Final Blog of 2013-2014

Hello everyone!  This is the LAST parent letter from me for your child’s third grade year.  The year has flown by but it was a fun and exciting one!  I had a great year with this class and it is going to be hard to say “good-bye” Tuesday.  Thank you for all of your help and support throughout the school year.  You have helped make my job easier through support of your child’s education.  Thank you!

We had a wonderful time at Wabasha and Kellogg when we visited the National Eagle Center and Lark Toys.  The class LOVED both places and they were very interested in learning about the eagles.  I wanted to give a special thanks to Melissa Tlusty, Karen Klimesh, Mike Bergan, and John Lloyd for helping out that day.  The trip would not have been as successful if it weren't for all of the parents that helped out that day.  Thanks Melissa, Karen, Mike, and John!

On Tuesday, your child will be bringing home his/her report card.  Inside the report card, will be the overall class report card, the specials report card, and the Title I report card (if this applies to your child).  It will also includes the results of three assessments: Iowa Assessments, MISIC (MAPS), and DIBELS.  Let me know if you have any questions.  Thanks!  

If your child has his/her social studies book, classroom books, Keystone books, library books, or any other books that need to return to school, please send them back AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.  Thanks for helping!

Lastly, school will be dismissing on Tuesday, June 3rd, at 12:25 PM.  Please plan accordingly for that day.  Report cards will be sent home the last day of school.  Thanks!

Thanks for everything, and have a fantastic summer!

Mrs. McCarville

Only a Few Weeks to Go

Hello everyone!  We are slowly dwindling our days away for the school year.  It should be a fairly normal week with little interruptions, and will be our last normal week for the 2013-2014 school year.  Wow!

Today I am sending your child's Unit 7 assessment in math.  Please look over the test with your child and discuss the test with him/her.  Look over the questions that were missed and ask your child to solve the missed questions.  Please sign the sheet attached to the test to indicate that you have looked over the test and discussed the missed problems.  Finally, please have your child return the sheet to me.  THIS IS HOMEWORK!  Some of the students are receiving a review packet.  Your child IS EXPECTED to complete the packet at home with help from you.  Your child does NOT need to return the packet, but your child DOES need to complete it.  If you would like for your child to turn it into me, I would be more than willing to check it over and let your child know how he/she did.  If you have any questions when the tests go home today, please contact me.  Thank you!

Your child will participate in "Camp Read 'Smore" on Friday, May 23rd.  You have been invited to come into the classroom and read with your child on Friday afternoon at 2:30 PM.  Some of you have returned the form indicating that you will be coming in to read with your child on Friday afternoon.  If you still plan on coming on Friday, please let me know and we will plan on seeing you on Friday!  Thanks!

Book Clubs will be ending next week.  Our last day for Book Clubs will be Thursday, May 29th.  Your child will continue to have Book Club assignments throughout next week and hopefully will finish his/her Book Club book by Thursday, May 29th.  However, if any groups finish his/her books earlier than next week, those students will not receive new books for Book Clubs and will NOT have any new assignments.  I appreciate your help with Book Clubs throughout the last quarter, such as listening to your child read, helping your child monitor his/her comprehension, or making sure the assignments have been completed.  Your child's success with Book Clubs is an indication of help from you at home.  Thank you!

Our May field trip is just next week.  We are planning our last field trip on Friday, May 30th.  We are planning on traveling to the National Eagle Center and Lark Toys.  The National Eagle Center is located in Wabasha, Minnesota and Lark Toys is located in Kellogg, Minnesota.  We plan on leaving early that morning (around 7:45 AM) and returning around 3:15 PM.  THERE WILL BE FORMS REGARDING THE FIELD TRIP THAT WILL BE SENT HOME AND THAT WILL NEED TO BE FILLED OUT AND RETURNED LATER THIS WEEK!  LOOK FOR THOSE FORMS LATER THIS WEEK!!!!!  Thanks!

For those students that read all of the calendars for the Pizza Hut Book It program, they will be rewarded on Friday!  Woot, woot!  In years past, we have had a classroom pizza party.  Due to the changes to our food program, we are unable to have a pizza party.  However, we will celebrate with a "Dinner and a Movie."   Your child will eat lunch in the classroom with me as we watch a short movie during that time.  I will supply a dessert for our dinner date.   Thanks!

Have a wonderful week!
Mrs. McCarville

Finishing Up Strong

Hello all!  It appears that spring is trying to work its way into our week!  I have been impressed at how the students don't appear to have too much "spring fever," but that may change this week!  Part of me feels the same way....I am looking forward to the warmer weather too!

Book Clubs have been fairly constant for the past two months.  Our last day for Book Clubs will be Thursday, May 29th.  Your child will continue to have assignments today and the next two weeks.  Your child will finish his/her Book Club book by Thursday, May 29th.  I appreciate your help with Book Clubs, such as listening to your child read, helping your child monitor his/her comprehension, or making sure the assignments have been completed.  Your child's success with Book Clubs is an indication of help from you at home.  Thank you!

Our May field trip is just around the corner.  We are planning our last field trip on Friday, May 30th.  We are planning on traveling to the National Eagle Center and Lark Toys.  The National Eagle Center is located in Wabasha, Minnesota and Lark Toys is located in Kellogg, Minnesota.  We plan on leaving early that morning (around 7:45 AM) and returning around 3:15 PM.  I will contact you, or inform your child, if you will be needed as a chaperone for the field trip.  I will send more information about the field trip next week, so ask your child about it.  THERE WILL BE FORMS THAT WILL NEED TO BE FILLED OUT AND RETURNED!  Thanks!

For those students that read all of the calendars for the Pizza Hut Book It program, they will be rewarded next week!  Woot, woot!  In years past, we have had a classroom pizza party.  Due to the changes to our food program, we are unable to have a pizza party.  However, we will celebrate with a "Dinner and a Movie."   Your child will eat lunch in the classroom with me as we watch a short movie during that time.  I will supply a dessert that would follow the guidelines of our food program.  I will choose a day next week where we will have "Dinner and Movie" and let you know when it will be.  Thanks!


Have a fabulous week!  Thanks!

Mrs. McCarville

Welcome, May!

Arbor Day was a great success!  Fortunately, they were able to adjust the schedule at the Nature Center so we had a great experience.  We had a gorgeous day and learned a lot.  We also received trees so hopefully your child will get an opportunity to plant his/her tree.  Happy Planting!

Your child is bringing his/her last "Math Fact Study Log" sheet this Monday.  We have several students that have passed all of the multiplication facts.  I would like to congratulate Landen for being the first in the class to pass and receive the gumball machine.  Woot, woot, Landen!  Even if your child has passed all the multiplication facts, I am asking your child to practice the facts at least 3 times this week.  When your child practices the facts, please initial the days practiced on the log sheet.  Your child should know what fact families he/she should be working on.  The order we will test on the fact families are as follows: 0, 1, 2, 10, 5, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9.  THIS IS HOMEWORK AND IT IS EXPECTED TO BE DONE. Please contact me with any questions.  Thanks!

Last week, we celebrated "Poem in a Pocket Day."  "Poem in a Pocket Day" took place on Thursday, April 24th.  "Poem in a Pocket Day" is where you select a poem you love during National Poetry Month then carry it with you to share with co-workers (yes, even adults do this!), family, and friends.  Your child selected a poem that he/she shared with our class on their own blog page.  Please go onto our class blog page and read the poem your child (and others) shared.  For more information about this day, please click the link below.
      Poem in Your Pocket Day Information

Have a great week!  Please contact me with any questions/concerns.

Mrs. McCarville

Busy Week Ahead of Us

Hopefully everyone enjoyed their Spring Break!  Now we have 6 weeks to fit A LOT in before the end of the year!  We also have quite a busy week ahead of us!  We have MISIC, or MAPS, testing and we also have a field trip to the Nature Center for Arbor Day.  Busy, busy!

Beginning tomorrow, and finishing on Wednesday and Friday, we are planning on taking the spring MISIC, or MAPS tests.  Please see that your child is getting a good night’s rest and having breakfast at home OR at school, so he/she is ready for the tests this week.  Also, like the Iowa Testing, please assure your child that these tests are important and it is important that he/she tries his/her best on the tests.  Your child is also aware of his/her score from the MAPS tests in the fall and has set goals of where he/she would like to score in the spring.  I will send home a copy of your child's goal sheet on TODAY so you can discuss the importance of the tests with your child.  On his/her goal sheet, you will notice the average score for the spring, so you are aware of the "average score" for 3rd graders.  You will also see your child's fall score and the goal that your child set for each test.   Please contact me with any questions about the goals.  Thanks!

This week, all third graders will be taking a field trip for Arbor Day.  On Thursday, April 24th, we will be traveling to the Nature Center in Vernon Springs where the students will be going through several “stations” and will learn many things about nature and wildlife.  Students will not need to bring their own lunch that day, as the school will be supplying the sack lunches.  The field trip will be from 10AM to 2PM, so we are asking that your child dress in layers as it will be cooler in the morning.  Please see that your child wears pants, tennis shoes, and a coat/sweatshirt.  The Nature Center has asked that the students not wear shorts or capris because we may be outside in taller grasses.  If you have any questions, please ask.  Thank you!

Your child will continue to bring home a "Math Fact Study Log" sheet this Monday.  Again, I am asking your child to practice his/her multiplication facts at least 3 times per week.  When your child practices the facts, please initial the days practiced on the log sheet.  Your child should know what fact families he/she should be working on.  The order we will test on the fact families are as follows: 0, 1, 2, 10, 5, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9.  Your child will bring home a "Math Fact Study Log" sheet every MONDAY and will need to return the previous log sheet the following MONDAY. THIS IS HOMEWORK AND IT IS EXPECTED TO BE DONE.  Please continue to have your child practice these facts and sign the sheet until further notice. Please contact me with any questions.  Thanks!

Lastly, there will be a 3-hour early out on Wednesday, April 23rd, due to teacher inservice.  Students will be dismissed at 12:25 PM, so please plan accordingly.  

Have a great week!
Mrs. McCarville

Shortened Week

Well it is official!  We are halfway through the month of April and yes, it did snow last night.  Winter will not give up.  Please see that your child is still dressing for those colder days as many have not been wearing coats to school!   BRRR!  I have told the class to "dress in layers" as the mornings are much cooler than the afternoons.

Your child has been taking home a "Math Fact Study Log" sheet every Monday.  I have typically been sending the sheet every Monday.  However, I will NOT send the facts this week.  While your child should be practicing, I am not sending the sheet due to our "Spring Break" weekend.  I will send the sheet again NEXT MONDAY.  Please contact me with any questions.  Thanks!

Book Clubs are in full force.  Hopefully your child showed you the information sheets or explained how Book Clubs are organized.  Please remember to check that your child is completing his or her Book Club assignments.  BOOK CLUB READING IS TO TAKE PLACE AT HOME.  YOUR CHILD IS TO READ THE AMOUNT OF READING THE GROUP DECIDED ON AT HOME.  Whatever your child is assigned on Friday, will be discussed on Monday.  Whatever your child is assigned on Monday, will be discussed on Friday.  Your child should have plenty of time to complete his or her reading for the next time the Book Club meets.  THIS IS HOMEWORK TO BE COMPLETED AT HOME.  One change for Book Clubs this week is that the reading assigned for tonight, needs to be completed by THURSDAY, APRIL 17TH (due to the 3 day weekend).  Thursday's assignment will need to be completed by MONDAY, APRIL 21ST.  Please contact me with any questions.  Thanks!

We have only finished the Iowa Tests a couple of weeks ago, and it is time to start talking about the MAPS, or MISIC tests.  Later next week we are planning on taking the spring MAPS tests.  We are taking the first test next Tuesday, one on Wednesday, and the last one on Friday. Please see that your child is getting a good night’s rest and having breakfast at home OR at school, so he/she is ready for the tests next week.  Also, like the Iowa Testing, please assure your child that these tests are important and it is important that he/she tries his/her best on the tests.  Your child is also aware of his/her score from the MAPS tests in the fall and has set goals of where he/she would like to score in the spring.  I will send home a copy of your child's goal sheet on NEXT MONDAY so you can discuss the importance of the tests with your child.  On his/her goal sheet, you will notice the average score for the spring, so you are aware of the "average score" for 3rd graders.  Please contact me with any questions. 

Later this week, I will be sending your child's Unit 6 assessment in math.  Please look over the test with your child and discuss the test with him/her.  Look over the questions that were missed and ask your child to solve the missed questions.  Please sign the sheet attached to the test to indicate that you have looked over the test and discussed the missed problems.  Finally, please have your child return the sheet to me.  THIS IS HOMEWORK!  Some of the students are receiving a review packet.  Your child IS EXPECTED to complete the packet at home with help from you.  Your child does NOT need to return the packet, but your child DOES need to complete it.  If you would like for your child to turn it into me, I would be more than willing to check it over and let your child know how he/she did.  If you have any questions when the tests go home today, please contact me.  Thank you!

Lastly, there is no school on Friday, April 18th, due to "Spring Break."  Enjoy!

Mrs. McCarville

Chatty Day

Unfortunately, we had a rather chatty afternoon today.  We ended our science early and will finish it during our recess tomorrow.  What a bummer!  It is apparent that suckers need to be taken away a bit earlier and more parent contact sheets need to be filled out.  As an idea, ask your child how he/she is behaving in class.  Is he/she talking to friends and not listening?  Is he/she showing Cadet Pride?  Ask your child and see what he/she says.  Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for 3C!