• Be sure to check your child's Friday folder for a note indicating your scheduled P/T conference time. Please return the bottom section of the note to confirm (or reschedule) your time. We look forward to meeting with you to discuss your child's progress in third grade!
• Brrr! It's feeling like fall - be sure your child has cold weather gear for outdoor recess each day.
• Reminder: Friday, November 5 is a NO SCHOOL day for students.
• Please be sure to read the post below regarding ITBS testing Nov. 1 - 11.
October 29, 2010
Iowa Test of Basic Skills
What: The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (also referred to as ITBS)
When: November 1-12th. We won't be testing all day, but try to do only an hour of testing a day.
Why: The ITBS is a standardized test which shows the school district how your child is achieving academically. These scores are reported to the Department of Education as part of the No Child Left Behind Act.
Who: ITBS begins in third grade and will continue throughout middle school.
What do parents do? It is important that the children get a good breakfast in the morning. We are providing snacks for the testing, but a healthy breakfast will get them going! (Mrs. Bender's room could use some more snacks - we have Mon.-Weds. covered for the first week and Tuesday of the next week. If you could help, let Mrs. Bender know.)
Make sure your child gets plenty of rest! They do try their best and will be tired at the end of the day. Early bedtimes these next two weeks would be helpful.
Be encouraging! The ITBS is a timed test and covers a lot of material. Some of the material may be confusing for the students and they may be frustrated. Encourage them to do their best and to stay positive.
Last week booklets were sent home containing information about the ITBS and some practice tests. You may want to take some time to go over these booklets with your child to help them feel better prepared.
When: November 1-12th. We won't be testing all day, but try to do only an hour of testing a day.
Why: The ITBS is a standardized test which shows the school district how your child is achieving academically. These scores are reported to the Department of Education as part of the No Child Left Behind Act.
Who: ITBS begins in third grade and will continue throughout middle school.
What do parents do? It is important that the children get a good breakfast in the morning. We are providing snacks for the testing, but a healthy breakfast will get them going! (Mrs. Bender's room could use some more snacks - we have Mon.-Weds. covered for the first week and Tuesday of the next week. If you could help, let Mrs. Bender know.)
Make sure your child gets plenty of rest! They do try their best and will be tired at the end of the day. Early bedtimes these next two weeks would be helpful.
Be encouraging! The ITBS is a timed test and covers a lot of material. Some of the material may be confusing for the students and they may be frustrated. Encourage them to do their best and to stay positive.
Last week booklets were sent home containing information about the ITBS and some practice tests. You may want to take some time to go over these booklets with your child to help them feel better prepared.
New Technology at KE
Thanks to grants from the Washington County Riverboat Foundation, KE classrooms have received useful technology upgrades! Smart boards (interactive whiteboards) have been installed in classrooms. We use the Smart boards for a variety of games and activities, and can use them as a "regular" whiteboard as well.
We've also gotten document cameras, which are like a newer (super!) version of an overhead. Basically the document camera is like a video camera, and displays whatever is placed under it on the screen (via projector) for all to see. Now, not only can we display transparencies, but any object can be magnified and projected. In the photo below a social studies map is projected so that students can see where to make grid lines.
Playing an interactive plural noun memory game on the Smart board
We've also gotten document cameras, which are like a newer (super!) version of an overhead. Basically the document camera is like a video camera, and displays whatever is placed under it on the screen (via projector) for all to see. Now, not only can we display transparencies, but any object can be magnified and projected. In the photo below a social studies map is projected so that students can see where to make grid lines.
Playing an interactive plural noun memory game on the Smart board
Scenes from Friday STATIONS
Today's stations included creating fall trees, math catch up/math games, computer time, and Smart board
Social Studies
We continue to explore the US in social studies. This week students went on a "treasure hunt" using the US map and clues regarding cultural and natural features. We also learned about map grids, and how a grid can help us to find a location on a map.
Language Skills
Spelling this week focused on word with the long i sound, including words with "ie" and "ight" spelling patterns. We continue to study singular and plural nouns, and have found that there are some tricky plurals that don't follow the grammar rules (goose --> geese, child --> children).
Our writing focus has been writing a newspaper article. It has been challenging for some students to remember not to use "I" or "we" in their article, but they are catching on to the idea that a newspaper writer does not write in first person. Next week we'll type our articles in the lab.
Our writing focus has been writing a newspaper article. It has been challenging for some students to remember not to use "I" or "we" in their article, but they are catching on to the idea that a newspaper writer does not write in first person. Next week we'll type our articles in the lab.
Favorite Book Characters
Today Mrs. Bender's class had some interesting visitors! Ms. Spring's kindergarten class came over dressed as their favorite book character. They brought along their book so the third graders got to spend some time reading some of their favorites too. The kids also got to enjoy a cookie.
Science
We finished up our water and matter presentations this week so we are ready to move on to electricity. Mrs. Bender's class did an activity today on static electricity, but we had trouble with an allergic reaction with the balloons - oops! Therefore, Mrs. Hartsock's class is going to have some homework. Hopefully they will find it fun and should only take them about 15 minutes to do. Directions and supplies will be coming home with the kids. They are to mark whether a charged balloon or an uncharged balloon had an effect on the materials. There is a sheet included for them to record their results. Please send the sheets back to school on Monday.
Math
This week we worked on measuring perimeter and area along with telling the difference between the two.
With the Iowa Test of Basic Skills next week, the kids won't have any homework November 1-4th. A perfect time to review the addition and subtraction facts along with reviewing subtraction with regrouping.
On Thursday of next week we will be working on circumference doing an activity with different sizes of cans. If you have a can that could be donated, that would be great. ( It does not have to be empty, just make sure it is marked with your child's name and we will return it! If you do send an empty can, please make sure it is clean and does not have any sharp edges. ) Thanks!
With the Iowa Test of Basic Skills next week, the kids won't have any homework November 1-4th. A perfect time to review the addition and subtraction facts along with reviewing subtraction with regrouping.
On Thursday of next week we will be working on circumference doing an activity with different sizes of cans. If you have a can that could be donated, that would be great. ( It does not have to be empty, just make sure it is marked with your child's name and we will return it! If you do send an empty can, please make sure it is clean and does not have any sharp edges. ) Thanks!
Reading
Dancing Rainbows, a nonfiction story about the Tewa Indians, has been our shared reading story this week. Skills we've worked on include identifying the main idea and details of a paragraph, and using the reading strategies of monitoring and clarifying when we read.
October 22, 2010
This 'N That
• If you have not yet returned your bright green P/T conference scheduling form, please do asap so that we can finalize conference schedules. Thanks so much to families who have already returned the form. You'll soon receive a note with your conference time/date.
• In today's Friday folder you'll find a note regarding the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills that 3rd graders will be taking Nov. 1 - 12. This will be the first year for your child to take the ITBS, so we've been doing some practice tests in class. Please note that it will be especially important for students to get a good night's rest and eat a healthy breakfast each morning. It is also VERY helpful to avoid scheduling appointments/events that cause your child to miss school during this time, as it can be challenging for students to make up the tests and will cause them to miss out on other class activities when they are making up testing. Please return the bottom portion of the note if you are willing to provide a healthy snack for your child's class (19 students) during testing.
• It's beginning to feel like Fall! Be sure your student comes dressed for outside recess - it has been quite chilly during morning recess, and some children have not had warm enough clothing.
• We hope you plan to attend the Pasta for the Playground/Book Fair event on Tuesday, Nov. 16 from 5-7 pm. Click here to read the details.
And finally, photos from our stations this afternoon:
Smart board - contractions memory
Decorating placemats for American Education Week
Playing Mancala, an African game that was mentioned in our reading story this week.
• In today's Friday folder you'll find a note regarding the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills that 3rd graders will be taking Nov. 1 - 12. This will be the first year for your child to take the ITBS, so we've been doing some practice tests in class. Please note that it will be especially important for students to get a good night's rest and eat a healthy breakfast each morning. It is also VERY helpful to avoid scheduling appointments/events that cause your child to miss school during this time, as it can be challenging for students to make up the tests and will cause them to miss out on other class activities when they are making up testing. Please return the bottom portion of the note if you are willing to provide a healthy snack for your child's class (19 students) during testing.
• It's beginning to feel like Fall! Be sure your student comes dressed for outside recess - it has been quite chilly during morning recess, and some children have not had warm enough clothing.
• We hope you plan to attend the Pasta for the Playground/Book Fair event on Tuesday, Nov. 16 from 5-7 pm. Click here to read the details.
And finally, photos from our stations this afternoon:
Smart board - contractions memory
Smart board - Contractions practice
Decorating placemats for American Education Week
Catching up on math and language skills work
Chess Club
We are off to a great start! We have over 25 members this year with a variety of experience. It is fun to watch them teach one another the tricks of the game. Next week we will try to have some pictures.
Science
This week and next we will be finishing up our water and matter unit. The kids have written their information and are ready to present to the class. Ask them to explain condensation, evaporation, matter and the water cycle. Next up we will begin our electricity unit.
Math
This week we have worked on measuring items in the classroom. We talked that at third grade it is important to be accurate and exact when you measure. We color coded the rulers to help the kids identify the 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 marks. They did fine with the inch and the half inch, but could use some extra practice measuring to the nearest 1/4 and 1/8.
Remember to continue working on subtracting with regrouping! We will review these types of problems through the entire unit.
*Sorry we don't have many pictures, my batteries went bad and they were too quick to measure!
Social Studies
Our new unit, Exploring the United States, has us doing just that! We learned about urban areas, and found the top 10 largest cities in the US on our desk maps. It was interesting to note that most large cities are found near bodies of water. Natural and cultural features in the US were also discussed and identified.
Language Skills
This week's spelling list included words with consonant clusters (thr-, spr-, str-) and unexpected spellings (wr-, kn-, -tch). Grammar lessons reviewed using specific nouns when writing, changing singular nouns into plural nouns, and how to use key words from a question to write a complete answer. Student applied this skill by writing their own questions (for a classmate to answer), and then by answering someone else's questions using complete sentences. They did a great job typing both their questions and answers in the computer lab. We kept the author of the questions, as well as who answered the questions a secret (Mrs. H knows who wrote what) and next week students are excited to read the answers to their questions together and to try to guess who answered each student's questions.
Reading
The shared reading story in our anthology this week has been The Talking Cloth. Ask your student to explain to you how the cloth in this realistic fiction story "talks." The reading strategy that we've focused on this week has been summarizing, which is a great way for students to be sure they are understanding what they have read. Students also used cluster maps to help them sort/classify facts from the story.
Students have also been reading in small guided reading groups, reinforcing skills and strategies covered during whole group reading class using text/books that match the groups' reading levels.
Students have also been reading in small guided reading groups, reinforcing skills and strategies covered during whole group reading class using text/books that match the groups' reading levels.
October 20, 2010
Pasta For The Playground Event
The Kalona Elementary Playground Committee will be holding a meal to raise
funds for the final phase of the playground improvement project at the
Kalona Elementary gymnasium Tuesday, November 16th from 5:00-7:00pm. The
pasta chain, Zio Johno’s, is catering the meal which includes spaghetti,
choice of 2 sauces, salad, bread, dessert and drink. Tickets for the meal,
which can be purchased at the door, will be $6.50 for 12 and up, $5.00 for
children 4-11 and kids 3 and under are free. Seconds are free if you use
your original plate. Carryouts are welcomed.
The meal will be held in conjunction with the KE Book Fair. The KE Library
will be open so families can browse and/or purchase books. Each family that
purchases a meal will receive a coupon for $1 off a book at the book fair.
Over the past 4 years the playground improvement committee has raised a
total of $179,645.54. “We are excited to be in the final phase of the
project,” says committee leader Jan Knebel, “our goal is to complete the
surfacing of the playground in June 2011. This meal is one of a few
fundraisers we have planned for this year. We appreciate all of the support
the community has given this project thus far and are hoping for a good
turnout at this event.”
Come out and enjoy a meal to support the playground and the book fair. We
look forward to seeing you.
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