Half Way Through and it Makes Me Sad!

The beginning of the 3rd quarter is always a sad time for me as my 3rd graders are getting ready to become 4th graders.   We still have a lot to learn in order to be ready for 4th grade, but the students are showing so much progress in all subject areas and working so hard.  I know they will be ready, I’m just not sure if I’ll be ready to let them go.  

Seesaw Learning Journal
I am excited to announce that we are now a Seesaw Learning Journal Classroom.  I’m sure you’ve heard about how much your student loves going online and using this site to write, reflect and share the fun things that we are learning.  If you have not subscribed to your child’s page, please follow the directions on the invitation they brought home on Wednesday.  There are so many ways for them to express their learning.  On Wednesday we will be attempting to take pictures of our art work and post them.  Wish us luck!

Field Trip Information
Your student should have brought home a field trip permission slip.  We are very excited to be going to the Utah Children’s Theatre and then to the State Capitol for lunch and a quick tour.  We are asking for a $6.00 donation to cover the cost of entrance and partial help with the bus.  No child will be left behind due to inability to pay the donation.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Gala Basket
POQA will be sponsoring a Gala in March where each grade will create a basket for a basket raffle.  We are looking for a few parents  (Hopefully one from each classroom) to head up this project.  We will collect items for the basket from our students  and then turn all items over to our volunteer parents to organize and package into a basket for the Gala.  Please contact me if you would like to be a part of this project.  We really appreciate your willing to help us make this a huge success.

Lunch/Recess/P.E. Notes
Just a reminder, the microwaves in the lunchroom should be used to warm up foods.  We are seeing an increasing number of frozen meals that take 4 to 8 minutes to cook.  This is very hard when there are 15 students waiting at one microwave to warm up their lunch.  If you need to send a microwave meal, please cook it at home and put it in a container that your child can warm it up in the microwave at lunch time.  

Please note, the students will be going outside for Recess/PE every day unless it is extremely cold.  Please have them dress for the weather. There is plenty of time for them to put their winter boots, pants, etc. before they go out and to take them off before the eat lunch.  It is very uncomfortable to be in snow boots all day, so please send an extra pair of shoes for them to change into. 

Dot and Dash
As promised, the students who did not participate in our class Dot and Dash Group before Christmas will be invited to participate in an after school group on Thursdays from 3:00 to 3:45  very soon  (Note: Thursdays are NOT a club that is sponsored by POQA, it’s just something I do for the students in my class). I cannot give an exact start date at this time as we are waiting for the iPads to be ready for us to use.  If your child is unable to stay after on Thursdays, your child is more than welcome to put their name in the lottery for the club we will be holding on Tuesdays through POQA.  Again, neither of these groups will begin until our iPads are ready to be used.  Just wanted to give you a heads up on the days we will be holding both of these activities.  More information will be forthcoming along with how to sign up for the Tuesday Club.

Multiplication Madness
We will be having our Multiplication Madness Activity in conjunction with our Valentine’s Party.  I will be sending home notes daily on which factor your student is currently working on.  It is so important that the facts be memorized not only for now, but for their math in 4th grade  and in life.  We will be sending home requests for donations for this activity in February.

Makey Makey Demonstration
We have 2 Makey Makey Inventors in our class and they are going to show us how these fascinating tools work to turn anything into an electronic.  Get ready to be fascinated!

HOMEWORK

The area of composite shapes will be the topic we are working on this week.  We will be starting fractions too.  Math homework should be at least 3 times a week at least and recorded in the homework reporting page on the blog.  Choose any of the items below to complete homework for the week.

Prodigy
Reflex Math (If they didn’t get their green light at school)
Salute
PIG 
Chutes and Ladders (Game board was sent home 3 weeks ago)
Multiplicaton War
Front Row Ed

We will be adding more multiplication games as we learn them in class.  Each night of homework is worth 10 points.

Reading: 20 minutes at least 5 times a week.  It is imperative that your child is participating in reading practice at home.  Studies have shown that the more words a child read, the better their achievement is in all other areas.   Not only are they given homework points for reading, but they are also given presentation points for being able to stand up and talk about what they read the night before. Reading is worth 100 points each week. I will be choosing our book talks from the Padlet Entries here, please have your child comment when they are ready to share the next day.  They only need to do a book talk once a month, but many of them like to do more:

Book Check In

Spelling Sorts: Sorts are assigned on Monday, so this sort should be the regular sort, allowing you to see what the focus for the week is and should be written after sorting.  Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday, you get to choose the sorts.  I have told the students that if they choose the speed sort, to save it for a “busy” night as it does not need to be written.   If you have questions, please don’t be afraid to e-mail me.  Sorts are worth 10 points per sort every week.

When we test on Friday, I choose words with the pattern we have learned throughout the week.  I do not always choose words that were in the sort as we are looking for the use of pattern and their ability to use it in any word with that pattern.

Panthers:  Sort 2
Huskies: Sort 2
Jayhawks:  Sort 12
Wildcats: Sort 30

Have a great week!