Sunday, April 28, 2013


I know your child is going to HATE this, but, for the next four weeks I would like them to take ONE UTIPS test every day.  This will prepare them for the end of year testing.  It really helps them understand the format of the test and gives them an opportunity to ask you questions on items they do not understand.  I will publish ALL the tests I have created.  They can do any test they want to do.  They can do as many as they want.  Many they have already done.  They can redo if they would like.  If they will just do one as they wake up every morning while off track, then they can play the rest of the day.  We test the first full week after we come back on track.  We will not have much time to review.  If they will stick with me through this, I will not have any more UTIPS for the rest of the year as a reward for the hard work they do while off track. 

This week we will be practicing for some of our upcoming tests.  Also, your student has been working very hard on a poem book and an ABC class book.  These books will be hard bound by a company.  You will receive one hard bound poetry book for free.  The class will receive one hard bound ABC book for free.  If you would like to order more of either of these books you may do so.  A note will go home this week so please look for it.  The money is due Monday, April 29.  I have to mail the books the next day to get them to the publisher.  Please do not expect to turn in the money late.  Please remember, you will receive ONE poetry book for free.  You only need to pay if you want another one, or if you want an ABC book.

You will notice spelling for the week is not a concept.  The rest of the year we will be doing spelling words that ALL third graders should know.  Some may be too easy, some more difficult.  Please know that your child may often be able to spell the word for a test, but in their writing I am noticing they are spelling them wrong.  I am choosing words I am often seeing spelled wrong.

Some important dates coming up:
April 29:  DIBELS Testing (this is a reading fluency test done in the library)
April 29:  All Take Home Reading Books need to be turned in.  The take home library will be closed while we are off track so we need to get those turned in.
April 29:  Money is due for the books written by your student
June 3-June 6:  End of Year Testing.  Two days of tests will be done in Language Arts and two days of tests will be done in math.  UTIPS is the best way to study for these tests.

Spelling for April 22-26:
Everything
Except
Exciting
Favorite
First
Friendly
Getting
General
Governor
Have
Hidden
Hole
Hopeless
I’m
Impossible
Independent
Journal
Knew
Know
Laughed

Words are on spellingcity.com
Under Third Grade Words #2
if you want to practice there.

Words will also be written in their planners.
UTIPS
Homework:
Tests are whatever ones you want.  Do one a day!!!

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. 

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Sorry, UTIPS is Comp-Mixed 17 and 18

This week we will be practicing for some of our upcoming tests.  Also, your student has been working very hard on a poem book and an ABC class book.  These books will be hard bound by a company.  You will receive one hard bound poetry book for free.  The class will receive one hard bound ABC book for free.  If you would like to order more of either of these books you may do so.  A note will go home this week so please look for it.  The money is due Monday, April 29.  I have to mail the books the next day to get them to the publisher.  Please do not expect to turn in the money late.  Please remember, you will receive ONE poetry book for free.  You only need to pay if you want another one, or if you want an ABC book.

You will notice spelling for the week is not a concept.  The rest of the year we will be doing spelling words that ALL third graders should know.  Some may be too easy, some more difficult.  Please know that your child may often be able to spell the word for a test, but in their writing I am noticing they are spelling them wrong.  I am choosing words I am often seeing spelled wrong.

Some important dates coming up:

April 24:  APPL Testing (this is a Chinese Listening and Speaking Test that will be done in the computer lab-there is no way to study for it)
April 29:  DIBELS Testing (this is a reading fluency test done in the library)
April 29:  All Take Home Reading Books need to be turned in.  The take home library will be closed while we are off track so we need to get those turned in.
April 29:  Money is due for the books written by your student
June 3-June 6:  End of Year Testing.  Two days of tests will be done in Language Arts and two days of tests will be done in math.  UTIPS is the best way to study for these tests.

Spelling for April 15-19:
About
Again
Almost
Also
Always
Another
Anyone
Are (as opposed to our-we have been working on the difference)
Beautiful
Because
Before
City
Could
Community
Confusion
Countries
Discover
Enough
Especially
Everybody

Words are on spellingcity.com
Under Third Grade Words #1
if you want to practice there.

Words will also be written in their planners.
UTIPS
Homework:
Test is Comp-Mixed 13 and 14. for this week.  We are going to be doing two to begin preparing for end of year testing which may be coming up in April.
 Mr. Chen says he has been putting up UTIPS to correspond with what they are currently learning in math.  He would like you to do his math tests.
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. 

Sunday, April 14, 2013


We will be continuing to work on fluency and working on our biographies.  We will also by making a class book to review nouns, verbs, and adjectives.

Spelling for April 15-19:
Knight
Night
Die
Dye
By
Buy
Site
Sight
Tide
Tied
Fined
Find
Write
Right
Its
It’s
Knit
Nit
Mist
Missed

Words are on spellingcity.com
Under List 19
if you want to practice there.

Words will also be written in their planners.
UTIPS
Homework:
Test is Comp-Mixed 15 and 16. for this week.  We are going to be doing two to begin preparing for end of year testing which may be coming up in April.
 Mr. Chen says he has been putting up UTIPS to correspond with what they are currently learning in math.  He would like you to do his math tests.
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. 

Sunday, April 7, 2013


We will be continuing to work on fluency, finishing up our poem books, and work on our biographies.

Spelling for April 8-12:
Stake
Steak
Plane
Plain
Way
Weigh
Stair
Stare
Made
Maid
Ate
Eight
Pail
Pale
Pear
Pair
Waste
Waist
Brake
Break

Words are on spellingcity.com
Under List 18
if you want to practice there.

Words will also be written in their planners.
UTIPS
Homework:
Test is Comp-Mixed 13 and 14. for this week.  We are going to be doing two to begin preparing for end of year testing which may be coming up in April.
 Mr. Chen says he has been putting up UTIPS to correspond with what they are currently learning in math.  He would like you to do his math tests.
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. 

Tuesday, April 2, 2013


I hope everyone had a great spring break.  This week we will be working hard on fluency in guided reading groups.  We are also almost done with our poem book and are excited to have some published authors.  We will be having some Chinese students in our classroom to do some activities with us as well.

Important dates:
Wednesday, April 18:  District Science Fair for the winners of our school science fair. 
Spelling for April 1-April 5:
Jumped
Loaded
Rained
Needed
Snowed
Walked
Screamed
Melted
Bumped
Turned
Missed
Started
Passed
Mailed
Twisted
Cleaned
Handed
Dressed
Dusted
Asked

Words are on spellingcity.com
Under List 17
if you want to practice there.

Words will also be written in their planners.
UTIPS
Homework:
Test is Comp-Mixed 12 and Comprehension 9. for this week.  We are going to be doing two to begin preparing for end of year testing which may be coming up in April.
 Mr. Chen says he has been putting up UTIPS to correspond with what they are currently learning in math.  He would like you to do his math tests.
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.