Here comes 3rd quarter!

Happy 2015! We tried to get back into our routine this week, but Old Man Winter had another idea. We are looking forward to a full week of learning next week!

     
The world of reading will take us deeper into comparing and contrasting, determining the main idea of a text, and finding key details and then explaining how they support the main idea. Students will also be expected to describe relationships between events, sequence events, and identify cause and effect relationships.

In math we will be upping our adding and subtracting game by using more digits in problems. Students will also work to solve 2-step word problems using all four operations. Reading comprehension will play a big role in math this quarter. Students will also have to identify arithmetic patterns and explain the patterns using the properties of all operations. 

Students will continue to use text evidence and schema to form an opinion and defend it. They will learn the correct format for writing letters and will be expected to use it correctly.

Wow! 3^rd quarter is a heavy hitting quarter! Be sure to go over graded assignments with your child to reinforce each skill. Continue to read with your child each evening and talk about the characters, events, setting, problem, and solution.

Students have been reminded many times to write down the title and the author of all books they read and finish at home. They may then complete a book report at school. Students should have a book report each week. 

Our Valentine’s day party will be Thursday, February 12. We do not have school on Friday, February 13. If you are interested in planning and facilitating the party, just let me know with a note or email.

        
Please continue to be sure the kids are bundled up! We will go to recess if the temperature ever gets above 32 degrees again! Also, on Wednesdays, bus riders spend a little extra time outside while I have bus duty. 

Thanks for all that you do!

     

Tis the Season!

We have had A LOT of sickness in our class, but I think we are all feeling much better and are ready for the holidays! Thank you to those who were well enough to attend the 3rd Grade Holiday Program! The kids put on an awesome performance! Below are a couple of pictures from the evening.

The students have finished up their math unit on measurement. Please continue to have the kids practice telling time over break. Ask your child about their informational books! The students chose an animal, researched on the Chromebook, drafted, edited, revised, and published a book on their animal. These books will be displayed in the hallway in January. If you are in the building, come through our hallway and check them out! The students did a FANTASTIC job throughout the entire unit! I'm pretty sure we have some future authors and illustrators in our class!

Friday, December 19th will be our final day in 2014.  Students will return on Tuesday, January 6th. Friday will be a complete day of school filled with fun activities to celebrate our winter break!

I am looking forward to my family and friends being together and I hope that you are surrounded by your family and friends, too! Get lots of rest! Have lots of laughs! Read lots of books!

Happy Holidays! I will see you soon!

It has been “Sick-City” in our room!  We promise we are covering our coughs with our elbows, washing our hands, and Cloroxing our tables each day!

Music Program

Our 3rd graders will be performing their holiday program on Thursday, December 11 at 6:30.  We hope you can make it!

December is here!

Welcome back!  I hope you each got your belly full on Thanksgiving and enjoyed your family time!  Now we are ready to start the countdown to Christmas!  If you have pine cones in your yard, or know where there are a lot of pine cones, pick them up and bring them to school!  I have a Christmas craft that I would love for us to do! 

Help us win!

Beginning on Monday, November 17, Pershing will be collecting food for our local Inter-Serve.  If you would like to donate canned goods, boxed food, or any other dry food, we would love to take them off of your hands!  The class who collects the most items will win a pizza party!  Check our those pantries and see what you've got to donate!

BRRRRR!  Remember to send your child to school dressed for winter!  We will still have outside recess this winter and students must have a winter coat to enjoy it.  Also, I have outside bus duty on Wednesdays and bus riders wait outside for their bus while I am on duty.

Congratulations to Jaelen!  He was our Character Kid of the Month for October!  Jaelen does a great job of showing self-control!  Keep it up, Jaelen!

Extra Practice...

The math worksheets that were sent home are just for extra home practice. Also, the packet of questions are just some example questions that grown-ups can use to start conversations about the books students are reading. Thank you for reinforcing your child's learning!

The Blog is Back!

Wow! Wow! Wow! Pershing has been a busy place and there are no signs of slowing down! There are daily events next week to celebrate the Jumping Jack being passed as our state exercise. Look for the yellow flyer in the Friday folder. Remember that students are out of school on Monday, November 10. Check out the other upcoming events listed to the right.

Thank you for attending your child's conference. It is always so nice to visit with parents in person!

If you would like to help your child improve his/her math skills at home, there are several simple ways to do that! Create 3 digit subtraction problems and help your child solve them, practice one digit multiplication problems with the flashcards we sent home or write problems out for your child, practice division problems with your child; 81/9, or 36/4, for example.

Students also need extra support when writing sentences. Give your child a sentence to write. Does it have a capital letter? Does it have correct punctuation? Is the spelling correct? Are there capital letters in the middle of words or the beginning of words that are not necessary?

Please continue to read with your child. Remember that reading 1 book all week is encouraged. Reading at home with a grown-up will improve both fluency and comprehension. Thank you for helping your child with the extra support!

Clink on the links below for more fun academic support. Have a great week! Miss Simmons