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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Attention....Math Tests

Parents,

I wanted to let you know of a change with sending your child's math tests home.  I originally planned to send the tests this week.  However, not all of the tests have been graded, so I will be sending all of the tests home on Monday.  You will need to look over the test with your child, discuss problems that were missed, and then sign and return the test to me on Tuesday.  Thanks for your flexibility!

Mrs. McCarville

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Global Cardboard Challenge

Hello all!  How is the Global Cardboard Challenge?  Is it overtaking your home?  I hope that your child is enjoying his/her project.  I had several students take cardboard with them today, so hopefully your child is getting enough materials to use.  If your child needs any more cardboard, please let me know and we will see what we can find.  Remember that our "day of play" takes place on Thursday, October 4th at 2:30.  Mark your calendars!  Thanks!

If you haven't seen the "Caine's Arcade" video, the reason the Global Cardboard Challenge was inspired by, please click below and meet a very creative little boy.

Caine's Arcade

Monday, September 24, 2012

Parent Letter


Dear Parents,

Hello to all!  It definitely feels like Fall this weekend!  Wow!  It was chilly!

We are adding a new component to “The Daily Five.”  It is called “Word Works/Study." Word Study is your child’s spelling “program” for the year, and it is also a component of “The Daily Five.”  There will be some changes to the word works/study program this year.  Every week your child will work on a word study skill in school but will NOT take a spelling test on Friday.  He/she will create a list of words from the skill that we are learning, practice the words during the week, but will NOT take a test over the words.  The emphasis on your child's word list, will be choosing words that your child feels will be useful in his/her writing.  This week we will be practicing the routine of word works by using words related to fall.  Again, your child will practice these words during the week with NO testing on Fridays.  If you have any questions on word study, please let me know.  
  
This week, we will be finishing up our first assessment in math.  We are finishing Unit 1 in math as we have reviewed various math skills from second grade.  I will send home the graded math test later this week.  Also, any time that we have a math test that is sent home, I am asking that you look over the test with your child, and sign and return the test to me the following day.  Also, because we are finishing Unit 1 in math, you will be getting a letter home regarding Unit 2 in math on adding and subtracting whole numbers.  Please take time to read the note so you can help your child with this unit at home.  This test will be sent home tomorrow.  Thanks!


Hopefully your child has taken the opportunity to go onto his/her blog page at home.  If you have yet to go to your child's blog page, please do so!  if you would like to read his/her post,  you can check out their blogs at: http://kidblog.org/MrsMcCarvillesClass/  You can also click on the “Student Blog Page” on my classroom blog page.  When you go to your child’s blog page, simply click on the post you would like to read and have fun!  Students would love to read your comments!  You do not have to “log on” to make a comment.  I would prefer you do NOT have your child log on and post your comment through them.   You can simply type your comment in the “comment area” and put in your name to keep it simple for now.  If you have your 3C child log in and you make a post, it is posted as being made by them, the student, and I would rather it be from you, the parent.

  
Please continue to remind your child about reading nightly.  I remind the class that reading should be considered homework and that they should be reading every night.  Your child may have books from home that he/she would like to read or have a book checked out from our classroom library.  Please encourage reading at home and “checking their understanding” for what your child is reading.  Your support is appreciated! 

Please check your child's folder tonight as there will be a parent letter about the "Global Cardboard Challenge."  The class is VERY excited about their homework assignment and cannot wait to get started.  Check and make sure that you have some cardboard to help your child complete this assignment or you can come tomorrow after school to pick some cardboard up.  Please contact me if you have any questions.  Thanks!

Also, starting NEXT week (and continuing the following week), your child will be taking the MISIC tests.  These tests are on the computer and are similar to the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS), and that is why it is very important that your child takes his/her time on these tests and does his/her best.  Please see that next week and the following week your child receives a good night’s rest.  It is important that the students are well rested and prepared for testing.  Thanks!

Lastly, there will be a three-hour early dismissal on Wednesday, September 26th, due to a teacher in service.  Please make arrangements for that afternoon.  Thanks!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.  I am available anytime.  Thanks for everything, and have a fantastic week!  

Mrs. McCarville


Monday, September 17, 2012

Parent Letter


Dear Parents,

Hello to all!  I hope that you enjoyed the beautiful weekend!  I saw a few of the students this weekend at the Harvest Fest Parade.  Hopefully, I was able to toss all of them some candy.  J

Happy Homecoming Week!  As a reminder, the dress days for Homecoming are as follows: 

Monday: Favorite Sports Team Day  
Tuesday: Crazy Sock Day
Wednesday: Roll Out of Bed Day
Thursday: Students Dress Like Teachers/Teachers Dress Like Students   
Friday: Blue & Black!!  Cadet Pride Day!! 

It is OPTIONAL to dress up for those Homecoming days.  Have fun with the dressing up!  

We are still focusing on “The Daily Five” curriculum for literacy.  The students have been consistently reading for 20 minutes for “read to self.”  Like I said last week, we are going to continue working on our stamina until we can read for 25-30 minutes consistently.  As for “Work on Writing,” our stamina is currently at 15 minutes, and like “Read to Self,” we would like to build our stamina to 25-30 minutes.  The class does well with working on writing and they are especially enjoying being able to share their writing with the rest of the class.  We also added the "Read with Someone" component last week and have built up our stamina to about 10 minutes.  This week, we are going to learn 2 more ways to read with someone, begin practicing some coaching strategies to help our decoding and fluency, and build up our stamina.
  
Please continue to remind your child about reading nightly.  I have noticed a dramatic interest in the classroom for wanting to read, so I hope that your child is showing the same interest at home.  I remind the class that reading should be considered homework and that they should be reading every night.  Your child may have books from home that he/she would like to read or have a book checked out from our classroom library (we did this today as we did not have time last week...I PROMISED them! J).  Please encourage reading at home and remind your child that “READING IS THINKING” and ask your child what he/she is thinking about when he/she is reading.  Your support is appreciated! J

I wanted to remind you about the class’s responsibility with completing homework.  Your child may not have a math assignment every night.  However, if your child does have homework, your child is expected to complete it and bring it back to school the next day (unless it is a longer assignment that is not due the next day).  If your child does not complete his/her homework, he/she has been staying in at recess time to complete his/her homework.  Thanks for your support with your child’s responsibility. 

I am sending home a copy my schedule so you can see what your child is doing throughout the day.  Also, beginning on Wednesday this week, the class will be introduced to their own blog pages.  They are VERY excited!  I will be sending a parent note home tomorrow explaining what we will be doing on our blog pages and parents being able to comment on your child's blog pages.  Look for the note tomorrow!

Lastly, please remember that there is a 3-hour early dismissal on Friday, September 21st.  The Homecoming Parade will take place at 2:00PM that afternoon.  Thanks!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.  I am available anytime.  Thanks for everything, and have a fantastic week!

Sincerely, 
Mrs. McCarville 

Sunday, September 16, 2012

What I Am

The students listened to the the song "What I Am" during guidance on Thursday and I wanted to share and post the link on the blog.  I want the students to know that they are special, musical, smart, friendly, and the list goes on and on.  Enjoy the link below.

What I Am

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

September 11th

Yesterday and today we learned a lot about the terrorist attacks from September 11th.  We watched several videos and looked at many photos from the day that changed America.  I have attached a link for a September 11th video that was made by "Nick News" through Nickelodeon.  Please take the time to watch the video with your child and help answer questions he or she may have.

September 11th Video

Monday, September 10, 2012

Parent Letter


Hello to all!  What a beautiful weekend!  It felt a little like fall, but it was gorgeous!  

Last week flew by but we were able to accomplish quite a few things.  We continue to add more reading, writing, and math, and we are working into our classroom routine.  In science, we found out about some interesting “mystery objects” that were put in salt and fresh water.  Unfortunately, only a few of our mystery objects hatched in the salt water, so we watched a short video clip of brine shrimp swimming around from the Internet.  We also planted clover, grass, and peas with beans and are looking forward to see the plants sprouting up.  We are also looking forward to finding out what animals will be shipped to us in a few weeks.  The class seems to really enjoy the unit we are studying and in the coming weeks we will be working with other organisms inside the classroom.  

We are continuing to make strides in “The Daily Five.”  The class was very excited to read 17 (almost 18) minutes last week while doing “Read to Self!”  We are going to continue working on our stamina until we can read for 25-30 minutes consistently.  Last week, we added a new component to Daily Five: work on writing.  Like read to self, students will build their stamina up and be able to write for 25-30 minutes.  We are currently at 8 minutes for working on writing.  

While we are making strives in the academic areas, one area that we are continually working on both individually and as a class, is our behavior.  We talk daily about showing respect at school and showing "Cadet Pride."  We discuss being a classroom community and that we need to work together to make our classroom successful.  I have recently implemented a behavior management system that monitors positive behaviors that we want to see in school and negative behaviors that we need to work on.  Each student can earn points (actually his/her avatar can earn points) and he/she can see how he/she does throughout the day.  The program is Internet based and called "Class Dojo."  The class has responded positively to it and are working hard at earning positive points and monitoring their own behavior.  I plan on continuing the program throughout October and would like to show you a graph of what your child's behaviors look like at school.  If you have any questions about the program, just ask.  


Thank you for helping your child with his/her homework.  Typically, your child will have math for homework, but please consider reading as part of his/her homework every night.  I have told the class that they do have homework every night: reading.  It is extremely important that your child is reading every night to help him/her consistently improve at it.  Later this week or the beginning of next week, I will let each student check out a book from our own classroom library so that he/she has a book to keep at home and read.  When your child has completed the book, he/she can return it and check out a new one.  Also, beginning in October, we will start doing reading calendars where your child will be rewarded for reading the required amount of minutes a month.

Lastly, there are a couple of reminders for the week.  We have SCHOOL PICTURES on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH, and we have a 3-HOUR EARLY OUT on WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH.  Please plan accordingly for both days.  Thanks!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.  I am available anytime.  Thanks for everything, and have a fantastic week!

Sincerely,
Mrs. McCarville