Mrs. Houston's Third Grade News
November 13, 2015
Gratitude
In the classroom, we are discussing how we should be thankful for everything! We made an "Alphabox of Gratitude" listing things from A-Z that we are grateful for in our lives. Next week we will continue with the idea that Gratitude should be felt for the simple things in life... like band aids!
Empathy
We had a great conversation about showing empathy in various situations and talked about the different ways to display empathy. One of the biggest topics of conversation was how to be empathetic towards our PARENTS! The class came up with ways to show their Moms and Dads empathy in different scenarios.
Friendsgiving
On Wednesday November 18th we will be celebrating Friendsgiving with Ms. Ramsey's third grade class. Students will share their favorite dish (appetizer, main, or dessert) with their third grade friends. They will dine together in the cafeteria and celebrate being FRIENDS!
Here is the link to sign up for the dish your child will be bringing! http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a44aca62aa46-3rdgrade1
Here is the link to be a volunteer or donate items to our celebration:
THE BOOK FAIR IS HERE!
We’re excited about our upcoming Book Fair (Nov. 16 – 20, 2015)!
We are previewing the book fair on Tuesday during period 1 and students will be able to purchase books on Wednesday during period 6.
There will be a wish list for our classroom so that parents and students can buy books for their classroom library!
Parent Volunteers have transformed the Media Center into our very own book store with a Monster Theme. There will be hundreds of books from new and favorite authors, popular series, cool posters school supplies, and fun for everyone! Don’t miss the chance to light up a young reader’s face with a good book.
Parents can sign up to help cashier during bookfair or cleanup after: http://vols.pt/1hQbXm
Are you traveling for the winter holiday season?
Talent Show Auditions!
TALENT SHOW AUDITIONS!
Mrs. Peacock & Mrs. Millar will be starting auditions for the Winter Talent Show THIS Monday November 9th! Auditions will be held before school in Mrs. Peacock’s room. Audition sign up sheets are outside Mrs. Peacock and Mrs. Millar’s classrooms.
Auditions will be from Monday November 9th – Thursday November 19th. By Friday November 20th, there will be a FINAL talent show list of student performers for the FSAPS Winter Talent Show on Wednesday December 16th, 2015!
The Elementary talent show will be held in the morning, and a separate talent show for the middle school will be held in the afternoon.
Projects Due In a Month!
1. Researching an Unfamiliar State
This is going to be an exciting opportunity for your child to learn about a state they don't know much about! The students are aware of the expectations for this project. It is a pretty lengthy project (4 big parts). The rubric and expectations have been sent home in their take-home folder. They are also posted to FSA connect. These projects are due December 4, 2015. Please help your child pace themselves throughout the project. If they wait until the last minute, they will have a hard time completely it to my expectation.
2. Science Fair Project
FSAPS is having a school-wide science fair. Your son or daughter will begin researching and identifying topics they may want to investigate. The science project’s objective is to give every child a hands-on experience using the scientific method. Third grade is the first year each student will have the opportunity to research a topic of his/her own interest. The overall project is due December 8, 2015. However I have set up "check points" throughout the project to be sure your child is on the right track, and pacing themselves in an appropriate manner. A Science Fair Parent Handbook is being sent home today. Please read through this to prepare for what's to come. All information is also posted to FSA connect at the top of our Science class.
3. Accelerated Reader and Reflection logs:
Please be sure they are keeping up with reading at home! I will be sure they are completing logs throughout the month in class :) November AR Logs will be due December 4th!
Canned Food Drive
WE NEED CANS!
Our student council organized canned food drive that will continue until Wednesday, November 18th. Our homeroom has only donated 45 cans and we are in need of more!
Students should bring these cans to me so I can count them for 3rd grade. If you drop them off at the front office, please make sure you let them know which homeroom they should go to so we can count them in our total number of cans collected.
Let's go 3rd grade!!
Curriculum Corner
Reading and Language Arts
UNIT TEST NEXT WEEK!!!!
Science: We will continue to discuss the Science Fair in class. Students are to turn in their materials and hypothesis WEDNESDAY November 18th.
Social Studies: We will continue studying for our test on Tuesday, November 17. Next Thursday we will learn about the First Thanksgiving.
Important Dates
Tuesday, November 17
- Social Studies Chapter 2: Our Environment Test
Wednesday, November 18
- Hypothesis, Materials, and Procedure for project due
- 3rd Grade "Friendsgiving"
Thursday, November 19 - FSA Thanksgiving
THANKSGIVING BREAK - November 21 - November 29 - SCHOOLS CLOSED
Friday, December 4
- Research an Unfamiliar State project due
- November AR Logs/Reflections due
Monday, December 7
- Science Fair Oral presentation and Project report due
Tuesday,December 8
- Science Fair Tri-fold project due for School-wide Science Fair
Thanksgiving at FSA
All families are invited to the annual Thanksgiving Dinner to be held on Thursday November 19th. Join us to celebrate Thanksgiving together by bringing a dish to share or if you are too busy to cook, send in a donation. Dinner starts at 6:00.
· Enjoy a great pot luck dinner
· Laugh with your friends
· Find unique gifts and handmade creations at our Monster Bazaar
· Browse books at our Scholastic book fair
· Find even more books at the Read-it-Again book fair in the media center
Thanksgiving Dinner Decorations, Setup and Teardown, Musical Performance help http://vols.pt/pQCJ6W
Thanksgiving Dinner Bring a Dish http://vols.pt/pu5vqh
RSVP to let us know if you planning to attend: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1QqmrnlHDEh73ty4ALNFhhnuzG5A553LG5SJqUHw-UhI/viewform?usp=send_form
Symbaloo
Below are some Symbaloo links for your child!
Ms. Ramsey and Mrs. Houston's 3rd grade Resources
http://edu.symbaloo.com/shared/AAAAAwQrGCQAA41_WBN4jg==
Reading/Spelling
http://edu.symbaloo.com/mix/reading-spellingsymbaloo
Elementary Science Resources
http://edu.symbaloo.com/mix/elementaryscience2
Elementary Math
http://edu.symbaloo.com/mix/elementarymath1
Grades 3-5 Resources
http://edu.symbaloo.com/mix/3-5-sites
Another Teacher's symbaloo that is excellent!!
Flash Drives
If you have not already purchased a flash drive for your child, please do so asap! The class has been going to the library in both Spanish and Homeroom to type up various writing assignments. Since the students do not have email accounts, they need to save them to a flash drive so they can be printed.
Check us out during the day!
If you want a sneak peak into our classroom, make sure you sign up to receive notifications for whenever I post pictures on our Homeroom App!
Home Visits
At FSAPS we do home visits. It is a wonderful opportunity for teachers and families to get to know one another. I enjoy home visits because it helps bridge the gap between home and school for your child. These are not mandatory, but if you are interested in having some of your child's teachers visit your home please continue to read...
How can you schedule a home visit?
Very simple. Please send an e-mail to our home visit coordinator, Mrs. Unal atjunal@fultonscienceacademy.org and give us three available dates for your child's home visit program. We will get back to you and confirm a date. Depending on our teacher’s availability, at least two teachers will be together to visit our students and parents at their homes.
For any questions you have about this program, send an e-mail tojunal@fultonscienceacademy.org. The best times to schedule a home visit are weekdays after 5:00 pm, and anytime during the weekends except Sunday mornings.
Tutoring
Redbird
Mrs. Caitlin Houston
Email: chouston@fultonscienceacademy.org
Website: www.fultonscienceacademy.com
Location: Alpharetta, GA, United States