Our Class is Amazing!

-Thank you for the 100% turn out at the parent-teacher conferences.  I enjoyed meeting the parents of my lovely students.
-The Wilbur Pigs went home!  After hours of goopy, messy, work the children finally finished their pigs.  They spent many patient hours adding layer after layer to their magical creation!
-Every time I ask for help, 2-3 parents minimum graciously step forward.  Thus, once again, I am looking for a parent or a team of parents to coordinate the holiday party.  Tonya Riggs did an amazing job of coordinating our upcoming Halloween party.  Tonya mentioned that she was immediately flooded with offers of food, materials, and help...no surprise!  Thank you.  Thus, it appears that we are not lacking in help so the coordinating of the Holiday party shouldn't be too time consuming.   Parties in room 1 can be VERY SIMPLE.  The children are quite content with a story, free time, and an Oreo.  If you are interested in the coordinating, please contact Tonya.  AGAIN, thank you!
-The field trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium is this Friday.  Please provide your child with a sack lunch, drink, and a sweatshirt.  Chaperones, please be in the classroom by 7:50.  If you volunteered to chaperone, you're on!
-Finally, both second and third spelling tests will be postponed until Monday, October 25th due to the field trip. 
Thank you for your support and for your delightful children!

Wow!

The third grade Landform projects were spectacular! 

Every child turned in his/her Literature Circle project.  Great Job!  Parents please check the spelling, grammar, and quality of your child's Literature Circle activity before he/she brings it back to class.   All  Literature Circle Activities and books are to be returned on Wednesdays.

Homework and Long Term Projects

Second Grade: 
-Check your child's backpack for the new Red Hot Reader Spelling list and sentences.  The test is Friday, October 22nd.

Third Grade: 
-The Landform project is due Tuesday, October 12th.
  
-All of the third graders passed the X2 math facts and about half of the class passed the X3 and X4 facts.  2 minutes was long for such a short test.  As a third grade, we decided to test one more time on the X3 and X4 facts, and we have included the X5 facts.  If your child passed the first time, they will be asked to pass in 1 minute versus 2 minutes.  Thus, attached to the homework are practice sheets to help prepare for the tests.  These sheets are not required but are there to help the study process.  Children master the facts in many different ways...songs, games etc.  Have your child learn the facts any way that works.  The facts pages do not need to be turned in.  The FINAL for the X3, X4, and X5 facts (in 1 minute) is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 5.

Second and Third Grade: 
-The first Literature Circle Projects are due Wednesday, October 13th.  Please have your child bring his/her assignment and book to school on that day.

T

Second Grade Math

Thank you to all of the diligent families that researched "Mode" on last night's homework.  That concept has not been taught yet.  We have postponed "mode", "median", and "range" for later in the year as it is too complex for beginning 2nd graders.  Unfortunately, the book has it right away!  Do not worry if your child did not know what "Mode" is...they shouldn't!  If they do not understand it after it is taught, then we need to worry. 

Donations for Our Pigs!

We are beginning to make our paper mache' Wilbur pigs tomorrow, Wednesday, 9/29.  We are asking our families to please collect and send in newspaper and paper towel and toilet paper rolls.  We will need the rolls by next week and the newspaper asap.

The Class Reward Chart

Our terrific class has already filled in the entire behavior reward chart.  The students voted to have a Pajama Day/Rootbeer Float party.  The party is scheduled for next Friday, October 1st from 12:45-1:15.  Pajamas are OPTIONAL.  It is a P.E. day so please no slippers.  Please keep all blankets and stuffed animals at home. 

This is the first week of parent help and I am so grateful!  Thank you to all of the dedicated parent volunteers both in the classroom and behind the scenes.

Third Grade Final on X 2, 3, 4 Facts

We have been sending home the math facts practice sheets to help your child prepare for the 2, 3, 4 multiplication facts final.  The final is Friday, October 1.  The third graders will need to pass a two minute test on X2 facts, a two minute test on the X3 facts, and a two minute test on the X4 facts.  The practice sheets are based on the Kumon teaching practices and they are intended to help your child memorize his/her facts.  However, if your child finds it easier to memorize his/her facts a different way, I encourage him/her to do that.  We are not sending home flashcards, and unlike 2nd grade, the facts tests are a final every 4 weeks versus two times a week.  If you or your child has any questions, please feel free to email me.

The Houghton Mifflin third grade math program is a standards-based, state adopted program that covers all of the third grade standards.  It is patterned and formatted after the state Star Test, and it is the mandated math program for both Rio del Mar and PVUSD.  If you have any questions or concerns regarding the math program please email me or stop by and I will be happy to explain how it works and how it benefits our children. Your children will be taught and will master all of the third grade math standards this year.  The third grade classes all differ.  Some are teaching Houghton Mifflin alone and some are teaching another program called Excel.  Some classes are teaching both.  Rest assured, the 2/3 combo class is not the only third grade not using Excel.  I am confident that your child will be prepared for the Star test in the Spring and for the fourth grade.

My goals are for the children to feel confident and successful with their math skills.  Above all, I want to foster a love for math with very little confusion and frustration.  Again, please talk email me if you have any questions.  You can also email the PVUSD math curriculum coordinator at Frances_whitney@pvusd.net.  Thank you.