November 15

Updates from Room 201

We sure are living in some interesting times.  I am doing my best to keep our classroom environment a place where students feel safe, want to learn, and like to have fun.  I am impressed with how resilient these students are with all of the changes that have taken place and all of the events they’ve had taken from them this school year.  Overall, I feel like students are still excited to be at school.

This week students were given an opportunity to read their persuasive essays to the class.  I was impressed at the writing and their creativity to convince their audience to make a change.  I will send these essays home soon for your child to read aloud to you!  In the meantime, here are pictures of the students reading.  Students were given the option to read and some of them did not feel comfortable.  If you do not see your child, they chose not to read in front of the class.

Conferences

I am looking forward to talking to you and actually meeting many of you for the first time on our Zoom conference call this week.  I have 13 conferences on Monday night and only one break so if I am running a couple of minutes behind, don’t panic.  I will be there soon.  If there is something we need to talk about further, we can schedule another time.

Book Fair

We will go look at books on Monday for the book fair.  Your child will come home with their wish list and prices of books they are interested in buying.  If you would like to purchase books, please send the money by Wednesday.

Academics

Math:  With having Nov. 23-24 off, we need to get our math test in by Friday, which means we will be doubling up on some math lessons this week.  We will move very quickly through these lessons so the homework packet will be a little thicker this week.  I will be including work that will help review for the test.  Normally I like to send the review sheet home two days before the test but I will not be able to for this one.  So please set aside some time on Thursday evening to go over the review sheet.

Reading: We are continuing to read mysteries with partners.  Students have learned that there is always a crime solver and a partner crime solver.  They work together as crime solvers themselves to look for suspects and clues given in the book.

Writing:  We will work on grammar, spelling, and extra math during our writing block this week.

Polar Express Party

It has become a 3rd grade tradition to hold a Polar Express party for our Christmas party each year.  We will still have a Polar Express Party but it will look a little different this year.  We will hold it in our classrooms and play games, make crafts, and of course, drink hot chocolate.  We haven’t done a gift exchange in years, but thought this year would be fun to add this to our party.  We would like each student to bring in 19 small items to give to their friends.  These can be Dollar Store finds like pencils, stickers, play dough, candy, etc.  More information will be coming home in December, but I wanted to make you aware in case you were one that liked to watch for sales and plan ahead.

Stay warm today!

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October 3

Updates from 201

Twin Day

Our class earned all of our 500 points to have a Twin Day this Friday.  Students can dress like a twin (or triplet or quadruplet) with a friend(s) in our class.  I will be sure to take pictures of all of our twins and send them out to you.

Reading

We are really diving in to comprehension strategies.  Students are making a note to themselves at the end of every chapter.  They are asking themselves:

  • Who is in this part?
  • What just happened?
  • What am I wondering or does this fit with something that has already happened?

This week, I sent home the October reading log that is required reading for our classroom.  Students should be reading 20-30 minutes/5 days a week for a minimum of 100 minutes per week.  I also sent the Book It calendar home.  This is strictly voluntary.  You do not have to keep track on this one too – only if you want the Pizza Hut coupon.

Math

We will have our first timed test on Friday.  Students will have 1:30 minutes to answer 30 multiplication problems.  We will start on 5s this week.  If students pass, they will move on to 2s for next week.  If they do not pass they will retake the 5s.

Halloween Parties

This year for our Fall Celebrations we are looking forward to having parties in our classrooms, much like years past.  This year will be slightly different, in a couple of ways.

  1. Parents and volunteers will not be able to attend.  (We will miss you!)
  2. Snacks can be sent in, but need to be store bought and individually packaged.
  3. Games, crafts, and snacks need to be sent in 24 hours in advance (or more). 

Like previous years, we will be welcoming your children to wear costumes, if they wish.  One change this year is that children WILL be able to wear their costumes to school, and wear them the whole day.  The intent behind this is to limit children gathering in the restrooms to change, and limit the number of children needing assistance from teachers and staff to get into their costumes.  We invite you to send your children in a costume that includes no weapons or gore, and easily allows your child to participate in regular school routines and procedures.  Can they take it off themselves to use the bathroom?  Can they fit in their seat at their desk? Can they go down the slide or sit in the swings?  Can they wear a mask under their “mask”?  Please save bulky, or extravagant costumes for home use, and dress in a fun and simple costume for the school day.  Fall or pumpkin t-shirts are a great alternative as well. 

We are thrilled at the opportunity to celebrate with your children, and look forward to creating another fun and memorable school event for them. I will send a sign up sheet as we get closer to Halloween.

Writing

We are finishing our first narrative writing unit and from what I have read, I am very impressed with the students’ writing.  They are publishing them this week and we will have a small celebration in class over hard work.

Those are the big happenings in our classroom.  Overall we are off to a great year.  Many students are comfortable with each other from last year, so there is a lot of chatter in the classroom, they get sick of their masks, they want to be outside and play (indoor recess is no fun), and they just want to be next to each other.  But each day we are making it and encouraging each other and taking mask breaks as much as we can.  We definitely are not under perfect conditions but the class is handling everything the best they can and we will continue to learn and improve every day!

Have a wonderful weekend!  Right now as I’m typing the sun is out! YAY!!!

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September 13

Updates from Room 201

We are off to a great year!  It has been a joy getting to know your child.  I love that the class is familiar with each other.  I already see encouraging words and bonds that usually takes a month or two to develop at the start of the year.

I will send updates a couple of times a month.  If something else needs to be communicated, I will also share it in a separate post.  As always, if you have any questions or need clarification on anything please don’t hesitate to reach out to me via email.

Writing

We will continue to share true stories about our lives.  Students will learn the difference between a summary and a story, set writing goals, and edit as they work.  Editing is a very hard process for 3rd graders.  I am going to teach them how they can edit as they go so editing doesn’t become so overwhelming when their story is “finished.”

Reading

I am continuing to read with students and get an idea of where they are as a reader.  I look at three things as they read to me:  accuracy, fluency, and comprehension.  Accuracy tells me how they decode and understand words, fluency tells how smooth/fluent they are as a reader, and comprehension tells how well they understand what they read.

Math

We will continue learning multiplication facts.  Last week we learned 5s and 2s.  This week we will learn 10s, 9s, 0s, 1s.  We will also learn the connection of multiplication and division.

Growth Mindset

Learning how to cope when things get tough is a skill that needs to be taught and learned.  We all get down on ourselves.  We get frustrated when things don’t go our way.  We get anxious when we don’t understand.  Through the growth mindset curriculum, students learn how to cope and not get “fixed” and stuck in a negative mindset.  They learn words and phrases and other skills to push through when things get tough.

Walk-a-thon

The Georgetown Parent Club will be holding our annual Walkathon Thursday, September 24. Unfortunately we cannot have parent volunteers this year. 

This year’s theme is Spirit Week. Our school goal is to raise $25,000.

Theme days will be:

Monday (21st)-PJ Day

Tuesday (22nd) -Silly Socks

Wednesday(23rd) -Crazy Hair

Thursday(24th) -Hat Day

Friday(25th) -Maize & Blue

We are using a new company to collect funds, Get Movin’ Fund Hub.  You will be able to sign your child up online and collect donations through that website.  More information to come.  All of the money raised helps to buy books and supplies for teachers’ classrooms, new technology and technology updates, and other requested needs.

New prizes this year:

Class with the Highest Donations receives a Pizza & Ice cream Party

Top 2 Earners of each grade get a Pizza Party with Mr. Waldie

Grade with the Highest Donation receives Popsicle Recess

Class with the Highest % Participation receives Donuts and a $50 gift card for the teacher

Prize winners will be announced in mid-late October. Everyone who donates $30 will receive an eagle t-shirt in late October. Anyone who donates will be put in a raffle drawing for prices, such as electric scooter, Target gift cards, Barnes and Noble, etc……..

We are looking forward to a successful walk-a-thon this year.

FRIDAY

This Friday is an early release day.  Students will be dismissed at noon.  Teachers will work their teams to plan and share.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend! 🙂

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January 13

Updates from Room 201, Jan. 13

We had a great first week back, but I think all of us were very tired by the end of the week.  We took Friday afternoon a little easier and made a craft, which we don’t often get to do in 3rd grade.  Students made a snowman body by ripping the paper.  This was no easy task and some of them grumbled but in the end, they all had a great looking finished product.  With the project they finished the statement, Snow is falling, This book is calling: _______________.

Reading

Last week a reading log was sent home for January.  Please continue to fill it out each night that your child reads.  Remember our goal is to read 100 minutes total per week.

Our new book club book was announced in class today and information is coming home about it tonight.  We will be reading Room One, a Mystery or Two by Andrew Clements.  This book is a higher level so it will be very beneficial for you to read it with your child.  If you would like to participate, please send back the paper at the bottom of the page so I know to plan on you.  Our book club night will be on Wednesday, February 19 from 7:00-8:00.

Math

Continue practicing those math facts.  The scores have been going down and students have not been passing the tests each week like they used to.  I know it gets mundane after a while, but many of them are so close to being done.  We can’t give up now!!

We are also finishing our unit on measurement.  Telling time on an analog clock and elapsed time are very difficult.  I will be sending home a few homework papers this week for extra help.  I am planning on the test being on Friday, but we may have to move it to Monday for more review time.

Valentine’s Day Party

We are having our last holiday party of the year on Friday, February 14.  I will make a google doc of the volunteers and supplies needed by next week.

As always thank you for your support to our classroom.

Have a wonderful week.

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November 6

Updates in Room 201

This fall is blowing right on by. . . literally!  The wind, the days, the weeks, everything is moving so quickly.  This weekend I will be working on report cards, which seems so strange that conferences already here.  Even though is sneaks up on me, I always look forward to conferences with the parents.  I love sharing about students with their families and partnering together to help each student be the best they can be!

READING

We have become detectives and learned that anyone can be a suspect in our mystery books.  Students are paired up with a partner and discussing parts of their books and working to solve the crime before the author reveals who made the crime and how.

WRITING

We are writing persuasive speeches.  Students have been writing ideas about opinions they have of either something they want to see changed (reorganizing the class library) or recognizing something or someone that may be overlooked (Mr. Rob).  Yesterday, students picked their best opinion that they want to continue working on through the end.  Our focus is audience and writing in a way to convince our audience to think the way we do.

MATH

We are working on two-step word problems.  This is VERY difficult for students.  Each problem is set up differently and it’s hard to know what is the first step and which is the second.  We have spent several days on these problems, and now we need to move on to multiplying by multiples of 10 (40×10, 60×10).  We will revisit two-step word problems when we add and subtract three digit numbers later this winter.  This is an “I don’t understand this….YET” situation.  Usually after a little time and a little more growth as a learner, many more students understand these better later in the year.

Keep practicing math facts at home!!  Each Monday their previous multiplication test will come home with a note of which fact to practice next.  Please remind your child to practice a little each night!

FIELD TRIP

I have received many permission slips back already for the field trip to the GRAM.  On Friday morning, I will draw for the chaperones that can come along.  I wish all of you could go, however the Art Museum only allows a certain number due to space with our already large classes.

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October 10

Updates from Room 201

This class continues to impress me everyday.  They are SOARing through the hallways by being quiet and in a straight line.  When we have 100 kids trying to get to somewhere and another 100 passing by to try and get somewhere else, it can be tricky, but our class does it!  They also have been SOARing in the classroom.  These students impress me with their hard work, their effort, and their kindness towards each other.

Math

We had our first Unit 1 math test today.  I wish you could have been a fly on the wall to watch their determination.  It was absolutely quiet in the room and each one was counting on their fingers or drawing pictures to solve the problems.  Their minds were at work!

We will have our 2nd math facts quiz tomorrow.  Some students are on 5s and some on 2s.  Please remember to have them practice every night for 5-10 minutes.

Reading and Writing

We have finished both of our first reading and writing units.  Next week we are going to take a break and do some writing responses.  We will read a passage and then write a complete response to a question.  We call this a RACE Response.

R = restate the question

A = answer the question

C – cite 2 pieces of evidence from the text

E = explain and end

Social Studies

We will begin our first social studies unit on Michigan Geography.  During our current social studies block we have been working on having a growth mindset and reading informational texts through a Scholastic Newsletter.

Halloween Party

A sign-up sheet with be coming to you soon for the Halloween party.  Only parents that are volunteering may attend the celebration due to parking and safety.  All parents that volunteer must complete a background check prior to attending the festivities.  If you are unable to volunteer, you can also donate items.

Break time

We take several breaks throughout the day.  Two other breaks we take, other than recess, is a morning snack break and yoga relaxation in the afternoon.  We are trying to get outside as much as possible in the morning.  Below is a quick video clip of students working off their energy.  There are two games of  tag going on.  One game is Lava Tag and the other is regular tag.  I love watching them laugh, play together, and be active.

Holiday Coloring Contest

Yesterday a Hudsonville Holiday Coloring Contest page was sent home.  Students can decorate however they want.  Someone from City Hall will be here on Tuesday, October 29 to pick them up.  All submitted artwork will be visible throughout town, and the winners from each grade will be displayed at City Hall, receive a special prize bag, and get to ride on the Holiday Trolley in the Parade!

Conferences are in late November this year.  If you have any questions or concerns about your child, please do not hesitate to contact me!

 

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March 9

Mystery Reader

Throughout the month of March we are going to have Mystery Readers come in to our classroom and read  to us.  We had Mr. Shaffer, Owen’s dad, come in and be our FIRST Mystery Reader this week.  He did a great job and the kids loved having him in our classroom.

Thank you so much Mr. Shaffer for taking the time to come in and be with us!

 

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November 30

Updates from Room 201

This class continues to amaze me at their hard work ethic and great choices.  They really make my job a fun place to be and something to look forward to each day.

We are in full swing in informational reading and writing.  The students are excited to learn about new things and read book that will teach them facts about people, animals, machines, etc.  You may hear some buzzing about it at home! 🙂

It looks like we will be having a social studies test on the economics of Michigan towards the end of next week.  Look for a study guide to come home.

Needs

We have a couple of classroom needs.  One, is plastic bags, like the grocery kind.  Students don’t like wearing their snow pants home at the end of the day.  The bags are nice for them to put their pants in instead of their backpacks because they are usually wet.

 

We also have a need for more snacks:  graham crackers or fish crackers will be perfect!

Book Log

Please send in the November Book It book log.  The students who turn it in completed with a parent signature will not only get a Pizza Hut free personal pan pizza but they earn one free time during one of our reading days.

Candy Canes

The 5th graders are selling candy canes again.  This money is used to help pay for 5th grade camp.  The sale will go from December 3 – 14 for $1.00.  Students order in the morning and will have the candy cane by the afternoon.

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