Dear Families,
This will be my final newsletter for the 2015-2016 school year. I have loved working and learning beside your students. We have built a great community and I am excited to see all these talented and determined young people will accomplish in the future.
Next week each student will bring a folder of individualized letters from their classmates that describe them as a friend and a learner. I have found these to be very inspirational for students. I will encourage them to read one every other day and savor them, rather than read them all at once. I hope they will hold onto these as a reminder of our time in third grade together. There will be a purple letter from me. Please read it with your student. Progress reports will contain an individualized letters from me in the comments section.
I will have students empty their lockers this week. They are welcome to bring backpacks through Friday so they do not lose their letters and other items.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve your student. I have truly enjoyed this year. I hope everyone has a fantastic summer, full of adventure.
Important Dates & Reminders
I will highlight new and changed dates on subsequent posts in red.
May 23 - Field Day. Please click on the following link to volunteer. Please send your student to school with a water bottle with their name clearly marked, clothes that can get wet, and sunscreen already applied. Students are welcome to bring a change of clothes and a towel. Many students wear hats and sunglasses if the weather is warm and sunny. Please let me know if you have any questions.
May 27 - Last Day of School for Students
Please click on the following link to sign up for our end of year party. Thank you room parents for your help this year! End of Year Party Sign Up Genius
August 19, 20, 26, 27 - Elementary Device Distribution at Hastings Middle School (more information to come from the district)
Friday, May 20, 2016
Friday, May 13, 2016
Newsletter for May 13, 2016
What We Learned This Week
Students began their final writing assessment of the year using the district's Developmental Writing Assessment and rubric. Students were prompted to write about a memorable experience. We will complete this next week. Students who missed the beginning of this assessment will begin make-ups next week.
We are still composing letters to friends. A few students have make-up letters to do. I will assign these as homework to ensure they are completed.
Students are enjoying composing poems for two voices.
We are in the final stages of completing our Rube Goldberg Machines. Students will get to try them next week and will demonstrate them next Friday. Students will then be challenged to put them together, creating two larger Rube Goldberg Machines.
We are continuing our math review of the year. We will take our final math assessment and math facts assessments next week. Students who have not mastered their math facts should continue to work on them nightly. I recommend dominoes as a non-traditional way to master addition and subtraction (and multiples of 5).
We were fortunate to work with an Apple iCoach this week. We designed a hypothetical garden and learned how to use Numbers. Students walked away with deeper appreciation for the power of a visual presentation. This was a great introduction to the power of iPads and MacBook Air laptops that will be distributed next year. It is imperative that we use the technology in authentic and engaging ways to fully maximize its potential.
Please click on the image or link below it to see our amazing Windermere Way video. Many thanks to Mrs. Rex for organizing this.
Important Dates & Reminders
I will highlight new and changed dates on subsequent posts in red.
May 18 - PTO Restaurant Night at Yabo's Tacos!
May 23 - Field Day. Please click on the following link to volunteer!
May 27 - Last Day of School for Students
August 19, 20, 26, 27 - Elementary Device Distribution at Hastings Middle School (more information to come from the district)
Students began their final writing assessment of the year using the district's Developmental Writing Assessment and rubric. Students were prompted to write about a memorable experience. We will complete this next week. Students who missed the beginning of this assessment will begin make-ups next week.
We are still composing letters to friends. A few students have make-up letters to do. I will assign these as homework to ensure they are completed.
Students are enjoying composing poems for two voices.
We are in the final stages of completing our Rube Goldberg Machines. Students will get to try them next week and will demonstrate them next Friday. Students will then be challenged to put them together, creating two larger Rube Goldberg Machines.
We are continuing our math review of the year. We will take our final math assessment and math facts assessments next week. Students who have not mastered their math facts should continue to work on them nightly. I recommend dominoes as a non-traditional way to master addition and subtraction (and multiples of 5).
We were fortunate to work with an Apple iCoach this week. We designed a hypothetical garden and learned how to use Numbers. Students walked away with deeper appreciation for the power of a visual presentation. This was a great introduction to the power of iPads and MacBook Air laptops that will be distributed next year. It is imperative that we use the technology in authentic and engaging ways to fully maximize its potential.
measuring the garden space
digital documentation of the garden
using QR codes to quickly find a website
working in teams and sharing documents
launching Numbers
seeing the many uses of Numbers (embedded video and tables)
Please click on the image or link below it to see our amazing Windermere Way video. Many thanks to Mrs. Rex for organizing this.
Important Dates & Reminders
I will highlight new and changed dates on subsequent posts in red.
May 18 - PTO Restaurant Night at Yabo's Tacos!
May 23 - Field Day. Please click on the following link to volunteer!
May 27 - Last Day of School for Students
August 19, 20, 26, 27 - Elementary Device Distribution at Hastings Middle School (more information to come from the district)
Friday, May 6, 2016
Newsletter for May 6, 2016
What We Learned This Week
Reading/Writing Workshop
Students are writing a LOT this week (and will continue). We are producing a lot more in shorter periods. Students are continuing their end of year letters to their classmates, recognizing them for their admirable traits as a friend and a learner. They are also producing lovely figurative language poems. Here is an example of one I particularly loved inspired by a large sample of turquoise.
Math
We've begun to review and extend math standards from this year and will continue doing this through the remainder of the year. Students should continue to learn math facts for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division within 100.
Science
I love seeing students laughing and smiling while they are learning. Our Rube Goldberg Machine challenge has achieved both goals:) Teams are working on their plans and will meet again late next week to finish their plans. We will test them the following week.
The 8th Grade Orchestra toured Windermere this week. Students will receive information about joining orchestra next week.
Important Dates & Reminders
Thank you for all of the kind notes and gifts for teacher appreciation week. I feel like I should be the one saying, "Thank you," for getting to work with your wonderful students. This has been a great year.
I will highlight new and changed dates on subsequent posts in red.
May 8 - Happy Mother's Day!
May 10th to 12th - Students will eat in the classroom next week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Please avoid any peanut and tree nut products. Thank you.
May 12 - All library materials are due.
May 23 - Field Day. Please click on the following link to volunteer!
May 27 - Last Day of School for Students
Reading/Writing Workshop
Students are writing a LOT this week (and will continue). We are producing a lot more in shorter periods. Students are continuing their end of year letters to their classmates, recognizing them for their admirable traits as a friend and a learner. They are also producing lovely figurative language poems. Here is an example of one I particularly loved inspired by a large sample of turquoise.
Turquoise
"Trees when the first blanket of snow falls.
The beach at high tide.
Papa's lake house at early morning.
The falls that drop at Niagara.
Fireworks that touch the clouds on July 4.
Balloons filled with water that we throw at each other in the summer.
A kid at his or her party with a balloon above their head.
Mother Nature's whisper.
A golf ball when we hit a hole in 1.
The ripples of a river."
- Maddy
I introduced poems for two voices. Students composed poems where they had independent and shared lines. Click on the links below to hear their work. Many were inspired by sports or Star Wars. Our new life size Chewbacca may have contributed to that:)
Math
We've begun to review and extend math standards from this year and will continue doing this through the remainder of the year. Students should continue to learn math facts for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division within 100.
Science
I love seeing students laughing and smiling while they are learning. Our Rube Goldberg Machine challenge has achieved both goals:) Teams are working on their plans and will meet again late next week to finish their plans. We will test them the following week.
The 8th Grade Orchestra toured Windermere this week. Students will receive information about joining orchestra next week.
Important Dates & Reminders
Thank you for all of the kind notes and gifts for teacher appreciation week. I feel like I should be the one saying, "Thank you," for getting to work with your wonderful students. This has been a great year.
May 8 - Happy Mother's Day!
May 10th to 12th - Students will eat in the classroom next week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Please avoid any peanut and tree nut products. Thank you.
May 12 - All library materials are due.
May 23 - Field Day. Please click on the following link to volunteer!
May 27 - Last Day of School for Students
Camping season is here!
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