Parents,

Sorry to post mid week, but I needed to let you know of some important things to help you stay informed.  Recent events have made us more aware of the safety of your children.  In order to make our school an even safer place, we have discussed as a faculty some concerns we have.  Please make sure you sign in at the office ANY TIME you come into the school.  Even if you are just dropping off a lunch or bringing a pair of glasses to your child, sign in at the office.  They will then call our classroom and send your child down to the office to pick things up.  If you need to talk to a teacher before or after school, stop in and sign in as well.  Outside doors will be locked at all times so you will need to come to the front doors in order to enter the building.  If a teacher sees you in the building without a badge you will be asked to go to the office and sign in.  Even if we know you well, you will be asked to sign in.  Remember, this is for the safety of your child and every other child in the building.

On a lighter note, the class spelling bee will be held on Monday, January 14^th.  A list of possible words to be used will be sent home with your child this week.  I like every child to participate with the winners going to the school spelling bee.  It is a great time to show off your spelling skills. 

Thank you for all your help and support.  I really appreciate all you do as parents and I love your children.  It is an extreme pleasure to teach them. 

Happy Holidays,

Brandy Rollins

We will be working hard to finish things up and get ready for the holidays.  Our Holiday party will be Friday, December 21 from 10:45-11:45.  Make sure to have your child do their Christmas cards to pass out to everyone.  Spelling is just 10 fun words.  No UTIPS this week.  Instead, have fun making cookies together (it is a great way for them to practice measurement), enjoy being with your families, and do lots of reading of great holiday books. 

I did get a grant and purchased 10 ipod shuffles for listening centers.  If you are concerned about earbud headphones that will be shared with many students your child can bring some from home.  I will label them, keep them in a bin here at school, and send them home at the end of the school year.

We have been practicing a Reader’s Theater to share with all the other third grade classes.  If you would like to see your child perform we would love to show off.  The Red Class (doing Polar Express) will perform theirs for parents on Thursday, December 20 at 9:00.  The Yellow Class (doing A Charlie Brown Christmas) will perform theirs Thursday, December 20 at 12:00. 

Spelling for December 17-21: Christmas Holiday Hanukkah Reindeer Rudolph Year Santa Claus Elf Elves Words are on spellingcity.com Under Holiday Words if you want to practice there. Words will also be written in their planners.

UTIPS Homework: None this week!  Merry Christmas!

Keyboarding Help: The school has used a free internet program called Dance Mat typing. bbc.co.uk/schools/typing

Reading Days: Remember to record your reading days!!! Your child needs to read 20 minutes or more to count as a day.

We will once again be having a busy week.  We will be working on our fluency by practicing a Reader’s Theater to perform for the rest of the third grade the week before Christmas.  We will also be writing a Christmas poem.  We will be working on our comprehension by learning about Christmas customs found throughout the world.  Thank you to those who sent in material and wrapped books for the Christmas party.  I really appreciate all those helping to get the party organized.

Spelling for December 10-14: Strange Spray Scram Strut Strap Strict Stress Scream Scrap Spruce Scrape String Stripe Struck Spread Scratch Stream Straight Stretch strength Words are on spellingcity.com Under List 9   if you want to practice there. Words will also be written in their planners.

UTIPS Homework: I have put two tests (remember they are not real tests) online for this week. Please sit with your child and work with them on the homework. Tests are: Graphs 1 Language Arts 2

Keyboarding Help: The school has used a free internet program called Dance Mat typing. bbc.co.uk/schools/typing

Reading Days: Remember to record your reading days!!! Your child needs to read 20 minutes or more to count as a day.

Welcome back!!!  We will be busy for the next three weeks, but I will be working to making it fun as well.  This week we will be reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas and working to being kind to others in our class.  We will also be writing a persuasive essay convincing Santa to bring your child the gift they “deserve”.

I have set it up so you can order books from Scholastic Book Clubs.  This is a great and cheap way to get books for your child.  If you decide to order for Christmas, let me know and I will save the books and let you know when they arrive.  You can then pick them up in the office.  The due date for this order will be December 7 so we will for sure get them in time for Christmas.  Also, I know the room moms have planned a book exchange for the Christmas party.  This would be a great (and cheap-some are only a dollar) way to get the book.  Just go to the website scholastic.com/bookclubs and use the class code:  GXFFD (or I have been told you can search under my name:  Brandy Rollins)

Spelling for December 3-7: Knack Wreck Known Wrist Knot Ring Wrap Knob Knit Wren Wring Knight Gnaw Knoll Kneel Knelt Knee Wreath Wrinkle Knead Words are on spellingcity.com Under List 8 if you want to practice there. Words will also be written in their planners.

UTIPS Homework: I have put two tests (remember they are not real tests) online for this week. Please sit with your child and work with them on the homework. Tests are: Graphs 1 Language Arts 1

Keyboarding Help: The school has used a free internet program called Dance Mat typing. bbc.co.uk/schools/typing

Reading Days: Remember to record your reading days!!! Your child needs to read 20 minutes or more to count as a day.

If you haven’t signed up for parent teacher conferences the window to do so is now closed.  I had to just put you into any spots I had left.  Please come at your scheduled time.  We will be doing a few on Monday and Tuesday night, Wednesday night, and all day on Thursday as well as Thursday night.  Remember, we only have 15 minutes.  If you need more time with an individual teacher, please schedule it at a later date.  With 54 conferences we need to stay on schedule.  This is also a special time for you and your student.  Please make arrangements for other siblings.

I have set it up so you can order books from Scholastic Book Clubs.  This is a great and cheap way to get books for your child.  If you decide to order for Christmas, let me know and I will save the books and let you know when they arrive.  You can then pick them up in the office.  The due date for this order will be December 7 so we will for sure get them in time for Christmas.  Just go to the website scholastic.com/bookclubs and use the class code:  GXFFD (or I have been told you can search under my name:  Brandy Rollins)

Our reading strategy this week will be compare/contrast.  We will learn how we are different and the same from pilgrim children.  We will also be finishing up summarizing with our Native Americans.

Spelling for September 10-29 to 11-2: slow globe coach blow grow lose Rome Roast Flow Long Throw Row close Oat Mow Know Wrote Roam Loaf coal Words are on spellingcity.com Under List 7 if you want to practice there. Words will also be written in their planners.

UTIPS Homework: I have put two tests (remember they are not real tests) online for this week. Please sit with your child and work with them on the homework. Tests are: Comprehension 3 And Benchmark 1 Review

Keyboarding Help: The school has used a free internet program called Dance Mat typing.  It is not my favorite, but it is a good start.  I will continue to look for more free programs. bbc.co.uk/schools/typing

Reading Days: Remember to record your reading days!!! Your child needs to read 20 minutes or more to count as a day.

This week is Halloween!  It is a very exciting week, but we still have lots of learning to do.  We will continue with our Native American unit, finish up learning about verbs, and keep working on our writing.  For shared reading we will be trying to solve a mystery.

The Halloween parade is on Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 9:00.  Our party is at 2:30.  If you do not want your child in their costume all day have them bring a change of clothes.  We will be having lots of fun that day.  I appreciate all our parents for helping out with the party!

Our spelling this week is a little different.  I have a fun Halloween game with homophones so I thought it would be fun to have them as our spelling words.  There are only 15 we use in the game and I thought that might work better since so many of you will have a difficult time studying Wednesday night.

Remember to schedule your time for parent teacher conferences this week.  We will be doing a few on Monday and Tuesday night, Wednesday night, and all day on Thursday as well as Thursday night.

In the computer lab the students have been playing multiplication games on the website:  http://www.multiplication.com.  They love the games and it is great practice.

Spelling for September 10-29 to 11-2: witch which would wood hole whole there their they’re threw through write right hear here Words are on spellingcity.com under Halloween Homophones if you want to practice there. Words will also be written in their planners.

UTIPS Homework: I have put two tests (remember they are not real tests) online for this week. Please sit with your child and work with them on the homework. Tests are: Rounding nearest 100 And Informational Text 1

Keyboarding Help: The school has used a free internet program called Dance Mat typing.  It is not my favorite, but it is a good start.  I will continue to look for more free programs. bbc.co.uk/schools/typing

Reading Days: So far I have many of you recording your reading minutes on the google.doc that the Weilands set up.  It seems to be working well for those of you using it.  If you do not want to do it that way, please remember to email me and let me know and I will send you the attachment of the note needed to turn in your minutes.  I have only heard from a few of you so I will expect the rest to use the google.doc account. Your child needs to read 20 minutes or more to count as a day.

This week will be all about verbs.  Your children had a great time learning about nouns, and I hope they continue having fun with verbs. 

We will also be moving on to a new unit-Native Americans.  Our comprehension strategy will be summarizing as we read about different Native American tribes in groups and then teach the rest of the class all about those tribes.  In guided reading we will also be reading about Native Americans.

In the computer lab the students have been playing multiplication games on the website:  http://www.multiplication.com.  They love the games and it is great practice.

Spelling for September 10-22 to 10-26: glass stay raise brave grain play clay stand slave nail tray stray gray gain taste aid hay shape past pray Words are on spellingcity.com under List 6 if you want to practice there. Words will also be written in their planners.

UTIPS Homework: I have put two tests (remember they are not real tests) online for this week. Please sit with your child and work with them on the homework. Tests are: Rounding nearest 10 And Comp-mixed 2

Keyboarding Help: The school has used a free internet program called Dance Mat typing.  It is not my favorite, but it is a good start.  I will continue to look for more free programs. bbc.co.uk/schools/typing

Reading Days: So far I have many of you recording your reading minutes on the google.doc that the Weilands set up.  It seems to be working well for those of you using it.  If you do not want to do it that way, please remember to email me and let me know and I will send you the attachment of the note needed to turn in your minutes.  I have only heard from a few of you so I will expect the rest to use the google.doc account. Your child needs to read 20 minutes or more to count as a day.

Since I have many students out of town this week, we will not be having any homework or spelling.  Please enjoy some time off to play outside, enjoy family time, and have fun.  Have a safe and fun fall recess!

This week we will be learning about nouns.  We will also be starting new stories about what we are “scared of”.  It will be fun since it is Halloween time.  For the next week and a half, we will be lucky enough to have Mrs. Frandsen, a part-time teacher, work with our class.  She will be working with small groups much of the time on reading and math.  She is great and I am excited to welcome her into our class.

In the computer lab the students have been playing multiplication games on the website:  http://www.multiplication.com.  They love the games and it is great practice.

Spelling for September 10-8 to 10-12: when dead trees each reach head queen east street bread seat dream great lead steam sled sweet breath beach death Words are on spellingcity.com under List 5 if you want to practice there. Words will also be written in their planners.

UTIPS Homework: I have put two tests (remember they are not real tests) online for this week. Please sit with your child and work with them on the homework. Tests are: Informational Text 1 And Add and Subtract Missing Numbers

Keyboarding Help: The school has used a free internet program called Dance Mat typing.  It is not my favorite, but it is a good start.  I will continue to look for more free programs. bbc.co.uk/schools/typing

Reading Days: I have totally messed up the reading minutes.  It is completely my fault and a miscommunication with the Weilands.  I will be working on it throughout this week and will let you know as soon as it is cleared up.  I am sorry this has taken so long-again my fault.  I was hoping to make it easy and I am not sure I have.  I will let you know ASAP.  In the meantime, continue reading and I will count all your days-don’t worry! Your child needs to read 20 minutes or more to count as a day.

We will continue to have library on Monday so remember to bring your books back. 

We will be finishing reading The Enormous Crocodile as a class and learning about trickster tales.  We will also be finishing up our Communities Unit.

In the computer lab the students have been playing multiplication games on the website:  http://www.multiplication.com.  They love the games and it is great practice.

As far as parent volunteers, I am still looking for someone who would like to do Meet the Masters for the yellow class and a music leader for the yellow class.  If anyone is interested, let me know.

Spelling for September 10-1 to 10-5: less feet mean green team been sleep web speak clean keep sweep teeth heat week weak next peach leaf teach Words are on spellingcity.com under List 4 if you want to practice there. Words will also be written in their planners.

UTIPS Homework: I have put two tests (remember they are not real tests) online for this week. Please sit with your child and work with them on the homework. Tests are: Comp-mixed 1 And Place value

Keyboarding Help: The school has used a free internet program called Dance Mat typing.  It is not my favorite, but it is a good start.  I will continue to look for more free programs. bbc.co.uk/schools/typing

Reading Days: I am so grateful for all the help from the Weilands to get our Reading Minutes set up.  I put a sticker on your child’s planner letting you know their class number and what class they are in so you can record the number of days your child reads.  Remember, it is number of days not number of minutes!  Please enter those days each Friday. You should get an email from Weilands so you can put in your number of days.  If you haven’t, let me know and I will forward your email to them. Thank you!  Your child needs to read 20 minutes or more to count as a day.