Another great day.....even better considering we did not have a break today for specials. The students were troopers and had an awesome day learning, thinking, planning, and solving.
I introduced a part of our Wednesday schedule that everyone is very excited about. It is called Genius Hour. Instead of me explaining it in writing, you can listen and watch this short video to learn what Genius Hour is. Basically, it is time set aside to learn about whatever you are passionate about. Watch the video below to get an idea of what it is.
I also showed the following video titled "A Pep Talk from Kid President". This is one of my favorite videos with a very powerful message. We spent a lot of time discussing the message behind this video. I was so excited that the students walked away with the message that "You were born awesome!". LOVE this video and message!
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Becoming Bloggers!!!!
We are working our way to figuring out all the "details" of posting on our student blog pages. Today we learned about posting comments on other blogs. It is great that we have a connection with a class from China and we can share blogs with one another. The students thought it was so cool they were blogging with students from around the world!
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Great Start to the School Year!
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| Task: "Create something that teaches us something about you." |
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| Aiden working with Photo Booth |
Last week I introduced the students to their individual emails. Yes, 3rd graders do get emails. We are just getting used to logging in etc., but hopefully the students will be ready to check their emails from any computer that has internet by the end of the week. I realize there are a few parents who do not want their students using email, and that is fine. If you checked off on the "Permission Sheet" that you did NOT want your child to use email, I am just showing them how to log in using their password so they can access the Goggle apps we will be using in the future as well. Students were shown how to access their email on a laptop so they know what to do when they do not have their iPads. At school, we will access emails using iPads.
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| Girls experimenting with Garage Band App |
With the school email, the students have been informed that they can NOT email friends and relatives outside the school yet. Sorry about that but being it is the first year they are doing email, we want to monitor it for a while. That does not mean it is not possible to send out. It just means we do not want them to send out yet. If you have any questions about this, please contact me.
By the end of the week I will be sending 3B students' email login and password (for those who signed off on approving email) home to the parents so that they can be aware of them as well.
I am impressed with how much some of the students know about using iPads. Many of them have demonstrated in front of the class how to do various things on the iPad! Their faces light up when they can share something with the others and teach them what they know! I love it! They are so excited to use them as much as possible!
This week we will be accessing our individual student blog pages. Students will be posting on their blogs throughout the year for relatives, friends, and people around the world to comment on and share thoughts and ideas! I had students last year get comments from other students as far away as Japan on their blog pages! Powerful mode of writing when you think about how big your audience is. Information for parents will also be sent home this week with steps to access the student blog pages. You can also find the web address on the magnet that was sent home at Open House.
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| "Create something to teach us something about you." |
Besides all of that, we will be starting to get into a normal daily schedule soon. When I have that finalized, I will send home a copy with each student.
Just a reminder to parents to remember to return any papers that were sent home at Open House. If you need a new copy of anything you can email me or call the office.
Finally, it sounds like it is going to be a very warm week ahead. I am not quite sure why we didn't have these hot temperatures this summer but oh well. Students are more than welcome to bring a water bottle to school that they keep near them so they can have drinks throughout the day instead of having to go to the water fountain to cool down.
Enjoy the week! Thanks for the great start to the year! I feel lucky to have so many wonderful "rock stars" in 3B!
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Who is Mrs. Kerian?
Watch this little video to learn a little bit about who I am. One thing....I forgot, by accident, to add that my husband's name is Wayne. He manages the Culligan store in Cresco. Maybe some of you know him as he does a lot of the fire prevention things with the fireman.
Enjoy! I hope to learn all about you as well!
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Reminders about Upcoming Events and Activities
Just some reminders as things start to wind down for the year:
Field Trip:
* Your child's field trip form due tomorrow, Wednesday. This is the form about getting your child to school and picking them up the day of the field trip. The main reason for this form is to verify that your child is here between 7:20 and 7:40 on Friday and who will be picking them up at 3:45.
* The other form about medication should not be sent before Friday and ONLY needs to be sent if you feel your child may need Tylenol or Ibuprofin due to motion sickness or heat. Please do not send this earlier than Friday. Be sure the note along with the medication is in a baggie with your child's name on it as directed on the sheet. If your child does not need any extra medication, do not send the sheet with them on Friday.
* Remember your child needs to bring a sack lunch for Friday. School is NOT providing the lunch for the day. Teachers will be supplying a morning snack and juice box. Students may pack an extra snack in their lunch for the ride home.
* Chaperones - Please arrive at school by 7:20 so that you can get the list of students in your group and other information for the day.
Academics:
* We just finished up our last unit in Social Studies on how communities have changed over time. Your child will be taking a short written test tomorrow. They will be given 7 questions about the big ideas of the unit. Each student will pick 3 that they must respond to and explain. I have given the students some ideas about what the questions will be about (hopefully they were listening). I have no doubt they will do fine as we have discussed the "big ideas" of the unit over and over. I am sending home a social studies book today if they would like to go over the ideas tonight. Please return the books tomorrow.
* Students are bringing home their last math assessment as well. It was on geometry. Please note that all the skills in this unit were "developmental" level, meaning students were not expected to master all the problems. Don't freak out if your child missed more than you would have liked them to (unless they missed a LOT). Also, many of the problems had more than one answer so each possible answer was a point, either left blank or filled in correctly. So this test added up to a lot of points, while it does not look like it would. (You will see some check marks scratched out. That is because the whole problem had more than one answer and the check marks are placed on the answers that were either wrong or marked incorrectly. My daughter was trying to help me check papers last week and she made a few "goofs" in where she placed the checkmarks.) Your 3B child does NOT need to return this assessment tomorrow.
* Biography Projects: The students are working very hard on their various activities to select from for their biography reading. They are excited about sharing their learning and information! That is great! Hopefully we will share all our projects on Monday. Your child does have the choice, but it is not required, to dress as their person from their biography when sharing their projects on Monday. Again, it is their choice and is not required!
Next Week Plans:
* Monday, June 3rd - All 3rd graders will be going to the park in the afternoon. Let's hope the weather changes and brings out some sunshine for us.
* Tuesday, June 4th - We will be cleaning out lockers and cubbies taking everything home that day. Please be sure to send enough bags so your child can take everything home with them on this day! The only thing that will be send home Wednesday, the following day, is the student's report card.
* Wednesday, June 5th - 12:30 dismissal with report cards sent home with students. We will have a 3rd grade "Minute to Win It" competition in the morning.
Busy days ahead!!!
Field Trip:
* Your child's field trip form due tomorrow, Wednesday. This is the form about getting your child to school and picking them up the day of the field trip. The main reason for this form is to verify that your child is here between 7:20 and 7:40 on Friday and who will be picking them up at 3:45.
* The other form about medication should not be sent before Friday and ONLY needs to be sent if you feel your child may need Tylenol or Ibuprofin due to motion sickness or heat. Please do not send this earlier than Friday. Be sure the note along with the medication is in a baggie with your child's name on it as directed on the sheet. If your child does not need any extra medication, do not send the sheet with them on Friday.
* Remember your child needs to bring a sack lunch for Friday. School is NOT providing the lunch for the day. Teachers will be supplying a morning snack and juice box. Students may pack an extra snack in their lunch for the ride home.
* Chaperones - Please arrive at school by 7:20 so that you can get the list of students in your group and other information for the day.
Academics:
* We just finished up our last unit in Social Studies on how communities have changed over time. Your child will be taking a short written test tomorrow. They will be given 7 questions about the big ideas of the unit. Each student will pick 3 that they must respond to and explain. I have given the students some ideas about what the questions will be about (hopefully they were listening). I have no doubt they will do fine as we have discussed the "big ideas" of the unit over and over. I am sending home a social studies book today if they would like to go over the ideas tonight. Please return the books tomorrow.
* Students are bringing home their last math assessment as well. It was on geometry. Please note that all the skills in this unit were "developmental" level, meaning students were not expected to master all the problems. Don't freak out if your child missed more than you would have liked them to (unless they missed a LOT). Also, many of the problems had more than one answer so each possible answer was a point, either left blank or filled in correctly. So this test added up to a lot of points, while it does not look like it would. (You will see some check marks scratched out. That is because the whole problem had more than one answer and the check marks are placed on the answers that were either wrong or marked incorrectly. My daughter was trying to help me check papers last week and she made a few "goofs" in where she placed the checkmarks.) Your 3B child does NOT need to return this assessment tomorrow.
* Biography Projects: The students are working very hard on their various activities to select from for their biography reading. They are excited about sharing their learning and information! That is great! Hopefully we will share all our projects on Monday. Your child does have the choice, but it is not required, to dress as their person from their biography when sharing their projects on Monday. Again, it is their choice and is not required!
Next Week Plans:
* Monday, June 3rd - All 3rd graders will be going to the park in the afternoon. Let's hope the weather changes and brings out some sunshine for us.
* Tuesday, June 4th - We will be cleaning out lockers and cubbies taking everything home that day. Please be sure to send enough bags so your child can take everything home with them on this day! The only thing that will be send home Wednesday, the following day, is the student's report card.
* Wednesday, June 5th - 12:30 dismissal with report cards sent home with students. We will have a 3rd grade "Minute to Win It" competition in the morning.
Busy days ahead!!!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Reminders for Parents and Students
The days are flying by, but we still have lots to do. Here are some reminders of upcoming events:
1. Remember to continue reading and recording Important Information from your biography book. These books were sent home last week and are due next week. Information for parents was sent home last week as well. I am pleased that some students are done reading and recording their important information and have started on their various projects. Nicely done! If you are still reading, great. Just remember it is due next week!
2. The projects that the students can select from for their biography projects are all introduced. We did not do the "Popplet" app (listed as one of the choices) as we could not get enough iPads to make and use is successfully. The students have been introduced to Story Jumper, Prezi, and reviewed Animoto, all of which can be used for their biography project. We will be working on the projects at school throughout the next week and a half but students can also work on them at home. They have practiced doing all three "tools" and should have a good understanding how to work through them.
3. We continue to push through our multiplication facts! Students started out strong knowing their 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s but are not struggling as we get into our 3s and 4s. Remember to keep practicing at home. Papers are coming home daily showing how your child is doing with his/her facts. Focus on the family they are testing on. They can do it! I also know they are loving the gum if they get it done and correct in 2 minutes.
So far, the students are still working hard and excited about the activities we are working on. Keep it up 3B!
2. The projects that the students can select from for their biography projects are all introduced. We did not do the "Popplet" app (listed as one of the choices) as we could not get enough iPads to make and use is successfully. The students have been introduced to Story Jumper, Prezi, and reviewed Animoto, all of which can be used for their biography project. We will be working on the projects at school throughout the next week and a half but students can also work on them at home. They have practiced doing all three "tools" and should have a good understanding how to work through them.
3. We continue to push through our multiplication facts! Students started out strong knowing their 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s but are not struggling as we get into our 3s and 4s. Remember to keep practicing at home. Papers are coming home daily showing how your child is doing with his/her facts. Focus on the family they are testing on. They can do it! I also know they are loving the gum if they get it done and correct in 2 minutes.
So far, the students are still working hard and excited about the activities we are working on. Keep it up 3B!
Super Fun at Cadet Pride Dance
The students had a wonderful time at the dance last week. This was a reward for showing good character for the months of January - March/April. It was scheduled earlier, but the snow days caused issues and the dance had to be rescheduled many times!
I have posted a few pictures. I was impressed at all the moves the students had! I knew they loved to dance, as we dance often in the room, so it was a fun 90 minutes!
I have posted a few pictures. I was impressed at all the moves the students had! I knew they loved to dance, as we dance often in the room, so it was a fun 90 minutes!
Monday, May 13, 2013
Lots Coming Up!!! Multiplication Gumball!
I was in Kansas City this weekend watching my daughter play basketball and it hit me....we only have about three weeks of school left!!!!! Started to get into a panic mode thinking about everything we have to get done in the next few weeks! Yikes!
First of, a note is coming home today asking for parent volunteers for our field trip coming up May 31st. Each 3rd grade classroom will be taking 5 chaperones. Each chaperone will be responsible for a small group of 4-5 third grade students the whole day. Many of you have expressed interest already. Please fill out the sheet, whether you are interested or not, and return it to school by Wednesday. If I have more than five adults volunteer, I will draw names and let you know by Thursday or Friday of this week. More information about the field trip itself will be sent home next week. Thanks so much!
We have wrapped up our unit it math on geometry. There are a few people who need to finish the assessment yet, but I plan to send them home by the end of the week. Our next unit in math is on multiplication - a second unit to move onto the harder facts. I spoke to the students about an activity all 3rd graders will be working on to build their recall of multiplication facts. We are going to call it "Gum Ball Multiplication"
Let me explain...starting tomorrow, students will take a quick timed assessment over the facts x1. (starting easy). I will check them at night and anyone who gets them all correct in the time allowed will get a gumball the following day. Those students will then move onto the x2 facts. Those students who do not get them correct in the amount of time will try the ones again. Basically students will be tested on their 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s before moving onto the harder ones. Each time they get it right in the amount of time allowed, they get a gumball to chew the following day. If they do not get them right, they continue working and testing on that family until they do get them all right in the time allowed. The goal is to work through all the facts and get them memorized quickly. The person who gets ALL their facts memorized and correct the fastest in the least amount of days, will get a gumball machine full of gumballs to take home.
The students are very excited! So let's see how well we can do! Get practicing your facts 3B!!!!
First of, a note is coming home today asking for parent volunteers for our field trip coming up May 31st. Each 3rd grade classroom will be taking 5 chaperones. Each chaperone will be responsible for a small group of 4-5 third grade students the whole day. Many of you have expressed interest already. Please fill out the sheet, whether you are interested or not, and return it to school by Wednesday. If I have more than five adults volunteer, I will draw names and let you know by Thursday or Friday of this week. More information about the field trip itself will be sent home next week. Thanks so much!
We have wrapped up our unit it math on geometry. There are a few people who need to finish the assessment yet, but I plan to send them home by the end of the week. Our next unit in math is on multiplication - a second unit to move onto the harder facts. I spoke to the students about an activity all 3rd graders will be working on to build their recall of multiplication facts. We are going to call it "Gum Ball Multiplication"
Let me explain...starting tomorrow, students will take a quick timed assessment over the facts x1. (starting easy). I will check them at night and anyone who gets them all correct in the time allowed will get a gumball the following day. Those students will then move onto the x2 facts. Those students who do not get them correct in the amount of time will try the ones again. Basically students will be tested on their 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s before moving onto the harder ones. Each time they get it right in the amount of time allowed, they get a gumball to chew the following day. If they do not get them right, they continue working and testing on that family until they do get them all right in the time allowed. The goal is to work through all the facts and get them memorized quickly. The person who gets ALL their facts memorized and correct the fastest in the least amount of days, will get a gumball machine full of gumballs to take home.
The students are very excited! So let's see how well we can do! Get practicing your facts 3B!!!!
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Spring is Finally Here to Stay...We Hope!
If the weather the last few days is any indicator of what is to come, let's hope spring is here to stay with summer fast around the corner! Beautiful outside!
I just returned from a trip to the beaches of North Carolina for some relaxing and seeing my stepdaughter for her birthday. I had a wonderful time, as usual, as this is a common place my family goes in the summer for vacation. I also spent an afternoon last Thursday with "Miss Kerian's 4th graders", my stepdaughter's class, in North Carolina. This was neat because 3B has skyped with them so that was fun to make that face to face connection. I was very glad to return to some great comments from some of the subs (there was a mix up with subs so the students had 4 different subs for 3 days of school)! I also appreciated many of the students sending me emails to keep me updated on how things were going while I was gone. Of course there were a few "hiccups" along the way as well, but for the most part, things went smoothly. Thank you 3B!
The students were told today about our PBIS Dance tomorrow. This is a reward for students showing great character for the months of February, March, and April. I know the students in 3B will enjoy the time dancing to the DJ- they love to do "Just Dance" during indoor recess and group activities so I know this will be a fun time for all of us! 3rd graders will attend the dance for 45 minutes tomorrow morning. Great job 3B! Let's keep up the super character!
Many parents have asked about our "big" field trip this year. 3rd graders will be going to Wabasha to the Eagle Museum as well as the Toy Museum on Friday, May 31st. Information will be sent home at the end of this week or beginning of next week asking for volunteers etc. We take a lot of volunteers on this trip to help monitor students and chaperone small groups so look for that information to be sent home soon. I just wanted to send out the date to give everyone a heads up.
This is also our last week of book clubs, many groups being done already and a few need to wrap up. The students have done an excellent job with these! I am very proud of them! Many were sad to hear that this was our last official week of book clubs. They have loved the discussion and books they have read! I am so proud of some of the boys and girls in my classroom who have started their OWN book clubs!!!!! Warms my heart to see their excitement and eagerness to keep loving books! Keep reading 3B.
Enjoy the warm weather and wonderful week!
I just returned from a trip to the beaches of North Carolina for some relaxing and seeing my stepdaughter for her birthday. I had a wonderful time, as usual, as this is a common place my family goes in the summer for vacation. I also spent an afternoon last Thursday with "Miss Kerian's 4th graders", my stepdaughter's class, in North Carolina. This was neat because 3B has skyped with them so that was fun to make that face to face connection. I was very glad to return to some great comments from some of the subs (there was a mix up with subs so the students had 4 different subs for 3 days of school)! I also appreciated many of the students sending me emails to keep me updated on how things were going while I was gone. Of course there were a few "hiccups" along the way as well, but for the most part, things went smoothly. Thank you 3B!
The students were told today about our PBIS Dance tomorrow. This is a reward for students showing great character for the months of February, March, and April. I know the students in 3B will enjoy the time dancing to the DJ- they love to do "Just Dance" during indoor recess and group activities so I know this will be a fun time for all of us! 3rd graders will attend the dance for 45 minutes tomorrow morning. Great job 3B! Let's keep up the super character!
Many parents have asked about our "big" field trip this year. 3rd graders will be going to Wabasha to the Eagle Museum as well as the Toy Museum on Friday, May 31st. Information will be sent home at the end of this week or beginning of next week asking for volunteers etc. We take a lot of volunteers on this trip to help monitor students and chaperone small groups so look for that information to be sent home soon. I just wanted to send out the date to give everyone a heads up.
This is also our last week of book clubs, many groups being done already and a few need to wrap up. The students have done an excellent job with these! I am very proud of them! Many were sad to hear that this was our last official week of book clubs. They have loved the discussion and books they have read! I am so proud of some of the boys and girls in my classroom who have started their OWN book clubs!!!!! Warms my heart to see their excitement and eagerness to keep loving books! Keep reading 3B.
Enjoy the warm weather and wonderful week!
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