Our First Field Trip!

High Touch High Tech In-Class Field Trip

We have “High Touch High Tech Science Made Fun” coming to our school for our first third grade field trip experience of the year. They will be conducting a lesson for each class individually. Your child’s class will be scheduled on either Monday, September 30^th or Tuesday, October 1^st.  The lesson is called “Smarty Plants” and it supports the plants and soils unit that we are exploring this quarter in Science.

The cost of the experience is $8. Money is due by Friday, September 27^th, and it may be paid in cash, by check, or you may pay online. Checks must be made out to Douglas Elementary School. Online School Payment (OSP) will be available and can be accessed directly through the Douglas Elementary School website. 

The school’s field trip budget is tight this year, and the school would welcome any donations to help cover the cost of students who cannot afford to attend.

We are allowed to have two parent chaperones attend this wonderful in-school field trip per class.  If you would like to participate in this experience with us, please let us know by Friday, September 20^th.  Each classroom teacher will be doing a drawing in front of their class to be the most fair in selecting the chaperones.  We would love to have you join us! 

Thank you,

The Third Grade Team

Here is a little excerpt about the trip from the “High Touch High Tech” website:

“Plants are everywhere around us, but how much do we really know about them?  Prepare to get all the seedy facts as we dig into the fascinating world of botany.  Have FUN as we study the science of soil and find out how delicious dirt can truly be!   Get a hands-on look at real earthworms, dissect a seed, make and take home a pollen catcher.  Build your very own working terrarium to keep!”

Comparison Bars

Here is a link to a tutorial on comparison bars.  Might be of help for tonight's homework.  :)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-hCpRJriBw

Proof Drawings and Subtraction

Here is a video on how to use proof drawings with subtraction.  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7Ab2vzy_xk

Moskauski Minutes

PARENT EMAIL PAPER: Communication between home and school is very important to me.  I like to keep parents up-to-date with class news and information.  I have always sent home “Moskauski Minutes” newsletters.  Due to budget cuts, our copy amounts have been limited and I have been looking for ways to save my allotted copies for instructional purposes (copying tests, reading logs, etc.).  For the past few years, I have sent home my newsletters electronically.  I sent emails out to the parents to serve as regular communication.  This has worked very well, and I would like to continue this again this year.  Please print neatly and fill out the information on the form in this week’s Monday folder with the best email address to contact you with.

HIGHLIGHTS: Please check and sign the little half sheets of paper that are in the Monday folder.  If you sign it (doesn’t matter if it a yes or no), we will be able to earn fun, free gifts for the classroom.  Please check and sign your name.  We do not need all of the information filled out if you are not interested.   Your child will earn two Dragon Dollars for turning in all signed paperwork.

BOG:  The children will be taking the BOG (Beginning of Grade Test) on Wednesday.  Douglas sent home information about the test in last week’s Monday folder.  If you have any questions about the test, please feel free to contact me.  Please make sure your child comes to school on time on Wednesday.

HOMEWORK: Last week we visited The Media Center and the children had the opportunity to check out two books each.  We discussed the importance of reading both fiction and non-fiction books.  Please make sure that your child is alternating between fiction and non-fiction each night for the nightly reading homework.  

OPEN HOUSE: Open House is scheduled next week on Thursday, September 19^th from 6:00 to 7:45.  Save the date!

ORDERING BOOKS FROM SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUBS:

Now it's easier than ever to find the perfect books for your child -- shop Scholastic's online Book Clubs Web site. Choose from a much-wider selection of books than in the printed flyer. Plus, you can send your orders directly to me online and use your credit card to pay. Best of all, we earn extra bonus points for the classroom library every time a parent places an order online. It's so simple! Here's how it works:
SIGN UP at www.scholastic.com/bookclubs. On the parent page, click the "Register" button in the "First Time Here?" section. Register for your own user name and password. When prompted, enter the one-time Class Activation Code H8846. This unique code ensures that your order is sent to me.
SELECT the books you'd like to order -- choose from thousands of titles -- many more than in our monthly flyers.  SEND your order to me online by the due date and your child's books will be delivered directly to my classroom. Ordering online is fast, easy, and secure.  You may also choose to send in your payment directly to me.  Please make any checks out to “Scholastic Book Clubs”.  Book orders for the month of September are due by Tuesday, September 24^th.

CURRICULUM NOTES ABOUT THIS WEEK: Our reading focus for the week will be on non-fiction text.  We will learn how to use text features (headings, subheadings, captions, pictures, diagrams, bold words, etc.) to help us with our reading.  We will continue practicing with asking and answering questions about our reading to demonstrate our understanding of key details in the text.

In math we will be continuing our work with subtraction.  We will also be looking at how subtraction and addition are related and continue our work with word problems.  In science we are continuing our unit on plants and will be learning more about parts of a plant and seed.  In writing we will be learning about the writing process, and beginning a new personal narrative story.  Lots of fun things in store this week!

Moskauski Minutes

Nightly Reading:

The children had a great first week with completing their nightly reading homework assignments.  Thank you parents for continuing to sign your child’s reading log each evening and for the wonderful discussions you are having with your children about their books.  This week the children will begin to check out books from our class library and our school’s Media Center.  I would like to see the children to alternate their nightly reading between fiction and non-fiction books every other day.  Reading a wide variety of books will help them to become better readers by allowing the children to stretch and grow as readers.   

Behavior Folders:

In today’s Monday Folder, you will find your child’s behavior folder.  This folder will serve as a weekly progress report to relay to you your child’s work habits and conduct for the previous week.  It also will list for you any learning objectives your child needs to continue to practice on at home.  Please review the behavior folder with your child, sign it, and then return it the following day. 

Morning Meeting Share Schedule:

To help build classroom community, we begin each day with a class family morning meeting.  During this time, we do small activities and go over news and information.  This is also a special time when the children can have a special sharing time with the class.  During this sharing time, the students can tell a short personal story, share a special treasure from home, tell a joke, sing a song, etc.  We are beginning this week with a rotational schedule of sharing days beginning with A Day on Thursday.

A Days: Sebastian, Kaleb, Abigail, Miller

B Days: Cassie, Imanie, Ishmael, Wit

C Days: Jenna, Josh, Kalil, Yahir

D Days: Manuel, Eriel, Journee, Elena

E Days: Isabella, Ella Wood, Ashlyn

F Days: Caroline, Troy, Diana

Thank Yous:

Thank you to all of you for helping to donate classroom supplies such as tissue boxes, wipes and copy paper.  These items really do add up fast, and with your donations, you have helped me a bunch!  Thank you for your support!

Thank you to those of you who had signed up to volunteer on “Meet the Teacher Night” and help out in our classroom. If you have not yet registered to volunteer this year, please stop by The Media Center to sign up.  I will get in touch with you within the next few weeks to get things set up.  Thanks so much!  We would love to have your help in the classroom.  Your support is very much appreciated.

Curriculum Notes:

Today we began switching classes for math.  Our math program is off to a great start!  The third grade has begun using binders for math.  Binders will go home each evening.  In the binder we have the agenda, homework folder and also class notes.  Class notes can be utilized to help students with completing their homework and also to teach parents about the math we are currently doing.  This week in math we will begin working with subtraction with and without regrouping.  We will also be working on subtraction across zeros.  Here is a helpful video I found that has a neat trick on how to subtract across zeros:

http://yollisclassblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/tutorial-subtracting-across-zero.html 

We will begin our first Science unit on plants and soil this week.  We will be learning this week about parts of a flower and parts of a seed. 

In writing class we will continue to work on establishing our Writer’s Workshop Program.  We will be focusing this week on generating story ideas for our writing.  We will be learning how to focus our stories on small moments, on a seed story—rather than a big watermelon story!

In reading we will continue practicing with “IPICK” books.  We will also learn comprehension strategies to help us with our reading.  We will be using context clues to help us figure out unknown words.  We will use other strategies, such as: reread, read ahead and check for understanding to help us to monitor our reading comprehension.

Classroom Wish List:

During Daily 5 time, the children love getting the opportunity to read wherever they would like to snuggle up with a good book around the classroom.  We are very fortunate to have such a huge room and plenty of reading space.  We would greatly appreciate any donations of pillows (throw pillows, husband pillows, pillow pets, etc.) for the children to use.  Thank you so much!

Reminder:

School Closed on Friday for a teacher workday.

Moskauski Minutes

I am excited about the upcoming school year and can't wait to get started! Douglas has been a happy home to me, and I feel honored to be a part of the third grade team. We have a lot of great things in store for this year! I am greatly looking forward to getting to know you, and working together to make this a very happy and productive school year.   

I would like to emphasize that I am available to you for any questions or concerns that you may have about your child’s grades or conduct in school.  I strongly believe that if children are supported from both their home and school environments, they will be able to reach their maximum learning potential.  Please don’t ever hesitate to send me a letter or call the school to schedule a conference, or if you have any concerns, comments or suggestions. 

            Homework will be assigned daily.  We need to work together to reinforce the importance of the completion of assignments, as we strive towards independence and responsibility for your child.  Your child will be required to maintain a homework planner, in which parents are expected to read and sign each evening.  Along with daily assignments, the agenda will post upcoming tests, projects and reminders for the class.  Encourage your child to complete assignments promptly and accurately.

            Communication is important.  Folders will be sent home every Monday to ensure that you are aware of your child’s progress, important events, and upcoming dates,.  In these folders, expect to find graded assignments and correspondence form the school, the PTA, and community organizations.  Our class newsletter will also be in the folder.  Parents are expected to read and review the newsletter with their child.  It is your child’s responsibility to place the items in the folder and bring home.  Please ask for the folder every Monday.

            In the third grade welcome packet that you received at “Meet the Teacher” night I placed a copy of class expectations and procedures.  Please review this with your child.  Please reinforce the importance of following all class procedures and rules properly.  Encourage your child to give their best every day.

 

Parent/Teacher Communication:

            As one of the means for me to communicate with you your child’s progress, I will be sending home weekly progress reports.  Inside the Monday folder each week I will have your child’s “Behavior Folder”.  The folder will relay to you your child’s work habits and conduct for the previous week.  Please review the behavior folder with your child, sign it, and then return it the next day.  This will begin next week.

Homework:

            The green Douglas folder provided will be your child’s homework folder.  This will go home every evening with homework assignments in it.  As part of our nightly homework, your child is required to read for at least 20 minutes per evening.  In your child’s homework folder there is a reading log.  Your child must log his reading each night, and then a parent signature is required.   

Interested in Being a Room Parent?

            If you have any questions about being a room parent or would like to help with this responsibility, please let me know.  We would love to have you!  

Classroom Important Reminders:

1. In the third grade welcome folder I placed several forms to be filled out.  If you have not returned these yet, please be sure to have these filled out for tomorrow.  Thanks for your help!
2. Students are requested to wear sneakers everyday to school, due to recess and gym.
3.  If you have not yet purchased all of the third grade supplies that are needed, please do so as soon as possible.  Each child is required to have an agenda.  These are sold at school for $3.00.  If you cannot afford this fee, please let me know.
4. If there are any changes in your child’s transportation, changes must be in writing.  For example: if your child is normally a bus rider and you will be picking him up on a particular day, you must write a letter stating so.

               

A Little Bit about Our Curriculum:

                Douglas will be continuing to utilize the “Daily 5” program for literacy.  The program provides more independent time for reading and writing along with helping the student focus on his or her own goals.  This week in literacy we will be setting up our Daily 5 program and practice procedures and expectations.  We will be learning how to select “I PICK Good-Fit Books”.  I PICK stands for:

I choose a book.

P urpose—why do I want to read it?

I nterest—Does it interest me?

C omprehend—Am I understanding what I am reading?

K now—I know most of the words.

In reading we will be learning this week about how to ask ourselves questions before, during and after our reading.  Before reading questions helps us to set the purpose and connect with what we already know.  During reading questions helps us to stay engaged in the text.  After reading questions help you to check your understanding and to draw conclusions. 

In writing we will be launching our Writer’s Workshop program.  The third grade team will not begin Science or Social Studies instruction until next week.  Mr. Otto’s class and our class are paired up together for Science and Social Studies.  I will be teaching both of our classes the Science instruction.  Our first science unit is on plants and soil.  Mr. Otto’s first Social Studies unit will be on History and Colonial America. 

This week in math we will be focusing primarily on multi-digit addition through place value and addition with and without regrouping.  Next week we will begin subtraction, with and without regrouping.  The third grade team does flexible grouping for math.  What this means is that the team of teachers works together to teach all of the children.  We will be administering pre-assessments at the beginning of each new math unit.  We then take your child’s needs for a particular subject and place them with the teacher who will be focusing on that particular skill.  For example, with subtraction this could look like one group needing more support with regrouping, one group needing help with word problems, etc.  Our team of teachers meets at least once per week to discuss the program and the children.  We will be having our first pre-test this week and will begin our flexible grouping next Monday.

6 Simple Ways to Help Your Child Do Better In School…

Show Interest.  Ask your child to teach you something he learned in school today.

Check Homework.  See that his homework is correct.  See that it’s neat.  See that it’s done.

Meet the Teacher.  If you can’t do it in person, do it over the phone.  Stay in touch so problems can be handled as soon as they arise.

Read.  Read out loud to your child.  Have her read to you.  Teach her how to use the library.  The more she reads, the smarter she’ll get.

Encourage.  When you see his progress improve-even a little-pat him on the back.  Tell him you’re proud.

Have High Expectations.  Let your child know you believe she can do it and that you expect her to do the best she’s capable of doing.  Convey these expectations to your child’s teacher.

Phases of the Moon with Oreo Cookies! Yum, Yum!

Can you identify the eight phases of the moon?