Overall, I think our class has learned something special this week!  We need to slow down & remember what our expectations are.  I think we are still very much in  "learing & training" mode right now, but I am confident that soon we will run like a well oiled machine! 

As this machine continues to move forward, students will be receiving more steady homework next week.  Each night they will have reading for 20 minutes, one math page, and work on spelling activities.  The spelling activities are still being learned though, so if students need help at the end of the day I will offer a short period of time to explain it to them.  That way they can work on part of it here and finish it at home.  This will hopefully help build more confidence in their homework abiliities!

Next week we are moving on to more reading skills and will be focusing on non-fiction text features.  We will use non-fiction texts to continue to explore our CAFE skills of: check for understanding, cross check, back up & re-read, ask questions, choose good fit books, and tune into interesting words.  Ask your students if they use these each time they read?  Let's help hold them accountable for what they do each night!

Please don't forget to send in your money for our National Geographic for Kids subscription.  The magazines should be coming in soon and we would like to make the first payment soon.  Each child costs about $4.69, thanks so much!

Last, but not least, I apologize for the technical difficulties we are having with our class website.  Some things are taking longer than expected to clear out from last year, while others just won't post at all.  So keep checking it out and we will do our best to get it completely up & running and up to date!  Thank you so much for your patience!

It's the second week of 3rd grade and we are continuing to work hard on our rules, procedures, and learning.  We are building our stamina in Daily Cafe', starting up writer's workshop, beginning to learn about communities and citizenship, and exploring place value & addition in math!  So much to do, so little time it seems! 

In addition to your child's homework of reading for 20 minutes and one math page per night, we are working on spelling activities IN CLASS this week.  Once students have practiced the spelling activity expectations with me in class, they will start them up on their own next week at home.

Also, if you have not turned in your green WCPSS emergency student card, please do so immeadiately.  We need that important information as soon as possible in case of an emergency, thank you!

If you have any questions please contact me via email at: [email protected].

Have a great week!

Spelling- Starting Monday, every week students will be receiving spelling words and have to complete spelling homework each night with these words.  The “Speller’s Choice” worksheet, located in their homework binder and it displays various activities worth levels.  At their own pace, students must complete 3 level III activities or 2 level IV activities by Friday.  Students need to try to refrain from using the same activity more than once a week.  Spelling homework should be completed in their homework binder, behind the Spelling Tab (this will be added next week).  Each new activity needs to be labeled with their name, date, activity name, and level.  We will be practicing this in class and will continue to model quality homework in class next week.

Writing –To begin our Writing Workshop, our class will be decorating our Writer’s notebook with pictures of ourselves and fun stickers.  Please send these in with students on MONDAY, thank you!

Math – Wake County uses the Houghton Mifflin Math Expression Curriculum and we will be sending home Family Letters for each unit.  This week we will be exploring our math manipulatives and start working on addition & place value.

Homework –Next week, students will complete their spelling homework in class, but will still need to read and do math at home.  We will be working very hard to practice quality homework and are holding ourselves responsible for our work.  Each night students will have spelling homework, reading for 20 minutes, and will be receiving math homework more consistently.  Both students and parents have responsibilities when it comes to 3rd grade homework.  I hope we all can work together in supporting their learning!  Parents, please remember to sign the reading log in the binder AND to look for any notes home in their Student Agendas.

Arrival and Dismissal - The bell will sound at 8:45am and students will then enter the building.  Bus riders and daycare vans will enter the front doors of the school.  Carpoolers will enter the door facing the large parking lot.  Students arriving carpool should be dropped off at the appropriate doors and they can then make their way down to their room independently.  If they need assistance getting to the cafeteria for breakfast or to the classroom during the first few weeks, staff members and safety patrol will gladly assist them.

A second bell will sound at 9:15am indicating the start of the instructional day.  During this thirty minute period students will be working on their morning work at their desk quietly.  Students arriving after 9:15 will be marked tardy. 

At 3:35pm the bell will sound for carpool students to report to the multi-purpose room/gymnasium.  Bus riders will remain in the room until their bus is called or displayed on the television monitor, which will begin at 3:45.  The office will close for student check-out at 3pm, so if you need to check your student out of school at the end of the day, please do so before 3pm.

Notes to the Teacher - As a teacher, I like to communicate with home as often as possible.  Phone calls or notes home will not always be negative in their subject manner, but may also be positive about your child’s behavior, conduct, and/or work habits.  Please do not view a note or call from me as a “bad” thing, I am an “equal opportunity communicator!”  If for any reason you need to contact me about your child or other questions/ concerns, please feel free to send a note to school with your child or email me.  I am best reached by email and I am able to more quickly respond that way.   Otherwise, leaving a message at the front office or a note will your child will work well too.

Parent Volunteers - I enjoy having volunteers in the classroom.  Having an organized plan or duty for volunteers works best for me in the past years and is much more valuable to student learning.  I typically like to have volunteers sign up to file papers, make copies (I will need to “train” these volunteers on the BRES machines), creating class books, assisting with celebrations, providing treats when asked, field trips, and most importantly working with small groups of students in different subject areas.  Assistance in any of these areas is very helpful to me. 

We are still working on our classroom procedures, practicing how to follow the rules, and becoming more familiar with everyday activities.  Therefore, I usually refrain from having parent volunteers in the classroom for the first few weeks of school.  If you will be “visiting” the school and/or child, I ask that you primarily use lunch to do so.  Visiting the classroom unexpectedly interrupts & distracts student learning, especially during the first few weeks of school.  It would be greatly appreciated if meeting a student for lunch that you waited for them in the cafeteria and also parted ways from there as well. 

Please remember to make sure that you have filled out the proper WCPSS Volunteer Clearance Forms at the front office computer.  If you have been cleared by the county previously, you may need to check that it is updated.  Wake County requires that volunteers update their forms on a yearly basis.  Thank you for all of your cooperation and future assistance!

Behavior System – Our classroom has theme of teamwork for the school year.  We are working with a Team Themed Behavior Chart where there are different levels of conduct.  Every student starts on “Starting Lineup” and then can move their clip up or down depending on their behavior, work habits, and conduct.   All Star students will be receiving a ticket to possibly earn a reward/prize each Friday!

ALL-STAR:  I go above and beyond by putting others first. I set a very strong example for my teammates.

Starting Lineup:  I understand and practice appropriate behaviors most of the time.

Second String:  I am needing a few reminders to practice appropriate behaviors.

Penalty Box:  I am not practicing appropriate behaviors even after several reminders. I need to make a plan to help me make better choices.

Team Sonntag Schedule
Morning Work       8:45-9:15am
Morning Meeting   9:15-9:20am
Daily 5 - Literacy Block
(Reading/Writing)    9:20-10:10am
Specials                10:10-10:55am
Literacy Block      10:55-12:05pm      
Lunch                    12:05-12:35pm
Literacy Block      12:35-12:55pm
S.S./Science         12:55-1:30pm
Recess                  1:30-2:00pm
Math                     2:00-3:00pm
Team Time           3:00-3:30
Dismissal              3:35pm

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”

~John F. Kennedy