WHAT A TREAT!!

What a wonderful day we've had...

• As we speak...the kids are watching the Polar Express...in their pjs!
  

• Right before the movie started each child visited our "Cultural Buffet" (thanks Mrs. Lizik!) where they had the opportunity to fill a goody bag with so many different treats from different countries/cultures:

- Italian pizzelles

- Chinese fortune cookies
- English figgy pudding

- Jewish macaroons

- German/Scandanavian spritz cookies

- Jewish geilt (left over from our dreidel game!)

- Candy canes

Many of these treats were homemade and all were absolutely delicious!!

• Earlier in the day we were predicting probability and working on following directions while learning to play the dreidel game (thank you, Hoffrichters!)
  

The kids earned this special day of celebrating holidays and being able to weave in the cultural food was just perfect!! (For the record, we also worked with decimals today!)

I look forward to tomorrow so we can wrap things up before our week-long break. I hope you and your families have a wonderful winter break...my wish for you all is a happy and peace-filled new year.

Karen
(or Mrs. Wills, depending on who is reading!)

Crazy week, huh?!

Well...early dismissal here, late arrival there...little crazy, but we still managed to be productive!!

In Math this week we have been immersed in the world of decimals. We pulled out linking blocks to conceptualize lines of 10, blocks of 100...we talked about how they each know how to write these parts of a whole using a fraction and that there is another way...we explored the "other side" of the number line and tied it all together. Then we spent time comparing and ordering decimals...this is a bit trickier, but they were really into it. We made a # line using cards and discussed (sometimes argued) over which numbers went where...but the end result was a well ordered # line. We will continue with decimals next week.

In Language Arts we have been reading and discussing a book titled, "Immigration", (Social Studies) We have focused on main idea and details to support it, vocabulary, timelines, reading aloud, and on top of all that...all the different reasons people have come to our country from other places. We talked about voluntary immigration vs. involuntary immigration. We talked about all the immigration symbols found around our nation. Next week we will see with our own eyes how immigration has shaped our own community as we share the Cultural Projects. I am very excited to see their hard work! Please remember that a rubric is attached and it is what I will use to give each child two grades...an oral speaking grade and a social studies grade.

Next week we will also have some neat activities!! One is related to our personal safety unit two others to the holiday season. The Puppet Company "Kids on the Block" will come to do a puppet show as a culmination of our personal safety unit. We will also hear the book "The Polar Express" and watch the movie! We will compare and contrast the two different types of media and answer comprehension questions. And last, it is my understanding that we will be treated to a winter concert from our UES Chorus!

We earned another THIRTY-SIX Soaring With Pride stickers, so we will be deciding on how to celebrate our success and finding time for that celebration next week, too!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, enjoy your families and all the magic of this holiday season.

Wetlands Wonder

During American Education Week, we were fortunate enough to go to the Great Heron Wetlands and be taught by Mr. Wetlands, himself. Mr. Esko led us through many different hands-on science investigations. We tested the pond water, identified fossils, and found the fossils on the Geological Wall of Time. It was a wonderful morning! Click on the "Wetlands Wonder" link below to enjoy the movie!!

Wetlands Wonder

Better Late Than Never...

American Education Week

Mystery Readers!!

Sleeping Bag/PJ Day...and yes, we did work that day!!

I think I'm finally catching up!!

So...where to begin?! Just a quick update...on Thursday of last week my oldest son (who was five years old when I met my husband and is now 25!) and his wife came for a visit...that next day, my 13 year old went into the hospital with asthma...we thought he'd be released the following day and lo and behold...he spent three nights and was released Monday night...so on Tuesday, the whole family had a "shut in" because we had yet to be in the same room together since my son and daughter-in-law had arrived...on Wednesday, we all returned to work and Robert and Kim returned to Chattanooga...Connor is now healthy...and I'm almost caught up grading papers!!!


And the best news of all...while Robert and Kim were here I learned I am going to be a GRANDMA!!! So...now you're caught up on me...let me catch you up on the REAL reason you check this website...YOUR KID!!

You would think with the holidays upon us, your kids would be climbing walls...not true...as I type they are working SOOO hard on their state brochures....let me tell you what was done to get us to this point. This project hits on so many indicators...in Language Arts we are reading social studies text to find the main idea, taking notes, and rewriting information from our own perspective...so the kids first researched using Culturegrams, an on line resource, then they gathered facts from textbooks and a non-fiction book from the library. All this was going on, while in Social Studies we were focusing on physical geography, natural resources, and climate. Then the kids organized their facts to create a brochure encouraging people to visit their state....making sure to incorporate the geography, natural resources, climate...and of course, facts they just found downright cool! They developed a slogan to use as an enticing title, designed pictures, printed maps and flags, and are in the process of finishing the final product...they are SOOOO good...the brochures, and YOUR KIDS.


Towards the end of the week we shifted our focus to cultures around the world...this coming week we will talk about immigration...the hows and whys...and how it has helped shape our wonderfully diverse country. Speaking of cultures...your child has a culture project due next Monday, December 20th...if you haven't seen the project, check your child's take home folder! They will receive two grades...a social studies grade and an oral presentation grade.


Speaking of grades...sometimes I wish they didn't exist...not because I don't like grading papers...but because many of the kids are very hard on themselves and get very upset about grades...I try to help them see that if they get a grade they dislike, its a learning experience and it will help them to improve in some way...however, this past Friday I returned a BOATLOAD of papers...some three weeks old, and there were some unhappy faces in the crowd. Most of the kids had a lot of A's, but as you know, the ONE "not so good grade" overshadows all the others. ;-( As I told the kids...if anyone has a C or below on a quiz or test, they are allowed to retake it to help improve their grade. Please sign the graded quiz and when it is returned, I will ask your child if he/she wants to retake it...and then I will give them a couple nights to study before I retest. Please email me with any questions about this.


In Math this past week we worked on coordinate points...they were introduced to all four quadrants of the coordinate plane...then each child drew a picture on grid paper and wrote directions using coordinate points for another student to create their picture...it was a very fun way to ensure they understand coordinate points...some kids even chose to use all four quadrants!! The kids also wrote about mystery fractional creatures and had to use each other's clues to identify them around the room. This coming week we move into the land of decimals...



For four of the five days this week we have had lessons on personal body safety. Your children have been extremely mature and have asked excellent questions. We have discussed safe touches, unsafe touches, and unwanted touches. They have been introduced to new vocabulary: victim, sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect, and have been taught the difference between an OK secret and a not OK secret. The students created a Trusted Adult Directory so they know they have more than one person to turn to with a question or concern. At the end of each lesson the students are given a file card to jot down a question that they are wondering about...even if the kids do not have a question, I require them to write something down...this way, all questions are confidential since everyone has dropped one in the box. Again, I have been extremely impressed with their maturity handling this subject.

In case you haven't noticed...IT IS REALLY COLD OUTSIDE!! Please make sure you are sending your child to school with hats and mittens...unless the temperatures drop below 20 degrees fahrenheit, we go outside...even for a short time...to run off some energy...SOOOO...please help your child remember all the necessary pieces of clothing to stay warm...thanks!

Have a great weekend...enjoy this joyous time of year

please forgive me

i am very busy with mommyhood this weekend...my thirteen year old was admitted to the hospital yesterday with a bad episode of asthma and they are keeping him again tonight, so i am unsure whether or not i will get a posting done this weekend...i promise to make it up to you all...have a great weekend

I'm thankful for...

21 bright and smiling faces that make my job fun...

Check out the post titled, "2010 Science Fair" to see each one!

Their parents...21 sets to be exact,

I so enjoyed sitting and discussing your child this week...thats a fact!

My UES family full of students who are respectful and care,

and teachers with tons of experience, enthusiasm, and friendship to share.

My very own family both far and near...

who bring me such joy and that I hold so dear.

Happy Thanksgiving to all and enjoy your time,

I'll see you soon, time to end my rhyme!

Have a truly wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. I look forward to a few days rest and will see your kids Monday, November 29th!

Karen

PS...If I may...I would be REALLY thankful for hand sanitizer, clorox wipes, and kleenex...we're heading into winter and we're running low on these important supplies...thanks ahead of time for any donations!!

COUNTY Science Fair!

We had two friends take their science fair projects to the County Science Fair!!

Congratulations to Sanjana and Julia!

2010 Science Fair

2010 Science Fair

Happy National Education Week!

We had a wonderful week full of mystery readers, science fair projects, report cards, and finished writing pieces!! Read on to find out more!

This week was a bit different than most weeks...we spent two days enjoying the kids' science fair project presentations...WOW is all I can say...what a wonderful job your kids did on their projects!! This, of course, led up to Thursday's UES Science Fair...if you haven't seen the post previous to this one...take a look...I uploaded a picture of each student with proud grins in front of their projects...its a fun 2 minute video...enjoy!

This week we also finished two writing projects. The "Ella" stories are FINALLY finished...and I'm so excited to read them this weekend! I hope to share them with you at conferences...we'll see if I get them graded in time! The kids also finished a persuasive letter...it is to you about their bedtimes...the funny thing is...they don't want you to read them! Many of them knew that in order to provide evidence in support of their opinion, they needed to write about having you lengthen the amount of time they sleep or not change their bedtime at all...when really, they all want to stay up later!! They are wonderful letters, but I am here to tell you that they are not "for real"...so please don't hold your child to it!! ;-)

On Tuesday we celebrated education by putting a spotlight on reading...the kids enjoyed readers from our PTA during lunchtime and then we had three mystery readers in the afternoon. I had given them clues in the morning so they could guess which parents were coming and what book they were going to read...they loved trying to solve the mysteries!! Mrs. Wolcott, Nicky's mom, arrived first and read an exciting chapter from the first Harry Potter book, The Sorceror's Stone. Then Mr. Buchholz, Emma's dad, came to read a hilarious story called, My Cat, the Silliest Cat in the World. Then Mrs. Sobocienski, Sarah's mom, came and read the wonderful story The Giving Tree. We enjoyed all three mystery readers so much...I think we should make this a monthly event! If you are interested in coming into the classroom as a mystery reader...please send me an email. You can pretty much name the time...unless we're in specials or lunch, we'd LOVE to have you! You can choose the book or I'd be happy to suggest one, so just let me know!

On Wednesday we had CAREER DAY...it was SOOO fun! Each student had the choice to share his/her paragraph describing the career they were interested in, why, and how education will help them persue that career. Many of the kids dressed up as their chosen career. It was really neat to see and hear all of their ideas...a new favorite day of mine!!

Also this week we took the CSA's, worked more with fractions, took a Quarter Two Math pretest, found even more WORD NERD words, and took a two day break from homework! I got an email from a Dad who said that his son had come home and told him that we were taking a FIVE WEEK break from homework! I got a good laugh out of that one...so just to clarify...it was a TWO DAY break from homework. They needed it and so did I!

The next two days of school are crazy ones...please remember that on Monday the kids come to school FOUR hours late...so our school day is 12:30-2:30. On Tuesday the kids will be in school from 8:30 - 11:00...they are dismissed 3 and 1/2 hours early. I am looking forward to sitting with each of you and filling you in on your child's progress so far in third grade. Our conferences are limited to 15 minutes, so if I do not get all of your questions answered, we can schedule another meeting or communicate through email...whichever you choose.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend with your kids. See you next week!

Oh dear...I'm late!

Sorry, everyone...its that whole "balancing Mommy and Teacher thing"...and Mommy won this weekend...

We had a great week last week and I want to tell you all about it...but first...a quick look into the week ahead...it is National Education Week at Urbana Elementary School...

MONDAY - UES students will write "I Love UES because..." or "If I were Principal..."
TUESDAY - we celebrate Reading...the PTA will have parents reading at lunchtime and I have invited any of you who would like/are available to read to our class that day as Mystery Readers. I heard from three parents, so the afternoon is full, but I still have plenty of morning spots if any of you are interested...just send me an email! I will be giving the kids clues to guess who our readers are for the day!
WEDNESDAY - Career Day...kids are supposed to come dressed up as what they think they'd like to be when they grow up...my students have a writing assignment to go with it, they will receive the details tomorrow and share it with us on Wednesday.
THURSDAY - Science Fair Day! My students will tour the Science Fair during school and you are welcome to come that evening to tour it yourselves!!
FRIDAY - School Spirit Day - we will all be wearing school colors!

One more thing before I get to the past week...a big THANK YOU to all of you for helping your children stay on track for getting their Science Fair projects turned in on time...I can't believe how many kids turned their projects in on Friday for extra credit...and I can't wait to spend the next few days learning about all of their projects!!

Now to the week...

Language Arts
We finished our work with the Junior Great Books story, The Master Cat. I had two amazing discussion groups to culminate this story analysis. I split the class in 1/2 and led the discussion with particular questions. It was great to get inside their brains and hear the wheels turn! They are becoming very good at supporting their thoughts with evidence from the story!!

This week we worked on a persuasive letter. The kids read an article in their Time For Kids magazine about how much sleep children need. I told them that YOU, their parents, were considering changing their bedtimes and that they needed to convince you how to change the time or not to change the time...using evidence from the article to support their opinion. They are still in the first stages of this letter filling out the graphic organizer, so we will continue this work this week. We are also going to continue typing the ELLA stories...I'm really hoping to finish them this week!

Math
We have been working on fractions...finding the fraction of a group of things, finding equivalent fractions, and simplifying fractions. Your kids got to look at their scored Quarter 1 post-tests this past week. They were reminded of their pre-test scores, so that they could see the growth they made. I will share these with you at parent/teacher conferences next week. Your child will be taking the Quarter 2 pre-test this week. We will wrap up work with fractions right before Thanksgiving!

Science
We wrapped it all up this past week with a quiz, a fun movie about chemicals with Bill Nye the Science Guy, and a look at the Periodic Table. We will move into Social Studies this coming week.

We celebrated our 2nd set of 26 Soaring with Pride stickers!! The kids deserved this treat as we watched a movie in our PJs and snacked on popcorn. It was a fun time and I have pictures to share, but I left my camera at school (did I ever tell you I FOUND my camera!!) :-)

I hope you had a great weekend...I know many of you were working to finish up Science Fair Projects...breathe a sigh of relieft...you're done! I hope your child enjoyed the project...I can't wait to hear all about them!

PJ DAY TOMORROW!

OK...we've written it in our agendas...we've put sticky notes in our Take Home folders...and now its on the blog! I certainly hope I don't have any friends who are heartbroken when they get to school tomorrow without their pjs, their stuffed animal, and/or their blanket and pillow. Call me crazy, but we've wrapped it all into one big day...movie and popcorn, too. OK, you're right...I'm a softie...but only when its your kids who deserve to be rewarded. I work them really hard and they have earned 72+ stickers in two months time...that is awesome!! So, please help your child remember his/her stuff for tomorrow! Thanks!

A quick week...a quick post!

I hope you all have enjoyed the Fall Festival slide show and the wonderful commercials your kids produced (the two posts prior to this one)! I guess it just took a really long time for all of the commercials to download, so it wasn't a catastrophe after all...thank goodness!

We've only had three days, so I'll see if I can sum it up in three minutes...

In Math we are working with fractions. We will be exploring equivalent fractions, simplifying fractions, and working with mixed numbers and improper fractions. It is a fun unit and I'm so fortunate this group LOVES math...well, most of them! The others I'm still working on!! Today the kids took their Quarter 1 post test, and I'm excited to see the results when compared with the pretest they took at the beginning of the year. I use these post tests, along with other measures to guide my instruction.

In Language Arts we read a wonderful story called "The Master Cat" by Charles Perrault this week. This story comes from the Junior Greatbooks program. The students have been working with and analyzing this story and will be using their knowledge to participate in a Shared Inquiry Discussion next week...sort of like a discussion/debate where the kids use the information in the text to support their thinking...this group is going to LOVE it!!

Today the kids used their observations and data collection to identify the five mystery powders!! They were given clues and they had to match their data to the clues, in order to solve the mystery. This science unit has been loads of fun and I know the kids will be sorry to be finished. We will be doing a culminating activity for this science unit at the beginning of next week, and then we will head back into Social Studies.

As I type, your students are working in the computer lab to publish their "Ella" stories...they are not all master keyboarders, so we will use a couple different lab times to complete this task. I am anxious to share these stories with you at parent teacher conferences!

Speaking of Parent/Teacher Conferences...today your child is brining home the conference date and time that either you signed up for, or that you were assigned. Attached to the conference slip is a red sheet that I would appreciate if you would return when you return the conference slip. It will allow you to give me information or questions that you would like addressed, so I can best plan for the conference. I appreciate you taking the time to do this!

REMINDER: Early bird due date for the Science Fair project is one week from today! I look forward to seeing the work your kids have been doing!!

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Fall Festival 2010

To enjoy many fun memories from Pumpkin Math and the Fall Festival click on the words "Fall Festival 2010" below. Enjoy!!

Fall Festival 2010

Experiencing technical difficulties...

I have just spent close to three hours loading your kids' commercial videos...and when I opened the blog to view, I can't see them...ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!! I will figure this out, but not today...no more time! So hold tight...

Chocolate Math...

The much anticipated commercials are here!

Enjoy!!

HAPPY FALL FESTIVAL DAY!

Oh my...I have SOOOO much to share...I think you should be prepared for three entries...first will be about our week, the second will be just about today...and the third...saving the best for last...the kids' commercials that I video taped this week!! So, grab a pillow (not that you'll want to sleep, but you may want to get comfy...), a snack, and a drink, and enjoy...


This week was a week full of wonderful words, exciting science, marvelous math, and fabulous fables...your kids were superb students and I am proud to be their tired teacher ;-)!


We have been working with words...lots and lots of words...171 to be exact! The kids are flagging words in their reading...words they love, words they want to learn the meaning of, any words they find intriguing. We have been adding them to a long list and this week they chose two favorites to explore...using a word map...they LOVE words and it is fun to watch them learn about them and try to use them correctly! I like to call them all WORD NERDS...in a kind way, of course!


In science we are definitely collecting a ton of data that will help us identify our powders...we tested our powders with vinegar and iodine this week and recorded all of our observations...we have a few more tests and we'll be ready to put all the clues together! I got to see a lot of data collection for science fair projects today. Thanks to all of the parents that sent a note letting me know your child is still working on the project and not ready to share data! Keep an eye on the due date list so that your child will have plenty of time to do a good job!


We did quite a few things in math this week...we finished up our Chocolate Math project...stay tuned for a different post of the finished products! We worked with function tables and patterns, too. Each child designed a function table...many of your kids' tables had two functions...the kids had SO much fun trying to determine the function of each others' tables! We worked with growing patterns with at least five levels and repeated patterns with at least two core...the kids also designed patterns to challenge their classmates! We will be moving into fractions next week!!

Our Ella stories are all ready for peer conference...we kind of put a hold on those this week...but we'll be moving into the next stage of the writing process for this piece next week, too! As you are aware, the kids had an independent study with fables this week. We started out the week with the famous fable, "The Tortoise and the Hare." I modeled finding personification and determining a moral...both characteristics in fables. I am anxious to read their packets to see what they discovered while choosing fables to read and think about.

Today was a ton of fun! Thanks to all of the parents that helped out today being here and all of you who helped out behind the scenes...the kids had a great day because of all of you! I promise to post pix and commercials sometime soon...my daughter Kate has her birthday party this weekend and my family will be enjoying Halloween festivities, too (add in a few soccer and basketball games...oh my!), but I am anxious to post it all, so I will do my best!

Have a great weekend with YOUR families!

Can you believe we're two months into school?

Happy Friday, everybody...I have lots to share, no time to spare! (teehee...I'm a poet, and I know it!)


I've decided this week to use the project we're working on as the subheadings, because all of these projects have so many different subject indicators that it's hard to split them up by math, language arts, science, etc...so here we go!


"Ella" stories
I am so excited about these stories!! Wait until you hear Purrella, Medusarella, Tigerella, Snakerella, Prince Lugia, Candyella, and SOOOO many more!! We will spend one more writing time drafting before we move into reading our stories with partners. While working with a partner the kids will be focusing on organization...specifically BOLD beginnings, MIGHTY middles, and EXCELLENT endings. Once revised, we will be typing these stories in the computer lab. Many past third graders have put their "Ella" stories in the UES Quill, our school literature anthology!

Short Stories...
We are continuing our study of short stories...this week we read some folktales. We read about a black spider named Anansi. These stories originated in Africa and have been passed down from generation to generation...and most of the time a folktale involves trickery of some sort. Trickery is always evident in an Anansi tale! We also had the good fortune to go to the Weinberg Center to see Strega Nona!! It was Strega Nona the musical and it was very enjoyable and quite timely!!


Have you heard about our chocolate factories?!?
"OMG"...to quote the teens of our nation...your kids are amazing! I put together a "little" culminating project for our multiplication unit that also involved calculating area...it has turned into a "REALLY BIG" culminating project planned by your children! They have created chocolate companies, invented new candy bars, cut and measured the area of their candy bars, written product descriptions/advertisements for their products, designed the wrappers for their candy, cut and measured the area of their wrappers, and they have now decided we need to produce commercials. I can't even begin to list the indicators that this project is covering...but it is so exciting and the kids are very motivated. Yesterday, the final wrappers were cut, measured, and designed. Each candy bar was placed in its wrapper, and the product descriptions are being typed as I work on the blog right now! Next week we will do commercial rehearsals and then I will videotape each student "selling" his/her candy bar. I hope to be able to download the commercials on the blog...stay tuned!


They are such amazing scientists!!
This past week we did a water mixtures test on all five chemicals. This included adding three spoonfuls (1 at a time, being stirred for 30 seconds each) to 10 mL of water. The students had to observe the solubility of the powders, and then they had to filter each mixture using a coffee filter. On Monday we will observe the residue left after the filtration of each powder...they will be surprised at the results! I can't type anymore about that because some of your kids read the blog, so I don't want to ruin the results! We will be testing the powders using vinegar and iodine next week!

And so on, and so on...
A few reminders!!
1. The Fall Party is this coming Friday from 1:15-2:25 pm.

• The kids can bring their costumes to school, but they are supposed to be able to change into them without having to undress...if you can help with this, that would be great! We just don't have the facilities or time for all 21 kids to use the bathrooms to change.
• Mrs. Lizik has planned some fun activities...thank you!! And so many of you all have donated $ and items to make this a wonderful party...thank you so much!

2. Pumpkin Math is also this coming Friday, but it's from 9-10:30 am.

• If you'd still like to come, but haven't had a chance to let me know, please send in your form or drop me an email. Also, if you can't come, but would like to donate a medium sized pumpkin...I could use two or three...thanks!

3. Science Fair project data collection is due this coming Friday, too!

• As I explained to the kids...I realize that not everyone will be finished collecting data by Friday the 29th...this is just a suggested due date. I had everyone write "work on science fair project" in their agendas for this weekend. I told the kids...working on it over the weekend is not required, it is suggested. If you and your child are able to follow the due dates, your child's project will be completed with time to spare and no rushing. Just let me know on the due date if your child's data is not ready yet. Thanks for helping your child follow the timeline suggested.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and I look forward to seeing your kids next week...its always a crazy week leading up to Fall Festival...and it's going to be even crazier as we celebrate "Red Ribbon Week" by wearing different fun things!!

Sorry to make you wait...

Hello to my favorite families! I must confess...I left for the beach at 8 am Friday morning and got home about an hour ago...some much needed R and R with friends!!


Let me fill you in on how we spent our four days last week and let you know what's coming up in the next couple weeks!


Language Arts
We are still working with fairy tales...we spent time reading and listening to different versions of Cinderella this week! And now your kids are writing their own "Ella" tales...wait until you hear some of these wonderful stories!! They are using themes and/or alliteration to enhance their stories...much like the authors' books we have been reading!


We only had one Writer's Workshop time this week, which is always disappointing to your kids...but they are continuing to plug along with their writing pieces...drafting, editing, revising, peer conferencing, teacher conferencing, publishing...it is a busy place and the kids are using the six traits of writing as they move each piece through the writing process!


Another exciting thing occurred in Language Arts this week...we all became "WORD NERDS"! We spent time making a list of wonderful words...words that sound awesome, words we are unfamiliar with, words we just like...and then we each chose one and completed a word map about that word. This is just one of the fun ideas I got from my 1/2 day in-service on vocabulary last week...and the kids really got into mapping their words!


Math
This week we worked with problem solving and multiplication...the kids worked to use the advertisement they brought to school to answer some questions applying their multiplication skills. Now the kids are working on a culminating project while we move into algebra...they have each created a chocolate company, designed a candy bar using multiplication, arrays, and area, and now they are going to design a wrapper for their candy bar and write a product description that will make your mouths water!! I love to see their math skills and creative skills come together...they are thoroughly enjoying this project!

Science
We have tested each mystery powder with water and recorded our observations...the kids have lots of predictions about what each powder is...but we have SO many more tests to complete before they can make solid conclusions! We will do more with water this week and then we will use vinegar to conduct new tests with our mystery powders!

DID YOU KNOW? This week is National Chemistry Week! Mrs. Shrode, Maddie's Mom, has some fun things planned for the kids...I'll leave the details for next week's post!

I was pleased to read ALMOST everyone's science fair project description!! I read each one carefully and often jotted down comments or questions...these questions are there for you and your child when planning out the next part....some kids thought they needed to be answered and then resubmitted...this is not the case...I just wanted you to consider certain things while working on the project. I am VERY excited about all the different science fair projects that our class is working on! The next due date is not until October 29th...this is when the data collection is due. One child said to me, "Mrs. Wills...my project won't be ready by then." Please remember these deadlines are put in place to help your child manage his/her time...it is perfectly acceptable to not "meet a deadline" as long as the project is underway!

Fall Festival Party - Friday, October 29th
Well, most of you have seen the Fall Festival Party form that went home on Thursday...it is going to be a lot of fun! I hope that any and all of you that would like to attend will join us...please remember that you need to be a trained volunteer to work in the classroom (this includes chaperoning a trip and class parties)...UES now has a quick and easy way to get trained...check out the school website where you can get the link to be trained from the comforts of your own home!

All that being said...the morning of the Fall Festival Party, I am planning a pumpkin math activity that is loads of fun! If you cannot attend in the afternoon, but can come in the morning...OR...you just want to spend the WHOLE day with us...please send me an email. I am hoping to have at least four volunteers for the morning. Each volunteer is asked to bring a medium sized pumpkin and a few easy supplies...if this sounds exciting to you...contact me and let me know you'd like to come join us...it will be from 9-10:30 that Friday morning.

Field Trip - Weinberg Center
Thank you to all the many parents who volunteered to come on our field trip. I wrote all of your names on slips of paper, put them in a basket and pulled out four...it was the most fair way I could think of...Mr. Lizik, Mrs. Sherwood, Mrs. Wolcott, and Mrs. Sobocienski will be joining us this Thursday to see the folktale Strega Nona. I am very excited about this trip! I am sorry that you all couldn't come with us...but there are two more field trips this year, and I promise you'll get to come on one!

I look forward to seeing you all sometime this month...hope you had a great weekend...I sure did!

Comparing Fairy Tales!

Your Scientists at Work!!

WRITERS' WORKSHOP!!

Happy Sunday!

I hope your kids told you that the post would be delayed this weekend...I knew I wasn't getting to it until today...I hope the wait is worth your while...I have lots of pictures to share!


This was our first five day week since before Labor Day! We had a phenomenal week together...here is how it went down...


Math
We have submersed ourselves in multiplication. We have solved word problems, refined our estimating skills, found the importance of multiplication basic facts when solving the algorithm, and continued work with multiplication properties. Sometime this week we will be moving into algebra...the "mathies" in my classroom are going to LOVE it! I may even be able to convert a few "non-mathies" with the algebra unit...you never know!

Language Arts
This week we focused on the elements of a fairy tale. We discussed and identified the setting, the protagonists and antagonists, the plot, the rising action, the climax, the falling action, and the resolution. We found that magic and royalty exists in most fairy tales and found other similar characteristics. We read two versions of two different fairy tales. We read The Princess and the Pea and Princess Pigtoria and the Pea, and then we read Cinderella and Dinorella. Both second versions were written by Pamela Edwards Duncan. She used alliteration to enhance each of her fairy tale verisons. This week we will be mapping the story of Dinorella, identifying all key points, and then the students will use that model to write their own versions of a fairy tale. The kids will have an option to write a "Princess and the Pea" fairy tale or a "Cinderella" fairy tale using alliteration. I am really excited about this writing project!

Science
That's right...science in the house! ;-) You would have thought it was Christmas morning on Monday when the kids came in and saw science on the schedule...it was wonderful! We have jumped right into the "Chemical Tests" unit, and there is wonderful science happening in my classroom. The students have been divided into five groups and these groups will be consistent throughout the unit. They will work as teams to hypothesize, experiment, observe, collect data, analyze the data, and make conclusions about their five mystery powders! They will observe measurable properties as well as physical properties while they experiment. They take their jobs as scientists very seriously and they recorded excellent observations about each powder's properties this past week. Tomorrow we will begin testing each powder, using our schema and some research to draw conclusions and identify each substance. It really is SO fun!

And speaking of science...most of the kids have shown me a parent signature indicating you have seen the due dates for each part of the kids' science fair projects. This Thursday your child needs to share their project description with me. This description includes the hypothesis, a list of materials, the purpose, and the planned procedure. Just a helpful hint from one parent to another....as your child develops each piece, have them save it as a word document on the computer. That way, when it's time to put the project board together, they already have each piece typed up! They can show me the pieces on the organizer provided in the packet, or their typed version...that is totally up to you!

Miscellaneous Info
A field trip slip went home on Thursday. This slip is due this Wednesday! Many slips came in without the $5 fee. Please send the $5 by Wednesday...I will let you know the names of the chaperones Wednesday and then those parents will need to send $5, too. Thanks...I wish I could take all of you...but if you don't get to come on this trip, you will definitely be able to come on another one!

I am going to post the pictures in a separate post...I am at school right now (yes, it's Sunday...but I can't get it all done during the week!), and I need to upload the pictures from home...so look for that later today.

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!

HAPPY OCTOBER!

Can you believe how fast time is flying?!?!

This is going to be a long post...I can feel it, so grab a snack and enjoy....

SCIENCE FAIR

Urbana Elementary School holds a science fair every year and each student in the third grade magnet program is required to do a project...please don't start FREAKING OUT!! Ms. Maenner and I will be giving the kids a packet that makes completing a science fair project manageable for a third grader!! We will also construct a time line so that your child can do small steps at a time. I am linking a movie that the kids saw today to motivate them to do a science fair project...I would like you to see it because it offers lots of information and visuals that will help in the planning. Although the movie describes the THREE different types of science fair projects, we ask that third graders do "experiment-based" projects. Our first science unit (which begins Monday!) is an experiment-based unit, and we are able to easily tie in the scientific process of their projects with the unit. There will be a lot more information coming home next week...but today in your child's Take Home folder is a form that needs to be returned to UES to let them know your child will be participating. HOLD ONTO IT...don't turn it in quite yet...we need to spend some time discussing different science project ideas before we ask the kids to make a decision about their own project. So, hang it on the fridge and send it in at the end of next week, please!!

http://scienceelem.sites.fcps.org/scool_science_fair

BOOK FAIR

As Ms. Lizik stated in her email, the UES PTA is holding the annual book fair this month!! And although it is not during conferences this year, I hope you will try to get to school to see the wonderful selection! Our school media center gets to use the credits to purchase books for all of our kids to check out and enjoy...so if you are thinking about ordering books...think about making your way to school Oct 6-8 and checking out the Book Fair!

VOLUNTEERS

Speaking of Ms. Lizik, I would like to thank her for organizing the volunteer calendar. I LOVE the monthly calendars and appreciate the time she puts into it!!

I know that many of you are probably disappointed that you only received one volunteer slot per month. I want you to know that you are MORE than welcome to come hang out in our classroom ANYTIME...I love to have extra smiling faces...but I just don't have tons of work for you...therefore, I'd rather schedule you once, and not waste your time while you're here. If you have a day off coming up, and you'd love to spend 40 minutes with us...just drop me an email...we'd love to have you!

WHY NO PICTURES?

I haven't wanted to admit this aloud (or in print) because it makes it so very real....but...I LOST MY CAMERA. You have no idea how sad this is...not only did I LOVE my camera...but it had an SD card with over 600 pictures on it! :-( Just typing it makes me want to cry. I have exhausted all the places it could be...twice...the only place I haven't heard back from is the baseball tournament we attended Labor Day weekend...I can't get a return email...but my guess is...it's long gone. ANYWAY...I have an older camera at home, so I will start carrying that with me...and I promise to upload pix soon!!

And now...our week in review...

MATH

We have jumped into the world of multiples, factors, products, prime numbers, 3 digit times 1 digit multiplication, 3 digit times 2 digit multiplication, problem solving, estimating...you name it...we're learning it...if it has to do with multiplication!! With each concept I assess your child and then place him/her in a instructional group. All students are taught the 4th grade indicators to mastery, and some are introduced to the 5th grade indicators as well. These kids LOVE numbers and it is fun to see them excited about math. IMPORTANT NOTE: Your child is taking timed fact tests at school. They should be practicing their math facts at home at least once or twice a week until they score 90% or better on their fact tests. They know their scores because they are the ones who check them!! Ask your child about his/her addition, subtraction, or multiplication fact test scores...and if they can't remember...throw me an email. I have fact test records so that the kids can work to improve each time they take a test. There are wonderful websites for fact practice...many are linked to the blog. We will continue with this unit next week!

SOCIAL STUDIES

We leave social studies behind today...for awhile...we ended this unit with a local government simulation...every student had a job within the government and researched their position to understand the responsibilities of their department. Then, in small groups, we received letters from concerned citizens and decided which part of the government we thought might help solve the problems. After all of the mail was delivered, we took on our government positions and read the letters that had been sent to our departments and discussed how we could help these citizens. It was a wonderful lesson to tie in all we have been studying in Social Studies this quarter. Next week the kids will receive a study guide for an upcoming social studies test...stay tuned. We head into Science next week and the kids are SO excited...me, too.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Monday we begin a new unit...short stories! This is one of my favorite units as we delve into fairy tales, folktales, tall tales, and legends. This past week, we finished up our reading strategies unit and our novels. Most kids read one novel, but some read two during this unit. The strategies introduced during this time will be used throughout the rest of the school year. I am still in the process of assessing your kids...I don't get to do it very often, because they need to work independently for long periods of time, and that's just not how I run a classroom...but I am determined to finish, so it WILL happen!

Writer's Workshop is just a fantastic part of our week. We use an hour every Tuesday and Friday for Writer's Workshop and the kids CANNOT get enough! Today we had three kids share published pieces...it was a very proud moment for me as a teacher...and the three kids who shared did a fantastic job taking a first draft through the entire writing process making improvements along the way. It is always a highlight of the week and I get as excited as the kids on Writer's Workshop days!!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend...this is by far my very favorite time of year and it looks like we have great weather ahead of us!!

Last week got away from me...sorry!!

So...I think that since I posted the "How Do I Become President" contest, I felt like I had already posted for the week!! Whoops, my bad.

We had a wonderful week and here are the details!!

Let me start with the celebration that I'm sure you've all heard about...Electronics Day! We set a goal for our class...36 Soaring With Pride stickers...this is not an easy achievement...but your kids are fantastic! So...we went through a very long process of brainstorming ways to celebrate, and then another rather long process of voting...and voila...Electronics Day...we will spend about 45 minutes on Tuesday (which in your kids' opinions, will NOT be long enough!!) They deserve this fun break and I'm looking forward to rewarding them!

Writer's Workshop
We have two full blown workshops under our belts...twice a week we spend about an hour in the workshop setting...some kids drafting, some editing, some revising, others in a peer or teacher conference...and I'm thrilled to say we have two pieces that will begin publishing next week! The kids get very excited when they see Writer's Workshop on the schedule and wish I could make it last all day. We are going to see some magnificent pieces from your kids in the near future!

Language Arts
We have been continuing our "During Reading" strategies this week...we spent time with "synthesis" and "inferring"...two of the tougher strategies. We used some wonderful literature to model these skills...and then applied them to the novels we are reading. We will finish up the these strategies this week and move into one of my favorite LA units: short stories!

Math
We had a lot of fun with AREA this week...we started off the week discussing whether all squares are rectangles AND/OR all rectangles are squares...do you know?!?! We used lots of geometry vocabulary while drawing and cutting grid paper to make rectangles. Then the kids wrote equations to matched the rectangles...eventually determining that L x W = area of a rectangle...they are true mathematicians!! I also pulled a few small groups to continue to reinforce subtraction of large numbers with zeroes. We head into multiplication and division for the next couple of weeks starting off with properties of multiplication and rules of divisibility!!

Social Studies
We are wrapping up our unit on government this coming week as we venture into a simulation of a local government. Your kids will be "running City Hall" this week (oh dear!!) They will be reading letters from citizens, delivering that mail after determining which office should handle what problems, making decisions as leaders of those offices, and writing letters back to the concerned citizens...should be a lot of fun and a great learning experience!!

I will not be in on Monday. My oldest son has a doctor's appointment and then is having a tooth extracted in the afternoon...but I will see your lovelies Tuesday for the rest of an almost full week! Reminder...Friday is an early dismissal day!

Hope your weekend was wonderful and I'm sorry this post is so late! Stay dry!!

"How do I Become President?"

A POSTER CONTEST....

From time to time I will post information about a contest available to your child...once I share the website/information, it is totally up to you and your child whether you participate or not. I just like to post the different opportunities because your kids have so many talents and they should be recognized as often as possible!! This contest is very timely in that we are studying national government and recently learned about and discussed the constitution. All pertinent info about what to put on the poster and how to enter can be found here:

http://challenge.gov/challenges/44

(the link can also be found on the sidebar under Social Studies)

Let me know if your child participates...we'd love to follow their progress!

Happy Constitution Day!

We had a great week!

Today we celebrated Constitution Day...we started off with the Preamble and I was pleasantly surprised that the kids had done a lot with it last year...we were even serenaded by the kids in Mrs. Weeks' class from last year...they had learned it in song! They taught it to our class and then we went and shared it with Mrs. Humerick's class...I have a lot of performers in this class! :-)

We found words in the Preamble that were hard to understand and we defined them....discussing the purpose for the Constitution as we went through it. Then the kids took a pretest about Constitution trivia....they were suprised to see how much they still had to learn! We watched a video from Discovery Streaming entitled, "Shhhhh...We're Writing the Constitution!" The kids were able to change their answers from their pretest to the correct answers as they heard the information. They may have started with a 5 out of 10 in the pretest, but they all ended with 100%...they are excellent information gatherers...little sponges ready to soak it all up!

We finished our Constitution information gathering in the computer lab...we visited a site that was new to 90% of our class...BRAIN POP...it is located under every subject on the sidebar of the blog...it has many free videos and games that are all curriculum related...it also has many options that in order to use, you must be a subscriber...UES does not have a subscription, so we stick with the free stuf!! The Constitution movie was free, and it was followed by a quiz that each student took. Then the kids got some time to explore the site a little. It is a wonderful site for kids and educators...visit it with your child sometime soon!

We have been focusing on government in Social Studies this week, so the Constitution was a great tie in! We have discussed the definition of government, the similarities and differences in local, state, and national governments, and we will continue this next week.

In Math this week, we have been working with large numbers. Estimating, adding, subtracting, and playing games with large numbers took up most of our time. I worked with small groups that showed needs on their pretests...we worked on rounding one day, addition with regrouping another, one day on subtraction with zeroes...and those kids that did not need review were busy working on extensions using these skills. Today the kids were given a quiz on large numbers...I'm looking forward to seeing their brains on paper!!

Language Arts has been fun this week! We are using novels to continue our focus on the Mosaic of Thought strategies...we have been perfecting asking questions and what to do when we hit "clunks" in our reading. These kids are voracious readers...I'm excited to get my assessments complete and get them into level appropriate novels. We will continue with reading strategies next week.

In Writing we finally got a true Writer's Workshop underway this week. We had children drafting, peer conferencing, and revising. I will continue to introduce the other "pit stops" in the upcoming mini-lessons...these kids LOVE the workshop and they are producing wonderful writing pieces!

MISCELLANEOUS

Your kids brought home some graded papers today. Please review the papers with your child and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. They also have checklists in their Take Home Folders. Please sign the checklist and place it back into the folder to be returned on Monday. Thanks for your help with this!

If you haven't had a chance to sign up to become a PTA member...there is another membership form in your child's Take Home Folder. Please consider becoming a member...the PTA does and provides wonderful things for our school!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend...looks like it will be great weather...enjoy your families!

Crazy Week....

It's hard to build routines when we feel like ping pong balls in the classroom! But as usual, we were busy...read on to find out more...

Math
This week we began facts tests...the kids took addition and subtraction facts tests...100 problems in 6 minutes...and they scored their own. I will give these fact tests again in one month and their goal is to show improvement. There are many different websites that help with fact practice. Flash cards or worksheets work well, too! This is your child's responsibility...but its a good idea to remind them to practice!!

We also focused on estimation...using front end estimation and rounding...you would be surprised how many kids got this incorrect on the pretest!! We discussed which is a more accurate form of estimating...and the kids discovered that it is usually more accurate to round!

Social Studies
In Social Studies we discussed rights vs. responsibilities and people who contributed to the common good of our society. I am continually impressed with your kids...they work wonderfully independently and cooperatively...they are a teacher's dream!! We did an activity where the kids were the instructors today. Each group of five kids had to read about someone who has contributed to the common good of our society. Then each group had to decide how they would teach us about their person. What fun they had...they shared skits, songs, posters...and every child participated in one way or another! So instead of reading 8-10 pages of text...they each read 2-3 and then taught the rest of us! It was loads of fun...while learning...imagine that!? :-)

Language Arts
This week in Language Arts each child was given a novel to read. Using this novel we practiced many of the skills "good readers" use while reading. We identified "clunks" in our reading and then asked questions, made predictions, and listed new vocabulary. Each student was asked to decide whether or not he/she wanted to be best friends with the main character in their story and provide an example from the story to support their thinking. I loved reading their responses! We will continue to focus on "during reading" strategies next week as we move forward with our novels.


Important Information
Many papers were handed back today! Your child has a folder full of papers...graded papers, PTA and UES news, homework they have checked themselves, and the Behavior and Study Habits checklist. Please take time to go through the folder with your child. Discuss the grades, any comments, and the checklist. Please sign the orange checklist and return it to school with your child on Monday.


Also...school is closed Tuesday due to the primary elections. I am assigning homework for two nights...hope you don't mind...they will have to finish the three page packet (pages 2 and 3) and write meaningful sentences...5 each night (Monday and Tuesday).


And last...today the kids got 15 extra minutes of recess for their outstanding behavior these first three weeks...they deserved more, but our day is already shortened...can't spare the time!

Have a great weekend...email me with questions or concerns...and enjoy your families.

Happy Long Weekend!!

We had a wonderful week...here's how it went down....

Math

This week we focused on finding averages. We decided to find out what the average third grader was like in our classroom. We collected data, organized the data, and analyzed the data. We found the mode of our favorite school subjects and food, we also found the mode of hair color, eye color, and gender. When it came to height we worked with calculating the mean. We also calculated the mean number of letters in our names in order to name our average third grader. In order to do this...your third graders were dividing with two digit divisors!! We found calculators to be wonderful tools to practice these skills while keeping the frustration levels low!! The kids are so excited to learn to divide with one and two digit divisors later this year! We also found the median and range when using our numerical data...the kids were so happy punching all the data into their calculators!!

Today was the big reveal...you see, Ms. Maenner's class was also working on their average third grader...and until today all the results were secret.

This afternoon we introduced Ms. Maenner's class to VIOLET. She is our black haired, brown eyed, science loving, pizza eating, 53 inch girl! Take a look...she's the one on the far right!

Then we met...the Enigma twins...Ms. Maenner's class' black haired, brown eyed, pasta eating, science loving, 54 inch boy and girl!! They have exactly the same number of boys and girls in their class, so they made twins!

The kids seemed to really enjoy this project while learning all about finding averages!

Language Arts

This week we were involved in the Before Reading Strategies...preview, purpose, and plan. We read Mr. Peabody's Apples by Madonna and I modeled how to write a Reading Response. The kids will write Reading Responses often during the year while reading different literature selections. The kids worked cooperatively with a stack of books...they had to discern which were fiction and non-fiction by checking out the different features found in the books.

I also read The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown this week, and then the kids wrote poems about themselves...based on the structure of the book. We took our rough drafts to the Computer Lab and used Power Point to publish our work. I have put each student's slide into a class power point and this will be scrolling Tuesday evening at Back to School Night...you can look forward to seeing it then!

Social Studies

This week we dove into some geography when dealing with our community...we started with the big picture...our world...we discussed continents, oceans, equator, Prime Meridian, hemispheres, the compass rose, cardinal directions, intermediate directions, legends...we are going to take a detour from the geography and head into how people can change the community and local and state government...just in time for the primary elections!!

SUNNY D and SCHOLASTIC BOOKS

First of all...the form I sent home Thursday afternoon about Sunny D was really the form the teacher is supposed to fill out after we collect the labels...so please disregard the 8 and 1/2 by 11 inch sheet of paper about Sunny D. Today I sent home a 1/2 sheet explaining what labels can be brought in for this contest. This is not required...its just an extra, easy way to gain more books for the classroom.

Ms. Lizik is planning to send each of you an email with the directions on how to order Scholastic books on-line. Again, this is not at all required...just an opportunity to buy books at a reasonable price! Look for this email soon!

IMPORTANT DATES

Tuesday, September 7th – Back to school Night 7-8pm
Thursday, September 9th – Schools Closed
Tuesday, September 14th - Schools Closed
Friday, September 24th - Schools Closed/Teacher Work Day

I hope you and your families have a wonderful three day weekend...if you ever have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact me...

karen.wills@fcps.org

You're very patient...thank you.

Have I told you how great your kids are?! Well, they are...and I'm very busy planning fun and challenging lessons for them while trying to be a good mom...so picture uploading has taken a backseat, bigtime...sorry about that...but as promised...some fun pix from last week!

Below you can see we have lots of privacy when we take tests/pre-tests. This was last week taking the Math Quarterly!

These next pictures were all a writing assignment in their Writer's Notebooks. We made cars out of play-doh to inspire an idea. Then the kids got into pairs and told each other all about their creations. Then we had 15 minutes of quiet thinking and writing time...using their car for motivation...I'd say it was a BIG HIT!! See for yourselves!

We've had another great week...I'll post sometime tomorrow!