The last day of school each year is always a sentimental one and today was no exception. While I am not a parent myself, I can only imagine the amount of trust (and hope) you put in educators. So I would like to sincerely thank you for entrusting me with your child's education-- it is a responsibility that I do not take lightly. Every day I am reminded how lucky I am watch your children grow; working with them, teaching them. In short, this year has been an absolute privilege. Thank you for your support throughout the year, and have a safe and wonderful summer vacation!
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
RETURN BOOKS!
In Readers' Workshop, students spent this week creating book recommendations that we will hang up the last day of school. The purpose of these projects is to advertise books we loved to other Riverside students, so they have titles in mind for other the summer.
In Writers' Workshop, students reflected on this year and thought about their goals for the future. I had them write letters to themselves about the decisions they need to make to help them be successful as they continue to progress through grades. I will send students their letters a few days before fourth grade starts, as a reminder of the goals they've set for themselves. As an aside, I didn't read their letters. I told students they were personal and for them to think about their goals, etc.
In Math Workshop, students finished their last test of third grade (woo-hoo!). Again, this isn't graded and doesn't contribute to their report card grades.
Homework:
In Writers' Workshop, students reflected on this year and thought about their goals for the future. I had them write letters to themselves about the decisions they need to make to help them be successful as they continue to progress through grades. I will send students their letters a few days before fourth grade starts, as a reminder of the goals they've set for themselves. As an aside, I didn't read their letters. I told students they were personal and for them to think about their goals, etc.
In Math Workshop, students finished their last test of third grade (woo-hoo!). Again, this isn't graded and doesn't contribute to their report card grades.
Homework:
- Practice multiplication/ division facts (if necessary)
- Read 20 minutes
Reminders:
- Please return all classroom books!
- Report Cards: Report cards will come home with students on the last day of school, Wednesday, June 15.
- Backpacks: Please continue to send students in with backpacks; they'll be bringing home artwork, school supplies, etc. until the last day of school.
Classroom Supplies:
Kidblog Link:
Monday, June 13, 2016
Holes Permission Slip Due ASAP
Just a friendly reminder that students' permission slips to watch Holes are due as soon as possible. I cannot let your child view the movie at school without your written permission. The permission slip is attached to the bottom of this post. You can also simply write me a note, sign and date, if you can't find the green slip I sent home. Thanks!
Homework:
Thank you,
_______________________________________________________ ______________________
Parent signature Date
Homework:
- Practice multiplication/ division facts (if necessary)
- Read 20 minutes
Reminders:
- Holes permission slip: Due ASAP
- Report Cards: Report cards will come home with students on the last day of school, Wednesday, June 15.
- Backpacks: Please continue to send students in with backpacks; they'll be bringing home artwork, school supplies, etc. until the last day of school.
Classroom Supplies:
Kidblog Link:
Thank you,
Mrs. O'Neill
...
Parents and Guardians,
To celebrate the completion of another successful school year, students are pulling together their E.A.G.E.R. tickets to purchase a movie day. As we read Holes earlier in the year during Read Aloud, students elected to view this movie. I plan to show the movie in the afternoon, sometime next week. Rather than bringing in treats for the whole class, students voted to bring in their own special snack and drink to eat and drink during the movie.
Please sign and return below to give your child permission to watch Holes (PG) at school.
Please sign and return below to give your child permission to watch Holes (PG) at school.
----------------------------------------------------------
I give _____________________________________ my permission to watch Holes (PG) at school.
(Student name)
(Student name)
_______________________________________________________ ______________________
Parent signature Date
Friday, June 10, 2016
Picnic Monday
Students took a math test today; it's simply for planning purposes. It will not be graded and will not factor into their grades on their report cards.
Riverside students filled "the tube" for the last time this year. Students voted to have an extra 20 minute free play. We took ours this afternoon. Take a look. Way to go, RES students!
FYI:
Homework:
Thank you,
_______________________________________________________ ______________________
Parent signature Date
Riverside students filled "the tube" for the last time this year. Students voted to have an extra 20 minute free play. We took ours this afternoon. Take a look. Way to go, RES students!
FYI:
- Book Sale: The Harford County Public Library down the street from school is having a book sale (6/8-6/10). I went yesterday; kids soft-covers are 25 cents, hardcovers 50. Saturday (the last day) will have even better deals. They also have a lot of adult reads as well.
- Our B1G Story: Our story is on the HCPS webpage! Check it out!
Homework:
- Practice multiplication/ division facts (if necessary)
- Read 20 minutes
Reminders:
- Holes permission slip: Due ASAP
- Class Picnic: Monday, June 13 (11:10-12:20)
- Report Cards: Report cards will come home with students on the last day of school, Wednesday, June 15.
- Backpacks: Please continue to send students in with backpacks; they'll be bringing home artwork, school supplies, etc. until the last day of school.
Classroom Supplies:
Kidblog Link:
Thank you,
Mrs. O'Neill
...
Parents and Guardians,
To celebrate the completion of another successful school year, students are pulling together their E.A.G.E.R. tickets to purchase a movie day. As we read Holes earlier in the year during Read Aloud, students elected to view this movie. I plan to show the movie in the afternoon, sometime next week. Rather than bringing in treats for the whole class, students voted to bring in their own special snack and drink to eat and drink during the movie.
Please sign and return below to give your child permission to watch Holes (PG) at school.
Please sign and return below to give your child permission to watch Holes (PG) at school.
----------------------------------------------------------
I give _____________________________________ my permission to watch Holes (PG) at school.
(Student name)
(Student name)
_______________________________________________________ ______________________
Parent signature Date
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Permission Slip
- Practice multiplication/ division facts (if necessary)
- Read 20 minutes
Reminders:
- Holes permission slip: Due ASAP
- Class Picnic: Monday, June 13 (11:10-12:20)
- Report Cards: Report cards will come home with students on the last day of school, Wednesday, June 15.
Classroom Supplies:
Kidblog Link:
Thank you,
Mrs. O'Neill
...
Parents and Guardians,
To celebrate the completion of another successful school year, students are pulling together their E.A.G.E.R. tickets to purchase a movie day. As we read Holes earlier in the year during Read Aloud, students elected to view this movie. I plan to show the movie in the afternoon, sometime next week. Rather than bringing in treats for the whole class, students voted to bring in their own special snack and drink to eat and drink during the movie.
Please sign and return below to give your child permission to watch Holes (PG) at school.
Please sign and return below to give your child permission to watch Holes (PG) at school.
----------------------------------------------------------
I give _____________________________________ my permission to watch Holes (PG) at school.
(Student name)
(Student name)
_______________________________________________________ ______________________
Parent signature Date
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Last Day of School
Parents & Guardians,
Please write me an email or note in your child's planner if they will NOT be here on the last day of school, Wednesday, June 15. Please also indicate the last day they'll be here so they can clean out their desk, bring home a collection of their writing, etc. Thank you!
In Readers' Workshop, students considered time, place, and mood to write comparison paragraphs about the settings in "Spaghetti" and "Boar Out There".
Homework:
Please write me an email or note in your child's planner if they will NOT be here on the last day of school, Wednesday, June 15. Please also indicate the last day they'll be here so they can clean out their desk, bring home a collection of their writing, etc. Thank you!
In Readers' Workshop, students considered time, place, and mood to write comparison paragraphs about the settings in "Spaghetti" and "Boar Out There".
Homework:
- Practice multiplication/ division facts (if necessary)
- Read 20 minutes
Reminders:
- Unit 8 Assessment: Due back at your earliest convenience.
- Class Picnic: Monday, June 13 (11:10-12:20)
- Report Cards: Report cards will come home with students on the last day of school, Wednesday, June 15.
Classroom Supplies:
Kidblog Link:
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Picnic
In Writers' Workshop, students wrote examples to balance facts and ideas in their writing.
In Readers' Workshop, students worked with their literacy partners to write a paragraph comparing the plots of "Spaghetti" and "Boar Out There". They used their matrix (with "Somebody Wanted But So Then"- plot strategy) and comparing words to help them do this work.
In Math Workshop, students broke factors into smaller factors to show the same expression different ways. They also worked with perimeter and area with unknowns and multi-digit multiplication.
Third Grade Picnic: The note below went home with students today. I also attached it here, just in case.
Homework:
In Readers' Workshop, students worked with their literacy partners to write a paragraph comparing the plots of "Spaghetti" and "Boar Out There". They used their matrix (with "Somebody Wanted But So Then"- plot strategy) and comparing words to help them do this work.
In Math Workshop, students broke factors into smaller factors to show the same expression different ways. They also worked with perimeter and area with unknowns and multi-digit multiplication.
Third Grade Picnic: The note below went home with students today. I also attached it here, just in case.
Homework:
- Practice multiplication/ division facts (if necessary)
- Read 20 minutes
Reminders:
- Unit 8 Assessment: Due back at your earliest convenience.
- Class Picnic: Monday, June 13 (11:10-12:20)
Classroom Supplies:
- Dry erase markers
Kidblog Link:
Monday, June 6, 2016
Homework Update
In Writers' Workshop, we looked at a mentor text, Sharks by Seymour Simon. We noticed that in his writing he doesn't simply list facts (listing facts is very typical in third grade writing). Simon balanced facts with ideas. One way information writers stretch out their facts/ writing is by adding comparisons. The real goal here is we want students elaborating on facts and introducing ideas; we don't want a list of facts. Check out some examples below.
In Readers' Workshop, students worked independently to grow ideas about and identify possible themes in "Boar Out There". Ask your child what strategy they used (A: process chart, considering problem and solution, or famous last words).
In Math Workshop, students used base ten blocks to show multi-digit multiplication expressions. They also practiced multi-digit multiplication and solving multi-step word problems at stations.
In Science, students set up their notebooks for our next experiment. We're still trying to determine the names of our same mystery powders. During this experiment, we'll test to see which powders form solutions and which form suspensions. We may or may not get to actually test the powders today. I'll post pictures when we do.
A note about homework: I will not be sending home any math homework for the rest of the year; however, please encourage your child to practice their multiplication/ division facts, if necessary. Additionally, try to keep them reading (even over the summer)-- 20 minutes a day makes a huge difference (see below; note the percentiles on standardized tests...).
Homework:
In Readers' Workshop, students worked independently to grow ideas about and identify possible themes in "Boar Out There". Ask your child what strategy they used (A: process chart, considering problem and solution, or famous last words).
In Math Workshop, students used base ten blocks to show multi-digit multiplication expressions. They also practiced multi-digit multiplication and solving multi-step word problems at stations.
In Science, students set up their notebooks for our next experiment. We're still trying to determine the names of our same mystery powders. During this experiment, we'll test to see which powders form solutions and which form suspensions. We may or may not get to actually test the powders today. I'll post pictures when we do.
A note about homework: I will not be sending home any math homework for the rest of the year; however, please encourage your child to practice their multiplication/ division facts, if necessary. Additionally, try to keep them reading (even over the summer)-- 20 minutes a day makes a huge difference (see below; note the percentiles on standardized tests...).
Homework:
- Practice multiplication/ division facts (if necessary)
- Read 20 minutes
Reminders:
- Unit 8 Assessment: Due back at your earliest convenience.
- Class Picnic: Monday, June 13 (11:10-12:20)
Classroom Supplies:
- Dry erase markers
Kidblog Link:
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Survival Book Trailer
Most book clubs have finished or are close to finishing their novels. So far, we've had ones book club complete their project. Survival chose to create another book trailer. Check it out! Island II: Survival
In Writers' Workshop, students used topic sentence starters to start drafting their information paragraphs. They used text structure to organize and guide their writing within each paragraph. We practiced this together, up front (below). Then students applied to their own writing. Ask you child what their information topic is. Have them tell you what text structures their using.
In Math Workshop, students are making sense of word problems to multiply and divide. At stations they're practicing multi-digit multiplication using partial products and the matrix.
In Science, students are making observations to make an informed hypothesis about the names of our mystery powders. As Science takes place at the end of the day, I can never get same-day pictures. Here are some from yesterday!
Homework:
In Writers' Workshop, students used topic sentence starters to start drafting their information paragraphs. They used text structure to organize and guide their writing within each paragraph. We practiced this together, up front (below). Then students applied to their own writing. Ask you child what their information topic is. Have them tell you what text structures their using.
In Math Workshop, students are making sense of word problems to multiply and divide. At stations they're practicing multi-digit multiplication using partial products and the matrix.
In Science, students are making observations to make an informed hypothesis about the names of our mystery powders. As Science takes place at the end of the day, I can never get same-day pictures. Here are some from yesterday!
Homework:
- Practice multiplication/ division facts (if necessary)
- Read 20 minutes
Reminders:
- Unit 8 Assessment: Due back at your earliest convenience.
- Class Picnic: Monday, June 13 (11:10-12:20)
- Friday, June 3: I will be out of the building again on Friday (hopefully my last absence this year!). Please direct any changes in dismissal, etc. to the office. Thank you!
Classroom Supplies:
- Dry erase markers
Kidblog Link:
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Unit 8 Grades
I sent home Unit 8 Assessment results today. Please sign and return at your earliest convenience. Thank you!
We started our final graded unit in math today: Unit 9 Multiplication & Division. This unit focuses on multi-digit multiplication (which we've been practicing), division, and word problems. For students homework tonight, if your child has trouble, show them the anchor chart below. We created and use this anchor chart to help us figure out whether we should multiply or divide (it's especially helpful to look at the "Given" section).
We started our final graded unit in math today: Unit 9 Multiplication & Division. This unit focuses on multi-digit multiplication (which we've been practicing), division, and word problems. For students homework tonight, if your child has trouble, show them the anchor chart below. We created and use this anchor chart to help us figure out whether we should multiply or divide (it's especially helpful to look at the "Given" section).
Homework:
- Math homework
- Practice multiplication/ division facts (if necessary)
- Read 20 minutes
Reminders:
- Unit 8 Assessment: Due back at your earliest convenience.
- Class Picnic: Monday, June 13 (11:10-12:20)
- Friday, June 3: I will be out of the building again on Friday (hopefully my last absence this year!). Please direct any changes in dismissal, etc. to the office. Thank you!
Classroom Supplies:
- Dry erase markers
Kidblog Link:
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