Welcome to the Grade 3A news center.
This is where important information will be posted, and links to useful sites and items of interest.
This is where important information will be posted, and links to useful sites and items of interest.
Update: June 6
Optional Personal Projects |
Personal Projects have not been a focus for the past while, but some of the students have expressed interest in presenting one more time before the end of June. This is totally optional so here is a list of who is presenting and when. These are to be purely fun presentations using the skills they have learned and practiced all year.
Friday, June 7 Julia, Gabriel Thursday, June 13 Chase, Noah, Gael, Gavin, Julian, William, Nathan S Thursday, June 20 Kalaya, Zahra, Brady DP, Adrian, Jake, Anella, Olivia |
Update: April 17
Planner Responsibility |
At our school we believe in teaching responsibility. To help with that in Term 3, I will not be checking if homework is filled out in planners. I will be reminding the students and providing time to fill out the planners, but not signing them. Parents are encouraged to check planners at the car to make sure that assignments and books being brought home match up. If the teacher is checking planners every time then the students don't get the chance to do it on their own and practice their responsibility.
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Home Reading |
For Term 3, we will be discontinuing the response writing so students can just move from one book onto the next. Reading is to continue nightly for 20 minutes. Parents please check that the reading is at your child's level and not too difficult. The reading should be at a decent speed with very few errors.
There will be a reading log kept in the planner for parents to sign every weekday, and optionally on weekends. |
Update: March 15
Spring Break Ideas |
- We've made it! Two terms successfully completed - only one more to go!
During Spring Break, if your children are looking for things to do, here are some suggestions: - visit the Public Library and take out some books - take on more personal projects - see what skills you can learn - play card games like PIT!! and Golf - read - make and play a board game - learn some card tricks - write a story or graphic novel or comic strip - learn how to cook or bake - read (again) - put on a puppet show or play - make props and costumes |
PIT!! |
Check out the PIT!! tab for instructions. The students know how to play, but their version of explaining the rules may be confusing...
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Update: Feb. 5
Fable Plays |
To enhance our combined unit on Legends, Parables, and Fables (oral tradition), the students will be rescripting, designing, creating, and performing Aesop's Fables in acting troupes (teacher chosen groups). To this end, the students might be coming home requesting various interesting things to help with costuming or props or sound effects and parents are welcome to help out. The majority of the creating should be done at school however. Each troupe is asked to provide a box or plastic bin (to be returned later) for keeping their supplies and this can be sent when possible. Extra cardboard is also very welcome, along with crafting supplies like pipe cleaners or popsicle sticks (unused). I have lots of paper, string, markers, glue here. This project will take a good three weeks to complete.
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Valentines Day
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Since there is no school on February 14, we will be celebrating Valentine's Day on Wednesday the 13th. I am sending home class lists today for those who want to hand out valentines. Please remember to make them for all classmates so everyone feels included. We will be making special bags to collect and carry them. This is a good opportunity to teach the children the value of making or filling things out themselves and making things personal.
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Times Tables
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5+ minutes per night. A reasonable expectation at this point is for the 2x tables to be memorized quickly, the 3x tables to be memorized but a bit slower, and probably starting the 4x tables next week. As each table is memorized, the next ones have fewer and fewer facts to memorize so it actually gets easier!
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Personal Project #2 |
Just a reminder for those students who have already completed and presented their first personal project, a second project is to be chosen and started a week after presenting. This can be a continuation of the first project, or something new. I encourage trying new things. Forms are available in class.
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Measurement |
Use Google Maps to find the distance from your home to the school. Bring in the distance tomorrow to compare with classmates!
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Update: Jan. 25
No TV |
We currently have no TV in our class. This means that if your child was hoping to present a video portion for his or her Personal Project, there is no TV to use for presenting.
Alternative ideas are to send in your own electronic device to show, or email a copy to me to show on my Macbook. I will only show videos that I receive the day before a project since there is no time to prep things if you send it to me Friday morning. |
Update: Jan. 23
X-Tables |
We are now practicing times tables daily in class and this should also happen at home. Please encourage use of the times table chart (found in the planner pocket) so that the correct products are learned. The students have been taught how to play Blast Off and how to use cards to drill specific numbers. Please make sure that the 2s are pretty quick (3 seconds each) before moving onto the 3s, and that learned numbers are reviewed a few times a week at least. Learning a whole set of numbers in 2 weeks is a good goal, and should have them memorize up to the 10 x-tables by the end of June.
A fun computer game that my children played is Hit the Button, found below. |
Nightly Homework Expectations |
Nightly:
Novel reading - same book at home and school until complete - 20 minutes x-tables - practice with cards or games - start at 2s and move through - 5 minutes Personal Project - practice, work on, prepare for presentation? When assigned: Spelling - due Thursdays, test Fridays Other homework - as assigned |
Dress down Wednesday |
Details are in the School Newsletter.
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Thank You for the Christmas Gifts!! |
Thank you from myself and Mrs. Lewis for the extremely generous and thoughtful Christmas gifts! We are so happy to be able to share such quality time with your children and help them to learn and grow into such well-rounded not-so-little people!
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Update: Dec 12
Daily Reading Expectations
In Term 2 there will be a strong focus on story. There will also be a daily reading expectation at school and at home: 15 minutes at school and 20 minutes at home. This is to be a novel or story style book (so no fact books) and is to be brought to and from school on a daily basis. Parents are encouraged to help remind their children to pack their novel to be brought to school, and to pick a book that is an appropriate level. If you are not sure, send the book to school and I will check. Books may be chosen from the school library, public library, class library, or home.
Once the story is complete, each student will complete a one-page reading response focusing on proving opinions using facts from the book and writing in properly detailed sentences. This can be worked on at school and at home for one day. Then a new book will be started.
The expectation is that a book be completed in 1-2 weeks. Some more voracious readers will beat this by a long shot and will be encouraged to try more detailed and lengthy stories.
The first book should be finished by the end of December.
Please email me if questions arise.
Once the story is complete, each student will complete a one-page reading response focusing on proving opinions using facts from the book and writing in properly detailed sentences. This can be worked on at school and at home for one day. Then a new book will be started.
The expectation is that a book be completed in 1-2 weeks. Some more voracious readers will beat this by a long shot and will be encouraged to try more detailed and lengthy stories.
The first book should be finished by the end of December.
Please email me if questions arise.
Update: Dec. 10
Halo Update
The students now WILL be wearing halos for their Christmas performances. So for the parents who already made or purchased them, these can be sent in. Students who do not have a halo at this point can choose to provide their own by Thursday (Dec. 13) or the school will provide them. A simple silver circle of garland around the head is all that is needed for those who are making them. Sorry for the confusion.
DRESS DOWN DAY – Wednesday, December 12th
On Wednesday December 12th dress down in your festive Christmas clothes to school; ugly sweaters, reindeer ears, red/ green/white, gold etc. Let's brighten up the school with our Christmas clothing!
Our virtue of the month is “Generosity” and we will be collecting money to send to our two adoptive children, Diana and Mark. Your generosity will help provide them with the basics they need as well as some extra for Christmas presents this year! Thank you everyone for thinking of the less fortunate during this holiday season!
On Wednesday December 12th dress down in your festive Christmas clothes to school; ugly sweaters, reindeer ears, red/ green/white, gold etc. Let's brighten up the school with our Christmas clothing!
Our virtue of the month is “Generosity” and we will be collecting money to send to our two adoptive children, Diana and Mark. Your generosity will help provide them with the basics they need as well as some extra for Christmas presents this year! Thank you everyone for thinking of the less fortunate during this holiday season!
Final Week Plan
Tuesday - Dress rehearsal in the morning. Our students come in regular uniform since the robes and halos are at school already.
Wednesday - Senior's Lunch at 1pm. Grandparents are welcome to take students home after the performance.
Thursday - Matinee Performance at 1pm. Parents are welcome to take their children home directly after the performance.
Thursday - Evening Performance at 7pm. Students arrive between 6:30 and 6:45 and can be picked up after the performance.
Friday - Final school Mass of 2018 at 9:15. Carolling in the gym at 11am. Dismissal at noon.
Wednesday - Senior's Lunch at 1pm. Grandparents are welcome to take students home after the performance.
Thursday - Matinee Performance at 1pm. Parents are welcome to take their children home directly after the performance.
Thursday - Evening Performance at 7pm. Students arrive between 6:30 and 6:45 and can be picked up after the performance.
Friday - Final school Mass of 2018 at 9:15. Carolling in the gym at 11am. Dismissal at noon.
Update: Dec. 3
Term 2 Homework Expectations
Every night:
20 minutes silent reading or reading with parents
5 minutes practicing addition, subtraction, or times tables facts. Games or drilling with cards or printables or online games are all fine.
Most nights:
Spelling when assigned
Other activities when assigned
20 minutes silent reading or reading with parents
5 minutes practicing addition, subtraction, or times tables facts. Games or drilling with cards or printables or online games are all fine.
Most nights:
Spelling when assigned
Other activities when assigned
Christmas Musical Outfits
The Grade 3 classes will be wearing choir robes. These will be supplied by the school. Underneath the students are to wear white collared shirts (like uniform shirts!) and black or dark pants and shoes.
Because of the difficulty of making and challenge of keeping the halos from breaking and sharing between heads, we have decided to NOT use halos.
Easy year!
Because of the difficulty of making and challenge of keeping the halos from breaking and sharing between heads, we have decided to NOT use halos.
Easy year!
Personal Projects
Click on the Personal Project link to get much more information and access to printables.
Initial Previews will happen in December.
Completed Presentations will start in mid-January.
Initial Previews will happen in December.
Completed Presentations will start in mid-January.
Update: Oct. 30
Halloween Candy
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As a school, we discourage eating candy for obvious health and behavioural concerns; however, on Thursday our class will be doing a science investigation about matter where candy will be quite useful. If on Thursday each child is able to bring three various types of candy/chocolate (chewy/crumbly/melty/mallowy/hard/soft...a few ideas) then they will be useful for the investigation and yummy besides. If there are a couple of extras then they might be shared with students who forget.
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Orange/Black Day
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Tomorrow, Oct. 31, the students are welcome to come to school wearing any combination or orange and black, provided they bring (or have brought) a donation item as mentioned in the newsletter. Our class is requested to bring adult multi-vitamins, but there are many other items that can be brought as well or instead.
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Group Game Info |
The students have put themselves into groups for the purpose of designing and creating board games. We have discussed what aspects of board games they find enjoyable, and how good board games have themes and clear instructions.
We are focusing on the Core Competencies of Communication and Creative Thinking. Communication I can work in groups I can share ideas with my friends I help my friends to get things done Creative Thinking I play with my ideas till I can make them work If my ideas don't work, I change what I am doing I can build on my friends' ideas to create new things I will be working with the class to help with planning, goal setting, cooperating, designing, and self-reflecting. We are now accepting materials from home - particularly cardboard (like the sides of packing boxes or cereal boxes, cut into flat pieces please). Ideally, the students will make all the tokens, dice, spinners, board, and cards that are to go with the game, but some things might have to be brought from home (Lego figures? Pingpong balls? Pipe cleaners?). Parents are welcome to help by suggesting ways to create fun items, like spinners, and searching up/printing out templates for things like dice. I can also supply some from school. Images and lettering should be mostly hand-drawn, but images can be printed at home and traced or copied onto the board at school. Letter templates may also be used if available. The game board can be created from anything - from a piece of cardboard to several sheets of construction paper laid out beside each other. This may be supplied from home or I can provide at school. We will be working on these games for the next couple of months. The students are super excited to get started and I can't wait to see what they create! |
Update: Oct. 18
Heritage Presentation Dates
Chosen by the students:
Monday
Lucien Colton Gael Gavin Julian Bella Jake Sevilla Olivia Jules Caitlin Gabriel Alexa |
Tuesday
Chase Brady B Noah Brady DP Kalaya Zahra Brody Adrian Nathan S Julia Anella Nathan W Zachary Markus Cloris William |
Please remember that memory is not required, but it should sound prepared and confident. Cue cards are more visually acceptable than a sheet of paper. Remind your child to face the audience and to point to objects on the poster, but to speak to the audience, not the poster. For the more anxious students, keep it short.
Pattern Rules |
We have been working with patterns and rules for a few weeks now, so the homework coming home should be something that can be completed independently, or with only a bit of parent support. Encourage your child to look at the front side of the sheet that was done in class for clues and to jog memory.
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Heritage Project Reminder |
Hopefully the students took some time during Thanksgiving festivities to answer some of their heritage questions. Completing the sheet and working on the poster will be the main homework assignment for the week.
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Update: Sept. 10
Reading Book |
Each child should have a book to read in class that comes back and forth from school to home till it is completed. It should be kept safely in the big baggie that was sent last week. The book can be from home, school, or the library. It also should be at an independent reading level for your child. Too easy is much better than too hard.
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Water Bottles |
I encourage water bottles to be at school since it saves lots of time travelling to and from the water fountain. Please send water bottles that are not likely to break (metal, soft plastic - NO GLASS) and preferably with a sippy spout of some sort rather than screw caps.
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Kleenex |
Please send a box of kleenex at your convenience which will be stored and shared with the class as needed. Allergies and colds run rampant all year and it is very helpful to have tissue available. Thanks!
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Update: Sept. 1
Hello to all new and returning parents and students! This is the spot to find out lots of important information about projects, curriculum being covered, and ways to support your child's learning. You will also be able to find photos, recommendations for books, games, and apps, and lots of reminders for things coming up. Please check here often. If there is time sensitive information posted, there will be a symbol noted in your child's planner: a W in an upside-down triangle, like a super W. Any documentation requiring a signature or return information like field trip forms will still be sent out in paper form.
If you know of any good apps or computer games that encourage learning, please send me a link to my school email: [email protected] and I can share it here too after I check it out.
Hello to all new and returning parents and students! This is the spot to find out lots of important information about projects, curriculum being covered, and ways to support your child's learning. You will also be able to find photos, recommendations for books, games, and apps, and lots of reminders for things coming up. Please check here often. If there is time sensitive information posted, there will be a symbol noted in your child's planner: a W in an upside-down triangle, like a super W. Any documentation requiring a signature or return information like field trip forms will still be sent out in paper form.
If you know of any good apps or computer games that encourage learning, please send me a link to my school email: [email protected] and I can share it here too after I check it out.
Cross-Country Team |
Just a heads-up. The Grade 3s are welcome to join the Cross Country Team which will be starting almost right away. It's a short season and I am one of the coaches, so it's a good way to get the children back into the swing of things and doing a healthy activity with class friends. Permission forms will be coming out soon and more info coming on the school website.
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When?
Tuesday, September 4
What time?
8:55 - 10:30
What do I need?
Uniform, backpack, excitement!
Who will be there?
Friends, teachers, new people
Do I need food or a snack?
Nope - you're only staying till 10:30 today...
What if I feel nervous?
Then you're normal. Even Mr. Mak gets nervous on the first day of school, and he's done it over 30 times! Being nervous or even a bit scared is part of how our brains try to keep us safe. Try taking some deep breaths and think about some of the good things that you KNOW happen in school life field trips, learning about new things, and getting new supplies.
Tuesday, September 4
What time?
8:55 - 10:30
What do I need?
Uniform, backpack, excitement!
Who will be there?
Friends, teachers, new people
Do I need food or a snack?
Nope - you're only staying till 10:30 today...
What if I feel nervous?
Then you're normal. Even Mr. Mak gets nervous on the first day of school, and he's done it over 30 times! Being nervous or even a bit scared is part of how our brains try to keep us safe. Try taking some deep breaths and think about some of the good things that you KNOW happen in school life field trips, learning about new things, and getting new supplies.