Weekly Update

Good evening!

Last week we took the eValuate test. Please remember that this does not affect their classroom grade. It is a test that shows what they know and are able to do, but it is also a test that shows how well students are learning third grade concepts (informs my teaching). They have not learned a portion of what is on the tests at this time. By December, students should start scoring closer to 80% or above. We placed the graphs in our binders today and will graph our scores this week. Please leave these graphs in the evaluate tab of the binder all year! Thank you!

Here is what we are working on this week:

Writing: celebrating our first personal narratives
Reading: checking for understanding as we read, solving unknown words, and using punctuation
Math: Chapter 3- place value, compare and order numbers to 999,999.
Spelling: starting daily group activities this week. (On a ten day schedule, test will not be for 2 weeks. We will write on calendars in binder, on our website, and list in planner when test gets closer. They will each have a copy of their spelling words in their binder. I do not give spelling "homework" except to study closer to their test).
Science: wrap up plants unit Tuesday, share "create a plant" projects.
Social Studies: map skills, begin learning about landforms, continents and oceans

Important Reminders:

• Wednesday, September 18 is a 1:40 early release day. Students will eat lunch at school. Students are released according to the transportation information I have on file. Please review this with them or send a note if something has changed. Teachers will be meeting in grade level teams at the various elementary schools on Wednesday to focus on writing. (The writing curriculum has greatly changed this year, as you may have seen in Dr. Parker's e-note).
• We will have Challenge Course during gym on Wednesday. Students will only be able to participate if they wear socks.
• Today at school students attended a fundraising assembly. The first day students can turn in order forms to obtain prizes is Thursday during lunch time. If you have questions about this fundraiser please let me know.
• This Friday, September 20 I will be sending home your child's first bi-weekly progress report. Letter grades at this time of the school year are not as reflective as they are towards the end of the quarter, but it will give you insight as to how your child is doing so far. Please be sure to sign and return this progress report and send it back to school on Monday.
• On Friday, I will attach the passwords list for the online textbooks and websites so you do not have to log into Moodle from home anymore.
• The math test is penciled in on the calendar for next Tuesday, September 24. It will be over chapters 2 and 3. Chapter 2's study guide was completed with the sub last week and should be in the binder. We will complete Chapter 3's review sheet closer to the end of the unit and I will send it home so you have something to study/review before the test. Please remember to use the math notebook and all papers in the binder tab as a reference when studying.

Thanks for your patience. I LOVE teaching and have been really focused on curriculum (especially since writing and science are new), making sure papers are graded, etc. This is a sweet, eager to learn class and we are having a lot of fun together. I appreciate all of the volunteers and will do my best to get everybody in! Thank you and have a great week.