Monday, November 10, 2014
Thanks to everyone for attending your parent-teacher conference. If you have any questions that you came up with after you left the table, please be sure to let me know.
We are busy establishing some background for the 5 regions of the United States. We will continue to work on that through mid-week this week. At that point, we will transition into our Science unit: Heat, Light and Sound.
Speaking of Science, our first field trip is scheduled for December 10 to Discovery World. We will be taking 3 chaperones. Info is coming home tomorrow!
If you haven't logged onto your child's Weebly Website yet, please do so. Your child has worked hard to place their first Opinion piece on there as well as some small work that we did in Math. We will continue to add to it as the weeks go on. If you click on their October Opinion Paragraph you should be able to comment on their writing as well. They'd love to get your feedback.
In the upcoming days as the weather changes, please be sure your child is dressed appropriately for outdoor recess. Thanks!
Thanks to everyone for attending your parent-teacher conference. If you have any questions that you came up with after you left the table, please be sure to let me know.
We are busy establishing some background for the 5 regions of the United States. We will continue to work on that through mid-week this week. At that point, we will transition into our Science unit: Heat, Light and Sound.
Speaking of Science, our first field trip is scheduled for December 10 to Discovery World. We will be taking 3 chaperones. Info is coming home tomorrow!
If you haven't logged onto your child's Weebly Website yet, please do so. Your child has worked hard to place their first Opinion piece on there as well as some small work that we did in Math. We will continue to add to it as the weeks go on. If you click on their October Opinion Paragraph you should be able to comment on their writing as well. They'd love to get your feedback.
In the upcoming days as the weather changes, please be sure your child is dressed appropriately for outdoor recess. Thanks!
Monday, October 20, 2014
October is flying by as well! Where does time go? We are so busy here in third grade. Here are a few things we've been working on.
We began RTI last week. RTI is a 30 minute block that we use to give students additional work in reading. The third grade teachers, along with the building reading specialist, worked together and we put the kids into groups that best meet their needs. Some kids stay here in our classroom for that half hour, whereas others travel to other classrooms to work. These groups are flexible and can change during the school year. The kids enjoy this time to work with peers from other classrooms.
In reading, we have our guided reading groups all set up and the kids meet with me each day to work at their instructional level. We make the most of our time together and work on decoding skills, writing, reading, and fluency.
We finished up our three weeks of keyboarding on Friday. The kids really worked hard and did great. Now we have to continue to practice those skills so that we do not lose what we have learned. They learned the correct key stroke of the entire alphabet, as well as how to shift to make a capital letter. We ended on Friday with a Typing test and the kids improved their scores greatly. Some kids typed as many as 20 words per minute. Can you imagine how fast they are going to be when reach middle school?
In math, we've been busy working on word problems. The kids are learning about various diagrams they can use to help them think about what the question is asking.
We've been working on our maps and globes skills and will now move into learning about the regions of the United States. Watch the assignment notebook because there may be nights that their required reading will be to read from their Social Studies text. When this is assigned, please read along with your child, as the text is not written necessarily at your child's independent level.
We will have a spelling test on Unit 3 this Friday. I mentioned earlier about knowing your child. If the spelling list he/she comes home with is providing too much stress or frustration, please let me know. We can look at making an accommodation. Remember 30 minutes of homework a night at this level is the maximum!
I'm looking forward to parent teacher conferences with you next week. I appreciate everyone's quick return of the blue confirmation sheet.
October is flying by as well! Where does time go? We are so busy here in third grade. Here are a few things we've been working on.
We began RTI last week. RTI is a 30 minute block that we use to give students additional work in reading. The third grade teachers, along with the building reading specialist, worked together and we put the kids into groups that best meet their needs. Some kids stay here in our classroom for that half hour, whereas others travel to other classrooms to work. These groups are flexible and can change during the school year. The kids enjoy this time to work with peers from other classrooms.
In reading, we have our guided reading groups all set up and the kids meet with me each day to work at their instructional level. We make the most of our time together and work on decoding skills, writing, reading, and fluency.
We finished up our three weeks of keyboarding on Friday. The kids really worked hard and did great. Now we have to continue to practice those skills so that we do not lose what we have learned. They learned the correct key stroke of the entire alphabet, as well as how to shift to make a capital letter. We ended on Friday with a Typing test and the kids improved their scores greatly. Some kids typed as many as 20 words per minute. Can you imagine how fast they are going to be when reach middle school?
In math, we've been busy working on word problems. The kids are learning about various diagrams they can use to help them think about what the question is asking.
We've been working on our maps and globes skills and will now move into learning about the regions of the United States. Watch the assignment notebook because there may be nights that their required reading will be to read from their Social Studies text. When this is assigned, please read along with your child, as the text is not written necessarily at your child's independent level.
We will have a spelling test on Unit 3 this Friday. I mentioned earlier about knowing your child. If the spelling list he/she comes home with is providing too much stress or frustration, please let me know. We can look at making an accommodation. Remember 30 minutes of homework a night at this level is the maximum!
I'm looking forward to parent teacher conferences with you next week. I appreciate everyone's quick return of the blue confirmation sheet.
Monday, September 30, 2014
I can't believe September is over! This first month has gone so fast. When I think back to the kids that came in fresh from summer break, I am so proud of how much they have accomplished already in this first month. We have many of our routines underway. The kids are becoming very good at working together and following out school rules: Be Kind, Be Safe, and Do Your Job.
One of the routines we've become good at is Rocket Math. I'm hoping you are looking at these sheets daily with your child and noticing whether or not they have met their goal. If your child has met their goal, celebrate it! Congratulate your child for working hard and knowing their facts. If your child did not meet their goal, please spend 5 minutes practicing the sheet because they will be doing the same sheet the next day. I have a number of students that are telling me they are stuck on the same level for more than 5 days. This problem could likely be fixed with some at-home practice. Then, I have students that are stuck on a level for 2 days, and by the third day, with at-home practice, they pass! It is such a great feeling of accomplishment. This program does need at-home follow-through to be successful.
This week, your child has their spelling list for the week. Some children placed onto a challenge list. Your child will be graded on whatever list they are on. Please, if the challenge list is out of your child's reach, contact me and we can use the regular list. Some struggle is expected, as we are pushing kids out of their comfort zone and challenging them with new words that can expand their vocabulary and enhance their writing. However, if your child is frustrated, and you know that your child cannot handle such a list, please contact me as soon as possible. Our test will be on Friday morning this week, due to early release.
Starting today we are heading to the computer lab for 3 straight weeks to work on using the home row and typing accurately. We follow a 3rd grade curriculum and the kids should see some improvements in their typing rate by the end of the three weeks.
We will go back to the library this week Wednesday for regular check out. Any books that the kids have at home should be returned. From this point on, we will have check out each Wednesday. The students are allowed 3 books and 1 magazine.
Finally, if anyone has emailed me and I have not responded, please let me know with a note. Some parents have mentioned sending emails and not hearing back from me. I check my spam folder daily, so I'm not sure where the problem is occurring. Hopefully it is resolved soon.
I can't believe September is over! This first month has gone so fast. When I think back to the kids that came in fresh from summer break, I am so proud of how much they have accomplished already in this first month. We have many of our routines underway. The kids are becoming very good at working together and following out school rules: Be Kind, Be Safe, and Do Your Job.
One of the routines we've become good at is Rocket Math. I'm hoping you are looking at these sheets daily with your child and noticing whether or not they have met their goal. If your child has met their goal, celebrate it! Congratulate your child for working hard and knowing their facts. If your child did not meet their goal, please spend 5 minutes practicing the sheet because they will be doing the same sheet the next day. I have a number of students that are telling me they are stuck on the same level for more than 5 days. This problem could likely be fixed with some at-home practice. Then, I have students that are stuck on a level for 2 days, and by the third day, with at-home practice, they pass! It is such a great feeling of accomplishment. This program does need at-home follow-through to be successful.
This week, your child has their spelling list for the week. Some children placed onto a challenge list. Your child will be graded on whatever list they are on. Please, if the challenge list is out of your child's reach, contact me and we can use the regular list. Some struggle is expected, as we are pushing kids out of their comfort zone and challenging them with new words that can expand their vocabulary and enhance their writing. However, if your child is frustrated, and you know that your child cannot handle such a list, please contact me as soon as possible. Our test will be on Friday morning this week, due to early release.
Starting today we are heading to the computer lab for 3 straight weeks to work on using the home row and typing accurately. We follow a 3rd grade curriculum and the kids should see some improvements in their typing rate by the end of the three weeks.
We will go back to the library this week Wednesday for regular check out. Any books that the kids have at home should be returned. From this point on, we will have check out each Wednesday. The students are allowed 3 books and 1 magazine.
Finally, if anyone has emailed me and I have not responded, please let me know with a note. Some parents have mentioned sending emails and not hearing back from me. I check my spam folder daily, so I'm not sure where the problem is occurring. Hopefully it is resolved soon.
Friday, September 9, 2014
We've had a great first week of school! I am really looking forward to this year with your kids. I can tell we have a fun group and we are going to do some great things together.
This week we worked on many of our procedures. A few things I'd like to make you aware of are:
1. The children can bring water bottles. I encourage this as kids do not need to leave their seat to get a drink.
2. Community snacks are going over great. If you did not bring one, please bring one by Monday or let me know that you are not participating (see www.roanhouse.weebly.com for more info).
3. We worked hard on being kind and good listeners. Our choice today was to listen while the teacher is teaching or practice being quiet during a recess (given 2 chances). Overall, we did quite well.
4. We discussed our school rules: Be Kind, Be Safe, and Do Your Job and what those look like in various parts of the school.
5. Minute to Win-It! Be sure to ask your kids about this if they haven't told you yet.
Next week we transition into more curriculum work. Please see the assignment notebook for a glimpse at the work we'll do.
Library books will not be due until the conclusion of MAPs testing. I will let you know when that is (likely the end of September/early October).
Important upcoming Dates:
Reading logs due Monday
Wear Green each Thursday
MAPs testing Friday morning for Math
Specials:
Monday-Art and Music
Tuesday-Phy Ed
Wednesday-Music and Guidance
Thursday-Phy Ed
Friday-Phy Ed (every other) and Spanish (1x/month)
We've had a great first week of school! I am really looking forward to this year with your kids. I can tell we have a fun group and we are going to do some great things together.
This week we worked on many of our procedures. A few things I'd like to make you aware of are:
1. The children can bring water bottles. I encourage this as kids do not need to leave their seat to get a drink.
2. Community snacks are going over great. If you did not bring one, please bring one by Monday or let me know that you are not participating (see www.roanhouse.weebly.com for more info).
3. We worked hard on being kind and good listeners. Our choice today was to listen while the teacher is teaching or practice being quiet during a recess (given 2 chances). Overall, we did quite well.
4. We discussed our school rules: Be Kind, Be Safe, and Do Your Job and what those look like in various parts of the school.
5. Minute to Win-It! Be sure to ask your kids about this if they haven't told you yet.
Next week we transition into more curriculum work. Please see the assignment notebook for a glimpse at the work we'll do.
Library books will not be due until the conclusion of MAPs testing. I will let you know when that is (likely the end of September/early October).
Important upcoming Dates:
Reading logs due Monday
Wear Green each Thursday
MAPs testing Friday morning for Math
Specials:
Monday-Art and Music
Tuesday-Phy Ed
Wednesday-Music and Guidance
Thursday-Phy Ed
Friday-Phy Ed (every other) and Spanish (1x/month)