Friday, March 31

Things to Note...
It is hard to believe that in TWO weeks, the 3rd graders will be putting on our Planet Protectors assembly!  The assembly for the school is on Thursday, April 13 at 7:45 am.  The students have been working hard in their Friday enrichment classes to prepare-- ask your child what they're working on for our assembly!

Please continue to remind your child that they need to keep their Homework Spiral in their backpack so that it goes to school daily for their planner, and comes home daily so they can study spelling/complete their weekly homework.

Report cards for third quarter will go home next Thursday, April 5.

Have a wonderful weekend!


Curriculum Preview...
Math: Multiplication and division
Language Arts: Fiction and personal narratives
Social Studies: Communities over time
Science: Animal adaptations


Mark Your Calendars...
3/31- Family Movie Night
4/5- Early Release; PTA meeting (7:45 pm)
4/6- Report cards go home
4/13- Planet Protectors Assembly
4/14- NO SCHOOL

4/21- Unusual Reading Spot Photo Contest Ends

Tip of the Week: Class Dojo
Have you checked your child's Class Dojo report this week?  I know that many of you use it on a regular basis, which is great!  I try to add photos as much as I can (I need to do this even more), but it's such a good way to see how your child's behavior has been throughout any given day/week.  I show them their total points on Fridays, and those who have earned 15, 30, 45, etc. points get to scan our Treasure Tree for a reward.  

Today, if you haven't lately, maybe have a conversation with your child about their Dojo points.  Have they been earning or losing points?  Have they earned a scan (or more than one scan!) on the tree yet?  If not, what can they do to earn more points... and make sure they're doing what they're supposed to do often enough to be caught and given a point? This is a great way to start a conversation about choices they're making and how they can be sure to show respect and kindness with their choices!

Friday, March 24

Things to Note...
Welcome back!  This week, we jumped right back in at full speed ahead!  Students began chapter book clubs.  Ask them what book they chose and why. They also picked an idea to write about for their next personal narrative.  I'm looking forward to some great stories about their lives!

Next Tuesday and Wednesday, 4th and 5th grade will be STAAR testing.  Therefore, our daily schedule will the thrown off a bit to make sure that those students get their full testing time.  As a building, we are supporting them by making sure that we are extra quiet in the hallways, and visitors to our building (especially coming upstairs) are limited.  Please help us with this by trying to avoid visits to school on these days next week.  I'm sure they will appreciate it!

If your child was invited to my after school STAAR tutoring groups, please remember that they begin next week!  Monday is reading, and Tuesday is math.  Please meet us out in front of the school at 3:30 to pick up your child on their tutoring day(s).

We have a spelling test on Friday, March 31.  The next homework packet will go home on Monday.  Thank you for reminding your child to keep their Homework Spiral in their backpack so that it's available at school to write in their planner page each day.  If you haven't seen this, ask your child to show you!

Have a great weekend.


Curriculum Preview...
Math: Multiplication and division
Language Arts: Fiction and personal narratives
Social Studies: Communities
Science: Finishing ecosystems; Animal adaptations


Mark Your Calendars...
3/31- Family Movie Night
4/5- Early Release; PTA meeting (7:45 pm)
4/6- Report cards go home
4/14- NO SCHOOL

4/21- Unusual Reading Spot Photo Contest Ends

Tip of the Week: Studying Growth Mindset in Famous Inventors

This week, we began research on a famous inventor/entrepreneur of the students' choice.  We saw some Brain Pop videos on a few, and read about one together as a class.  Now, it's their turn to learn and teach others about someone who has made a famous contribution to our world.  The students identified hard work and perseverance as a common character trait among all of the inventors we looked at together, so the idea of "failing forward" came up.  I shared with them the acronym for FAIL as "First Attempt In Learning" and they really loved that idea.  Mistakes are not bad moments to be ashamed of, but rather learning experiences.  I found this list of books that reinforce this idea with even more famous innovators-- I recommend reading some of these titles with your child and discussing this idea further.  What a great life tool to instill in them-- imagine what they will do as they grow if they truly adopt this mindset!!

Friday, March 10

Things to Note...
The Economics Fair was a HUGE hit!  The students did a fantastic job working their business, and as a grade level we made over $2,700 to donate!!!!  Thank you for all of your support as your child went through this meaningful experience.

RRISD is hosting some informational meetings in the coming weeks about the 2017 Bond Election.  Please consider attending to learn more about this issue.  Here is the information about these meetings.

The end of the 3rd quarter is the week after break, so please encourage your child to complete any missing or late work by Wednesday, March 22.  Check Home Access for "M"s or any assignments that are below a 70% that your child can ask to retake.  I do my best to encourage them to redo assignments in class, but sometimes we run out of time and it needs to be done at home.  If you have any questions about a grade or assignment, please ask me anytime!

Happy Spring Break!


Curriculum Preview...
Math: Measurement (capacity, time, perimeter)
Language Arts: Fiction and personal narratives
Social Studies: Communities
Science: Ecosystems


Mark Your Calendars...
3/13-3/17: Spring Break!
3/31- Family Movie Night
4/5- Early Release; PTA meeting (7:45 pm)
4/14- NO SCHOOL
4/21- Unusual Reading Spot Photo Contest Ends

Friday, March 3

Things to Note...
If you haven't already sent in your Spring Picture order and intend to, please do so on Monday!

The Third Grade Economics Fair is on Thursday 3/9!  Please read this informational letter for details.  Students should now be FINISHING up their products at home, in addition to their weekly homework assignment.  Please remember that total material costs may not exceed $15, and they will need to have at least 35 of their item to sell at the fair on Thursday.  We are making advertisements and completing their Project Packets in class.

There is no homework next week so that students can concentrate on their Economics Fair products.  There will be a spelling test on Friday, though.

RRISD is hosting some informational meetings in the coming weeks about the 2017 Bond Election.  Please consider attending to learn more about this issue.  Here is the information about these meetings.

For our eSlot enrichment classes on Friday, we have started working on different aspects of our 3rd Grade PBL assembly!  This will be a Friday morning, school-wide assembly where the 3rd graders will teach the school what we have learned in our PBL about conservation of natural resources.  We are in need of duct tape (any color/design), and any recyclable containers (ex: plastic yogurt containers, water/soda bottles, cardboard boxes, etc.; no glass, and please clean containers out well!).  Thank you in advance!

Have a great weekend!


Curriculum Preview...
Math: Measurement (capacity, time, perimeter)
Language Arts: Fiction
Social Studies: Economics (Economics Fair Thursday-- products due!)
Science: Ecosystems


Mark Your Calendars...
3/9: Economics Fair (8:15-10:00 in cafeteria-- parents welcome!)
3/13-3/17: Spring Break!
3/31- 3rd Grade PBL Assembly (7:45 am); Family Movie Night

Tip of the Week: Mindfulness
Something that I just started reading about is teaching mindfulness.  I have not presented this idea to students yet, but I plan to!  This is an interesting article that describes some of the reasoning and procedures for teaching mindfulness to children.  Often, I say, "Use self-control!" to the class in various situations, but forget that maybe they aren't sure HOW to control their fast-moving minds, and therefore their bodies.  This is a skill that takes practice!  In the coming weeks, I want to talk about the idea of mindfulness with the class, and start some daily exercises to practice self-calming and control.