Next week will be full of early-out days and parent-teacher conferences so this week is the last regular week (new spelling words, grammar lesson, writing focus, reading skill and strategy, reading vocabulary words and story, words of the week, etc.). Directions were given today for the October Book Report. There was a fire drill late this afternoon.
If your child receives challenge spelling words, ask him/her what he/she did with Mrs. Ellsworth, the REACH (gifted education) teacher. She came today to do a special lesson. Our focus in grammar is nouns, both common (ordinary, general ones that do not need a capital letter) and proper (specific person, place, animal, or thing that needs a capital letter) ones. Ask your child to name nouns around your home.
Today was one of those all-around great days. Everything went well or better than well. The day ended with the monthly Spirit Day Assembly. Our class had the most Lunch Bunch points (39) and “won” for our grade level. The students will receive a prize from Mr. McConnell next week. David got recognized as our Student of the Month, and Suzy received a Roaring Reader shirt for completing many hours of reading this past summer.
The students worked well both independently and cooperatively. After being together for so many weeks, everyone knows what is expected. There are many tests on Fridays, and the students seem to try their best.
I am excited that for the first weekend this school year I don’t think I need to come to school. I will have much work to do at home, but I think I will have everything organized for Monday by the time I leave today. I am really looking forward to spending time with my family and some friends this weekend. I hope your weekend is good.
Today is my day/night to stay late so I feel like I have time to blog. I cannot keep up with all of the demands/expectations that I put on myself and the school and district put on me without staying late once a week (and taking work home each night) (and coming to school at least once each weekend).
Everyone has arrived at school and arrived on time for two days in a row. Did you know that whenever it is someone’s birthday in our class, I play the guitar and we all sing “Happy Birthday?” The students seem to be getting along well in their new seat assignments.
Ask your child what Rocket Math test he/she is on. There are students from test D to test L, quite a range of success. If your child brings home a test where he/she did not pass, please have your child spend no more than five minutes practicing. He/she will take the same test the following day.
Has your child told you that some plant experiments are going on in our classroom and Mrs. Milton’s classroom? Ask your child if his/her baggie of beans is taped to the window, on the sink counter, or by the books.
Hello all. Did your child tell you that Elvis visited us Thursday afternoon to bring the On Time Club award? Did your child tell you that everyone switched seats today? The students were really excited about both things.
The students worked well today. There were many periods of time when the room was silent, and the students were working independently. The spelling words this week will be difficult for many students – silent letters and letters that make sounds that they shouldn’t. The September Book Report is due on Friday; about half of the students have turned theirs in. I will give out the directions and materials for the October Book Report on Monday.
Today was a great day! The students are working so well collectively and individually. After about 30 days together, we “get” each other. If you ever have a chance to see how well all goes, please do visit us.
During social studies, the students made a map of a familiar place, being sure to include a title, a compass rose, symbols, and a legend or map key. We looked at and talked about landforms/geographic terms.
During writing, the conversation revolved around editing and revising. The students each chose a piece of writing from the past weeks to edit and revise. Tomorrow, they will write a final copy of it – publish – the final step in the writing process.
Our class achieved ON TIME CLUB today. Each day that all 22 students are on time and present at school, a letter is earned. A prize will be given in the upcoming days. We should be able to finish reading The Trumpet of the Swan by the end of the quarter. Ask your child what Louis did in Boston.
Where does the time go? When was the last message I posted? I spent the latter part of last week preparing paperwork for a grant that the district is a part of it (means money for me). I am trying to keep on top of grading and recording student work. Something has to give each day because I cannot do it all. I need two of me or 48 hours in a day. Anyone?
Yesterday, I played the guitar to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” while the students sang a song about multiple intelligences. Today, the students worked silently on writing about The Trumpet of the Swan – responding to literature (text to self, text to text, text to world). The students received a class compliment from the cafeteria workers for being polite during the past days.
This quarter of school is more than halfway over. I feel like I have known the students for much longer than weeks. I enjoy being this class’s teacher.
I may have reached the time where this blog becomes an every other day occurrence. Yesterday, I had a meeting before school and three meetings after school (had to leave campus for one). Then it was Math Night. Today I had one very long meeting after school. I’ve so much to do…
Some students have finished their first AR book and taken a test. Ask your child about this. We did social studies work today. Ask your child about this, too. The students are getting excited thinking about the story (this week’s writing focus) they are getting ready to write this week. I wonder if they will choose to write realistic fiction or fantasy. After almost five full weeks of school, all is going quite well in Room 16. Visit us sometime and see!
If your child comes home tired on Mondays, here’s why.
In reading class, there’s a new skill and a new strategy to learn/review and new vocabulary words to learn. There’s a new story to be introduced to. There’s almost always a new lesson in math class.
There are new spelling words to learn and a spelling pre-test to take. There is a new grammar focus to learn. There are new cursive letters to form. There is either a new type of writing to become familiar with or an old piece of writing to finish (today it was an old piece).
The students are becoming familiar with Rocket Math. Ask your child if he/she is on Test B, C, or D (multiplication facts). Ask your child if he/she can remember the funny-sounding name of the camp that Sam Beaver and Louis are headed to in The Trumpet of the Swan. Ask your child if he/she has unfinished work.
Hopefully, I will see many of you at Math Night tomorrow night at 6 p.m.
Okay. So yesterday I didn’t post a message. I knew it would happen sooner or later. I leave earlier than usual on Thursdays to take Ashton to his piano lesson.
Things are good in Room 16. The students, for the most part, follow the rules. There are periods of time during independent work when it is silent in the classroom. Overall, the students want to do what is expected and do their best.
Each student is reading an AR (Accelerated Reader) book now. Ask your child what he/she is reading. When students finish reading an AR book, they can take a computerized test that shows their comprehension of the story. We’re just getting started with this. Like many other things (multiplication, cursive writing, AIMS Testing), it starts in 3rd grade. You can visit the school library to see which books are labeled AR. There are hundreds if not thousands of them.
Happy weekend!
We have officially begun Rocket Math. Almost every child passed Test A (multiply any number times 1). The students were excited. First, they practice. Then, there’s the one minute test (40 facts in one minute). Each child gets to color a space on the rocket when he/she passes a test. There are 23 tests. I am keeping a large chart that shows who passed which test on what day. Learning multiplication facts is a huge deal in third grade. If your child learns them now, he/she will know them for the rest of his/her life.
