Thursday, December 15

Things to Note...
THANK YOU to Susan Curp for planning our Winter Party!  It was so much fun!!  Also, thank you to all parents who came to help and who donated items for the party.  It wouldn't have been possible without you! 

Also, thank you all for my gift!!  The stools for our classroom, adorable outfit and book for Isaac, soaps, and Torchy's gift card and hot sauce (my favorite!) are awesome.  You are so generous, and I am very appreciative.

After break, we will be studying soil formation.  For an activity in this unit, each child will need to bring a soil sample to school on January 3.  This is just maybe a cup or so of soil in a sealed, plastic baggie.  If you are traveling, please try to get a sample from wherever you go...that will add some diversity to our study!  

The winter break is a good time to ask your child if they need any supplies-- maybe glue sticks have been used up, or notebooks are getting close to being full.

Have a great weekend and break!  See you in 2017! :)


Curriculum Preview...
Math: Geometry (2D and 3D shapes)
Language Arts: PBL projects; Biographies
Social Studies: Geography
Science: Earth's surface; soil formation


Mark Your Calendars...
12/16-1/2: No school!
1/3: First day of third quarter
1/13: Spirit Assembly (7:45 am)
1/14: PDQ Spirit Night
1/16: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No school!)
1/19: 2nd & 3rd Grade Math Night (6-7 pm)


Tip of the Week: Home Access
By now, some of you may be pros on checking your child's grades on Home Access.  If you're not, it's okay!  This may be your first year with it, but that's why I want to reiterate how important it is to log in and keep an eye on your child's grades on a regular basis...and involve your child in the discussion!  Report cards should never hold big surprises, thanks to Home Access.  
Here are a couple of tips:

• If you do not have a login, please contact Chrissta Hinze in the front office and she can help you out!
• If you see an M in place of a grade on an assignment it means that your child has a missing assignment that should be turned in.  This M averages as a zero until the assignment is completed and turned in.
• If you see a blank space instead of a grade for an assignment, I have not entered the grade yet.  Check back in a day or two to see if it's there.
• Any grades below 70% can be redone for a grade up to 70%.  This is a district policy.  If you see a grade below 70%, please encourage your child to ask to retake it!  I will either come to them and ask them to redo it, or at least write "Please redo" on the top of the assignment when it is passed back in Thursday folders.
• Graded papers will come home in Thursday folders.  We are not allowed to send district assessments home (per district policy), so look for scoring guides to help you determine what skills your child mastered, and what they may still need work on!

Friday, December 9

Things to Note...
This week, I have been most proud of the students' PBL project ideas.  Our guiding question is, "How can we encourage others to conserve resources at Elsa England Elementary?"  Their project is their answer this question, after doing some research on the subject of natural resources and conservation.  Ask your child what they are doing to help our school reduce, reuse, and recycle!

On Home Access, you'll notice your child's spelling test grades under Writing.  Mrs. Lilleboe and I have noticed that some scores are pretty low.  Please encourage your child to study their words on a regular basis.  Maybe set aside certain days of the week (Tuesday and Thursday, for example) as spelling nights, where they will work on their spelling words.  Spelling City is a website that is helpful for studying words-- you can enter your word list and it quizzes you on it!  Also, just writing each word several times,  or having your child make flashcards to study, are other good study strategies.  Remember that there is a spelling test every other Friday!  Our next list will go home when we come back from break.

After break, we will be studying soil formation.  For an activity in this unit, each child will need to bring a soil sample to school on January 3.  This is just maybe a cup or so of soil in a sealed, plastic baggie.  If you are traveling, please try to get a sample from wherever you go...that will add some diversity to our study!  
Have a great weekend!


Curriculum Overview...
Math: Geometry (2D and 3D shapes)
Language Arts: PBL projects
Social Studies: Geography
Science: Earth's surface


Mark Your Calendars...
12/15: Class parties (3rd grade is 1:30-2:30)
12/16-1/2: No school!
1/3: First day of third quarter

Tip of the Week: Raising Kids With Grit
I believe that whether or not a child will be successful in the future is not predicted by the grades they earn.  It is much more predictable based on their abilities to persevere through challenges.  This can be reflected in grades, but it is more often seen in the day to day struggles they face, and how they handle them.  Do they quit when something is hard?  Or do they dust themselves off and try again?  

I came across this article about raising children to have grit, and I wanted to share it with you.  In class, I rarely step in and solve problems for my students...my first question to them when they come to me with an issue (academic or social) is usually something like, "What do you think you should do?"  I want to teach them to work through challenges and develop some tools to build that strong character that we all want for our children.

Friday, December 2

Things to Note...
We had another great week in third grade!  We created parachutes from recycled materials, continued focusing in on what project we want to pursue with our PBL, and learned about the features of maps.  We also welcomed a new student!  

Please continue to remind your child to complete their homework and turn it in on time.  Here is the link to the homework website.  We do not grade them individually, but I do check them for completion every Friday.  There will be a homework grade on the report card that reflects the student's completion of homework on time.  Ask your child if they turned it in today!  (If they did not, they can bring it on Monday...but it is their responsibility to give it to me!)

If your child wants to participate in the Science Fair, please read this letter.  It is optional!  If they want to participate, have them let me know if they need a tri-fold poster board.  We have some at school that they can use.

Have a great weekend!


Curriculum Overview...
Math: Finishing division and fractions (test Wednesday)
Language Arts: Expository (summarizing); PBL
Social Studies: Geography
Science: Force and motion (test Tuesday); Soil formation


Mark Your Calendars...
12/6: School Picture Retakes
12/8: Cub Choir Performance 2-3rd grade (6:30-7:30 in cafeteria)
12/15: Class parties (3rd grade is 1:30-2:30)
12/16-1/2: No school!


Tip of the Week: Finding a Just Right Book
In class, we talk about reading a just right book-- it has to be a good fit in terms of interest AND difficulty.  Reading should be an enjoyable activity, and can take many forms.  It does not have to always be a chapter book for at-home reading!  Reading recipes with your child when you cook dinner for the family or showing them an interesting article in a magazine about something they enjoy are some ideas.  Also, don't forget that reading to/with your child is one of the BEST things that you can do to help instill a love of reading in them and help them practice their literacy skills!

Here are some third grade book lists, if your child is in need of a fresh, new book to read:
Scholastic
Recommended for Girls
Recommended for Boys
For Reluctant Readers

Friday, November 18

Things to Note...
Please continue to remind your child to complete their homework and turn it in on time.  We do not grade them individually, but I do check them for completion every Friday.  There will be a homework grade on the report card that reflects the student's completion of homework on time.  Ask your child if they turned it in today!  (If they did not, they can bring it on Monday...but it is their responsibility to give it to me!)

If your child wants to participate in the Science Fair, please read this letter.  It is optional!  If they want to participate, have them let me know if they need a tri-fold poster board.  We have some at school that they can use.

Progress reports went home yesterday in Thursday folders.  Please remember that the best way to stay up-to-date on your child's progress is to continually check Home Access.  By the time the progress reports are printed, grades have already changed as I added new assignments, so Home Access is always the best way to get the most current information!  If you have any questions, please let me know at any time!

We are into our PBL (Project Based Learning) now, and are working hard as the Planet Protectors!  Ask your child what they're learning about conserving natural resources, and what solutions they plan to work on to reduce waste at our school.

Have a WONDERFUL, RESTFUL, Thanksgiving holiday!  I am very thankful for all of my students and all of your support of them from home.  I will see everyone back on November 28! :)


Curriculum Overview...
Math: Relating multiplication to division
Language Arts: Expository (main idea, text structures); PBL
Social Studies: Geography
Science: Force and motion


Mark Your Calendars...
11/21-11/25: No school (Happy Thanksgiving!)
12/6: School Picture Retakes
12/15: Class parties
12/16-1/2: No school!


Tip of the Week: Encouraging Deep Math Thinkers
I love the way RRISD encourages us to teach math.  It is based on developing number sense in students and helping them understand WHY numbers work the way they do before teaching them HOW to do steps in an algorithm.  This encourages them to discover meaning and create their own methods of problem solving, which will help them have much deeper understanding of numbers and computation.  Here is a snippet from Teaching Student Centered Mathematics Grades 3-5 by John Van de Walle:

Please encourage your children to think about different ways to solve math problems.  They should also always be showing their thinking with pictures or words on assignments and tests!

Friday, November 11

Things to Note...
It was another great week here in third grade.  We've worked hard to understand fractions, research Sweden for the International Children's Festival, discover how much material we use daily and what that means for natural resources...and more!

Please make sure that you're checking Home Access on a regular basis to see your child's grades.  If you see an "M" that means that your child is missing that assignment, and needs to complete/turn it in as soon as possible.  Progress reports for Q2 will go home next week.

There will be no spelling words next week, since we have Thanksgiving break the following week.  We will resume spelling with a new word list the week we return from break.

If your child is participating in the science fair, please read the attached letter regarding science fair. You may also visit Mrs. Rataj's science website for more information about the science fair.

Please be sure to visit the Book Fair in the library on 11/17 from 5:30-8:00 pm, which is the same night as our International Family Culture Night Celebration!

Here are the spirit wear days for next week's International Childrens Festival:

Have a great weekend!


Curriculum Overview...
Math: Relating multiplication to division
Language Arts: Expository (main idea, text features, procedural texts, etc.)
Social Studies: Government (three branches, levels-- local, state, federal)
Science: Natural resources; Soil formation


Mark Your Calendars...
11/14-11/18: International Children's Week
11/17: Holiday Luncheon; Book Fair 5:30-8 pm; International Family Culture Celebration 6-8 pm
11/21-11/25: No School (Thanksgiving break)



Tip of the Week: Scoring Guides

You may have noticed scoring guides coming home this week.  They are attached to most assignments and all tests.  They look something like this:

I create these scoring guides as a way to more clearly communicate the skills your child is working on, and their mastery of them, in addition to a number grade.  The 3rd grade standard the assignment/test focuses on are listed at the top, and the learning goals are listed in the chart.  If there is a check mark under the "Demonstrated?" column, then your child showed mastery of that goal.  If there is an X and a check mark, they sometimes showed they can do it, but maybe not all the time.  If there is an X in the column, they need to continue working toward mastery.

This will hopefully be valuable to you to see exactly what skills your child needs to continue practicing at home, as well as at school.  As always, let me know if you have any questions or concerns at any time!

eSlot Materials Needed

Parents,

For our Friday enrichment time (eSlot), some classes are in need of supplies.  Please see this document to view what is needed.  Ask your student what class they're in for eSlot, and please consider sending in something to help us make these experiences meaningful and fun!

Thank you!!

The 3rd Grade Team

Friday, November 4

Things to Note...
It was a great week!  I enjoyed being back, and it was a pleasure to get to know your children.  They are truly a fun, helpful bunch.  I look forward to continuing to learn more about them personally and academically in the coming weeks.

Thank you all for joining Class Dojo!  I hope you continue to check it daily to see the points your child is earning for doing great things in our class.  There is no way to lose points, just to earn them.  So, all points you see your child earn means that they stood out for doing something awesome!  Celebrate it with them, and use it as a conversation starter for how things are going in school.  If you notice your child not earning points for a few days, encourage them to look for ways to be a leader in our class.  Every 20 points your child earns, they will get to scan a QR code on our Treasure Tree as a reward for their hard work!  These codes will give students a prize-- things like extra computer time, a sweet treat, a homework pass, lunch in the classroom, help a teacher in the building, etc.  I will also use Dojo to send photos to you throughout the week...as often as I can!  

Report cards went home yesterday in Thursday folders.  If you haven't already please return the envelope to school.  The report card is yours to keep.  If you have any questions about the report card, please let me know and I will do my best to answer them with what I have observed so far from students.

Have a great weekend!


Curriculum Overview...
Math: Fractions (fourths, halves, thirds, sixths, eighths)
Language Arts: Expository; spelling test on Friday 11/11
Social Studies: Government (three branches, levels-- local, state, federal)
Science: Natural Resources


Mark Your Calendars...
11/10: 6-7 pm TAG Parent Information Meeting in cafeteria 
11/11: Veteran's Day Assembly 7:40 am (all veterans encouraged to attend!)
11/14-11/18: International Children's Week
11/17: Holiday Luncheon; Book Fair 5:30-8 pm
11/21-11/25: No School (Thanksgiving break)



Tip of the Week: Home Access
Have you checked Home Access lately?  This is the best way to stay informed about your child's grades.  Report cards and progress reports should never hold surprises because you have access to all reported grades at all times!  If you ever have questions about what you see, please do not hesitate to ask.

If you have not yet logged in to Home Access, click here to get set up.  If you have any issues, Chrissta Hinze in the front office is our building Home Access contact person, so she will be able to help you get logged in.  

Girls on the Run

Mrs. Lipe and Ms. Kohn (third grade teachers) are sponsoring a new after school activity this fall. Girls on the Run is a positive youth development program for girls, focusing on self-esteem, body image, kindness and community service. Running is integrated into the curriculum in order to encourage our girls to set goals and get active. At the end of the 10 week program, our girls will be ready to participate in a 5K race with other Girls on the Run students from the Austin area. 

This group will meet on Monday and Thursday afternoons after school until 3:55pm. The cost is $175 for the season. To register online, go to https://communityeducation.roundrockisd.org/. We are limited to only 15 girls on the team, so sign up soon before the group fills up!

See the attached flyer for more details. Please email Mrs. Lipe directly at wendy_lipe@roundrockisd.org if you have any questions about the program.  

Mrs. Raney coached GOTR when she taught in Kansas City-- it's a wonderful program for young girls.  If you think you might be interested, I highly encourage you to get more information from Mrs. Lipe and give it a try!!  If you're not a runner, it's okay!  We work up to the 5k together at each practice. :)

Welcome to Third Grade!

Students and Families,

Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year, and to THIRD GRADE!  The start of a new school year is always so much fun, and there is so much possibility that lies ahead.  I know that this year will bring great things for you.  I promise that you will be challenged, try new things, work together as a classroom family, look for ways to solve problems in the world around you...and as a result LEARN so much!

I had my first baby on August 4, so I will not be starting the year with you.  Mrs. Paige Frost will be here until October 31.  She will be there at Back to School Night/ Supply Drop-Off on Friday, August 19 between 4-6:30 pm.  The first day of school is Tuesday, August 23.  Our school day is from 7:40 am-2:50 pm.