Moskauski Minutes

New Reading Homework: In addition to the nightly reading log and math homework sheet, the third grade teachers are now adding reading comprehension homework.  This week we will begin having nightly comprehension homework based on the skills we are working on in class.  There is a homework sheet in this week's homework folder that must be filled out each evening.  Please continue to alternate fiction and non-fiction each night.

Community Service: Community Service for first quarter is due in two weeks!  The children are expected to complete at least thirty minutes of service by the end of each quarter.  For each activity, they are required to write the date, time, location and task they completed.  Your child may also include photographs.  They are then to write (at least a paragraph) on the following:
1.  Describe in detail what volunteer task they did
2.  Their reactions and feelings about their good deed

Curriculum Notes: In math next week, we will be starting a new unit on multiplication and division.  At this point in the year, we do not expect the children to start memorizing their facts.  We want the children to understand the idea and concept of what multiplication and division means.  We will start memorizing facts later on in the year. 
In reading we will continue to look at character traits.  We will compare personal point of view to a character's point of view.  We will be focusing on learning about the lesson or moral in a story.  We will be looking at fables, folktales and myths.  In word work, we will be looking at known root words to help determine the meaning of unknown words.  In writing, we will finish revising, editing and publishing our narratives (we didn't get to a lot of writing this past week because of the Cog-At testing).  

Welcome Fadia:  A big warm welcome goes out to our new friend Fadia!  I am so proud of the children for being so welcoming, helpful and encouraging to our new addition to our class family!  :)

New Share Schedule: We are going to begin this week with a new rotational share schedule.  We will begin having only one student share each morning meeting.  The new schedule will be as follows:
Tuesday, October 15th: Sebastian
Wednesday, October 16th: Kaleb
Thursday, October 17th: Abigail
Friday, October 18th: Miller
Monday, October 21st: Cassie
Tuesday, October 22nd: Fadia
Wednesday, October 23rd: Ishmael
Thursday, October 24th: Wit
Friday, October 25th: Jenna
Tuesday, October 29th: Josh
Wednesday, October 30th: Kalil
Thursday, October 31st: Yahir
Monday, November 4th: Manuel
Tuesday, November 5th: Eriel
Wednesday, November 6th: Journee
Thursday, November 7th: Elena
Friday, November 8th: Isabella
Tuesday, November 12th: Ella Wood
Wednesday, November 13th: Ashlyn
Thursday, November 14th: Caroline
Friday, November 15th: Troy
Monday, November 18th: Diana

Upcoming Dates:

• Wednesday, October 16th: Scholastic book orders are due
• Friday, October 18th:  Early Release at 1:15
•  Thursday, October 24th:  Community Helpers Presentation, 2:15- 3:45
• Friday, October 25th: Last day of quarter, community service for first quarter due, if interested in chaperoning trip let me know by this day
• Monday, October 28th:  Teacher Workday, No School
• Wednesday, October 30th: Field Trip money due
• Friday, November 1th: "The True Life Adventures of Gooney Bird Greene" play at Wake Forest High School
• Friday, November 8th:  Early Release at 1:15

Moskauski Minutes

Cog-At Testing: Monday through Wednesday of this week the children will be taking the Cog-At testing.  This is the first round of testing to determine eligibility for the Academically Gifted (AG) program.  There is no way for the children to study or prepare for these tests.  Please make sure your child gets a good night's rest, eats a healthy breakfast and arrives to school on time each day.  These are timed tests.  All other tests we have taken so far this year have not been timed, so this will be the children's first exposure to a timed test.  The children are encouraged to pace themselves and to not get stuck on a problem that they do not know but to skip it and move on to the next problem.  If there is still time left, they can go back to the problems they skipped over. 

Curriculum Notes: Because of Cog-At testing this week, the third grade teachers decided to continue with our literacy objectives from last week into this week.  Our literacy block will be cut short due to testing.  We will spend time this week continuing to look at character traits and feelings.  We will look at character's point of view and making inferences (drawing conclusions) about our reading.  If time allows, we will be publishing our narratives.  Friday we will be meeting with Ms. Caldwell's class for our first book buddies session.  In math this week we will be studying another unit of geometry. We will be learning about angles, triangles and polygons.  The children will begin Social Studies with Mr. Otto this week.  

Scholastic Book Orders: I am sending home October book order catalogs in this week's Monday folders.  The orders will be due by Wednesday, October 16th to ensure arrival before Halloween (in case anyone wanted to give gifts for Halloween).  Be sure to check out the Scholastic website for more titles.  You can also search the site for books for younger and older children, too!  Remember to use our class activation code when placing any online orders.

Field Trip: In this week's Monday folder you will find information and a permission slip about our upcoming field trip on November 1st to The Wake Forest High School Matinee Program.  At the field trip, the children will be seeing a live performance of the play "The True Life Adventures of Gooney Bird Greene".  The third grade will be reading the novel  and then getting to see it acted out live on stage!  Payment is due by Wednesday, October 30th.  If you are interested in chaperoning, please let me know by Friday, October 25th. 

Class Celebration:  We earned 50 class Dragon Dollars and the children decided on their first class celebration.  This Wednesday to celebrate, the children chose extra recess time, getting to wear pajamas to school and to bring a small stuffed animal for their desk.  Please make sure pajamas are appropriate for school and follow our school dress code policy.  We are almost to the end of the quarter school-wide goal of 75 Dragon Dollars.  Way to go students!!

Upcoming Dates:

• Monday, October 7th- Wednesday, October 9th:  Cog-AT Tests
• Wednesday, October 9th: Class Dragon Dollar celebration
• Friday, October 18th:  Early Release at 1:15
•  Thursday, October 24th:  Community Helpers Presentation, 2:15- 3:45
• Friday, October 25th: Last day of quarter, community service for first quarter due, if interested in chaperoning trip let me know by this day
• Monday, October 28th:  Teacher Workday, No School
• Wednesday, October 30th: Field Trip money due
• Friday, November 1th: "The True Life Adventures of Gooney Bird Greene" play at Wake Forest High School
• Friday, November 8th:  Early Release at 1:15

Drama Collaboration Video

Today we did a drama collaboration with Rockin' Rouse.  The children learned about the Constitution through a Reader's Theater lesson.  In this video the children are reciting the Preamble. 

Great job students!

Pictures From Our In-School Field Trip

The children had a wonderful time!  A big thank you goes out to Ashlyn's mom, Mrs. Smith for chaperoning our trip.  We enjoyed you sharing this experience with us!  :)  :)  :)

Picture Day is tomorrow.  Please have your child dress his or her best because this picture will be the one in the yearbook.  If you are purchasing pictures, money and orders must be turned in by tomorrow morning.

If you signed up for a conference, I sent home with your child a confirmation letter with your scheduled time.  I look forward to talking with you!  We have had a great start to our year!  :)

Moskauski Minutes

Progress Reports:

In this week’s Monday folder, you will be receiving your child’s progress report.  The report will serve as a brief update on how your child has been doing over the first few weeks of school.  Please understand that I am still getting to know your child and we have just begun to have assessments.  If your child has a 2 or 3 in any particular subject on their interim, it does not mean that this is what will be given on the report card.  We still have several weeks until the end of the quarter, and plenty of opportunities to improve or maintain grades.  Please review and discuss the progress report with your child and help your child to set goals for the rest of the quarter.  Please sign and return the report for tomorrow.

Parent-Teacher Conferences:

Parent-teacher conference time is here!   I am sending home a conference sign-up sheet that lists some available times for conferences.  Please fill out this form and return it to school as soon as possible.  I will send you a confirmation note back to let you know your conference date and time.  If the times listed are not convenient for you, please let me know by indicating an alternate date and time, and I will do my best to accommodate you.  If you would prefer a phone conference, please list the best time of day to reach you, some possible dates and the number to call.

            Conference times will be selected on a first come, first serve basis.  Please return this form in a timely manner.  I will confirm your scheduled time immediately.

            It has been a pleasure working with you and your child.  I look forward to talking with you soon!

New Reading Log: We are starting a new reading log today.  We reviewed this in class.  Please make sure that your child is practicing with a reading skill each evening.  If you have any questions about the new log, please let me know!

Cog-At Testing:

Next week, from October 7th through 9th, the children will be taking Cog-At Testing.  These are the first round of tests to determine eligibility for the Academically Gifted (AG) Program.  There is no way for the children to study or prepare for these tests.  Please make sure your child gets a good night's rest, eats a healthy breakfast and arrives to school on time each day.  These are timed tests.  All other tests we have taken so far this year have not been timed, so this will be the children's first exposure to a timed test.  The children are encouraged to pace themselves and to not get stuck on a problem that they do not know but to skip it and move on to the next problem.  If there is still time left, they can go back to the problems they skipped over.  

We Have a Second Room Parent: A big thank you goes out to Miller’s mom, Betsy Brown who volunteered to join Ms. Bennett in sharing the room parent responsibility.  Thank you Ms. Brown and Ms. Bennett!  Looking forward to working with you!

Picture Day: Picture Day is this Wednesday.   Payment must be turned in by the time pictures are taken.  Have your child dress their best.  This picture will be the one used in the school yearbook. 

Community Service Volunteer Opportunity: Are you looking for a fun and educational way for your child to fulfill this quarter’s community service requirement?  I wanted to pass along information about a really cool spot I visited this past weekend with my family.  We went to “Winterpast Farm”, a petting zoo located in Wake Forest.  They have a variety of animals there the children can pet, feed and learn about.  There is a variety of animals from llamas, peacocks, pigs, donkeys, roosters, chickens, sheep, goats and more!  My daughter Jordanna’s favorite part of the visit was petting the baby chicks and feeding and holding guinea pigs and bunnies.  The farm is family owned and Farmer Mary said she would love to have our students volunteer.  For more information, check out her website at: http://redtiedesigns.com/new/

Curriculum Notes: In reading, we will be focusing this week on fiction.  We will be learning how to recognize literary elements (plot, character, setting, problem/solution and theme).  Our focus this week will be analyzing character traits, motivation and feelings.  In Science we will be finishing our unit on soil this week.  We will begin Social Studies with Mr. Otto next week.  In writing we will be finishing drafting our personal narratives this week.  We will continue through the writing process and learn how to revise and edit our work.  In math, we our continuing our unit on geometry.    We will continue working this week on identifying and drawing different quadrilaterals.  Make sure your child is studying the notes and handouts provided by your child's math teacher.  

Have a wonderful week!  :)  :)  :)

Dance and Science Collaboration

Today the third grade worked with Ms. Ridings and Ms. Taylor to review the parts of a plant life cycle and pollination.  Below you will find pictures from the collaboration.  Can you identify the life cycle stages?

Moskauski Minutes

Notes about Curriculum: In Math this week we will spend Monday as a review day on rounding.  We will have a rounding assessment on Tuesday.  On Wednesday we will begin studying geometry.  This week we will learn about parallel and perpendicular lines and line segments and also be learning about parallelograms, squares, rectangles and rhombuses.  There are a lot of new vocabulary terms this week.  Please help your child to study and review the notes in his or her binder to help with learning the vocabulary. 

In Science we will learn about pollination this week.  In writing we will be continuing drafting our personal narratives this week.  The children will begin volunteering in the Pre-K class this week.

In reading we will be continuing to look at non-fiction text features, strategies to help us figure out difficult words we come across during our reading and begin doing some word work.  This week we will begin "Read to Someone" during Daily 5.   Ask your child to practice our "EEKK" strategy and "check for understanding" while you read a book together.

Interested in Being a Room Parent? Ms. Bennett, Abigail's mom, has generously offered to be our room parent this year.  Thank you Ms. Bennett!  We are so lucky to have her!  Ms. Bennett and I have begun planning some things for the children and she is excited to begin volunteering and working with the class.  Douglas typically has two room parents per classroom.  If you would like to share the responsibility with Ms. Bennett, please email me.  Any questions?  Let me know.

Wish List Items:  If you are interested in donating items to our classroom, please check out  the list below.  Thank you for your support!

• Our class store opened for business on Friday, and the children enjoyed cashing in their Dragon Dollars.  The treasure chest was a big hit and many children bought items from it.  We can always use donations for the treasure chest, as this is always a popular way of spending Dragon Dollars.  
• Books for the classroom library 
• Stickers 
• Sharpies markers 

Upcoming Dates:

• Scholastic Book orders are due by this Tuesday, September 24^th. 
• If you are interested in presenting at the “Third Grade Community Helpers” presentation, please notify me by Thursday, September 26^th 
• Field Trip money is due Friday, September 27th. 
• First Early Release is Friday, September 27^th at 1:15 p.m.