December 10, 2011
Dear Parents,
The excitement and anticipation of the holiday season is palpable down here in the basement. Secret Santas have been picked and our winter concert is just around the corner. All that is missing is some snow.
On Tuesday, 12/13, we head to Thompson House. We leave at 10:30 and return near noon. The children will share a writing of their choosing, play recorder together, and we will share in the making of simple tree centerpieces. Thank you to Ray, Karen, and Christy for driving and joining us. Back at school on this day the children will have their concert dress rehearsal so now there are TWO VERY GOOD REASONS TO PRACTICE RECORDER BEFOREHAND AND TO BRING RECORDERS TO SCHOOL ON TUESDAY. Thanks for the support and encouragement at home.
We have read the beginning chapters of Farmer Boy. The children have also observed, sketched, and compared 1800’s artifacts. This week we will take turns sorting these gadgets in a game of “What’s My Rule?” This will facilitate generalizations about their critical features, thus furthering our understanding of 19th century New England families’ lifestyles and the resources available to them. Relevant to a recent chapter “Filling the Ice House,” the third graders will view a movie that is a compilation of early 1900’s footage of the ice industry in Maine and Massachusetts. In the classroom they will design experiments to insulate a cube of ice.
The children have made covers for their recent stories and all are up for viewing in the classroom. They have each completed recent poems with accompanying watercolor paintings. These too will be mounted on a bulletin board. The thoughtful choice of words and their combinations were key objectives in the revision process for both of these creative writing projects. This week we will work on two paragraph projects, one of which will describe a painting by Winslow Homer. Structured writing activities this week will focus on verbs.
The choice of specific nouns and descriptive verbs also will be applied in a short math project. Inspired by a picture book depicting division as arrays, “One Hundred Hungry Ants,” each child is working on his/her own set of division problems based on numbers and themes he/she chooses. Illustrations of equal groups, labeled tables, arrays, and areas of rectangles have been the multiplication and division models we have spent a fair amount of time during recent math lessons. On Friday each child filled in a 0-120 multiplication/ division matrix. Applying both skip-counting and patterns discovered was the objective of this exercise. The creation and solution of multiplication/division number stories will be ongoing math activities. Reviewing these skills on long car rides over the holiday will facilitate your third grader’s ease with these operations.
This past week problem solving and collaboration were once again highlighted in another straw structure challenge. This time, teams of two were faced with the task of building a five foot tall straw tower that Linda could not blow down (via huffing and puffing or with the hot air of a hairdryer). There was a range of designs and a range of sturdiness, but all teams successfully applied triangles and communication in the process. Continuing to look at the structure of buildings and artifacts will be part of our upcoming focus as we introduce simple machines into our social studies/science studies.
Soon you will receive your child’s progress report. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. I want to also remind you that our next scheduled conference day is Thursday, January 26 (11:00-7:00). Right now it seems like a “long way down the road,” but I know how quickly the time will pass.
I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday evening! The children are asked to be in the classroom at 6:15. Thanks.
Have a great day!
Sincerely,
Linda
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 21, 2011
Dear Parents,
Thank you for the cranberry sauce you sent in for our Harvest Baskets, and thank you for the items sent in thus far for our November Food Shelf Collection. During these two days and the week following Thanksgiving we will continue to collect non-perishable food items and toiletries as this month is our third graders’ turn to provide this much needed local giving.
As we prepare for noting the parts and assembly of simple and compound machines, the third graders completed the first of several upcoming “design & build” challenges. Specifically, they very successfully worked in partnerships to construct “50-Triangle” straw structures. In the process they readily recognized the strength of cross-members and triangular shapes. I was most impressed by both their incredible skills as collaborators and in their problem solving!
Many children are nearing the final stages of their individual personal narratives. We are several chapters into Farmer Boy. Our trips to Tunbridge Fair, Hooper Institute, and the Grafton historical sites have proven to be valuable reference points as we read about the daily experiences of a nine-year old living in northern New York in 1862. This week we will begin to work with a classroom collection of historically relevant artifacts. Using background knowledge gleaned from our unit’s field trips and books read in class, the third graders have also illustrated events for a group timeline.
In math we have progressed from becoming familiar with the concepts of area and perimeter to applying the multiplication operation to compute the area of rectangular regions. A game of “How Long? How Many?” helped to establish this latter idea in addition to engaging some visual-spatial logic. Following vacation a homework assignment will include playing this math game at home. Please keep practicing those addition and subtraction facts!
Each child has made excellent progress in the keyboard skills program as well as in the cursive book.
In PSD we have focused on developing both overall stamina as well as strength of the upper body and legs through varied running games and stations of specific exercises. As Emily and I have explained to the third and fourth graders, these current PSD classes are for gaining better fitness in preparation for the ski season!
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. For those traveling, I wish you a safe journey. I look forward to seeing your children the following week. Please remember there is no school on Monday, 11/28 because of our teacher in-service day.
As always, thank you for your support. Please feel free to contact me with questions or concerns.
Gratefully,
Linda
P.S. PLEASE SAVE INDIAN CORN HUSKS! IN DECEMBER I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CORN HUSK DOLLS WITH THE CHILDREN. MANY THANKS.
Dear Parents,
Thank you for the cranberry sauce you sent in for our Harvest Baskets, and thank you for the items sent in thus far for our November Food Shelf Collection. During these two days and the week following Thanksgiving we will continue to collect non-perishable food items and toiletries as this month is our third graders’ turn to provide this much needed local giving.
As we prepare for noting the parts and assembly of simple and compound machines, the third graders completed the first of several upcoming “design & build” challenges. Specifically, they very successfully worked in partnerships to construct “50-Triangle” straw structures. In the process they readily recognized the strength of cross-members and triangular shapes. I was most impressed by both their incredible skills as collaborators and in their problem solving!
Many children are nearing the final stages of their individual personal narratives. We are several chapters into Farmer Boy. Our trips to Tunbridge Fair, Hooper Institute, and the Grafton historical sites have proven to be valuable reference points as we read about the daily experiences of a nine-year old living in northern New York in 1862. This week we will begin to work with a classroom collection of historically relevant artifacts. Using background knowledge gleaned from our unit’s field trips and books read in class, the third graders have also illustrated events for a group timeline.
In math we have progressed from becoming familiar with the concepts of area and perimeter to applying the multiplication operation to compute the area of rectangular regions. A game of “How Long? How Many?” helped to establish this latter idea in addition to engaging some visual-spatial logic. Following vacation a homework assignment will include playing this math game at home. Please keep practicing those addition and subtraction facts!
Each child has made excellent progress in the keyboard skills program as well as in the cursive book.
In PSD we have focused on developing both overall stamina as well as strength of the upper body and legs through varied running games and stations of specific exercises. As Emily and I have explained to the third and fourth graders, these current PSD classes are for gaining better fitness in preparation for the ski season!
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. For those traveling, I wish you a safe journey. I look forward to seeing your children the following week. Please remember there is no school on Monday, 11/28 because of our teacher in-service day.
As always, thank you for your support. Please feel free to contact me with questions or concerns.
Gratefully,
Linda
P.S. PLEASE SAVE INDIAN CORN HUSKS! IN DECEMBER I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CORN HUSK DOLLS WITH THE CHILDREN. MANY THANKS.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
November 8,2011 home note
November 8, 2011
Dear Parents,
It was a scene to be treasured-as leaves whirled overhead, rolling third graders dotted the long hill behind Hooper Institute, their exuberant voices heard as they returned up the hill only to spin down once again! We enjoyed a fun day of learning at the Hooper Institute on Friday. Working with the tools and gadgets from another time in our region served as a valuable introduction to our history unit. I feel very fortunate to have such rich resources in our local area and to be able to share these experiences with such a dynamite group of children.
On Thursday we head to Grafton for a very full field trip: Nature Museum for slides and background information, next to historical Howeville site (a short drive from museum), and after lunch, a visit and guided tour of the Grafton Historical Society’s building. WE WILL DEPART AT 8:30 AND RETURN BY 2:30. As with our trip to Hooper, please help your child remember to dress for the weather- in layers and in practical outer wear, especially on the feet. We will be in the woods for about an hour. Also, no foods needing microwave please on this day. We will eat at the museum (outside if it is dry and warm enough). MANY THANKS! Our drivers/chaperones for 11/10/11 trip are: Laura, Michelle, and Ray.
On Tuesday we start Farmer Boy. Its setting allows for many opportunities to learn about a wide range of relevant topics (e.g. geography of United States, Industrial Revolution, Civil War, simple machines, immigration, artists and inventors of the 1800’s, etc.). It is a literature unit that will easily extend through January as we explore the rich subthemes of this book’s contents. This week we will begin to look at the landforms of northern New York and other eastern states, as well as start investigating the collection of artifacts available in the classroom and in the woods (e.g. stone structures).
The children have worked to generate focused topics for their next creative writing project, a personal narrative. They have started their first rough drafts this week. The careful selection of details and the use of available resources to revise “tired words” are two of many writing skills that will be emphasized during the early stages of this creative writing. In addition to spelling book activities, we also will review spelling skills introduced earlier (contractions and the doubling rule for adding suffixes).
In math we are measuring the lengths of many classroom objects, using U.S. customary units and metric units. These math activities will soon include applying the concepts of perimeter and area, and multiplication models to determine the latter when working with rectangular shapes. Please keep the facts review a constant because I am seeing positive results in children’s confidence and facility with computations during group lessons. Thank you for your invaluable support here.
Just a reminder that November is our month to collect for the Putney Food Shelf. If possible, please send in non-perishable items with your third grader. I will have a box ready! Finally, a school-wide community service and buddy activity is the gathering of harvest baskets to be delivered to Putney Food Shelf on the 16th of November. Third graders are expected to each bring in one can of cranberry sauce by November 14th. Again, many thanks.
Looking Ahead: Our visit to Thompson House is next Tuesday, 11/15. The children will provide a sharing of music. We are all set for drivers; thank you Ray, Michelle, and Kathleen.
I hope you are all enjoying this spectacular weather!
Best,
Linda
Dear Parents,
It was a scene to be treasured-as leaves whirled overhead, rolling third graders dotted the long hill behind Hooper Institute, their exuberant voices heard as they returned up the hill only to spin down once again! We enjoyed a fun day of learning at the Hooper Institute on Friday. Working with the tools and gadgets from another time in our region served as a valuable introduction to our history unit. I feel very fortunate to have such rich resources in our local area and to be able to share these experiences with such a dynamite group of children.
On Thursday we head to Grafton for a very full field trip: Nature Museum for slides and background information, next to historical Howeville site (a short drive from museum), and after lunch, a visit and guided tour of the Grafton Historical Society’s building. WE WILL DEPART AT 8:30 AND RETURN BY 2:30. As with our trip to Hooper, please help your child remember to dress for the weather- in layers and in practical outer wear, especially on the feet. We will be in the woods for about an hour. Also, no foods needing microwave please on this day. We will eat at the museum (outside if it is dry and warm enough). MANY THANKS! Our drivers/chaperones for 11/10/11 trip are: Laura, Michelle, and Ray.
On Tuesday we start Farmer Boy. Its setting allows for many opportunities to learn about a wide range of relevant topics (e.g. geography of United States, Industrial Revolution, Civil War, simple machines, immigration, artists and inventors of the 1800’s, etc.). It is a literature unit that will easily extend through January as we explore the rich subthemes of this book’s contents. This week we will begin to look at the landforms of northern New York and other eastern states, as well as start investigating the collection of artifacts available in the classroom and in the woods (e.g. stone structures).
The children have worked to generate focused topics for their next creative writing project, a personal narrative. They have started their first rough drafts this week. The careful selection of details and the use of available resources to revise “tired words” are two of many writing skills that will be emphasized during the early stages of this creative writing. In addition to spelling book activities, we also will review spelling skills introduced earlier (contractions and the doubling rule for adding suffixes).
In math we are measuring the lengths of many classroom objects, using U.S. customary units and metric units. These math activities will soon include applying the concepts of perimeter and area, and multiplication models to determine the latter when working with rectangular shapes. Please keep the facts review a constant because I am seeing positive results in children’s confidence and facility with computations during group lessons. Thank you for your invaluable support here.
Just a reminder that November is our month to collect for the Putney Food Shelf. If possible, please send in non-perishable items with your third grader. I will have a box ready! Finally, a school-wide community service and buddy activity is the gathering of harvest baskets to be delivered to Putney Food Shelf on the 16th of November. Third graders are expected to each bring in one can of cranberry sauce by November 14th. Again, many thanks.
Looking Ahead: Our visit to Thompson House is next Tuesday, 11/15. The children will provide a sharing of music. We are all set for drivers; thank you Ray, Michelle, and Kathleen.
I hope you are all enjoying this spectacular weather!
Best,
Linda
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Home Note
October 29, 2011
Dear Parents,
Hello and Happy Halloween! The children have a busy week with Halloween on Monday and French Night on Wednesday. Consequently, I will send one homework only this week and that will be on Tuesday night.
DRIVERS NEEDED: Michelle requests one more driver for our trip to Hooper Institute on Friday. Thank you Collin and Ray for driving on that day. Michelle also needs one more volunteer to drive to Thompson House on Tuesday, November 15. PLEASE CONTACT MICHELLE IF YOU ARE ABLE TO HELP WITH EITHER OF THESE DATES. We are all set for our November 10 trip to Grafton. THANKS EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU MICHELLE FOR ORGANIZING THIS.
Our trip on Friday will help introduce our next theme of study. Hooper Institute in Walpole offers a collection of 150 plus years old logging and farming tools and household gadgets- all of which the children will have the opportunity to use. We will leave school at 8:35 and return by 12:45. It is my hope that we can enjoy a picnic lunch but of course as I write this there is a steady snowfall accumulating outside the window. Regardless, I am hopeful, so please, on Friday, help your third grader dress in layers and pack a “bag lunch”. Many thanks!
Finally, it is our turn to collect non-perishable goods for the Putney Food Shelf during the month of November. I will have a box in our classroom for donated items. Again, thank you.
Have a great day.
Sincerely,
Linda
Dear Parents,
Hello and Happy Halloween! The children have a busy week with Halloween on Monday and French Night on Wednesday. Consequently, I will send one homework only this week and that will be on Tuesday night.
DRIVERS NEEDED: Michelle requests one more driver for our trip to Hooper Institute on Friday. Thank you Collin and Ray for driving on that day. Michelle also needs one more volunteer to drive to Thompson House on Tuesday, November 15. PLEASE CONTACT MICHELLE IF YOU ARE ABLE TO HELP WITH EITHER OF THESE DATES. We are all set for our November 10 trip to Grafton. THANKS EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU MICHELLE FOR ORGANIZING THIS.
Our trip on Friday will help introduce our next theme of study. Hooper Institute in Walpole offers a collection of 150 plus years old logging and farming tools and household gadgets- all of which the children will have the opportunity to use. We will leave school at 8:35 and return by 12:45. It is my hope that we can enjoy a picnic lunch but of course as I write this there is a steady snowfall accumulating outside the window. Regardless, I am hopeful, so please, on Friday, help your third grader dress in layers and pack a “bag lunch”. Many thanks!
Finally, it is our turn to collect non-perishable goods for the Putney Food Shelf during the month of November. I will have a box in our classroom for donated items. Again, thank you.
Have a great day.
Sincerely,
Linda
Monday, October 24, 2011
October 24, 2011 home note
October 24, 2011
Dear Parents,
Thank you for your time on conference day. I appreciate the valuable input and insights that certainly support my role as your child’s third grade teacher. As we look to the second half of this term the children are nearing the final stages of their spider research projects. In the next week their completed posters will begin to appear on the hallway walls outside our classroom.
In math our focus continues on developing the understanding and application of several strategies to solve two- and three-digit subtraction and addition problems. In many cases I see the results of your extra effort to assist your child in mastering the basic facts, particularly those that equal ten and the doubles. It really empowers the children’s facility with calculations and allows them greater ease discerning the relevance of place-value and patterns with computations. All of these skills will carryover to our later work with multiplication, division, and increasingly more complex number stories. Thank you for your support.
We have completed the reading of Charlotte’s Web and will spend some time this week discussing and writing about its basic themes of friendship and life cycles. The barn setting was a key ongoing element in the lives of the characters of Charlotte’s Web. The children will look at barn paintings by local artist, Wolf Kahn, and develop poetry based on their written responses to his pastel landscapes. Also, as a closing project to our first literature unit each child will create a large painting of a farm animal represented by the book’s characters. We will focus on the form and texture of Garth Williams’ illustrations during this art project.
The children will soon begin another creative writing project, a personal narrative. Exercises on verb selection and sentence development will accompany our writing and revising of first drafts.
Before we transition to our next long-term literature unit, we will read a selection from the Great Books series, the Ethiopian folktale, “Fire on the Mountain.” It is a nice connection to our school-wide east African focus. TGS students were able to gain a deeper understanding of the Maasai culture thanks to last Tuesday’s presentation by Paul Weber, Sarah Messenger, and Leyeyo. This Wednesday the students will participate in the first of five weekly activities centered on the Maasai culture.
Looking Ahead:
* Monday, October 31- Given the parties and trick or treating surrounding this school day, we will forego treats as part of our class time celebration, but instead enjoy fun holiday related activities. For example, Emily and I will lead the third and fourth graders in a Halloween themed PSD. If your third grader desires, she/he may bring in part or all of her/his costume to share at LUNCH time.
*Friday, November 4- Our trip to Hooper Institute, Walpole, N.H. We will leave TGS after attendance and return by 12:30. We hope to have a picnic lunch there, weather permitting. This museum offers a hands-on exploration of century or more old gadgets and tools. This trip will serve as an introduction to our unit on 19th century New England farm and family life.
Finally, accompanying your child’s Monday homework will be a list of “core words” (i.e. most commonly misspelled words). It is my hope that this list will support your child’s independence self-checking written parts of homework assignments.
Please feel free to contact me with questions or concerns. Many thanks.
Sincerely,
Linda
Dear Parents,
Thank you for your time on conference day. I appreciate the valuable input and insights that certainly support my role as your child’s third grade teacher. As we look to the second half of this term the children are nearing the final stages of their spider research projects. In the next week their completed posters will begin to appear on the hallway walls outside our classroom.
In math our focus continues on developing the understanding and application of several strategies to solve two- and three-digit subtraction and addition problems. In many cases I see the results of your extra effort to assist your child in mastering the basic facts, particularly those that equal ten and the doubles. It really empowers the children’s facility with calculations and allows them greater ease discerning the relevance of place-value and patterns with computations. All of these skills will carryover to our later work with multiplication, division, and increasingly more complex number stories. Thank you for your support.
We have completed the reading of Charlotte’s Web and will spend some time this week discussing and writing about its basic themes of friendship and life cycles. The barn setting was a key ongoing element in the lives of the characters of Charlotte’s Web. The children will look at barn paintings by local artist, Wolf Kahn, and develop poetry based on their written responses to his pastel landscapes. Also, as a closing project to our first literature unit each child will create a large painting of a farm animal represented by the book’s characters. We will focus on the form and texture of Garth Williams’ illustrations during this art project.
The children will soon begin another creative writing project, a personal narrative. Exercises on verb selection and sentence development will accompany our writing and revising of first drafts.
Before we transition to our next long-term literature unit, we will read a selection from the Great Books series, the Ethiopian folktale, “Fire on the Mountain.” It is a nice connection to our school-wide east African focus. TGS students were able to gain a deeper understanding of the Maasai culture thanks to last Tuesday’s presentation by Paul Weber, Sarah Messenger, and Leyeyo. This Wednesday the students will participate in the first of five weekly activities centered on the Maasai culture.
Looking Ahead:
* Monday, October 31- Given the parties and trick or treating surrounding this school day, we will forego treats as part of our class time celebration, but instead enjoy fun holiday related activities. For example, Emily and I will lead the third and fourth graders in a Halloween themed PSD. If your third grader desires, she/he may bring in part or all of her/his costume to share at LUNCH time.
*Friday, November 4- Our trip to Hooper Institute, Walpole, N.H. We will leave TGS after attendance and return by 12:30. We hope to have a picnic lunch there, weather permitting. This museum offers a hands-on exploration of century or more old gadgets and tools. This trip will serve as an introduction to our unit on 19th century New England farm and family life.
Finally, accompanying your child’s Monday homework will be a list of “core words” (i.e. most commonly misspelled words). It is my hope that this list will support your child’s independence self-checking written parts of homework assignments.
Please feel free to contact me with questions or concerns. Many thanks.
Sincerely,
Linda
Monday, October 10, 2011
October 10, 2011
Dear Parents,
Following the arduous task of weaving their own orb webs without manmade loom and without the instinctive capability, I will be curious about your children’s response to today’s question: “ Do you agree with Dr. Dorian that a simple spider web is a miracle?” It should draw us closer to the subject of structures in both the natural and manmade environments. Each third grader has chosen a particular kind of spider for their research project that begins this week. The final product will be an illustrated poster that includes facts on at least four of the assigned subtopics.
We are nearing the final chapters of Charlotte’s Web. The key themes of friendship and lifecycles will be ongoing discussion topics. As we look to strengthen our own writing, the tools exemplified in E.B. White’s descriptions serve as excellent objectives when students’ current descriptive paragraphs are developed and revised. Specifically, this week revising for word choices (e.g. strong verbs, specific nouns, specific adjectives) and relevant details will be two areas emphasized as the children rework their current drafts. I hope to have them completed for you to enjoy during our parent conferences next Wednesday, 10/19. (Please contact Tammy to sign up for your conference that day. Thank you!)
In spelling we have continued brainstorming various spellings and sample words for long vowel sounds. Proofreading exercises and dictation highlight the common (often misspelled) core sight words. Sometimes your child will have a list of a few of these words to learn as part of his/her homework. This week we will also spend time becoming familiar with the many sounds of the /ou/ vowel team (e.g. trough, mouse, through, etc.)
Our first math unit, a review/assessment one, is complete and we have begun Unit Two, working with extensions of facts (e.g. 7+6 = 13 helps us solve: 700+ 600 and 117 + 6) and number stories. As a group we brainstormed the many possible logical and accurate strategies for solving a simple addition problem. It is clear that the children know and understand at least two strong techniques. It is also clear that a third grader that has a firm knowledge of all problems that equal ten (3+7, 6+4, 2+8, etc.) and of all the doubles (e.g. 4+4, 6+6, etc.) will have a much easier time with our current computational work. There is a range of ability in this latter area and I strongly encourage daily quick reviews of the above mentioned facts to help your third grader feel more confident in both group and individual math activities. Thank you! We will continue with various methods for calculating change and you will see this as part of a homework assignment this week.
TO THE THOMPSON HOUSE ON TUESDAY (tomorrow). We will decorate pumpkins for their dining tables’ centerpieces. Many thanks to Jill, Alyson, and Karen for being our drivers! We will leave by 10:30 and return noonish.
Please feel free to contact me with questions or concerns. I hope to see you on Saturday at the FAIRE!
Sincerely,
Linda
Dear Parents,
Following the arduous task of weaving their own orb webs without manmade loom and without the instinctive capability, I will be curious about your children’s response to today’s question: “ Do you agree with Dr. Dorian that a simple spider web is a miracle?” It should draw us closer to the subject of structures in both the natural and manmade environments. Each third grader has chosen a particular kind of spider for their research project that begins this week. The final product will be an illustrated poster that includes facts on at least four of the assigned subtopics.
We are nearing the final chapters of Charlotte’s Web. The key themes of friendship and lifecycles will be ongoing discussion topics. As we look to strengthen our own writing, the tools exemplified in E.B. White’s descriptions serve as excellent objectives when students’ current descriptive paragraphs are developed and revised. Specifically, this week revising for word choices (e.g. strong verbs, specific nouns, specific adjectives) and relevant details will be two areas emphasized as the children rework their current drafts. I hope to have them completed for you to enjoy during our parent conferences next Wednesday, 10/19. (Please contact Tammy to sign up for your conference that day. Thank you!)
In spelling we have continued brainstorming various spellings and sample words for long vowel sounds. Proofreading exercises and dictation highlight the common (often misspelled) core sight words. Sometimes your child will have a list of a few of these words to learn as part of his/her homework. This week we will also spend time becoming familiar with the many sounds of the /ou/ vowel team (e.g. trough, mouse, through, etc.)
Our first math unit, a review/assessment one, is complete and we have begun Unit Two, working with extensions of facts (e.g. 7+6 = 13 helps us solve: 700+ 600 and 117 + 6) and number stories. As a group we brainstormed the many possible logical and accurate strategies for solving a simple addition problem. It is clear that the children know and understand at least two strong techniques. It is also clear that a third grader that has a firm knowledge of all problems that equal ten (3+7, 6+4, 2+8, etc.) and of all the doubles (e.g. 4+4, 6+6, etc.) will have a much easier time with our current computational work. There is a range of ability in this latter area and I strongly encourage daily quick reviews of the above mentioned facts to help your third grader feel more confident in both group and individual math activities. Thank you! We will continue with various methods for calculating change and you will see this as part of a homework assignment this week.
TO THE THOMPSON HOUSE ON TUESDAY (tomorrow). We will decorate pumpkins for their dining tables’ centerpieces. Many thanks to Jill, Alyson, and Karen for being our drivers! We will leave by 10:30 and return noonish.
Please feel free to contact me with questions or concerns. I hope to see you on Saturday at the FAIRE!
Sincerely,
Linda
Saturday, October 1, 2011
October 1, 2011 Home Note
October 1, 2011
Dear Parents,
Weaving! Weaving! The children worked on backstrap looms and a floor loom while listening to and comparing folktales that are from many different cultures (e.g. Native Americans , West Indies, China) but share weaving as an important theme. As predicted, Carol was very impressed by their focus and skills throughout her three mornings with us. It was a Wednesday afternoon’s parting marked by genuine hugs and sadness.
The children have all completed final drafts of paragraphs describing a place of personal importance. From cozy quilt caves to swirling swimming holes, each piece represents a strong start using key specific details to depict special places. They are on display in our classroom. This week we also spent time studying photos from East Africa, particularly ones that show the landscape of the savanna. Inspired by these, poetry was created and some even shared at all school meeting. Next week the children will continue applying “showing details” and paragraph organization as they choose from provided topic sentences for another short creative writing project.
Friday morning we had our second tech class. The children were given a poem, “Elephant Beans” to revise using basic word processing commands. The results, twelve unique versions, are posted on the basement hallway opposite our classroom.
PSD classes with the fourth grade have included a variety of soccer drills emphasizing ball control skills and effective use of the field in both defensive and offensive positions. We had lively 6 v. 6 scrimmages on Friday. Please help your child remember to wear/bring PSD shoes to school, particularly on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. Many thanks!
UPCOMING DATES FOR THE THIRD GRADE:
Tuesday, October 11th: Second visit to Thompson House (We leave TGS at 10:30 and return by noonish)
Friday, November 4th: Hooper Institute Museum This will be part of an introduction to our New England family/farm history unit. (We leave TGS at 8:30 and return after lunch.)
Thursday, November 10th: Grafton Museum program that includes time at the museum, an exploration of a 1800’s settlement,”Howeville”, and a guided tour of Grafton Historical Society (We leave TGS at 8:30 and return by 2:00)
Tuesday, November 15th: Our third visit to Thompson House (same schedule as above, 10/11)
I hope you all are enjoying the weekend. The following is from recent Wednesday notices regarding this year’s Parent Information Night on Tuesday, October 4th. I look forward to sharing with you a sampling of third grade math lessons.
On Tuesday, October 4 at 6:30 pm, teachers of kindergarten through 5th grade will focus on mathematics in their classrooms. We hope you will come join us for an informational evening that will provide a hands-on opportunity to experience a math lesson in your child's class, as well as an overview of mathematic topics at your child's grade level. Classroom time will be followed by an opportunity to listen to short presentations by the teachers of Art, French, Music, and Library.
As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Linda
Dear Parents,
Weaving! Weaving! The children worked on backstrap looms and a floor loom while listening to and comparing folktales that are from many different cultures (e.g. Native Americans , West Indies, China) but share weaving as an important theme. As predicted, Carol was very impressed by their focus and skills throughout her three mornings with us. It was a Wednesday afternoon’s parting marked by genuine hugs and sadness.
The children have all completed final drafts of paragraphs describing a place of personal importance. From cozy quilt caves to swirling swimming holes, each piece represents a strong start using key specific details to depict special places. They are on display in our classroom. This week we also spent time studying photos from East Africa, particularly ones that show the landscape of the savanna. Inspired by these, poetry was created and some even shared at all school meeting. Next week the children will continue applying “showing details” and paragraph organization as they choose from provided topic sentences for another short creative writing project.
Friday morning we had our second tech class. The children were given a poem, “Elephant Beans” to revise using basic word processing commands. The results, twelve unique versions, are posted on the basement hallway opposite our classroom.
PSD classes with the fourth grade have included a variety of soccer drills emphasizing ball control skills and effective use of the field in both defensive and offensive positions. We had lively 6 v. 6 scrimmages on Friday. Please help your child remember to wear/bring PSD shoes to school, particularly on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. Many thanks!
UPCOMING DATES FOR THE THIRD GRADE:
Tuesday, October 11th: Second visit to Thompson House (We leave TGS at 10:30 and return by noonish)
Friday, November 4th: Hooper Institute Museum This will be part of an introduction to our New England family/farm history unit. (We leave TGS at 8:30 and return after lunch.)
Thursday, November 10th: Grafton Museum program that includes time at the museum, an exploration of a 1800’s settlement,”Howeville”, and a guided tour of Grafton Historical Society (We leave TGS at 8:30 and return by 2:00)
Tuesday, November 15th: Our third visit to Thompson House (same schedule as above, 10/11)
I hope you all are enjoying the weekend. The following is from recent Wednesday notices regarding this year’s Parent Information Night on Tuesday, October 4th. I look forward to sharing with you a sampling of third grade math lessons.
On Tuesday, October 4 at 6:30 pm, teachers of kindergarten through 5th grade will focus on mathematics in their classrooms. We hope you will come join us for an informational evening that will provide a hands-on opportunity to experience a math lesson in your child's class, as well as an overview of mathematic topics at your child's grade level. Classroom time will be followed by an opportunity to listen to short presentations by the teachers of Art, French, Music, and Library.
As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Linda
Thursday, September 22, 2011
September 22, 2011 Home Note
September 22, 2011
Dear Parents,
I know the school year has officially established itself when I complete the first rearrangement of desk groups. We have been busy in the basement. We have been on two “Spider Safaris” this week. Different habitats on TGS grounds offered astute third graders much success in locating a variety of webs, egg sacs, spiders… It is always fun to watch their enthusiasm and wonder. They have been sketching and recording observations, as well as using classroom resources to locate facts on specific unit-related topics.
We have read several chapters of Charlotte’s Web, and have had lively discussions about the characters and E.B. White’s style (e.g. he loves lists!). The relevance of this book’s themes of friendship and appreciation for the natural world to our third grade activities is a strong one.
Each child has begun work on a short descriptive written piece. I also have begun a series of individual writing conferences, a time I cherish. I learn much about each student when exploring with them their approach to the writing process and listening to their thoughts and ideas expressed on paper.
We are working on the initial lessons in our spelling books. Various spellings of the long /i/ sound, lists of ou/ow words, proofreading sentences, beginning work on “surprise words” (e.g. what, they, said) are some of the key skills these early lessons target.
In math our focus has been on place value and number patterns. In addition to the review of bar graphs and introductory probability activities, daily lessons have helped establish the general routine of the third grade math program. It is very important that each child work to master the basic addition and subtraction facts, and to that end I need your support. Third graders generally like to move fast and become easily frustrated when they need to stop and count on their fingers to solve, for example, 3 plus 8 when calculating 13 plus 8 -there is just too much to keep track of! More importantly, their confidence soars when they have basic computations mastered! You will see this skill as part of the homework next week, but I think that like learning to play the recorder, five to ten minutes five days a week generally quickly yields great results. Thank you.
The children are working hard as individuals and as members of a larger group. I have enjoyed watching their kindness to eachother in- and outside the classroom. Next week, for three mornings, we will work with Carol Schnabel, a weaver, teacher, and visiting artist. This is part of our spider unit and a folk literature theme. I keep thinking during these recent days how much Carol will enjoy working with this group of outgoing, cheerful third graders. I know I am.
Please feel free to contact me with questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Linda
Dear Parents,
I know the school year has officially established itself when I complete the first rearrangement of desk groups. We have been busy in the basement. We have been on two “Spider Safaris” this week. Different habitats on TGS grounds offered astute third graders much success in locating a variety of webs, egg sacs, spiders… It is always fun to watch their enthusiasm and wonder. They have been sketching and recording observations, as well as using classroom resources to locate facts on specific unit-related topics.
We have read several chapters of Charlotte’s Web, and have had lively discussions about the characters and E.B. White’s style (e.g. he loves lists!). The relevance of this book’s themes of friendship and appreciation for the natural world to our third grade activities is a strong one.
Each child has begun work on a short descriptive written piece. I also have begun a series of individual writing conferences, a time I cherish. I learn much about each student when exploring with them their approach to the writing process and listening to their thoughts and ideas expressed on paper.
We are working on the initial lessons in our spelling books. Various spellings of the long /i/ sound, lists of ou/ow words, proofreading sentences, beginning work on “surprise words” (e.g. what, they, said) are some of the key skills these early lessons target.
In math our focus has been on place value and number patterns. In addition to the review of bar graphs and introductory probability activities, daily lessons have helped establish the general routine of the third grade math program. It is very important that each child work to master the basic addition and subtraction facts, and to that end I need your support. Third graders generally like to move fast and become easily frustrated when they need to stop and count on their fingers to solve, for example, 3 plus 8 when calculating 13 plus 8 -there is just too much to keep track of! More importantly, their confidence soars when they have basic computations mastered! You will see this skill as part of the homework next week, but I think that like learning to play the recorder, five to ten minutes five days a week generally quickly yields great results. Thank you.
The children are working hard as individuals and as members of a larger group. I have enjoyed watching their kindness to eachother in- and outside the classroom. Next week, for three mornings, we will work with Carol Schnabel, a weaver, teacher, and visiting artist. This is part of our spider unit and a folk literature theme. I keep thinking during these recent days how much Carol will enjoy working with this group of outgoing, cheerful third graders. I know I am.
Please feel free to contact me with questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Linda
Thursday, September 15, 2011
TO THE FAIR WE WENT!
September 15, 2011
Rain did not dampen our spirit as we toured the exhibits and demonstrations on Tunbridge Fair’s Antique Hill. We coursed through a large display of authentic tools and 1800’s farm equipment. We learned about the key role of the blacksmith in the 1800’s farm community. We marveled at the work and machinery of preparing barn beams and water pipes. A Civil War Reenactment kept our interest despite the raindrops (although the blanks were soggy and we needed to repeat our “READY-SET FIRE!” command twice before one actually fired.) From the adorable piglets to the 3,000 pound ox, the livestock barns were a hit! All in all, it was a full day of learning and enjoying spending a day with eachother and with hundreds of other Vermont schoolchildren. I look forward to their journal entries tomorrow morning.
Rain did not dampen our spirit as we toured the exhibits and demonstrations on Tunbridge Fair’s Antique Hill. We coursed through a large display of authentic tools and 1800’s farm equipment. We learned about the key role of the blacksmith in the 1800’s farm community. We marveled at the work and machinery of preparing barn beams and water pipes. A Civil War Reenactment kept our interest despite the raindrops (although the blanks were soggy and we needed to repeat our “READY-SET FIRE!” command twice before one actually fired.) From the adorable piglets to the 3,000 pound ox, the livestock barns were a hit! All in all, it was a full day of learning and enjoying spending a day with eachother and with hundreds of other Vermont schoolchildren. I look forward to their journal entries tomorrow morning.
Monday, September 12, 2011
TO THE FAIR WE GO!
TO THE FAIR WE GO!
9/15, Thursday, VIA SCHOOL BUS (driven by 5th grade teacher, Charlie Boswell)
The third and fifth graders head to the TUNBRIDGE WORLD FAIR on its education/agriculture day.
This will require a 7:30 a.m. departure from TGS. Charlie will be at school at 7:15 a.m. for students arriving and the bus will be moving down the driveway at 7:30 a.m.! For those who would find it more convenient, Linda will be at the “Park and Ride” on Westminster Heights Rd./Kurn Hattin Rd. in Westminster at 7:30 where the bus will pick us up at 7:40. We plan to return by regular dismissal time. The children will need to bring “bag lunches/snacks” and beverages. Books, drawing materials, and travel games to occupy ourselves and to share with others are highly recommended as this is a 1 1/2 hour drive. Please no electronics on this trip, and no need for money. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD IS DRESSED FOR THE WEATHER. WE WILL BE OUTSIDE OR IN BARNS MOST OF THE TIME. Thank you.
9:00-11:00: When we arrive we will head to “Antique Hill” to view their Living History Exhibits. Some of those we hope to see include: rope making machines, blacksmith shop, cider making, a whole range of farming and logging tools and equipment, a Civil War Re-enactment and the log cabin museum activities such as rug-making, candle dipping, quilting. Tunbridge Fair is vast, but our focus will mainly be on the “Antique Hill” area as it offers unique experiences connecting us to the culture of New England farm families in the 19th century and to the science of simple machines.
11:00: Animal Barns
LUNCH
1:00 Bus departs for TGS
I am especially excited about this second annual TGS 3rd/5th grades field trip. It is wonderful to join other Vermont schoolchildren to learn first-hand about the tools and skills and general culture of Vermont/New Hampshire farm families 150 years ago. Admission is free, and we are very lucky that Charlie will drive the bus. I encourage you to check the web site (www.tunbridgefair.com/agday) to get a glimpse of what your child will experience.
Thank you. Please feel free to contact me with questions. During the trip, if it is necessary you may reach us via Tammy at the office.
Sincerely,
Linda
9/15, Thursday, VIA SCHOOL BUS (driven by 5th grade teacher, Charlie Boswell)
The third and fifth graders head to the TUNBRIDGE WORLD FAIR on its education/agriculture day.
This will require a 7:30 a.m. departure from TGS. Charlie will be at school at 7:15 a.m. for students arriving and the bus will be moving down the driveway at 7:30 a.m.! For those who would find it more convenient, Linda will be at the “Park and Ride” on Westminster Heights Rd./Kurn Hattin Rd. in Westminster at 7:30 where the bus will pick us up at 7:40. We plan to return by regular dismissal time. The children will need to bring “bag lunches/snacks” and beverages. Books, drawing materials, and travel games to occupy ourselves and to share with others are highly recommended as this is a 1 1/2 hour drive. Please no electronics on this trip, and no need for money. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD IS DRESSED FOR THE WEATHER. WE WILL BE OUTSIDE OR IN BARNS MOST OF THE TIME. Thank you.
9:00-11:00: When we arrive we will head to “Antique Hill” to view their Living History Exhibits. Some of those we hope to see include: rope making machines, blacksmith shop, cider making, a whole range of farming and logging tools and equipment, a Civil War Re-enactment and the log cabin museum activities such as rug-making, candle dipping, quilting. Tunbridge Fair is vast, but our focus will mainly be on the “Antique Hill” area as it offers unique experiences connecting us to the culture of New England farm families in the 19th century and to the science of simple machines.
11:00: Animal Barns
LUNCH
1:00 Bus departs for TGS
I am especially excited about this second annual TGS 3rd/5th grades field trip. It is wonderful to join other Vermont schoolchildren to learn first-hand about the tools and skills and general culture of Vermont/New Hampshire farm families 150 years ago. Admission is free, and we are very lucky that Charlie will drive the bus. I encourage you to check the web site (www.tunbridgefair.com/agday) to get a glimpse of what your child will experience.
Thank you. Please feel free to contact me with questions. During the trip, if it is necessary you may reach us via Tammy at the office.
Sincerely,
Linda
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
2011-'12 school year themes and trips so far
What the year looks like:
Major Themes:
Autumn to Early Winter: Natural World: Habitats in meadows and woods & aquatic environments, and an in-depth study of spiders,
New England History: 19th century farms and families, begin simple machines
Winter: Simple machines continued-explorations extended to more design and build activities
Biographies
Farm and families of 19th cent. continues
School-wide December Theme (Maasai culture)
Spring: Vernal Pools
Ancient Egypt(with fourth grade)
Community Service: monthly trips to Brattleboro Senior Home, The Thompson House; fundraising/service project related to our cultural studies, to be determined ; food collection for local food pantry
Trips/Special Visitors:
v September 13, Tuesday, first of monthly visits to Thompson House in Brattleboro-SEE BELOW
v September 15, Thursday, second annual third/fifth trip to Tunbridge Fair-BY BUS, CHARLIE DRIVING
v September 26,27, 28 ( three half- days in our classroom): visiting artist/weaver Carol Schnabel (TBD)
v November 5, Friday, Hooper Institute-hands-on historical museum
v October –hike to Green Mountain Orchard for tour of cider mill-(farms and simple machines)
v Putney Cemetery (history unit)
v Grafton Nature Museum- visiting historical sites (Howeville site, museum presentation, Grafton Historical Society tour), TBD
v May: Vernal pools and pond life, trip to Hooper Institute’s wetlands and Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center
v April or early May: trip to MFA in Boston, via school bus, to support our Ancient Egypt unit –date TBD
v Wednesday evening, June13 : Annual Third Grade Camp-Out
THE THOMPSON HOUSE VISITS: (All take place on Tuesday mornings departing from TGS at 10:30 and returning at 12: 00ish):
9/13, 10/11, 11/15, and 12/13
Major Themes:
Autumn to Early Winter: Natural World: Habitats in meadows and woods & aquatic environments, and an in-depth study of spiders,
New England History: 19th century farms and families, begin simple machines
Winter: Simple machines continued-explorations extended to more design and build activities
Biographies
Farm and families of 19th cent. continues
School-wide December Theme (Maasai culture)
Spring: Vernal Pools
Ancient Egypt(with fourth grade)
Community Service: monthly trips to Brattleboro Senior Home, The Thompson House; fundraising/service project related to our cultural studies, to be determined ; food collection for local food pantry
Trips/Special Visitors:
v September 13, Tuesday, first of monthly visits to Thompson House in Brattleboro-SEE BELOW
v September 15, Thursday, second annual third/fifth trip to Tunbridge Fair-BY BUS, CHARLIE DRIVING
v September 26,27, 28 ( three half- days in our classroom): visiting artist/weaver Carol Schnabel (TBD)
v November 5, Friday, Hooper Institute-hands-on historical museum
v October –hike to Green Mountain Orchard for tour of cider mill-(farms and simple machines)
v Putney Cemetery (history unit)
v Grafton Nature Museum- visiting historical sites (Howeville site, museum presentation, Grafton Historical Society tour), TBD
v May: Vernal pools and pond life, trip to Hooper Institute’s wetlands and Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center
v April or early May: trip to MFA in Boston, via school bus, to support our Ancient Egypt unit –date TBD
v Wednesday evening, June13 : Annual Third Grade Camp-Out
THE THOMPSON HOUSE VISITS: (All take place on Tuesday mornings departing from TGS at 10:30 and returning at 12: 00ish):
9/13, 10/11, 11/15, and 12/13
Summer Letter
HERE COMES
Here comes summer,
Here comes summer,
Chirping robin, budding rose.
Here comes summer,
Here comes summer,
Gentle showers, summer clothes.
Here comes summer,
Here comes summer-
Whoosh-shiver-there it goes.
Shel Silverstein , A Light in the Attic
August 10, 2011
Dear Parents,
Welcome to third grade! We start the school year reading E. B. White’s Charlotte’s Web. The theme of its first chapter is replete with new beginnings. I love new beginnings, and that is why I still do not sleep well before the first day of school- I am too excited!
I look forward to our first parent/teacher conferences on September 1. Please make sure you contact the school office to schedule one. As you can imagine, I am the one doing the most learning during the first days of school. Observing your children as they navigate through their initial days as third graders teaches me a great deal about each child’s approach to various social and learning situations. Spending time with you prior to school is also an invaluable tool for my developing knowledge of your child. Consequently, I hope to mostly play the role of “listener” during our meetings. To this end I encourage you to consider these questions prior to our meeting:
** What are your hopes for your child’s third grade year?
** What were the most valuable experiences your child had in second grade?
** What goals do you feel are critical ones for your child’s third grade year?
**How does your child learn best?
During our meeting I will provide printed information regarding major units of study and trips scheduled to date, and a revised draft of the third grade curriculum guide.
Finally, in the card to your child that accompanies this letter I have made several requests. Please feel free to email or call me with any questions or concerns. I look forward to our meeting. In the meantime, enjoy your summer…whoosh…
Best wishes,
Here comes summer,
Here comes summer,
Chirping robin, budding rose.
Here comes summer,
Here comes summer,
Gentle showers, summer clothes.
Here comes summer,
Here comes summer-
Whoosh-shiver-there it goes.
Shel Silverstein , A Light in the Attic
August 10, 2011
Dear Parents,
Welcome to third grade! We start the school year reading E. B. White’s Charlotte’s Web. The theme of its first chapter is replete with new beginnings. I love new beginnings, and that is why I still do not sleep well before the first day of school- I am too excited!
I look forward to our first parent/teacher conferences on September 1. Please make sure you contact the school office to schedule one. As you can imagine, I am the one doing the most learning during the first days of school. Observing your children as they navigate through their initial days as third graders teaches me a great deal about each child’s approach to various social and learning situations. Spending time with you prior to school is also an invaluable tool for my developing knowledge of your child. Consequently, I hope to mostly play the role of “listener” during our meetings. To this end I encourage you to consider these questions prior to our meeting:
** What are your hopes for your child’s third grade year?
** What were the most valuable experiences your child had in second grade?
** What goals do you feel are critical ones for your child’s third grade year?
**How does your child learn best?
During our meeting I will provide printed information regarding major units of study and trips scheduled to date, and a revised draft of the third grade curriculum guide.
Finally, in the card to your child that accompanies this letter I have made several requests. Please feel free to email or call me with any questions or concerns. I look forward to our meeting. In the meantime, enjoy your summer…whoosh…
Best wishes,
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