News from 3C--Feb. 27, 2012

Be SMART and think about the audience you want to share your writing with. Think, think, think.

Not only does she write, but she shared the illustration process too.  And how writing is a process, not one copy and you are finished.  Great lessons for any age, especially when it comes to editing and rewriting. 

Alex was a very good sport, so his treat was holding Jake the service dog.

Explaining how the service dogs can and cannot be handled.

You need to think like a child to write great children's books-----Julia Cook knows being eye-level is also "key" to thinking like a child.

Author, Julia Cook, during question and answer session.  Mrs. Dickinson is portraying the "illustrator" during this session.

News from 3C-- February 16, 2012

Connie Betts visits our class bi-monthly.  Our last meeting was learning about owls, their habitats, and their digestive system.  Connie Betts is the Harrison Co. Naturalist.

Students explored owl pellets to have a better understanding of owls' eating habits.

The "big idea" for our Science concept map

Students created the concept map using known facts, facts discovered through reading in Guided Reading and asking questions in partner groups.

The yellow sticky notes on the right side of the "map" are questions we want to know more about.  We will use the internet, encyclopedias, Science texts and Guided Reading books to search for answers.

A FEW REMINDERS:

We DO have school on Monday, February 20th

Wednesday, February 22nd is a 12:55 dismissal

Monday, February 27th is the Parent/Child Assembly at 6:30 PM---Help us support author, Julia Cook. And, a big "thank you" to PTO for sponsoring the event.

Tuesday, February 28th---PTO at 6:30 in the Elem. Media Center

News from 3C--January 19th

Our classroom's newest  "Big Idea" for Science is States of Matter and how matter can change states depending on variables presented.  To explore the idea of physical properties and physical changes we set up a series of 6 workstations/investigations.  Attached are photos from our stations.  The students rotated between the 6 stations, exploring, observing and recording data at each station.  We will use the notes and observations to add to our concept map. 

Students investigated ways they could make physical changes to the crayons.  A few of the ideas recorded were:  to cut, to draw, to make crayon shavings and to break them into pieces.  The particles of the crayon were still in tact, even though the crayon had made a physical change.

Cole is recording ways to make physical changes to the erasers in the container.  One of the ways recorded was to poke with a pencil.  Another way demonstrated was to erase with the eraser.

At this station students had paper plates and pencils.  They needed to explore ways to make physical changes to the paper plate.  A few of the examples recorded and demonstrated were:  to tear the plate, poke holes with the pencil, to make marks/designs using your fingernail and to fold it in half.

Students used the Lincoln Log set to model ways to make physical changes to "wood".  Each group needed to record as many ways as possible on their observation sheets. 

In this investigation center students modeled and observed ways physical changes could be made to the lumps of play-doh.  Several ways were recorded. For example, roll it, flatten it, separate it into parts, pressed into the brick wall which made an imprint on the clay. 

Please be aware Wednesday, February 1st is a 12:55 dismissal and Friday, February 10th is NO SCHOOL for students. It is a professional development day for the teaching staff.

News from 3C-- 1/13/12

The Palm Family wants to put tile on their bathroom floor.  Their bathroom is _____ feet by _______feet.  How many tiles will be needed. 

(7, 9)          (8, 7)       (21, 5)        (23, 6)

Jacob was working on 23X6.  His explanation was:  "I added 23 +23 +23= 69.  I knew I needed 2 sets of 69, so I wrote 69+69.  Then I used expanded form and knew my doubles, so 60+ 60= 120 and 9 + 9= 18, 120 + 18= 138.  The answer is 138 ft. (squared).

Cole and Alex were solving the same problem, with the number choice 7X9. Their explanation was:  "I knew it was 7X9, so I added 7+7+7= 21 and I did that 3 times, b/c I knew 3set of 3 is 9.  Then I added 21+21+21 to get 63 ft (squared)

Grant was working with the

same number choice 7X9, but used a different strategy.  He knew 5X9=45 and he needed 2 more sets of 9.  Then he added 45 + 18=63 ft. (squared).

Monday, January 16, 2012---NO SCHOOL--Professional Development day for staff

I hope you enjoy the 3 day weekend.

Finally, remember, the winter weather is upon us.  Students need to have winter gear for outside recess.  Mrs. Denton has a supply of mittens and hats for students to use.  However, the supply isn't limitless.  Students will be expected to go outside for recess, unless the windchill and/or temperature are below zero or students have been ill and have a doctor's note to remain inside. 

The 100th day of school will be January 23rd (barring snow days).  We will be doing a few activities with 100, so be on the look out for photos we will add.

Thanks, as always, for the on-going support and cooperation.  It is greatly appreciated.

Mrs. C.

News from 3C--January 4, 2012

Happy New Year!  I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas holiday and enjoyable winter break.  It is hard to believe, but 2nd quarter grades will be mailed out on Friday, January 6th.  Please remember, you can check your child's grades on-line with JMC.  I do my best to enter grades in a timely manner.  Also, please be aware, 3rd grade doesn't give letter grades for Science, Social Studies and Penmanship.  We use the S, S+, S- scale. 

As the second semester begins, we will be starting a new "Big Idea" in Science.  Our classroom focus will be on matter, states of matter and physical and chemical properties/changes.  Mr. Meeder, Mrs. Dickinson and myself are working to formulate investigations and experiments for both small groups and large groups.  Along with the experiments, we have several short video clips for the classes and other resources for students to use when searching for evidence.  To end the Science unit, we will have a writing project/research "paper".

Friday, January 13th we will have a "summer b-day" celebration.  If your child has a birthday during the summer months, he/she may bring treats for our classroom.  We have 25 students in our room.  I will send another reminder, at the beginning of next week.

Finally, Monday, January 16th is a Professional Development day.  There will be no class for students on that day.

Again, Happy New Year!  I look forward to the 2nd half of the school year.
Mrs. C.

News from 3C--December 7th

"Our Giving Tree" has been in operation for 5 school days and we have collected a record-breaking number of items.  In the past 5 days our class has brought in 108 items for the food pantry!  I am so very proud of the students' efforts and support of this project.  Thank you so much for your continued support.  We will collect items until Friday, December 16th.  At that time, I will take a photo of all the "presents" under our classroom tree.  So be on the look-out for pictures of the students' hard work.

Monday, December 12th, Dee Colwell (ISU Extenstion Services) will present the 2nd program in our "Ready, Set, Know:  Stranger Danger" program.  She meets with the class 4 times over the school year.  Her programs/lessons are about 90 minutes in length.  And she works with the topics and students seamlessly.  We greatly appreciate all her hard work and dedication to our students.

Wednesday, Dec. 14th the Elem. students have been invited to the Middle School for a "Seussical Christmas." The play is approx. 45 minutes in length. 

Friday, December 16th is the last day to bring items for "Our Giving Tree" and also the final day for students to reach the 2nd quarter AR goals/percentage.  Remember, students need to meet their point goal and also be at 85% or higher for quizzes passed.  You may check your child's progress by going to the Mo. Valley website and clicking on the REN Place button on the right hand side of the screen.  The students AR username and password will access the account for you to check quizzes taken, quizzes passed, and points earned.

Tuesday, December 20th will be the activity time for students who achieved AR goals/% for 2nd quarter.  They will have an extra hour of games/pe with Mr. Huggett (and helpers) in the Middle School gym.  I will send home info. closer to the actual date.  Also, this date is a 3:15 dismissal.

Wednesday, December 21st is a 12:55 dismissal.  We hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

School will resume on January 3, 2012.

News from 3C---November 17th

The hectic holiday season is approaching, so I am taking a moment to provide important dates/times for our class. 
Tuesday, Nov. 22nd is a 2:15 dismissal
Wednesday, Nov. 23rd-Friday, Nov. 25th--NO SCHOOL--Happy Thanksgiving!  Enjoy the time with family, friends and fabulous food : )

Wednesday, Dec. 6th is a 12:55 dismissal.

Our classroom will be doing a community service project beginning on Dec. 1st.  We will be collecting items for the Harrison Co. Food Pantry.  Items will be used to turn our classroom Christmas tree in to "Our Giving Tree"(based on the Shel Silverstein book "The Giving Tree").  Students may bring items from Dec. 1st-Dec. 16th.  Currently the food pantry is in need of paper products, toilet paper, toothpaste/toothbrushes, kleenexs and paper towels.  Items must be non-perishable.  So please help your child find items your family is willing to donate.  We will use the project for a few math lessons too.  Contact me with any questions.

Over the next few weeks we will be wrapping up our Native American unit.  Students have been learning about different tribes, mapping them on our US map, creating replica items the different tribes might have used or valued and our final project will be a writing component comparing 2 tribes we have studied.  The "big idea" for the unit is recognizing how where people live affects customs, lifestyle and overall culture.  We have also tied our Guided Reading books into the unit and used components of the unit for Math activities.  For example, students created replica Sioux beadwork ankle bands with graph paper and colored pencils.  Then we created fraction problems based on the students' designs and we worked on figuring perimeter and the area of the ankle bands.  Students will be bringing home their completed projects prior to the Winter break. 

During the month of December we will be learnng a few "Silly Dilly Christmas Songs" (Where Did They Hide My Presents, Alan Katz).  These are new lyrics (great vocabulary building) to familiar tunes.  We will record our singing and share with our Minnesota penpals.  We also, usually, do some "caroling" for other classrooms.  So, don't be alarmed if you hear unusual words to familiar tunes.....they tend to be quite catchy and the students share/sing at home. 

As always, thanks for all the parent support and cooperation.
Mrs. C.