Old Man Winter Must Not Be Happy!

I can honestly say that I feel like I have not seen much of my students since Christmas.  Although we

have had school here and there since the holidays, it does not feel like it. Next time we hear there is a big snowstorm coming our way,  I am going to plan on trying to still connect with the students virtually with the use of technology as I feel like we have lost so much time together!  Everyone loves a "snow day" once and a while, but this is getting out of control.  Someone needs to do something to cheer up Old Man Winter!  Any ideas?

Well, during the past "mini" weeks, 3B students have started a new exploratory called "Technology" class.  We do so much technology in the classroom that I hate saying it is a separate class.  The instructor of Tech, Miss Klenke,  is trying to correlate activities with the homerooms.  So far, 3B students have been shown an online keyboarding site they can go to to continue building their keyboarding skills, as well as starting book-trailers using the app iMovie.  This activity is in connection to reading done in the classroom.  Students will be using a book he/she has read in the classroom/home recently and created a movie trailer with required information about the book.  Our goal is to have the book trailers up and ready by the time of parent teacher conferences in February (if we ever have enough school).

I posting on my blog the link for students to work on keyboarding.  Miss Klenke has shown the students the site or will be showing it soon.  While we use the iPads primarily in the classroom, keyboarding quickly on a computer is still a part of our 3rd grade curriculum.  Through this online site, students can log in and work on keyboarding at home.  I will be sending student login and passwords home with the students so that they can continue to work independently.

I am unsure what tomorrow will bring, but I am hoping that I get to see the students' smiling faces.  Here are some bits of information about upcoming events and activities:
1.  Students will begin preparing for student led conferences.  These are conferences held in February where the 3rd grade students leads the conference.  While many students are very nervous leading up to the day of the conference, they are usually very happy afterwards.  More information will be coming home soon about logging in to sign up for conferences as well.  Stay tuned.
2.  We are wrapping up our unit on multiplication and introduction to division.  Please remind students to continue to work on multiplication facts.  There are some great websites on the side of my blog page that students can do at home to continue to work on recognizing their facts faster.
3.  We are working hard writing personal narratives.  Along with this genre, students are focusing on adding detail, writing good beginning sentences, and building their ideas better through their writing.  Students hope to have a personal narrative to share with everyone at conferences.
4.  Students are reading like crazy at school in preparation for their book-trailers being made with Tech class.  I love it!!!  I hope they are sharing that "want" to read at home as well.  Many students have been taking books home, reading, and building that love to read (that is what is most important).  Students were told to try and have their book read or almost done by the end of this week, but we may have to push that back a week due to weather and missing school.
5.  Our focus strategies in reading this week are to continue working on paraphrasing and questioning.  Paraphrasing is a tough strategy and will be the focus of "Cadet Time" as well for many groups.

Stay warm!

Welcome to 2014! Changes in the Future….

I hope that everyone enjoyed their extended vacation for winder break.  I know everyone says they would have liked to have another day off today, but I am glad to have the students back!  I missed them!  Hard to believe that the school year is already half over.  It always goes by so quickly!  I do not like winter, so I am hoping the next few months go very quickly!  Not too fast though as I need more time with my 3B stars!

Just a reminder to return your December Book-It calendar!  If your child has met his/her December reading goal, I will be sending home a coupon for a free personal pan pizza.  I am very impressed with the number of students in 3B participating in Book-It!  Yeah!!!  So proud of all of you!  The January calendar was sent home before break, with a goal of 350 minutes.  Get reading!

Starting the week of January 13th, 3B's schedule will be changing.  Before this, the students did not have a "special" on Wednesdays each week.  Beginning next week, 3B's special schedule will look like this:

Monday: Library

Tuesday: Art

Wednesday:  Technology (new!)

Thursday: Music

Friday: PE

We are adding a technology component to our schedules.  Miss Klinke, the tech coordinator, will be teaching this class.  She will be working with classroom teachers to integrate ideas and work on projects together.   She will also be showing the students various tech skills and activities they can be working on at home so stay tuned for more information. 

Report cards will be sent home Monday, January 13th.  Remember that you can always contact me via email or phone if you have any questions or concerns about report cards.

  

Stay warm!

Big Blast was a Big Hit!

The students had an awesome time at the Big Blast held before winter break!  From the looks of the pictures below, which are just a few that I took during the celebration, the students loved every minute of it!

Remember that the Big Blast is held as a celebration to our fundraising that is done in the fall.  The money raised from this fundraising project goes towards the district's field trips.  So a special thanks to everyone who purchased items this past fall and helped to put money in the school's piggy bank!

Wonderful Celebration of Caring and Sharing

I heard from my sub that the days spent creating ornaments and then sharing with classmates was a big hit!  The 3rd grade teachers said the students were very prepared, did really well, and created some beautiful ornaments from the items given.  Thank you to the parents who brought in snacks for the students to munch on while they worked.  From the looks of it, the students had plenty to eat as they created their "masterpieces".  I wish I could have been there to see them.

Here are a few pictures that the substitute took.

Important Information about Me….Mrs. Kerian

While it is a wonderful time with the holidays soon approaching, it is also a sad time for my family.

This morning, Sunday morning, I received a call that my grandmother had passed away.  She was my "only grandma" growing up and had a very special place in my heart.  Don't we all adore our grandmas?

Because of the need to be with family and attend the funeral/wake out of town, I will not be at school Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.  I know this is not "good timing" but family comes first.  I promise the students, my 3B kiddos,  will be in good hands.  I have everything planned out for the substituted and know it will go smoothly.  (right 3B??)

If you need to get ahold of the school Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, please call Linda in the office.  Do not email me as I will be out of town.  Linda will then forward the information to the substitute.

So this will be my last blog post before the holidays.  I want to take the time to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!  Enjoy your time with family and friends!  I will be missing my 3B students and can't wait to return and hear about what a wonderful break each and everyone had!

Thanks for a great first semester of school and happy holidays!

The Hour of Code!!!! Awesome Week of Coding!

Last week students in 3B participating in the Hour of Code.  This was a week of focusing on coding…..a job that will be a large part of the students' future!  Students and adults around the nation and world worked on coding through various means. We were among them!

We had a super, yet challenging time coding various apps and creating our own games through coding. It is wonderful as a teacher to see students problem solve and analyze information to code their way through a problem.  It involved a lot of critical thinking as well!  The students have blogged about their feelings about the Hour of Code so don't forget to check out their posts.  As usual, comments are always welcome. You will notice that many students say that it was fun yet hard at times!  

I happened to tweet out a picture of some students in 3B working their way through some coding apps. To our surprise, mainly mine, the famous singer Shakira "liked" our class tweet!!!!  That was so cool!!!! I think I was most excited!!

Here is a video I used to kick of "The Hour of Code".  you will notice Shakira, as well as many other famous singers, actors, and athletes encouraging students and adults to code.  Will you give it a try???

Did We Forget How to be Respectful?

We have run into a little bump in the road in 3B.  I think some of us have forgotten how to be respectful….especially when I, Mrs. Kerian, am gone to meetings and there is a sub.  What happened?

Last week I was gone to meetings in Des Moines with the principals.  I came back to a message from my sub that said the students were very disrespectful.  Behaviors such as blurting, tattling, pushing, and not listening were listed.  This is not what any teacher likes to return to.  Thus the reason why many students wrote letters to their parents last week and the letters were returned signed.  I wanted parents to be aware of the choices some of the students were making.  The students knew I was very disappointed because this is not the first time a sub has left me that kind of note.

As a class, we discussed everything on Wednesday.   We have developed a chattiness problem as well as forgetting how to show Cadet Pride outside the classroom.  We have had time to review and talk about being respectful and being good listeners.  I would like parents to discuss these issues with their 3B student and reinforce the idea of being respectful to EVERYONE…..they are great when they are with me so I know they can do it!!!

Remember what Kid President says…(we watched this a week ago)…."20 Things We Should Say More Often".

Big Blast Celebration

It is almost here!  Christmas!!!!! So hard to believe that half the school year is almost over.  Time just flew by!  At least the weather has been to cooperative and we have not had any snow days…..yet!  (Hope I did not speak too soon.)

One of the many activities that we have going on this week is the Big Blast!  This is the celebration for the efforts of our fundraising.  The students are so excited!!!!

3rd grade students will attend the Big Blast on Tuesday at about 1:50-3:00ish.  I wanted to let parents know in case they had appointments scheduled or things coming up.  The students hate to miss this great celebration.

There are also students in 3B that will be riding in the limo as an extra reward for selling a certain amount of items!  Great job to those students!

Let the fun week begin!

Cadet Time

The teachers at Crestwood Elementary have added a new element to our daily schedules.  It is called Cadet Time, also known as Intervention time (and there are many more names for it, but I won't go into that right now).  We officially started last week, and I am glad to say the first week was a success!

During Cadet Time, students are broken into groups and work with a 3rd grade teacher or associate on specific reading skills or strategies.  The three sections of 3rd grade students are mixed up so they are not always with their homeroom teacher for Cadet Time.  The groups are smaller and can focus on specific areas of need or enrichment that are student specific.  Teachers selected skills and strategies to focus on for 2 week periods.  These skills and strategies are based off class assessments and those taught within the classroom during literacy.  These skills and strategies are then reassessed at the end of a literacy unit to determine if growth was made. After 2 weeks, new focus skills and strategies will be determined, groups mixed up based on demonstrated need or areas to enrich, and new small group instruction will occur.  

Currently, the 3rd grade Cadet Time runs daily from 9:30-10:00.  We currently have groups working for two weeks on summarizing, cause and effect, or building fluency.  The three Title 1 Reading teachers as well as Mr. Knoblach also work with small groups during this time so that we have ample amounts of teachers working with students to build their reading as well as challenge them in various ways if they have demonstrated success with the skills and strategies selected for the two week period.  

I wanted to let you know about this in case your child mentioned "Cadet Time".  If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.  

It was Bound to Happen

Snow….yes….snow.  Like the title says, I guess it was bound to happen eventually.  While I agree it was pretty falling, I am not a fan of snow!  I like a little on Christmas eve/day, and then it can go away. But….Mother Nature does not listen to me I guess.

Along with snow, even without snow lately, comes cold weather.  Please remember that students go outside unless the temperature and/or wind chill is below 0.  I have reminded the students to dress warm, but many are coming in from recess or before school very cold.  While we did not go out for recess much last week due to the cold weather, the temps are suppose to be above zero this week, but not much.  Please remember to send mittens, hats, boots, etc with your child.  If there is snow outside and students do not have boots, they will have to stay on hard surfaces.

I also encourage the students to put an extra pair of mittens and/or socks in their school bags.  Many times, after one recess, the students have wet gloves and socks from the wet snow.  It is not comfortable to have to put those mittens back on for the next recess or wear wet socks all day.  Having an extra pair in their school bags will be great for those wet times.

Let's cross our fingers the weather does not get too out of control.  Even though we all love a good snow day, we have too much to do in 3B….and a lot more fun planned.