Weekly Newsletter

Hello families! We are down to just 13.5 days of school remaining. I cannot believe how fast this school year has gone. So much has happened, and so many memories have been created. It has been a wonderful first year of teaching for me, and I hope that your child has enjoyed 3rd grade!
Extras: Next Thursday, May 21st, is our school's spring program. I am sure that you have seen the letters that have been coming home about it. In preparation for this, we will have at least one rehearsal each day next week. I also know that the students have been hard at work in music class for many weeks.
We will still have library next Thursday, but the students will not be able to check out books anymore. Today is the last day to check out.
**Monday: Spanish open class! Come see what your child is doing in Spanish!**

Math: In math next week we will begin by learning about congruent figures and their motion (slide, translate, flip, and rotate). We will then move on into symmetry, perimeter, and area. One thing we are going to look at with symmetry is how common it is to see symmetry in nature. As you are driving around, or spending time outside, look with your child to see how many different examples you can find.
Please continue to practice math facts with your child, because practice only makes them more confident!

Reading: As you noticed in the newsletter that was posted last week, we read the last story in our books this week. The students have done a wonderful job all year, and I hope that they were exposed to many different story genres that they enjoyed. Along with no more stories, there will also be no more spelling practice pages. I have decided to have a yearly review spelling test next Friday. I will choose 2o random words from our lists that we had this year. There will only be two or three challenge words. If your child does wish to study, they may use their spelling book that has all of the lists in it.
We have started to practice a readers theatre play, and will be spending a lot more time with it next week. There will be a performance date that you will be invited in for, but I will send a note home that will give more information. The students have already been working so hard, and have had some creative ideas.

**Book groups will continue through the end of the month. The students are doing a wonderful job, and really seem to be enjoying it. We have book group time on Tuesdays and Thursdays.**

Social Studies: The students did a great job with their planning a community activity that we did this week. It was sent home already, so I hope you were able to take a look at it. Next week we will be starting opinion essays. This activity will take a few days, and there will be some research and deep thought involved.

Science: As of today we do not have any baby chicks yet. Like I have explained to the students, they do not always hatch every time. I am still hoping that we will have at least one chick, but if not, Mrs. Miller said she could bring in some baby chicks for us to look at one day next week. This activity has definitely made the students more curious about animal life. Even if it does not end up like I had planned, I hope that it has been a memorable journey for the students.
In science next week we will be doing a robotic arm activity. The students will be assembling a claw type thing (made from tag board), and trying to complete a challenge. The students will be paired with a partner, and they will take turns closing their eyes, and relying on their partner to direct them towards the objects they will need to pick up with their "robotic" arm. It should be interesting!

Handwriting:Over the next couple of weeks we will be spending time reviewing all upper and lower case letters. Please continue to stress neat writing with your child. Ask them to write you a little sample some time.

Religion: In religion next week we will continue to work in our Fully Alive books. I hope that you all took the time to look through the book when it was sent home with your child this week. The themes we will cover next week are: Family love is open, family changes, brothers and sisters, and friendship/being part of a group.

Art: In art next Thursday each student will be creating a self-portrait. They will all become artists!

May Birthdays:
Sam~ May 10th
Jack~ May 11th
Triston~ May 25th