Weekly Wrap Up

Early in the week we did some goal setting. Your child was asked to come up with goals for reading, math, home, and personal/social. Then they picked three of them and wrote them on a banner that’s now hanging in the hallway outside of our class. Ask your child to talk with you about the goals they set, and why they thought those goals were important to them.

It’s that time of year when Lost and Found fills up quickly! If your child is missing anything, please make sure to remind them to look for their missing items. In order to make sure your child keeps all items that belong to him/her, please take some time to write their name in coats, backpacks, lunch bags, and anything else that comes to school. Not only will that help make sure your child gets his/her things back, but it will also make sure someone doesn’t accidentally take something that looks like theirs, but belongs to your child.

Third grade is the year that your child begins working on keyboarding! We do this through the use of a program called Typing Club. Your child can even do this at home! If he/she logs into the Chrome browser with their district Google account information, and then accesses the site, they can pick up where they left off at school by selecting the option to save their data. Once they login again in school, they won’t have to repeat the section they did at home. The key is to make sure they login with their district Google account. We’ve done this in school before, so your child should be comfortable doing it at home if they want to, and if you let them online at home.

Here's what we're learning about next week:

• Science: Force and Motion/Simple Machines

• Math: Division

• Reading and Writing: Finish organizing notes by sub-topic/chapter. Determine if chapters have enough information, or need to be combined or need more research, begin writing chapters.

Please remember that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns. I also check email frequently. Together we are partners in your child’s education!

Weekly Wrap Up

Learning to identify the main idea of a section of nonfiction text is hard work for a third grader! Your children have been working SUPER hard at it this week with lessons from from Mrs. Steck, our Literacy Resource Teacher, and me. An example of the way your child is learning to identify and state the main idea is in the picture below.

If your child is reading a nonfiction book at home, you can ask him/her to pick one section of it and tell you the main idea. It should be in a full sentence.They might need a reminder that it should be what the whole section was about, not just one part of it. Next week we’ll work more on this skill, as well as identifying supporting details that tell more about the main idea.

Once the snow starts to fly and your child is wearing boots, feel free to send in a pair of shoes for them to change into if you don’t want them in snow boots all day. I’ll be sure to give them time to change back into their boots before they head out.

If you have any extra plastic grocery store type bags around your house, we could use them in the classroom. They come in handy when kids have a cold and need a personal trash bag for tissues, forget their backpack at home, or have more stuff to carry home than can fit in their bag. Thanks!

Here's what we're learning about next week:

• Social Studies: Cultures Across CT
• Math: Multiplication
• Reading: Finding the main idea and supporting details in nonfiction texts
• Writing: Rough drafts of nonfiction (information) texts

Please remember that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns. I also check email frequently. Together we are partners in your child’s education!

Weekly Wrap Up

Do you know about the website, multiplication.com?  It’s free and has fabulous games for students to practice their multiplication facts. Now that we are well into our study of multiplication, your child should be including multiplication into his/her fact practice at home. As a reminder, we only go up to the 10’s in third grade, although I go ahead and teach them the 11’s, and strategies for the 12’s. Also, as a reminder, the math program we use does not teach the facts in sequence. Unit 5 covered 0, 1, 2, 5, 9, and 10. Unit 6, which we will start towards the middle of next week, will cover the rest. After that, we move on to division!

As the holiday season approaches, we often spend a great deal of time thinking about giving to others. At this time of the year, students and their families often like to give gifts to their teachers. This is certainly a very thoughtful and well-appreciated gesture. However, I feel that when one gives, the more people that can receive, the better. So this year, if you and your child would like to give, instead of giving me a gift please consider giving classroom a gift that all of the children can enjoy. If you want to do this, but need ideas, I’ve asked the kids to help me brainstorm a list of things they’d like to have in the classroom. From that list I created an Amazon wishlist. You can find it here: http://a.co/0dyF07a. Please don’t feel obligated to get anything from that list, I just wanted to put together something from the students that has what they wish they could have in their classroom.

Please make sure your child’s name is marked on their coats, hats, gloves, scarves, etc… Things can get left behind in specials classes or in the cafeteria, and can be more easily returned or found if there’s a name in them.

Here's what we're learning about next week:

• Social Studies: Cultures Across CT
• Math: Multiplication
• Reading: Structures of nonfiction texts, finding the main idea in nonfiction texts (this is one of our big 3rd grade skills that we continually work on)
• Writing: Organizing information to begin writing nonfiction (information) texts

Please remember that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns. I also check email frequently. Together we are partners in your child’s education!

Weekly Wrap Up

This is the time of year when we often pause to reflect on things we are thankful for. I want you to know that I’m so very thankful to have a class of children who are genuinely nice, care about and help each other, and work hard to learn new things each and every day. It is truly a joy to come to work each day and spend time with your children! They continue to put a smile on my face and make my heart sing! I hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

As the holiday season approaches, we often spend a great deal of time thinking about giving to others. At this time of the year, students and their families often like to give gifts to their teachers. This is certainly a very thoughtful and well-appreciated gesture. However, I feel that when one gives, the more people that can receive, the better. So this year, if you and your child would like to give, instead of giving me a gift please consider giving the classroom a gift that all of the children can enjoy. If you want to do this, but need ideas, I’ll be asking the kids to help me brainstorm a list of things they’d like to have in the classroom or that need to be replaced. From that list I’ll created an Amazon wishlist and send home the link in the next newsletter. Please don’t feel obligated to get anything from that list, I just wanted to put together something from the students that has what they wish they could have, or feel we need, in their classroom.

On Wednesday we’re making slime in class!  It’s a VERY messy activity. Your child is very likely to get it on their clothes. Please don’t send them to school in good clothes that day.

Here's what we're learning about next week:

• Social Studies: Cultures Across CT
• Science: Matter experiments
• Math: Multiplication
• Reading: Unit 2 pretest on nonfiction (information). Begin looking at nonfiction (information) text features.

Please remember that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns. I also check email frequently. Together we are partners in your child’s education!

Weekly Wrap Up

Today your child brought home the permission slip for our field trip to Indian Rock in Bristol. There’s a very short turn around time for this to be returned. Please sign and return it as soon as possible, but no later than Thursday of this week. This trip is the day after our Thanksgiving break, and we go rain or shine. We are outside for most of the day, so it’s important to dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. We need 2 chaperones, so if you’re interested be sure to return those forms, too! Those are needed by this Wednesday.

Don’t forget to try to set aside time from 2:45-3:15 this Friday, November 18 for Curl Up and Read time at Toffolon. Join your child in the classroom for a special half hour of reading together. Let them share some of their favorite classroom reads with you, and see a little of what they’re learning in action! Siblings from other classes are welcome to join us, as long as you send a note to their teacher. Also, if you want your child to leave our room and go to a sibling’s room, please send a note.

Here's what we're learning about next week:

• Reader’s Workshop: Unit 1 test and unit 2 pretest
• Science: States of Matter, and physical and chemical changes of matter
• Social Studies: Cultures Across CT
• Math: Multiplication

Please remember that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns. I also check email frequently. Together we are partners in your child’s education!

Weekly Wrap Up

Please try to set aside time from 2:45-3:15 on November 18 for Curl Up and Read time at Toffolon. Join your child in the classroom for a special half hour of reading together. Let them share some of their favorite classroom reads with you, and see a little of what they’re learning in action! Siblings from other classes are welcome to join us, as long as you send a note to their teacher. Also, if you want your child to leave our room and go to a sibling’s room, please send a note.

This week we started learning about the meanings of multiplication. Later next week we start with the facts. Our math program does not do them in order (0-10). Topic 5 covers multiplying by 2, 5, 9, 1, 0, and 10, in that order. I also throw in 11 since it’s so easy. Late in the week or early the following week, ask your child to show you the nine’s trick with their hands. I’ll also tweet out a video of the trick on the day we learn it.

Along with studying addition and subtraction facts, your child can begin studying multiplication facts. The website multiplication.com has some great games that kids tend to love. The “Just for Kids” page on our class website has many resources listed by topic, as well as basic fact sites. I hear that the dollar stores also have traditional flash cards. One thing I find is that in their excitement to learn something new and “grown up” kids often fall back in their subtraction progress as they focus on multiplication. So, they’ll need to keep circling back to study subtraction facts (and addition too).

Once again we are collecting treats for troops. This is a great chance for your child to be a Goodness Gorilla (ask them what this means). Please send in a bit of extra Halloween candy between Nov. 7-11. It will be distributed to our troops serving around the world!

Here's what we're learning about next week:

• Reader’s Workshop: Unit skills review with summarizing, character traits, and predicting.

• Science: States of Matter, and physical and chemical changes of matter

• Math: Meanings of multiplication and multiplying by 2 ,5, and 9

Please remember that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns. I also check email frequently. Together we are partners in your child’s education!

Weekly Wrap Up

Next week we finish up our study of addition and subtraction as your child learns to do what is called, “three digit subtraction across zeros with regrouping.”  What this means is learning how to do subtraction problems like 400-214. This can be a very tricky skill for third graders. I’ll be teaching it through the use of base ten blocks on the computer and iPad, which allows the students to drag and drop the blocks, as well as break them apart, which helps them see the regrouping needed. 

Since this skill can be so tricky for students, I’m going to make a change for homework next week only. Instead of math fact practice, I’m going to give them a regrouping practice sheet on Monday, and ask for it to be worked on at home during the week, and returned by Friday. It shouldn’t take them more than a total of 30-40 minutes during the entire week. If you find that it’s taking more, please have them stop, and send it back to me with a note. 

If you have an iPad and would like the same app we use, it’s Number Pieces Basic (by Math Learning Center). If your child wants to use the website, it’s linked off our class Just for Kids webpage. Also, your child can always re-watch the video that goes with lesson 3-9, found on the enVision website.

Our class wish list includes the following:

• Small plastic cups - for when kids don’t have a water bottle
• Animal print duct tape - great for repairing broken binders and notebooks, and so many other things 
• Ziplock type baggies with slider -sandwich size for storing word work materials each week, and many other uses 

Here's what we're learning about next week:

• Reader’s Workshop: Unit skills review
• Writer’s Workshop: Putting together all the pieces that go into personal narrative writing, and working on individual goals
• Math: 3-digit subtraction with regrouping

Please remember that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns. I also check email frequently. Together we are partners in your child’s education!

Weekly Wrap Up

It might have been a short week, but it’s been a busy week! We took some time to examine a few online resources, all of which can be accessed from home, and I want to share with you. Login information for each is written on their printed newsletter that came home on Friday. 

The first is enVision Math. This is the online resource for our math curriculum. After logging in, students and parents can view the instructional video from the day. To access it after logging in, click on the “Explore” button on the right side of the banner. From there click on topic, and then select the lesson. Students (and parents) can also access the book once logged in.

Next is MyOn. This is a free ebook site! On Thursday students took an interest inventory and placement test. Books were then recommended for them that are appropriate to their level and of interest to them. After reading a book students take a brief, 5 question, comprehension quiz. I am able to access and analyze their reading data. Login as your child and you can see their data, too. Video and print tutorials for MyOn can be found here: http://prodev.myon.com/at-home/get-started

Last is Typing Club. This is a keyboarding site, which steps students through learning to keyboard, including graphics which show the correct finger placement and usage. This program retains student progress if logged into with their District Google credentials. 

Here's what we're learning about next week:

• Reader’s Workshop: Understanding figurative langage
• Writer’s Workshop: Putting together all the pieces that go into personal narrative writing
• Math: 3-digit addition and subtraction with regrouping.

Please remember that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns. I also check email frequently. Together we are partners in your child’s education!

Weekly Wrap Up

We’ve been working hard on learning to make higher level predictions in reading. This means that your child doesn’t just predict what might happen in the story or with a character, but they also use evidence from the story to support their prediction. We’re even learning to kick it up another notch to include information we know from our own lives to help understand the motivation of the characters. You can help at home by asking your child to tell you about what they read, and then ask them to make a predication about what might happen next, reminding them to use “because statements” to support their prediction.

October is Fire Prevention Month! Does your child know what to do in case of an emergency? Does he/she know your home evacuation plan and family meeting spot in case of a fire? Does he/she know how to use the emergency call option on a smart phone?

A draft version of the contact list will go home next week. Please check it over carefully, and let me know if you want any changes made (or if I made a mistake on your information).

Here's what we're learning about next week:

• Reader’s Workshop: Review of making predictions and doing the “big step” retell.
• Writer’s Workshop: Writing endings, and editing/revising
• Math: Unit 2 review and test. Start Unit 3 on 3-digit addition and subtraction with regrouping.

Please remember that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns. I also check email frequently. Together we are partners in your child’s education! Enjoy the long weekend!

Weekly Wrap Up

A number of you have expressed concern to me over whether or not your child has more homework than reading and math facts practice. No, they don’t. Board of Education policy limits homework at the third grade level to 30 minutes a night. This has to include reading time. So, that’s why it’s only 20 minutes of reading and 10 minutes of math facts. In just a little over a month they’ll be working on learning multiplication facts, so it’s really important that right now your child learns their addition and subtraction facts. Just as quickly as they know that 1+1=2, they should know harder facts such as 17-9. It shouldn’t take more than 2-3 seconds per fact, otherwise they don’t actually know them. Reading should be any book they want, 20 minutes a night, 5 nights a week, and math facts should be 10 minutes, 5 nights a week.

Speaking of math, as you might have noticed from the papers coming home, we’ve been doing some review of 2-digit addition and subtraction with regrouping (what we used to call carrying and borrowing). If you’re wanting your child to do more schoolwork at home, writing up some problems that involve regrouping would be great practice! Soon we’ll be doing 3 and 4-digit addition and subtraction with regrouping, and “double regrouping” such as 323-176.

We’ve also been working making predictions in our reading and using information we’ve already read, as well as what we know about the character’s traits and personality, to help support those predictions. When you talk with your child about what he/she has read, you can ask them to predict what might happen next, and encourage them to support those predictions.

Here's what we're learning about next week:

• Reader’s Workshop: Decoding tricky words, using context clues, and figurative language
• Writer’s Workshop: Continuing to write small moment stories bit by bit, and including dialogue and characters’ thoughts and feelings
• Math: Estimating sums and differences

Please remember that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns. I also check email frequently. Together we are partners in your child’s education!

Weekly Wrap Up

Next week your child will bring home their first weekly progress report. It is intended to keep you informed of your child’s academic and social/behavioral progress during the week. It’s probably very similar to what was used in second grade. Please sign it and have your child put it in their Jungle Book to turn in on Monday. Children who return it signed on Monday get two Tiger Tickets!

Weekly reading logs and math fact logs start today, and will go from Friday to Friday.  This is your child’s homework. Each week your child is asked to read at home for 20mn., at least five nights a week, and record it in their reading log. They can read anything they want, that you approve of. They can also count time reading with you, to a sibling, or doing reading for any outside group or club such as scouts or church school. They’re also asked to work on their math facts for 10mn. a night at least five nights a week, and record it. Right now we’re sticking with just addition and subtraction facts. Later we’ll add in all multiplication and division facts. While there is a spot on the logs for parent signature, I don’t require it unless your child is not completing their weekly logs. You’re still more than welcome to monitor and sign them if you’d like.

I want to clarify that the student thoughts on how you can help them with math facts were their thoughts, not mine. :)  Please don’t feel like you need to go spend money on apps or give them extra computer time if that’s what your child wrote. Do what works best for your child and your family!

Do you have any extra plastic forks and spoons hanging around your house? Do you have a growing collection of plastic silverware from take-out dinner nights? We could use them in the classroom! Kids often have a snack that needs a fork or a spoon, and if I don’t have any in the classroom they have to go down to the cafeteria to get one. Any extras you have and could send in would be greatly appreciated!

Remember to follow our class on Twitter and get up to the minute pictures and news! We are @MrsCarnevale3rd. Also, follow our district at @PlvComSchools. On Twitter you can also follow the district hashtag, #plainvilleschools as well as #plainvillerocks and #toffolontigers

Here's what we're learning about next week:

• Reader’s Workshop: Comprehension checks and retell
• Writer’s Workshop: Using leads and stretching a story out bit by bit.
• Math: Place Value to 999,999 - including word, standard and expanded forms

Please remember that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns. I also check email frequently. Together we are partners in your child’s education!

Weekly Wrap Up

What a super job your children have done settling into third grade! As I'm sure (hope!) you've heard, we've spent time practicing routines and procedures so that once we’re into our regular learning schedule next week things run smoothly. We’re also trying out alternative types of seating like yoga balls and hokki stools (for those who want to try them) to see what best helps us focus. We’ve tried out and rated different reading spots in the classroom, book shopped for reading books, learned how to use a hardcover math book and to put the answers in a spiral notebook. We also took math, reading and writing pre-tests, as well as timed addition and subtraction tests. The math fact test scores will go home next week after I get them corrected. On Thursday we even learned how to log into our Google accounts, and find and bookmark our class website and the Just for Kids page on it. I also introduced them to a fun keyboarding program that will help them begin to become familiar with keyboarding. We’ll be putting some time into keyboarding this year. Once all of our various computer programs and logins are set up, I’ll put together an access sheet for you with all of your child’s login information, so they can access from home if you want, and so you can always see what they’re doing.

Although I had originally planned to start reading logs and math fact logs next week, I want to hold off one more week, and give the children in-class practice time filling out their reading logs, so they’re able to independently fill it out at home. I also want to be able to send home their addition and subtraction math fact score reports so you can know how they did and what they need to practice at home. I’m still asking them to continue reading for at least 20 minutes a night, but they don’t have to log it. If they’ve got flash cards or games/apps at home, they might want to start practicing facts with those, too.

Remember to follow our class on Twitter and get up to the minute pictures and news! We are @MrsCarnevale3rd. Also, follow our district at @PlvComSchools. On Twitter you can also follow the district hashtag, #plainvilleschools as well as #plainvillerocks and #toffolontigers

Please send in a water bottle for your child to keep in class. They get pretty hot and thirsty with two wellness breaks and recess! Water bottles that close in a way that help prevent spills are greatly appreciated!

Parents of girls with longer hair…. you might want to toss a few hair ties in your daughter’s backpack. With recess and wellness breaks, they can get pretty hot, and might want to put their hair up before or after being outside.

Here's what we're learning about next week:

• Reader’s Workshop: Building reading stamina
• Writer’s Workshop: Finding ideas for true stories
• Math: Place Value to 999,999 - including word, standard and expanded forms

Please remember that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns. I also check email frequently. Together we are partners in your child’s education!

Welcome!

Welcome to a wonderful new school year! This blog is intended to keep you informed about the weekly activities in our classroom - it's the digital edition of our print newsletter. We are all very excited about this new school year, and all of the opportunities that it brings. This week and next, the children will focus on getting to know each other, our classroom, and new academic routines, and ease back into the swing of school. There are many fun activities planned!

One of the most important things I need parents to do daily, starting tonight, is to look through each section of your child’s Jungle Book. This is the all important home-school binder that will keep your child organized, contain their homework paper (when we have it), reading and math logs, behavior calendar, and communicate information between us.

I know how hard it can be to get back into school routines, so reading is the only homework your child will have right now. There’s no log yet, but students are asked to notice things about their reading. More specifics can be found in the homework folder of their Jungle Book.

Starting next week we’ll log our reading, and practice math facts. Some nights a math homework sheet might come home. Homework should never be a struggle for your child, either academically or emotionally. If you find that it is, let’s meet and talk about it, and together come up with strategies or modifications to help.

Get up to the minute pictures and news from our class Twitter account, @MrsCarnevale3rd. We’ll tweet out what we learned or did each day!

For every family member that follows us, your child gets 10 Tiger Tickets!

Remember, our district is now on Twitter: @PlvComSchools

Please remember that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns. I also check email frequently. Together we are partners in your child’s education!

End of Year Wrap Up!

It’s amazing how fast the year went by. It seems like we were just bundling up against the cold of winter! I’d like to thank each of you for all of your support this year. It has been my absolute joy and privilege to teach this class of children. I have loved coming to work every day. It’s a very lucky person who gets to say that they truly love their job, and I am, indeed, very lucky! This class has worked so hard, and learned so much this year. They’re kind, sweet, hilariously funny, and super hard working kids! The days when they randomly broke out into song or started dancing will always bring a smile to my face when I think of them. Your children will always hold a very special place in my heart, and I look forward to hearing about all of their accomplishments in school and in life as the years go on!

Please be sure to join us for the Celebration of Learning on Thursday. It’s a fun slideshow of pictures taken of the children throughout the entire year. It’s a great way to help celebrate all of their growth and learning. They’ll also be able to share their research projects with you!

Here's the list of all special events coming up:

• June 6: Classroom chocolate tasting party in the afternoon
• June 7: Step Up Day in the afternoon
• June 8: Water slide and game day. Kids can bring board games (not electronics) to play in class that day!
• June 9: Book character parade and Classroom Celebration of Learning, EARLY RELEASE DAY!
• June 10: School-wide end of year slideshow, EARLY RELEASE DAY!
• June 13: Last day of school, Field Day, Report Cards go home, EARLY RELEASE DAY!

Remember that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns. I also check email frequently. Together we are partners in your child’s education!

Weekly Wrap Up

If your child has a summer birthday, and would like to celebrate later this month or early in June, that’s fabulous. We have 11 summer birthdays in our class, so it’s going to take some coordinating so that each child has their own special day. If your child is a summer birthday kiddo, and you want to celebrate in school, please pick a day that works for you, and let me know as soon as possible. Thanks!

Is someone in your house is handy at fixing broken things? Is so our class could use your help. One of our electric pencil sharpeners is no longer sharpening pencils. The motor runs, but the pencils aren’t getting sharp. Before I buy a new one I’d rather try and see if this one can be fixed. If anyone is willing to take it apart and see if it that’s possible, let me know and I’ll send it home with your child.

We’re getting very close to taking our end of year math fact tests, including addition and subtraction! Students are expected to score at 80% or higher in order to be considered proficient in their facts. Thanks for helping monitor your child’s continued practice of their math facts!

Our class will be taking the SBAC tests the mornings of May 10, 11, 13, 18, and 19 from 9:15-11:00ish. Please try to avoid scheduling appointments that will require your child to be out of school any of those mornings.

Here's what we're learning about next week:

Reader’s Workshop AND Science: Animal Research Clubs/Habitats

Writer’s Workshop: Fairy tale adaptations

Math: Measurement of Volume, weight and mass

Remember that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns. I also check email frequently. Together we are partners in your child’s education!

Weekly Wrap Up

How is it we only have about 35 days of school left this year? Yikes! There will be lots of special events and activities that take place over the next month and a half, but our learning continues. Homework still continues on, and it gets a little harder now for some children to manage their time when they have school events, sporting practices, and various other activities. Even though your child has been doing homework all year, they might need a little extra help from you now to budget their time between homework, events, and just being a kid and playing. 

We’re getting close to doing our end of year math fact tests. Students are expected to score at 80% or higher in order to be considered proficient in their facts. Some children are coming home today with specific facts they need to work on. Please ask your child what he/she needs to memorize.

Here's what we're learning about next week:

Reader’s Workshop: Comparing and contrasting characters across books

Writer’s Workshop: Persuasive Writing and assessment

Math: Area and perimeter review

Social Studies: Plainville

Please remember that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns. I also check email frequently. Together we are partners in your child’s education!

Weekly Wrap Up

What super hard workers your children were this week! I wish you could have been a fly on the wall watching them write amazing 5 paragraph persuasive papers, thoughtfully discuss the books they have been reading, and carefully calculate area and perimeter,. One way you can help your child with area and perimeter at home is to help them measure and calculate the area and perimeter of their room, a small rug on the floor, the dining room or kitchen table (if they’re square or rectangular), or even just a book they’re reading. This week they learned the “secret formula” for area is length X width.

Now that spring has arrived, many of the children are talking about their spring sports, games, and upcoming recitals. Any time your child has a special event in his/her life outside of school, feel free to send in a picture or email it to me so they can share it with us. Short videos are okay too. I’ll put it up on the SmartBoard so your child can share his/her events with their friends in class. No show and tell tickets are required for this!  :)

Students do not need to keep track of their home reading and home math fact practice during our April vacation next week. I’m sure they’ll keep practicing those facts, and still read, But, it’s vacation, so enjoy and don’t worry about keeping the logs!

Here's what we'll be learning about after vacation:

• Reader’s Workshop: Comparing and contrasting characters across books
• Writer’s Workshop: Persuasive Writing
• Math: Area of Irregular Shapes
• Social Studies: Plainville

Please remember that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns. I also check email frequently. Together we are partners in your child’s education!

Weekly Wrap Up

Now that warmer weather is arriving, please try to make sure your child has a water bottle for school. They are outside 2-3 times a day between wellness and recess, and are quite thirsty when they come in! Also, with the warmer weather can come fluctuations in the classroom temperature. A sweater or sweatshirt kept in the your child’s locker might come in handy once the AC is turned on.

I want to let families know that I’m going to be out of school on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of next week (March 30, 31, and April 1) for minor oral surgery. I’ve already written detailed plans for the sub, so your child’s regular learning will continue! Please know that next Friday there will not be a newsletter or a progress report. There will be homework throughout the week, and home reading and math fact logs should continue. I will check them when I’m back the following week.

A few reminders:

• Students need to have a note from home each week to use their electronics during Fun Friday. 
• Sneakers should be worn on Wednesdays for gym.
• Recorders and music need to come back to school on Tuesdays for music.
• Please do NOT send foods with peanuts, tree nuts or seafoods at snack due to food allergies.

Here's what we're learning about in the next two weeks:

• Reader’s Workshop: Book Clubs
• Writer’s Workshop: Persuasive Writing
• Math: Perimeter and Area
• Social Studies: Plainville

Please remember that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns. I also check email frequently. Together we are partners in your child’s education!

Weekly Wrap Up

Since we have two short weeks, this newsletter will be for the weeks of March 14th and March 21st.

As you begin to take out spring clothes for your child to see what still fits, or are buying new things, please keep the dress code in mind. Shorts and skirts/dresses should not be any shorter than the tips of fingers with arms hanging at side. Spaghetti straps or strapless tops should not be worn, and sandals should have heel straps. More info. on the dress code can be found in family handbook, located in the back of the school calendar.

Today we began our new math unit on geometry. Since there are a number of terms that you might not have seen since your days in school (Who remembers scalene triangles or obtuse angles?) the vocab cards for the unit are attached. Students also have a copy in their math notebook in class. We will be using our new knowledge to design towns applying various terms (ex: two streets must be parallel). There won’t be any math papers for homework, but students need to work on memorizing the meanings of the topic vocabulary words.

If you haven’t yet done the parent communication survey, please take a minute to fill it out. It’s linked off the front of our class website. Thanks!

Here's what we're learning about for the next two weeks:

• Reader’s Workshop: Book clubs 
• Writer’s Workshop: Persuasive Writing 
• Math: Geometry Town
• Social Studies: Connecticut

Please remember that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns. I also check email frequently. Together we are partners in your child’s education!

Weekly Wrap Up

I’d love to get parent feedback on the various methods of communication I use to share information from the classroom. If you get a chance over the next few days, please take a few minutes to fill out a really short communication survey I put together. It’s linked off the front of our class website:  https://sites.google.com/a/plainvilleschools.org/carnevalea/ 

Our field trip to the New Britain Museum of Art is on Friday, March 11th. Since we are leaving before our normal lunch time, we’ll picnic in the classroom before we leave on the trip. Students can still buy their lunch, or bring it, the same as they would any other day.

New pictures from January, February and early March have been added to the class photo album page on our website!

Look for the conference appointment slip, with your conference time on it, to come home on Monday in your child’s Jungle Book! Please let me know as soon as you can if you need to change it.

Here's what we're learning about next week:

• Reader’s Workshop: Book clubs 
• Writer’s Workshop: Persuasive Writing 
• Math: Fractions
• Social Studies: Connecticut

Please remember that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns. I also check email frequently. Together we are partners in your child’s education!