Thursday, April 26, 2012
Ancestors
This morning we spent a lot of time talking about our ancestors. We have been reading a story about the Statue of Liberty and what that means to our country. The story lends itself to talking about how people immigrated to America. Hopefully your kids will ask you tonight where their ancestors are from. I encourage you to have this discussion with your kids.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Ant Farm Day 2
I couldn't believe how much the ant farm had changed in less than 24 hours when I got here this morning. The last ants I had didn't do this much work. I have different sand this time so I don't know if that is making a difference or if it is the warmer weather. It is amazing to see how it changes from day to day, sometimes from hour to hour.
Math
Today in math we worked on some division story problems. We used our calculators to help us and also worked on using multiplication to solve division problems. There will be homework tonight in math.
DIBELS
This morning the kids did their Spring DIBELS assessment. DIBELS is a one minute timed reading to see how many words they can read correctly in one minute. We had a lot of improvement from our winter scores. The goal for them to be at this time of year is 100 words correct per minute. Some students will be there and some won't. If they aren't quite there that is okay if they are comprehending what they are reading well. Ask your child what their score was tonight.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Spelling Words
We didn't have a pretest this week. Every student will be responsible for 15 words this week.
few, school, true, goose, fruit, cookie, cushion, noodle, bookmark, balloon, suit, chew, glue, Tuesday, bushel
few, school, true, goose, fruit, cookie, cushion, noodle, bookmark, balloon, suit, chew, glue, Tuesday, bushel
Ant Farm
In a few weeks we are going to be reading a story about ants. At the beginning of the year I had an ant farm as a trial run for this time of the year. It worked out well except the life span of the ants is not as long as our school year.
The new ants came in today and I have decided to take a picture each day and post it on the blog as a place to keep track of their progress. The sand in the bottom is different colors because it needs to be wet so it will stick together as the ants make their tunnels. The sand is simply wetter in some spots than others and that causes the different colors.
This picture is what the ant farm looks like on DAY 1...
(If you click on the picture you should be able to see a much larger image.)
The new ants came in today and I have decided to take a picture each day and post it on the blog as a place to keep track of their progress. The sand in the bottom is different colors because it needs to be wet so it will stick together as the ants make their tunnels. The sand is simply wetter in some spots than others and that causes the different colors.
(If you click on the picture you should be able to see a much larger image.)
News for the Week of April 23
I apologize once again for my absence from blogging. With the end of the year right around the corner each and every day brings unexpected changes that make some days here at Sunset very hectic and busy. I will try to keep you updated the best that I can for next few weeks.
This week in reading we are working on our Unit 5 Benchmark test. We will also be moving forward and starting Unit 6. The first story in Unit 6 is about The Statue of Liberty and how it came to be. We will be moving right along as we have four stories after The Stature of Liberty story to try and get through by the end of the year.
In math we are continuing to work on multiplication in a variety of ways. The students are getting much better at their facts and I can tell that some of them have been working on them at home. Please continue to work with them on their multiplication facts at home as it makes a huge difference.
There will be a spelling test on Friday of this week and I will get the words up later.
Don't forget about the Spring Music Program that is being held at 7:30 this evening in the high school auditorium.
This week in reading we are working on our Unit 5 Benchmark test. We will also be moving forward and starting Unit 6. The first story in Unit 6 is about The Statue of Liberty and how it came to be. We will be moving right along as we have four stories after The Stature of Liberty story to try and get through by the end of the year.
In math we are continuing to work on multiplication in a variety of ways. The students are getting much better at their facts and I can tell that some of them have been working on them at home. Please continue to work with them on their multiplication facts at home as it makes a huge difference.
There will be a spelling test on Friday of this week and I will get the words up later.
Don't forget about the Spring Music Program that is being held at 7:30 this evening in the high school auditorium.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Spelling Words
rocky, foolish, rainy, childhood, selfish, treatment,
movement, neighborhood, childish, parenthood, crunchy, bumpy, payment, sleepy,
shipment, assignment, livelihood, stylish, environment, guilty
Welcome Back!!
I hope everyone enjoyed having their kids home for the week. It was a nice relaxing break before we begin our final push for the year. We only have 6 weeks of school left for this year and it will be over before we know it. It will be a fun and busy 6 weeks.
Remember we will be going on a field trip this Thursday. I will add the spelling words later on today.
Have a great week!!
Remember we will be going on a field trip this Thursday. I will add the spelling words later on today.
Have a great week!!
Monday, April 2, 2012
Happy April
Welcome to April! Hard to believe that we only have 2 months of school left. I hope everyone had a great week and will enjoy the upcoming break from school.
We have a crazy, hectic, and busy week ahead at Sunset.
Monday morning we had our monthly PBS assembly. We learned at the entire school in the month of March received 31 ODRs. Those 31 were received by 22 different students. That means that over 90% of the students are doing what they are supposed to be doing on a daily basis.
Tuesday we will spending some time at Fuller Hall as an acknowledgement for everyone giving their best effort on the Iowa Assessments test a few weeks ago. Following the Fuller Hall trip we will be rewarding students with some ice cream and various toppings as a reward for how they performed on the MAP tests last week.
Thursday morning will be the March PBS reward. Each classroom will have a different activity in it and students from all grades will get to move around the building to do different activities. We will then have an all school recess which is always fun.
Our class will also be having a pizza party Thursday at lunch for those students who signed up last week.
To finish our busy week we will be having a NED assembly on Thursday afternoon. The NED assembly is put on by a company that specializes in promoting positive attitudes at school.
Remember No School Friday or at all next week.
We have a crazy, hectic, and busy week ahead at Sunset.
Monday morning we had our monthly PBS assembly. We learned at the entire school in the month of March received 31 ODRs. Those 31 were received by 22 different students. That means that over 90% of the students are doing what they are supposed to be doing on a daily basis.
Tuesday we will spending some time at Fuller Hall as an acknowledgement for everyone giving their best effort on the Iowa Assessments test a few weeks ago. Following the Fuller Hall trip we will be rewarding students with some ice cream and various toppings as a reward for how they performed on the MAP tests last week.
Thursday morning will be the March PBS reward. Each classroom will have a different activity in it and students from all grades will get to move around the building to do different activities. We will then have an all school recess which is always fun.
Our class will also be having a pizza party Thursday at lunch for those students who signed up last week.
To finish our busy week we will be having a NED assembly on Thursday afternoon. The NED assembly is put on by a company that specializes in promoting positive attitudes at school.
Remember No School Friday or at all next week.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Math Update
The unit math test that we took on fractions the other day did not go so well. I have decided to take some extra time to go back over some things with fractions. You should have already received the Unit 9 Family Letter this week. We probably won't start Unit 9 until Friday at the very earliest.
To make sure we are practicing our math facts I have decided to start sending home fact worksheets for practice. These will come home 2 or 3 times a week and are considered homework. They DO need to be returned to school the next morning like all other homework.
To make sure we are practicing our math facts I have decided to start sending home fact worksheets for practice. These will come home 2 or 3 times a week and are considered homework. They DO need to be returned to school the next morning like all other homework.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Spelling Words for the Week of March 26
small, almost, always, because, straw, drawn, also, author, false, already, flaw, sausage, applause, walnut, lawn, awesome, altogether, awning, faucet, laundry
Happy Monday!!!
Everyone is in a little better mood on Monday when the weather is as nice as we have had lately. A little windy today but it is still nice to see the sun.
The kids should be bringing home a Family Times letter today that shares what the story and skills are for the week. The should also be bringing home a spelling sheet to work on if they haven't finished it already here at school.
In math we will be reviewing today and taking a test tomorrow. Don't expect any math homework until Wednesday at the earliest.
MAP Testing is this week. Our class will be testing Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday morning. Have your student get plenty of sleep and eat healthy like always. Encourage them to do their best on these tests. As soon as the results are back they will be sent home. It will be interesting to see the growth that they have made this year.
The kids should be bringing home a Family Times letter today that shares what the story and skills are for the week. The should also be bringing home a spelling sheet to work on if they haven't finished it already here at school.
In math we will be reviewing today and taking a test tomorrow. Don't expect any math homework until Wednesday at the earliest.
MAP Testing is this week. Our class will be testing Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday morning. Have your student get plenty of sleep and eat healthy like always. Encourage them to do their best on these tests. As soon as the results are back they will be sent home. It will be interesting to see the growth that they have made this year.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Conference Day
Sorry this is the first post of the week. We have been having some busy weeks here at Sunset. Today is Conference Day. Hopefully everyone will be able to make it at their assigned time. Also, don't forget there is a book fair today from 2-7.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Happy Friday!!!
There IS Homework tonight. Please return it on Monday. Conferences sheets are coming home today, I forgot to send them yesterday. Please return those Monday if possible.
Selection reading tests should be coming home with students today. I encourage you to ask about these to make sure that they are getting home.
Have a great weekend and enjoy the weather!
Selection reading tests should be coming home with students today. I encourage you to ask about these to make sure that they are getting home.
Have a great weekend and enjoy the weather!
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Thursday
This morning we took our selection reading test and the students did very well on it. We will be going over that tomorrow and then it will be sent home.
We have started learning about fractions in math. There will not be homework today as we reviewed today. Continue to work on multiplication facts at home. They are an essential skill that needs to be mastered by the end of the year. The more the kids practice the better they will be.
Today I will send home conference times. Conferences are next Thursday afternoon and evening. Hopefully the time I scheduled will work, if not be sure to return some possible dates and times that you could come in. Please send back the slips as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is also the last day to order a yearbook. The forms were sent home a few weeks ago. If you no longer have the form and want a yearbook you will have to contact the office.
I hope you have all been enjoying this great weather we've had this week. Please remember that if it isn't above 60 degrees we expect the kids to have long sleeves on while outside.
We have started learning about fractions in math. There will not be homework today as we reviewed today. Continue to work on multiplication facts at home. They are an essential skill that needs to be mastered by the end of the year. The more the kids practice the better they will be.
Today I will send home conference times. Conferences are next Thursday afternoon and evening. Hopefully the time I scheduled will work, if not be sure to return some possible dates and times that you could come in. Please send back the slips as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is also the last day to order a yearbook. The forms were sent home a few weeks ago. If you no longer have the form and want a yearbook you will have to contact the office.
I hope you have all been enjoying this great weather we've had this week. Please remember that if it isn't above 60 degrees we expect the kids to have long sleeves on while outside.
Monday, March 12, 2012
No Homework
We took the opportunity to review our introduction to fractions this afternoon. Since we did that and not a new lesson there will be NO HOMEWORK tonight.
They do however, have the spelling sheet that they can complete, this does NOT need to be returned.
They do however, have the spelling sheet that they can complete, this does NOT need to be returned.
Back to a normal schedule....
We will be back to a more normal schedule this week. This morning we started Unit 5 of Reading. This means we will be reading a story this week, taking a test, having a normal spelling list, etc. We will also be in full swing of Unit 8 in Math.
The spelling words for the week are:
The spelling words for the week are:
create, medium, piano, idea, radio, video, studio, violin, duo,
patio, rodeo, pioneer, trio, stadium, audio, audience, radiate, cereal, Creole,
recreation
Friday, March 9, 2012
Happy Friday!!
There IS HOMEWORK this weekend. Please return it on Monday.
We had a very busy and out of the ordinary week with being between both reading and math units. We also had a new student start on Thursday.
Next week we will back to our normal schedule as we started Unit 8 of math today and will start Unit 5 of reading on Monday.
Enjoy your weekend.
We had a very busy and out of the ordinary week with being between both reading and math units. We also had a new student start on Thursday.
Next week we will back to our normal schedule as we started Unit 8 of math today and will start Unit 5 of reading on Monday.
Enjoy your weekend.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
District Writing
We have spent a lot of time the last two days on our district writings. Most everyone is doing an excellent job. I hope to get a lot on those accomplished tomorrow.
There is NO HOMEWORK tonight. There WILL be on Friday.
There is NO HOMEWORK tonight. There WILL be on Friday.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Wind Down Wednesday
This week has snuck by, it's all down hill from here.
We have had a pretty busy completing our unit 4 reading test and also going back over our trimester math test. We also finished unit 7 in math and took the Unit 7 Test this afternoon. It sounds like a lot of testing but the kids have done a great job both staying focused and on the test itself.
We are also working on our district writing assessment. The district writing assessment is done each year starting in 2nd grade. When they are all turned in 20% of the 3rd grade papers will be scored to see what are strengths and weaknesses are and also how we progress through the years. The prompt is to write about the best day of school you have ever had or the worst, ask your student what they are writing about.
Recently we had two students move away. Taryn McGinn has left us, as well as Brandon Black. We are getting a new student tomorrow named David.
I hope you are all having a great week and enjoying the warmer weather.
We have had a pretty busy completing our unit 4 reading test and also going back over our trimester math test. We also finished unit 7 in math and took the Unit 7 Test this afternoon. It sounds like a lot of testing but the kids have done a great job both staying focused and on the test itself.
We are also working on our district writing assessment. The district writing assessment is done each year starting in 2nd grade. When they are all turned in 20% of the 3rd grade papers will be scored to see what are strengths and weaknesses are and also how we progress through the years. The prompt is to write about the best day of school you have ever had or the worst, ask your student what they are writing about.
Recently we had two students move away. Taryn McGinn has left us, as well as Brandon Black. We are getting a new student tomorrow named David.
I hope you are all having a great week and enjoying the warmer weather.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Happy Friday!!!
Report Cards are coming home today. If you have questions please contact me. You may contact me via phone or email. Email tends to work the best. If you have a lot of questions or concerns and would like to sit down and discuss them we can set up a conference that would actually take the place of a conference on the scheduled March 22nd date. Remember that our report cards are a look at each trimester separately. The numbers from the 1st trimester have no effect on the 2nd trimester numbers at all.
Happy Friday and Happy Birthday to Dr. Seuss. In honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday we watched the movie, Horton Hears a Who.
This morning we had an assembly to discuss our PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports). We found out that out of the 108 students in 3rd grade only 7 of them received an ODR in the month of February. The PBIS goal for the month of March is to get as few ODRs as possible. At the end of the month we will be having carnival type celebration with a different game in each room. The carnival will last for 1 hour. Each ODR that a student receives will cost them 15 minutes of the hour. 0 ODRs = 1 hour of carnival. 1 ODR = 45 minutes of carnival. 2 ODRs = 30 minutes of carnival. 3 ODRs = 15 minutes of carnival. 4 ODRs = no carnival. The goal is for each individual students.
We also took a spelling test this morning and that should come home with students this afternoon. The reading selection test we took yesterday will not come home until next week. We haven't had a chance to review it yet.
We have reached the end of our 4th unit of Reading. Next week will be the Unit Benchmark Test for Unit 4.
Happy Friday and Happy Birthday to Dr. Seuss. In honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday we watched the movie, Horton Hears a Who.
This morning we had an assembly to discuss our PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports). We found out that out of the 108 students in 3rd grade only 7 of them received an ODR in the month of February. The PBIS goal for the month of March is to get as few ODRs as possible. At the end of the month we will be having carnival type celebration with a different game in each room. The carnival will last for 1 hour. Each ODR that a student receives will cost them 15 minutes of the hour. 0 ODRs = 1 hour of carnival. 1 ODR = 45 minutes of carnival. 2 ODRs = 30 minutes of carnival. 3 ODRs = 15 minutes of carnival. 4 ODRs = no carnival. The goal is for each individual students.
We also took a spelling test this morning and that should come home with students this afternoon. The reading selection test we took yesterday will not come home until next week. We haven't had a chance to review it yet.
We have reached the end of our 4th unit of Reading. Next week will be the Unit Benchmark Test for Unit 4.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Dodgeball Champs
Our class won the 2012 Winter Dodgeball Classic. Students who did not receive any ODRs in the month of February got to play. The winners of the tournament got to play the 3rd grade teachers. They also beat the teachers. It was a great, fun afternoon and everyone was on their best behavior. I was very impressed with their sportsmanship.
We took our selection test in reading this morning. We will go over them tomorrow.
Tomorrow is report card day. Look for a report card tomorrow afternoon. I would save these and bring them to conferences next month if you have any questions. If you don't want to wait contact me and we will set up a earlier conferences and kill two birds with one stone.
There is NO HOMEWORK today.
We took our selection test in reading this morning. We will go over them tomorrow.
Tomorrow is report card day. Look for a report card tomorrow afternoon. I would save these and bring them to conferences next month if you have any questions. If you don't want to wait contact me and we will set up a earlier conferences and kill two birds with one stone.
There is NO HOMEWORK today.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)