Looking ahead to the weeks of November 25 and December 2

Hello, families!  I hope you all are having a fantastic start to your week!  Please note:  This will be the last post for November!

If you have not signed and returned your child's report card cover, please do so, as soon as possible!

Looking ahead:  The children will kick off their next unit of multiplication (lessons 6-1 through 6-4).  They will look at the Distributive Property, and the numbers 3, 4, 6, and 7, as factors.  Please continue to encourage your child to practice his/her facts every day!  Students will quiz on their 5s multiplication facts, when they return from fall break.  As scientists, students will classify soils, and illustrate land and water features.   In reading, students will learn about summarizing and recounting stories, while working on CLOSE reading in small groups.  As writers, the children will kick off a unit on opinion writing.

Our next half-day:  Thursday, December 5, will be a half-day.  Students will be dismissed at 11:30.  Lunch will be served.  If your child's transportation changes, please send a note!  Interims will be issued in communication folders on December 5.  Please take a moment to reflect on your child's interim with him/her.

"Being There Experience" payment:  If you chose option two (to split up your field trip payments), the next payment of $20 is due Friday, December 6.

LAPATHON:  Please continue collecting contributions for our LAPATHON!  Your donations will go toward our Physical Education program.  Your child's LAPATHON envelope is due November 22.  Our goal is to collect $5,000, as a school!  Your child will receive a playground ball and a jump rope from Ms. Sarratt and Mr. Schirmer, to encourage physical activity at home.  Our actual LAPATHON will be held Monday, November 25.  Please have your child wear tennis shoes for our LAPATHON.  Students will be walking/jogging around the bus loop at 10:30 (to 11:00).  You are welcome to join us at that time!  We have a friendly competition each year among the grade levels to see which grade level can walk/jog the most laps... third grade has won three years in a row! 

As always, thank you again for your support and enthusiasm!  I hope you all enjoy the fall break.  If you travel... do so safely!  I look forward to the students returning December 2.

Check out some of our snapshots from our last "Being HERE Experience" with Diamond Del!  The children enjoyed mining for rocks and minerals!

Nidhi created a scene from Colonial life for the "Immerse Yourself" portion of her homework!  Thank you, Nidhi, for letting us keep it in the immersion are for the Colonial unit!

Looking ahead to the week of November 18

We learned about Veterans Day in many ways this past week!  Ms. Sease shared a read aloud about veterans.  The Army Band performed at our school.  On Monday, the chorus celebrated with a heartfelt performance.  Students also shared their Veterans Day letters to visitors at the military breakfast.  To our veterans and current military service members... we thank you!

Hello, families!  I hope you all are curling up with a good book this week... it's the perfect thing to do during a cold snap!

If you have not signed and returned your child's report card cover and/or Diamond Del permission brochure, please do so, as soon as possible!

Looking ahead:  Students will learn about solving two-question problems (covering lesson 5-7).  They will also review and test on Unit Five next Wednesday.  Please continue to encourage your child to practice his/her facts every day!  As historians, students finish their colonial picture books.  Students will review and test on their Colonial Unit next week.  This test will be open book/fact file.  In reading, students will learn about sequencing through various activities.  They will also continue working on their cursive handwriting.

A new SAIL schedule:  Please look for a special email coming soon to your inbox, regarding a new SAIL schedule.  As you may know, we have a new science lab teacher, Mrs. Gomez!  Science will become a part of the SAIL rotation next week! 

Diamond Del:  Students will enjoy their next "Being Here Experience"  this Friday!  Diamond Del will be visiting our school.  Students will have the opportunity to mine for rocks and minerals, which is a great way to kick off our next science unit, "Don't Take it for Granite!"  If your child would like to purchase an extra item or two from Diamond Del (pictured in the brochure you signed), he/she is welcome to bring in money.  Your child will be responsible for holding on to his/her money.  Also, please dress your child warmly on Friday... we will be mining outside!

LAPATHON:  Please continue collecting contributions for our LAPATHON!  Your donations will go toward our Physical Education program.  Your child's LAPATHON envelope is due November 22.

A special note about responsibility:  I do my personal best to encourage children to hone their LIFESKILL of responsibility in third grade, in hopes that it will better prepare them for the rest of their time in Richland Two, all the while, teaching them a skill that will be necessary for them to implement, as an adult.  Unfortunately, we've recently had several responsibility issues arise.  Just as a friendly reminder:  Please encourage your child to be responsible for turning in homework on time, reading and filling out his/her log each night, practicing basic math facts every day, as well as, completing study guides by their due dates.  Together, I know we can help your child exceed the expectations!

As always, thank you again for your support and enthusiasm!  I appreciate it more than you know!

Check out some more special moments from this past week:

Landon wrote an informational piece about Native American nations for the "Immerse Yourself" portion of his homework and shared it with our class.  

Ms. Sease worked with third grade students on the new FINDS Research Model.  We look forward to implementing this model in the future.

Looking ahead to the week of November 11

Check out what one of our third graders created, as a part of his homework ("Immerse Yourself")!  He decided to create a diorama for our Native American immersion area.

Hello, families!  I hope you enjoyed your extra hour of rest the past weekend!  

If you have not signed and returned your child's report card cover and/or Diamond Del permission brochure, please do so, as soon as possible!

Looking ahead:  Students will continue learning about different fact patterns in multiplication (covering lessons 5-3 through 5-6).  Please continue to encourage your child to practice his/her facts every day!  Also, please remember, your child is welcome to take home his/her math textbook any day, as a resource for extra practice.  Just make sure your child returns the textbook the following school day.  As historians, students will begin studying the first colonial settlements in South Carolina.  In reading, students will continue studying main idea and practice analyzing primary documents.  As writers, the children will make colonial life books (based on our social studies unit).  They will also begin cursive handwriting!

Celebrating our Veterans:  Third grade will be celebrating veterans during the month of November, in honor of Veterans Day.  We have chosen to adopt one of our very own Bookman parents, Mr. Kevin Dollar, who is currently overseas serving in Jordan. Mr. Dollar is the father of Alexa Dollar in third grade. We would like to shower Mr. Dollar with items to remind him of "home" in South Carolina while he is away from family and friends. We are asking that students send in non-perishable items such as Gatorade, candy, cookies, etc. Our first care package will be mailed on November 15. Please send your items to your child's teacher by November 14.  We will send other care packages throughout the year. We hope you will help us send "home" to Mr. Dollar!

***We have yet to receive any donations from our class for our third grade veteran, whom we are sponsoring.  If you are able to do so, please send in any items you may have at home!  Thank you for your participation!

I hope you all enjoy the rest of your week and we look forward to seeing you at our Veterans Day celebration on Monday!

Students collaborate in some form or fashion every day in our class.  Check out some snapshots of collaboration from our Daily 5 choice time (editing Veterans Day letters)!