Monday, March 28, 2011

March 28, 2011

Fourth Quarter begins today! The time has gone by so quickly. I hope you are all enjoying the longer, sunny days. This week we will work on learning how to multiply by 3. The students feel so grown up to learn this important skill. We have also been working on applying our knowledge of multiplication facts to solve division problems. The students will also be doing some MCA Reading practice. The Third Graders are scheduled to take their reading MCA tests on April 12 and 13. It is very important that your child come well rested for these important days. New this year, the math portion of the MCA will be done on the computer. Our dates for the math portion are April 19 and 20. We have been practing doing both paper pencil and computer review for this portion. Ask your child about the tools for the test on the computer. There is a calculator, eraser, way to mark off incorrect choices, and a very useful feature where the students can have the test items read to them. Weekly Spelling List 1. curl 2. birth 3. burned 4. perfect 5. thirty 5. church 7. firm 8. skirt 9. clerk 10. jerked 11. dirt 12. shirt 13. person 14. purse 15. term *mosquito Book orders are due on Friday! Have a great week, Mrs. Richter

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

March 22, 2011

Here we are at the end of 3rd quarter already! The time has gone by so fast! There will be no school for students on Monday as it is a teacher workshop day.

Spelling List
1. hear
2. one
3. won
4. way
5. heard
6. flower
7. our
8. flour
9. weigh
10. here
11. beat
12. herd
13. beet
14. hair
15. hare
* coyote

As you can see, our words this week are tricky and the students will really have to listen to the sentences to figure out which word is correct. We have drawn pictures to go with each word as a visual study reminder.

Pennies for Peace continues! We will have a total of 5 weekly lessons. Last Wednesday, the students put on a play to demonstrate the story of Greg Mortenson and they did a fantastic job. Keep on bringing in those pennies. Try to think of a way for your child to earn pennies: sweeping, dusting, etc.

The students had their first lesson on division yesterday. They are beginning to memorize some of the multiplication facts, so division is just a turn around of what they already know. We worked on dividing by 2, 5, and 7. We are also working on subtracting multi-digit numbers this week. Please work at home with memorization of basic addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts.

Even though the calendar says it is Spring, we still have very wintry conditions outside. Remember to send boots, hats, mittens, snow pant, and even a change of socks for our cold, wet recesses.

Thanks for sharing your child with me! They are all amazing people.

Mrs. Richter

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

March 15, 2011

Last week we completed the novel, Marvin Redpost, Alone in his Teacher's House. The students enjoyed this novel and most completed an AR test on it.

Students have a challenge of earning 5 AR points this months. As of now, 2 students have reached this goal and 4 more are very close. Keep encouraging your child to read at home.

The animal reports are just about done! Only a few students are left who need to complete their writing. Ask your child what they learned about their animal or the writing process. Revising is very difficult for third grade children.

March 25th is the end of 3rd quarter. There will be no school for students on the 28th. I will be busy working on report cards that day.

We will have our second Pennies for Peace lesson tomorrow. Our first container is almost full of pennies! Please keep bringing them in. It is fun to watch the container fill.

This week in math, the children learned the multiplation facts for the 5s. This is a pretty easy set for them to memorize as most can rapidly count by 5s as well as tell time on an analog clock.

Spelling List for
Papa Tells Chita a Story

1. forks
2. worn
3. form
4. fourth
5. war
6. storm
7. horse
8. warn
9. morning
10. forest
11. court
12. porch
13. poured
14. port
15. important
* leprechaun

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

March 2, 2011

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! What an amazing author. We enjoyed reading some fun stories today to celebrate.

The students had their first Pennies for Peace lesson with Mrs. Raymond today. We will five lessons in all. Pennies for Peace is based on the book Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. It will be fun to learn about different cultures and see how many pennies our class can collect.

The third graders are all writing animal reports. They all got to choose their animal and are working on researching and beginning the writing process. I'm excited to see their finished products.

The Magazine Fund raiser is in full swing and orders are due on Friday.

Our new novel is Marvin Redpost: Alone in His Teacher's House. The students are enjoying reading about Marvin's adventures as he takes care of his teacher's dog while she is on vacation.

Last week the children began their MCA practice in Reading and Math. We will continue to work on little bits and pieces to prepare for the state tests.

Weekly Spelling List
1. fence
2. sneeze
3. bowl
4. walrus
5. liver
6. plate
7. bonus
8. family
9. leash
10. paw
11. vet
12. house
13. kennel
14. Marvin
15. Waldo
* chocolate

The students are getting much better at handing in their homework on time. Homework is sent home daily and due the following morning by 8:30.

Our class reading goals for this month are for each student to read 500 minutes at home and to earn 5 AR points. I know they can all accomplish this goal. Work hard and read some good books!

Mrs. Richter

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Students have completed their study of the Solar System. It was an interesting unit and the children all enjoyed learning about the stars, planets, sun and moon.

This week we are learning about Presidents Washington and Lincoln. The children are making small books to remember important facts about these famous leaders.

We have also been doing creative writing activities. Ask your child if they have had a turn to spin the "machine." It is an interactive writing activity we do on the SmartBoard. I will have samples to show you at conference time.

No School for students on:
Friday - February 18 (elementary conferences)
Monday - February 21 (President's Day)
Tuesday - February 22 (teacher inservice day)

This week we are reading about Proverbs and Fables. Ask your child about some of their favorite stories.

Spelling Words

1. bear
2. tear
3. haircut
4. stairs
5. wear
6. airplane
7. compare
8. repair
9. pear
10. prepare
11. stare
12. glare
13. sharing
14. fairy
15. aware


Fun Quote:
As we are studying the planets and their distance from the sun, we come to Earth.
One child asks, "So, Mrs. Richter, do you mean we're in space?"
I reply, "Yes, we are on Earth, which is part of the Solar System."
The child responds (with a look of awe), "WOW! That's so cool! So, how come we're not floating around?"
This lead back to our discussion on gravity.

I am enjoying getting to know each child. They are learning and growning so much!
Enjoy the sunshine!
Mrs. Richter

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

February 1, 2011

Welcome to February!

The students and I had a wonderful first week together. We are getting to know each other and each day brings us closer together. We have been learning about the Earth and the Moon. The students are enjoying this and for the month of February we will be keeping track of the moon's phases.

Book orders are due today!


Spelling List for Centerfield Ballhawk

1. boots
2. grouped
3. shook
4. school
5. looked
6. hood
7. choose
8. brook
9. zoomed
10. balloon
11. loose
12. soot
13. understood
14. cartoon
15. afternoon

Monday, January 17, 2011

Spelling Words - week of Jan. 17-20

This week's words are tough because of the use of the apostrophe. Some of the words are plurals (meaning more than one person or thing); some of the words are singular possessives (one person or thing "owns" one thing); and some are plural possessives (more than one person or thing and they each "own" something). For example : 2 dogs (plural); my dog's bone (singular possessive); and my dogs' bowls (plural possessive).

1. brother's
2. brothers
3. uncle's
4. uncles
5. sister's
6. sisters
7. sisters'
8. man's
9. men's
10. child's
11. girls
12. girl's
13. girls'
14. mine
15. yours