The 100th Day of School (is Wednesday, January 25th)!

The 100th Day of School is one of my most favorite days in the school year. Normally, the students and I would do special activities all day long, in between certain subjects and activities that had to be done. This year, with me only teaching one group of students for half of the day and then repeating things with a second group of students, we cannot do as much, but we will be busy and have fun during the little time that we have. The door is decorated. Each student desk has a gift on it. I have a special shirt that I wear just once a year ready to wear. I have a stamper and pad of ink ready for students’ hands and stickers for shirts.

The students have received their permission slip for our field trip. Have you seen it? It’s light purple. We have been talking a lot about the trip. I showed the students the website (www.tgms.org). The field trip directly ties to our study of Earth science.

Math Night is on Tuesday, February 7th. Your child received a bright pink flyer. I am one of the teachers on the committee. Please join us from 5-6:30 p.m., if you can.

Have you and your child been talking about math and science? Math has been all about measuring inches and learning about feet, yards, and miles. Science has been all about layers of the Earth, properties of rocks, and types of rocks. I really love what I am teaching!

Still loving 3rd grade!

But my lack of posting messages is not a reflection of that fact! Do you know that I think about letting you know about the great things that are happening in Room 16 more than once a week? Finding the time to do it (making it my first priority) just does not happen. Take today for example.

I arrived at school at about 6:45 a.m. It was still dark. It’s 5:45 p.m. now and on its way to darkness again. I’ve promised myself (and my son) that I will leave here at 7 p.m. There is not a planning period on Tuesdays. I had three meetings after school. I’ve placed phone calls to parents and email messages to staff members. I’ve planned for tomorrow in depth and am about to go make copies. There are at least one dozen other things waiting to be done too, and I will continue working at home once I eat some dinner.

I’m not complaining. I really do love being a teacher. I expect this kind of craziness. It is my life, by choice. I’m just explaining why I do not post messages every week, like I would like to.

So, here’s what happening in Room 16. Fractions. Fractions of a whole object and fraction of a set of objects. Comparing and ordering fractions. Equivalent fractions. Adding and subtracting fractions. Cutting out paper fractions. Using paper plates of different colors and pieces of different sizes to show fractions.

Here’s what else is happening in Room 16. Rocks. There are hundreds of rocks in here in baggies, in boxes, and on display. There are dozens of magnifying glasses. There are books and posters. There are papers. There are videos. There are websites. Layers of the Earth. Types of rocks. Minerals and fossils. We will be busy with this earth science topic all quarter.

Want to see your child in action? Me in action? Visit us. Anytime. Call or email me first so we can expect you. I love what I do and doing it with all 51 students.