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
Sunday, October 30, 2011
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
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