and recognition of geometry terms.

Science test will be coming home tomorrow or Wednesday as well. There will be grades on part of the test, as if in 4th grade, but not all being some are short answer. Again, they do not need to be returned to school.

In literacy, students are loving their book clubs!!!! They are having some of the best discussions as well so that is exciting for me to see! Every day someone ask me when we are doing book clubs. . . .which is wonderful as well. The purpose of book clubs is to build reading skills and strategies through discussion while building enjoyment in reading as well. Some students are very hesitate to share their thoughts while they read for fear of being wrong or other issues, but eventually, through practice, they see the benefits of sharing thoughts and that it is alright to be wrong sometimes. We will continue our book clubs through the month as some groups are in the middle of their books while others will be starting a new book. During this time, I also pull in my guided reading lessons to correspond with the books they are reading and the needs they demonstrate. These lessons range from comparing and contrasting, recognizing cause and effect, building communication while reading, and looking at word parts. A note will be sent home soon asking students to bring in a beverage as we would like to turn this into a type of "book chat" as if we are a Barnes and Noble drinking coffee - only we will be having juice or something else whild discussing our books. Something fun to throw in the activity!

Just a reminder that we will be taking a field trip next Friday to Wabasha, Minnesota. I have two parent volunteers already but need 1 more. If you are interested, please contact me as soon as possible to get that finalized. More information will be sent this week about what to bring, times of departure, and necessary information. Look for that soon!

We had a super time at Vernon last week for Arbor Day. Hopefully all of you got your tree planted. We still have each tree that my children planted in 3rd grade at our house, and they are growing like crazy. Look for pictures of our trip to be posted some time this week as well. My evenings are busy with my daughter's track meets out of town, but I will get them up sometime soon.

I also need to make one last comment about our biography presentations. I have uploaded them to a site called "Teachertube" for reasons that "YouTube" is blocked at school. They are having technological difficulties - just my luck- but I will hopefully have them embedded on each child's blog page this week as well for you to view and comment. I should also have the DVD made by the end of the week as well. While I love all the technology that students have access to, sometimes it takes a while to get it all "perfected". So thanks for being so understanding. . . .

Have a great week and enjoy the sunshine. . .hopefully it will stick around a while!