November 17

Upcoming dates/Reminders:

• Reading minutes are due Monday.
• Homework next week-  No math, spelling, or reading minutes.  Even though we are not recording minutes have your child keep reading over break!
• November 22-24- No School for Thanksgiving Break
• Monday, December 4- We will be having our writing celebration for the personal narratives that we are currently finishing up.  I would love to have some parent volunteers come in so we could split the kids into small groups.  You would lead the small group as each child shares his/her writing and then help students write specific compliments for the story they heard.  You would need to be to school at 2:15 and this will go till the end of the day.  I created a sign-up genius called "Writing Celebration" at the top of the blog if you care to help in this way.
• I will be placing a book order with Scholastic on Monday.  The Scholastic link at the top of the blog will take you directly to my webpage if you care to order.
• November 15-December 1- Swimming lessons. We are off to a great start!  Due to the fact that the students do not like the swimsuits, I do not take photos at this time of the day.
• Wednesday, December 13- Gingerbread houses will be created from 8:30-10:00.  See the previous blogpost for details about this day.  There is a sign-up for volunteers and a sign-up for donations of candy at the top of the blog.

Curriculum Highlights:

Math:  We have begun our unit on measurement, time, and graphs.  This week we learned how to measure to the nearest quarter inch and we also learned about liquid volume.  We are now busy solving world problems involving cups, pints, quarts, gallons, liters, and milliliters.

Learning about liquid volume

Bible:  We saw God's faithfulness this week to Abraham and Sarah as he blesses them with a baby boy.  We talked about God' timing and how he always keeps his promises.  We also saw how God cared for Hagar and Ishmael when they felt like they didn't matter.  This time of our day is a favorite of many students.  We have also begun to pray over each individual student in our room as a way to care for each other and lift each other up to God.

Performing a Bible skit

Literacy:  We are editing our personal narratives.  This week we focused a lot on complete sentences and on punctuation.  We will be publishing these next week.  In reading we are in the midst of book clubs.  Everyone has finished the first book in his/her book series and is beginning the second.  It is so much fun to listen to the kids discuss their books and agree/disagree with each other in such a civil way!

Social Studies:  This week we looked at the natural resources of Michigan.  We saw how we use trees, sand, limestone, salt, and iron that come from our state.  Our time in this subject was cut short with swimming, but we have begun making a book on our ipads to review some the material we have covered.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Lynae

Gingerbread Houses

Dear Parents,

On Wednesday morning, December 13, from 8:30-10:00, the third graders will be putting together gingerbread houses. We are excited about this annual Christmas project. Children will be taking home a gingerbread house of their very own. In order for this day to be successful we are asking for a few things. To make this as easy and organized as possible the teachers will collect the items needed for the construction of the houses. We will also have a special decorating icing ready to go at school.

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If you have any spare and/or stale candy you are looking to get rid of, and would work well for the gingerbread houses, we would be willing to take that off your hands. There is a sign up genius at the top of the blog for specific donations of candy if you are willing to help in this way.  We are also in need of any cake decorating equipment that you would be willing for us to use that day. Most importantly, we are looking for as many volunteers as we can get to help with the construction. Since volunteers will be assisting small groups of students, we are asking that no siblings be taken along.

If you are willing and able to help let me know via the volunteer Signup Genius on the top of the blog so that Chris, Natalie and I can plan on your help.

Thanks so much,

Lynae

November 10

Upcoming Dates/Reminders:

• The Children's Advocacy center came this week and talked to the kids about safe touches.  Your child should have come home Wednesday night with some paperwork for you about this presentation.  The presenter did a wonderful job but you may want to carve out time to talk with your child about this too.
• We start swimming on Wednesday!  Our class will be at the pool from 1:40-2:15.  Feel free to send a hairbrush or goggles if your child wants them.  We have lessons from November 15-December 1.
• November 22-24:  There is no school due to staff development and Thanksgiving break.
• The book fair will be held at Pine Ridge next week Wednesday-Friday.  A brochure came home today showing some of the books that will be at the fair.  
• Advanced notice:  Gingerbread houses will be built on Wednesday, December 13 in the morning.  I will send out a detailed blogpost about this next week, but you are not going to want to miss it!

Curriculum Highlights

Bible:  We have continued to read the story of Abram.  This week we read about the covenant God makes with Abram and how he changes his name to Abraham.  We looked up the meaning of our names and discovered verses that show how important we are to God.  

Math:  We have completed our 2nd unit with multiplication and division as well as story problems.  Your child has the test in his/her homework folders.

Literacy:  We have been so busy learning how to state our opinions in our book clubs as well as learn how to agree and disagree respectfully with other viewpoints.  Everyone is so busy reading and preparing for book clubs each day.  It is a lot of fun to watch!  In writing we have written long and hard and now have our rough draft of our personal narrative complete.  Next week we will add more sensory details, edit, and begin to publish. 

Social Studies:  We covered human characteristics of Michigan this week.  Specifically we looked at the Mackinaw Bridge, the Detroit-Windsor tunnel, Michigan highways, and lighthouses.  

Ruff Readers:  The dogs have been a big hit on Tuesday mornings!  

Have a great weekend!

Lynae

November 4

Upcoming Dates/Reminders:

• November 8 (Wednesday)- The Children's Advocacy Center will be coming to our classroom to talk to the kids about safe touch.  A letter came home last week explaining the details.  You are more than welcome to attend if you would like.  Our class presentation will be from 9:45-10:45.
• Swimming lessons are November 15-December 1.  We will be at the pool each day from 1:40-2:15.
• November 22-24 - No School for Thanksgiving Break

Curriculum Highlights:

Math: We have been working on the order of operations for math problems as well as solving two step story problems.  We have to read SO carefully and work so diligently.  We will be taking our math test on this unit next week. 

Literacy:  We have begun our book clubs and the kids love it!  Each child has been assigned a book and has a daily requirement of reading for his/her club.  If the reading and responding to the teaching point isn't completed in class, the book will be sent home so your child is prepared for the next day.  In Writing we are working on our second personal narrative.  Your child has created a story mountain leading up to a small moment where he/she is feeling a lot of emotion and can recall a lot of detail.  Have your child tell you this story this weekend.  We will begin writing it out on Monday.

Telling our personal narratives with a much detail as we can on video.

Book clubs

Bible:  We are starting each day in the word as we gather on the rug for devotions.  This week we saw how God called Abram.  We see Abram's faith as he left his homeland and traveled where God told him to go.  We talked about the promises God made to Abram to bless him and make him into a great nation.  We also found verses that we loved and added them to our Bible rings.  What an incredible God we serve!

Social Studies:  We are busy studying the natural characteristics of Michigan.  This week we looked at the different landforms, bodies of water, state symbols, and our climate.  Much of our time is spent looking up the different areas of Michigan on Google Earth.  The kids just love this!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Lynae