Month: December 2024

I hope you are having a wonderful Advent Season. The time in class is flying by, however I was so grateful for a full week of learning. The students worked incredibly hard this week and we were able to wrap up our Benchmark Unit in reading and really solidify some important concepts. Next week we will have a little more time for some Christmas festivities ;).

Read-In -YAY! The students posted and read over 100 books! They set this goal themselves and were able to share their books through Seesaw, which has been wonderful. On Monday, students are allowed to bring blankets, pillows, stuffies, but must be able to carry and pack up their items on their own. If you have clips or anything to make forts, the kids would love that! We will have a variety of reading activities to celebrate throughout the day.

For NEXT Friday -Please bring a wrapped book for a Christmas activity on Friday, December 20th. (I will have extras in case this is a hardship, or if you feel called to bring two, that would be lovely).

Multiplication Facts – Next week we will wrap up the opportunity to practice facts in class. I can tell that so many of you have supported your children in this process and I love to hear the stories of practicing in the car and at night, multiple times even! Thank you!! After Christmas break we will be started division so I can’t encourage you enough to keep up over break if your child is not there yet!

Academics

Literacy -We continued with past tense regular and irregular verbs for our grammar, along with similes, which are incredibly fun! The students are working on writing a creative story, being caught in a snow globe. They will be starting with a story hook, develop a solid plot, and include similes in their writing! For reading we read a myth called, Uncle Parrot’s Wedding and continued to discuss rising action, climax, and resolution which will translate into our own story writing.

Math -This week mathematicians learned how to multiply by 10’s and 100’s. We will have one more lesson on distributive property with these bigger numbers and the test will be next week. As mentioned above, division will start after break. Keep practicing and reviewing those facts!

Science -Scientists completed the Generation Genius lesson on traits. Next week we will look closer on the data they gathered on parent traits and learn about dominant and recessive traits.

Social Studies -We focused our time this week making cards for the homebound at the Willows and also the homeless served by CAST. We received a thank you note, explaining to the students that these cards may be the only gift/card received for many of these people, which was such a powerful message for the kids.

Religion -Advent continued to be our focus this week as we continued with the Jesse tree and other advent traditions.

Spanish -We played a guessing game using adjectives to describe the Christmas vocabulary we learned. Students also began working on a Christmas activity book.

Happy Friday! We had a solid week of learning this week and it was great to get back into routines after an incredibly busy November. We began the week saying goodbye to Mrs. Young, but not really a goodbye ;). The kids were so excited to have her substituting today.

Congratulations to Gavin who won the VFW Essay Contest and is on to the next round of competition. The kids were thrilled for him and it was great to see.

Monday -Monday is a Holy Day (Immaculate Conception) and we will be attending Mass at 12:30. This will be a Dress Uniform Day. Our class will also be going to Reconciliation and I will be guiding them through an examination of conscience and all students are invited, not forced, to talk with one of the priests if they would like.

Sponsor us? Would any parent or business like to sponsor our class to go to the Mount Baker Theater this year? I’m hoping we can see: https://www.mountbakertheatre.com/events-tickets/ada-twist. Please let me know if you would like to have any part in this and thank you in advance.

Book Reports -No Book Report for December. Students are REALLY working toward that 100 book goal for a Read-In before Christmas break. Please have them continue to post their books on Seesaw and read for fun.

Academics

Literacy – This week students reviewed the myth of King Midas, and read a Cuban Folktale, Uncle Parrot’s Wedding. For grammar students learned about irregular verbs and explored the first of our figurative language focus this year, similes! So fun! In writing they are writing a fun Christmas Story focusing on the elements of a solid plot learned in the reading lessons this week.

Math -We wrapped up the multiplication chapter with a test today. Students explored different properties and worked through each of the facts. We have a good portion of the class who have become “Multiplication Masters” and many still working hard. It is incredibly important they know their facts as we move into multiplying by tens and even hundreds in the next chapter. Keep practicing!

Social Studies -Students received the new third grade textbooks through Nystrom Young Citizens. We reviewed natural resources, features, and looked at Bellingham then and now. They were able to use the skill of comparing and contrasting different photos of our city.

Science -Scientists dove into our next unity of Heredity and Genetics. We learned about traits in plants, animals, and humans learning a variety of new vocabulary words. Your child has collected data and will be learning about dominant and recessive traits next week.

Religion -Advent! My favorite time of year. We started the week making wreaths and I’ve really enjoyed seeing photos on Seesaw. We are using a program called Holy Heroes (Free online if you would like a wonderful Catholic Family Resource) to work through the Jesse Tree this Advent as well.

Art -Here, Near, & Far Winter Trees. Students will create a layered winter tree composition using atmospheric perspective techniques to demonstrate depth. They will focus on value, line, and spacing to create a sense of “here,” “near,” and “far.”

Spanish -We learned some Christmas-themed vocabulary words, and review adjectives from last year.