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!