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

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

Sharing Schedule

We are now starting our last component of our daily “Morning Meeting.”  Every day the students come in at the beginning of the day and have a morning message, classroom greeting, and a group activity.  We have recently discussed our last part of the morning meeting, which is the sharing portion.  In class, we have discussed what to share, questioning while sharing, and appropriate behaviors while sharing.  Today I am sending home a list of when your child is to share for the week.  There will be times when your child will be asked to bring in specific things, but most times your child can bring in a free choice item or share something that he/she did.  If you have any questions, feel free to ask.  Thanks!

                                                                

Mrs. McCarville

Monday: Garret, Kirsten, Adam, and Cole

Tuesday: Gabe, Ashley, Nicole, Kody, and Tyler

Wednesday: Dylan, Jenaya, Hunter, Cameron, and Paul

Thursday: Jay, Annabelle, Jenna, Ethan, and Josh

Friday: Chance, Abby, Logan, and Hope

                                   

Working on Respect

3C Parents,

We have been working VERY hard on creating a positive classroom community.  We have discussed that we are all team members that are working on a team to be a successful classroom.  Today, we had a difficult time accomplishing that goal.  Please remind your child of being respectful such as raising his/her hand, listening to the speaker, and staying on task.  Ask your child "how are you making the classroom successful?"  "What would you like a successful classroom to look like?"  Remind them that we have to work as a large team to be successful.  Thanks for the help!

Mrs. McCarville

Judy Blume Website

Parents and 3C Students,

In writing, we have been reading the book The Pain and the Great One by Judy Blume, so today we went onto Judy Blume's website to learn more about the author of the book.  The students seemed to enjoy the site, so I am adding the link below for them to look at or for you to enjoy!  Just click on the "Judy Blume Website" link below.

Judy Blume Website

Lastly, I have learned of a lunch menu change for Friday.  Friday's lunch will be a cheeseburger and not the grilled chicken sandwich.

Have a great night!

Mrs. McCarville

Parent Letter

Dear Parents,

Hello to everyone, and I hope that you had a great three day weekend!  It will be a busy week at school with continuing to set the routine for our classroom and getting back into "school mode."  We have been working VERY hard at following classroom rules and being respectful learners.  We have discussed being a classroom community and working together to make our classroom successful.

Last week, your child had his/her first homework assignment in science.  Your child was asked to bring in a beverage for a science experiment.  I wanted to thank you for helping your child with his/her homework and sending your child prepared for school the next day.  I truly appreciate your help with the homework and am confident that your child will be successful with your help.  Your commitment to your child’s education is key to his/her success.  This week, I will be sending Home Links home for math and your child is to bring those sheets back the next day.  It is your child's responsibility to bring his/her homework back.  Please check your child's folder every night to see if there is homework inside that needs to be completed.  Thank you!  Also, if your child has not yet brought a SOCK for math, please send it as soon as possible.  Thanks!

Your child WILL be bringing home math homework tonight!  Please see that he/she has completed the work and has it in the "Important Papers Folder" to bring to school tomorrow.  If you notice that your child may be having a difficult time with time, scroll down to the games on our classroom blog page and click on either "Bang on Time" or "Stop the Clock."  These links both focus on time and will help your child practice time.

As for our week last week, we have started accomplishing many things.  I am not sure if your child has started talking about “The Daily Five” or not, but we have worked on increasing our stamina for the “Read to Self” component of the Daily Five.  We made it to about 4 minutes and 26 seconds last week (we started on Thursday).  Our goal is to reach 25-30 minutes of reading without breaking stamina.  

This past week, your child was introduced (reviewed for most students) to a strategy that helps him/her find and read “good fit books.”  The strategy that was introduced to your child and will be used throughout the rest of the year is called the “I PICK” strategy.  The “I PICK” strategy stands for:

                            I choose a book.

                            Purpose: why do I want to read it?

                            Interest: does it interest me?

                            Comprehend: am I understanding what 
                                                I am reading?  

                            Know: I know most of the words

When your child is reading at home, ask him/her about the “I PICK” strategy and go through these steps with your child to see if he/she is reading a “good fit book.”  Ask your child to read aloud to you and explain what he/she read to check for understanding.  This will help your child choose "good fit books" at home too!

I am sending home your child's first book order.  Your child is bringing home several different flyers for you and your child to look at.  I am also attaching a letter to the book orders that explains ordering books online rather than sending a check or cash to me at school.  This letter explains the steps of ordering online, and I have also attached a link to the top of our blog page for easy access to the Scholastic Book Clubs link.  It is your choice to order online or to send a check or cash to school with your child.  If you choose to send book orders to school, please make checks payable to "Scholastic Book Clubs."  Also, please see the letter and flyers for the due date and class activation code (for ordering online).  Thank you and Happy Reading!

Lastly, I have introduced the gmail accounts to your child.  Last week during our "Tech Time," we briefly took time to email a friend in the class.  This week, the students will learn more about their settings and Google Docs.  They are really looking forward to emailing and getting emails from friends!   

  

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

Science Experiment

Parents,

Today we did an introductory lesson in science on being thought of as scientists.  We poured liquids over ice to see what the liquids would do.  We were very surprised that cranberry juice, blue Gatorade, and Diet 7-up layered!  Wow!  The students are taking this experiment one step further by planning a similar experiment with a group.  They are to bring in a liquid from home to conduct a similar experiment tomorrow.  I stressed to the students that their drink needed to be something that was at home or easily accessible.  I hope that the students have good luck with their drinks and bring them tomorrow so we can conduct the experiment!

Happy Science!