Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Our class has earned their "marble" celebration for positive behavior and hard work (both in and outside the classroom). We decided to combine this celebration with Justin's Going Away party. We have decided to share lunch together in our classroom from 11:45-12:15 tomorrow. After recess we will have an art lesson and Brown Bag goodies. This is their idea: each student may bring in a few candies that we throw into a bowl and they help themselves to a small bag of shared treats. They said brown bag, I am picturing more of a snack size ziploc bag. (This is not required-I know it's last minute, I tried to suggest cookies-something easy I could pick up-no luck) 
. So....
Please send them with a healthy, snack-recess snack (as usual) and a smaller lunch. I suggested a piece of fruit and a drink. I will provide cheese pizza and we will enjoy lunch together!
Also...
Please remind students to wear P.E. clothes/shoes on Thursdays. I take them out (almost) every Thursday afternoon for P.E. If your child has a medical issue, please write a note.
Thank you...
Tom and Allison for the paper!!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Thank you for sending in shoe boxes for Friday's Valentine project.
Passports- Please note #9 in the Passport is not a fieldtrip.
Cursive- If your child does not have their Cursive License, they should be working on the green cursive packet at home. I need to sign off every 4 pages.
Math Facts- Six students have passed their math fact timed tests (addition, subtraction & multiplication). Please make this a daily practice if your child is still working on their fact tests. We began Topic 7 yesterday, Multiplication Part 2. They are bringing home completed workbook pages each day to review!!
Thursday- No homework was assigned for Thursday. Hopefully I will see you at the Children's Art Auction. Thank you Karen for your work and creativity. Can't wait to see the final project!
"Everything is Art" Children's Art Auction
Thursday, February 4, 6:30 -8pm
FREE event for families in the MPR.
It's a family affair!
Tuesday, January 27, 2010
Library Books- Books were due yesterday! Our class receives 'stars' toward a class party when everyone has their books in on time.
Math Test Thursday- This week's homework will help your child review material for our Topic 5 test. They are encouraged to bring any questions to me throughout the week. Tuesday they completed an open-book pretest which is going home in their folder today.
Passports- Booklets will be sent home this Friday. We discussed this 3rd grade project briefly at Back-to-School Night. Please keep booklets safe and dry until they are due in May. Instructions will go home with them Friday.
Thursday's homework is to practice math facts on the Fun Brain website. See "links" for a direct link. Students without access to a computer were directed to practice with flashcards, practice tests, card games, etc. and have an adult write a note under "parent notes" at the bottom of the homework.
Can you believe we are half way through 3rd grade? Yikes! We are having so much fun!!! Your children are intelligent, kind, and a pleasure to be with every day (even through ALL these rainy day recesses)!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The paragraph on the bottom of the MLK page is "extra credit"!
Reading for Six Flags cannot include nightly assigned reading.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Welcome Back and Happy New Year!
Homework is light this week, easing us all back in. Next Monday, students will begin filling in parts of their homework sheet. Please make sure they are reading and practicing math facts on a daily basis and that you continue to check their assignment sheets.
We began work on our solar system reports just before the break. Each student has been taking notes, both in the library and in the computer lab. This week, William's mom will be assisting us in developing Power Point presentations. Each student will create their own slides using the information they have recorded. A great big thank you to Mrs. De Wolf! We will be sure to share these with you 
.
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Tuesday, December 22, 2009
I cannot thank you ALL enough for the gift cards to my favorite places! I have already been to Pete's, Starbucks and Bath & Body, and it's only day 4 of vacation. What fun!!!
I had a couple of spare hours and decided to give my first e-card a try. Sorry the font is small, it may not picture everyone, and there are advertisements. I didn't want to commit to paid membership just yet!
To view my thank you/class slide show/happy holidays card...
Clink on "Links" and then "Thank you" (bottom right)
Enjoy your family time!
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Thursday, December 10, 2009
I wanted to give everyone a "heads up" for next week. Students that have not already done so, will bring their paper home tomorrow to create their Family Traditions poster. The posters may be returned to school when they are complete, but are due no later than Wednesday.
Please help your child practice a brief (1-3 minute) presentation about their tradition. They may use notes cards if they would like. I am most interested in eye contact (with students, not just the floor or the teacher) and voice projection at this point.
Lastly, we have a fun "used book exchange" activity I would like to do with them on Thursday. If you have a gently used (cover & pages are there :) book that your child enjoyed and is ready to part with, please have them wrap it up, put a From: their name tag on it, and bring it to school by Wednesday. That will give me time to raid our home library if any students do not have one. These MUST be used!
This is the homework for next week. No Homework Sheets will go home on Monday. They do have a spelling test, but we will also practice in class.
To recap:
Homework for December 14-18
1. Poster due Wednesday- return Mon. or Tues. if finished
2. Used, wrapped book due Wednesday- bring Mon. or Tues. if ready
3. Have child practice short presentation about their tradition
4. Spelling test Friday....we will practice in class too
Happy Hanukkah
to our families that begin their celebration this weekend!
Monday, December 7, 2009 Happy Birthday Emma!
The homework is light this week to provide time to work on the Traditions Project. The interview portion is due this Wednesday. Students are interviewing you and writing the information down themselves. I will read over the interviews and hand them back. You don't need to make a copy of the poster directions. They will be returned Wednesday. The information collected during the interview process should help guide the students in creating their poster and practicing oral presentations. Students must show me their poster draft before they pick up their poster paper. They have seen sample posters from last year and I will show them sample drafts tomorrow. They may pick up their posters when they bring in the completed homework packet with the draft-NO LATER than Friday.
For this week...
interview due Wednesday and poster draft due by Friday
It is an absolute joy to work with your children. Thank you for sending them in rested, prepared, and ready to work. I love teaching this group!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Happy Birthday Jack and Happy Birthday Anna!
Hope you all enjoyed a week of quality, family time. I certainly did. Only a few weeks to go before Winter Break!
Talent Show: There will be an informational meeting on Wednesday, December 2nd at 2:15 in the MPR for those who are interested in the talent show. The applications will be passed out then and the theme revealed!
Library: Library Books are due tomorrow. Please watch the books make there way into the backpacks! We have library this Thursday.
Holiday Helper: We are collecting new toys, games, clothing, sports equipment, books and any other new, unwrapped items for the Holiday Helper program. Items can be brought to our classroom any day this week. A cash donation envelope is also hanging in our classroom. Please do what is comfortable for your family.
Food Drive: I know many of you donated through work, neighborhood drives and the Cub Scouts! If you have a can or two left, please send in any non-parishable goods to the class. So far we have 1 can of soup. (I ate the other can I brought in for lunch last week, but I will replace it
)
Cursive: This week will complete our in class cursive program. We have been working on correct letter formation since September. Using the Handwriting Without Tears books, we went through every letter in the alphabet and practiced all formations and links. A few students recently received their license to write in cursive (congratulations Jack, Anya, and Kristen). The rest of the class continues practice (10 minutes- four mornings each week). When their cursive book is complete and checked, they are given another packet to practice writing at an angle. Students may decide which style they prefer. After this week, students will take the unfinished books and packets home to work on. They should do 2-4 pages each day and MUST have them checked every 4th page before continuing. Once they have earned their license, anything and everything may be done in cursive! Please make sure they continue to work at home and don't misplace the books/packets! For many of the students this is their FAVORITE part of 3rd grade!
Family Traditions/Celebrations Project: We have just completed our Traditions reading unit. An assignment will be handed out for a three part project including an interview, poster, and presentation. This week's writing assignment is to get them thinking! It may be "part" of an overall celebration. For example, if you celebrate Christmas, you may have a tradition of making gingerbread houses every year.
Just Right Books: We are heading back to the computer lab for our monthly Scholastic Reading Inventory quiz. I will meet with each student to discuss their 'just right' level. Mrs. Thomas, our librarian, has a fantastic link on her Teacher Web that helps families understand the leveling guides and select books. Please check out her site (available through our links).
Please feel free to email, call, or drop by with questions, concerns or comments. This is a fantastic group of students. You are doing an amazing job with them!
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Monday, November 16, 2009 Happy Birthday Luca!
Thank you for all those Box Tops! We won the cereal party
!
This fantastic group of 3rd graders is going 'double or nothing' for a marble celebration. We just might be enjoying doughnuts and a movie Thursday! Ask them what they have been doing since September to earn it.
Report Cards go home this Wednesday. Please let me know if you have any questions.
We sent letters to our 3rd grade buddies at Montair School last week. Looking forward to their reply.
Take a moment today to look through your child's homework folder.
Look over returned work and graded tests and
preview the weekly homework assignments.
Click on "calendar" for important dates and information....two announcements for tomorrow!
Thank you!
Holly Ravin
Monday, November 9, 2009
Library books were due today! Please return them tomorrow!
Tomorrow is also the day to wear RED, WHITE and BLUE.
Book orders are due this Friday.
Check out the new link for Veteran's Day. Homework is limited this week and they do not have a spelling test to study for. This should allow extra time for reading, math fact practice, visit to the Veteran's website, and of course, doing careful work on the picture dictionary page. Several students completed page two of the picture dictionary. If it is NEAT and DETAILED they may proceed to the next page. Many of them were told to redo or complete page 2. They may bring the packet in for me to check if they wish to go on to page 3 and 4.
Please take a moment today to look through your child's homework folder.
Look over returned work and graded tests and
preview the weekly homework assignments.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Parents,
Please take a moment today to look through your child's homework folder.
Look over returned work and graded tests and
preview the weekly homework assignments. A new reading log has been included. If your child absolutely reads a minimum of 20 minutes each day, and you do not feel it is necessary for them to record and sign their reading log, please make a note of it on the new reading log. I will tape it in the folder and you don't have to use it again.
Tests, tests, and more tests...
We completed Math Topic 4 today. Students were tested on their subtraction skills and will have those tests in their folders today! Please look over the test and keep it at home. Scores of 3- , 2, or 1 should be reviewed with a parent at home and returned. Sometimes they just need another adult's undivided attention for it to 'click'. I will review the concepts again with those students when their tests are returned.
The Earth, Sun, and Moon test needs to be signed and returned.
The Scholastic Reading Inventory printout is also coming home today. This is a list of 'Just Right' books.
Happy Birthday to Mrs. Cowles
. She celebrates another year on Wednesday.
Class pictures are this Thursday. Please take an extra moment before school to check your outfit and hair
.
There are two
Extra assignments this week. They can be turned in on Monday if you would like the weekend to work on them.
Library books are not due until next Monday, but can be returned before.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!
~Holly Ravin
Please review the contents of your child's homework folder. Preview the homework for the week, look over graded tests, past assignments, and announcements from the school.
5 students need to return the moon phase assignment tomorrow, Tuesday. They were due today.
12 students took the moon phase paper back home to continue for extra credit over the next 15 days. Their papers are marked with a highlighter line after the last day completed. The papers that went back home for extra credit (at student's request) were not yet corrected by Mrs. Cowles. I simply drew a line to indicate they met the initial deadline.
4 students have library books to return tomorrow!
1 student returned her writing journal today! Nice work Katie!