Just a Few Reminders

1.  Please remember to remind your child to complete his/her reading for book clubs.  (See post below about needing juice and comments about reading.)

2.  Keep working on those multiplication facts!  We did not get a lot done last week with facts due to the early outs but will get back at it this week.  Each 3B student needs to let me know when they are ready to be assessed as it is not a "whole class" activity each day.

3. We are finishing up our unit in science on Simple Machines by completing our Keynote presentation.  Students will publish their Keynote soon on their student blogs.  Stay tuned.  We will then be moving back into Social Studies.

4.  Our focus for literacy has been recognizing how prefixes and suffixes change the meaning of base words, sequencing, story elements/plot, and words with multiple meaning.  These are the focus strategies and skills for our Lead 21 theme.  Within our book clubs, groups focus on different strategies, including sequencing, character analysis and development, and connections as well as other strategies through their "reading tracks".

5.  Book orders will be sent home this week.  Please return them by the required date.

Hopefully the cold weather will warm up soon.  Please remember to send necessary clothes for 3B students to go outside, even when it is chilly.  We may get out one of these days!

Have a great week!

Super Job with Student Led Conferences

Congratulations to all of 3B students!!! You did a wonderful job with your student led conferences!!! I know many of you were nervous, but you left with a smile on your face!!!  It was super how you shared so much with your parents and took a part in your learning!  You are why we are here so it is important you are part of, and lead, the discussion about YOU!  

Anyway, great job everyone!  Thanks parents for attending the conferences and being involved in your child's learning! 

Book Clubs....Going Strong! Need some Juice!

For the most part, book clubs are going great!!!  Students are finding they love their book selection once they get into it!!!!  Many are surprised how they don't want to stop reading and their minds are wondering what will happen next!!!  Book clubs are a super way in building the passion for reading!  Today, my book clubs were fabulous and everyone commented how much fun they were having reading and discussing (as well as having a snack or drink).  They are using comprehension strategies and thinking hard about their reading.   I love it!!!!  We even had some tears to the ending of one of our books as it was a real tear jerker!!

We have had a few ups and downs with responsibility.  Please remember that parents and students in 3B signed a contract agreeing to complete reading at home (or during read to self at school).  Today was much better, but last week we had over half the class forget to read for their book clubs; therefore, they could not join the discussion or reading that day.  Bummer!

For the most part, book clubs meet Mondays and Fridays.  3B students have a calendar that reminds them how much to read and by what date.  Parents, please remind them to get their reading done and be ready for their next book clubs.

I have been supplying the juice for our book clubs since we started.  I was wondering if their were any parents who would send some juice, your choice of kind, or juice boxes, so that students can continue to enjoy a drink and snack while sharing thoughts and reading with book clubs?   That would save me from having to go get some every week.  If you have some you can send, that would be super!!!  We all thank you!  Just send a jug or juice boxes to school with your 3B student and I will store them waiting until we need to start a new supply.

Thanks so much!  Keep reading 3B!

I love this last picture!  The expressions on the students' faces show how much and hard they are thinking about what they are reading!!!  Love it!!

Cool Cars with Simple Machines!

I was so impressed with all of 3B's vehicles for our ending science project for Simple Machines!!! I could tell everyone put a lot of thought into them and worked hard.  Almost everyone did a great job as well recognizing the simple machines within their vehicle (which was most important).  It is always great when students can apply their learning and demonstrate understanding.  That is the great part of Project Based Learning!

Although it was not a competition, we did have some fun with seeing who made the vehicle that could go the farthest.  It came down to Jason and Kalebs' vehicles.   Jason's had a lot of power and was heavy, and Kaleb had a cool "sling shot" to send his car off.  Nice job boys!  Way to be creative and think about what would make your car go longer!

Great job to all of 3B!  I was very impressed and you all demonstrated great learning!

Send off for Our Cadet Wrestlers!

Crestwood Elementary had a great send off for our six Crestwood wrestlers headed to State last week.  The students were excited to cheer for them in the hall and wish them luck.  If you did not hear, Crestwood had six wrestlers qualify for State and five of them placed.  Go Crestwood!

Reminders!!!

It is a busy time in 3B so here are some very important reminders:

1.  Please remember to sign up for your child's parent-teacher conferences. Sign up is done online.  If you are having trouble accessing or scheduling from home, feel free to contact myself or Linda about signing up.  Conferences are held next Tuesday, February 17th, and Thursday, February 19th.  These conferences will be student led conferences, which means that your 3rd grade student should come along.  He/she will be leading the conference with me adding comments at the end.

2.  A letter was sent home two weeks ago with information pertaining to an end of the unit activity for science.  Your child in 3B was to make a car, with parent guidance as needed, that will be used as their end of the unit assessment.  In other words, it is their test.  The vehicle should contain 1-2 simple machines that we have discussed and learned about in class.  The vehicles are to be brought to school by Thursday, February 12th, and we will race them on Friday, February 13th.  Please remember to send the cars with your child on Thursday.

3.  Valentine's Day will be celebrated on Friday, February 13th in 3B.  Students have the options of bringing valentines if they would like.  The only requirement is that if they bring valentines, they have to bring one for everyone in the class.  A class list was sent home last week with all the names of the students in 3B.  If you need a new copy, please let me know.  We will not be taking time to make valentine boxes or bags.  Students may do that at home if they like.  If any parents would like to volunteer to send snacks for the class that day, that would be great.  I will be supplying juice, plates, napkins and some munchies.  The students would love some other munchies to eat along with our little celebration!

4.  Students are bringing home their first book club today.  Most of them are very excited!!!  There is a calendar, post-it notes, and a copy of using reading tracks as well as the book each child is to read.  The book clubs met today and will meet again on Friday.   Each group decided how much to read independently and must be responsible to get that reading done before their book club meets again.  A few people have not returned their contracts that were sent home last Friday.  Please return those to school ASAP. Also remind your 3B student to have his/her reading and reading tracks done by Friday.

5.  Keep working on those multiplication facts.  We have started individual assessments, and I can definitely tell who is working on them at home and who is not.  We do not take a lot of classroom time to work on them so this is important to do at home.  When students master a family of facts (such as the 5s) they get a piece of gum to chew at school. The first 3-4 people who master all of their basic facts will receive gum ball machines to take home.  So keep working on those facts!  We are moving on to place value up through the millions so students will be responsible working on their facts outside the classroom.

I can't wait to see everyone at conferences and share all the great things going on in 3B. The students are nervous but I know they will do a great job with student led conferences!