WELCOME IGNACIO

We are all very excited that Ignacio joined our classroom this week.  Many of us remember Ignacio from when he attended James John in 1st Grade and are very happy that he and his family are back in St. Johns.  Welcome back Ignacio!

The Presidents of the United States of America - Volcano

As you know, we have been studying Volcanoes. Here's a fun music video by a great band up in Seattle. Ask your Third Grader what volcano they are singing about.

Green Eggs on Friday?!?

Friday will be a day that your 3rd Grader won't want to miss.

Storybook Night This Thursday!

Find your best flannel footed PJ's and join Mr. Horrigan and other James John Teachers as they read some of your kid's favorite books for our first Storybook Night right here at James John.  The fun starts at 6:30 and lasts until your kid is fast asleep. . . or 7:30 pm.  Whichever comes first.  

Learning About Volcanoes

Today we started researching volcanoes.  Not only are we learning the different types of volcanoes, we are also learning where in the world the most active volcanoes are and how they are formed. 

 
 

 

  "If you ever drop your keys into a river of molten lava, let'em go, because, man, they're gone."  


- Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy

SUN School Marimba Magic

Our SUN School Marimba Class performed at our Monthly Awards Assembly Friday.  It was pretty rockin'!  Watch Leti and Alexia as they totally tear it up on the Marimbas.

Jump Rope for Heart . . . and prizes!

Ema, Eva and Kai did Jump Rope for Heart this year. Thanks to our PE Teacher, Ms. Schwartzkoff , our school raised over $1000.00 for children with heart conditions.

It's a Floor Wax. It's a Dessert Topping. Yikes!

During Learn for Life today- we learned how dangerous cleaning products and food items sometimes have very similar packaging. It was a really important lesson fo keeping ourselves and our younger siblings safe. It also reminded me of an old SNL commercial:

Shimmer Floor Wax

Congratulations to our Students of the Month!

Congratulations to our Students of the Month for February:  Melony, Elias & Parfait.

Congratulations Savannah!

Savannah is our Learn for Life Student of the Week!

Have You Been To Mr. Morantte's New Classroom Blog?

Mr. Morantte has started a blog about what he's been teaching in our classroom.  You may have noticed that I have been reposting from his blog while I have been out the past few days.  He has shared his blog with students and faculty at University of Portland.  

I have heard that they are all very impressed with what your Third Grader has been up to.

Mr. Morantte's Classroom Adventures: Quarterific

Mr. Morantte's Classroom Adventures: Quarterific: We are learning how to skip count by 25. We are using quarters to express counting by 25. They are watching this video to help learn how to...

Mr. Morantte's Classroom Adventures: Mr. Leach will be back

Mr. Morantte's Classroom Adventures: Mr. Leach will be back: Mr. Leach will be returning to Room 12 tomorrow. He has touched down in Portland, but will be out today.

Mr. Morantte's Classroom Adventures: Congratulations Damian!

Mr. Morantte's Classroom Adventures: Congratulations Damian!: Damian is our Learn for Life Student of the Week!

Mr. Morantte's Classroom Adventures: Natural Disaster Reading

Mr. Morantte's Classroom Adventures: Natural Disaster Reading: So, I went to the Multnomah County Library a while ago and asked for books on natural disasters. I got an email saying that there were man...

Mr. Morantte's Classroom Adventures: Finished Multiplication Masks

Mr. Morantte's Classroom Adventures: Finished Multiplication Masks: On friday we finished the masks and they turned out awesome. Room 12 is getting the multiplication facts down. I am so proud of them. They ...

Mr. Morantte's Classroom Adventures: Sauvie Island and Dirt Exploration

Mr. Morantte's Classroom Adventures: Sauvie Island and Dirt Exploration: Yesterday Ms. Jennifer came into Room 12 to talk about soil and what we can find in it. The kids really enjoyed peering through the plat...

Mr. Morantte's Classroom Adventures: Read Aloud with Ms. Johnson

Mr. Morantte's Classroom Adventures: Read Aloud with Ms. Johnson: Ms. Johnson is the substitute teacher in Mr. Leach's Classroom and all of our friends are really enjoying having her. She is reading Wild...

Artwork up at Starbucks

Be sure to stop by St. Johns Starbucks and check out Ms. Harold's kids artwork.

Mr. Morantte's Classroom Adventures: Multiplication Masks

Mr. Morantte's Classroom Adventures: Multiplication Masks: Today kids were coloring their masks and going around the room to ask the multiplication questions they put on their masks. They are real...

Research Groups

This morning we started online research for our natural disasters that we are studying.  Why natural disasters?  Mr. Morantte thought it would be a great way to teach landforms.  Which is one of our 3rd Grade Social Studies content areas.

Ms. Rolfe helped us get all set up in the computer lab this morning as well as posting links that we could follow to our topics.    

See if you can spot your little researcher.

 

  

Late Opening Wednesday

Buses will be running on a 2 hr. delay.  Good Morning for sleeping off all of that candy you had the day before.

Burgerville This Tuesday!!!

Geoffrey Canada of Harlem Children's Zone

Last night I was able to hear Geoffrey Canada speak at Concordia University's Leadership in Education Awards.  

Mr. Canada started Harlem Children's Zone which is a Charter School in the Bronx.  Hearing him tell about the work that he was involved in was both  heartbreaking and inspiring. 

Progress Report Went Home Today

2nd Quarter Progress Reports are coming home today with your 3rd Grader.

Congratulations Ema!

Emma is our Learn for Life Student of the Week!

Ideas for DIY Cards

DIY VALENTINES

This year we are trying something different with Valentines.  Your 3rd grader is coming home with a "kit" that they can use to make valentines this weekend.

If you already bought Valentines you can:

•  Have your 3rd grader pass them out as usual.
• Cut them up and use them in your DIY Valentine.
• Give them to friends and family.
• Save them for next year.

We will also be having a "healthy snacks" V Party next Tuesday.

Schoolhouse Supplies

This past Friday I spoke at Schoolhouse Supplies Celebrity Spelling Bee. As you know, Schoolhouse Supplies, through their corporate sponsors, supports our school with backpacks & supplies every year. The following is the video that preceded my speech.

Writing in Room 12

We were writing up a storm this morning.  Literally.  We are writing about different natural disasters as a way of teaching about landforms.  Your 3rd Grader is writing their story in three parts.  Before, during and after the disaster.  We are drawing pictures to spur on our writing.  Don't worry, we chose not to use St. Johns as a setting.