I can't believe it is the last week of September! Boy, time sure flies when you are having fun!

We are starting our first week of spelling word sorts with their words at their level. A letter will be coming home explaining what we would like your child to do each day with the sorts. We will take the test this week on Thursday, because we don't have school on Friday. Normally we will take the test on Friday. This is our practice run so they will have experience with the different groups. I will grade the tests, but very little weight will be put on this first test. Each week they will also have 4-5 high frequency words to learn. This week the words are: along, below, might, sound. 

In math, we are continuing to work on place value, proof drawings, rounding, word problems, and addition/subtraction with and without regrouping.

In reading, we are starting our Caring About Characters Unit. We are learning about character traits, setting of the story, and main idea and details this week. We are going to start getting into our small groups this week too. The students are very excited about being able to use their iPads for reading independently.

Because we don't have school on Friday, the district has "Equalization Days" so students don't always miss out on the Friday special classes. This week we will have a Friday schedule on Wednesday so that means my students have wellness on Wednesday and not art.

Thursday afternoon, we are planning on having Activity Day. Please send a labeled water bottle with your child. Many of the children have water bottles at school and can use those. It should be a fun filled afternoon!

We survived our first full week!
We will be doing another week of practice with our spelling words and sorts along with how to take the spelling test. The students are assigned a certain color that coordinates with their spelling skills. Next week you will receive a letter with this information and how to sort your child's words.
In math, we are learning the routines of our math classes. We are also learning how to log into Schoology to access our math book pages and how to transfer the information that is needed in our math spirals and onto the correct page. This will take some time getting used to. If we assign a homework page, it will be written in the planner and on the sheet of paper that will need to be returned.
We are also learning the routine for literacy and what is expected. We are not up and running completely yet, but we are getting there.
Thank you to those who sent back the Reading/Facts/Word sheet completed with the times that your child practice their reading and facts. I don't need to know the title of the book they read. Please make sure to write the total at the bottom of each column. Also, please make sure to sign where it says Parent(s) signature. I will not take their paper on Monday if it is not signed. I will hand it back to your child and ask that they take it home to be signed and hopefully they will hand it in the next day. Since this is the majority of their homework, it is really important that it is done so it will reflect on their report card.
We will be having Activity Day NEXT Thursday. Rain is predicted for this Thursday so we are postponing it until next week. Please send a water bottle with their name on it next week so they have something to drink when we are outside from 1-3.

We have out first full week of school! We are starting to get into the routine of our day, but we are not quite up and running in all areas yet.

Starting Tuesday, Sept. 13, we will have our first official math class switch. Some students will stay with me and some will go to Mrs. Jensen or Mrs. Devlin's based on their pretest and what the teachers have seen in class so far. These are flexible groups so there might be some movement in them.
This will also be the first time the students will be using Schoology to access their math book. This is brand new to us and will take some time getting use to it.

We are going to have our first practice using Words Their Way this week. Everyone will have the same words and we will practice going through all the steps this week. We will also practice how the test will be given on Friday. Since it is just a practice, you will not see the words this week.

Your child should bring home a weekly Reading/Facts/Words goal sheet today. The third grade teachers would like the students to read 20 minutes each night, practice facts for 10 minutes and practice their spelling words for 10 minutes each night. We understand that sometimes things come up, but please try to help your child do their homework on a daily basis. You will also notice that Words is crossed out this week, because they don't have words to officially practice. If you notice words that they misspell when they are writing and you think they should know how to spell it, you can definitely work on those words. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Congratulations to Rylie for being our first Super Student! I am sure I will be posting more Super Students next week!

Reminder: Picture Day is tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept. 13.

Welcome to a new school year!
I am so excited to get to know all the children and to learn more about them. Last week and this week we are doing a lot of getting to know each other activities along with some academics.
Today you should have received the blog letter, the newsletter, and a letter about your child's composition book. They can decorate the cover, but if they love the cover as it is, they do not have to. I would still like them to fill out the Writing Ideas Bingo Card. This is a great way to get the students to think about what they can write about. These are due by Sept. 13.
If you haven't already returned Help Me Know Your Child or the Student iPad Pledge Form, please do so ASAP. If you lost either one, please let me know and I will send you a new one.
Wednesday is our first Walk to School Wednesday! If it is raining we will cancel it.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me via phone 751-6975 ext. 20054, email, or a note.