And We Are Back!!!

Hello dear parents!!!! It seems as though we have been out of school for an eternity.  Now we are back, and boy do we have some catching up to do. Here are a few updates for this week.

Valentine's Day

We will celebrate Valentine's Day on Friday, February 21, 2014.  Students can bring in valentine cards if they have not done so already.  We will pass out cards, have brownies, and watch a quick Valentine's Day Charlie Brown Movie!!!

Progress Reports

Progress reports will go home on Monday, February 24, 2014.  Please spend some time reviewing this with your child.  There are about 2 and half weeks left before the end of the nine weeks. There is still time for improvements to be made. 

Accelerated Reader

We have about 2 and half weeks left for students to make their AR goals.  We will be having at least 30 minutes of  sustained silent reading each day.  This should help students have more reading time and be able to take more AR tests.  Please encourage your child to read and take tests.  So far, we have one student who has met his goal.  Congrats to Vincent who is at 134% of his goal!!!!

Spring Pictures

Friday will be our spring picture day.  Flyers were sent home with your child today as a reminder.  Students will take individual and class pictures.  Please make sure that your child is dressed nicely for this day. 

Assessments

This week Friday will be our day of assessment.  We will take our spelling test, science test on adaptations, and math test on line plots.  Please help students to be prepared for these tests.  

Reading Log

This week students will bring home a partial reading log.  They will only need to read on Wednesday and Thursday nights this week.  Please make sure that your child completes his/ her reading log.

 I believe that this is all for this week. Thanks parents!!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day Parents!!!! This week is a three day week.  Hopefully, snow will pass us by this time.  Here are a couple of updates for the upcoming week. 

Tests this week

This week we will have three tests before we go home for the break.  Wednesday, we will have a spelling test, math quiz,  and adaptations test.  Students have had spelling words since last Wednesday.  I am sure that they will do well on this test.  Our math quiz will be on line plots which we have been covering since last week. Finally, our adaptations test will be on the animal adaptations that we have been recently studied. 

Valentine's Day Celebration

Since we are out of school on Valentine's Day, we are celebrating Valentine's Day on Wednesday, February 12.  We will pass out cards at 1:00 pm.  We will pass out Valentine cards, have capri suns, and cookies or brownies.  If one parent would be so kind as to donate cookies or brownies it would be greatly appreciated. 

Multiplication Facts

Please remember to continue practicing math facts with your child.  Mrs. Lawson will be coming around again to give the Principal's Math Challenge.  We want everyone to pass this time.

Accelerated Reader

There are 4 1/2 weeks left until the end of the third nine weeks.  This means that there are 4 1/2 weeks left for students to make their AR goals. Please encourage your children to read AR books and take AR tests.

IXL

Many students have been experiencing some difficulty with fractions.  Please take a moment and let students practice math skills on IXL.com.  This site offers math practice on all third grade math skills. Students can truly benefit from using this 20 minutes per night.  Student logins and passwords are in the front of their agendas. 

We Survived the Snow!!!!!!!

Hello dear parents!!!!! We all survived the snow!!!!!  Yay!!!  Any who, moving on to the millions of miles that we must go before we sleep.  Here are some reminders and updates as we move on into February.

Multiplication Facts

It is a third grade math standard that students know their multiplication facts by the time they leave third grade.  Many students have passed up through their 12's and have begun division facts.  Some students are still stuck on their 3's and 4's.  Please help your child to practice their math facts each night.  Just 20 minutes per night practicing flashcards will help your child to learn their multiplication facts.

Spelling

Over the next two weeks, we will have some changes in our schedule due to our snow days.  First, last week's spelling test will be Wednesday, February 5, 2014.  Students will need to study last week's words tonight and Tuesday night.  They will need to finish any unfinished spelling homework by Wednesday morning. 

Students will receive a new poem and words on Wednesday, February 5.  This homework will be due on Wednesday, February 12, 2014.  We will test on the new spelling words on this day as well.

Math Test

Our fractions test that was scheduled for last week will be given tomorrow.  We reviewed for the test in class today.  You should also see a review sheet tonight for students to study.  Please ask your child about this study guide.  We want tot make sure that they are ready for their test tomorrow.

Winter Break

Winter Break will be Thursday, February 13- Tuesday, February 18, 2014.  There will be a reading log assigned over this break.  Please remind your child to read over the break and complete this log. 
Also since Valentine's Day will fall during the break, we will celebrate Valentine's Day on Wednesday, February 12, 2014. Students will be able to pass out Valentine's Cards and treats. 

Donations Please

We have made it past the halfway point and are in needs of a few supplies.  Our pencils are running extremely low as well as our glue sticks.  Some students are starting to fill some of their interactive notebooks as well.  We would greatly appreciate it if you would kindly donate some pencils and glue sticks.  I will send a note in agendas if your child is in need of  new interactive notebook. Thanks in advance for your help.

Cereal Boxes

Our class is in need of several cereal boxes for a project that we will be completing.  Thanks to all parents who have already sent in cereal boxes.  We really appreciate your donations to our class.
Feel free to send in as many boxes as possible as you finish your cereal at home. We are collecting boxes for the entire grade level.

STEM Night

Next Tuesday, February 11, 2014 will be STEM Night. Students and parents may come and take part in several science and technology based activities.  This event will be 4:30- 6:30pm.  We look forward to seeing you Tuesday evening.

 

As January Comes to a Close................

Greetings parents!!!! As this month comes to a close,  we have lots on the horizon.  Here are a few reminders for the upcoming week.  Also, check out our photos from our class's Habitat Presentations.

Habitats Test

On Monday, we will have our habitats test.   Students should have their Interactive Science Journal in their back packs.  In this journal is a study guide for this particular test. Please help your child to study for this. I look forward to everyone acing this test.

Multiplication Facts

Multiplication facts are one of the most important skills that students will learn. Please continue to help your child practice their multiplication facts.  We have many students who have passed up to their twelve facts.  However, many students have not.  This month Mrs. Lawson is coming around to give the Principal's Math Challenge.  Students are given 1 1/2 minutes to answer 18 math facts.   So far 1 student passed the first attempt.  I am looking for more students to work hard and pass as she comes around for the second attempt. 

OAS

On Monday, students will bring home a flyer for the Georgia OAS Testing Site.  Students will be able to log on and take CRCT Practice Tests at home.  Please allow your child to practice at home in preparation for our spring testing.

Habitats Presentations

On Friday, the class presented projects on the five different habitats in Georgia.  Here are a couple of photos of our Habitat Presentations.

                                                                                  

We are learning......

As always, we are so busy learning, learning, and learning. In Language Arts, we are studying adjectives and strong verbs.  We are also doing an author study on Jan Brett.   In Math, we will are working on fractions.  Their will be a test on this on Tuesday, January 28, 2013.  In Science, we will be wrapping up our study on habitats.  Then, we will begin learning about animal adaptations.  In writing, we are working on stories based a film short that was viewed in class.

Spelling

Last week, we began our new spelling homework.  On our first test, scores were not as high as usual.  We discussed this as a class.  This week scores definitely improved.  I was so proud of everyone. Please encourage students to continue to study for their spelling tests.

Rockin' Our Way Into Week 2

Hello parents!!!!!! Here are a few updates for this week. 

Report Cards

Report Cards will go home tomorrow, Monday, January 13, 2014.  I am so excited for you to see the progress that your child has made over this nine weeks. Please go over your child's report card with them.  Sign the signature card and return it and the manila envelope to school on Tuesday, January 14, 2014.  The actual report card is your to keep. 

Spelling Homework

This week we will begin a new type of spelling homework.  This homework centers around a weekly poem.  All spelling words will come from the poem.  There will be different activities each night.  Please check to make sure that your child understands what to do.  We will go over the new homework procedures tomorrow.

 Accelerated Reader  Goal

Last week, I met with each of my rock stars to set their new AR goals. By the end of this week, everyone should be at least 10% to 15%  of their AR goals.  Please check the back of your child's reading log to see their goal for this nine weeks.

The Little White House Trip

This week you will be receiving a notice about the second payment for our Little White House Trip.   Please be prepared to send in the second half of this payment  soon.  We want to make sure that we have everything secured for this trip. 

We are studying........

Last week we began a new unit of study in science on Georgia Habitats.  The kids are having a great time learning about where various animals live here in Georgia.  Ask your child which habitat they live in and what animals make their home here.  In math,  we are learning about fractions. We are comparing fractions and trying to determine if they are equivalent or not.   In Language Arts, we are reviewing main idea, point of view, adjectives,  prefixes, and suffixes.


Parents, 
Thank you bunches for all of your help as work to truly become prepared for our spring testing.  I have discussed with our kids that I am so excited for testing time.  It will be a celebration of their learning and a time to show what they know.  Please help me to encourage them to truly believe in their brilliance and how great they will truly do. 

Happy New Year!!!!!!

Happy New Year!!!!!! I hope that we everyone had a great holiday break!!!! Hopefully, we will be back in full swing on Wednesday. Here are just a few updates about the new semester.  Please read carefully. These changes are strategies that have been put in place as we prepare for our spring testing which I know that all of my rock stars will rock. 

Second Semester Rules

As we move into the new semester,  it is necessary to help my rock starts to rise even higher heights.  We will review a new set of rules for the spring semester.  It is time for us to be a little more dedicated to task and focused in our efforts.  These rules will come home in blue folders.  Please read and review these with your child.

Spelling

There will not be any spelling homework  due to the short week this week. Spelling homework will resume next week.

Math Homework

This week math homework will change.  Students will now have 12 problems each night instead of 10.  Please make sure that students fully complete their math homework each night.

Reading Logs and Nightly Reading

With the new semester, reading time will change from 20 minutes per night to 30 minutes per night. Please remember to have students feel out reading logs completely each night.

Weekend Homework 

In preparation for the CRCT, we will begin doing reading passage homework over the weekend. It will be given out on Friday and must be returned on Monday of the next week.  Please make sure that your child gets this homework done.

Thank you in advance for all of your help as we work toward finishing out our year with a bang.  The kids have worked so hard this year and have really displayed their brilliance.  I know that this will be reflected in their performance at the end of the year.

 

Two Weeks And Counting.......

Hello all. We have two weeks and counting until our Winter Break.  We have been very busy.  We have so much to do and only two weeks to do it all in.  Here are a few reminders for this week. 

Upcoming Dates 

Here are some upcoming dates for the next couple of weeks.

Dec.  5 - 5th grade Musical Show

Dec.18 - LAST DAY FOR AR (Accelerated Reader) Tests - Get that goal!!

Dec. 19 - Winter Holiday Rotations at school - More info. will be coming home soon!

Dec. 20 - AR (Accelerated Reader) Party for those who got their goals! (More info. coming soon!)

Dec. 23- Jan. 6 Winter Holidays for Students - NO SCHOOL!

Jan. 7 - Students back to School, Third nine weeks begins

Accelerated Reader

We officially have one week and three days for students to make their AR goals. Some students have worked really hard and have already made their goals.  Congrats to the following students who have met their AR goals.

Madison              Lalla Kenza                    David                   Isaac               Vincent

Multiplication Facts

Students are continuing to take multiplication fact  tests.  We have two more weeks for students to master their time tables. The following students have mastered all of their time tables.

Fayzal                 David                            Madison                Isaac

Tests

This week we will have a math test on quadrilaterals this week. In Science, we will take a test on soils, weathering, and erosion.  We will also take our benchmark tests this week.

Holiday Happening Donations

Thanks to all parents who have made donations for our holiday happenings.  If you have not, we would really appreciate you donating $3-5  for this event that will take the place of our holiday party. Students will rotate around to all of the third grade classes and complete an activity or craft in each of the five rooms.