Campers' Chronicle
Mrs. Donnay's 3rd Grade Classroom Newsletter 9-4-15
An Awesome First Week
We successfully completed the first week of school!! It was a week full of fun games and activities to build community, math placement assessments, reading, writing, map drawing, new textbooks, creating classroom expectations, and more! We are really enjoying our time together! Everyone in our class has such a personality!
This week we started reading Horrible Harry Moves to Third Grade, which the students are really enjoying. We also discussed and read books about our SCPA core character traits. In small groups we created posters for each trait and shared them with the class. Next week, we will have our first Paideia seminar about character traits and friendship using what we reviewed this week and the wonderful story Amos and Boris as our text.
Peek at Next Week
We will begin reviewing mapping symbols and keys, the compass, landforms, world rivers, oceans and continents throughout the next two weeks. Third graders will be making a map of their dream playground using their mapping skills. They will create a key using symbols and draw their map to scale. Students will also review the world's oceans and continents and study some major rivers. (See the songs below to review oceans and continents. There will be a test on Sept. 18.)
We will begin our first reading unit about friendship. The first story we will read is called Rugby and Rosie. We will also learn about nouns, synonyms, antonyms, and cause/effect. The next couple weeks we will continue to review our reading workshop routines and work on building stamina.
Math class will officially begin on Wednesday. Students will be placed into their groups and begin the first lesson. We will focus on how to complete homework assignments using the textbook and paper homework sheets. Please check in on your child's math homework while they are still learning to transfer the problems on to their paper from the book.
STEP Level Information and Reading Log
On Thursday, I sent home each child's STEP level information and parent guide. Please use these ideas at home to help your child pass their next STEP level. If you have any questions please email me.
It is your child's responsibility to read 20 minutes a day for homework. As third graders, students will be graded on this homework. Please sign your child's reading log each night.
Root Beer Float Night
Friday, Sep. 11th, 6pm
4260 Stagecoach Trail North
Stillwater, MN
Parent Group would like to welcome back lower school children and their families on Friday September 11 6-8pm on the school playground.
Donation of gift cards to Cub or Walmart are appreciated to help fund the event. If you would like to donate, please drop these off in the lower school office by Wednesday September 9.
Hope to see you then!
Click on this link to use Reflex Math and practice math facts! Your child has their own login and password. Please email me if you need this information again.
Click on this link to use SpellingCity.com to practice spelling words. Type in "Donnay" in the teacher box and find this week's list.
Please find any forms, calendars, background check forms, spirit wear days, etc on this webpage.