Christmas Party

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Thank you for making our party so special! We couldn’t have done it without the help from some amazing volunteers. A special thanks goes to Mrs. Ford for contacting everyone and organizing the party.

Thank you for sharing your wonderful children with me. I will be eager to hear all of their small moment stories when they return. Enjoy the many moments of the season!




3rd Grade Writing Buddies

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To assist with revising and editing, we invited Miss VanArkel’s 3rd graders into our classroom. It was a fantastic experience for all of the students. They read 3 stories from their composition book and discussed which one they should choose to publish with their buddy. The 3rd graders taught them the use of a time line to add additional details and the 2nd graders talked about similes and sound effects. I was especially impressed when the children were drawing pictures of what they visualized from their buddies (thus showing carryover from reading).

I’m am looking ahead to January, if at all possible, could you send in a wide ruled composition book for Writer’s Workshop. Many of the children have filled the composition book that we purchased for them at the beginning of the year. If you are unable to do so, please let me know. Thanks!

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Reading

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Our focus has been on improving comprehension. We have discussed making connections by hearing and discussing stories. The children would make connections between the stories and their own lives. They also answered questions to help them understand the stories they heard.

You can help your child make personal connections to stories. Before reading, ask your child to listen and think about what in the story is like his or her own life. While reading, stop every so often to ask questions such as:

  • How do you think this person or animal feels?
  • Have you ever felt that way? Tell me about it.

Another way to help your child think about a story more deeply is to ask questions while reading aloud, such as:

  • What has happened in the story so far?
  • What do you think will happen next?

We have also visualized to make sense of the stories we read. Visualizing means making mental images while reading. Readers might imagine sights, sounds, smells, tastes, sensations, and feelings. Visualizing helps readers understand, remember, and enjoy reading.

You can help your child visualize by stopping every so often while reading aloud and asking questions such as:

  • What do you see in your mind as I read to you?
  • What words did you hear in the story that helped you create that picture in your mind?

In addition to stopping and discussing the story with your child, you might:

  • Ask your child to close his or her eyes as you read and get a mental picture of the story.
  • Give your child the opportunity to draw what he or she visualized, and then talk about the drawing.

Have fun reading, talking, and listening to each other!

IMG_3735The children often use sticky notes to make connections and visualize.



Upcoming Events & News

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I can’t believe that it is already December. Please remember to send your child with boots, snow pants, gloves and a hat. It can get very cold outside without them. Also because our special is at the end of the day, it is VERY difficult for them to make the bus in time if they have to put on all of their snow gear. It may be beneficial if you send an extra bag for them to carry their snow pants. I will encourage them to wear boots, coat, gloves and hat.

The Holiday Program will be next week Thursday, December 9th.

Fill a stocking: Instead of a gift exchange, we would like each child to bring in a small item for 27 students. I will be providing a stocking for them to place the gifts in so that each child will have a filled stocking to look through at the end of our party. Please see the note that was sent home today.

1659246.thmOur classroom party will be Friday, December 17th at 1:00. Mrs. Ford will be planning the party and will be contacting parent volunteers shortly. Thanks in advance for your help!


Math Update

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Your child is learning about place value and will use this knowledge of place value to add 2 and 3 digit numbers. The children will show numbers using drawings like this:

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Try giving your child a 2 or 3 digit number and ask your child to make a drawing to represent that number. Later in this unit, we will be working on adding 2 digit numbers using the drawings to help them. They can make Proof Drawings with boxes, sticks, and circles to demonstrate how a new ten is formed from 10 ones.