| JUNE 13---ADIEU
Thanks to everyone who contributed time and treats for the party. The
children went on a scavenger hunt to say thanks and give a token of
appreciation to those many people who have shared so much with us this year:
Mrs. Payne, Mrs. Steele, Mrs. Smithson, Mrs. Applebach, Mrs. McClaren, and
the office staff. We then had some wet and wild games in the "cage".
The children will bring home work and school materials today. The
certificates for their achievements will also be there, so you may want to
search through their bookbags. Report cards will be mailed home.
Again, we want to thank you for all you have done this year.
We will miss the two students going to different schools in different
cities. Remember, once an eagle, always an eagle.
DON'T FORGET OUR SUMMER READING PROGRAM, "ELECT TO READ".
IT IS AN EASY WAY TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE SKILLS IN READING. THE PUBLIC
LIBRARIES OFFER OTHER INCENTIVES AND THAT WORK CAN BE COUNTED TOWARDS THE
ODC PROGRAM.
Wow...it is hard to believe, but this is the final week of third grade for
the K-9s and the Crazy Eights.
The students finished their explorer presentations today. The video will be
available to watch on the day of the party if parents are so inclined.
Thursday and Friday are half days. Please plan accordingly.
The End of the Year Party will be on Thursday starting at ________ (I need
to check.)
Please let your child know if they are to buy lunch on Thursday or Friday.
The party has an ice cream sundae treat, but no main course.
Thanks.
June 6,2008
The final reading log is due Monday. This is a key to Movie Monday.
The final two groups in Mrs. Rychlik's class need to make their Explorer
presentations on Monday. The "costume" is shorts to the knee with high knee
socks, a white shirt and perhaps a vest. The 6 groups that gave their
presentations today did a good job.
June 4, 2008
Reading Log: You need to read and respond.
Social Studies: Complete the Explorer Booklet.
Tomorrow the explorer groups that do not have students in Art and Dance will
present their play about the explorer that they researched. For the filming
a simple costume of dark short or slacks with a white shirt and/or vest is
requested. Long tube socks to represent stockings would be a nice touch.
Girls, please tie your long hair back in a pony tail. (Sorry, girls were not
allowed to travel in the Age of Exploration. You must appear incognito
(disguise). This project will be taped.
Thanks to all parents who sent in snacks and drinks for field day. A big
thanks goes to the parents who visited and helped with Field Day. We could
not do this without you. :)
June 3
Reading Log: Read and respond.
All About Me: Please complete the pages on mom and dad in the booklet
tonight. You need to talk with your parents to help finish this.
Language Arts: All students need to be finished with chapter 5 of the Green
Book. A few children need to complete this tonight.
EXPLORER PROJECTS: Today the students continued working on the scripts,
maps, and tools. The students are NOT finished and will begin presentations
on FRIDAY, June 6 and MONDAY June 9. The costumes should be ready for these
days, not tomorrow. Thanks for helping your child with the "costume" as
described in the announcement section.
June 2- June 6
Reading Log: Read and respond
If you have any CLASSWORK not completed for the Green Book, it must be
complete. This includes the answer to the questions for chapters 2-5. You
need to have this done for your reading grade.
May 27-May 30
May 30, 2008
Complete your reading log and get it signed.
Next week we will send a more formal schedule of what will occur in the
final two weeks. Next Thursday is Field Day in the morning for second and
third graders. If a parent could bring a cooler with ice for the students'
water bottles, that would be great. Any donations of drink boxes would be
appreciated. Hopefully, the weather will be beautiful. Please make sure that
each child has sun screen applied before they leave home. I believe it takes
at least 1/2 to activate and this needs to be applied by a parent.
All students have finished make-ups and we are "sailing on" with our
research on explorers. Each child will need to "dress the part" of an
explorer. The costume ideas are simple: knee length short or pants tucked
into larger tube socks, a plain white shirt, possibly a vest, dark shoes or
boots, and an old fashioned hat if already owned. Girls will tie their hair
back to play the role. (Sorry, no girls were allowed on the ships during the
Age of Exploration.) We are planning on video taping the presentations next
Wed. and Fri. Students going to art and dance will obviously be filmed on
Wed.
Have a great weekend!!
May 29
Reading Log: Read and respond
Homelink: Complete both sides of the homelink
Language Arts: If you have not finished the map of Shine, do this tonight.
If you owe Mrs. Rychlik the compare and contrast work of the I, Columbus and
Pedro's Journal, this needs to be completed also.
May 28
Reading Log: All students need to read and complete a response.
If your Chapter 3 questions on The Green Book are not completed, do this
this evening.
Tell your mom and dad about the research that you are doing on your explorer.
We hope that you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. We were thrilled at
how well the students diligently performed on the SOLs. The use of the test
taking strategies that they learned throughout the year and with Mrs.
McClellan was wonderful. It is very good to have our DI students back. We
are proud of their performances. We know that you will help them get a good
night's sleep and a good breakfast before the SOL make-up tests.
Reading: Tonight's assignment is to read Chapter 3 of the Green Book and
create map of the planet for Ms. Doheny's class.
Mrs. Rychlik's class has a reading log to complete.
If anyone in either group has not finished the assignments for Chapter 1 and
Chapter 2, the assignments need made up tonight.
May 18-22
As PROMISED there is no written homework for the week of SOLs.
Reviewing notes, books, and internet sites at home is allowed.
We are planning an ice cream spree on Friday. Mrs. Rychlik and I are
supplying bowls, spoons, and icecream. If you could send in a topping for
the spree, it would be most appreciated.
The treat will occur at lunch on Friday.
May 12-16
Thursday, May 15
Reading Log
Math: Complete both sides of the homelink
Wednesday, May 14
Reading Log
Math: Complete Homelink
Miss Doheny's class: Motivation for exploration: Complete booklet, explain
the motivations to a parent, and give him or her the quiz.
(Mrs. Rychlik's class will complete this with the parent tomorrow night.)
Monday, May 12
Reading Log: Read and respond.
Math: Complete both sides of the assignment.
Reading: Finish answering the questions on the Explorer's article.
Week of May 5-May 9
Friday, May 9
First, thank you to all our students and their parents for the warm and
thoughtful notes and gifts that you sent in for Teacher Appreciation Week.
You really made this week a very special one. The handwritten notes and
gifts will be placed with the treasures that we have accumulated over the
years. These will have a special place in our hearts.
To all the mothers: We wish you a very happy Mother's Day. We hope your day
is special, relaxing, and memorable. Thank you for sharing your special
child with us.
Finally,
Reading Logs need completed for Monday. They are the best ticket to Movie
Mondays at lunch. :)
May 8, 2008
Reading Log
Word Study: All groups have a word study test tomorrow. You need to turn in
a timed sort and a writing sort with your test. If you have a student choice
activity it will count as extra credit.
Finally, if your Mandala for your African proverb is not done, it needs to
be completed tonight.
May 7, 2008
Reading Log: Read and Respond
Social Studies: Read the blue sheet and answer the five multiple choice
questions. You need to write a paragraph about our field trip, and the words
on the multiple choice questions may be helpful for your writing.
Thanks so much for all of our wonderful teacher appreciation week surprises.
We had a great time on the field trip and hope that you did, too.
Don't forget to tell your parents about what you loved on the field trip.
Maybe this would be a great place to visit with your family again.
May 6, 2008
Reading Log
Homelink: Do both sides.
Bring a lunch and drink for tomorrow's field trip to the Mariners Museum.
Reading Log: Read and respond.
Math: Homelink Complete both the partial-products algorithm and the lattice
algorithm
Word Study: Yellow and Green Groups: Sort-Show-Share
Blue group: Write 5 sentences using 10 of your word study words.
Children, thanks for the flowers, pencils, Starbucks cards, and special
surprises. We loved being remembered with such kindness.
Mrs. Rychlik is so excited about Room 8's fish surprise. She loves the idea
of getting a new angel fish...I suggested an angle fish, but she said,"No!"
Week of April 28- May 2, 2008
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Word Study: Yellow and Green: Write Sort
Blue Group: No assignment
Reading Log: Read and Respond
Homelink: Complete homelink and use both the partial product and lattice
algorithms to solve the four practice problems.
Wednesday, April 30
Word Study: Teacher's choice
Social Studies: Complete study for Mali test tomorrow. Your review sheet
needs to be completed, signed, and returned tomorrow for the bonus credit.
Reading Log: Read and respond.
Did you talk to mom and dad about the Theatre 4 play we saw yesterday about
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr? Do your parents know what Martin's name was
before he was 5 years old? What did Martin's family call him?
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Word Study: Timed Sort and Teacher's choice
Reading Log: Read and respond
Social Studies: continue preparing for Thursday's Mali test. See information
in Monday's assignment. Some students have not read their text books yet,
and this is a very necessary component of their preparation.
Monday, April 28
Word Study: All groups S-S-S (Sort, show, and share.
Reading Log: You may use one entry this week for reading your social studies
text, pp. 12-15 and pp. 22-25.
Social Studies: Read text (see above pages) and review the study guide with
an adult. Answers to the 4 questions and a parent signature will earn you 3
bonus points. Both the signature and answers are required.
Folders, letters of intent, report card envelopes and inserts, as well as
outstanding field trip permission slips and money would be appreciated as
soon as possible.
Week of April 21-April 25 START FOURTH QUARTER
Friday, April 25---Happy Report Card Day
Reading Log: Complete your 60 minutes of reading and your four responses.
Returns: Please return the following items if you have not already done so:
blue INTENT LETTERS and FIELD TRIP PERMISSION AND $7.50.
Report cards: Return the ENVELOPE AND GOLDEN ROD GIFTED INSERT. The actual
report card is yours to keep. Have a wonderful weekend.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Reading Log: Read and respond.
Homelink: Complete. On the back I attached the letter about ePATs. I am
sorry if you had difficulties getting in to the site. The Portaportals has
sites that are listed under SOL Reviews. The Jefferson Lab site has release
tests. The reasons for practice include increasing their confidence that the
tested material is well-known to them and that they will be successful.
Wednesday, April 23
Reading: Read and respond
Language Arts: Some of Ms. Doheny's class
Math: Homelink. Please notice the information at the bottom with regards to
SOL practice tests. On the Portaportal link on the Old Donation Center
Homepage, there are links that will support your child. Today we took the
ePAT math practice. There is also a reading practice at this site. The
Jefferson Lab site under SOL Review on the Portaportal page.
Tuesday, April 22...Happy Earth Day.
Readining Log: Read and respond.
Homelink: Complete the page AND practice multiplication facts for speed...on-
line games, flash cards, using your decks of cards at home to generate
numbers. You need to be able to calculate times facts quickly.
Language Arts to Finish...if you didn't do this today in class.
Purple sheet-This is to compare your Sundiata stories
Letter to the president concerning global warming.
Finish these two products, if you did not do this in class today.
Reading Log: Read and respond.
Ms. Doheny's homeroom: Mrs. Rychlik assigned you the Timbuktu paragraph to
read and respond to in COMPLETE sentences.
Week of April 14--17 (Students are off on Friday for Teacher Work Day.)
Thursday, April 17
Wow!! The Tattoo was a fantastic event. (I can still hear the music and the
motorcycles!!) Yesterday's science lab was a wonderful learning event.
For Monday, the students need to finish their reading log and complete a
writing sort (yellow and green groups). Blue group study your word maps.
Have a wonderful weekend. We look forward to starting the fourth quarter
with you on Monday. :)
Tuesday, April 15
Reading Log
Word Study: All groups complete a student choice. Yellow and green groups
ALSO have timed sorts.
Students: Make sure that your taxes are completed and mailed before
midnight. If you are using Turbotax, you probably have a few more minutes.
If you are not finished, please file an extension.
Parents: Ask your students about the play, Oliver Twist. :)
Also, thanks to the parents who volunteered for Soil Lab tomorrow.
Monday
Word Study: Sort-Show-Share for the yellow and green groups.
Blue group: Finish your word map
Reading Log: Read and respond.
Homelink: Follow the directions and complete the homelink.
Reminders: Wednesday is Science Lab. Ms. Doheny's lab time is 8:45-10:45 and
Mrs. Rychlik's lab time is 11:45-1:45. Parent volunteers report at 8:15 and
11:15. The Tatoo Field Trip is on Thursday.
Students need to bring a lunch and a drink. :)
Thursday, April 10
Reading Log: Read and respond.
Word Study: Yellow and Green groups: Writing Sort
Math: Homelink and practice multiplication facts for speed.
Ms. Doheny's group: Finish the modern Mali map.
Wednesday, April 9
Reading Log: Read and respond
Homelink: Complete Math page. Please work on your automasticity on knowing
your multiplication facts.
Word Study: Each group has a teacher's choice activity.
Tuesday, April 8
Reading Log: Read and respond.
Word Study: Blue groups need to finish all of their word maps from the list
in your yellow notebook.
Yellow/ Green Groups: You need to complete your speed sorts and a Student
Choice.
Ms. Doheny's Homeroom: Complete the questions about Mali that you think we
should learn to have a deep understanding about Mali. We will use these in
class tomorrow.
Sorry, Mrs. Rychlik's Homeroom: I didn't reverse the assignments, BUT you
need to practice your multiplication facts for speed.
Be sure to share with your parents the information you learned at the
assembly this afternoon. :)
Monday, April 7
Reading Log: Read nightly for 15 minutes. Use the guiding questions in your
planner to create a good response. Remember to have this completed and
signed to participate in MOVIE MONDAY.
Word Study: Blue group has to finish their five word maps.
Yellow and Green Groups: Sort-Show-Share your words, patterns, and
generalizations to your parents.
A few students may have their "SAW" to finish. This is the task of sorting,
alphabetizing, and writing their word patterns of the week.
Doheny's Homeroom: Complete the homelink on parentheses.
Rychlik's Homeroom: Complete the question page about information you think
we need to know about Mali.
These assignments will be reversed tomorrow.
Ongoing work:
1.It is critical that the mastery of multiplication and division facts
occurs now. some students are gaining in their automasticity of solving
multiplication problems, but some still would benefit from some practice at
home to increase their speed at solving the problems.The sites on
Portaportals for math games as well as the Everyday Math
site are good sites for practice.
The ePat site will also provide practice
for reading and math Standards of Learning (SOLs) tests that we will have in
May.
2.. Please check out the ePATS:Electronic Practice Assessments for 3rd, 4th,
and 5th graders. On the ODC webpage this resource can be accessed by
downloading and installing the ePAT launcher. The most current released Math
and Reading Items are available.
Homework in third grade should be approximately thirty minutes per evening.
Regular reading at home is a daily homework assignment. Students should
complete the log with the title of the book and a sentence to summarize or
make predictions or connections about the reading completed that day. Sixty
minutes per week is a minimum expectation for students. Many children choose
to extend the time that they read daily. Logs are due on Mondays. Please
encourage independent reading as a time to foster reading skill,open your
child to new ideas and the enjoyment of reading, and satisfy personal
inquisitiveness. The recommended reading levels based on the Directed Reading
Level (DRA).
Students have been tested and placed in word study groups appropriate to
their developmental level.They will receive their word study lists each
Monday. Homework will be a contract format with assignments due on Friday in
conjunction with their weekly test.
Homelinks are math pages that are used for homework. Ms. Doheny will also
generate other materials for homework that focus on needs or extend the
students' skills. The need for mastery of basic addition and subtraction
skills for each child is critical. Some students may need to practice more
than others to obtain proficiency in this building block of computation.
Science and Social Studies will also be regularly assigned. Review of
specific material will be assigned through a variety of activities. At quiz
and test time, please help your child review material. The FAQ link has
additional ideas about this.
Hopefully, homework will be a good time for your child to practice skills,
to learn how to study for tests, and to keep you current with your child's
assignments. This past summer we heard an emminent professor from the
Unversity of Viginia discussing "educational learning opportunities" which
give children a chance to investigate or further explore a topic. We hope to
make our homework match that goal of an important educational learning
opportunity.
Thank you for the support that you give your child with this.
| |
