Gingerbread Houses

December 16

Upcoming Dates/ Reminders:

• Reading minutes are due Monday
• No word work this coming week due to the many Christmas activities
• Tuesday- December 20.  We will be caroling at Resthaven on 40th street from 1:15-1:45.  The plan is to walk to Resthaven so bundle your kids up!  However, if it is as cold as today, we will be getting a bus.  
• Wednesday- December 21.  Gingerbread Houses in the gym from 8:30-10:00.  The class is SO excited for this event and I am thrilled to have so many of you joining us!
• Positive Options- Wednesday, December 21.  Right after Gingerbread houses, Positive Options (formally Lakeshore Pregnancy Center) will be at Pine Ridge for a special chapel to collect all of the items we have been gathering for them.  Our class has brought in 106 baby items!  Thank you for blessing Positive Options in this way.
• Thursday- December 22.  Class Christmas Party from 2:15-3:00.  A huge thank you to Sara Wierenga, Christi Nadig, and Patti Laninga for planning this event for the kids.
• Friday- December 23.  Math game day at the Middle School.  We will be walking to the Middle school as well so once again make sure your child has their warm snow gear ready to go!  We will be at the Middle School from 9:15-10:00.
• Luke 2:6-20 is due on Friday, December 23.  I will have students recite it to me on this day if they have not turned in their form from home.  
• December 26- January 8  Christmas Break

Curriculum Highlights:
Reading:  Our book clubs are coming to a close.  I wish all of you could hear the kids as they discuss their books.  They are looking for evidence in their books to prove their thinking as they meet with their peers and the discussions are so rich!

Writing:  We finished editing our personal narratives this week and began working on our final copy.  We will be having our Writing Celebration next week with Mrs. DeZwaan's class.

Bible:  We read about Laban and Jacob this week and how both of these men would deceive each other.  We saw how God continues to bless Jacob as he leaves Laban and goes back to his family and home to his brother Esau.  We saw forgiveness with Esau and how God heals relationships.
We are also focusing on the Christmas story and we are busy reciting Luke 2:6-20 each day in class.

Science:  We continued our unit called Changes in Motion this week as we learned about force, variables, friction, and gravity.  All of our lessons involve fun experiments which the kids love.

Math: We concluded our unit on time, measurement, and graphing this week and completed our Math test today.  Look for these tests to come home next week!

Blessings!
Lynae

December 9

Upcoming Dates/Reminders:

• Reading Minutes are due Monday.
• Word work will be given on Monday with a test on Friday.
• Math test:  Our next test will be Friday, December 16.  I sent home the review this week. It is due back on Wednesday, December 14.  Have your child circle any problems that are difficult and I will be sure to reteach that concept to him/her.  
• Supplies:  A few students are getting low on pencils, erasers, and dry erase markers.  Please check with your child to see if they are in need of more supplies.  Our class "extra" supply bin is running low.
• Clorox Wipes:  We are doing a great job of staying healthy and wiping our desks down each day.  If you are able to donate more wipes, I would greatly appreciate it!
• Swimming lessons are in full swing and the kids are doing great!  Our time was shoved back a bit this week so we are now at the pool from 1:35-2:20.  
• December 20- (Tuesday) Resthaven has requested the the 3rd grade "choir" return and sing to the residents.  We will be at the Resthaven on 40th Street from 1:15-1:45.  
• December 21- (Wednesday)  Gingerbread Houses.  See the link at the top of the blog to sign up to help.  We will be creating these from 8:30-10:00 in the gym.  
• December 22- (Thursday)  3rd Grade Class party from 2:15-3:00.  A HUGE thank you to Sara Wieringa, Christi Nadig, and Patti Laninga for helping organize the party.  
• December 23- (Friday) Cardboard arcade game day at the Middle School.  The 7th graders have been busy creating these games and have invited us to come play.  We will be at the Middle School from 9:15-10:00 that morning.
• Positive Options:  Instead of doing a student gift exchange, we are collecting items for Positive Options.  There will be a special chapel on December 21 where we bless Positive Options with the items we collected.  Currently our class has 74 items.  Thank your for your generosity.  
• MUSIC NOTE FROM MRS. BOER - Your child came home with a NAVY FOLDER with a music review sheet in it. The expectation is that that navy folder goes back and forth to school and home. Eventually it will be holding recorder music and sometimes a homework page. When your child brings it back to school on music days, they receive a sticker to put on it as a way to keep track of how often they remember to bring their folder to school.  Your child has music on Thursdays. 

Curriculum Highlights:
Reading:  Book clubs continue in the classroom!  The students are diving in deep with responding to the teaching points each day and are very thoughtful in their group discussions.

Writing:  We added a lot of sensory details, thoughts, and feeling to our narrative writing.  This work was done with our writing partner.

Math:  This week we focused on reading a creating mulidigit graphs.  Our next Math test will be next week Friday.

Bible:  This week we read about Jacob marrying Leah and Rachel.  We saw how Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah yet God chooses to bring his salvation plan out of one of Leah's children, Judah.

Science:  We are busy learning about the force of motion through experiments!  Here are some photos from our week.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Lynae

December 2

 Upcoming Dates/Reminders:

• Reading Minutes are due on Monday
• Word work will be given on Monday with a test on Friday.
• December 5-16.  Swimming lessons begin!  We will be at the pool from 1:25-2:10.
• December 14-(Wednesday) The Parent team is providing a Christmas luncheon for the staff and I would love to attend.  If you are willing to supervise the class for lunch from 11:55-12:15 please email me at lstielstra@hollandchristian.org.
• December 21- (Wednesday) Gingerbread houses!  We will be creating these in the gym from 8:30-10:00 a.m.  See the link at the top of the blog to learn more details and sign-up to help.
• December 22- (Thursday) Class Christmas Party from 2:15-3:00 p.m.  I would love to have two or three parents plan a few games/activities for this event.  I have had one mom offer to bake treats for the class.  If you are able to help please contact me at lstielstra@hollandchristian.org
• December 23- (Friday) Cardboard arcade game day at the Middle School!  The 7th graders have been busy making arcade games in their Math class and have invited the 3rd graders to come and play!  We will be walking to the Middle School and having fun with the 7th graders from 9:15-10:00 a.m.
• Positive Options- Instead of doing a student exchange for gifts, Pine Ridge is collecting baby items for positive options (formally Lakeshore Pregnancy Center).  Our class has a nice collection of items right outside our classroom door and we are excited to bless Positive Options in this way.  Currently we have collected 39 items.
• December 26-January 8- Christmas Break
• MUSIC NOTE FROM MRS. BOER - We will begin recorders second semester. The cost of a new recorder is $5. You can pick one up in the office for a Christmas stocking stuffer or you can wait until the New Year.

Curriculum Highlights:
Reading:  Our book clubs continue with rich discussions each day.  Every child has now completed the first book in the book series that he/she reading and began the second book today.  We are busy comparing and contrasting the two books in the series.

Writing:  This week we worked at crafting a lead and conclusion for our personal narratives.  Students worked with a partner to ensure that they included setting, dialogue, action, and even a question in these parts of their writing.  I am very impressed with the quality of writing that I am seeing.

Bible:  This week we saw Jacob lie to Isaac and take Esau's blessing.  Jacob flees from his brother Esau and yet we see how God is faithful to Jacob as He comes to him at Bethel and promises to care for him.  We see God's salvation plan unfolding through the family of Jacob.  We have also begun to memorize Luke 2:6-20.  A copy of this passage will come home next week.

Science:  We have begun a new unit called Changes in Motion.  This week we experimented with different variables that can affect motion while playing with toy cars.

Math:  We have been busy adding and subtracting time on clocks and number lines.  Since we are starting graphing (and swimming) next week I gave the class a peek at the test today.  They did all of the measurement and time problems on the test.  Before Christmas break they will once again get the test back and complete all of the graphing questions as well as check over the problems that they completed today.  Keep on practicing telling time at home!

Have a great weekend!
Lynae

November 18

Upcoming Dates/Events:

• Reading Minutes will be due Monday
• Social Studies- Test on Tuesday.  A review will be coming home on Monday.
• November 23- No School Staff Development
• November 24-25- Thanksgiving Break
• December 5-16- Swimming lessons.  We will be at the pool from 1:25-2:10.  
• December 21- Gingerbread Houses from 8:30-10:00.  See the link at the top of the blog to learn more and sign up to help.  
• December 22-Class Christmas Party from 2:15-3:00.  I am looking for some volunteers who would like to lead this.  Just a few simple games and a light snack is needed.  Contact me at lstielstra@hollandchristian.org if you would like to help.  
• Donations for Positive Options (Currently Lakeshore Pregnancy Center):  Instead of a student gift exchange, students collect baby items to bless Positive Options.  Our class is excited to give to the community in this way.

Curriculum Highlights:

Reading:  Book clubs are in full swing!  This means everyone has daily reading assignments and needs to come prepared each day to discuss his/her book.  If the book club reading and assignment is not finished during class, it will be sent home for homework.  Students may use the book club reading at home for their reading minutes as well.

Writing: We are almost finished writing our rough drafts for our personal narratives.  There is much more detail, feeling, and dialogue being added this time around!

Bible:  We see Abraham's faith in God as he is asked to sacrifice his son.  Even though God provides a ram instead of Isaac for the offereing, we see how Abraham was willing to do what God asked.  We talked about how God sacrificed his son-for us!  What amazing love! What an incredibly sacrifice to give. 

Math:  We spent the week learning how to tell time.  We have covered the hour, half hour, quarter hour, 5 minute intervals, and one minute intervals.  We will begin adding and subtracting time next week.  Have your child tell you the time at home as well.

Social Studies: This week we looked at the theme of movement in Michigan as well as placing Michigan into different regions.  We will have our first Social Studies test next week Tuesday.  We will be reviewing on Monday and a study sheet will come home. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Lynae

Gingerbread Houses

On Wednesday morning, December 21, 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.






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. 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. Because 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 Signup Genius on the top of the blog so that Chris and I can plan on your help.

Thanks so much,

Lynae

November 11

Upcoming Dates/Events:

• Book Order- I will submit the class book order on November 18.  If you care to order simply click on the Scholastic link at the top of the blog.  It will allow you to order at any grade level.  Please let me know if you want the books for a Christmas gift and I will be sure to not send the books home with your child. :)
• November 16 (Wednesday)- We will be singing to the Residents at Resthaven on 40th.  We will be signing from 1:00- 1:30 (approximently).  Feel free to meet us there and sing along!
• November 23 (Wednesday) - No School due to Staff Development
• November 24-25- Thanksgiving Break
• December 5-16- Swimming lessons at the Aquatic Center.  We will be swimming from 1:25-2:10.
• Reading Minutes due Monday.
• New Word Work will be given on Monday with a test on Friday.
• Book Fair 2016!! Come to Pine Ridge and get some Christmas shopping done early and support our schools libraries!!! The book fair will be held Wednesday the 16th from 10-4, Thursday the 17th from 9-4, and Friday the 18th from 9-4. Credit cards, Checks, and cash are all accepted. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Val Nyhof @ valnyhof@hotmail.com Thank you so much for supporting our young readers and library!!
• Positive Options:  Instead of a student gift exchange for Christmas, Pine Ridge has chosen to collect baby items to give to Positive Options.  A list of items that are needed came home today.  We will hold a special chapel in December where we bless this organization with the items we have collected.

Curriculum Highlights:

Reading:  This week we did a lot of work with post-it notes and becoming more detailed in our "stop and jots."  We created a bookmark to help us remember how to use post-it notes and then spent time practicing this skill.  We also did some comparing/contrasting with the two different read aloud books we have read in class.  

Writing:  We have finished trying on stories for our second personal narrative and committed to a story that we want to write.  Each student has completed a story mountain and will bring this home on Monday.  Have them share his/her story with you with as much detail as possible.  The more we tell our stories, the more we will remember and have to write!

Math:  Measurement has taken over in Math!  We learned how to measure to the 1/4 inch, and now we are busy learning about liquid volume and weight.  Words like pints, gallons, ounces, milliliters, and grams are becoming common words in our classroom.  Our Math is very "hands-on" as we learn what these words mean.  All of this measurement comes back to word problems and we continue to read carefully.

Social Studies: We focused on natural resources this week.  We learned about how we use natural resources in Michigan dealing with land, water, and vegetation.  We looked at places like the salt mines in Detroit and the iron mine up north on Google Earth and talked about the positive and negative consequences of using the natural resources in Michigan. 

Bible: Abraham and Sarah were given Isaac this week in our Bible reading!  We see how God was faithful to Abraham and Sarah and we also see how he kept his promises to Hagar and Ishmael.  We read about Sodom and Gomorrah being destroyed and talked about how God desires for a close relationship with us, but we are given the choice to choose this.  We saw how our lives are so much fuller when we spend time with God and choose to let him lead us.  

Have a wonderful weekend!
Lynae

November 4

Upcoming Dates/Reminders:

• Book Orders- I sent home a couple of flyers today in case you are interested in ordering.  If you want the books for a Christmas gift, let me know and I will make sure not to send them home with our child.  You may send a check to school (made out to Scholastic) or order online by using the Scholastic link at the top of the blog.  Ordering online will offer you more choices as well as the option to order from different grade levels.
• Clorox Wipes- We are starting to run low on these.  If you are willing to pick up some for our class, I would greatly appreciate it!
• Conferences- I look forward to meeting with all of you this coming week. I will do my best to carefully follow the time slots you signed up for so everyone's time is respected.
• Resthaven Singing- The 3rd graders will be walking to Resthaven on 40th Street on Wednesday, November 16 to sing to the residents.  Feel free to come join us!  We will be there from 1:30-2:00.
• Word Work-New words will come home on Monday with a test on Friday.
• Reading Minutes- Due Monday
• Psalm 100- Many students have already said this.  If your child still needs to do so, I will have them say it to me by Friday, November 11.
• November 23- No school due to Staff Development
• Noevember 24 and 25- No School for Thanksgiving Break
• Swimming Lessons- December 5-16.  We will be at the pool from 1:25-2:10.

Curriculum Highlights:

Reading: We finished reading our read aloud Because of Winn-Dixie this week and have been busy relating to the characters in the story.  We have also compared and contrasted this book to another book written by the same author.  Everyone is GROWING as a reader and in how they respond to their book!

Writing:  We have been brainstorming topics for our next personal narrative.  The students have looked at several different types of writing and have a good idea of what they want to try in their next writing piece.  We also had a writing share with  Mrs. DeZwaan's class.

Math:  We took our Math test on Tuesday!  Our next unit is on measurement, time, and graphs.  We began measurement this week by measuring to the nearest 1/4 inch.  Keep practicing those Math facts at home!  They will be coming back with multistep word problems!

Bible:  We continue to follow Abram as he moves to the land of Canaan.  We see his deep faith and trust in God.  This week we learned how God changed Abram's name to Abraham and we learned the importance of this.  We also looked up the meanings of our own names and created a keynote on them.  

Social Studies: We learned this week about natural characteristics of Michigan with the different bodies of water.  We also looked a human characteristics of Michigan by examining bridges, tunnels, and highways that are in Michigan.

Blessings,
Lynae