I have LOTS to catch up on....

Hello, third grade families...since I've already been sitting at the computer for two hours working on grades, I might as well end up this session with an update...grab a snack...it's kind of lengthy...but well worth the read, if I do say so myself!!

NOTE:  Just because I am working on grades DOES NOT mean I am not taking new grades anymore...still grading...everything still counts!  ;-)

We have been very busy! And as I look ahead at what I have to do/want to do over the next 8 and1/2 days, my mind is BLOWN...wish me (and them) good luck!

TOMORROW is our field trip!  This trip is so much fun and brings together so many of the concepts we've worked on this year.  We are honored to have Justice's mom leading our tour tomorrow at the Frederick News Post; both she and her husband work there!  Once we leave there we will go to Mt. Olivet cemetery to learn more about Frederick's rich history...and then onto the Frederick Keys stadium where the kids will get to see how interdependence and specialization work every day to provide the entertainment (and service) of our very own minor league ball team in Frederick, Maryland!!

I promise to follow up with a video and/or pictures sometime soon!

Lately we have been super busy...here's what's been going on...

As you all know, the AG BUS was here...here are pictures from one of our two visits...we were participating in a science experiment to decide which crayon is better...soy crayons or wax crayons? First the kids learned a lot about the very popular Maryland crop:  SOY.  Then they used the scientific method to answer the question...which brand of crayon do kids prefer PRANG (soy) or CRAYOLA?  Believe it or not, as the graph at the end shows, the kids preferred soy!!  It was a great lesson in learning that the popular label does not always mean the product is the best (it was a good lesson for me...I'm a crayola junkie!!)

 Take a look.

Over the past two weeks we've also had several school wide assemblies...

We were visited by the Frederick County Public Library and learned about the Summer Reading program!

We were visited by all of the FCPS instrumental music teachers and they put on a fabulous concert to recruit new kids to play an instrument!

And we said goodbye to our beloved Miss Willett.  She cried, I cried, and a bunch of kids got quite emotional, too!  Thanks to your generosity, we were able to get her some things to outfit her dorm room...she loves minions and was so excited by the gifts!  Each student made her a card with their own sentiments and she had such fun reading them.  Then, we celebrated with her favorite...Dunkin Donuts!  She was such an asset to our classroom and we all miss her!

We also had Field Day AND a Spring Choral Concert...but, sorry, no pictures!!

So, by now you're probably thinking...well, have they learned anything?!?!  HAHA...just a reminder...I am obligated to teach alongside all of these fun things, so let me fill you in on all of that, too...

Language Arts
We have been trying to get all of the Writer's Workshop pieces published by the end of the year...so there has been a WW push over the past two weeks. PLEASE keep your child writing over the summer...most of these kids LOVE to write and have so much to offer through the written word...

We have been plugging along in our novels...writing lots of summaries and having lots of discussions that make the students delve deeper into their comprehension of the story.

We have officially FINISHED CURSIVE instruction.  So here's the thing...most of the kids are truly proficient or have mastered cursive handwriting...but a few need more work despite the instruction being complete.  PLEASE encourage your child to work on cursive this summer...the Zaner Bloser website is a great resource and I have modeled how to access it and use it multiple times, so as long as you can get your child to this blog, they should be able to navigate the website.

Math
We have been working on a very tough problem solving unit about throwing a party...the kids had to use standard units of measure to estimate how much lemonade would need to be made to serve 36 people.  They also had to decide which brand to choose based on getting the best bang for their buck.  Then we extended their knowledge even further by using volume to solve problems based on the cake for the party.  They really enjoyed working with the interlocking cubes to discover which cake pan would be best used to make a cake that could serve 36 pieces that each had the dimensions 3x3x2.  HOLY MOLY was there a ton of "math talk" going on in my room...I wish you could have been a fly on the wall.  They were in over their heads, and managed to get out...with an understanding no less!! (most of them, anyway!!)  We will spend the next eight days reviewing some key concepts and for those who do not need a review, they will continue along the path of problem solving...I feel so good about your kids' ability to attack a problem and persevere to find a solution...or at least work their tails off trying!

Science
Most students have finished their independent research projects.  Most kids chose an electronic presentation, so if you'd like your child to be able to keep it, please send a flash drive in so they can save it to the drive.  We will be presenting them over the next week and I'm so excited to see everyone's projects!!  We will also be researching more about rocks and the rock cycle and doing some activities that involve fossils.  Its a great unit to end our year!

Random Items...
I've been out a bit lately and I just wanted you to know why...I am part of three big things right now...I am part of the FCPS Magnet Vision Team...we meet monthly to discuss what we want the magnet program to look like in the future..and this past Wednesday, I got to visit two magnet programs in different counties across the state to get an idea of what other programs are doing.  It was a great experience!  I am also part of the UES Feasibility Team...I am working on a county committee to decide what is feasible in the modernization of UES.  We meet bimonthly. And I was recently hired as a "Master Teacher" for the College and Career Readiness Conferences held all over the state of Maryland this summer.  This is where teachers and administrators come and get professional development relating to the Common Core State Standards.  I was hired to teach the Gifted and Talented sessions...I am so excited about this opportunity!!  And last, but not least, I was privileged to attend Urbana's graduation to see Miss Willett receive her diploma and to attend Oakdale's graduation to see my Godson receive his high school diploma.  I just want you to know that I DO NOT like to be out of the classroom...first of all, the classroom is where I want to be, and second of all, writing sub plans is way harder than planning and teaching!!  However, I have been out for some very good reasons and for things that I'm happy to be a part of.  Thanks for your understanding!

FIELD TRIP TOMORROW!!  Don't forget a bag lunch and a drink!  Enjoy the rest of your Sunday...I plan to...I'm headed out the door for the second game of a double header...baseball, here I come!

2014 Summer Reading Web Sites for Elementary and Middle School Students

From the Office of Advanced Academics...

Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Awards
http://maslmd.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=70Online-

Newberry Medal and Honor Books, 1922 – Present
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberyhonors/newberymedal.cfm

Caldecott Medal and Honor Books, 1938 - Present
http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/cald_hon.html

Peggy Sharp’s Picks (Broken down by grade levels)
http://www.peggysharp.com/peggyspicks/picks.htm

Screen Actors Guild members reading children’s books aloud (accompanying activities)
http://www.storylineonline.net/

Coretta Scott King Book Awards
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/emiert/cskbookawards/index.cfm
The award is given annually to an African American author and an African American illustrator

The World of Brian P. Cleary Excellent site for parts of speech, poetry, math, word games, etc.
http://www.brianpcleary.com/ (copy link directly into your browser)

Multicultural Children’s Literature
http://multiculturalchildrenslit.com/

The Reading Corner
http://thereadingcorner.org/ An annotated list of “good books to read” for readers in grades 2-8

Teachervision.com: Summer Reading Lists
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/ List of book titles and story descriptions, including printable reading activities

International Reading Association
http://www.reading.org/resources/tools/choices.html “Choice” lists of books for children

Carol Hurst’s Children’s Literature
http://www.carolhurst.com/index.html
Click on “All Reviewed Children’s Books” -- children’s books arranged by title, author and grade level

Reading is Fundamental/Reading Planet for Kids
http://www.rif.org/readingplanet/

Scholastic: http://www.scholastic.com/summerreading

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/summerreading Children earn a free book after reading eight!

Reading Rockets: www.readingrockets.org

Public Service TV: www.pbskids.org

Stories-It: www.storyit.com

FCPS The Magic Wall
Students in 5th and 8th grade will “age up” to the MS and HS Wall around July 1st 2013
Elementary Magic Wall: http://fcpses.axis360.baker-taylor.com/
Middle Magic Wall: http://fcpsms.axis360.baker-taylor.com/
High Magic Wall: http://fcpshs.axis360.baker-taylor.com/
Instructions for downloading to The Magic Wall: http://education.fcps.org/librarymedia/

Frederick County Public Libraries:
http://www.fcpl.org/index.php

Carroll County Public Library
https://library.carr.org/

NoveList K-8: login to public library site with with your card # and look up favorite books and find lots of "read alikes" or other similar series. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?authtype=ip,cpid&custid=s9108278&profile=novpk8

2014 Summer Program Options for Elementary and Middle School Students

Following is a list of summer program options for children in the Frederick area. The list certainly is not inclusive, but provides some possible options that address a wide variety of student interests. In providing the list, the Office of Advanced Academics of Frederick County Public Schools is not endorsing or promoting the programs, but is simply offering information as a service to parents and children. The programs, phone numbers and web addresses are accurate as of April, 2014, but subject to change without notice.

• Maryland Summer Centers for Gifted and Talented Students are sponsored by the Maryland State Department of Education and are held in locations throughout the state. Information and online registration are available in February at www.marylandpublicschools.org/summercenters.

• FCPS Earth and Space Science Camps for grades 2-10-For more information and to register, please visit the top right column of: https://education.fcps.org/essl/ .

• Center for Talented Youth (CTY) is sponsored by The Johns Hopkins University. Advanced screening process, including testing, is required. Information for this program is available at 1-410-516-0278 or at www.cty.jhu.edu .

• Frederick Community College offers year round programs for students. Parents may call 301-624-2820 to be added to the mailing list or visit www.frederick.edu/courses_and_programs/children.aspx, Programs for Children.

• Summer Institute for the Gifted offers high quality summer programs for academically advanced students in grades 4-11 at prestigious institutions of higher learning. This two-week program is costly. For more information call 1-866-303-4744 or www.giftedstudy.com .

• Rose Hill Manor offers history camps for students in the summer. Information is available at 301-600-1650 or visit www.rosehillmuseum.com .

• Delaplaine Visual Arts Center offers many classes for students in grades preschool through high school in the arts. Parents may call 301-698-0656 or visit http://www.delaplaine.org/ to request a brochure or to be added to the mailing list.

• YMCA offers summer programs for students. Information is available at 301-663-5131 or
at http://frederickymca.org/ .

• Hood Athletics Summer Camps for boys and girls of various ages in Basketball, Soccer, http://frederickymca.org/ Lacrosse, Volleyball and Field Hockey are available at http://www.hoodathletics.com/athletics-about/camps/summercamp12 .

                                  April 2014                         Office of Advanced Academics

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope all of you Mommies have had a spectacular day today and that your children were good to you!  I had a wonderful day and am very blessed.

We have been very busy in the classroom and I'd like to update you!

We are heavy into our Rocks, Soil, and Fossils science unit!  After we prepared our compost bins, red worms were delivered and we are now "vermicomposters"!!  The kids spent one class period reading non-fiction articles on earthworms and red worms, and then they did some observing and recording of data.

After we observed the worms the kids used the scientific process to answer three questions.  Do worms go to wet or dry?  Do worms go to light or dark?  Do worms go to hot, warm, or cold?  They made predictions, experimented, observed, recorded data, and drew conclusions.  They loved this!

This week we had a visit from some NIH scientists to present "It's a Noisy Planet", a lesson about how noise can impair your hearing...it was REALLY interesting and interactive.  Ask your kid about the sound kids can hear, but most people over 30 cannot.  It was quite disturbing for this "over 30" year old teacher!!  :-)

The very next day we had Kicks Karate visit the third graders at UES...earlier this year we studied goods and services, so we had a local service come in and tell us about their service and teach us some safety moves.  Mr. Lee is awesome and was fantastic with all the kids!!

More science!!  We spent Friday looking at rocks and minerals...the kids had to look at all of the stones on their trays and find a way to categorize them...then we discussed the differences between rocks and minerals and they tried to determine which stones were which...these kids have really matured when it comes to group work...in the beginning of the year, we would spend a good three minutes worrying about who was working with who and being disappointed in who they were grouped with...now they hear their group, move into it, and get busy...I LOVE IT!!

And then also this week, Ms. Willett read a story to the kids!!  In the Media Center, Mrs. Wright has been sharing all of the Black Eyed Susan Award nominees with the kids.  The voting had to be turned in this week, and our class hadn't heard all of the books, so she gave me a couple to read.  The kids LOVE Ms. Willett and hung on her every word. 

Ms. Willett is only with us for one and 1/2 more weeks.  We are going to miss her terribly...but she must graduate and enjoy her summer.  She will be attending Towson State University to study teaching.  :-)  I would like to collect a small donation from you all to buy her a gift from the kids...if you would like to donate ($2-3) for this gift, please send it in an envelope that says "gift" and your child's name...I will pick out something that she can have to remember this class by...she has been a true asset to our classroom!

In Language Arts we have been reading novels and working on writing summaries and using text evidence when answering comprehension questions.  Each group is delving deep into the plots and characters of the stories. 

In Writing the kids are just finishing an opinion piece about the penny and whether or not America should keep it or get rid of it.  I am SOOO impressed in the growth these kids have made in writing.

In Math we have been working with Geometry...shapes, lines, and angles, oh my!

IMPORTANT INFO:

 1.  Our last field trip of the year is set for Monday, June 2nd.  I am allowed unlimited volunteers that day, although you will probably not all fit on the bus, so some may have to drive!  The field trip slips will come home in a week or so, but for those of you that want to accompany us, this gives you time to do two things...1. MAKE SURE you're a "trained" volunteer at UES...if not, you can get trained on line, let me know.  2. Ask for time off work now!  We leave UES around 9:00 and return sometime around 1:30 if I remember correctly.

2.  Zaner Bloser is a great handwriting resource...if you're looking at your child's papers and you notice I'm suggesting some handwriting review, the link is to the right of this post...it's under "Educational Resources" and once you click on the page, you can create a worksheet right there!  It is a great way for the kids to complete their Monday night homework because they can see the correct cursive right next to where they are writing.

And last, thanks so much for making me feel so appreciated last week during Teacher Appreciation week. I am a very blessed individual because I like my job so much...your kids make it all worthwhile.