Looking ahead to the week of March 7

Students celebrated World Read Aloud Day last Wednesday!  They enjoyed several read alouds from "famous" Beacons by way of technology.

Our third grade classroom is filled with readers!  Students enjoy reading to each other during rounds of Daily 5.  Read aloud improves fluency and confidence.

Hi, families!  I hope you all had a great weekend!

Looking ahead:  In math, students will wrap up a unit on fractions.  Check out our Family Letter with this link:  Fraction Unit Family Letter.  Please remind your child to practice his/her multiplication facts daily!  Students will continue their mixed multiplication quizzes throughout the remainder of the school year.  They will also retake any multiplication quizzes necessary to obtain their trail mix ingredients for our trail mix celebration in the spring.   As historians, students will learn about the time after the Civil War (Reconstruction).  They will also enjoy a visit from Historic Columbia's Traveling Trunk Show (a "Being HERE Experience").  In writing, students will continue learning cursive handwriting.  They will finish publishing their poetry anthology, as well as, learning spelling patterns and commonly misspelled words.  As readers, they will revisit using context clues to figure out the meaning of a word.  

A note from fourth grade:  4^th grade has begun our Grade Level Charity, Donate a Toothbrush.  This organization, based out of New Jersey, was started by two teenage sisters to provide new toothbrushes to those in need.  Last year we collected 670 brushes and have set our new goal at 1,000.  Thank you all for your support.

·         News link – interview with founder of organization if you would like to show in Morning Meeting or Community. http://video.foxnews.com/v/2700443635001/sisters-start-global-initiative-to-help-kids-dental-health/?playlist_id=931078471001#sp=show-clips

·         Organization link - http://www.donateatoothbrush.com/

Thank you again for all that you do!  Have a wonderful week!

Looking ahead to the week of February 29

We enjoyed our "Being There Experience" to the State House!  Students learned about the history of the State House, as well as, its purpose.

Students enjoyed a visit from a government professor at the University of South Carolina (he's also a BRES dad).  They learned about the three branches of government and how a bill becomes a law.

Hi, families!  I hope you all had a great weekend!

Looking ahead:  In math, students will continue a unit on fractions.  Check out our Family Letter with this link:  Fraction Unit Family Letter.  Please remind your child to practice his/her multiplication facts daily!  Students will continue their mixed multiplication quizzes throughout the remainder of the school year.  They will also retake any multiplication quizzes necessary to obtain their trail mix ingredients for our trail mix celebration in the spring.   As historians, continue learning about aspects of the Civil War in South Carolina.  In writing, students will continue learning cursive handwriting.  They will also continue learning about poetry, while creating a poetry anthology. As readers, the children will be immersed in poetry.  Students will take a district writing assessment Tuesday, March 1.

Class picture day:  We will have our class picture day Wednesday, February 24.  If you would like to purchase a class purchase, an envelope went home in your child's homework folder Thursday, February 18.

Science and Technology Night:  Be sure to visit our school Thursday, February 25, to learn more about science and technology!  A lot of fun activities are planned!  

A note from fourth grade:  4^th grade has begun our Grade Level Charity, Donate a Toothbrush.  This organization, based out of New Jersey, was started by two teenage sisters to provide new toothbrushes to those in need.  Last year we collected 670 brushes and have set our new goal at 1,000.  Thank you all for your support.

·         News link – interview with founder of organization if you would like to show in Morning Meeting or Community. http://video.foxnews.com/v/2700443635001/sisters-start-global-initiative-to-help-kids-dental-health/?playlist_id=931078471001#sp=show-clips

·         Organization link - http://www.donateatoothbrush.com/

Thank you again for all that you do!  Have a wonderful week!

Looking ahead to the week of February 22

We enjoyed a visit from illustrator Michael P. White!

Hi, families!  I hope you all had a great weekend!

"Being There Experience" Reminder:  Students will be going on a field trip to the State House Tuesday, February 16.  Please note that we do not have chaperones for this trip, due to a limited number of people allowed in our group.  Please send a lunch with your child, if that's the option you chose on his/her permission form.  Please also make sure your child dresses appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable shoes.

Friends and Family lunch:  Third grade will celebrate Friends and Family lunch Friday, February 19.  Please meet us in the Seaside Cafe at 11:32!

Looking ahead:  In math, students will continue a unit on fractions.  Check out our Family Letter with this link:  Fraction Unit Family Letter.  Please remind your child to practice his/her multiplication facts daily!  Students will continue their mixed multiplication quizzes throughout the remainder of the school year.  They will also retake any multiplication quizzes necessary to obtain their trail mix ingredients for our trail mix celebration in the spring.   As historians, students will wrap up learning about the Antebellum period and begin studying the Civil War.  Students will be turning in a class booklet for the Antebellum unit, as a test grade.  In writing, students will continue learning cursive handwriting.  They will also learn about poetry, while creating a poetry anthology. As readers, the children will be immersed in poetry.

Thank you again for all that you do!  Have a wonderful week!

Looking ahead to the week of February 15

Thanks to all of the BookMEN, who came out for our 100th day of school celebration!

  

Hi, families!  I hope you all had a great weekend!

"Being There Experience" Reminder:  Students will be going on a field trip to the State House Tuesday, February 16.  Please note that we do not have chaperones for this trip, due to a limited number of people allowed in our group.  Please send a lunch with your child, if that's the option you chose on his/her permission form.  Please also make sure your child dresses appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable shoes.

Half day:  Students will have a half day Friday, February 12.  Students will be served lunch and dismissal is at 11:30.  Please write a note, if your child's transportation changes.

Friends and Family lunch:  Third grade will celebrate Friends and Family lunch Friday, February 19.  Please meet us in the Seaside Cafe at 11:32!

Looking ahead:  In math, students will continue a unit on fractions.  Check out our Family Letter with this link:  Fraction Unit Family Letter.  Please remind your child to practice his/her multiplication facts daily!  Students will continue their mixed multiplication quizzes throughout the remainder of the school year.  They will also retake any multiplication quizzes necessary to obtain their trail mix ingredients for our trail mix celebration in the spring.   As historians, students will wrap up learning about national, state, and local government.  In writing, students will continue learning cursive handwriting.  They will also learn how to respond to cold reads and locate information in new texts.  Students will revisit synonyms and antonyms.  The will also wrap up their expository writing unit.

A note from Mrs. Spangler:

Random Acts of Kindness Week- February 8-12

February is a fun month to show others that we care about them! To join in on the February fun, we are observing National "Random Acts of Kindness Week”, February 8-12.  The current guidance lesson for each class is be about “Bucketfilling”, and showing kindness to others.  On February 8th we will begin creating a “Kindness Wall” on D-hallway, for students, teachers, and staff to share an example of an act of kindness they have given and an act of kindness they have received.  We’ll leave our Kindness Wall up throughout the remainder of February for everyone to enjoy.   Have fun filling buckets!  Check out this website with your child and pick out a few acts of kindness you might like to do together as a family!

http://www.coffeecupsandcrayons.com/100-acts-kindness-kids/

To get into the spirit each day for “Kindness Week”, we will observe the following:   

Monday, 2/8- “Say ‘Hi’ & Smile at Three People Day” 

Tuesday, 2/9- “Hug or High-Five a Friend Day” 

Wednesday, 2/10- “Write a Note of Encouragement Day” 

Thursday, 2/11- Say Thank You to a Teacher, Seaside Café worker, Custodian, or Bus Driver Day” 

Friday, 2/12- Wear Red (or Pink) for “Love Day”: & YOU get to pick the act of kindness today!

Thank you again for all that you do!  Have a wonderful week!

Looking ahead to the week of February 8

Students enjoyed Ms. Burkett, a guest teacher, who taught them about "trashing" overused words!  It was a great hook to learning more about using a thesaurus.

We had a lot of fun at Skate Night!  Thank you for coming out and supporting our school!

  

Hi, families!  I hope you all had a great weekend!

BookMEN: The 100th day of school is Thursday, February 4, but we'll be celebrating it Friday, February 5.  We are aiming to have 100 BookMEN visit our school Friday!  We encourage you to come and each lunch with your third grader at 11:32 in the Seaside Cafe!

Report Cards:  Please be sure to sign and return your child's report card cover, as soon as possible!  You may keep the report card.  Reviewing it will be a great way to start a conversation between you and your child about goals for the third nine weeks.

"Being There Experience" Reminder:  Please complete both the front and back of the State House permission form.  It looks a little different, since our district issued new field trip forms. Please sign and return the form, as soon as possible.  It will be due February 4.

Half day:  Students will have a half day Friday, February 12.  Students will be served lunch and dismissal is at 11:30.  Please write a note, if your child's transportation changes.

Friends and Family lunch:  Third grade will celebrate Friends and Family lunch Friday, February 19.  Please meet us in the Seaside Cafe at 11:32!

Looking ahead:  In math, students will continue a unit on fractions.  Check out our Family Letter with this link:  Fraction Unit Family Letter.  Please remind your child to practice his/her multiplication facts daily!  Students will continue their mixed multiplication quizzes throughout the remainder of the school year.  They will also retake any multiplication quizzes necessary to obtain their trail mix ingredients for our trail mix celebration in the spring.   As historians, students will learn about national, state, and local government.  In writing, students will continue learning cursive handwriting.  They will also learn how to respond to two different texts.  Students will revisit dictionary and thesaurus skills.  As readers, the children will compare and contrast informational texts.

A note from our Kindergarten friends:
Hi Beacon Friends, 

     Kindergarten will begin coming around each morning for the next two weeks to see if your students have placed any donations in our canisters. All donations will be given the the Columbia City Fire Department to assist them with their education program and to buy smoke detectors for those people who do not have any.  Everyone was so generous last year and we want to thank you ahead of time for giving us this opportunity to help others.  

The Kindergarten Team

Thank you again for all that you do!  Have a wonderful week!