We have been working on a Reader’s Theater to perform for the rest of the third grade.  If you would like to attend, we will have a “parent dress rehearsal”.  The Red (students in the morning class with Mrs. Rollins) will do theirs on Tuesday, December 17 at 9:30 a.m., and the Yellow (students in the afternoon class with Mrs. Rollins) will be on December 17 at 12:00.  The sing a long preview will be at 2:00.  We will perform for the third grade on Tuesday after recess so please don’t check your students out after the Sing A Long preview.

This holiday season, I am thankful for all my students and their wonderful parents.  Thank you for working with and helping them at home.  I have loved getting to know your children and I appreciate you sharing them with me.  They are amazing and I love them all!

Also, thank you to my “secret elf” (whoever you are).  You are making my days much brighter!

Spelling for December 16-20: Christmas Claus Elf Elves Hanukkah Holiday Reindeer Rudolph Santa year 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-Enjoy time with your family.  Making cookies together really helps with understanding different measurements.  (Just a suggestion)

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 are working hard this week.  We will be working on a Reader’s Theater in order to practice for our upcoming DIBELS assessment.  We will also be reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas for shared reading.  I appreciate all your help in making your students year a success.

Spelling for December 9-13: 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: Comp-Mixed 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 having a very busy three weeks before the holiday break.  I found out we have our writing assessment in March.  We will need to be working on typing at home and school.  When I find out more about it I will let you know, but anytime you can practice typing at home I would appreciate it.  It would be a great idea to give your child a prompt and have them write about it.  This prompt should be giving an opinion and an informational prompt.  For example, “In your opinion, which holiday is the best holiday?”  and “Write about why we celebrate Thanksgiving.”  We will be doing these things in class each week as well.  Thanks for all your help!

Spelling for December 2-6: 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: Comp-Mixed 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.

Since we have Parent-Teacher conferences and are going off track this week and I have a meeting on Monday where we will have a sub, I decided not to do spelling.  Enjoy a week off.  I will put up a UTIPS, but it will be up the entire time we are off track.  Have a great off track time!

This week is Halloween!  It is a very exciting week, but we still have lots of learning to do.  For shared reading we will be trying to solve a mystery.  We will also be working on main idea.

The Halloween parade is on Thursday, Oct. 31 at 2:00.  Our party is at 11:15.  The room moms still need lots of items for our party.  Your child brought home a note.  Please donate time or materials if possible.  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 use 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 this week.

Spelling for September 10-22 to 11-1: 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: Comprehension 7

Keyboarding Help: The school has used a free internet program called Dance Mat typing.

Reading Days: Remember to record your child’s reading time on the Road to Success site. Your child needs to read 20 minutes or more to count as a day.

This week we are learning about fact and opinion.  Anytime you have a chance, ask you student their opinion on things.  It really helps them to remember and know the differences between the two. 

We will also be starting to use the ipod shuffles.  Remember, if you would like to bring your own headphones, we will store them in a Ziploc. 

Spelling for  10-21 to 10-25: reach when each queen east dead trees head street bread death seat dream great lead stream sled sweet breath beach Words are on spellingcity.com under List 5 if you want to practice there. Words will also be written in their planners.

UTIPS Homework: . Test is: Comprehension 3

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

Reading Days: Please continue to go online and enter your students reading. Your child needs to read 20 minutes or more to count as a day.

No homework this week except to continue reading.  Enjoy a few days with your family. 

We will be continuing to learn about narrative text structure.  Have your children tell you a story and make sure they can give you the setting, characters, problem, and solution.  They should also have a beginning and an end. 

On Tuesday, I would love some help from anyone who can come in.  I’ll take as many volunteers as would like to come.  We wrote a poem and I would like to have the students type it.  This is an exhausting and difficult process.  If your child is in the RED class, I would need help from 9:30-10:30.  If your child is in the YELLOW class, I would need help from 1:30-2:30.  Remember, I will take whoever can come!

Our class has 10 ipod shuffles that we use to listen to reading.  If your child would like to bring headphones to school, they may.  I will keep them in a Ziploc labeled with their name and give them back at the end of the year.  I do have headphones for them to use if they don’t bring any.

Red Ribbon Week is next week.  Monday is Sport’s day, Tuesday is Silly day, and Wednesday is Pajama day.

Have a wonderful break!

No homework this week except to continue reading.  Enjoy a few days with your family. 

We will be continuing to learn about narrative text structure.  Have your children tell you a story and make sure they can give you the setting, characters, problem, and solution.  They should also have a beginning and an end. 

On Tuesday, I would love some help from anyone who can come in.  I’ll take as many volunteers as would like to come.  We wrote a poem and I would like to have the students type it.  This is an exhausting and difficult process.  If your child is in the RED class, I would need help from 9:30-10:30.  If your child is in the YELLOW class, I would need help from 1:30-2:30.  Remember, I will take whoever can come!

Our class has 10 ipod shuffles that we use to listen to reading.  If your child would like to bring headphones to school, they may.  I will keep them in a Ziploc labeled with their name and give them back at the end of the year.  I do have headphones for them to use if they don’t bring any.

Red Ribbon Week is next week.  Monday is Sport’s day, Tuesday is Silly day, and Wednesday is Pajama day.

Have a wonderful break!

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

This week we will be working on narrative text structure.  Eventually your child will be writing a story using this text structure.

Your child should have come home with a Flat Stanley or Flat Sara.  This is not a required homework activity, but is a fun one that makes a cute bulletin board.  Dress your Flat Stanley or Flat Sara in a fun Halloween costume and return as soon as possible.  Thank you Nikki Skadal for tracing all of them for me!

We have been working on Opinion Writing.  Your students have learned to write an opinion using the OREO principle.  This says that first you state your Opinion, second you give Reasons for your opinion, third you Explain those reasons, and you end stating your Opinion again.  Anytime you have a chance to have your students give an opinion, whether it is if they liked dinner, choosing a movie to watch, or what game to play, see if they can follow the OREO principle.  This will only help them learn how to gather their thoughts.  Thank you!

Spelling for September 10-7 to 10-11: 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: Comprehension 2

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

Reading Days: Reading still needs to be marked on the Road to Success website.  Please try to do it weekly. Thanks! 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. 

Your child should have come home with a Flat Stanley or Flat Sara.  This is not a required homework activity, but is a fun one that makes a cute bulletin board.  Dress your Flat Stanley or Flat Sara in a fun Halloween costume and return as soon as possible.  Thank you Nikki Skadal for tracing all of them for me!

Due to unforeseen events, we did not get our Performance Tasks done in Language Arts last week.  We will be working hard on them for this week.

We have been working on Opinion Writing.  Your students have learned to write an opinion using the OREO principle.  This says that first you state your Opinion, second you give Reasons for your opinion, third you Explain those reasons, and you end stating your Opinion again.  Anytime you have a chance to have your students give an opinion, whether it is if they liked dinner, choosing a movie to watch, or what game to play, see if they can follow the OREO principle.  This will only help them learn how to gather their thoughts.  Thank you!

Spelling for September 9-30 to 10-4: Cube Food Crust Bloom Smooth Dude Skunk Brown Mood Bump Fruit Suit Built Juice Trust Build Moon Prune Spoon Tooth Words are on spellingcity.com under List 3 if you want to practice there. Words will also be written in their planners.

UTIPS Homework: Comprehension 1

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

Reading Days: Make sure to get your child’s reading days marked for September ASAP.  On Tuesday I will be giving out tickets to go in the Road to Success drawing based on what is marked for September.  I will also be entering a grade for the month on independent reading.  The independent reading grade is COMPLETELY based on their reading at home.  It is your responsibility to make sure it is being marked.  Go to the Road to Success website to mark the days read! Thanks! Your child needs to read 20 minutes or more to count as a day.

I am sorry, I thought I posted this last Friday, but apparently I didn’t!  I apologize!  Hopefully I will get organized soon.

This week we will be working on taking our first Performance Task.  This is a district wide language arts assessment to let me know how your student is doing.  It will take several days because we will just do a little each day. 

We will also be learning about verbs, how to write an opinion, and starting guided reading groups.  Your child will also be receiving their take home reading book this week, so watch for that. 

Spelling for September 23-27: Lost Drove Road Chose Boat Love Goat Soap Knock Slope Foam Load Whole None Toast Soft Toad Coat Float Cross Words are on spellingcity.com under List 2 if you want to practice there. Words will also be written in their planners.

UTIPS Homework: Test is: Review 2-3 Reading

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 log into Road to Success Website and record your reading days.

I am excited to be back on track and ready to get going on learning.  We will be working hard this week on getting ready to take our first “performance task” in language arts.  We will be taking this the next week.  It models the end of year testing and will be a great tool for me to know what direction to take with my teaching.

We will be learning about verbs, adjectives, prefixes, suffixes, and discussing text features, as well as doing lots of reading and writing.  Your students are great at knowing an author’s point of view and purpose for writing already. 

Our spelling test will be given on Friday.  The words could be easy for some and more difficult for others.  If they are easy-great-spend time reading more in either English or Chinese.  They will be getting more difficult eventually, but I want to start off slower and make sure everyone has time in their day to complete their homework.  I do not want to overwhelm you.

I have had a great time getting to know your students and working with them.  They are a great bunch and I appreciate them.  If you have any problems with any of the websites or homework, let me know.

Spelling for September 16-20: Black Blame Brain Camp Chain Faint Flash Frame Main Pain Paint Place Rain Rash Said Space Tail Train Want What Words are on spellingcity.com under Unit 1 if you want to practice there. Words will also be written in their planners.

UTIPS Homework: This is a “test” week.  We will make sure it works for everyone.  So far I have heard from a few of you and it is working fine.  Please do: “Review 2-2 reading” this week.  It should be a review of second grade concepts.

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: Record your child’s minutes on the Road to Success page.  You can record daily, weekly, or monthly.  I will hand out tickets for the drawings at the end of each month and record it on their grades.