Awards Assembly

Don't forget: Benchmark Awards Assembly is tomorrow morning at 9:00 am! We'd love for you to come out and support our students who will be receiving awards for their hard work in third grade.

Breakfast Club

Last week was a rough week, conduct wise, all the way around. However, each class had a few students who were shining stars through the entire week. We want to reward them. Tomorrow morning, we have invited 31 students to join us for our first Breakfast Club. Students who were at school every day last week AND maintained an A average in Conduct will receive an invitation at the end of the school day today. We will provide drinks and doughnuts during morning recess tomorrow, but students are welcome and encouraged to bring something else if they want to. Another pod did this last week and students brought biscuits, pigs in a blanket, fruit, etc. We aren't going all out, but if your child receives an invitation and you want to send something, feel free! We won't let it go to waste! :) We hope that eventually all 80 students will be inside for Breakfast Club during the course of the year. Thanks for your help and support! We really do appreciate everything you do to make our job easier!

5 Weeks Grades

Five Weeks Grades came home yesterday. Please remember this about your child's grades:

• There is not a Science Grade on the report, because we have spent our time thus far on Social Studies. We started Science this week, so watch progress reports for grades.
• There is still room for improvement. Don't panic! The purpose of 5 weeks grades is to keep you aware of how your child is doing so far.

Also, please return EVERYTHING that is in the Return to School pocket of your child's gold folder. The progress report page AND the work that is behind it need to be returned to school. The purpose of this is to keep a portfolio of each child's work throughout the year. Don't worry you'll get it all back around 3rd Quarter Conferences. Thanks for your help in this matter!

Also in the gold folder was a permission slip for the symphony on November 1. Your child will need to return the permission slip and $2 to attend the symphony performance.

Don't forget about the clear or mesh backpack policy also!
Thanks!

Fun Websites for Northeast States

http://www.quia.com/jg/1134651.html

http://www.proprofs.com/flashcards/story.php?title=northeast-state-capital-flashcards

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games.htm

Parents,
These three websites have Northeast states and capitals that your child might like to play on to help them learn these states. I searched for "northeast states and capital games" These were what I thought were some of the best. Enjoy! Don't forget your child has a test on Friday!

Mrs. Reeves

Parents,



Yesterday in Social Studies we began studying the Northeastern states. We will study their capitals, resources, industries, etc. Yesterday I gave each student a study guide for the states, capitals, and abbreviations. This information will be tested on September 17. On that day we will also have our first Social Studies test. We will complete a study guide in class on the 15th. They will receive 5 bonus points for having it signed and returned on the 17th. The purpose of having it signed is so I know you saw the study guide and that you helped your child study.


Because studying is a new skill for some students you are going to have to help them out! I will teach them some tricks to help them study and give them some study tips like:


1. Studying a little each night will make the task seem easier,


2. Take home the resources that will help you study,


3. Make up funny sayings to remember states and capitals,


4. Re-read at home the information that we read at school


You already do so much to help your students, I know they will do GREAT! Happy Studying!

Mrs. Reeves

Quiz Over Naming Polygons Moved!

Due to circumstances beyond my control the Naming Polygons Quiz will be moved to next week.  We were not able to cover that skill well enough to have a quiz on it this week. Today students learned how to name polygons by counting the sides.We will review tomorrow. Students will be bringing home a study guide for this quiz TOMORROW. The test is Monday. (This test covers things like triangle, octagon, nonagon, etc. It also covers regular and irregular polygons, convex and concave polygons, congruent and similar polygons. Forgotten what some of these words mean? You can look in the SRB, student reference book, on page 96, 97, & 105 for some definitions and examples.)

What's happening in math this week...

*  Unit 1 test tomorrow, WED., SEPT 8.  Students should study the TWO study guides and there is a chance for bonus points added to the score!  Any student who makes flash cards for the vocabulary words on the "blue" family letter and has a parent to sign saying that he/she studied them for 5 or more min. will receive 5 BONUS POINTS ON THE TEST!

* Short quiz on naming polygons by the # of sides it has is on FRIDAY... triangle, quadrangle, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon, decagon, (Bonus: dodecagon-12 sided)  On this quiz they will have to tell if a shape is concave (at least one corner is "caved in") or convex (NO corners caved in).  And they will a have to if shapes are congruent or not. Congruent is the same size and same shape. It will only be 15-20 short questions.

* We will be playing games on Friday to work on some basic skills and working in groups to solve a problem.

*I will be sending home a new family letter for the next unit we will be covering either Wed. or Thurs. So be looking for it.

* REMEMBER: Math homework comes home on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

HOPE YOUR CHILD IS ENJOYING MATH AS MUCH AS I ENJOY TEACHING THEM!!

Books, Books, and more Books

As the Literacy teacher, I Brooke Murders, promise to try my hardest to get each and every child to find a love for reading and books. With some it is very hard, but I will NEVER give up!!! Like years in the past, we will participate in the Accelerated Reader program. This is a program that allows children to read and take test on THEIR LEVEL!!!! With each test they take, they earn points and receive a comprehension score. This helps me know if they are struggling, or reading at a successful level. There is one GOAL I want my students to reach with AR each nine weeks.I want each students to take and and successfully pass with an 80% or higher score 5 test within their level. This goal will be a part of their grade each nine weeks. This is an easy goal to obtain, especially since I'm constantly reading to them along with other teachers. We will begin the AR program this week. They will all learn their reading level and begin taking test on Tuesday. If you have any questions about the AR program or the requirements please feel free to contact me, so we can discuss your concerns.

 Please encourage your child to read at school, but at home, too.  Students can only become better readers with PRACTICE!!!!! This means they need to be reading all the time. Here are some suggestions that you as parents can do to help your child become a better reader and know that reading is important.
          1. Set aside time to read with your child
          2. Set aside time for your child to read to you
          3. Go to your local library to check out books
              or join their reading programs
          4. When reading the newspaper,
               ask your child to join in
          5. Have books readily available to them
          6. Have them read aloud to siblings
Of course, these are just a few of my suggestions. There are so many more fun and interesting ways to show your child that reading is important.

We will begin a new novel on Tuesday. The book is entitled Abduction by Peg Kehret. It is a thriller!!!! The kids are sure to enjoy this nail biter!! Make sure to ask your child about this book and the characters' daily adventures!!!

I

Math Matters

Well it was another GREAT week in Math.  Students are working so hard and really seem to understand geometry like no other class I have ever had.  We had a short quiz today and out of 76 students about 41 students made an A!!!!!  That is FABULOUS!!!!  About 94% of the students made an A, B, or C.  I am so proud and you should be too. 

IMPORTANT: WHOLE UNIT TEST ON WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 8. On the test is basic addition and subtraction facts, lines, rays, line segments, polygons, parallel blue family letter, and all of the homework to help prepare them for the test.  I am sure they will do well.  I have some very intelligent "kiddos" in my class.  However, this does not mean that they shouldn't study.  Everything helps.   If there are questions please let me know. Have a GREAT weekend!

Reminders...

Just a few friendly reminders... First, students will be out of school on Monday, September 6th for Labor Day. We hope everyone has a safe three day weekend. Second, if you haven't returned your child's first behavior report please do so as soon as possibe. Finally, LHIS will be having their WatchDog Dad Pizza Night, September 14th. If you are planning to attend,  please let us know. We need to make sure we order enough pizza. Also, If you need more information about the WatchDog program, please feel free to let us know.