Newsletters

Happy Advent! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I’m so grateful for all of you, your children, and the opportunity to collaborate and come together at conferences last week. I also wanted to reach out and thank all of you for the amazing birthday gifts, cards, and love. I’m so grateful to be a part of Assumption!

CONGRATULATIONS TO JOSEPH RICHMOND -Who won the VFW essay contest. We are looking forward to the presentation of the prize and honoring him in the coming two weeks.

Guest Speakers – If you or a family member is an immigrant and would be willing to share your story with us, please reach out to me. I know it’s a busy time, but real stories are so impactful! If you don’t want to speak or have time, we’d love to see photos of family immigration stories.

Immigration Day– Friday, December 12th. Please check this Sign Up Genius to help make this an incredible experience for our students. We need all hands on deck to make this happen! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050B49AAAD2EAAF49-60823114-immigration#/ In the meantime, please start thinking about clothing, suitcases, etc. The students will be collecting three precious

Book Reports -Students will be sharing their letters next week and there will be no report for December. Happy Reading -FOR FUN!

Talent Show – We are going to be doing an incredibly fun talent show act as a class. Please plan, if at all possible, to attend the evening performance on January 30th. Huge thank you to Mrs. Chris Mura for helping us put together something amazing. Also, please be on the lookout for rain coats and rain boots as props!

Parent Volunteers – Thank you to the parents who have volunteered and joined our classroom this week. It’s so fun to have you and I hope you enjoy the sneak peaks into third grade. I know this is a busy month, but we will continue offering math and literacy volunteer spots for centers. It has worked incredibly well with this group! Here is the remainder of December if you missed it… https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E49AEAE29A2F4C34-60437165-december#

Academics

Literacy -It was a fun week with King Midas, similes, inferences, and adjectives! Students learned about plot, wrote a prewrite with adjectives describing the golden touch, and continued to practice making inferences through reading groups and whole group instruction.

Math -Multiplication! Whew, all that practicing is paying off for our students. We are starting to see our first Multiplication Masters, but keep showing grit, as we will continue to learn those facts. Next week we will move into multiplying bigger numbers and the students will start to see the importance of knowing their facts.

Social Studies -We finished a book, Molly’s Pilgrim that started the unit, and then switched to a NonFiction book on Ellis Island. Videos supplemented the books and students began working on their family stories, focusing on they are coming from, why they are immigrating, and where they are going. They are so excited! I love it!

Religion -Advent! My favorite time of year. We have some great traditions in third grade. We began by making our own Advent Wreaths, learning about the symbolism of the wreath and candles. We are doing the Jesse Tree as a class and using Holy Heroes. I highly recommend this website and all their products. It’s an amazing family resource!

ESPAÑOL, 3rd -We are singing a Christmas Carol (Villancico) named “Arre Borriquito”. We practiced the syllables sa se si so su.

PE -This week in PE we learned advanced soccer footwork skills, how to dribble the ball with various parts of our foot, shielding the ball from an opponent and passing the ball to a teammate.  We practiced these skills playing Bumper Ball and Soccer Spot Shot. 

Art -The 3rd graders are working on their Jacques Cousteau project, learning how to combine markers and oil pastels while creating emphasis through their backgrounds.

Happy Fall Friday! It’s getting busy and we have so many projects going. From Balloons Over Broadway, to preparing for Grandparent’s Day, it’s a fun busy. Students also spent time reflecting on their third grade year, where they’ve come and where they want to go this week and are preparing to lead conferences coming up. If you have not filled out the preparation Form, please do that! Third Grade Pre-Conference Form 2025 – Fill out form

Academics

Literacy -This week students began a fiction unit and read two Aesop’s fables; the Dog and the Bone, and the Ant and the Dove. We practiced our skill of inferencing and learned about morals to stories. For writing, students began Grandparent Day writing, with an acrostic poem.

Math -This week we spent a considerable amount of time on the distributive property of multiplication. This is a hard concept for many, and I assure them that they will be doing it year after year. Please continue to practice multiplication facts nightly! It’s evident who is doing this and I love their motivation even to improve just a few problems and that’s what it’s all about! I appreciate all of your support on this.

Science -We are wrapping up our unit on fossils this week and next. Our last lesson is “How do we know what dinosaurs looked like?”

Social Studies -This week we used Balloons Over Broadway to look at the history of the Macy’s Day Parade. We learned the word immigrant from this book and this will start our unit on immigration. This will also lead us into a fun STEM project next week.

Religion -We wrapped up our Saint PowerPoints, YAY! The students did a great job. Please log into Seesaw and have your children show you their hard work! (They are located in their journals if you scroll down one or two posts.)

ESPAÑOL, 3rd -We started to practice singing La Guadalupana for Our Lady of Guadalupe. They practiced how to express what they want for breakfast, lunch, or dinner by saying: “Yo quiero _____ por favor” -I want ____ please.

Library -Come see us in the book fair next week! Wednesday the 19th  8:00-4:00, Thursday the 20th  8:00-4:00, Friday the 21st  7:30-3:30 (yes we’re open all afternoon), and Monday the 24th  8:00-5:00

PE -This week in PE we practiced dribbling, passing and shooting while playing Spot Shot, Basketball Noodle Tag and Round Robin Lightening.

What a beautiful week we had in third grade, celebrating National Vocations Week. We had a guest speaker each day, and the students were engaged and asking wonderful questions. Please ask them about what they learned. We were also busy learning about the Marines, getting our new pen pals, and preparing our bags with letters, art projects, and the treats of Halloween Candy.

Thank you for the incredible amount of food that has been brought in by our third grade class for the Human Food Chain. It’s almost unbelievable from our competitors 😉

Field Trip -Thank you to all our parents who drove and made our Whatcom County Farm Circle field trip possible. I truly appreciate all of you!

Book Reports -All students have approved a November book with me at this point and should be reading away.

Academics

Literacy -Students wrote letters to our new pen pals, reviewing and learning the five parts of a friendly letter. We read a book called, Best Part of Me, and students explored poetry, writing their own following the writing process, publishing a beautiful piece to display in the hallway.

Math -Daily practice is so important at this stage. This week we covered 3s and 6s, and will begin the distributive property next week. Please let me know if you need extra pens for the practice sheets and I can send those home. Songs and rhymes are also great.

Science -We completed a fun Mystery Science on fossils and determining different fossils in different habitats. It was great to put our new skill of inferencing into practice in science! By identifying traits in fossils, students were able to place mystery fossils in the right habitats.

Religion -We spent the week wrapping up our Saint PowerPoints amongst the magnificent guest speakers for vocations week. All students are finished with the rough drafts of their presentations and will be conferencing with me, and publishing to Seesaw as they are approved.

PE -This week in PE we practiced our ball handling routine and learned the chest, bounce and overhead pass to a partner and the acronym B.E.E.F (Balance, Eyes, Elbow, Follow through) to shoot the ball into the basketball hoop.  We practiced these while playing Spaceship Passing and Smack Ball.

ESPAÑOL, 3rd -We talked about the celebration that takes place in México every year on November 1st and 2nd: El Día de Muertos. They learned about all the elements that should be on EL ALTAR or OFRENDA and the meaning of each one. We reflected on how death is part of the cycle of life, and we prayed for our faithful departed.

Music –This week in music class we are using the song and dance to prepare for the introduction of the sixteenth note by internalizing the melody and rhythm through movement, learning the traditional folk song and partner dance Old Brass Wagon.

Library -This week we read  A Crocodile Should Never Skip Breakfast.  We talked about family traditions and how that can look different; as an example, we shared our favorite breakfasts.  To look at the story or other library activities, check out library page.

Thank you Veterans!

I hope you enjoyed a fun filled afternoon/evening. Huge thank you to our amazing room moms (Lacey, Anne, and Bridget), along with all those who showed up to celebrate Halloween with us. The excitement this afternoon was a whole new level!

Happy Solemnity of All Saints and remember it’s SPIRIT SUNDAY! Students can receive a free dress coupon for Monday if wearing their dress uniform OR all students are welcome to wear a saint costume.

Saint Reports -As students finish their Saint PowerPoint Presentations I am uploading them to Seesaw so they can share them with you at home, so please check them out. They worked incredibly hard on these and learned a lot from each other.

Book Reports -WOW, that’s all I can say. This group has taken this book report to a new level. I’ve never had such creative pumpkin characters! Thank you for your support on this. The students were so proud and eager to share. For our November books I have asked the students that if they have done a graphic novel already, to choose another novel/book for this month. I’ll ask they give me their title by Wednesday, after our trip to the school library.

Vocations Week -As you have probably read in school communication, next week is Vocations Week. We are so blessed this year to have 14 speakers from various vocations. We will be hearing from several as they make their classroom visits. If you are interested in joining a particular one, let me know as we are happy to share the week with our families.

Field Trip -We will be traveling to Lynden for a fun fall field trip, learning about farms in Whatcom County. I always learn something new and it’s a great one geared only to third graders in the county. Thank you to our drivers who make this possible, and I’ll send an individual email out early next week with more information. Students are asked to wear normal uniforms on Thursday.

Academics

Literacy -We wrapped up our first Benchmark unit on Animal Adaptations with our assessment. Concepts covered this week were inferences and reviewing compare and contrast. In writing the class did a fun Halloween paragraph, and started the prewrites for one more persuasive piece based on a cute story about a monster. The students are excited to share this project with you!

Religion -Students are busily working on their Saint Reports and putting the information into their very first PowerPoint Presentation. I love their motivation and desire to work on these at any free moment. It’s amazing!

Math -Thank you for your support at home, practicing and reviewing facts. This class is off to an amazing start and I’m so impressed so far. Remember they may be on the same number for a week or two and that’s absolutely ok, with the goal being improvement each day. In class we covered 2,4, 5, 10, and 3’s. Check out NumberRock if you want to see some of our fun songs.

Science -This week we made fossils and were paleontologists. They loved this and I was so pleased that they all turned out. We are going to explore a Mystery Science Lesson on how fossils reveal changes in habitats over time.

Social Studies – Students continued to work on their Barefoot Islands and applying all the elements of maps that we learned.

PE -This week in PE we learned that being good at something takes practice and hard work.  We learned various basketball ball handling skills, dribbling, shielding the ball, and violations like traveling and double dribbling.  We practice these skills through dribbling relays and playing games called Snake Pit and Basketball Flag tag.

Music -This week in 3rd grade music class we are…Playing Rhythm 4 Corners to review all known rhythms – quarter notes, eighth notes, half notes, and their rests; Strengthening aural skills by doing a melodic dictation – listening to four pitches and writing what we hear on a music staff using do, re, and mi; Using instruments to accompany the book The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything, creating rhythmic sound effects to help tell the story

ESPAÑOL, 3rd -They learned about the different foods they can eat during: el desayuno, el almuerzo o la cena.

Library -We read The Runaway Pumpkin.  We then continued to work on our class book Little White Dog.  We also spent some time working on our typing skills.  Students that brought books back also had the opportunity to check out new books.

Happy Friday! I am not sure where this week went, but here we are! The students worked hard this week and I know are getting excited for Halloween! Our room parents (Anne, Bridget, and Lacey) are planning a party for us on Friday, which I know will be a ton of fun. Next Wednesday is Orange and Black Day, so it will be a fun filled time. Hoping the rain gives a break for Trunk or Treat this weekend. Please see the bottom of this for an important invitation for Veteran’s Day.

Academics

Literacy -This week readers read about animal coverings, learning the skill of inferencing and continuing with comparing and contrasting. They finished their VFW Essays and spent writing center choosing a fall topic. We continue to practice using text evidence to answer comprehension questions.

Math -We finished the chapter on the concept of multiplication and how to solve various problems using four methods, arrays, repeated addition, equal groups, and number lines. As we move forward students will be memorizing facts. This can be stressful, but the most important thing to remember is personal goals, and PRACTICE! It’s all about improving and not mastering right away. I’ll be working with the students on a method in class and ask for your help in doing the same at home. EVERY night students will bring home the laminated paper. Please only use the pen provided. One will stay at home and one at school. The goal is 2 minutes. You will see lines where they are and hoping to improve. Students must come to school every morning with their sheet CLEAN, which shows practice and preparation for the day.

Religion -This week we began our research for our All Saint PowerPoint Presentations. Students are given the information (with the exception of a few who wanted particular saints) so it is easier to digest. We are working on gathering important facts at this point, going through what each slide will contain.

Social Studies -Geographers were tested on their knowledge of where the five oceans and seven continents are located and did phenomenal! The last part of our study with maps is making their own fictional island “Barefoot Island,” which they are loving. Adding keys, compass roses, and scales, along with other map features, puts everything together with a lot of creativity!

Science –This week we continued with our fossils. Today we prepped a fun clay project that we will complete next week.

Art -Creative Critter Windows! Students are bringing their artwork to life by adding simple line drawings of critters—either of their own design or from our provided handouts—onto a variety of window and door shapes. These shapes, cut from bright, contrasting paper, really make their little creatures pop!

Music -This week in 3rd grade music class we are…completing Secret Chicken Episode 4 to strengthen aural skills – listening carefully, decoding patterns, and recognizing melodic and rhythmic ideas, working on singing with dynamic changes through a musical “hot and cold” game using the song Closet Key, using Closet Key to practice steady beat, rhythm reading, and sight-singing with do, re, mi pitches.

ESPAÑOL, 3rd– They started counting by tens.

PE- This week in PE we practiced our underhand or overhand throw by playing “Fair Games”.  Students had to purchase tickets by either jogging two laps or performing 10 exercises of their choice.   Then they had to “Pay to Play” the game.  If they won, they got to keep all the tickets in the bucket.  Some of the game favorites were bowling, pin knockdown, corn hole, basketball free throw, and bucket bounce.  They even had to pay for a ticket to get water. It was a blast.

Library -This week we read I’m Sorry You’re Mad.  We spent a lot of time talking about arguments and disagreements, choices we make and how to make things right after choices that may not be the best.  We practiced with partners making real and sincere apologies to others.   To look at the story or other library activities, check out library page.

ACS Veterans Day Prayer Service and Assembly

The students and staff of Assumption Catholic School cordially invite you to join us for a special Prayer Service and Assembly honoring your service to our country.
We are deeply grateful for the sacrifices you have made to protect our freedoms. This event is our way of expressing our sincere appreciation and providing our students with the opportunity to learn from and honor our nation’s heroes.

Event Details:

• What: Veterans Day Prayer Service and Assembly
• When: Monday, November 10th, 2025, at 8:15 am
  • Doors open for guests at 8 am
• Where: Assumption Catholic School Gymnasium
• Address: 2116 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225

The event will include:

• A special prayer service for all veterans.
• Musical tributes from our students.
• Readings and reflections on the importance of Veterans Day.
• A guest speaker.

Following the assembly, we would be honored if you would stay for a reception where we will serve light refreshments, coffee and pastries.

RSVP:

To help us plan for your attendance, please RSVP by Friday, October 31st. The RSVP form is available here: https://forms.office.com/r/zKp7AdkX5r

We hope you can join us for this meaningful event. Your presence would make this tribute truly special for our students and our entire school community.

With sincere gratitude,
The students and staff of Assumption Catholic School
School Phone Number: 360-733-6133
Staff Contact: Mrs. Caitlin Creech (ccreech@assumption.school)

What a great week in third grade! We wrapped up the week today hosting Mass, saying the rosary with our Buddies, and doing some fun review. I’m so proud of all our readers, and all the students who bravely led us in the rosary. You can find more photos of our week on Seesaw.

Book Reports -Please find the directions and paper to accompany the pumpkin project for this month.

Mark your Calendars -All Veterans are invited to our Veteran’s Day Program on Monday, November 10th at 8am. Please invite your family and friends.

Tutoring – I’m going to start after school tutoring on Tuesday, “Tuesday Tutoring.” I’m working with our middle school ambassadors to offer additional support in my room during this time for students in grades 1-5. I will reach out to a few families individually, but if you would like your child to stay on Tuesdays from 3:15-4:00 to help with homework please let me know.

Field Trip Help –We have planned to go Lynden Fairgrounds for the Whatcom Farm Tour on November 6. This is a special field trip for all third graders in the county and really well done. I’m looking for drivers who can transport our students. Please look at the form and reach out!

Academics

Literacy – This week we read about various animal coverings and how they help animals adapt in their environments. Students continued to practice the skill of comparing and contrasting and main idea. They are using text evidence to answer comprehension questions, using PQPA. For grammar we looked at verb tenses and in writing we continued the writing process with our VFW essays.

Math -Mathematicians learned our final two methods of multiplication strategies, number lines and arrays. Our four strategies are 1. Equal Groups 2. Repeated Addition 3. Number Lines 4. Arrays. These four strategies are important in building the foundation for multiplication. Next week we will review these strategies with a fun surprise, take the test, and start diving into multiplication facts. Stay tuned for a separate email explaining our routine.

Social Studies -Geographers are working through centers to master their map skills of oceans, continents and other map elements. We will do a great hands on activity to wrap it up and have our test next week. Ask your children about our songs ;).

Religion -This week we covered our Circle of Grace lessons and prepared for our Friday Mass. We also had an opportunity on Friday to pray the rosary with our buddies and learn more about the mysteries and stories.

Science -Paleontologists continued with our fossil unit. We will be making cast fossils next week!

Art- Inspired by the story The Leaf Thief, students created trees using the elements of art. They explored what makes shapes and forms organic in nature while celebrating the colors and textures of fall.

Music -Working with a partner to perform each other’s original rhythm compositions, deciding which pattern to play and which instrument to use. Performing our compositions in Rondo form, taking turns listening to one another and practicing audience etiquette and self-control while others perform.

PE -This week in PE we reviewed throwing and catching cues and practiced releasing the ball at different heights.  We played throwing and catching during a game called “Hula Hut Knockdown” and Mat ball.

ESPAÑOL, 3rd This week we talked about World Mission Sunday, that is this Sunday October 19th. We are still practicing the 5 vowels, and they are distinguishing between two questions and responding correctly to them: ¿Cómo te llamas? y “Dónde está ______? Where is someone? By responding: aquí (here) or allá (there).

Library -Did you know that October 10^th is World Homeless Day?  This week we read My Friend Andy.  We talked about loss, compassion, and caring for others.  To look at the story or other library activities, check out our library page.

I know it was a short week for the students, but it truly flew by! I don’t know where the time went! I hope you enjoy the extra day with your lovely children tomorrow and I’m grateful for the retreat day the staff will be blessed with at Saint Joseph’s Parish in Ferndale.

Book Reports -Students should be diving into their October Books. If your child finished his/her book already it is a sign it was too easy. Next month I will be guiding them to challenge themselves more. This month the students will be creating a main character pumpkin and doing a short written summary. Pumpkins can be real or fake, however I would advise not carving them to do the character. Directions will be coming home next week but you may want to start looking for a smallish pumpkin. Each year the students come up with very creative ideas and this class is incredibly artistic, so it should be fun. Examples will be put on Seesaw.

October -Month of the Rosary -This month our church focuses on the holy rosary so we have been learning about the rosary in class. We read a story, looked at the various mysteries, and talked about the process. Next week if your child would like to bring a rosary, I invite them to do so. Friday we will be praying with our buddies too.

Circle of Grace – Next week we will complete our Circle of Grace lessons, which are Archdiocese Safe Environment safe environment classes. In third grade it focuses on themselves being the ultimate gift from God, the actual Circle of Grace (their circle of safe people), and then follows up with knowing important contact information and safe adults. I’ve attached the letter and a family handout.

Academics

Literacy -This week we read a passage about animal coverings. We are working on the skills of comparing and contrasting, asking questions, and answering comprehension questions with complete sentences. In writing we have begun our prewrites for the VFW essay contest. We learned so much about the American Flag!

Math – We are building on the concept of multiplication at this point. We covered equal groups, repeated addition, and looking at number lines. Next week we will do arrays, my favorite!

Science -Paleontologists made mold fossils this week and reviewed other types of fossils.

Social Studies -Geographers are currently learning about the five oceans and were they are located. Next week we will move on to the seven continents and put all our map skills together!

Religion -Students wrapped up the chapter on theological virtues. It was hard to differentiate between the three; faith, hope, and love, but they are confident in what virtues are, which is most important. Our monthly virtue is Charity so it was great to relate it to this chapter and then to the assembly on Monday.

Art -This week, we learned how important it is to highlight the main character or subject in a composition by using colors that stand out from the background.

Music -Dancing to Jump Jim Joe to practice rhythm and teamwork, Improvising and composing 16-beat rhythms with Shake the Papaya to build rhythmic fluency and creativity, Performing our composed rhythms for the class to strengthen confidence and notation reading.

Library -This week we read Tate’s Wild Rescue.  We spent a lot of time talking about respect, self-awareness, and teamwork.  To look at the story or other library activities, check out our library page.

ESPAÑOL, 3rd -We have been practicing the sound of the five vowels and this week we focus on diphthongs.

PE -This week in PE we learned how to throw (side, arm in an L, step, twist) and catch (reach, grab, give) using an overhand throw.  We talked about how to get more power you need to step with the opposite foot and twist your body. We practiced the overhand throw and catch with a partner and then in a game called “Boom City”.   

It’s officially Fall and October is here. I’m enjoying getting to know this group and we are growing together. It was so fun to see the level of excitement they showed this week after working together to get their one hundred “starries” and unlocking our Super Improver Game.

Book Reports -Students did a great job presenting their very first book report. I offer them a microphone and many were confident without it already! They should have their October book selected now, and it must be a different author/series from what they did in September.

VFW Form -In your Friday Folders, you will find a permission slip for the VFW Essay. I do this every year IN CLASS but require your permission to submit them. Every year, at least one of my students wins the first round and last year we had a third grader go on to the state competition with his essay and was awarded two special awards, which was incredible! Please sign them and return in the folders as soon as possible.

100 Book Reading Challenge -We are working together as a class to read one hundred books. Students are asked to post their books on Seesaw and will share them at our morning meeting. Once we get one hundred we will have a read-in, or a fun reading party.

Putting our cardinal and intermediate directions into practice as we look at oceans and continents.

Academics

Literacy -This week we continued with animal adaptations and focused on the skills of mental images and comparing and contrasting. We met in reading groups and students were able to read at their level, do some creative writing, and continue to work with abstract and concrete nouns.

Math -We wrapped up our first chapter on addition and subtraction strategies this week. If you have time at home, it would be helpful to review the concept of regrouping with addition and subtraction.

Social Studies -The class covered the introduction of reading maps this week. We focused on the compass rose with cardinal and intermediate directions.

Science -Students are diving into the unit on fossils. Ask them the definition ;). Next week we will make a mold fossil and explore the work of paleontologists a little more.

Religion -Third graders began the chapter on God’s Love and virtues. We read two stories about Saint Francis and participated in the animal blessing, which is always fun. Thanks for bringing your beloved animals.

Art – In art class, the students learned about watercolor techniques, including wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, and washes. They also explored how the amount of water affects the intensity of the color.

Music -Exploring musical form, including rondo form, with the song Shake the Papaya, Improvising and composing 16-beat rhythms, Playing Secret Chicken (Episode 4) to strengthen rhythm reading and listening skills

PE –This week in PE we talked about the difference between muscular endurance and muscular strength, and how stretching prevents injury and prepares the body for activity.  We took the Fitness Gram curl-up, push up and sit and reach (flexibility) tests. 

ESPAÑOL, 3rd -We continue learning vowels, this week they worked in their book on letter O.

Library -We read The Together Tree.  We then continued to work on our class book Little White Dog.  We also spent some time working on our typing skills.  Students that brought books back also had the opportunity to check out new books.

Adoration with our 5th Grade Buddies

It is a great feeling to be done with MAP testing. Next week we will return to our regular routine with homework. At this time I have met with each student for a quick reading check and we started centers this week with reading groups. This group does an incredible job working independently and I know we are going to go far this year!

Request -If you happen to have extra plastic silverware from your summer barbecues, would you consider donating to our classroom? I had purchased a reusable set last year but the students accidentally threw them all away.

Book Reports -Due on Tuesday, September 30th. Simple paper this month with an oral report to accompany. Please make sure the students have their books with them when presenting. Please make sure your child has his/her book with them when presenting their book reports.

Academics

Literacy -This week we continued exploring how to write a paragraph. Students wrote about who they choose as their “Alphahawk” aka role model and someone who lives for others. We. began our Benchmark books and read about how animals camouflage. Students learned that good readers as questions and they practiced asking questions over a passage. Our grammar this week is concrete and abstract nouns and we met in reading groups, rotating through five centers. It was great!

Math -Third graders built on our rounding and estimating skills and talked about compatible numbers and how we can break apart big numbers to add quickly.

Social Studies -We explored the fictional town of Maplewood and explored our new books. Students reviewed elements of non fiction and will start learning how to read maps next week.

Science -We began the week doing a sort of photos and discussing what is a fossil and what is not a fossil. We will get back to more science next week now that we are done with testing.

Religion -Our chapter this week discussed how we are called to be in communion with Jesus (relationship). Students reviewed the knowledge from last week on the Bible as well.

Second Step -We are focusing on how to learn new things and how our brains work. It’s great to learn that making mistakes makes us better at things. Students talked about building networks in their brains and how practicing helps. Again, we go back to the word, “grit.”

Art -The 3rd graders explored bird movement and proportions while learning about focal points in a composition, experimenting with different backgrounds.

Music –Strengthening music literacy by decoding rhythms in No Robbers, Exploring musical form with Rondo form through Shake the Papaya, Learning a traditional circle dance to Rocky Mountain

PE –We talked about the 5 components of Fitness and what each test is going to tell us about our bodies. We took the pacer test, curl-up test and began the flexibility test.

ESPAÑOL, 3rd -We are practicing the sounds of the five vowels (a e i o u) using the book “Juguemos a Leer”.

Library -This week we read Buffalo Fluffalo.  This book delves into conversations of compassion and self-acceptance….also it prompted us to find out what the difference is between a buffalo and a bison.  Students also had the chance to practice their typing skills.  To look at the story or other library activities and even the link to practice typing from home, check out library page.

GETTING TO KNOW THEIR BUDDIES!

Happy Friday! Our first week of MAP testing went well. Students only had half the normal third grade homework this week and that will continue next week as we take the last two tests (math and language). We are solidifying expectations and continue to establish third grade routines. I’m loving the energy of this group!

Tomorrow is the Harvest Festival and I hope to see many of you there! It’s such a fun community event and I love to see the students running around with their friends.

Alphahawks – Please make sure that your child either sends me their photo in email or Seesaw OR brings their photo to school on Monday! After sharing these students will be writing about their Alphahawk using our new paragraph knowledge.

Friday Folders -Please remember to send these back every MONDAY signed and emptied.

ACADEMICS

Literacy -This week the students finished their very first four square and completed the writing process, typing their persuasive paragraphs. You can find these in their Friday Folders.

Math -Third grade mathematicians wrapped up the short section on rounding. They really loved our class rounding song ;).

Religion -Students learned how to read Bible Verses and use the Table of Contents to find the various books of the Bible. They worked collaboratively on a Bible Scavenger Hunt.

Science -We started the week celebrating “Dot Day” after reading a cute story about growth mindset. We talked a lot about “yet” and thinking outside the box. Students worked in STEM groups to build a tower using only dot stickers and index cards. This one was more challenging for this group, so they had to practice grit and keep trying.

Art – Flying Waterfowl in Motion – Part 1 Students explored watercolor painting by creating stunning waterfowl in flight. Using sponge-painting techniques, they added texture and movement to their skies and water scenes, making each artwork unique.

PE -We talked about how “getting out” in a game is part of the learning process that helps us improve our skills and knowledge of the game and that being a good sport means not arguing with the referee. We reviewed that a strike is a hit with control.  We practiced this playing 4 square and gaga ball.  The next two weeks the students will be participating in the fall Fitness Gram test.

ESPAÑOL– The Independence day of México is on September 16th, so they learned about the Mexican flag and the Mexican national anthem. Also they learned how to ask and answer the question: Where are you from? “De dónde eres tú?, soy de Costa Rica” y tú?, soy de Croacia”

Library -We read Flat Cat.  We talked about the Washington Children’s Choice Awards; Flat Cat was the winner last year.  We also spent some time working on our typing skills and learned about the tool Classroom Cloud that we will be using this year to help students be where they need on their laptops.  Students that brought books back also had the opportunity to check out new books.