I just made a new Voki. See it here:

Monday, December 16, 2013

December 16-19

The holiday season has finally arrived and we are down to our last week of school for 2013!! We will be trying to get a bit of work done this week, amongst a few fun holiday activities.

Upcoming reminders:
Thurs., Dec. 19th--End of the 2nd Quarter
Class Winter Party-- begins at 3:00
Fri., Dec. 20th- Mon., Jan. 6th-- NO SCHOOL--Winter Break
Tues., Jan. 7th-- School resumes
Thurs., Jan. 16th--School of Economics Field Trip
Mon., Jan. 20th--No School- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Math- We have completed Topic 8 and will have a test tomorrow incorporating addition, subtraction, multiplication and division story problems as well as reviewing basic multiplication and division facts.  Please remember to practice math facts at home with your child.  :) 

Spelling- There will not be any spelling this week!

Reading- We will be reading various holiday stories and discussing reading strategies at the same time.  We will also meet with our 1st grade buddies tomorrow to read and help them with their letter to Santa.

Writing- Students will be publishing their naughty to nice list persuasive letters to Santa.  They started them today, and I heard several reasons why your kids should be on the nice list!  :)

Social Studies- The 3rd grade will be separating into groups (shops) to begin to prepare for The School of Economics field trip. They will begin to prepare for opening their shops!  I am finalizing the list of parent helpers and will keep you posted as the time draws near.

Have a wonderful week and holiday season.  Please know that I truly think of your kids as gifts themselves.  They bring so much joy and happiness to my days.  Thanks for sharing them with me!

Monday, December 9, 2013

December 9-13

Brrrrrrrrr!! It sure has gotten cold outside! Make sure to send your child to school with a coat and gloves. If the temperature is above 20 degrees the students WILL go outside for recess!

Our school has sure been hit by the stomach bug!! I had the class sanitize their desks on Friday, and we will again at the end of each day this week.  I sure hope we can all stay healthy to make it to (and through) the holiday season.   Knock on as much wood as you can!

The 2nd quarter is winding down quickly! We just have 2 weeks until the halfway point of the school year.

Upcoming reminders:
Thurs., Dec. 19th--End of the 2nd Quarter
Class Winter Party-- begins at 3:00
Fri., Dec. 20th- Mon., Jan. 6th-- NO SCHOOL--Winter Break
Tues., Jan. 7th-- School resumes
Thurs., Jan. 16th--School of Economics Field Trip  (We will need 5-6 chaperones per class.  Let me know if you are interested!)
Mon., Jan. 20th--No School- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Spelling-
We will be having our classroom spelling bee on Thursday this week.  We practiced last week and today.  We'll probably have one more practice before the real deal!  The two winners from our class will participate in the school-wide spelling bee in January.

The students learned Economics vocabulary last week and will continue to study them this week. The class will be tested on both the spelling and vocabulary this Friday, Dec. 13.

Reading-
We are almost finished with Totally Disgusting, and the class is LOVING the story!! We will also read more about economics in our Source Books while practicing the reading strategy compare and contrast.

Writing-
Students will be drafting a letter to Santa trying to persuade him to take them off the naughty list and put them back onto the nice list. We also started our 5 senses Christmas writing.

Math-
We will complete our study on division this week. We will continue to practice division and multiplication this week. The class will be expected to know their division facts by the end of 3rd grade so it is crucial that they continue to practice them after we complete this unit.

Social Studies-
Students are going to start preparing for our January 16th field trip to the School of Economics this week. The students will learn about being a producer and decide on which type of business they would like to run. There will be a variety of food and craft stores for them to choose from as well as the possibility of becoming the banker or loan officer.

Have a wonderful week!

Monday, December 2, 2013

December 2 - 6

Hello!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends.  I am truly thankful for your kids as they brighten my day with their smiles, comments, and hugs.  They are definitely 22 of my many blessings that I am incredibly thankful to have with me every day.  :)   It sure was a beautiful, long holiday weekend! Now it is time to re-focus and get some serious work done before the next holiday! We have a lot of learning planned for the next 3 weeks.

I apologize for not publishing my blog for the last week and a half in November. When I logged in today, I noticed it was still in the draft status and not published. I am very sorry! Hopefully THIS week's blog will be useful to you as last week's was not since it wasn't visible!

Upcoming reminders:
We will have a CLASS spelling bee on Thursday, December 5.  A practice list is being sent home today in Monday Folders. 
Thurs., Dec. 19th--End of the 2nd Quarter
Class Winter Party-- begins at 3:00
Fri., Dec. 20th- Mon., Jan. 6th-- NO SCHOOL--Winter Break
Tues., Jan. 7th-- School resumes

This week:
Math- Our math focus this week will be on learning division facts.  Please practice ALL facts at home.  The kids are having to retest their addition and subtraction facts for the report card this quarter.  Next quarter we will need to time multiplication facts as well. 

Reading- We are continuing our novel, Totally Disgusting, by  Bill Wallace. This is a fun story about a dog and a cat.  The kids have been enjoying it!

Social Studies- The students will be introduced to Economics. They will learn about needs, wants, goods, services, scarcity and distribution.

Spelling and Vocabulary- There will be a new list in your child's Monday folder tonight. The list will be words related to Economics. The final test will be on Dec. 13.  The kids can hop on over to spelling city to practice their words here:  http://www.spellingcity.com/kmargheim/
They can practice the meanings here:  http://www.classtools.net/mob/quiz_11/Economics_VocabSpelling_Test_on_Dec13_stQpO.htm

Writing- We are going to begin brainstorming ways we have been "good" this year and will use this list to persuade Santa to put us on his good list and take us off of his naughty list.  We will also do some sensory writing with the Christmas holiday. 

Have a super week!

Monday, November 11, 2013

November 11-15

Happy Veteran's Day! I hope you all had a great weekend! There is no doubt that the cold front is definitely here.  Please make sure your child brings a coat and warm clothing for recess! (I told them today that they will not be allowed to go outside to play if they were wearing shorts and/or if they do not have a coat with them).
Upcoming Reminders:
Tues., Nov. 12 Picture Retake Day
Wed., Nov. 13 Field trip to Mill Valley High School to film reading skit- Please return permission slip ASAP & remember to pack a lunch!!
Wed. & Friday, November 13 & 15  Genius Hour in the classroom!
Mon., Nov. 18 Skate Party at Skate City from 6-8
Nov. 27-29  Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend

Thanksgiving lunch-
Parents are invited to join students for a wonderful Thanksgiving lunch prepared by our amazing kitchen staff on Wednesday, November 20th. To ensure we have enough food for all attending, parents are asked to RSVP their reservations by calling the office no later than Monday, November 18th at 667-1800.

Pen Pals to Taiwan-
Students began writing their pen pal letters today to students in Taiwan. They will be bringing them home for a parent to edit. I would really appreciate your help in checking for spelling, conventions, and sentence clarity. They should have 3 paragraphs written. Here is an outline of what should be included in the letter:
1st- all about me and who I am
2nd- all about my family
3rd- interests, sports, hobbies, or activities I like
PLEASE MAKE SURE TO SEND A PICTURE FOR YOUR CHILD TO INCLUDE WITH HIS LETTER.

Reading-
We will walk to the high school on Wednesday to film our Reader's Theater!  The kids should be practicing their lines at home in addition to practicing in school. 

Math-
Our study on multiplication will end this week with a final test on Friday. The students have now learned all of their basic multiplication facts and should continue to study them at home for practice.

Science-
This week the students will have the opportunity to learn about forces and motions with a fun book and activities from Jeep in a Sheep.  We'll be working together to create roller coasters together next week. 

Vocabulary and Spelling-
We will have our forces and motion test this Friday, November 15.  Here is the link to practice the vocabulary words: 
You can also have your child study from Spelling City here:
https://www.spellingcity.com/view-spelling-list.html?listId=14994847

Reading Logs-
The students have been doing a really nice job completing their logs weekly and turning them in on time. We have just 2 more weeks left of this reading program. Keep reading!!

Have a super week!

Monday, November 4, 2013

November 4-8

Hello!

Thanks so much to the many wonderful parents that helped during our first Genius Hour research session.  We will have another Genius Hour this Wednesday from 2:05-2:55.  (I'm starting just a little earlier than Friday in case we have any unexpected events.)  Come one, come all!  Let me know if you'd like to help.  Thanks so much! 

Technology--I introduced the kids to EdModo last week. This is an interactive page where I can pose questions for the students and they can each write a response.  As I find useful apps, I will add them and let the kids know.  An app was added last week to help your child with math facts.  Many of the kids said it was a lot of fun.  You may want to check it out.  I intend to use EdModo as our daily communication for homework but will also send you an email for the remainder of this week.  Next week it will only be posted on EdModo. 

Math--We began Topic 6 today.  The kids learned about the distributive property of multiplication.  It basically states that a multiplication fact can be broken up into smaller multiplication facts and added together.  The kids will also learn their multiplication facts for 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8.  Please continue to practice math facts at home with your child.

Spelling and Vocabulary-- A new list was sent home last week with the test date of this Friday.  We spent a bit longer time than expected on our community unit so we did not get to start our Forces and Interactions unit until today.  As a result, the test day will be moved to NEXT Friday, November 15.  Here is the link to practice the spelling words at Spellingcity.com:
http://www.spellingcity.com/view-spelling-list.html?listId=14994847
Kids can also practice the meanings of the words here:
http://www.classtools.net/mob/quiz_21/Forces_and_Interactions_Test_Nov_8_ZVcnx.htm

Science and Reading-- As we learn the vocabulary for Forces and Interactions, we will also be reading and experimenting to learn more about these topics.

Reading logs are due tomorrow if you did not send them today. Please continue to have your child read regularly each night. The goal is 100 minutes a week.  We are leading the 3rd grade with the most minutes read each week!  I've been very impressed with some of the numbers I've seen from the kids.  We love to read!!  :)

Writing-- Our class will be walking to MVHS on November 13. We are finishing up our script writing so we can start practicing it this week. The kids are excited with the opportunity to be video-taped by Cindy Schwartz's film class. This is such a fun project for the kiddos and they learn a lot about video production.

Thanksgiving Feast--Parents are invited to join students for a wonderful Thanksgiving lunch prepared by our amazing kitchen staff on Wednesday, November 20th.  To ensure we have enough food for all attending, parents are asked to RSVP their reservations by calling the office no later than Monday, November 18th at 667-1800.

Monday, October 28, 2013

October 28 - November 1

Hello!  As you know we will be having our class party on Thursday! Students can bring their costumes to school on Thursday and we will give them time to change before the parade. The parade begins at 2:45 and the party will take place in the classroom immediately after the parade. I hope you can stop by and see your little monsters!

Red Ribbon Week-
This week is Red Ribbon Week! Students will learn about staying Drug Free. There will be a spirit day each day of this week. Here is the daily schedule for you.
Monday (today)--Wear Red
Tuesday-- Pajama Day
Wednesday-- Wear sweats or active wear
Thursday-- Crazy Sock Day
Friday-- Hat Day

Technology--  This week I am going to introduce the kids to EdModo. This is an interactive page where I can pose questions for the students and they can each write a response. I will need each of them to set up an account. I have a class ID number that will allow them to access our class page.  I intend to use EdModo as our daily communication for homework. 

Math-- Students are having so much fun learning mulitplication facts!! We will take our Topic 5 Performance Assessment on Thursday.

Spelling and Vocabulary-- A new list was sent home in your child's Monday folder. Our topic is Forces and Interactions.  Here is the link to practice the spelling at Spellingcity.com: 
http://www.spellingcity.com/view-spelling-list.html?listId=14994847
Kids can also practice the meanings of the words here:
http://www.classtools.net/mob/quiz_21/Forces_and_Interactions_Test_Nov_8_ZVcnx.htm

Science and Reading-- As we learn the vocabulary for Forces and Interactions, we will also be reading and experimenting to learn more about these topics.
Reading logs are due tomorrow if you did not send them today.  Please continue to have your child read regularly each night. The goal is 100 minutes a week.

Writing-- Our class will be walking to MVHS in a couple weeks. We will be writing a skit this week that will be video-taped by Cindy Schwartz's film class. This is such a fun project for the kiddos and they learn a lot about video production.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

October 22-25

Today is the first day of the 2nd quarter. Report cards this year will be 'paperless', which means we will NOT be sending a copy home for you. You will be able to log-on to your child's Skyward account and view his or her report card from there. The report cards will be officially posted on Friday, October 25.

Field Trip Tomorrow!!! Sorry for the late notice. We will be completing our study on Communities this week and will be taking the class on a walk. As we walk the community, students will make observations about why our community is a place in which many people choose to live. We will make a pit stop at McDonalds for an afternoon treat! Please send only a few dollars with your child. They will still be eating lunch at school. We will begin our walk immediately after lunch and will have 3 adults from the school with us to help supervise.

The class Halloween Parade/Party will be on Thursday, October 31st. The parade will begin at 2:45, and the party will begin at 3:00.

I will be implementing Genius Hour next week. This will allow the students to embark on a project or topic in which they want to learn about. The students already completed the 3 question survey earlier in the year. I will be conferencing with each child this week so that they are ready to start their projects next week. Here is a blog that you can read that will help explain it a little better.
http://www.geniushour.com/what-is-genius-hour/ Our Genius Hour will take place from 2:15-2:55 on the following dates: October 30, November 1, 6, 13, 15, 20, 22. Please let me know if you would like to help during any of those times. I will need 3-4 helpers each time. Thanks! :)

Reading- We will continue to read about different communities around the world. Students will practice comparing and contrasting the texts that they read.

Spelling- There will be no spelling this week.

Writing- Students will be writing observations about Shawnee. They will highlight the similarities and differences between Shawnee now and Shawnee in the past.

Social Studies- We will complete our study about Communities: Then and Now this week. The students will work in collaborative groups to create 3-dimensional maps showing how Shawnee has changed over time.

Math- The students will begin learning their multiplication facts this week. We will learn how to multiply by 2, 5, 9, 1, and 0.

Have a super week!!

Monday, October 7, 2013

October 7 - 11

Today in your child's Monday folder you will find a couple extra things. The school is beginning the first Reading Program for the year, therefore, you will find a reading log in it. The students are to keep track of how many minutes they read every night and fill out the log with their total. I will collect them on Monday the following week. You will recieve a new reading log every Monday during the reading program. If for some reason, you misplace it, you can simply write the minutes down on a piece of paper and send it back to school with your signature.


Reminders:
Tues., Oct. 8-- McRidge Night @ McDonalds- This is a PTO fundraiser. I will be working the 5:30-6:00 shift. I hope to see many of my students having dinner while I am there.
Oct. 7-11- Anti-Bullying Week--Tomorrow is Crazy Sock Day!
Oct. 17- Picture Day & End of the 1st Qtr.
Oct 18 and Mon. Oct. 21-- NO SCHOOL for students
Oct. 31-- Halloween Parade (2:45) and Party (3:00-3:45)

Here are the plans for this week:
Reading- We will continue to read about a variety of different communities, while practicing our reading strategies.

Writing- The students will continue to write using our grocery advertisements. 

Spelling/Vocab - The test will be on Thursday, October 17, next week.
Johnson: a county in Kansas
Prairie Ridge: elementary school in Shawnee
Monticello Trail: middle school in Shawnee
Grey Oaks: neighborhood in Shawnee
Mill Valley: high school in Shawnee
Woodsonia: neighborhood in Shawnee
Crystal Park: neighborhood in Shawnee
Oakmont: neighborhood in Shawnee
Shawnee: city in Kansas
Kansas: state in the Midwest region of the United States
mayor: highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or large urban city
ordinance: laws of the city
council: a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate or make decisions
representative: a person chosen or appointed to act or speak for another or others
ward: an administrative division of a city or borough that typically elects and is represented by a council
Kids can practice the meaning here:
http://www.classtools.net/mob/quiz_85/Communities_SpellingVocab_test_October_17_M66N5.htm
Kids can practice spelling their words on spelling city here:
https://www.spellingcity.com/view-spelling-list.html?listId=14788076

Math- We will finish our topic about adding and subtracting 3 digit numbers on Wednesday with a final test. We will be moving into multiplication facts next.  We will continue our birthday planning project as well.  :) 

Social Studies- Students will learn about the history of Shawnee. They will learn how it was settled and how it grew. We will also compare Shawnee to a variety of cities and towns around the state of Kansas. Students will learn about the pioneer life of the early settlers.

Have a super week!!

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

September 30-October 4

It was wonderful meeting with all of you last week at Parent/Teacher Conferences. I always look forward to meeting with my students' parents because it helps me get to know them a little better. I appreciate that you took the time to come conference with me.  :)

Upcoming Reminders:
Oct. 8-- McRidge Night @ McDonalds- This is a PTO fundraiser. I will be working the 5:30-6:00 shift. I hope to see many of my students having dinner while I am there.
Oct. 7-11- Anti-Bullying Week
Oct. 17- Picture Day & End of the 1st Qtr.
Oct 18 and Mon. Oct. 21-- NO SCHOOL for students
Oct. 31-- Halloween Parade and Party

Since the students had a nice long weeekend, they should be rested and ready to get back to work. Here are our plans for this week:

Reading- We will be learning about the history of our community. We will read several texts that will allow students to compare and contrast our community NOW with our community LONG AGO.

Spelling- The spelling and vocabulary test will be this Friday. The list contains words related to community.  Your child can practice the vocabulary here:  http://www.classtools.net/mob/quiz_40/Communities_VocabSpelling_Test_October_4_2013_UjnVt.htm
and can practice their spelling here: 
http://www.spellingcity.com/view-spelling-list.html?listId=14510542

Math- Students will focus on subtraction this week.  They will need to "borrow" and regroup so we will practice quite a bit throughout the week.  They will need to regroup across zero as well.  We will begin a fun mathematics research project while practicing subtraction.  I plan on assessing the students with this topic early next week. 

Writing- The class will begin a new writing assignment this week. We will be using grocery ads to help us.  If you have any extra adds from Sunday or Wednesday papers, then we will gladly put them to good use.  Feel free to send them in with your child.  Thanks!  :)

Social Studies- As we move into our study on communities, we will review the 3 main types--rural, urban, and suburban-- as well as, identify physical and human characteristics related to each type.

Have a wonderful week!!

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

September 23-27

Parent Teacher conferences are tomorrow and Thursday.  I am looking forward to meeting with you and discussing your child's year thus far.  Here is the list of conferences in case you have forgotten your time.  :)

Wednesday, 9/25
4:20 Dominic
4:40 Carter
5:00 Hailey
5:20 Colin
5:40 Sophie
6:00 Zack K.
6:20 Asa
6:40 Broc
7:00 Tyler
7:20 Cassidy
7:40 Taylor

Thursday, 9/26
  9:40 Hailey
10:00 Zach P.
10:40 Bella
  3:40 Max
  4:00 Natalie
  4:20 Andrew
  4:40 Ally
  5:00 Maddie
  5:40 Hayden
  6:00 McKenna
  6:20 Tamerlan

Reminders:
Sept. 25- 26-- Parent Teacher Conferences
Sept. 27-- No School
Oct. 8-- McRidge Night at McDonald's
Oct. 17-- End of the 1st Quarter
Oct. 18 and 21-- No School for Students

Here are our plans for this short week:
Reading-
We wrapped up our study on weather disasters.  We've read several pieces of writing dealing with disasters and practiced various reading strategies as a class.  We've practiced all the components of Daily 5 within our Common Core weather unit. 

Writing-
We had to revisit paragraph writing and have come up with a great tool help us.  Each paragraph begins with a topic sentence, 3 main detail sentences, 3 supporting detail sentences and a clincher, or closing sentence.  We finished and published our summer writing. 

Spelling/ Vocabulary-
We will have our test next Friday, October 4. Students will be given the list in a standard spelling test format and then be asked to use at least 8 of the words in a story or in sentences to test how well they understand the meaning of each word.

Here is a link to some fun games your child can play to help study the meanings of the words at home. http://www.classtools.net/mob/quiz_40/Communities_VocabSpelling_Test_October_4_2013_UjnVt.htm
 
Another great practice tool is Spelling City. You can find our list and a few games to play by clicking the link http://www.spellingcity.com/kmargheim/

Math-
We will continue to utilize our learning logs and flipped classroom in math. I hope this format is working well for you and your family.  The kids seem to really enjoy it, or so they say.  :)  Please check your child's learning log each night. There are times when I have written a note to make corrections or extend their answers and it has not been done. I've reminded the kids to always check to see if there is a note from me. If you can also help out, then that would be fantastic! Thanks!   We began Topic 3 this week.  This topic will deal with addition and subtraction with and without regrouping.   Here is the link to log on to the math site: www.pearsonsuccessnet.com

Science-
We are wrapping up our disaster unit with group presentations this week.  The kids worked hard on their projects and did a fantastic job!  We will begin our study of communities within our Social Studies curriculum next week.

Have a great week!

Monday, September 16, 2013

September 16-20

Parent Teacher conferences are very quickly approaching. Have you signed up yet for a conference? If you haven't, there is still plenty of time. Conferences are NEXT week. If you need to schedule one, you can visit the Prairie Ridge website, or click on this link: http://www.usd232.org/education/components/form/default.php?sectiondetailid=33036&

Reminders:
Sept. 25- 26-- Parent Teacher Conferences
Sept. 27-- No School
Oct. 8-- McRidge Night at McDonald's
Oct. 17-- End of the 1st Quarter
Oct. 18 and 21-- No School for Students

Here are our plans for this week:
Reading-
We will continue to read about natural hazards while finding main ideas with supporting details; and to find important facts within a text. Students will also meet in small reading groups to develop comprehension skills.

Writing-
We continue to write each day in science and reading.  We are also working to complete the writing process with our summer vacation stories. 

Spelling/ Vocabulary-
We will have our test on Friday this week. Students will be given the list in a standard spelling test format and then be asked to use several of the words in a story or in sentences to test how well they understand the meaning of each word. 

Here is a link to some fun games your child can play to help study the meanings of the words at home. http://www.classtools.net/mob/quiz_22/Weather99920VocabSpelling_MmMqT.htm

Another great practice tool is Spelling City. You can find our list and a few games to play by clicking the link https://wwww.spellingcity.com/view-spelling-list.html?listId=14139710


Math-
We will continue to utilize our learning logs and flipped classroom in math.  Please check your child's learning log each night.  There are times when I have written a note to make corrections or extend their answers and it has not been done.  I've reminded the kids to always check to see if there is a note from me.  If you can also help out, then that would be fantastic!  Thanks!   We will work this week to complete Topic 2 with a final test on Friday. We will review mental math and rounding concepts each day in our smaller groups and will also practice these skills while problem solving.  Here is the link to log on to the math site:  www.pearsonsuccessnet.com  

Science-
Students have been researching information about a natural weather disaster. The kids are working in groups to create a safety plan related to the weather disaster in which they are studying.

Have a great week!

Monday, September 9, 2013

September 9 - 13

Hello!  I hope you all had a fantastic weekend!  Here is what we have planned for the week.

English Language Arts/Reading & Science: We are continuing our study of weather with a second list of spelling/vocabulary words.  We are also exploring weather patterns in various parts of the world.  The kids will dive into learning more about severe weather hazards and their impact on society.  They will be working in groups within the classroom to research various weather hazards and to create a safety plan for that hazard.  We will also be meeting in our small groups.

Spelling: We have a new list of weather words this week.  The test for this list will be next Friday, September 20.  Our spelling words come directly from our ELA and our Science/Social Studies curriculum. Students will need to know how to spell the words and should know the definitions so they can use the words properly in a sentence/story. This week's words are tornado, earthquake, blizzard, tsunami, flood, volcano, avalanche, drought, erosion, thunder, snow, squall line, humidity, lightning & climate.

Here is a link to some fun games your child can play to help study the meanings of the words at home.  http://www.classtools.net/mob/quiz_22/Weather99920VocabSpelling_MmMqT.htm
 
Another great practice tool is Spelling City. You can find our list and a few games to play by clicking the link https://wwww.spellingcity.com/view-spelling-list.html?listId=14139710

Writing: We try to write a little each day in class. It may be in our Learning Logs, math notebook or even our subject notebooks. We also tackle some bigger writing projects at the same time. This week we will continue our writing about what we did over our summer break. This will be our first big writing project that we will take through the complete writing process.

Math: We began topic 2 today.  This topic deals with addition and subtraction number sense.  We learned the properties of addition.  We will be studying ways to add and subtract using mental math, rounding and estimating this week.  Your child will not have a daily math sheet for homework.  Instead, he/she will need to log in to our envision math site at  www.pearsonsuccessnet.com   They will need to use their first and last name followed with a 3 for the login name.  The password for everyone is 3rdpre. Often times, I will have you view the instructional video from pearson and have the kids do a couple examples in their math learning log.  Look for an email explaining the homework each night.  I am excited to have more individualized math time with your kids once we are able to implement the flipped classroom. 

WE START OUR MAP TESTING TOMORROW. Third grade will be taking the test on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00-10:30. There isn't anything your child can study prior to the test. Please make sure your child has a good night's sleep and healthy breakfast each day, especially on our testing days. Thank you!

Have a super week!  

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

September 3 - 6

Welcome to a new month and a new year!  I am so excited to be teaching your kids.  If the first two weeks is any indication as to how our year will be, then we will have smooth sailing and a lot of learning taking place in room 604!  Your kids amaze me with the effort they are putting forth in the classroom and with their respect for others.  It's so nice to see a group of kiddos willing to lend a hand to their fellow classmates.  =)

I will do my best to keep this blog updated each week.  I typically send out a notice when the blog has been updated.  Please let me know if you ever have any questions at all.  I'm here to help!

Here is what we have planned for the week.

English Language Arts/Reading & Science:  We are continuing our study of weather and how the sun directly relates to the weather we experience here on Earth.  We have been using several informational texts to dive into this study.  We will be assembling our solar cookers on Wednesday at 2:00 pm.  Thanks to the parents who have volunteered to help with that and to those who have sent in supplies for our cook out on Thursday.  Be sure to ask your child what he/she thought of the nachos and cooked apples.  YUM! 

We will be starting reading groups this week.  Please know that these groups are fluid and your child may move around to different groups within my classroom from time to time. 

Spelling: We have our first spelling test of the year this Friday, September 6.  Our spelling words come directly from our ELA and our Science/Social Studies curriculum.  Students will need to know how to spell the words and should know the definitions so they can use the words properly in a sentence/story.  This week's words are wind vane, barometer, rain gauge, anemometer, thermometer, forecast, prediction, meteorology, cold front, warm front, debris, gust, radar, Fujita Scale & damage. 
Here is a link to some fun games your child can play to help study the meanings of the words at home.  http://www.classtools.net/mob/quiz_34/Weather_1_VocabSpelling_Words_DizRX.htm   Another great practice tool is Spelling City.  You can find our list and a few games to play by clicking the link https://www.spellingcity.com/kmargheim/

Writing: We try to write a little each day in class.  It may be in our Learning Logs, math notebook or even our subject notebooks.  We also tackle some bigger writing projects at the same time.  This week we will begin drafting a piece of writing about what we did over our summer break.  This will be our first big writing project that we will take through the complete writing process. 

Math:  We will finish our topic on numbers and place value this week with a test on Thursday. 
I am sending a login sheet for you to access our math site at www.pearsonsuccessnet.com  The password for everyone is 3rdpre  With topic 2, we will begin our flipped classroom.  Often times, I will have you view the instructional video from pearson and have the kids do a couple examples in their math learning log.  I will send more information regarding this later in the week.  I'm excited to have more individualized math time with your kids  once we are able to implement the flipped classroom. 

NEXT WEEK WE WILL HAVE OUR MAPS TESTING.  Third grade will be taking the test on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00-10:30.  There isn't anything your child can study prior to the test.  Please make sure your child has a good breakfast each day, especially on our testing days. Thank you!

Have a super week!  

Monday, May 6, 2013

May 6 - 10

Hello!

The weather this spring has been crazy!!  It was great to see the sun today!  We are HOPEFUL that the spring weather will be holding out for the remainder of the school year now. 

The forecast for today and tomorrow are pretty nice!  We will go ahead and have our Nature Scavenger Hunt tomorrow!!!  Make sure your child wears shoes appropriate for a lot of walking and that they bring a sack lunch with them.  We are also planning on doing a little neighborhood clean-up in the morning.

Friday is the Science Fair!  The students completed their experiments and have turned in everything they need.  We will be working on the display boards in class this week.  I will provide any construction paper that they would like to use as backing for all of their typed work.  We are collecing $2 from everyone to pay for the display board. 
You are more than welcome to come by the Science Fair for a viewing of all the fabulous experiments that the 3rd graders completed.  It will be held in the cafeteria from 2:15-3:00.

Here are some final dates for the remainder of the year:
Tues., May 7-- Nature Scavenger Hunt (wear tennis shoes and bring a sack lunch)
Fri., May 10-- Science Fair (2:15-3:00)
Fri., May 10--PTA Auction/ Talent Show/ Raffle-- 6-9pm
Tues., May 21--Assessment Reward Party at the Park
Thurs., May 23-- Field Day/ Last Day of School (this will be a FULL day of school)

Here are our plans for this week:
Reading-- We will continue to read from our novels this week. 

Writing-- We will continue to write, type, and illustrate a variety of poems and will end the week with a super-hero writing activity.

Spelling-- There will be NO more spelling for the year!  :)

Math-- We will continue to learn about area and practice how to find the area of a shape or space.  Some students will be taking a retest on perimeter.  Students who scored 80% or higher will be given some extension activities to complete during this time. 

Science-- We will complete Science Fair boards in class during the week and will be ready for the Science Fair on Friday.

Have a wonderful week!!

Monday, April 22, 2013

April 22 - 26

Hello!

We are down to our last month of school! We still have plenty of learning to do and will continue working hard right up to the end!

The students began MAP testing this morning.  MAP assessments are a tool that is used by the district to show the growth that the students make.  We will be testing on Tuesday and Thursday mornings this week as well. 

Our Ernie Miller field trip is this Wednesday--rain or shine!  Make sure your child brings a sack lunch to school on Wednesday.
We have not yet decided when our walking Nature Scavenger Hunt will be yet.  We will be watching the weather to determine a nice afternoon for a stroll to the park!

Science Week is next week!  Please check the sign up in the email I sent earlier if you are able to volunteer some of your time. 

Here is a look at some dates for the remainder of the school year:
April 22, 23, 25-- Spring MAP Assessments
Arpil 24-- Ernie Miller Field Trip
April 29-May 3-- Science Week
May 10-- Science Fair
May 10 - PTA Talent Show and Basket RaffleMay 21-- Assessment Reward- walk to the park
May 23-- Field Day and LAST Day of School

Here are the plans for this week:
Reading- Students will work in small groups as they read through a novel together. 

Spelling-  The pattern this week is the "f" sound created by different digraphs-- "ff", "gh", and "ph".
The final test will be on Friday.

Writing- The students will continue writing a variety of poems. 

Math- We will begin Topic 13 this week.  The students will be learning how to find the perimeter of different shapes.

Science-  We will continue to learn about Matter.  Also, the next portion of the Science Fair project is due on Wednesday.  Students need to create a "Hypothesis or  Educated Guess" about how they think their experiment will turn out.

Have a wonderful week!

Monday, April 15, 2013

April 15-19

Hello!

The end of the year is quickly approaching and we still have a few more important learning opportunities available.  The 3rd graders will be holding a Science Fair on May 10.  In your child's Monday folder you will find a packet of information about the project in which your child will be completing.  Please read through the packet, and make note of the due dates for each specific section of the project.  I will need you to return only the front page of the packet with your signature.  Thanks in advance for all of your help!

Here is a peek at what's coming up:
April 16- PRE Skate Party
April 19--Earth Day Scavenger Hunt
    Spirit Day- Color War Day-- 3rd graders should wear YELLOW!!
April 22, 23, 25-- Spring MAP Assessments
Arpil 24-- Ernie Miller Field Trip
A permission slip for this trip was sent home today.  Please let me know if you would like to volunteer to help on this trip.  Each class will be taking 3 chaperones.  If you would like to throw your name in the hat, then let me know by this Wednesday.  I will draw names at the end of the day.  Thanks!

April 29-May 3-- Science Week
May 10-- Science Fair
May 21-- Assessment Reward- walk to the park
May 23-- Field Day and LAST Day of School

We have another busy week:
Reading- We will be reading and practicing skills with Theme 15 about Precious Resources.  The students will start reading novels in their reading groups.  :) 

Writing-  We will begin working on poetry.  The students will have a lot of fun writing a variety of poems.

Spelling-  The spelling pattern this week are the suffixes -ion, -tion, -ment, and -ness.  The final test will be Friday morning.

Math-  We will finish our unit on fractions this week with a final test on Friday morning. 

Science-  We are completing our unit on recycling and taking care of the earth by doing a Nature Scavenger Hunt this Friday.  Students need to bring a sack lunch to school on Friday.  (No volunteers will be needed for this field trip).

We will also begin learning about Matter in science this week. 

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

April 8-12

Hello!

So sorry for the delay.  We get pretty busy here in room 604 that I just realized this was not sent out yet this week.  Oh, my!

We have officially completed our state assessments.  The kids did a fantastic job!!  Your child should've brought home information with them yesterday regarding his/her math performance.  Please let me know if you have not seen it.  Keep in mind that the scores are preliminary and are not official until later in the year.

Here is a peek at what's coming up:
April 19--Earth Day Scavenger Hunt
Spirit Day- Color War Day-- 3rd graders need to wear YELLOW!
April 22, 23, 25-- Spring MAP Assessments
Arpil 24-- Ernie Miller Field Trip
April 29-May 3-- Science Week
May 10-- Science Fair
May 21-- Assessment Reward- walk to the park
May 23-- Field Day and LAST Day of School

Things will be fairly normal this week with our regular learning and routines.  Yay for "normalcy!"  :) 

Reading- We will be reading stories from Theme 16 which correlate with our science unit, recycling and natural resources.  I have been benchmarking this week to check your child's progress.  We are also meeting in groups to continue practicing our comprehension strategies.  We will start a novel study at the end of the week or on Monday.   

Spelling- The spelling lists this week will contain words that require consonant doubling. The test will be on Friday.

Writing- The students have been doing a lot of writing lately regarding books they choose to read along with other pieces I have given them.  I have tried to emphasize the importance of citing the story/article to support their statements.  They are doing well with it and will continue to be challenged with supporting their ideas with concrete evidence.  This works particularly well with expository texts. 

Math- We will be learning more about fractions this week. This week's focus is learning how to compare fractions using several different strategies.

Science- We will continue to learn about recycling and natural resources.

Have a super week!

Monday, April 1, 2013

April 1 - 5

I hope you all enjoyed your Easter yesterday with a wonderful spring day and family time!!  We really enjoyed getting OUTSIDE this weekend and soaked up as much sunshine as we could!  :)

Tomorrow begins our MATH STATE ASSESSMENTS!!
The 3rd graders will be taking their state math tests on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings this week. Here are a few things that you can do to help your child prepare for them and to help them do their best:

1. Make sure your child goes to bed at a reasonable hour ensuring that they get a good night's sleep.
2. Make sure your child eats a healthy breakfast. Some suggestions are eggs and toast, yogurt and fruit, or oatmeal. They will be testing first thing in the morning, so eating breakfast is crucial for optimal performance.
3. Avoid having morning appointments for your child for these 3 mornings. Although your child can always make-up the test, they are often less stressed when they can take it with the rest of the class.

Thanks for your help, I know they will do GREAT!!
Here are some important dates for you to know for the remainder of the year.
April 19--Earth Day Scavenger Hunt
April 22, 23, 25-- Spring MAP Assessments
Arpil 24-- Ernie Miller Field Trip
April 29-May 3-- Science Week
May 10-- Science Fair
May 21-- Assessment Reward- walk to the park
May 23-- Field Day and LAST Day of School

This week:
Reading and Science-
We will be reading about and learning about recycling this week.  We have an entire reading theme based on this topic as well as a science unit to go along with it.

Spelling-- No spelling this week due to State Assessments.  We want the boys and girls to focus on doing their best on them. 

Math-- We will not have math this week either because of state assessments.

Have a great week!

Monday, March 25, 2013

March 25-29

I hope you were all able to enjoy some fun family time during Spring Break!  I have to admit that I love snow, but I am NOT overly fond of our pal, Phil.  Spring was supposed to be here WEEKS ago!  Hopefully this weekend's storm was the last blast for the season. 

Now that we have returned, we are back in full swing.  MATH STATE ASSESSMENTS are next week!  We will be doing a lot of final preparation and review this week.  Your child should be bringing home a Math Playbook that he or she should be studying EVERY night.  Please make sure this stays in their homework folder and returns to school each day, too.  We'll have some time to review it at school as well. 

Here are some important dates for you to know for the remainder of the year:
March 26-- Mother/ Son Skate Night
March 28--Spring Pictures
March 29– College/Professional Sports Spirit Day
April 2-4-- Math State Assessments
April 19--Earth Day Scavenger Hunt
April 22, 23, 25-- Spring MAP Assessments
Arpil 24-- Ernie Miller Field Trip
April 29-May 3-- Science Week
May 10-- Science Fair
May 21-- Assessment Reward- walk to the park
May 23-- Field Day and LAST Day of School

Here is a look at this week:
Reading-  This week in reading we will begin reading about inventors.

Math-  The students will be reviewing important assessment topics this week.  Each teacher will specialize in one topic and all of the classes will rotate from room to room for a review.   There will be a review homework assignment each night.

Spelling-  No spelling this week!  Have students study their Math Playbook instead.

Social Studies- The students will continue to learn about economics this week.  They will be hosting a lemonade stand on Friday for all of the 1st and 2nd graders.  The students will be selling lemonade and fruit snacks for $.50 each.  The money they earn will be donated to Alex's Lemonade Stand which is an organization that raises funds to help to fight childhood cancer.

Have a great week!!

Monday, March 11, 2013

March 11-15

Hello!

The class was so focused last week, and they all performed their very best on the test.  We have received the PRELIMINARY scores of the Kansas State Reading Assessments.  I informed your child of the performance category in which he or she scored on the assessment. They will also be bringing home a paper showing that information to you as well.  I also wrote one strength and one or two areas on which to focus their studies to improve reading.
 
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Upcoming Dates:
March 14-- Last day of the 3rd quarter
March 15-24-- No School-- SPRING BREAK
March 26-- Mother/Son Skate Party
April 2-4-- Math State Assessments

A look at this week . . .

Reading and Social Studies:
We will be reading about Economics in a cross-curricular unit this week.  The class will learn about some key economic ideas such as goods, services, budgets, wants and needs. 

Spelling:
The spelling list this week will also be related to Economics.  The focus will be on vocabulary words related to this topic.  The final test will be on Thursday.

Math
We will complete Topic 9, about fractions, with a final test on Wednesday.  We will also be tying all of our economic study into a fun final assignment involving fractions with pizza. If your child would like to buy pizza on Thursday, I will be collecting  $2 for each slice each he/she would like to eat.  Students will be limited to only 2 slices as this will be considered and afternoon snack, rather than lunch.

Science:
We are completing our study on Force and Motion this week.  The students will be working in groups to create and build roller coasters.  They will test them out with marbles. 

Writing:
Published books are due Wednesday!!  Students have beeen working very hard to complete them and several have already finished.  We will be mailing their completed work to the publishing company by the end of this week.  If you have NOT signed your parent form that will allow your child to receive a free book, PLEASE SEND IT IN BY WEDNESDAY!

Enjoy Spring Break!  Hopefully, we will have some warming weather for it!

Monday, March 4, 2013

March 4-8

Well, it looks like we may have a FULL week of school this week!! It seems like a long time ago that the kids have spent 5 days at school in a row!

The time has finally arrived: READING STATE ASSESSMENTS!!
The 3rd graders will be taking their state reading tests on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings this week. Here are a few things that you can do to help your child prepare for them and to help them do their best:
1. Make sure your child goes to bed at a reasonable hour ensuring that they get a good night's sleep.
2. Make sure your child eats a healthy breakfast. Some suggestions are eggs and toast, yogurt and fruit, or oatmeal. They will be testing first thing in the morning, so eating breakfast is crucial for optimal performance.
3. Avoid having morning appointments for your child for these 3 mornings.  Your child can always make-up the test if they miss; however, they are often less stressed when they can take it with the rest of the class.

Thanks for your help, I know they will do GREAT!!

Here is a list of some important upcoming dates:
March 4-- A new reading program is beginning today. Your child should have a reading log to fill out in their Monday folder.
March 14-- Last day of the 3rd quarter
March 15-24-- No School-- SPRING BREAK
April 2-4-- Math State Assessments

Here is what we will be working on this week in class:
Reading-- State Assessments

Spelling-- No list this week due to assessments

Math-- We began learning about fractions last week and will continue learning about them this week. Students will learn about fractional parts of a set, locate fractions on a number line, and identify benchmark fractions (the most common ones like 1/2 and 1/4).

Writing-- Students will be creating an autobiography that will be PUBLISHED into a real book. In your child's Monday folder today, you will recieve a form that will allow you to order books. You will get ONE FREE, but are able to order more. I need a parent signature for EVERY child in order for them to recieve the free book.

Science-- We will continue our study of Force, Motion and Sound this week.

Have a super week!

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

February 18-22

Hello! 
Thank you all for taking the time to come to Student Led Conferences. It is always nice to see you and discuss with you how your child is doing at school. I especially love the spring conference because it gives me a first hand view of your child interacting with you. I appreciate you taking the time to visit with me!!

Here is a list of upcoming dates:
Feb. 22- Bling Day
Feb. 23- Father/Daughter Dance
March 5-7 Reading State Assessments
March 15-24- Spring Break
April 2-4- Math State Assessments

Here is what's happening in class this week:
Reading- The students will be learning about things Then and Now--how things have changed over time. We will also be learning about and reading biographies.
PLAYBOOK-- your child will be bringing home a playbook to study. This should STAY in his or her folder so that he or she can be bringing it back and forth from school to home. The playbook is a large study guide that will help prepare the students for State Assessments. Please study it with them whenever you have free time.

Writing-The students are getting ready to publish their own book. They will be writing autobiographies. We will begin prewriting for this assignment.

Spelling- We will have our 2nd list of suffix words. The focus is on the suffixes, -ing (which means 'now'), -ly (which means 'in a ___ way'), and -y (which means 'full of'). The final test will be on Friday.

Math- We will complete topic 11 on Thursday with the final test. Your child learned MANY new words and will need to be able to identify different shapes and geometric symbols.
Our next unit will be on fractions.

Science- We will be studying Force and Motion this week.

Have a great week and try to stay warm!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

January 28-February 1

January is just about over and we still have a lot to do this year.  Here are a few important upcoming dates:

Feb. 7th--International Festival- Taste Fest and music program - Students will need to bring a food to school that day (60-90 bite-size samples) that represents their country.  They should also wear or bring clothing that would be worn in their country.  Here is the sign up genius for the International Festival   www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F054FA4AC29A20-3rdgrade/1991412

Feb. 12th-- Valentine's Day Party-- This will be our third, and final party, of the year.  Students will exchange valentines and have some treats. We will make a Valentine holder in class, so it is NOT required for your child to bring a decorated box into class from home.  (If they want to that is fine with me.) 
Click here to sign up to help with the party.  www.SignUpGenius.com/go/4090B4AA8A6283-february/1991412

Feb. 12th-- Field Trip to the Symphony (no parent volunteers will be necessary for this trip)

Feb. 13th and 14th-- Student Led Confences- please make sure to visit the school website so that you can sign up for a time that fits your schedule.  They will be given on a first come, first serve basis.  Keep in mind as you are plannng this, that your child will need to attend this confence with you. 

Feb. 15-18--President's Weekend--No School

March (beginning of the month)--DAD'S DOOR!!!!  I still need a few amazingly creative fathers to help decorate our classroom door for the month of March. Let me know if you are interested.  Thanks!  :)

March 5-7-- Reading State Assessments

March 15-24-- Spring Break!!!

Here is what we are doing this week:
Reading-
We will complete our novel study this week. The students will also be practicing how to compare and contrast different texts.

Spelling- Prefixes- week #2
This week we will review the prefixes we practiced last week and add two new prefixes to the list.  The final test will be on Friday.
  pre- = before
  mis- = wrong
  un- = not
  re- = again
  pro- = for, in favor of

Math-  Money and Measures of Central Tendency
We have taken a 2 week detour away from the EnVision program so that we can learn about money, which will appear on State Assessments.  We will also spend some time this week learning how to find the central value from a group of numbers in a variety of ways:
   *mode--  the most often
   *median-- the middle number
   *range-- the difference between the largest number and the smallest number

(Note:  We will also learn about the mean, or average; however, this is not a required standard for 3rd graders to know).

Social Studies and Writing-
International Festival update-- Students are just about finished typing their paragraphs.  Thank you all VERY much for helping to edit your child's work.  We are also completing our posters and finalizing our fact packets.  This week the students will be creating tissue paper flags.

Monday, January 14, 2013

January 14-18

The weather has been rather brisk and downright COLD lately.  I would like to remind you that if the temperature outside is above 20 degrees, the 3rd graders will be going out to recess.  The students will need to be wearing pants and have a WARM coat on in order for us to allow them outside.  If they come to school only wearing shorts and a sweatshirt when the temperatures are this low, then we will make those students stay inside for recess.

Here is a list of some important upcoming dates
Jan. 14-- Report Cards will be coming home in Monday Folders today.
Jan. 21-- No School-- MLK Jr. Day
Jan. 25--Crazy Hair Day
Jan. 26--Father Daughter Dance - RESCHEDULED to February 23rd
Feb. 7-- 3rd Grade International Festival (afternoon- 1-3:45)

Here is what we have planned for learning this week:
Reading- We will continue to practice synthesizing this week as we read a variety of picture books.  We are also continuing our author study on Patricia Polacco.

Reading Groups--The 3rd graders will be working on a novel study in their reading groups for the next 3 weeks.  The students will be divided into 4 groups and will get to practice reading strategies as they read a novel within these groups.  Each 3rd grade teacher will be teaching one group.  As a result, your child may get to experience reading with a different teacher for the next few weeks.

Spelling-  The pattern this week are words that contain these long vowel combinations: ow, oa, ie, igh.  The final test will be on Friday.

Math- We will finish learning about division this week with our Topic 8 test on Friday.  The students should continue to practice multiplication and division facts at home now that they have learned them all.

Social Studies and Writing-  This week our research focus will be to organize all the information that we have gathered into an outline and to write 2 paragraphs.  The first paragraph will be an introduction (using facts that were researched) and the second paragraph will be a persuasive paragraph (also using facts that were researched).  They will try to convince the reader to visit the country in which they are studying. 
PARENT EDIT-- Students will be bringing home their 2 paragraphs this weekend for parents to edit. This will be due on Tuesday Jan. 22.
               
Have a wonderful week!!