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Monday, March 31, 2014

Book Clubs in Full Force

April is FINALLY here!  Hopefully this weather is beginning to turn around for the better.  Because it is April, it made me realize we have only 2 months left of our school year and SO MUCH TO DO!  Do not worry.....no panic attacks here!

Book Clubs began last week.  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.  Please contact me with any questions.  Thanks!

Your child’s March reading calendar is due on THIS WEEK.  This was your child’s last calendar for the program.  If your child brings this calendar back and has brought all the other calendars back, he/she will celebrate with a surprise (that I still have to decide on!).  Woot!  Woot!  However, if they do not complete the calendars, they will not get the opportunity to celebrate with those who complete it.  If you have any questions, please ask!

Have a wonderful week!  Please contact me with any questions.  Thanks!

Mrs. McCarville

Monday, March 24, 2014

Iowa Test Are Done!


We should all celebrate as your child just finished his or her first Iowa Testing tests!  Woot!  Woot!  The class was very RELIEVED to be done with the tests.  The class did try hard on these tests and to reward their efforts, the class will be choosing their prizes later next week.  Yah!


Beginning on Friday, your child is going to begin completing Book Clubs inside AND outside of school.  The reading assignments and their thoughts will be recorded and completed at home, while their recorded thoughts will be discussed at school with their Book Club group on Mondays and Fridays.  I will send information about Book Clubs ON FRIDAY, as your child will be bringing home his or her book ON FRIDAY.  Please look for the information ON FRIDAY.  Your child will be bringing home a plastic baggy that contains the following: Book Clubs information sheet, “Monitoring Comprehension” sheet, assignment recording sheet, book, and post-it notes.  The baggy will be used for transporting the Book Club materials to and from school.  Thank you!


Finally, we have a 3-hour early dismissal on Wednesday, March 26th.  Students will be dismissed at 12:25 PM, so please plan accordingly.  Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. McCarville

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Wrapping Up Testing


Welcome to the 4th and final quarter of the 2013-2014 school year!  Where did that time go?  Well, we have A LOT to get done this quarter so we will need the time in June to get our things done.

We have completed the first week of testing for Iowa Testing.  We will complete the tests by Friday, March 21st.  Please remind your child about taking his/her time and trying his/her best on these tests.  We have talked about those things in class, but please let your child know the importance of these tests coming from you.  Your child is also working on earning effort points for effort displayed on the Iowa Tests.  He or she receives the maximum effort points if he or she is taking his or her time, rereading the tests when it is completed, and trying his or her best.  As a review of the same tips I sent last week, I am (AGAIN!) suggesting a few things to help your child finish these tests with a successful testing experience:

* Go to bed on time the night(s) before the tests
* Eat a good breakfast the morning of the tests
* Talk with your child about any concerns he/she may have
* Emphasize the importance of the tests and trying his/her best (this is an area we have talked about in class, but please talk with your child about the importance of trying his/her best on the tests)

Your child will continue to bring home a "Math Fact Study Log" sheet every 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!

Report cards will be sent home next week.  There will not be a science grade recorded on your child’s report card.  Due to the missed school days, delayed starts, and other interruptions, the emphasis for instruction time needed to be on literacy and math.  Also, due to weather interruptions, you will notice we continued on with the same unit in social studies that we were working on in 2nd quarter.  Please contact me if you have any questions.  Thank you!

Have a great week!  If you have any questions, please contact me!
Mrs. McCarville

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Iowa Testing


What beautiful weather we had yesterday.  I felt a bit like a rebel and went out WITHOUT a coat!  Gasp!  Spring fever....here we come!  Let's just hope the snow are gone for the season!

Beginning THIS week and going through March 21st, your child will be taking the “Iowa Tests,” also known as the ITBS (Iowa Tests of Basic Skills).  Please discuss with your child taking his/her time and trying his/her best on these tests.  We have talked about those things in class, but please let your child know the importance of these tests coming from you.  Today, I am sending a copy of the 3rd grade's testing schedule so you can see when we are testing and what we will be testing for that day.  Because the tests will begin tomorrow, I am suggesting a few things to help your child prepare for a successful testing experience:

* Go to bed on time the night(s) before the tests
* Eat a good breakfast the morning of the tests
* Talk with your child about any concerns he/she may have
* Emphasize the importance of the tests and trying his/her best (this is an area we have talked about in class, but please talk with your child about the importance of trying his/her best on the tests)

Your child took home a "Math Fact Study Log" sheet yesterday.  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 contact me with any questions.  Thanks!

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

Have a warm week!
Mrs. McCarville




Sunday, March 2, 2014

Post Conferences and Now Math Facts

Hello!  I wanted to thank all of you for attending your child's conference last week, and the week previous.  Hopefully you were able to gain some insight to your child's education and progress.  I was very impressed with how well the students shared their work and were honest about their behaviors.  Thanks again for coming in!

Your child is taking home a "Math Fact Study Log" sheet today.  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 contact me with any questions.  Thanks!


Your child’s February reading calendar is due on THIS WEEK.  On Friday, I sent home your child’s March reading calendar on Friday.  The calendar includes a reading goal of 450 minutes that your child will be asked to complete by the end of the month.  If your child reads 20 minutes or more a night, he/she is to color in the icon for that night.  If he/she brings the calendar back at the end of the month and read the amount of minutes his/her goal requires, he/she will get a pizza certificate to Pizza Hut.  This is your child’s last calendar for the program.  If your child brings this calendar back and has brought all the other calendars back, he/she will celebrate with a surprise (that I still have to decide on!).  Woot!  Woot!  However, if they do not complete the calendars, they will not get the opportunity to celebrate with those who complete it.  If you have any questions, please ask!


Starting NEXT week and going through March 21st, your child will be taking the “Iowa Tests,” also known as the ITBS (Iowa Tests of Basic Skills).  Please discuss with your child taking his/her time and trying his/her best on these tests.  We have talked about those things in class, but please let your child know the importance of these tests coming from you.  Next week, I will send a copy of the 3rd grade's testing schedule so you can see when we are testing and what we will be testing for that day.  Because the tests will begin next week, I am suggesting a few things to help your child prepare for a successful testing experience:

* Go to bed on time the night(s) before the tests
* Eat a good breakfast the morning of the tests
* Talk with your child about any concerns he/she may have
* Emphasize the importance of the tests and trying his/her best (this is an area we have talked about in class, but please talk with your child about the importance of trying his/her best on the tests)

As a reminder, we do not have school on Tuesday, March 4th, due to the Crestwood Girls basketball game in Des Moines.  GO CADETS!

Please contact me if you have any questions/concerns.  Have a great week and stay warm!

Mrs. McCarville