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The students are off to a great start with their Fall MAP testing. We completed the reading and math test this week and I made sure to let them know we are now half way done! Next week we will do the language and science portions. They are doing a great job!

With homework lighter during these testing weeks, I’m hoping the students are getting time to read their book report books. The form for this month’s written book review can be found in your child’s Friday Folder tonight. Book reports are due Friday, September 29th. Students will be presenting them to the class and should have their book with them.

Engineers in the making! This was so much harder than it looks. Must hold the large marshmallow on top and only use spaghetti and small marshmallows. The teamwork, collaboration, and acceptance of failure was top notch! STEM for the win once again!

ACADEMICS

Math- In math this week we explored how to break out larger numbers to add, the associative property when adding more than two numbers, and are mastering the concept of rounding and estimating.

Literacy- Students completed their first third grade paragraph. They illustrated these and completed the whole writing process. The new skill of indenting a paragraph, along with topic and supporting sentences, complete with a wrap up sentence was taught. I’m impressed with the outcome! In reading we began the structure of our center time and ran through how that works in third grade. Next week we will dive into Animal Adaptations and our reading books.

Science- Fossils! We did a partner picture sort, reading comprehension page, and will begin with some fun hands on projects next week now that they know what they are and what they are not. We learned from some short science videos online as well.

Religion- We dove into our first unit in our new texts. I’m really excited about this curriculum and the students seem to be engaged and excited. We are experimenting with memory verses every week and they will have an opportunity to recite them to me for a small prize (they choose stickers). In Second Step we learned about building networks in our brains by practicing new skills.

**Here’s the link to the family page on our current chapter: https://enroll.augustineinstitute.org/learn/course/family-faith-formation-gr03-ch01-school/main/family-faith-formation?client=seattle

P.E.–  This week in PE we learned how to strike the ball playing “regular” 4 square and other variations including around the world, war and cherry bomb.  We also discussed the responsibilities of the server and helping everyone understand the game.  

Spanish – Una nota de Señora Anna- This week we practiced a hello song and learned how to respond to “How are you?” in Spanish. We also reviewed colors and listened for color words in context. 

Music – This week in music class we showed high and low pitches with their bodies with the song I Can Sing a High Note, and Personages with Long Ears from the Carnival of the Animals. We practiced switching between different types of singing voices with the song Poor Little Bug. We responded to music by doing a partner mirror activity

Our first TOTB (Think Outside the Box). We do this every Thursday to start our day. I love this and the creativity grows and they impress me every time!

Happy Friday! It was so nice to see all of you at Curriculum Night. Thank you for taking the time to come hear about third grade. I forgot to mention a very important “Thank You” for the cupcake items that you all so generously donated.

The Harvest Festival begins at 2pm this Saturday and I hope to see you there! Activities and food during the day, along with a Spaghetti Feed at 5/6pm, followed by Bingo hosted by our 8th grade class. Join the fun!

MAP Testing begins next week (Tuesday and Thursday). Homework will be on the lighter side for the next two weeks (one item per night).

Sights from our church tour with Father Moore today. I learn something every time!

Spanish– Una nota de Señora Anna- This week in Spanish we began preparing for Hispanic Heritage Month by singing a song called Senorita Mariposa. We learned about the migration of monarch butterflies from Canada to Mexico each fall. We also practiced colors in Spanish with a butterfly color by number.

Art –Butterfly symmetry art. Analogous color: Red-Orange-Yellow / Blue-Green-Purple. Soft chalk pastel technique.

Religion -This week we wrapped up learning all the parts of the Mass and our responses. Brother Francis has a great video on Formed.org if you are interested.

Math -For math this week we talked about rounding to the nearest ten and the nearest hundred. This can be a difficult concept but they are doing great!

Literacy -This week we learned about author’s purpose, making connections (text to text, text to world, text to self), and completing a KWL chart. For writing we are working through the writing process on a persuasive piece.

Science – We continue with problem solving and STEM and did a project today for International Dot Day! They had to construct the tallest tower out of 20 notecards and 20 stickers. Next week we will start our unit on fossils!

*Head to Mod Pizza on September 20th to help our 8th Graders! Mention ACS or give the code MODGIVES20.

Happy Friday! It was a short, yet packed week as we continued to get to know each other and our classroom expectations. We’ve worked on building our “classroom family,” which I will refer to all year. This is truly a delightful group and I’m so excited for the year to come.

Friday Folders -Please locate the folder in your child’s backpack. These will be coming home every week. Please look over the work, your child’s goal, and look for missing work. Reports will be sent home every week. Sign the parent page and send back with your child on Monday. Thank you!

Seesaw – I’m hoping you saw an “invite” email for directions on how to get connected to our class Seesaw. This is a great tool for you to stay connected to both the academics your children is doing (we use it for center work) and also photos and videos of what is happening in class. Your child has a QR code in their folders tonight as well. Please let me know if you need help getting connected.

Book Reports – Each month the students will have a book report. At the beginning of the month they will get a book (at their reading level) approved with me and then spend the month reading it. They will receive the actual book report assignment mid-month and then present them to the class the last week of the month. Students should have a book to show me by Monday, September 11th. If they need, I will take them to the library at recess on Monday.

Literacy – I’m working on completing individual reading assessments. Students have learned how to log into various sites on their Chromebook’s and even typed their sentences for an art project this week. Next week we will begin spelling, cursive, and build the foundations before beginning our reading groups, centers, and routines.

Religion –This week we are building our classroom community and going to be starting with a brief unit on the Mass. We will get a clear understanding of the four parts, the mass responses, and what each part means. You are always welcome to join us on Fridays at 8:15. Students may sit with you.

Math –This week we completed our beginning of the year assessment and began reviewing and solidifying our understanding of place value before we dive into rounding next week. Begin looking for consistent math homework every night.

Social Studies – We have not dove into our first unit yet, but will be exploring maps, regions, directions, continents, and oceans first.

Science -We’ve completed two STEM activities, which involve how to work together, solve a problem, and learn the cycle. They’ve “Saved Fred” and are currently working on creating their dream school with a floorplan, straws, and tape.

PE- This week in PE we practiced walking on the short lines and jogging on the long lines and played two cooperative games called Crazy Card Challenge and Hula Hut Relays.

Spanish- Una nota de Señora Anna- We enjoyed our first two Spanish classes together this week! We practiced introducing ourselves. We also learned about a school in Costa Rica and compared how our schools are similar and different.

Art – Butterfly symmetry art -The students learned about the concept of symmetry, various types of symmetry, and how to apply them in their own artwork.

*Curriculum Night -Please plan on at least one parent attending this Wednesday at 6:00 pm. Mr. Anderson will begin in the gym at 6pm.

*Head to Mod Pizza on September 20th to help our 8th Graders! Mention ACS or give the code MODGIVES20.

*Map Testing Begins September 19th.

*Spaghetti Dinner/Harvest Festival -Saturday, September 16th! Don’t miss this!

*Picture Day -Free Dress –September 27th.

September 1, 2023 

Welcome to the 2023-24 school year.  I am so excited to get to know your child and work the next few weeks building our classroom community. The first day of school we read a book called, Our Class is a Family and we talk in detail about what that means and I truly believe we build a little family away from home. We will get to know each other, learn routines, and dive into positive relationships! 

You might be surprised to know that third grade is typically though of as the most important year in a child’s academic career.  It’s the year that students move from learning to read -decoding words using their knowledge of the alphabet -to reading to learn.  Big changes occur in third grade!  As their teacher, I will be giving them new responsibilities and challenges, in a structured, loving, environment.  

I am here to work with you to make third grade the most successful and “Best Year Ever!”

Communication

I will be primarily using our email group for communication.  Please feel free to email me at any time.  We will also be using Seesaw to share photos and we use this during class for assignments as well.  I’m sure the students have told you they will receive a Chromebook this year.  These will be kept at school and used throughout the day, after coming up with class expectations and signing contracts together.  They will be learning how to check email, tech typing, create PowerPoints, use Canva, and safely utilize the many benefits of technology in 2023.  

Classroom Environment

Our classroom is a safe and welcoming place.  We are family!  We spend every morning gathering together for our morning meeting, which includes a message, chance to greet each other, sharing opportunities, and a fun activity.  I also use a program called Whole Brain Teaching, which you will learn more about at Curriculum Night, but basically celebrate individual growth and improvement. We say it’s a virtual video game and I love to add “funtricity” to everything!

Homework

Students will have homework assigned every Monday through Thursday.  You will notice there is an increase of quantity in third grade.  Please note that I ask that your child to also read for an additional 20 minutes each night.  They will have monthly book reports to complete.  As a parent, lots of encouragement and support is helpful.  They will be spending time memorizing multiplication facts this year, which is a big deal ;).  

We are partners and I’m here to help your child succeed in the best way possible. If you have questions, suggestions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at school (360-733-6133) or the very BEST way to get ahold of me is by email (bwilliams@assumption.school).  

I am confident this is going to be a great year and I’m blessed to partner with you on our child’s education.  Let’s have an amazing third grade year!

Blessings,

Mrs. Williams

Third Day of Third Grade:

We are coming to the end of a busy, fun week! We began with our hands on balloon globes, made fossils with clay and plaster of paris, and even made our own monsters in STEM and wrote persuasive letters. Students are working hard, and the growth I see is exciting! I’m looking forward to next week when we get an opportunity to meet at conferences, which will be led by your child. Look for a pre-conference form being emailed on Monday.

Thank you to all the chaperones, drivers, and those of you praying for our safety from home! The field trip was really well done and I think the chaperones and I can agree, we ALL learned something!

Next week we will be celebrating Halloween (All Hallow’s Eve) on Monday with an amazing party planned by our team of room-moms. I can’t wait. Tuesday is All Saint’s Day and Mass will begin at 12:30. All are invited, so please come see the parade of saints!!

Literacy- This week we learned about the different animal coverings and how they help keep animals safe. We learned about verb tenses, past, present, and future. For writing the students became real estate agents and had to sell their beautiful haunted houses created in Art. Look for these on display in the hall during conferences!

Math- We began our Multiplication Chapter, and I love this one! The kids are grasping the concept of repeated addition and how it relates to multiplication. We used candy corns to create equal groups, even.

Religion- This week we began learning about a variety of Saints. Each student has now chosen his/her Saint to research and they have begun gathering information. I’ll begin showing them how to put it into a PowerPoint Presentation next week. Please note that dressing up as a Saint is encouraged but OPTIONAL on Tuesday, November 1st.

Social Studies- We wrapped up our continent and ocean portion of the Map Unit and will complete it next week with US Regions. When we finish that we will begin our Immigration Unit and will start by reading a book together called, Mollie’s Pilgrim.

Music –

• Completing episode 4 of Secret Chicken, an aural skills rhythm decoding game 
• Performing a composed 16 beat rhythm on an instrument of choice in front of the class  
• Using barred instruments to play the song Skin and Bones 

Dear Families,

Happy Fall!  This week seemed to fly by!  The students were busy testing and we completed the Reading and Math portion of our MAP testing.  Next week we will tackle the language and science one.  They are doing a wonderful job!

Please make sure your child is working his/her way through their book report book.  I always give them at least 15 minutes of DEAR every day, so if they would like to bring their books back and forth, this is an option.  You will find the paper form of the book report in their Friday Folders today.  They will need to bring their books when they present their reports next week.  They will be graded on the oral presentation to the class.

Friday Folders -This week you will start seeing Missing Assignment Reports stapled to your child’s goals for the week.  I try and give these to the students earlier in the week, before they go home to parents. We are learning time management!  Please let me know if you have questions that come up over these.

Working on Social Studies Maps of Campus

Literacy: We have learned Author’s Purpose through PIE (persuade, inform, and entertain) and the students are focusing on P (Persuasive).  They have each chosen a topic to try and persuade their reader (Mr. Anderson).  To do so, we have learned the four square writing method and began the writing process for their first paragraph.  Another thing we explored this week is PQPA (part question, part answer).  I will expect this in all written responses this year. It takes some practice, but they will get it!

Math: This week we dove deeper into the rounding concept with compatible numbers and estimation.  These are difficult concepts but we are taking things slow and getting lots of practice.  We continue with math fact practice, specifically with Xtra Math.  The kids were excited about the new game I introduced called, Boddle.  I can assign standards and it reinforces the concepts we are learning in class, in a game format.  You should be able to find the information to play at home, in your child’s folder, if you would like.

Social Studies: Students are working with a partner to create a map of campus, which includes their compass rose.  Next week we will begin continents and oceans, which are fun to teach!

Science: Students are learning about fossils and this week we did a sort, reading comprehension, and wrapped it up with Mystery Doug with a fossil dig.  So fun!

Religion: We continue to work our way through the Mass.  We are on Liturgy of the Eucharist now.  Please check Friday Folders for Mass parts for our upcoming Mass on October 7th.  PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! 😉

Art: Grumpy Monkey  

Students drew a monkey with an expressive facial face expressing their feelings. 

They learned how the direction of the lines can show movement, position, or feelings. 

Music:

• Singing Solfege patterns using sol, mi and la with accompanying hand symbols
• Moving to music by dancing a Slavic folk dance called Sasha, and bean bag tossing song Plainsies Clapsies
• Practicing beat vs. rhythm with the song Rocky Mountain

PE:

We missed a day this week due to map testing but on Thursday students completed their first part of their fitnessgram testing. They ran the pacer as a test of their aerobic capacity and tested their flexibility. Students learned about how keeping their bodies active can keep them healthy.

*Book Reports Due September 28th

*Picture Day, Next Tuesday, September 27th **Free Dress

*Animal Blessing -October 4th

*Our Mass -October 7th

*Whatcom Farm Tour Field Trip -October 26th

Our Thursday morning work is always TOTB!  For our first one, third graders had to make this cloud looking shape into anything that was NOT a cloud!  Imaginations run wild with this activity and it’s one of our favorite things!  Enjoy!

Thank you again, for taking the time to attend Curriculum Night.  I can’t tell you how nice it was to present in person, and not to a computer on Zoom!  This week the students have been getting used to their routines and easing into the workload and expectations of third grade.  Please remember to look at your child’s agenda every evening and ensure their binder goes back and forth every day.

I’m going to try this week and in the future to post the newsletters here on the classroom webpage.  I’ll send a link every week to remind you to check them but this way we can look back and they are all in one place!*

-Please make sure your child has a pair of working headphones at school.  I had several extras but we seem to still be short a few pairs.

-MAP testing begins next week.  We will be testing Tuesday and Thursday so please refrain from making appointments those mornings.  (There will be no homework prior to the testing to ensure rest and for a break.)

-First field trip -Whatcom Farm Circle scheduled for the afternoon of October 25th.  We will need drivers so mark your calendars.  Permission slips to come home early October.

-Please check Seesaw for photos of the week and tips for homework.

THIRD GRADE LEARNING:

Literacy -Cursive letters d and g, open syllables, writing a variety of responses to independent reading, and publishing All About Me poems.  (There are 15 days of “routines and expectations” that we move through before getting into the first unit in our reading program.)

Math -Review addition facts, place value, rounding to the nearest ten and hundred.

Social Studies –Compass rose, cardinal and intermediate directions.

Science -STEM -If I Built a School, Fossil introduction.

Religion -Mass -Introductory rights, Liturgy of the Word, and mass responses.

Art (Mrs. Santos) – Feelings Shape Drawing.  Inspired by the book Exactly You! The Shape of Your Feelings, the third-grade students turn their own feelings into two-dimensional geometric and organic shapes in no time.

 

I hope to see you at the Harvest Festival/Spaghetti Dinner this Saturday!