Girls Basketball is going to STATE Tournament!

You should have received a letter yesterday from the school stating that school has been cancelled for next Tuesday, March 4th.  The Crestwood varsity girls basketball team qualified for the State tournament by a huge win last Saturday over Mount Vernon!  We are excited to go and support the girls, hoping for a win to move on.

Because the girls play during the day, school has been cancelled to offer the opportunity for the community and students to attend the basketball tournament to support them. Charter buses are available through the high school.   If you have an questions, feel free to contact the office.

Go Cadets!

Mrs. Kerian is on the Mend

I am finally back after dealing with a sinus cold last week and then bronchitis this week!  Wow!  I have only taken one sick day in the last seven years.  So for me to miss Monday and Tuesday of this week shows how sick I was. Nasty! Thank you for understanding and being respectful and responsible while I was gone 3B.  Mrs. O, the sub, said you worked hard and have grown up so much since the beginning of the year!  I hate being gone, but it is nice to know my students can be wonderful and cooperative when I have to be.  

Thank you to all the parents from last week's conferences as well who put up with my cold, sneezing, and coughing, during your child's conference last week.   The Dr. has me on the mend and back at it!

I missed the students so much! It was great to come back today to so many hugs, "I missed you!", "Are you feeling better Mrs. Kerian?", and such caring students!  Warmed my heart!  

Great Conferences! Awesome Job 3B!

I want to send a 'shout out' to the wonderful job that the students in 3B did with their student-led

conferences!!!!  Yeah!!!  They were awesome!!!  I know many of you were very nervous before starting but realized they weren't so bad.  Many of you even said that you enjoyed them!!!!  You should be very proud of yourself as you each did wonderful!!!!

For those parents who could not attend, the students have loaded many of the items they shared at conferences to their individual blog pages.   They would love some comments from viewers as well!  All students should have added a post sharing their iMovie book trailer made in connection to literacy and Tech class, as well as their Animoto video for Social Studies in which they researched a city/state and shared about the city's climate, natural resources, geography, and region.

Thanks again to the parents for attending and being part of the student-led conferences!  Nice job 3B!  I am proud of you!

It's Time! Student-led Conferences!

Just a reminder that Tuesday and Thursday of this week are conference nights.  If you have not signed up yet, please call Linda at school as the site to do it online has been closed to parents as of last week.

Also remember that these conferences are student led, meaning your child will be leading the conferences with me listening in.  I will join the conference towards the end to share my thoughts as well.  If there is a conference going on in the classroom that is running late, please do NOT wait outside the room!  Come on in and your 3B child will start!  They know what to do and can start without me listening in. I have already discussed this with the students and they know not to wait.   We need to stay on time as many families have more than one conference to attend.  So please do not wait out in the hallway.  Come on in and get started!!!!

We have a lot of projects that students are just finishing up!  They are anxious to share what they have done with you personally before we post them on their student blog pages.

I look forward to seeing all of you either Tuesday or Thursday night!

Bubble Bonanza - STEM Day - Big Success!

Well, the two hour late start last Friday tried to ruin our Bubble Bonanza Day, but the 3rd graders throughout the district were troopers and got as much done as they could in a short amount of time.  Hopefully they told you about the great activities they had to complete.

Quinzey and Carson using wire to make bubble wand

This grant was part of a STEM grand (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) that 3rd, 4th and 5th grade teachers across the district applied for last spring.  The grant gave each grade level different kits to work through.  The grades then split up the kits and set up their first STEM day of the year, which was last Friday.  Our kit focused on bubbles with a total of six different "Adventures".  Due to the late start, we were only able to get two of the kits done so another day will be set aside to complete the various activities.

After a discussion on engineering, students worked in groups to experiment and sort cards as to either if it was something bubbles can do or something bubbles can not do.    They then had time to test out any other ideas they could come up with and put these ideas on their group's "Bubble Board".  In the afternoon, students started created their own bubble wands testing the question of "Does shape matter with a bubble wand?".  Students came up with some great ideas for bubble wants to test out while determining the answer to the question.

Dominic testing if you can flatten bubbles.

Even though it was quite messy, we had a great day learning, questioning, and designing.  I can't wait until the next Bubble Bonanza Day so we can continue building and bettering our wants.

Testing if you can stack bubbles

Testing if you can stretch bubbles

What's Up Lately?

It was great to see the students every day last week!  We had a super week, and the students are back into a super routine.  Sounds like we should be "safe" this week, but then again, I may be speaking too soon.

A reminder to parents to be sure to sign up for Parent Teacher conferences.  A sheet with login information was sent home last week.  If you need another sheet, please let me know and I will get one sent home soon.  If you are having trouble logging in or signing up, please call Linda and she will guide you or set them up for you.  Remember that these conferences are "student led" and 3B students need to attend the conference with their parents.  We will start practicing and getting ready this week so that students are ready and prepared to share all the great activities and work they have been doing lately.  So, again, please remember to sign up for conferences for either Tuesday, February 18th, or Thursday, February 20th.

We have moved into a math unit on place value up to millions, but we are still working on our multiplication facts.  Remember to keep working on the facts at home (there are many online games on my blog page to review with as well).  This is all part of our "Gumball Multiplication" activity that was explained last week.

Students are loving learning about the Olympics!  We have some super apps on our iPads as well as a Symbaloo site on my blog page that students use to keep current on activities, sports, and athletes in the Olympics.  Along with that, we enjoyed some yummy treats in the form of an Olympic torch last week in connection to the Opening Ceremonies.  Many more fun activities in connection to the Olympics are coming up as well!  Go Team USA!

Other bits of info:
*Students are finishing their personal narratives this week and sharing them on their blogs.  We would love some comments posted from parents, relatives, and friends as it is great to read what others have to say about our blog post.
*As part of our unit assessment in social studies on "communities", students are creating videos using the app of "Animoto".  The video must have certain criteria and pieces of information (key vocabulary, pics, demonstrating understanding of key concepts learned).  We just started them but everyone should be ready to share them at conferences next week.
*Our focus strategy this week in literacy is "monitoring comprehension".  We will be reviewing how it is important to listen to the "little voices" in our head when reading to make sure that we are thinking and understanding.  I will be introducing "book clubs" within the next week or two as well.

Have a super week and stay warm!

Bubbles…Bubbles…Bubbles

Friday, February 14th, is not only Valentine's Day, but it is 3rd grader students day to have some fun with bubbles!  That's right!  Bubbles!  As part of a STEM grant awarded to students in 3-5th at Crestwood Elementary and Lime Springs-Chester Elementary, we will be spending almost the whole day having fun with bubbles.  Students will explore different types of bubble wands, sizes, shapes, and eventually use their findings to create their own bubble wand.   It is going to be a day full of learning and exploring while having fun at the same time.  Stay tuned for pictures and responses to come!

Valentines Day….Friday

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, I thought I had better make a quick comment as many students are asking.  Students in 3B are more than welcome to bring Valentines, but it is not required.  The only stipulation is that if they do bring Valentines, they have to bring them for the whole class.  Thus, I will be sending a class list home today so students have a complete list to go off of.

We will not be making Valentine's Day boxes so students can make those at home if they would like or simply bring a bag to take their Valentines home.  Again, it is totally optional and not required.

For those that bring Valentines, we will be have a small celebration and time to exchange them on Friday, February 14th.

Any questions, feel free to contact me.

Who Will Keep their Quiet Critter?

So let's be honest…..It is very hard to stay in a routine when that routine is constantly broken up by the weather we have been having.  It is then, not a surprise, that 3B has been having some "chatty" problems lately.  Understandable.  But it is important to remember to be respectful and responsible as well.  So here come the Quiet Critters.

While I am not one who manages my classroom in a way that it must be quiet all the time (so not true, interaction, discussions, collaborations, etc are so important and what I want in our classroom) there are a few times when students need to work at a quieter level.  This is where the Quiet Critters come in.  Let's see how many students can keep their Quiet Critter throughout the day and be able to know when to "turn it on and off"- meaning their volume and voice.

Parents, you will know how your child did with his/her Quiet Critter when their calendar comes home on Friday each week showing if they kept their Critter, what time of day they lost it-if they did, and how they did throughout the week.  Don't hesitate to ask your 3B student about it every day though….working together is more powerful than working alone.  As the students keep the Quiet Critter, they will continue to add various parts to it as well.  They are all very excited about it as we practiced last week with lots of successes!

Full Week Ahead????

I am sitting here watching the "Super Bowl", which has turned out "not too super", planning for the week ahead thinking, "Yes, we may finally have a full week if Mother Nature cooperates!" I was excited because we have so many great things to work on.  Then it hit me……Wednesday….early out for teacher inservice.  There goes that idea and excitement of a full week with the students.  Oh well…I will take what I can get.   Let's just hope Mother Nature is nice this week as I have heard various weather reports for this Tuesday. The groundhog did predict 2 more weeks of winter……yuck!

Book orders will be coming home today.  Remember that you may order them online using the online code written on the top of the book orders or you may send the orders with cash/check to school and I will order them as a class.  Just a reminder to make checks out to me, Kim Kerian, and NOT the book club.  Ordering online requires a credit card, which I use one of my own to do.  Please have any orders in by Friday, February 7th.  Thanks!

Parents should have received a bright pink letter from the office about signing up for parent-teacher conferences.  This letter was sent home last week.  If you did not get the letter, please let me know and I will send a new one with your child.  Remember to sign up for a conference time.  Your 3rd grade student needs to attend the conference with you as he/she will be leading the conference (as I mentioned in previous post). If anyone is having trouble with signing in to the conference scheduler, call the office and Linda will assist you.

Just a quick reminder to make sure students are dressed appropriately for this weather.  Many are coming without boots or snowpants.  Although we do not get outside much, due to cold weather, students need to be prepared for when we do.  I also suggest sending more then one pair of gloves or even socks, as sometimes they get wet at recess.

Stay warm this week!