Holiday Homework Break

As you know, your 3rd Grader has been working extremely hard getting their homework in on time every week.  It is now time for them to sit back and take a break.  I am not assigning a homework packet over the long holiday break.  


However, if your 3rd Grader happens to come across some old unfinished homework packets in their sock drawer that they never handed in -while they are doing a "deep clean" on their bedroom.  Well, that would be just fine if they wanted to finish it and hand that in when they come back to school on January 3rd.

Here's hoping for coal-free stockings, lots of egg nog and SNOW!  Have a great Holiday Break.

Congratulations to our Students of the Month

Our December Students of the Month:  Mallory, Eisel and Lucy.

Thank You Mr. Akers!

Ms. Karen, our fantastic Administrative Assistant here at school read on our blog that we are studying rocks and minerals.  Ms. Akers told her husband, Mr. Akers who happens to be quit a rock hound. Mr. Akers was kind enough to donate a huge box of polished rocks and minerals to our class. Thanks to Mr. Akers, your student will be coming home with two really cool, polished pieces.

Congratulations Eisel! Our Learn for Life Student of the Week

"Be, Bomp, Boomp.  You're Student of the Week."

What's in Santa's Beard?

Since many of us are still "on the fence" when it comes to Santa, we decided to write a persuasive letter to him. 

It was a fun writing / art project.

It also helped make our hallway look festive.

Santas are coming home tomorrow.

Learning with iPads

This year our school was able to purchase a couple of iPads.  Your Third Grader is getting first hand experience with the latest technology that will help them build critical thinking and problem solving skills that they will use the rest of their lives.

We are are just starting to use these iPads in our classroom.  We loaded some great applications to help them with spelling, computation, geography and science.    

Connecting our iPads to our projector allows the entire class to participate.  We are hoping to have a class set of iPads in the near future.

Writing Buddies

Today we started a writing project with our Reading Buddies in Ms. Schnider's Kindergarten class. Our Reading buddies are now Writing Buddies.  

We are working on a writing project called 

"I FEEL STRONG WHEN . . . "     

Kindergartners will be coming up with ideas of what they want to say.  Third Graders are helping them with the mechanics of their writing and word choice.  This collaborative project will be going up next month at a local business near you.

State Reading Tests Today thru Thursday

We are scheduled to take our Oregon State Reading Tests this week.
We have been preparing for this test all year. I know your Third Grader will do well.
Ms. Rolfe will be taking our class to the computer lab at 8:20, so please have them at school by 8:00 everyday this week.
I am out again today. If it was Halloween I would have a very scary mask indeed. I hope to be back in class soon (when I can see out of both eyes). Mr. Morantte, Ms.Wilcox and I have been in close communication. There won't be any disruption in your child's educational service.
Thank you for your patience,
Mr. L.

Mr. Leach is out.

Hello Parents, I was run off the road today while biking in to the school. I'm ok. No broken bones, just very sore. And the side of my face looks like I used it for a brake.
So I am out today. Mr. Morantte is in with a guest teacher so, I'm sure your 3rd Grader is in good hands. I will be back in soon.

Congratulations Alexia!

Alexia is our Learn for Life Student of the Week.

Ms. Harold now has a great Class Blog!

You can see what her Fourth Graders are up to @ http://mshfabfourth.blogspot.com/

Meet Mr. Morantte

Mr. Morantte is our new Student Teacher.  He is in his Senior year at University of Portland.  He has worked at Chief Joseph, Peninsula and Sabin Elementary Schools.  He has also worked at Ockley Green and Roosevelt High School.  

We are very excited to have Mr.  Morantte working with us for the rest of the year.

Thank You Parents

Our class was able to have 24 conferences yesterday and Monday.
It is always such a privilege to sit down with you and watch as your 3rd Grader shows all of the great work they've been doing this year.
Thank you for moving around your work schedules and making the time for your 3rd Grader.
Have a great Thanksgiving!

Student Led Conferences

This Monday & Tuesday are Parent Teacher Conferences.  Your 3rd Grader is going to be showing you all the work they have been doing through out the school year.  It is critical that they show up with you, since they will be leading the conference.   Please contact me if you are unable to make your conference time so that we can reschedule.

FIELD DEDICATION

The pictures say it all.

3rd Grade Rocks! (and Minerals)

We have launched into our Rocks & Minerals Unit here in Room 12.  Yesterday we came up with a chart of "What We Think We Know" about rocks and minerals and watched a great introductory video.  Today we spent time coming up with some characteristics of rocks and minerals and then looked at several different types and classifyed them based on their characteristics.

Mucho Frio Fire Drill II

It was a chilly day for a fire drill.

Soccer Field Dedication Today!

Big ceremony planned for this afternoon.  It looks like the fun starts at 3:45 today.

New Video from our Wordstock Field Trip

Our class field trip is featured in the Willamette Week Give Guide for Wordstock and we couldn't be happier!

Stop by Starbucks all of this month to see our Thank-Ku Project.
St. Johns Bridge Paintings are up at Girasole Pizza for one more week so stop in if you haven't seen them yet.

Have a great looooong weekend

Just a reminder that there is no school tomorrow (teacher planning day) and Friday Veterans Day.  Have a great weekend!