We have been learning so many cool things about Michigan that we wanted to share this information with our buddies in Mrs. Fowle's class. Ask your child if they can tell you some of the fun facts that they learned.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
This time of year, while hectic always proves to be wonderful! What a kind and generous group you all are. Thank you so much for the gifts and the class gift card is very much appreciated! I also want to thank all of you for your contributions to yesterday's party. Our room mom's Missy and Joanne always create a fun filled afternoon for our cuties:) I hope that everyone has some time to relax and enjoy their families this holiday season.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Update!
The Christmas concerts will be in the afternoon on Tuesday & Wednesday. Tuesday 1:00 is 2nd grade; 2:20 is 3rd grade. Wednesday is 1:00 for 4th & 5th grade. Thanks so much for your flexibility!
Monday, December 6, 2010
So Busy!
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! I can’t believe we only have two weeks until break!
Math: We are finishing unit 4. We are doing many activities with graphs and answering questions using skills such as place value and multiplication. We are also taking timed multiplication tests. Please check your child’s weekly report to see how they are doing!
Language Arts: We are currently reading Traders in Time. It is fun reading about two young boys and their adventures when they travel back 300 years ago. We also continue to revise and edit our writing. Currently we are looking at our writing and trying to zoom in on a certain moment and write as much detail as possible to describe that moment. We also had a great time at the first AR store. The kids get points for every test they pass and at the end of the month they can use those points to get prizes. Reading with a fun incentive!
Science: We continue to look at the earth and the materials that we find. We focused last week on soil and what makes up soil. This week we will be looking at how precipitation can make an impact on soil.
Dates to remember:
December
8th: Secret Santa shopping. We will be going 10:15-11:15, so if you would like your child to purchase items, please remember to send money with them this Wednesday. Please encourage your child to come with a list and approximate amount they should spend on each person.
13th: Music concert at the High School auditorium. * Students 6:35 in the choir room * Concert time 6:45 PM
16th: Class Christmas Party. Thanks again for all of your donations. Your generosity is amazing!
17th: The last day of school before Christmas Break.
January
3rd: School Resumes
18th: Lansing field trip.
Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions, comments, or concerns.
Math: We are finishing unit 4. We are doing many activities with graphs and answering questions using skills such as place value and multiplication. We are also taking timed multiplication tests. Please check your child’s weekly report to see how they are doing!
Language Arts: We are currently reading Traders in Time. It is fun reading about two young boys and their adventures when they travel back 300 years ago. We also continue to revise and edit our writing. Currently we are looking at our writing and trying to zoom in on a certain moment and write as much detail as possible to describe that moment. We also had a great time at the first AR store. The kids get points for every test they pass and at the end of the month they can use those points to get prizes. Reading with a fun incentive!
Science: We continue to look at the earth and the materials that we find. We focused last week on soil and what makes up soil. This week we will be looking at how precipitation can make an impact on soil.
Dates to remember:
December
8th: Secret Santa shopping. We will be going 10:15-11:15, so if you would like your child to purchase items, please remember to send money with them this Wednesday. Please encourage your child to come with a list and approximate amount they should spend on each person.
13th: Music concert at the High School auditorium. * Students 6:35 in the choir room * Concert time 6:45 PM
16th: Class Christmas Party. Thanks again for all of your donations. Your generosity is amazing!
17th: The last day of school before Christmas Break.
January
3rd: School Resumes
18th: Lansing field trip.
Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions, comments, or concerns.
Monday, November 29, 2010
A Few Reminders
Friday, December 3rd: Michigan T-shirt orders due if you would like your child to have one, they are $6 each. We also are doing the Friday candy sale this week. All proceeds go towards Haiti donations and God's Kitchen.
Wednesday, December 8th: Secret Santa shopping. This is a great opportunity for your child to do some Christmas shopping on their own. Just send them with cash or a check made out to Valley View PTO if you are interested in purchasing items.
Monday, December 13th: Our Holiday music concert @ 6:45 at the high school auditorium.
Thursday, December 16th: Our Christmas party! Please let me know if you are interested in donating items or helping with the party.
Friday, December 17th: Last day of school before Christmas Break!
Monday, January 3rd: School resumes.
Tuesday, January 18th: Lansing Field trip. More info coming soon!
Wednesday, December 8th: Secret Santa shopping. This is a great opportunity for your child to do some Christmas shopping on their own. Just send them with cash or a check made out to Valley View PTO if you are interested in purchasing items.
Monday, December 13th: Our Holiday music concert @ 6:45 at the high school auditorium.
Thursday, December 16th: Our Christmas party! Please let me know if you are interested in donating items or helping with the party.
Friday, December 17th: Last day of school before Christmas Break!
Monday, January 3rd: School resumes.
Tuesday, January 18th: Lansing Field trip. More info coming soon!
Monday, November 15, 2010
See You Soon!
I look forward to seeing all of you at conferences this week! Please let me know if you are unable to attend your child’s conference and we will reschedule at your convenience.
Spelling: This week we are studying words that have the short and long i sound. Just a heads up that we will have no spelling the week of Thanksgiving.
Language Arts: Friday we will be finishing our read aloud book “Because of Winn-Dixie”. As a culminating activity we will watch the movie and compare it to the book this Friday. If you have any objections to your child seeing the movie, please let me know. We also have been learning different strategies for writing during our writing workshop. Our strategies include writing about a person and telling about a specific memory with that person and also writing about a place and telling about a specific memory with that place. I’m trying to get the children to give more details and try to write more in depth.
Math: We are now in unit 3. The children are doing a tremendous amount of measuring, figuring of perimeter and area, and more practice with money.
Social Studies: We continue learning different facts about our Michigan history. We also had a wonderful time listening to the author of “Sooper Yooper”, Mark Neuman. He discussed the many invasive species that have come to Michigan over the years and how we need to work hard to protect our state and great lakes!
Computer Lab: We enjoyed making our top ten lists of why we are thankful. I know that I’m very thankful for my wonderful students and families!
Dates to Remember:
November
16th: We visit the book fair.
17th: Evening conferences.
18th: Evening conferences.
24th-26th: No school, Thanksgiving break.
December
8th: Secret Santa shopping
13th: Holiday music program 6:45-7:15 p.m.in the RHS auditorium.
16th: Holiday celebration
17th: Last day of school before break
Have a Wonderful Week!
Monday, November 1, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Happy Halloween!
What a spooktacular day! Thank you so much for helping make our party a huge success. Whether you volunteered or donated items, I really appreciate your generosity. I also want to thank everyone for donating to our classroom basket. I hope to see you there!
Language Arts: We continue working on revising and editing our work. We have also practiced adding more details to our writing by starting with pictures and writing after sketching out the scenes of our stories.
Science: We just finished our unit on Forces and Motion. The kids did great and we had so much fun learning about friction, force, push and pull, why things move, the speed and direction of movement, the affect gravity has on objects, and much more!
Social Studies: This week we kicked off our Michigan unit. We discussed natural resources and we learned about copper mining in northern Michigan. We found out that long ago people use to use copper for many things including making jewelry. We made our own copper necklaces and discussed that if we had made our jewelry long ago we could've used it to barter for other goods. Next week we will switch and visit all of the other third grade teachers to learn more interesting facts about Michigan.
Math: We have been focusing mostly on number stories and also addition and subtraction facts. The children are also showing off their knowledge of those facts and working on multi-digit addition and subtraction. Some of you have asked when multiplication timed testing begins. We will start right after Thanksgiving. I will add where your child is on their weekly report so you know where they are at the end of each week.
Next week I will be sending home conference confirmation slips. If you still haven’t sent your slip in, please do so as soon as possible! Have a wonderful weekend and go Rams!!!
Language Arts: We continue working on revising and editing our work. We have also practiced adding more details to our writing by starting with pictures and writing after sketching out the scenes of our stories.
Science: We just finished our unit on Forces and Motion. The kids did great and we had so much fun learning about friction, force, push and pull, why things move, the speed and direction of movement, the affect gravity has on objects, and much more!
Social Studies: This week we kicked off our Michigan unit. We discussed natural resources and we learned about copper mining in northern Michigan. We found out that long ago people use to use copper for many things including making jewelry. We made our own copper necklaces and discussed that if we had made our jewelry long ago we could've used it to barter for other goods. Next week we will switch and visit all of the other third grade teachers to learn more interesting facts about Michigan.
Math: We have been focusing mostly on number stories and also addition and subtraction facts. The children are also showing off their knowledge of those facts and working on multi-digit addition and subtraction. Some of you have asked when multiplication timed testing begins. We will start right after Thanksgiving. I will add where your child is on their weekly report so you know where they are at the end of each week.
Next week I will be sending home conference confirmation slips. If you still haven’t sent your slip in, please do so as soon as possible! Have a wonderful weekend and go Rams!!!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Who's Ready For MEAP?
We’ve enjoyed another wonderful week here at Valley View. Starting this week on Tuesday we will begin MEAP testing. We have three days of testing over the next two weeks. This means NO HOMEWORK until Monday, October 25th!!! I appreciate all of the snack donations. Thanks in advance for your generosity! Remember to get plenty of sleep and eat a good breakfast. I also am very proud of the many students that are doing the electronic detox. Way to go!
Language Arts: We continue working hard to improve our writing. We talked about going back to edit and revise our work. We are also working on a readers theater that we will perform for our book buddies this Friday afternoon.
Math: We have finished unit one and moved into unit two. Concepts that we have been learning about are frames and arrows, practicing addition and subtraction, following rules for in and out tables, and more math games.
Science: The kids are enjoying learning about forces and motion. We have talked about how the use of push and pull and why you would use it to change to motion of an object. We have also learned about friction and what it does to motion.
The parent auction at English Hills will be October 29th. Our classroom basket will be available to bid on. The theme again is “Pamper yourself”. Thank you so much for those who have donated or plan to. Also another big thank you to Joanne Gerhard for organizing our basket!
Dates to Remember:
| October 12 MEAP begins |
Some of you have asked about when the Lansing field trip will be. Our class will be going Tuesday, January 18th. Just to let you know, the children need to come early that day (7:30 a.m.) and we leave at 7:45 a.m. to ensure that we make it to Lansing in plenty of time. Look for future notes to come next month!
Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions, comments, or concerns.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Third Grade Rocks!
We have enjoyed another fun and exciting week here in third grade. We ended last week meeting with our book buddies from Mrs. Fowle’s second grade class.
Did I mention it’s almost October? It’s hard to believe that fall is here. Time flies when you’re having fun!
Language Arts: We are reading the anthology “Miss Nelson is Missing”. We also have read aloud many books, including some of my favorites such as…”Skippy Jon Jones”, “We had a Picnic this Sunday Past”, “Do Unto Otters”, “Molly Lou Melon”, and many more. We have mostly focused on books that remind us of friendship and also using manners. We also take time to read and discuss our Weekly Readers.
Spelling: These past few weeks we practiced words ending with –s or –es and also some basic high frequency words. This week we are studying words that have consonant blends.
Math: We are still doing many review actvities in our math program. We have done frames and arrows, many coin acitivities, calculator review, place value, and more addition and subtraction.
Technology: The children took a reading test. I will be sending home results of how they did this Friday.
You should have all received a letter home last week telling you about the upcoming MEAP testing. I just want to stress that if you need to pull your child out for any appointments to try to do it at another time. Our MEAP testing dates are Tuesday, October 12th, Wednesday, October 13th, Tuesday, October 19th.
Coming up quickly is our Parent night out. This year each class will have a basket to be auctioned off. Our basket theme is “pamper yourself”. If you would like to donate items for our class basket, it would be greatly appreciated! If you need ideas, we could do gift cards for manicures, pedicures, messages, bath salts, bubble bath, etc…The auction is Friday, October 29th, 7-11 p.m. at English Hills Terrace. I hope to see you there! Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions, comments, or concerns.
Did I mention it’s almost October? It’s hard to believe that fall is here. Time flies when you’re having fun!
Language Arts: We are reading the anthology “Miss Nelson is Missing”. We also have read aloud many books, including some of my favorites such as…”Skippy Jon Jones”, “We had a Picnic this Sunday Past”, “Do Unto Otters”, “Molly Lou Melon”, and many more. We have mostly focused on books that remind us of friendship and also using manners. We also take time to read and discuss our Weekly Readers.
Spelling: These past few weeks we practiced words ending with –s or –es and also some basic high frequency words. This week we are studying words that have consonant blends.
Math: We are still doing many review actvities in our math program. We have done frames and arrows, many coin acitivities, calculator review, place value, and more addition and subtraction.
Technology: The children took a reading test. I will be sending home results of how they did this Friday.
You should have all received a letter home last week telling you about the upcoming MEAP testing. I just want to stress that if you need to pull your child out for any appointments to try to do it at another time. Our MEAP testing dates are Tuesday, October 12th, Wednesday, October 13th, Tuesday, October 19th.
Coming up quickly is our Parent night out. This year each class will have a basket to be auctioned off. Our basket theme is “pamper yourself”. If you would like to donate items for our class basket, it would be greatly appreciated! If you need ideas, we could do gift cards for manicures, pedicures, messages, bath salts, bubble bath, etc…The auction is Friday, October 29th, 7-11 p.m. at English Hills Terrace. I hope to see you there! Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions, comments, or concerns.
Friday, September 10, 2010
A Wonderful First Week!
WHAT A WONDERFUL FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL! I HAVE HAD A GREAT TIME GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CHILDREN AND MANY OF YOU. IT WAS NICE SEEING SO MANY OF YOU AT OUR CURRICULUM NIGHT. I LOOK FORWARD TO A FANTASTIC YEAR!
MATH:
WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED UNIT 1 IN MATH. WE ARE REVIEWING SUBTRACTION, NUMBER GRIDS, FINDING NUMBERS AROUND US, AND PLACE VALUE. NEXT WEEK WE WILL BE WORKING ON TELLING TIME, GRAPHING, AND NAME COLLECTION BOXES.
LANGUAGE ARTS:
WE DISCUSSED SEVERAL READ ALOUDS THAT INVOLVE THE THEME OF FRIENDS, AND REALLY LOOKING AT IMPORTANT QUALITIES THAT WE BELIEVE GOOD FRIENDS POSSESS. THE CHILDREN ALSO WROTE ABOUT A SUMMER STORY THAT MADE THEM SMILE. IF YOU HAVE TIME TO LOOK, THEY ARE HANGING IN THE HALL OUTSIDE OF OUR CLASSROOM. WE STARTED NOTEBOOKS, WHICH WE DO EVERY MORNING WHEN WE ARRIVE. THE CHILDREN HAVE MANY FUN AND INTERESTING THINGS TO WRITE ABOUT, I LOVE READING THEIR STORIES!
COMPUTER LAB:
WE GET TO START COMPUTER LAB NEXT WEEK AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH A FUN PROGRAM CALLED “TYPE TO LEARN” THAT HELPS TEACH THE CHILDREN HOW TO BECOME MORE COMFORTABLE WITH TYPING.
SPELLING:
NEXT WEEK THE KIDS WILL HAVE A SET LIST THAT WILL COME HOME MONDAY. WE WILL HAVE INDIVIDUALIZED LISTS STARTING THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 20TH. MONDAY YOU SHOULD SEE A LIST COME HOME AND HOMEWORK WILL BE TO WRITE SPELLING SENTENCES.
FRIENDSHIP SNACK:
FRIDAY THE 17TH, WE WILL BE MAKING A SPECIAL FRIENDSHIP SNACK. PLEASE FILL A SMALL BAG (LUNCH OR ZIPLOCK) WITH YOUR FAVORITE DRY SNACK FOOD SUCH AS CEREAL, SMALL CRACKERS, POPCORN, RAISINS, PRETZELS, ETC... BE CREATIVE! SEND THE BAG TO SCHOOL BY FRIDAY 9/17 AND WE WILL MIX THEM TO EAT WHILE WE READ. THANKS IN ADVANCE!
SPECIALS SCHEDULE:
MONDAY: ART(CURRENTLY EVERY OTHER WEEK)
TUESDAY: LIBRARY
WEDNESDAY: GYM AND MUSIC(CURRENTLY ONCE A WEEK)
THURSDAY: COMPUTER LAB
FRIDAY: GYM
IF YOU DIDN’T TURN IN A SUMMER READING NOTE SAYING YOUR CHILD READ FOR AT LEAST 15 HOURS THIS SUMMER, PLEASE TRY TO SEND IT MONDAY. THE KIDS GET TO GO TO THE LIBRARY FOR A BIG READING CELEBRATION IF THEY TURN IN THE NOTE. I WOULD HATE FOR YOUR CHILD TO MISS IT!
I LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER GREAT WEEK WITH YOUR CHILD, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT ANY TIME WITH ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR CONCERNS.
Have a Lovely Weekend!
MATH:
WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED UNIT 1 IN MATH. WE ARE REVIEWING SUBTRACTION, NUMBER GRIDS, FINDING NUMBERS AROUND US, AND PLACE VALUE. NEXT WEEK WE WILL BE WORKING ON TELLING TIME, GRAPHING, AND NAME COLLECTION BOXES.
LANGUAGE ARTS:
WE DISCUSSED SEVERAL READ ALOUDS THAT INVOLVE THE THEME OF FRIENDS, AND REALLY LOOKING AT IMPORTANT QUALITIES THAT WE BELIEVE GOOD FRIENDS POSSESS. THE CHILDREN ALSO WROTE ABOUT A SUMMER STORY THAT MADE THEM SMILE. IF YOU HAVE TIME TO LOOK, THEY ARE HANGING IN THE HALL OUTSIDE OF OUR CLASSROOM. WE STARTED NOTEBOOKS, WHICH WE DO EVERY MORNING WHEN WE ARRIVE. THE CHILDREN HAVE MANY FUN AND INTERESTING THINGS TO WRITE ABOUT, I LOVE READING THEIR STORIES!
COMPUTER LAB:
WE GET TO START COMPUTER LAB NEXT WEEK AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH A FUN PROGRAM CALLED “TYPE TO LEARN” THAT HELPS TEACH THE CHILDREN HOW TO BECOME MORE COMFORTABLE WITH TYPING.
SPELLING:
NEXT WEEK THE KIDS WILL HAVE A SET LIST THAT WILL COME HOME MONDAY. WE WILL HAVE INDIVIDUALIZED LISTS STARTING THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 20TH. MONDAY YOU SHOULD SEE A LIST COME HOME AND HOMEWORK WILL BE TO WRITE SPELLING SENTENCES.
FRIENDSHIP SNACK:
FRIDAY THE 17TH, WE WILL BE MAKING A SPECIAL FRIENDSHIP SNACK. PLEASE FILL A SMALL BAG (LUNCH OR ZIPLOCK) WITH YOUR FAVORITE DRY SNACK FOOD SUCH AS CEREAL, SMALL CRACKERS, POPCORN, RAISINS, PRETZELS, ETC... BE CREATIVE! SEND THE BAG TO SCHOOL BY FRIDAY 9/17 AND WE WILL MIX THEM TO EAT WHILE WE READ. THANKS IN ADVANCE!
SPECIALS SCHEDULE:
MONDAY: ART(CURRENTLY EVERY OTHER WEEK)
TUESDAY: LIBRARY
WEDNESDAY: GYM AND MUSIC(CURRENTLY ONCE A WEEK)
THURSDAY: COMPUTER LAB
FRIDAY: GYM
IF YOU DIDN’T TURN IN A SUMMER READING NOTE SAYING YOUR CHILD READ FOR AT LEAST 15 HOURS THIS SUMMER, PLEASE TRY TO SEND IT MONDAY. THE KIDS GET TO GO TO THE LIBRARY FOR A BIG READING CELEBRATION IF THEY TURN IN THE NOTE. I WOULD HATE FOR YOUR CHILD TO MISS IT!
I LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER GREAT WEEK WITH YOUR CHILD, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT ANY TIME WITH ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR CONCERNS.
Have a Lovely Weekend!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
A Great First Day!
Our class
The flag raising ceremonyWow, what wonderful third graders! I hope that your children had as much fun as I did today. We enjoyed checking out the new playground, the flag raising ceremony with the entire school, our third grade people hunt, and of course getting to know each other!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Thank you so much!
I can't say thank you enough for a wonderful year. Your kindness, generosity, and support mean so much to me. I appreciate the opportunity to teach and spend time with your child. I will miss all of the children and parents. Please stop and say hello when you have a chance next year! Enjoy your summer:)
Friday, June 11, 2010
Stone Soup
The children had a wonderful performance. I planned to record the play but unfortunately my battery ran out! If anyone out there has video of the play and would like to add it to the blog let me know. Sorry about that! So proud of my awesome third graders. Way to go everyone!
Monday, June 7, 2010
Reminders
Upcoming events...June 8: End of the year pizza and a movie party. So no lunch needed today!June 9: 3rd grade spelling bee and music performance at 9-9:30.June 10: Ice cream party for learning multiplication and division facts.June 11: Last day!!!!
*Weds.-Fri. 1/2 days, noon dismissal.
No more homework…enjoy! A huge thank you to all of you for your support and enthusiasm this year! I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with the best children and parents!
*Weds.-Fri. 1/2 days, noon dismissal.
No more homework…enjoy! A huge thank you to all of you for your support and enthusiasm this year! I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with the best children and parents!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
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