Tuesday, October 30, 2012

We worked on our chapel skit this morning.  They are doing a great job with it!  I told the students that have speaking parts to keep practicing at home so that they can say their parts smoothly and with good expression.  In Math, we worked on adding money.  Students need to make sure to label their answers with the cent sign or dollar sign.  In the directions, it says "use estimation to check for reasonableness."  I went over how to do that with them, but I told them that they can just do it in their head, and they don't have to show work for that part.  They do, however, need to show their work for adding to find the exact answers. 

In Reading, we discussed reality and fantasy.  The students read Little Grunt and the Big Egg and recorded which things from the story could be reality and which things are fantasy.  I gave some students November calendars to use for keeping track of how they're meeting their reading goals.  For example, if your child wants to read 12 pages each day, they can record on their calendar how many pages they read each day so that we'll have something to look at to see how well that goal is being met. 

Homework for today is...
Math worksheet (Lesson 2-5)

Monday, October 29, 2012

This morning, we discussed how we can make one another feel valued in our class.  This is the list the students came up with:

- Encourage others
- Help others
- Offer to play with someone who is alone
- Remind one another of God's love and forgiveness
- Stand up for one another
- Be kind to others
- Lift others' spirits - make them laugh
- Use a nice tone of voice
- Respect others' space
- Say please and thank you

I was really impressed with their list, and I'll really be looking for and encouraging these things with them!

We reviewed the 50 states and played states bingo.  The quiz over all of them is on Thursday.  Students should be studying at home.  We went over making some irregular nouns plural (woman -- women, moose -- moose).  In Art, the students used a variety of leaves to create a picture of an animal. 

Our Fall Party is on Friday at 2:00.  I haven't heard from anyone about helping with the party, which is totally fine.  Let me know, though, if you want to be involved!  We'll have our Fall Fest ice cream as part of our party.  For those of you who have a child allergic to dairy, you can send something as a substitute.  Just let me know!  Students can bring costumes to put on for the party if they want! 

Homework for today is...
Some students still need to fill out their choice for the next book project. 

Friday, October 19, 2012

Today we took our field trip to the Allied Arts Gallery in Richland.  The students got to see the exhibits that are there for the month of October.  There were some very beautiful oil pastel landscapes and some very interesting sculptures!  We also saw the jewelry, sculptures, and other pieces of art that are for sale there too.  We discussed the things to be sure to do and not do when in an art gallery.  I had them think about how the artwork made them feel and what it reminded them of.  We also got to see some different ways to paint fall leaves!  Allied Arts offers art classes for kids in the summer, but they are interested in having more classes throughout the year if they can get a few volunteers.  You can call them if you would like to help out with that! 

On Monday, the Pacific Science Center is coming to put on a Science day for the whole school as one of our rewards for Fall Fest!  Tuesday will be a normal day, except we will have chapel that day.  Book projects are due on Tuesday.  There is no school Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. 

Thursday, October 18, 2012

During Christian Studies, we had a special visitor!  Pastor Mark came to do a devotion, answer students' questions, and lead some songs on guitar.  Ask your child what they learned from the ostrich devotion!  Social Studies quizzes are coming home today, so check out how your child did and which states they may need to work on.  

State booklets and book orders are due tomorrow.  

Tomorrow is our field trip to the Allied Arts Gallery in Richland!  We will leave at 12:30 and return around 2:30.  Drivers can just come to the classroom a few minutes before 12:30.  

Tomorrow is a free dress day!

Homework for today is...
Plural nouns p. 39
Vocabulary p. 37 (Only some students need to finish this)
Spelling p. 33-34 (Only some students need to finish this)

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

In Chapel, the eighth grade class did a skit about being who God made you to be and not worrying about what you can't do so well.  That fit well with our memory verse from last week about each of us being fearfully and wonderfully made!  In Math, we worked on adding two-digit numbers with regrouping.  I moved the students away from using the base-ten blocks, but if they would like to use them for their homework tonight, they can go to this page on our Math Connects website:  http://www.mhschool.com/math/mathconnects/grade3/sg3c2lesson4.html  Click on the virtual manipulatives and select Base Ten Blocks. 

We've been working on memorizing the Southeast states on top of the ones from previous weeks.  Tomorrow is the quiz!  In the afternoon, we worked more on making nouns plural.  Then we had literacy centers.  For Science, the students measured and pollinated their plants again.  For Art, I told the class a little about our field trip on Friday and discussed with them different places in the community that we see art.

Homework for today is...
Math worksheet (Lesson 2-4)
Read Wild Shots, They're My Life during 20 minutes of reading
Study the states we've learned

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

In Christian Studies, we worked on our chapel skit.  In Math, we practiced regrouping two-digit numbers using base-ten blocks.  We how a summary should start with the main idea of the reading and include only a few of the important details.  After reading the selection for this week, the students chose a section of it to write a summary about.  In Science, we talked about how bees and flowers help one another out.  Flowers give the bees nectar for honey, and the bees cross pollinate the plants when the pollen gets caught in their hairs.  Over the next few days, the students will measure and pollinate their plants using their bee sticks. 

Friday is a free dress day.  Book orders and state books are due that day.  In the afternoon on Friday, we will be taking our field trip to the Allied Arts Gallery in Richland.

Monday, October 15, 2012

This morning, we read through the script for our chapel message that we will give in November.  The students got to write down their top three choices for which parts they would like to have.  In Math, we started working on addition with regrouping using base-ten blocks.  In Social Studies, we reviewed the states we've learned so far.  Students need to be studying these at home.  We also practiced reading a map and using medial directions. 

This afternoon, we went over the vocabulary words for the week and took a look at the magazine article we'll read this week called Wild Shots, They're My Life.  We read the headings and predicted what we thought each section would be about based on those headings and the pictures.  After our spelling pretest, we went over the rules for making nouns plural:

Add -s to most nouns.  (school - schools)
Add -es to nouns ending in ch, x, s, and sh.  (church - churches)
If a noun ends with y, change the y to i and add -es.  (puppy - puppies)

In Science, the students measured their plants and made predictions for how much they think it will grow in a day. 

Pastor Mark will be teaching Christian Studies to the third graders on Thursday.  I told the students to think of faith questions they might want to ask Pastor.  You could talk to your child about questions for which you might be curious to know answers! 

Staff from Lutherhaven will be here next Monday to do some fun activities with the third through fifth graders after school!  It will go from 3:00 to 4:00.

Homework for today is...
Map skills worksheet

Friday, October 12, 2012

The class has been working on the final drafts of their personal narratives.  Some of them have already finished writing and adding illustrations.  Next week, they will get to make their title pages.  In Social Studies, we added the Southeast states to our maps.  Students should start studying those at home as well as keep up on the other states we have learned so far.  We also discussed the intermediate directions (northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest) and practiced using them with a neighborhood map.  In Science, the students got to see the difference between the seed leaves and the true leaves.  Some students are already seeing flower buds on their plants! 

Check for these things coming home today!
- Vision screening results and recommendations
- Midterm report card
- Spelling test
- Homework sheet - check how your child did on their memory verse

State booklets are due on Friday the 19th.  Book orders also are due that day.  The first book project is due on October 23.  By that day, each student needs to have read their book, have completed the project they chose, and have filled out the summary and opinion paper.

Next Friday is our field trip to the art gallery in Richland!  I will be emailing the drivers I have to confirm that you are still able to drive that day. 

Tonight is the Spaghetti Feed!  It will be held here at the school from 5:30 to 7:00.  Tickets can be purchased at the door.  The 5k and 10k races start tomorrow at 9:00.  The one mile fun run starts at 11:00.  The fest goes from 10:00 to 2:00.  It will be lots of fun!  Come join us if you can!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

This morning, the class discussed some good ways to solve problems with one another so that we are helping one another keep our pledge.  In Math, we worked on estimating with addition.  Some students took the Social Studies quiz again, and many of them improved!  In the afternoon, we finished our centers and had computer lab and library time. 

Fall Fest bags and shirts are coming home today!  The students may wear Fall Fest shirts tomorrow to school with standard of dress bottoms.

Homework for today is...
Math worksheet (Lesson 2-3)
Vocabulary p. 31
Common and proper nouns p. 35

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

In Math, we practiced using the three addition properties we learned yesterday:  Commutative, Identity, and Associative.  This afternoon, the students were split up into groups for different tasks:  working on the final drafts of their personal narratives, recording their reading goals, listening to a book on tape, reading with a parent, practicing spelling words, and working with common and proper nouns.  We'll finish rotating the groups to all of the centers tomorrow.  In Science, the students measured their plants and got to look at real honeybees that had died naturally and were collected and dried for our use!  Of course the class was grossed out by the thought of touching them!  They looked for different parts of their bees:  head, thorax, abdomen, legs, head, antennae, and wings.  Then, they glued their bees to the ends of toothpicks for us to use later on when we pollinate our plants!

Tomorrow, students have an opportunity to retake the Social Studies quiz over the West, Southwest, and Midwest states. 

Homework for today is...
Spelling p. 31-32
Math worksheet (Lesson 2-1)
Read Balto, the Dog Who Saved Nome during 20 minutes of reading

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

In Christian Studies, we talked about what Law and Gospel is.  In Math, we used three addition properties.  Those are coming home in a math letter about the vocabulary we will be using this chapter.  I told the students that this letter will be helpful when they do their math homework tomorrow since it has explanations of the three properties.  We started working on identifying common nouns and proper nouns.  I went over different strategies the students can use when a word is unfamiliar to them.  Then, they read Balto, the Dog Who Saved Nome and recorded which strategies they used to figure out the meanings of new words they came across.  In Science, the students measured one of their plants and recorded it in their journals.  They wrote down things they know about bees and things they wonder about bees.  Then I had each of them draw what they think a bee looks like.  After we study and use bees with our plants, we'll come back to those drawings! 

I was told the link yesterday didn't work, so here's another attempt! 
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games.htm

Homework for today is...
Come up with one reading goal if you haven't yet!

Monday, October 8, 2012

We had a great start to our week today!  This morning, we looked up our memory verse for the week and started Chapter 2 in Math:  Add to Solve Problems.  I shared a book called Math-terpieces to get us thinking about addition. 

In Social Studies, I told the students that we won't add another region this week.  Students may retake last week's quiz over the West, Southwest, and Midwest states on Thursday.  I showed the students this website for practicing identifying the states:  http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/USA_Geography/USA_G0_click_1024.html'
They can choose the region they want to be quizzed on.  Feel free to find other websites or ways to study the states at home!  We also practiced using a map grid. 

The students used their reading logs to record how many picture books and chapter books they read in the month of September.  They also recorded how many books in each genre they read last month.  Your child is bringing home their literacy binder.  I would like you to look through it with them so you can see the kinds of things we have been doing with it.  Take a look at their reading log as well.  Some students haven't recorded many (if any) books that they finished in their reading log.  They should take the time tonight to fill it in if they forgot to record some books that they finished.  In the Reading Log section, there is a page of reading goal ideas.  I would like you to talk with your child about what a good goal for them would be.  They should be prepared to share their goal with me on Wednesday. 

In Science, the students thinned and transplanted their plants so they have only four plants in their quad.  They pulled out an extra plant to draw, label, and write observations about.  Thank you to the parents who helped out!

Homework for today is...
Finish personal narrative (only some students need to finish revising)
Set reading goal

Friday, October 5, 2012

The students took their memory quiz, spelling test, and reading test this morning.  I didn't get a chance to grade them so I'll send them home on Monday.  Also, we had reading buddies with the preschool class and practiced a new cursive letter.  We are almost to the end of learning the lowercase letters and will start the uppercase ones soon!  Eventually, the students will have some spelling homework that they will have to write in cursive! 

The Wisconsin Fast Plant seeds are starting to sprout!  I anticipate that we will be able to do the thinning and transplanting on Monday.  It was so helpful to have parents help with the planting day!  Would anyone be interested in helping with thinning and transplanting on Monday at 2:00? 

There will be a trunk or treat type event for kids with food allergies this month!  If you are interested, you can contact our preschool teacher, Tammi White, for more information! 

Have a great weekend!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

In Christian Studies, we talked about what it means to be a Christian.  The students took the Math and Social Studies tests, which are coming home today.  In the afternoon, we reviewed how to make compound sentences.  I explained to the class that learning how to do this and use it when you write will make your writing have more variety and flow better.  After that, we finished the literacy centers.  At the end of the day, we had computer lab and library time.  Then we reviewed the memory verse. 

Tomorrow is an early release day.  The school day will end at 11:15. 

We are needing more volunteers for Fall Fest!  Let us know if you would like to help out for a little bit that day. 

Homework for today is...
Vocabulary p. 26
Spelling p. 27-28
Compound sentences p. 29
(It might seem like a lot, but the students had time in class to work on these.)

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

I'm sorry I forgot to put the whole date for our fall party!  It will be Friday, November 2.  Tomorrow is picture day.  If you want to order pictures, send the picture packet with your child to school tomorrow to give to me. 

In Chapel, we heard an awesome message from Pastor Robert, who is from Uganda.  He shared how our financial support has helped their school and how God has used the bad experiences in his life for good.  Later on, the students got to ask him questions. 

In Math, we reviewed the different things we've learned this chapter.  The students are bringing home a practice test for homework.  They will see the same sort of questions on the test tomorrow. 

We reviewed the states in the West, Southwest, and Midwest.  They will be quizzed on them tomorrow.  Some students really need to study!

This afternoon, we had literacy centers:  Read to a parent, DEAR, Writing, Word Work, and Listening.  The class did a fantastic job with them!  We will finish the centers tomorrow.

At the end of the day, the students planted their Wisconsin Fast Plant seeds.  They'll get to see them growing within a couple days!

Homework for today is...
Math practice test
Study the states
Read Turtle Bay during 20 minutes of reading

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Yesterday was a great time at the pumpkin patch!  It was nice to have such great weather and a variety of sizes of pumpkins to choose from!  Thank you to all the parents who helped drive students there. 

This morning, we talked about some of the different parts of the Bible:  Old Testament, New Testament, Gospels, Epistles, Acts, and Revelation.  In Math, we practiced adding the values of bills and coins.  Tomorrow, we will review what we have learned this chapter, and they will take the test on Thursday.  They will also have a quiz over the West, Southwest, and Midwest states, so they should be practicing those at home using the page in their homework folders. 

This afternoon, we talked about different purposes authors have for writing:  to inform, to entertain, and to persuade.  The students read Turtle Bay and wrote down details from the story that showed each purpose.  Tomorrow is planting day in Science, so today we went through the checklist of the steps to follow.  Let me know if you would like to help at 1:30 tomorrow.  We learned about compound sentences, and practiced combining sentences using and or but. 

Picture order forms are coming home today.  Pictures are on Thursday. 

I would like to have the Fall Party on Friday, November from 2:00 to 2:45.  Let me know if you would like to help with it.  If interested, students can bring a costume that they can easily put on just for the party.  It shouldn't be anything scary, such as witches or ghosts. 

Homework for today is...
Math worksheet