Looking ahead to the week of September 3 (2nd PE)

Students enjoyed listening to My Map Book, which inspired them to create heart maps.  The ideas they noted within these heart maps will serve as story starters throughout the year, if a student ever happens to stumble upon "writer's block!"

Hello, families!  We are having a wonderful first full week of school!

Transportation:  If your child's transportation has changed (or is ever is different than usual throughout the school year), please send a note with your child to school. 

Passwords:  As soon as passwords are finalized and we receive agenda books, your child will have his/her password sheet stapled into his/her agenda.  Thank you for your patience!

Front Row vs. Freckle:  Over the summer, Front Row became "Freckle!"  (After we printed our homework and password sheets for the year, of course!)  Students will now visit freckle.com, if they choose that option on their homework, instead of Front Row.  Thank you for your flexibility!  The class code for Freckle is westcn, if you're child would like to jump in, but we will be working on logging into Freckle in class over the next week.  

Communication folders:  Graded work will start going home in next week's communication folder.  Please sign the communication log once each week, to note that you have viewed the items inside.  Please keep the communication log in your child's folder.  The folders will need to be returned Fridays or Mondays.

Looking ahead to next week:  Students will continue studying human systems, industries, natural resources, and major cities of South Carolina.  Just a reminder:  they will receive their first social studies study guide Wednesday, September 5.  It is due Wednesday, September 12 (the day we will go over it in class).  As mathematicians, the children will practice wrap up their Topic 1.  They received a study guide Wednesday, August 29.  It is due Wednesday, September 5.  Students will have their first math test Thursday, September 6. They will then kick off Topic 2 with addition and subtraction properties and meanings.  Be sure to check out our Topic 2 family letter below.  As writers, students will discuss writing stamina and different types of writing.  In reading, students will be continue building their reading stamina and discussing how to choose a "just right" book. They will also take their reading inventory tests, which will determine their lexile levels for the first nine weeks.  The children will have their first spelling pre-assessment.  It will contain all of the kindergarten high-frequency words.  These will be checked for accuracy and go home next week with a letter explaining how we do spelling in third grade.  Students will also complete their MAP reading test next week.

Open House:  I hope you'll be able to join me at Open House, Thursday, September 6 (6:00 - 6:45).  I will be highlighting some important points from my Open House booklet.  If you are unable to make it, no worries!  You'll receive a paper copy in your child's communication folder Thursday, September 13.

Thank you again for all of your support and enthusiasm!  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Looking ahead to the week of August 27 (STEM)

"Smiling faces, beautiful places!"

Hello, families!  I hope you and your child had a great start to the school year!  I know I've enjoyed getting to know all of the children.  It is going to be a wonderful year!

"The West Wire":  If you haven't visited our class blog yet, well, welcome!  This is how I will be communicating with families each week, in an effort to save paper!  You will find important dates, class happenings and even see pictures of things we do in class.  This newsletter will be updated every Thursday (at the latest)!  I'm asking that you bookmark this site and check it out every week, in order to stay informed about our class.  You can sign up for e-mail updates, toward the bottom of our blog.  Be sure to always view it using the desktop/web version, if you are using your mobile device!  If you do not have weekly computer access, please let me know.

Important forms:  Please sign and return all of the forms that were sent home in this week's communication folder.  All of the information needs to be filed in the office or in my classroom.  Also, please send me an email with your child's name in the subject line, so that I may save your email address (if you have not received an email from me already).  

Homework:  Your child will be issued his/her first homework sheet Friday, August 24.  This sheet will not be due until the following Friday (August 31).  We will discuss homework procedures at Open House a bit more, but I just wanted to make you aware that your child will have one week to complete this homework sheet.  This allows students to learn time management and responsibility skills.  For instance, if your child plays a sport two nights a week, you can double-up on a night with no ball practice.  If you would like to challenge your child, he/she may do more than four choice activities.  Please understand that students will not receive an extra homework sheet it they lose their initial one (this is a third grade procedure).

Agenda books:  Agenda books were ordered over the summer by our office staff, but they have not yet come in.  We appreciate your flexibility and patience.  Students will be given them, as soon as they arrive!

Transportation:  If your child's transportation has changed (or is ever is different than usual throughout the school year), please send a note with your child to school.

SAIL (Related Arts):  Students have been curious about their SAIL schedule this year.  The children will have the following SAIL alternating schedule this year (I will remind you each week in the heading of the blog!):

2nd PE Weeks:

• Mondays – PE (Wear tennis shoes!)
• Tuesdays - Art
• Wednesdays – PE (Wear tennis shoes!)
• Thursdays - Music
• Fridays - Advanced SAIL class

STEM Weeks:

• Mondays - STEM
• Tuesdays - Art
• Wednesdays - PE (Wear tennis shoes!)
• Thursdays - Music
• Fridays - Advanced SAIL class

Looking ahead:  As readers, students will begin to practice Daily 5 procedures and reading stamina.  In writing, children will begin setting up their Writer's Notebooks.  As mathematicians, students will begin studying number concepts, using Envision Topic 1 (See the family letter below).  Just a reminder:  It's never to early to have your child begin memorizing his/her multiplication facts!  In social studies, students will kick off a unit about South Carolina.  They'll study regions, landforms, the climate, and river systems.

Open House:  I hope you'll be able to join me at Open House, Thursday, September 6.  I will be highlighting some important points from my Open House booklet.  If are unable to make it, no worries!  You will receive an Open House booklet in your child's communication folder the following week with all of the information we go over.

Class Schedule:  Be sure to check out our class schedule:

Thank you again for all of your enthusiasm and support!  We're going to make a great team and work hard to ensure your child has a successful year in third grade!