A Full Week Ahead! YIPPEEEE!!!

It's 10:30 PM and I am planning for our first full Monday tomorrow.  There is always so much to do in 3rd grade!  We have had a lot of fun the first few days of school, and I know that will continue!  While there are still a few "basic routines" we have to finish, we are jumping into a lot of subject areas this week.  I know the students are anxious to start math, science, and literacy as they have asked when we are going to get rolling.   So let's get to it!

Some of the activities that are coming up are exploring the scientific method through a great liquid activity, using the digital camera to find all the different ways numbers are used in the world and in our building, and jumping into the Daily 5 as well as our district's new literacy program.  I am also going to be showing the students how to practice their keyboarding skills (this is currently something the district expects 3rd grade students to begin) through an online program that the students can access anywhere anytime via the internet.

I am sending home a sheet today that I meant to send home last week.  It is giving permission for your student to utilize the internet and for me to post pictures etc. on the internet of our class.  I apologize that I did post pictures from the Open House without parental permission, even though no names were given in the pictures.  It was purely overlooked and a mistake on my part.  Sorry about that!  Please know that if you do not want to have your child's pictures etc. on the internet, they will be removed immediately! Please sign and return the sheet as soon as possible.

I also sent an email the other day to the parents who gave me their email addresses.  Some of your addresses are not working and therefore the email was sent back to me.  I will be contacting some of you to verify the email that you gave me is correct so that we can continue to chat and keep communication open between home and school!

Again, thanks for sharing your child with me.  They are getting into a great routine and have wonderfully big hearts!  We have had a lot of discussions on how this is "OUR classroom" and we work "TOGETHER" to make it a great year!

Meet the Stars of 3B!

Favorites of First Two Days

Here are what the students each had to say about their favorite part of the first two days:

Dameon: Recess
Morgan:  Going to Art
Lauren:  Recess
Carter:  Recess
River:  Loved the whole two days!
Katia:  Lunch
Connor:  Skittles Activity
Summer:  Recess
Karissa:  Doing all the activities
Kassandra: recess
Taylor:  sorting our materials
Nicole:  Recess
Dylan:  Everything on both days
Haylee:  Art
Jasmine:  Recess
Christian:  Art
Alyssa:  seeing my friends
Mrs. Kerian:  meeting all my new 3B students!

First Day Wordle......Fabulous Day!

Our first day was amazing!  I know it is going to be super year!

Enjoy the Wordle the students made about our first day together! (click on it to make it larger!)

End of the Year Activities!

Well, it looks like the end is nearing.  Students in 3B have been working so hard to prepare for their Hall of Fame today, finish up some guided reading/book clubs, and wrap up a bunch of assessments before the year is over.  I can't believe May is almost over!

Remember the "Used Book Bonanza" that is going on right now.  Send in your slightly used books and help build the classroom libraries.  They can be dropped off at the elementary any morning or during the day starting today thru next Wednesday.  Thanks for supporting the school and building the teacher's libraries!   I already had some students bring some books in today, and they were so proud of "giving" and "contributing".  Excellent!

I thought I should mention a few upcoming events for everyone before I forget.

1.  Students brought their social studies book home along with vocabulary cards yesterday for our assessments on Thursday and Friday.  I am planning on getting most of it done Thursday, but some students may go into Friday.  We, 3rd grade teachers, decided not to send a study guide because many 4th grade teachers do not give out study guides so we would like the 3rd graders to study without one in preparation of next year. I did have a study "session" with the students yesterday and went over a large majority of the unit so I know they will be fine.  Please encourage your child to continue studying his/her vocabulary cards as well as key concepts in the unit.  Return your child's book, not the cards, to school on Thursday.

2.  If your child has any books checked out to read at home from my classroom library, I would like them returned by next Wednesday, May 25th.

3.  We will be having a "Writer's Workshop Social" next Wednesday, May 25th at 2:30 for students in 3B and 3C to share their writing from throughout the year and celebrate being an author.  Those parents who volunteered to supply snacks for our last "Character Counts Celebration" will be receiving a note to supply snacks for this gathering (3B and 3C will be seperate).  I will be sending more information about this on Friday or Monday but I wanted to give you a heads up so that you can make arrangements with work.  Students will also be cleaning out lockers with their parents after the "Writer's Workshop Social" so that is one less thing to do at the end of the week.  Please bring plastic bags along as many students have lots of "stuff" in their lockers to go home.

4.  We will celebrate our Cadet Pride with having a cook-out lunch next Thursday, May 26th.  Students will have a picnic lunch to celebrate earning tickets and the lunch will be provided by the school.  I think they are grilling hotdogs and supplying all the "yummies" to go with it.  Great job 3B on showing Cadet Pride throughout the year!

5.  On Thursday, May 26th, the 3rd graders will be going to East Park at 1:30-3:00 to celebrate the end of the year.  A note will be sent home next week asking students to each bring a beverage (water, juice, etc) for this.  Look for that next week.

6.  Our year will wrap up with "Track and Field" activities on Friday, May 27th from 9:00-10:30.  Various stations will be set up for classes to rotate through and enjoy.  If you are free and willing to help, I know the committee planning the activities could use some volunteers that day.  Let me know if you are free to volunteer and I will let the committee know.

7.  There is a book fair that will be held next week as well.  A flier was sent home with the students sharing the information as far as times and dates.  It will be set up in the Discovery Center at the elementary.

So, as you can see, there is a lot going on!  I am pleased that the students are hanging in there and working hard with everything yet.  Report cards will be sent home with your child the last day of school as many parents have inquired about them.

Next Monday will be my last blog post for the year.  I will also be sending DVDs home with each child sharing the pictures and memories from throughout 3rd grade.  This will hopefully be sent home next Wednesday as well.  It will be put in a movie form with music and many kids can't wait to get their hands on it.  I am currently working on putting it together already and have shed many tears.

Enjoy the sunshine this week!

Fun Field Trip!

I am sure your 3B child shared with you how wonderful our field trip was last week so I won't go into all the detail.  We had a super time (although it was very quick).  Hopefully some of you will return with your child/children to enjoy the eagles and toys.

Here are a few pictures of the students with the eagles.  Sorry if I don't have everyone.

Field Trip...This Friday! Walking Taco...Thursday! Fun Times Ahead!

Hello everyone!  Did you enjoy the sunshine we had this past weekend?  We were definitely due to have a nice weekend after all of the "yuck" we have been having.  I was down in Kansas City for my daughter's basketball tournament and it was 90+ degrees on Saturday!  My body wasn't used to those warm temps yet but it was very nice!

As the title states, we have our field trip coming up this Friday.  Just a reminder to send back the blue paper that was included in the packet of information about the field trip sent home last Thursday.  The blue slip needs to be returned stating who will be dropping the child off at the bus so we can leave around 7:30.  Again, if your child is late and the buses pull out, your child is still expected to attend school and will do work in the office.  (Let's hope that doesn't happen!).  Your 3B child should have brought home a packet of information with details about the field trip.  Hopefully you have seen it by now.  If not, please call me or email me as soon as possible.  We are looking forward to a wonderful trip!

Those that completed mastering all of their multiplication facts will celebrate with a "Walking Taco" party this Thursday at 2:30!  Those children who earned the celebration may also bring a beverage to drink with them to school on Thursday.  We will be eating yummy walking tacos and having some fun to celebrate.  If your child did not master his/her facts, they will work on something else during this time.  Sorry....it won't be as fun.

Our Hall of Fame presentations will be next Tuesday, May 17th, from 2:30-3:15 in the Discovery Center (library).  Students need to have their costumes to school by Monday, May 16th, for a dress rehearsal.  I will also be sending their oral presentations home this week to practice every night.  Please encourage them to practice a lot, working towards memorizing their presentations the best they can.  We will also be sharing our Animoto book trailers (I know some of you have seen them already at home.  Aren't they cool?). Hope to see you next Tuesday from 2:30-3:15.  Stop in anytime as it is kind of like a "come and go" event.  :)

We are finishing up a unit in social studies this week so look for study materials to come home towards the end of the week with the assessment to be next Monday or Tuesday.  A note will be sent home with the materials to let you know exactly.  I just want to give you a "heads up" to be looking.

Enjoy the week and warm weather!

Very Important Information! The Good and the Bad

It looks like it might try to start acting more like spring now that May has hit.  Too bad it has been a cold and rainy month of April, although it has kept the students a little calmer.  Well, May is here.  The countdown begins.  The students and I were just discussing all that we have to get done this month, and it is A LOT!

The students are working hard on their biography projects.  They have started writing their presentations, learned how to download pictures and photos from the Internet, and today we start using the Flip Camera to make videos and learn how to upload video to our laptops.  There are a lot of preparation steps to do before we can begin making our Animoto "Book Trailer" that is similar to a movie trailer.  The students are loving it, who doesn't love learning new technology?  We are aiming to have all activities complete by Thursday, May 12th.  I would like to then have a dress rehearsal on Monday, May 16th.  That is when students must have their costumes, props, and materials ready.  We will go through it as if the parents were here watching.  I am then aiming to have the Hall of Fame and inviting parents, grandparents, etc. sometime on Tuesday, May 17th.  It will probably be the last hour of the day, but I am still checking on some schedules.  So what I need the students to start doing at home is gathering their costumes together and any props they would like to have out.  Soon, you will be seeing the students bring home their oral presentations to practice as well.  They need to be responsible to practice at home as it is nice to have much of the oral presentations memorized.

Start thinking of what your child needs for his/her costume that represents the person he/she read about and have it ready by May 16th.  Thank you.  If you have any questions, feel free to let me know.

Next Friday is our big field trip to Wabasha, Wisconsin.  With this field trip, students will need to arrive at school before a "normal day", as the buses will pull out at 7:30.  To make you aware of this and start planning, there will be many sheet sent home this Thursday with information about the upcoming field trip.  Please be looking for those sheets of information as some of them need to be returned to the school with signatures.  The information will include departure times, what is allowed on bus, medication forms, etc.  Please be looking for those this Thursday.  Our three chaperones for this trip are Emma's mom, Libby's mom, and Kailyn's mom, with Madison's mom as a possibility if we need her.  Thank you to those parents who volunteered to go along!  It's going to be a super time!

My last comment is one I am sad to have to talk about again, but it is needed.  The students may have told you that the last two weeks I have been gone some days due to district meetings (April is a crazy month of meetings).  Anyway, last week when I was gone a day, the behavior of many 3B students was very disrespectful and rude towards that sub and classmates.  There was a lot of arguing, shouting, attacks made towards each other, rude/bully games being played at recess, and just disrespect to her and other classmates.  It was not just "one or two" students, it was a majority.  Mrs. McCabe was involved in some discussions, and the students and I had a beneficial chat when I returned Friday morning.  I believe it is all about choices, as many of these things do not happen unless their is a sub.  The students know better than to do many of the things that did happen.  So, after my talk with the students and with Mrs. Sovereign as well, she and I have decided that if there are any more behaviors or problems that occur involving disrespect, threating, bullying, irresponsibility, those students demonstrating those problems WILL NOT go on the field trip next Friday.  I have discussed this with the students.  They know Mrs. Sovereign is supporting this because the behaviors demonstrated by many while I was gone last Thursday were extremely rude.  If your child is not allowed to go on the field trip due to his/her behavior demonstrated, I will be sure to give you a call, as I would anyway.  Your child will then attend school for the normal hours and sit in the office or Mr. Wiley's classroom working on schoolwork all day.  It will NOT be a day to stay home and have off!

I hate to go this route, but the behavior of some students needs to stop and Mrs. Sovereign feels there needs to be a consequence.  I agree.

I must say that it was not all students.

Hopefully we can pull through this idea of "goofing off and bullying" when Mrs. Kerian is gone to meetings as these behaviors don't happen when I am here.  It totally does break my heart to know I have a great class and return to comments left by a sub that show they were not "that great".  Disappointing is a better word.  I have one more meeting next week....hopefully it will all go smoothly.  Crossing my fingers.

One a different note, the upcoming "Walking Taco" party will be held in the near future for those students who made it.  Once I set a date with the other 3rd grade teachers, we will be sending a note home to let you know.
Have a great week and enjoy the sunshine.

It's Crunch Time! Field Trip, Hall of Fame, Walking Taco Party

I hope you all enjoyed your nice, long weekend!  Although the weather was not perfect, as is today, but it was nice to have a little time to relax with family and friends.  Now...back at it!

Hopefully everyone returned their Biography Project today.  We will be starting to write our presentations today as well as start experimenting with downloading pictures for our Animoto movies.  We were suppose to have one of the computer labs to use all week, but Jr. High is not done with MAPs testing so we will have to wait a week to start.  :(  If your child did not bring his/her biography project (book and notes) back today, please do so tomorrow so he/she does not get behind.  Look for more information in the future about attending our Hall of Fame to meet these wonderful people of the past.

The deadline for mastering your multiplication facts is this Friday.  I will try and squeeze in a lot of testing, as will my senior seminar student, before the end of the week.  So....there are A LOT of students who have a long ways to go.  I hope there are many more who will be able to participate in our "Walking Taco" party!  Keep practicing those facts!

This Friday we will be taking a small field trip to Vernon to participate in various stations/activities for Arbor Day.  Although at this time the weather sounds great, please pay attention to the forecast.  It is recommended that students dress in layers, as it starts out chilly and may warm up throughout the day.  Students should NOT wear shorts, capris, or open toed shoes!  Please wear jeans or running pants and tennis shoes.  Students may bring hats if they would like as well.  We will be taking sack lunches from the school so students do not have to worry about bringing a lunch from home.  Depending on the weather, you may want to be sure to put sunscreen on your child if he/she burns easily.  If it is sunny and not muddy, we will be outside for most of the day.

Have a great week and stay warm!

So Much To Do.....Time Running Quickly!

Happy Monday 3B family!  I hope you enjoyed the warm weekend and had some fun outside.  It was nice to have all of that sunshine, but I did not enjoy the thunderstorms (although the lightning was amazing!).

Well, the middle of April is fast approaching and before we know it, it will be the end of May.  Time is going by so quickly.  With that being said, we have a lot of things to touch base on.  I will briefly discuss some of the following:
  
     *     MAPs testing is done for 3B with the exception of 3 students who were absent and need
            to do make-up tests today.  The students tried hard and did very well overall!  You will see
            your child's results at the end of the year when scores are sent home with report cards.

     *     Students have until the end of April to earn their "Walking Taco" party by mastering all
            their multiplication facts.  This is the time to push through them and work hard!

     *     I mentioned last week that 3B will be taking a field trip to Lark Toy Museum and the
            Eagle Museum in Wabasha on Friday, May 13th.  I have had two parents volunteer to be
            chaperones and am looking for one more.  If you are interested, please email me or call
            me.  If we have more than three parents interested, their names will go into a hat and three
            names will be drawn.  If you are interested, please let me know by the end of the week
            so that those parents going will have ample time to let employers know in case they need
            to take the day off.

     *     We will be having our "pizza party" for those students who returned their Book-It calendars
            all six months.  I am glad to say that this will include almost half the class!  Yeah!  We will
            be having our pizza next Tuesday, April 19th.  Those students who returned their
            calendars will have lunch with me as I will provide Pizza Hut pizza as well as a beverage.
            Those children who did not make it all six months will have lunch in the cafeteria with
            one of the other 3rd grade teachers supervising.

     *     Biography Reading - Hopefully you have all started working on reading and taking notes
            for our upcoming biography project.  Just a reminder that the students should have their
            book read and notes taken by April 25th.  That is all they have to do at home.  We will
            write our presentation and work on our video using Animoto at school.  So....keep
            reading.  Remember to return the book with the notes on April 25th!

     *     You will see that I am sending lots of papers home today.  Two of the pieces coming home
            are your child's last science assessment on Force and Motion as well as your child's
            unit assessment for math for geometry.  I do not need these back or signed, but I just wanted
            to call your attention to them to take a look at them.  

Thank you for signing and returning my letter about responsibility that I sent home last week.  I appreciate your help and cooperation with this as it was becoming a big, big problem.  Together we are stronger than alone!  So thank you!

Enjoy the week! Keep reading and taking notes with your 3B child on his/her biography.  It will be due before you know it.