Moskauski Minutes

Curriculum notes: We will be wrapping up area and perimeter tomorrow with an end-of-unit assessment. We will begin learning about fractions next week.   Next week will be our last week of science and the following week we will begin Social Studies with Mr. Otto.  In science we will wrap up our study of the moon and also look at the sun and constellations.  

In reading we will begin a new unit on looking at biographies.  We are going to look at the character's traits, motivation and feelings and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.  We are going to use context clues to help us figure out unknown words.  We will begin new book clubs with biographies.  In writing we will draft our realistic fiction narratives.  

Donation Request: To wrap up our study of the moon, I would like to do a fun and edible (yum, yum!) culminating activity.  We are going to use cookies and icing to show the phases of the moon.  I would greatly appreciate donations to help fund this activity.  Please have donations in by Thursday, March 6th.  I will be sending out a sign up later today.  

We are also in need of donations for our class treasure chest.  Thank you!

Thank yous: A big thank you goes out to Mr. Smith and Ms. Bennett for being our superstar chaperones for the field trip.  The children had a great time!  Check out pictures from the field trip below.  If you click on a picture, you can enlarge it and make a slideshow.  

Upcoming Dates:

• Monday, March 3rd:Third quarter interim reports will go home, Jump Rope for Heart collections due
• Thursday, March 6th: Donations for science cookie lesson due, Douglas Variety Show from 6 to 8
• Friday, March 7th: Snow make-up, now a full day of school
• Monday, March 10th through Friday March 14th: Writer in Residence working with our class each day

Planetarium Trip Photos

Shadow Lesson

Today we worked alongside Ms. Underwood's class on an outside lesson where we observed, traced and measured our shadows at various points of the day.  Here are a few pictures of our class hard at work! 

I had to include this photo!  By the end of the day it was so windy and the students' papers tried to blow away!  Josh's paper flew up high into this tree!! 

New "Read to Achieve" Information

http://www.wcpss.net/parents/guides/read-to-achieve/index.html 

Phases of the Moon Science Collaboration

We were part of models to show the phases of the moon!  We represented the Earth rotating around the sun  (a light bulb) and used Styrofoam balls as the moon.  Ask your child to show you the moon wheel phases we made today.  :)

Moskauski Minutes

Happy 100th day of third grade!  Here are a few notes for the week.  Have a great week!  :)

MClass Results:
We are finally finished with our mclass testing, and I want to let you know that I am so incredibly pleased with our students’ results!  The children have made great growth in their reading!  Hip, hip, hooray!    I am so proud of them, and I thank you for all of your support with their reading at home.  I will be sending home in Monday folders your Home Connect letters and also a brief explanation of the results.  

A Few Curriculum Notes:
The children took an assessment on Friday on area and perimeter.  This test is in the Monday folder for you to sign and review.  There are two more weeks of area and perimeter for this unit.  We reviewed the test in class today, but any reinforcement you can do at home will be greatly appreciated.  

In literacy we began a new vocabulary enrichment study.  Mrs. Hill, one of our amazing reading teachers, will be modeling lessons for me and getting the program underway.  In the program the children will be learning tier two vocabulary words that we would like the children to begin to use in their writing and in their speaking.  Along with the program, you will be receiving a parent information letter each week that tells you about the words for the week and how to use the words.  Our goal is to help the children to become better readers and writers!  :)

Valentine's Celebration:
Last week I sent home a class list of our students.  On Friday we will be doing a Valentine exchange and Ms. Brown will be providing a small treat for the class.  Thank you so much Ms. Brown!  If you are sending in Valentine's--please be sure to include one for each student in our class.  Due to nut allergies, please ensure that any candy is nut-free.  Our lunch on early release days is at 10:25 a.m.  Our Valentine exchange will be at the end of the day.

PBIS Celebration:
Our class is working alongside Mrs. Florence's class to present a song at Friday's PBIS celebration.  Please have your child practice the song at home and memorize it.

Calendar Dates:

Monday, February 10th: 100th Day celebration

Thursday, February 13th: Field trip money is due, Book orders due

Friday, February 14th:  Early Release at 1:15 p.m., Valentine's exchange

Monday, February 17th:  Now a school day (snow make-up day)

Thursday, February 20th:  UNC Morehead Planetarium field trip

Thursday, February 27th, 6-7:30 pm:  Arts Night at Douglas

Thursday, March 6th, 6-8 pm:  Talent Show 

Friday, March 7th:  Early Release at 1:15 pm

Some Pictures From Today:

Mrs. Hill teaching our class about the new vocabulary program.

We had so much fun making our 100th Day of School trail mix.  Thank you families for your generous donations!

We made arrays and talked about the different ways we could make 100!

Snow Updates and More Read to Achieve News...

 Hello there!  I hope you and your families are well and enjoyed the snow!!  Due to our many snow days, there have been some changes to our calendar.

• Kindness Week will be this week.  The children can continue to work on their checklists and have them to be turned in by Friday.  The "Hats On to Kindness" day will be Friday.

• Our new "100th Day of School" is now  Monday, February 10th.  This is the new day we will be celebrating with our special snack.  If you would like to sign up for something, there are still several slots still open.  Please view the Signupgenius at: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A094DA4AD2A1-100day  Please send in your donation by this Friday, February 7th.

• Report cards will be going home in the Monday folder.  Please review and discuss the progress report with your child.  You are to keep the papers inside, and then sign and return the gold envelope.  

•  I am going to send the new Scholastic book order catalogs and coupons in Monday folders.  If you would like to give a book or books as Valentine's gifts, please get your order in by Tuesday.  If book orders are not going to be Valentine's Day gifts--book orders will be due by Thursday, February 13th.

•  The children took the first of the three tests for standard RL3.1 last Monday for Read to Achieve.  We do not yet have a revised school schedule for administering the tests.  I am assuming the children will start back on Monday with the same standard.  Below is an explanation of the standard and also some recommendations you can do at home with your child.

Standard Assessed*	Standard	Parent Recommendations
RL3.1	Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.	When reading fiction or watching a movie or television show, ask your child: ·         What is the story mainly about? ·         What is a problem(s) that the character has to solve?  How do they solve it? ·         Find the answers to questions in the text or support thinking with details from the show.

 
CALENDAR DATES: 

Monday- Friday, January February 3rd through 7th:  Kindness Week 

• Complete "Acts of Kindness" checklist throughout the week!
• Wear a hat on Friday for "Hats ON to Kindness!" Day

Tuesday, February 4th: Valentine's Day book orders due

Friday, February 7th: Names due to be submitted if you are interested in chaperoning field trip, day of drawing for chaperones, donations for 100th day celebration due

Monday, February 10th: New 100th Day celebration

Thursday, February 13th: Field trip money is due, Book orders due

Friday, February 14:  Early Release

Monday, February 17:  Now a school day

Thursday, February 20:  UNC Morehead Planetarium field trip

Thursday, February 27, 6-7:30 pm:  Arts Night at Douglas

Thursday, March 6, 6-8 pm:  Talent Show 

Friday, March 7:  Early Release at 1:15 pm