This was a great week in so many ways.  Two of my big take-aways were that partnerships in reading and writing are growing so much.  They are communicating better and helping one another.  Also, we took some time to do a craft today. They made adorable Valentine Gnomes.  And speaking of that, earlier this week I put out some random paper and the kids LOVED it.  They were making signs, hats, and other things.  I love when they just use their own creativity.

Reading Logs

January reading logs are due next week.  A new one will be sent home on Monday.

PE Apparel

Kids Heart Challenge

Valentine’s Day

We have library on Monday and it seems that less and less kids are checking out books because they already have books checked out.  I always tell the kids, don’t return them for the sake of returning them because if you are reading them, that is great.  But if they are just sitting at home, bring them back to school to get something you will want to read.

Beginning Monday, we are starting a unit on studying characters.  I would like the students to be able to get at least 1-2 books in their reading level that they can read and discuss in class. Then they can check out one more to being home for the week.

Please send back any library books by Monday that are not being read!

Winter came back!  With this comes all sorts of new things to do at recess.  Please make sure you send your child fully dressed for the winter weather.  It’s a long 20 minutes out there when you are cold, also if students wear their boots, they are not allowed to play on the field.  They must stay on the blacktop.

Report Cards

Report cards will be sent home on Friday in a sealed envelope with your child.

Homework

We are at that mid-point in the year where routines start to become more relaxed and school work isn’t at it’s finest.  Each week your child is responsible for a homework packet, practicing math facts, spelling words, and reading 30 minutes each night.  I’ve noticed that students are not passing their math facts as fast as they used to be and are “stuck” on a fact.  Also, the spelling dictation sentences haven’t been as strong.  Please set up good study habits for your child, even if you have to make a check list of things for them to complete each day after school.  This will help with their own independence.

Reading

Next week we are starting a new unit called Literary Essays.  Students will be put into book clubs to read the same book and have group discussions about the characters and lessons that the character is learning.  This is a fun unit and students always grow from learning from the peers during these book club discussions.

Writing

Our writing unit aligns with our reading unit of Literary Essays.  Students will practice writing about a character and describing their traits by using examples from the text.  We write several of these together before students are required to write one on their own.  This can be more difficult by using the examples, transition words, and paragraphing.

Math

We will be finishing our rounding and three digit addition and subtraction unit next week with a test mid-week.  A review sheet will come home and you will have a chance to go over problems with your child for better understanding.

Winter break is February 5-8.  Students have an early release on Friday, Feb. 5 and then Monday, Feb. 8 with no school.

Happy New Year!!!  I hope all of you have had a great start to 2021!  For me personally it has been a rough go, but I am happy to be back in the classroom and with these students every day.  They are a great distraction and bring a happy smile to my face.  They may have come home and shared with you some of my “updates” as they call them, from the week.  The last week of my break was very eventful.  I took a spill skiing and hurt my knee.  I think it’s just a sprain but I will find out for sure next week Friday at my orthopedic appointment.  After that I rode, because I couldn’t drive, with my daughter as she moved to Florida (OUCH!).  It was fresh after my fall and my knee was feeling quite painful but as a mom, that’s what I needed to do.  We finally found her and her friend an apartment.  Then as her friend’s parents drove down two days behind us in a moving van, it was stolen from the hotel parking lot.  I found out it was stolen as I was boarding the plane to come home.  Talk about feeling helpless.  So they have spent the week with the police trying to find the truck.  It was found, but many of their belongings were gone or damaged.  So it just has just been a rollercoaster week.

However, in school, we have been rock steady.  The students have transitioned very well back into our routine and learning.  I am so proud of their attitudes and effort.

Writing

We are finishing up our informational writing books.  I can’t wait to read about something they are passionate and know a lot about.

Reading

Our reading unit ties in with our writing in that we are reading informational texts.  Currently we are studying the main idea and supporting details.  The students are also learning that you must read informational writing a lot slower than fiction.  After each section they are doing a quick stop and asking themselves who are we talking about and what is the topic.

Math

This week we have focused on adding three digit numbers.  Students have done this with equations, word problems, and from charts.  The wording on the charts can be tricky so we are working slowly through these talking about math action words.

Their math tests went home this week.  Overall, they did very well.  This wasn’t an easy test and it was disrupted with virtual learning so I am very proud of how they did.

Keep practicing math facts.  We have students all over the place on the fact family they are learning.  Once they pass 1-10, they can practice 11s and 12s for extra learning.  Only 1-10 needs to be mastered for 3rd grade.  After everyone has passed we will take tests on mixed facts to keep their fluency high.

Homework

A homework packet was sent home on Monday and a new January reading log went home on Wednesday.

Early Release

Next week Friday is an early release day for teachers to have building meetings and work on report cards.

Snacks and Lysol Wipes

If you happen to find a good deal on some snacks or Lysol wipes, we could use some in the classroom.  We have sanitizer in the room that we use, but the Lysol wipes work for a quick cleaning and pick up.  Some good snack ideas are goldfish crackers, graham crackers, cheese-its, and other crackers like that.

That’s about it.  If I forgot anything, send me an email and ask away.  🙂 Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the sunshine!

2020 was a year to remember that is for sure.  I am thankful that as a class, we ended 2020 on a high note.  The kids enjoyed making their Christmas gifts for you.  I know some of them couldn’t wait to have you open the presents and some of the kids were going to wait until Christmas. Either way I hope you enjoy their creativity.

Also, they were so excited about the card games!  This is one of my favorite gifts to give them.  My family has always played cards and board games when we get together.  It’s a great bonding time and creates so many memories. It also teaches something new that’s not an electronic.  I hope they came home and showed the family how to play and that you will continue to do these games together.

I want to thank you for the overwhelming generosity of your gifts and kind words.  They all have meant so much to me.  I am so thankful that I have your child in my class.  Our class has overcome many obstacles this year and they continue to impress me how they handle these varying situations.  They are resilient and strong already as 3rd graders.

If you are looking for a craft to do over the break, this is a loom video on how to make a glitter jar.

I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  Enjoy this time together!

Here are a few pictures from our week:

Georgetown has HOLIDAY SPIRIT! 

Monday, December 14:  Cozy Holiday Socks and/or slippers

Tuesday, December 15:  Holiday Headgear: Holiday hats, headbands, hair and/or scarves

Wednesday, December 16:  Holiday Sweater Day -Ugly or Cute

Thursday, December 17: Polar Express Party – Pajama Day- Holiday themed if you have them!  (Just for our class)

Friday, December 18: Holiday Spirit Day- wear your red and green and white!

The school themed PJ Day is Friday but since we are having our party on Thursday, we flip-flopped.  We have to wear our pajama’s for the Polar Express! 🙂

Reading Logs

November reading logs are due no later than Monday, December 14 to get a free reading ticket. A January reading log will be sent home on January 4.

Polar Express Party

Thank you to all of the parents who volunteered to send in treats for our party.  Please send them to school by Wednesday, even though our party is on Thursday.  Also, we are doing a gift exchange this year so that each child can give 19 gifts to their classmates.  These gifts can be candy, a card they made at home, stickers, erasers, anything you’d like big or small. Please send a gift bag for them to be collected in anytime before December 18.

Scholastic News

This week I sent home a Scholastic News and another one will be coming home next week.  Unfortunately we will not have time to read these in class right now.  I encourage the students to read these and then they can go to Scholastic News through clever.com to watch videos and learn more about this information.  Right now in both reading and writing we are learning about informational texts.  Scholastic News provides great, true information that is relatable and relevant to 3rd grade learning.

Math Test

We’ve done some reviewing this week from Unit 2 that we had to stop just before Thanksgiving break.  Today we started the review sheet and we will finish it on Monday.  Tuesday will be the math test.  Please set some time aside during this busy time of year to look over the math review with your child.

This is all I can think of for now.  I’m sure I forgot something and will need to update you again.

We did it! We made it through remote online learning! I am so thankful for all of you parents, grandparents, babysitters, and students who worked together to make online learning happen.  We had great participation and I am so proud of each of the students for showing grit and working so hard through their work.

I am very excited to see students back in class tomorrow.  Here is a reminder of what was sent home and what needs to come back to school tomorrow:

• math book
• writing notebook
• grammar notebook
• bag of markers and supplies
• log in badge for Clever
• art folder
• recorder (if you brought one home)
• lightbulb
• mask (or two in backpacks)

I hope everyone gets a good night’s rest tonight and I will see everyone when the doors open at 8:35 tomorrow.

This Loom video link will help you get your child on to Google Classroom.  We have our first Zoom meeting at 8:45 on Monday, November 30.  The links for both the morning and afternoon meetings are in Google Classroom.  Beginning on Tuesday, December 1 we will start our daily schedule.  This of course, is just a template.  I will have more information included in the boxes for each day.

The only thing your child needs to do before November 30 is do the paper and pencil worksheets that were sent home in their blue folder.  I have this information listed in Google Classroom.  I also provided a fun Flipgrid activity that they could do today.

Hi Parents,

It was so wonderful seeing all of your faces for conferences this week.  I can’t tell you how much I am enjoying your child and this class.  I know it feels like we have gone backwards with taking this time off, but know that we are doing all we can to continue learning and making it as user friendly as possible.  Many of you asked for fiction book series suggestions, click here for that information.

Virtual Learning Schedule

November 23 – paper and pencil work.  There is a brief explanation in google classroom.

November 24 – paper and pencil work.  There is a brief explanation in google classroom.

November 25-29 Enjoy Thanksgiving break.

November 30 – 8:45 Zoom meeting.  You can find the link in google classroom.  We will touch base and I will let the kids know what to expect for the next few days.

December 1 – online learning. Click on this link for a sample schedule

December 2 – reserved for small group instruction

December 3 – online learning

December 4 – online learning

December 7 – online learning

December 8 – online learning

December 9 – Back to School 🙂

Here is a video to explain how to get into google classroom.  This is where all of the work will be assigned and the Zoom links are also listed here.

We are required to take AM and PM attendance during our online learning.  If your child will be doing their schooling in the evening, will you please let me know.

I hope this is helpful.  Please email me any questions you may have.