Is it Spring or Winter?

I hope everyone enjoyed their three day weekend. It was nice to have an extra day to catch up on things and rest as it appears I am getting a little cold.  Not fun!  Based on the weather forecast, I am not sure what the rest of the week holds.  Does not sound good for tomorrow.  Guess there is nothing we can do about Old Man Winter is there?

We have been having an awesome time in 3B!  Hopefully your child has told you about our blogging adventures with students in China and Michigan. The kids are enjoying the comments they a getting from peers across the country and world as well as leaving comments for them.  This week we a starting a new aloud that the students in China are also going to listen to.  We will then chat, blog, and tweet our thoughts about the book with them.  A school in Australia may be joining as well.  Exciting times ahead in 3B!

Through our Twitter friends in China, we have been learning about the Chinese New Year.  We hope to do some type of celebration on February 10th in connection with what they have taught us.

Just another reminder that parent teacher conferences are coming up. A letter will be sent home today with directions on how to sign up online. These conferences will be student led so it is necessary that your 3B student attend the conference with you.  If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me.

The focus in literacy this past week and coming week (pretty much all the time) has been in monitoring your comprehension.  It is important that the students realize if they are comprehending what they are reading.  I have shown the students how to use post it notes to track their thinking and focus in on their reading.  Many commented how it helped them remember what they are reading. The tracks we used are in the picture below.  I encourage students to use them as much as possible to record their thinking and give more purpose to read.  Students will be using their reading tracks to make a blog post about their book at the end of the week.

I will be sending information about Valentines Day soon as many students have been asking.

Stay safe and enjoy the crazy weather!

Wow! It's is Cold Outside!

A few days ago all we needed was a light coat.  Today we need many layers, a heavy coat, hats, mittens, scarves....A LOT!  It is freezing outside!

We have been very busy in 3B.  Lots going on and tons of learning!  Here is a glimpse of everything we have been doing:

1.  Twitter friends - Through our class Twitter account, we have been learning from our friends in China about the Chinese New Year.  We will be celebrating the Chinese New Year on February 11th with them as well.  I am working with their teacher to set up a book discussion that we will also be doing with them.  With our Twitter friends in Australia, we have also learned that their school year runs the end of January to the beginning of the following December.  December thru January is their "summer".  Crazy isn't it?  The students are really getting into Twitter and learning across the world from one another.  We have also been commented on their student blogs in China and Canada with them commenting on ours.  Fascinating to think that we can communicate with one another across the world so simple!  We love it.

2.  We are also commenting on the blogs of 3rd graders from Michigan, although they are having some technical difficulties.  Hopefully this week we will start this "blogging challenge" that 3B is involved in.  They have commenting on our student blog pages already and will continue throughout the year.  Please remember that we would love to have parents/relatives comment (as some of you do already).

3.  Students are jumping into multiplication and division in math.  We have gone over the shortcuts for multiplying by 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s.  Please work with your child in grasping these multiplication facts quickly as it is expected that they work on them at home.  There are also many multiplication online games to the right of my blog page (scroll down) that the students can practice on as well.  Any that they do not know, encourage them to draw an array or picture to solve.

4.  Simple Machines is the topic of our science unit.  Students got to "play" with toys and talk about how "push" and "pull" are involved.  We are starting to get into the simple machine of a "lever" today and tomorrow.  

5.  Within our literacy, we are currently working on the strategies of questioning and paraphrasing.  Other skills we are focusing on are adding inflected endings (such as ing and ed) as well as adding -er to words to change the meaning.

6.  Remember the importance of having your child read at home every night.  I can really tell which of my students are avid readers and which are not based on the improvement they are making.  We do not have a lot of homework in 3rd grade, but we do expect all students to be reading at home.

7.  Students have starting applying the writing process to a selecting piece.  Thus far we have focused on drafting and editing/revising.  This will be our focus for the next few weeks until all students are comfortable with the process working towards publications.

Just a reminder that there is a 3 hour early out this Wednesday.  I will also be sending book orders home tomorrow that will be due this Friday.  Remember to make checks out to Kim Kerian and NOT the book company as I order them online so they arrive quicker.

Heads up that conferences are coming up.  They are scheduled for Monday, February 11th, and Tuesday, February 12th.  These will be student led conferences so I am asking that your child come with you to the conference.  Starting in the next couple weeks, we will be preparing for conferences in school so that your child can explain how he/she is performing in school.

If your child has not returned his/her report card envelope yet, please remind them to do so as soon as possible.

Stay warm!

Welcome Back!

Welcome back and happy new year!  I can't believe it is January already!  I hope everyone enjoyed their extended vacation, with a few extra snow days in there.  The first half of the year went so fast.  I expect the same for the second so hold on for a busy semester.

Many students are wondering when we will have our "Care and Share" celebration that was scheduled before break.  We are rescheduling it!  Yippee!  I hope everyone has planned and prepared to make their ornament as we had planned.  Just remember that the ornament can be anything, an animal, a flower, the sun, an insect.....anything.  It does not have to be Christmas related, especially now that Christmas is over.  The "Care and Share" celebration is now rescheduled for Wednesday, January 9th.  Please have any materials needed for the ornament either by Tuesday or Wednesday.  We will exchange ornaments on Friday, January 11th, but will created them on the 9th.  Please see that your 3B student is ready with his/her materials.  Also, if you were a parent that volunteered to donate snacks for the celebration, please send those snacks with your child on Wednesday.  Thanks so much!  Thanks to those who have sent them already!

If your child has not returned his/her December reading calendar, I would like them to do it as soon as possible.  The January reading calendar was sent home before Christmas with a goal of 350 minutes.  Remember that everyone who meets their goal and returns their calendar every month gets to have a celebration with me at the end of April as well as a free pizza coupon each month of participation.  Keep reading!

Some students are bringing home a math test they did right before break.  It is on measurement.  There are a few students who still need to finish and will be bringing their test home tomorrow or Wednesday.  You do not need to return them but I would encourage you to go over the test with the students, as we ran out of time today due to having Guidance this afternoon.  Measuring to the nearest 1/4 of an inch was difficult for many, but it is not an expected "mastered" skill for third grade.  We will continue to review and work on that as well as adding and subtracting large numbers (still difficult for many).  Our next unit in math will be on multiplication.

I would also like to introduce a new face in our classroom.  Her name is Miss. Thorson and she will be a JTerm student in our room for the month of January.  The students were very excited to meet her this morning.  This is her first experience in the classroom and I know it will be a great one for her.  Expect a short note from her by the end of the week where she will introduce herself a little bit more to you, the parents.  She will be in the classroom Monday thru Thursday.

Have a great week!  Thanks for all the wonderful holiday gifts!!!  I missed the students a lot over break but was happy to receive so many emails from some of them and see many making videos on Animoto on their own.  There is nothing better when students work on project from their own passion!!!!!

Important Dates for the Week

Here is a rundown of everything going on this week:

1. Tomorrow, Tuesday Dec. 18th, Mega Party from 9:00-10:30.  Please remember to wear Cadet wear.  Thank you to our three volunteers, Jason's mom, Hannah's grandma, and Noah H.'s mom.  I appreciate you taking the time to help out! Volunteers should be at the elementary gym by 8:55.
2.  Wednesday:  Normal
3.  Thursday, Dec. 20th:  Making ornaments for ornament exchange.  Please remember to plan out what you will be making and bring your supplies that you would like to use.  I will have some in the classroom but students should bring anything "out of the ordinary" they would like to use.  I have shown the students examples as well.  We will supply the tin circle, the rest is up to the students.  Those parents who volunteered to send sacks can send them to school with their 3B student or drop them off before 2:00.  We will be making the ornaments and munching from 2:30-3:15.

4.  Friday, Dec. 21st:  Ornament exchange with all of 3rd grade.

Just Because....

Trying to act normal on a day like today after the weekend's events is not easy.  Returning to school to teach my beautiful students.  Not as easy as it should be.  Today we, as a class,  focused more and more on positive words.  Our greeting was giving compliments, we made Christmas cards for a friend who has cancer, and we chatted lots about how we care for one another without discussing the events of the weekend.   Words are a powerful thing and I want all my "kids" to know I care deeply about them and would do anything for them.

I saw this picture this weekend and decided to send a copy home with each student reminding them of the power of words.  I hope the students hang it somewhere they can see it and use the information.

"You Matter" is what I want every student to remember!

Volunteers for Big Blast.....Bug in the Room

As mentioned in an earlier post, 3B is looking for volunteers to help at our Big Blast party.  Our class will be celebrating in the gym from 9:00-10:30.  This is different that the time I originally thought it would be.  If you are free to help out and volunteer, please send me an email, message, or phone call.  I have one parent and grandparent already volunteering but would love to have 1-2 more.  If you are free and willing to help out, please let me know by this Friday. The date of the Big Blast is Tuesday, December 18th.

We have lots to do with 2 weeks left of school.  At the end of the week, we will be taking a social studies test.  To help your child prepare for the test, I will be sending their social studies materials home as well as introduce a helpful web site for them to use to review.  I plan to send materials home Wednesday with the test set for Friday (weather permitting).  Keep your eyes open for those materials and information coming home soon.

Looks like winter is here.  Please remember to have your child bring snow pants, hats, and mittens for recess.  It is also a great idea to send extra mittens or socks in case the ones the student has end up getting wet.   Better to have an extra pair in the backpack than have to wear wet socks all day or wet gloves outside at recess.

There must be a little bit of the flu and cold bug in our classroom as today we had five students absent. Some have had the flu while others have had a really bad cold.   If your child is feeling "under the weather", please keep them home and let them rest up so that they do not spread the illness around.  Hopefully the cold weather will kill some of the germs and we can all get healthy before Christmas.

Volunteers Needed for Mega Party

The Mega Party for Crestwood Elementary will be held Tuesday, December 18th.  Congratulations to the students for doing such an awesome job with their fundraising to fill our school piggy bank!

I am looking for some parents who would love to volunteer to help at the Mega Party with the different stations.  This will free me up a little to take those pictures I love to take of the students having fun.  I am not exactly sure of the time yet, as Mrs. Sovereign has not made the official decision.  When I find out, I will let you know.  If it is anything like last year, we would be attending the Mega Party around 1:00ish for about an hour.  Again, this is not for sure but just an estimate.

If you would be interested in volunteering, please email, call, or send me a note.  I am looking for about three adults to help out.  If I have more and need more, I will take all of them.  If I only need 2-3, I will draw names to make the final decision or take the first parents who contact me.

I would like any parents interesting in helping out to please let me know by Wednesday, Dec. 12th.

Thank you ahead of time!

Sounds like Winter is Coming

The last few days have been wonderful as far as weather goes.  Now it sounds like we are moving into what winter is all about....snow!  We were discussing it in class and the students are half and half as to whether they are excited about the snow coming or not.  Me.....NOT!  I am not a fan of winter, except a little snow on Christmas.  We will see if the weather man is correct this weekend on their forecast.

Just another reminder to encourage the students to bundle up for recess.  Being it is getting colder, students are coming in chilly at recess and not enough layers on.  With the temperatures dropping this week, please be sure your 3rd grader has a warm enough coat, mittens, and hat.  They can always leave them in their locker if it warms up towards the end of the day.

Here are some current things we are focusing on this week in 3B:
1.  The students have written similes about themselves and are working on publishing them on their blog pages.  Some of them are very funny to read.  Please feel free to leave comments for the students blog post as they look forward to reading them and seeing who their "audience" is.  Similes are a form a figurative language we are working on in literacy along with "text structure" and "compound words".

2.  I was very pleased how many students are catching on to using Edmodo and being independent to get various activities done both at home and school.  Remember that if your child does not have internet access at home, they may come in the room any time in the morning after 8 to complete any activities that were assigned through Edmodo.

3.  Perimeter has been the focus in math.  Students have been exploring perimeter through math explorations this week.  We will be starting area tomorrow with a fun application activity using "Cheeze-Its".  Yummy!

4.  Our social studies discussions have revolved around how landforms affect how we live.

5. In writing we are wrapping up a discussion on using sensory images in writing and recognizing when authors use them to make their writing more appealing.

I will be sending information home next week about a "Winter Celebration" we will be having with all 3rd graders the last week of school in December.  Details and information about the celebration will be explained and volunteers to send snacks will be needed.  Please look for that information to be sent home sometime next week.

Enjoy the rest of the week!  Stay warm!

Edmodo Assignment and Book-It Calendar

Just a reminder that Book-It calendars for the month of November are due by Wednesday of this week. December calendars will be sent home tomorrow.

I have posted an assignment for the students to complete via Edmodo. They should all be able to complete this activity individually but feel free to see how they log in, do the assignment, and then post it.

Have a great week!

We Have a Visitor

Well, I got to school this morning and saw a mess in the back corner by the books.  I wasn't sure what was going on....until I saw a new book on my table with a message that said, "Read this to the students".  It was a book titled Elf on the Shelf.  I then started looking around the room and noticed a little elf sitting on top of our bookcase.  Where did he come from? :)  This might explain the letter I received yesterday saying, "Someone is watching you" for the students.  We were all curious.

When the students came in, saw the mess and the elf, they became very excited!  We eventually read the wonderful story and named our new friend "Elfie".  He is a wonderful addition to our classroom, even though he kind of freaks some of the students out.  We will see where he moves to every morning and what he gets into as well.  Students are trying very hard to stay on the "nice" list that he reports back to Santa every night until Christmas.  Who will make it?????

Besides that excitement, we have been working hard, as usual. Here are a few quick updates of the happenings in the room:
1.  Readers Theater was a big hit and the students loved doing them.  Some of the videos are below.  One group has had someone gone every day so they have not done their's yet.  We are hoping to get it done tomorrow.  Poetry and more readers theater scripts will be sent home weekly for students to continually practice their reading fluency.  We took the poem from last week and students recorded themselves reading it with the app that turns it to a rap.  They thought that was so cool!
2.  Math is full of measurement.  We have worked through using both the Metric System and the US Customary System of Measurement.  Now we are jumping into perimeter.  
3.  Social Studies- Students just wrapped up a little research on our community, Cresco, and are now reading and learning about three types of communities.  We tried an online activity of creating a community, but it kicked us out before we could finish. (I will be trying to fix that as the students really enjoyed it.)
4.  We are cruising through our second theme in literacy.  It is all about science, which everyone is enjoying!  Our focus strategies have been on summarizing and recognizing cause and effect.  Along with this, we have been reviewing antonyms, compound words, and started discussing idioms.
5.  In our writing we are focusing on using our five senses to put more detail in our writing.  Students have been writing about their favorite place and applying the techniques we have discussed.

Yes, we have started cursive as you should have recognized being students brought a practice sheet home tonight.  We are going to cruise through these introductory lessons and get students writing/reading cursive.  Realize that most of the practicing will be done at home.

And finally, please remind your child to dress warm each day for school.  Many still come in freezing cold in the mornings not dressed warm enough.  Layers is the best way to go.  Hats and mittens/gloves are a good thing for the morning as it is chilly!