The End:)

Students, it has been a privilege to work with each one of you. Have a great summer and good luck next year in 4th grade!

(I made a final movie of our May-June activities but the file was too big for the blog.  It's divided into two parts below, so that the files would upload properly. Enjoy!)

May-June 2012 Part 1

 

May-June 2012 Part 2

 

Get Ready For . . .

Homework Folders and Book Reports!
Both are due this Wednesday, May 30th, so that grades can be entered for report cards. Reading minutes will be counted up through Friday, May 24th.

July Birthdays!
We are celebrating our last four birthdays a day at a time over the next week:
Ridge - Wed., May 30th
Izzy - Fri., June 1st
Kai - Mon., June 4th
Emma - Tues., June 5th

Field Trip!
This Thurs., May 31st we are headed for Discovery Gateway, Clark Planetarium, and lunch at Liberty Park. Please check the weather, so that students are prepared for whatever Utah has to offer that day:) We are excited for our biggest field trip of the year!

Talent Show!
Talent Show sign-ups are currently taking place. Each third grade class will have its own talent show beginning at 12:45 on Mon., June 4th. Students will then vote for their top four favorites and we will have a grade level talent show in the gym the next day at 10:30. The sky's the limit when it comes to talent! If a student is using music for an act, please make sure lyrics are appropriate for school.

Field Day!
Field Day is on Mon., June 4th and will have a Summer Olympic theme this year. Our picnic lunch out on the lawn begins at 11:45 and all are welcome to come! Again, check the weather for suitable attire and, if needed, hats, sunscreen, and water bottles. Let the games begin!

Readers' Theater Plays

We've been practicing our fluency and expression on readers' theater scripts! We've even created scenery using pastel chalks. Next week we'll be performing them in our classroom for the entire third grade. Parents are welcome to attend. Below is the schedule for our performances.

Tuesday, May 29th - 9:15 a.m.
"Emperor's New Hair"
"Arthur's Halloween"

Wednesday, May 30th - 1:00 p.m.
"Dazzle"
"Click Clack Moo"
"The Gruffalo"

Mom and Me Poetry Tea

Thank you for attending our Mom and Me Poetry Tea last week. It was wonderful having so many special guests to honor.  We loved reciting poems for you, writing poems with you, reading poems to you, and enjoying brownies and punch.  Below are pictures of students with their special guests, as well as our Georgia O'Keeffe art. Happy Mother's Day!

Realistic Fiction Board Game Book Reports

Every student has chosen a realistic fiction book and checked it off with me.  For those who are ready to begin working on the actual game, here are some reminders.  The game should be simple, align with the story you read, and include at least 10 question cards with true/false or multiple choice answers.  Dice and game pieces are available at school to actually play the games.  Below are a few links if you're looking for board game templates or other ideas. Review the instructions in your homework folder and let your creative juices flow!

Board Game Template
Word Board Game Templates
Printable Board Games
More Board Games
Word Playing Card Template and Excel Board Game Templates

3rd Grade Graphing and Technology

We are currently studying data, graphing, and probability in math.  The students have learned the components of pictographs and bar graphs and how to gather data using tally charts.  They worked in groups of 2-3 to graph some of our class favorites! Then, they used a power point template to show their results.  Check out the link below to find out our favorite drinks, ice cream flavors, birds, holidays, sports, pets, dog breeds, subjects, colors, and candies!

Thank you!

 Flowers, notes, kleenex, fruit, green shirts, and a special lunch . . . sound like an island vacation? If you add dry erase markers, baggies, and disinfectant wipes to the list, it's Teacher Appreciation Week!  I just wanted to thank all of the students and parents for your kindness and thoughtfulness last week.  Our class enjoyed celebrating the teachers and secretaries at our school with special things each day.  I appreciate being appreciated:)

Amazing Current Events

This purpose of this post is to celebrate the fantastic current events we've had this month! Almost every single student remembered to write questions before writing answers on their current event page - - and the questions were well thought out!  Fantastic!  Many current event presentations have raised further questions, discussion, and reasoning among our classmates.  We love learning about interesting things happening in the world around us! I am so proud of the children for responsibly completing their current events, for carefully following directions, and for being clear and confident on their oral presentations.  I do believe I am seeing third graders prepare to enter the fourth grade!  Kudos!

Spring is Here!

Welcome back from Spring Break! I hope everyone had a relaxing time in all of that beautiful weather. We're working hard in 3rd grade to prepare for these students' first end-of-year test. In 2 1/2 short weeks, the fun begins. The children are looking forward to showing everything they've learned this year.  Check out the video below to see what else we've been doing this spring.

March Madness Pics:)

Here are a few pictures of special events in our classroom.

First, our class participated in World Math Day and World Spelling Day this month. About 1.57 million students from all over the world competed in the events and we got to be a part of it! The World Spellometer showed 54,985,637 points earned for words spelled correctly, while the Mathometer ticked off a total of 293,571,830 points! Click here to see the class awards ceremony we had last week.

After about two months of very hard work, our first nine animal information books have been published! The students were divided up into small groups around the room, so that all nine authors could read their new books aloud and answer questions from their listeners. I was so impressed! Click here to see pictures of our class story time:)

Have a great week!

Traditional Story Sandwich Book Reports

Traditional stories are ones that were passed down orally for many generations before being written down.  They include fairy tales, folk tales, tall tales, legends, fables, and myths.  In the Public Library, these books are found in the children's nonfiction section under call numbers beginning with J398.2.  Students are required to choose a book from this section of the library.
The stories are many and varied, familiar or new, and rich with cultural heritage and moral themes.  I hope the students will take advantage of the wonderful opportunity they have to explore this genre.  We are certainly enjoying studying the books together at school! Below are a few examples: 

Altara Fundraisers

Last week we had a special assembly to kick off Altara Student Council's "Jump Rope for Heart" service project/fundraiser.  The event will be held April 12;  a letter and packet were sent home last week with more information. Below are a few fun pictures from the assembly, which featured a jump rope team. 
Also, Altara's students reached the PTA Box Tops goal, so Mr. Jameson dressed up like a clown and visited each class during the day.  He happened to visit third grade during music and enjoyed hearing us sing the end of "See us Shine."  Thank you for supporting the box top drive in February and the Jump Rope for Heart event coming up in April!

Multiplication Mastery

Over the last few weeks we've moved on to other concepts in math (geometry and fractions), so there hasn't been as much time at school to practice multiplication facts.  Right now, these facts are mainly in the students' short-term memories.  In order to make the transfer to long-term memory, multiplication facts need to be continually reviewed (5-10 minutes per day is plenty of time).  Many students, even those who have passed off all of their fact families, are forgetting facts they once knew.  This is a normal part of multiplication memorization, which is why constant review is so vital.  The nation-wide math core curriculum that Canyons implemented last year assumes that multiplication facts x0-10 are mastered when students begin 4th grade.  The better they know their facts, the easier upper grade math will be for them.  The children know where to get flashcards in my room whenever they need them.  If you are looking for flashcard games to play with your child, click on the link below.  Another great strategy for facts x2, 3, 4, 5, and 9 is to have the students practice writing down all of the multiples (answers).  Then they can use those answers on their drills.  Good luck!

February Fun

 The last few weeks have been very full!  Below are some pictures to give you just a taste of what we've been doing at school together.  Also, remember that this is the last week to schedule parent-teacher conferences.  We're looking forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks!

Online Scheduler Open

Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up on Mar. 7-8. The Online Scheduler is available on Altara's home page Feb. 13-26, so that you can plan for Parent Teacher Conferences at your convenience.  Instructions are below.

1. Click the following icon:

2. Scroll down to "Altara Elementary" and click "go."

3. Type in the school password (altara) and click "login."

4. Type in your student's ID number.
(hint: The student ID is the username for Envision Math found on the sticker inside of your child's homework folder.)
5. Select an available time slot that works best for you.

If you have any problems or would like support setting up your schedule, feel free to visit the office or call Susan Taylor, our school secretary, for assistance.

Valentine's Day Party and February Current Events Coming Up!

Dear Parents,
We'll be holding our class Valentine's Day party next Tuesday, February 14th.  Students should decorate a box, or other container that fits easily on top of their desks, and bring it to school on that day.  If they choose to give valentines to class members, they should be sure to include every student.  Click here for a class list of names.  Our party will begin at 1:50 p.m. and students will be able to pass out their valentines during that time.  If you are interested in volunteering, please contact our room parent, Tyler Kettle.  Know that all parents are always welcome at our holiday parties:)

Current Events begin this week!  For the last two current events, students printed articles off at school and brought them home.  This month, they are encouraged to use the blog websites or other appropriate resources to find current events at home.  They should choose events they can understand and explain and that have made a difference for good.  They are also encouraged to write complete and thoughtful questions and responses on their current event papers.   Student responses to the articles are really more important than the articles themselves, since they show the depth of the student's comprehension and personal application.

Thank you and have a great week!

Math: A Day in the Life of a 3rd Grader

We have been working on what division means.  I often turn on my computer video camera and carry it around the room to different locations while the children are working with partners.  It allows me to see what they are learning and to share their good math conversations with each other.  Below are a few clips of the students learning how to solve division story problems.  If the problem is essentially asking, "How many in each group?" the children use the strategy of dealing out objects.  If the problem is essentially asking, "How many groups?" the children use the strategy of repeated subtraction.  Here we are, raw and real, during math instruction and practice- - enjoy!

Learn More About the Earth, Moon, and Solar System!

We have been learning some interesting and exciting things about our Earth and moon.  We know what the back side of the moon looks like, what causes day and night, what causes seasons, why the sun and stars appear to move across the sky, and why the moon appears to change shape, just to name a few.  We've also expanded our vocabulary with rotate, revolve, orbit, axis, appearance, and sphere.  Several students have been searching on the internet for more information about space on their own time.  Below are just a few student-friendly links.  If you find any other great websites for kids, let us know!

Star Child
Solar System Tour
Astronomy for Kids
See Phases of the Moon at any Date and Time

Arts, Inc.

Last week we attended a marvelous assembly put on by Arts, Inc. and Altara's 4th grade students.  Through song, dance, games, maps, etc. we learned all about the history of Utah. Next week, we also have a few students participating in the after-school spelling bee and science fair.  Way to get involved and stretch yourselves!
Remember to keep practicing your math facts (and reviewing them, so they stick in your long-term memory:) and continue to prepare for your biography poster book reports, which are due next Thursday. Have a great week!

Biography Book Reports

We are learning so many things through the eyes of the people who lived them! January and February will be full of biographies as we study polar explorers, African Americans, famous women, and many other people who made a difference for good in the world.  Students should choose books on their reading levels about people they are not already familiar with.  Above is a picture of biography book reports completed by past third grade students.  Below is a list of things that should be included on each child's poster.  Biography book reports are due Thursday, January 26th.  Happy Reading!

Requirements: 

• On a poster board, draw a large picture/caricature of the individual whose biography you read. 
• The illustrations must be done by hand, by the students, and neatly colored. 
• Outline everything with a darker color or a black fine tip marker.
• Along the sides of the character, write or type sentences and draw a line to each of the following body parts:

Forehead (Mind):    Write something the person thought.  
Eyes:                       Write something the person saw.  
Ears:                        Write something the person heard.  
Heart:                      Write something the person felt or believed.  
Hands and/or Feet:  Write something the person did.

New Student Dictionaries

Thank you, Sandy Rotary Club, for donating personal dictionaries to Altara's third grade students!

Happy Holidays!

We hope you all had a wonderful Winter Break!  Here are some highlights from last month.