Friday, January 27

Things to Note...
It was another great week in 3rd grade!  Ask your child how they feel about comparing and finding equivalent fractions.  We will have our test on Wednesday.  There are a lot of practice resources under "Websites" on this class webpage, if they feel they need more practice!  We also started writing "twisted" traditional tales-- ask your child what traditional tale theirs is based on and how they plan to twist it!

Next Friday will be our next spelling test...has your child been studying their word list?

We are just starting our economics and financial literacy unit in social studies!  This will encompass math concepts related to economics, as well, and will culminate with our Economics Fair!  This is an exciting, 3rd grade event where students will sell items they make to students in other grade levels, parents, and staff members.  Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more specific information about this event!

I am still missing field trip permission slips from a few people.  If yours has been misplaced, please print a new one here and turn it in to me ASAP.  Our trip will be on 2/24.


Curriculum Preview...
Math: Fractions (comparisons and equivalence), test Wednesday; Multiplication/division
Language Arts: Traditional Tales 
Social Studies: Economics (scarcity vs. abundance; opportunity cost)
Science: PBL; Weather/Water Cycle


Mark Your Calendars...
2/13: STAAR Ready Language Arts (PRACTICE test)
2/22: Six Flags Reading Logs due
2/24: Field Trip to Westcave Preserve (Raney & Lilleboe; other classes go on other dates)
2/27: STAAR Ready Math (PRACTICE test)


Tip of the Week: Teaching Critical Thinking Skills
I believe that the more problem solving tools and skills a child can develop, the more successful they will be throughout their life.  I sent a tip about grit several weeks ago, and this is definitely related.  I found this great article about how to raise a child to be a critical thinker.  I use some of these strategies in the classroom-- for example, I often ask open-ended questions when students ask me for help, and I rarely, if ever, jump in and fix problems for them.  My goal is to give them the tools to think about problems critically and consider how they can solve it, rather than immediately asking for help.  

Friday, January 20

Things to Note...
We had some cool learning experiences this week.  They included continued work on our PBL about conservation of natural resources, new enrichment classes, science experiments about soil, and viewing the swearing-in of our new president.  We learned about government this year and watching this piece of our country's history something that doesn't happen very often and is important to understand.  It was also a great exercise in showing respect and appreciating history, regardless of political opinions.  They did so well with this!  We had some very good discussions about this event-- the students were so interested and asked really intelligent questions!

Yesterday, a blue permission slip for our field trip to the Westcave Preserve went home yesterday.  If you did not get one, you can print another copy here.  Our trip will be on 2/24.  If you would like to chaperone this trip, please send me an email!  We will accept volunteers on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Today, we wrote another Grins and Growls email!  Each student wrote an email to me, discussing their grins (best part of their week) and growls (things they want to improve for next week).  I will reply to them and copy you on it by the end of the weekend.  I am already seeing improvements in complete sentences, capitalization, punctuation...and now I'm hoping to see some more details being communicated!  Thank you to those who have joined in the conversation by replying to your child.  At least, I hope that this email is helping to spark oral conversations at home! :)


Curriculum Preview...
Math: Fractions (comparisons and equivalence)
Language Arts: Traditional Tales
Social Studies: Economics
Science: PBL; Soil formation


Mark Your Calendars...
2/13: STAAR Ready Language Arts (PRACTICE test)
2/22: Six Flags Reading Logs due
2/24: Field Trip to Westcave Preserve (Raney & Lilleboe; other classes go on other dates)
2/27: STAAR Ready Math (PRACTICE test)


Tip of the Week: ReadWorks
I wanted to share with you a good resource for finding reading passages with comprehension questions.  It is called ReadWorks.  This website is something that can be useful if you feel that your child needs some more practice with reading leading up to STAAR.  You can create a free account, then choose the grade level, text type, and skill that you want to practice.  Then, it will give you passages that fit!  

Friday, January 13

Things to Note...
We are back to normal with spelling and homework.  Remember that weekly homework is due on Friday, and can be found here.  There will be a spelling test next Friday, 1/20.

I have noticed that basic math facts is something that many students could work on in order to make more complex math computation problems faster and easier.  Check under "Websites" and then scroll down to "Math" on this class site to find some online games that help review math facts.  Also, good old flashcards are a great way to go.

Six Flags Reading Program is under way!  These are due on February 22, if your child is choosing to participate (it is optional).

Today, we wrote our second Friday Grins and Growls email!  Each student wrote an email to me, discussing their grins (best part of their week) and growls (things they want to improve for next week).  It will be my goal to reply to each of their emails over the weekend and copy you on it.  This will hopefully increase our communication, bringing the students into the discussion about their progress and school life!  So, please look for this email from me and your child, and feel free to respond to join in the conversation!


Curriculum Preview...
Math: Fractions
Language Arts: Traditional Tales
Social Studies: Economics
Science: PBL; Soil formation


Mark Your Calendars...
1/16: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No school!)
1/19: 2nd & 3rd Grade Math Night (6-7 pm)
2/13: STAAR Ready Language Arts (PRACTICE test)
2/22: Six Flags Reading Logs due
2/24: Field Trip to Westcave Preserve (Raney & Lilleboe; other classes go on other dates)
2/27: STAAR Ready Math (PRACTICE test)


Tip of the Week: Flexible Seating 
I liked a lot of what is said in this article about flexible classroom seating.  I have already seen students working on how to make the choice about where they learn best.  This is a difficult thing for a 3rd grader to do...it's always most tempting to sit with friends when they are not told where to sit!  However, my hope is that by constantly reminding them of the power of their choices, and their responsibility to do what is RIGHT for their learning above all else, they will learn far more than if they are always told where to sit.  It's THEM making the choices...not me!

Friday, January 2

Things to Note...
Welcome back!  It was nice to see everyone again this week.  We jumped right in and are back in a good routine for 2017.  Students set a goal for the year in the form of One Little Word.  Ask your child what their word is and why they chose it!

Please remind your child to bring in their soil sample by Monday.  This can be about a cup of soil from anywhere in a plastic baggie, labeled with their name.

Six Flags Reading Program is under way!  Your child brought home a flyer about this on Tuesday with more information.  These are due on February 22, if your child is choosing to participate (it is optional).

On Tuesday, your child also brought home a half-sheet of paper, which is our 3rd grade tshirt order form.  Please send in $10 and the order form by Tuesday, January 10 to purchase your child's 3rd grade shirt.  Students will wear these shirts on our field trip, for our PBL assembly in front of the school, at the Economics Fair, and on school spirit Fridays!

Today, we started a new weekly tradition of writing a Friday Grins and Growls email.  Each student wrote an email to me, discussing their grins (best part of their week) and growls (things they want to improve for next week).  It will be my goal to reply to each of their emails over the weekend and copy you on it.  This will hopefully increase our communication, bringing the students into the discussion about their progress and school life!  So, please look for this email from me and your child, and feel free to respond to join in the conversation!

Homework and a new spelling list will begin on Monday!

Have a great weekend :)


Curriculum Preview...
Math: Geometry (2D and 3D shapes and area of rectangles)
Language Arts: Biographies; Expository writing; PBL
Social Studies: Economics
Science: PBL; Soil formation


Mark Your Calendars...
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)
2/13: STAAR Ready Language Arts (PRACTICE test)
2/22: Six Flags Reading Logs due
2/24: Field Trip to Westcave Preserve (Raney & Lilleboe; other classes go on other dates)
2/27: STAAR Ready Math (PRACTICE test)


Tip of the Week: Flexible Seating 
We have started the new year with some new flexible seating arrangements in our classroom!  My goal is to create spaces in our classroom for a variety of purposes and to give students the independence to choose where they will learn best.  Click here to read more about my reasoning for having our classroom set up this way!

Here are some pictures of students taking advantage of some of our flexible seating options: