The first week is behind us

We are officially under way in 3rd grade. We have covered all our expectations. Talked about how to make a warm and inviting class environment. I am truly so excited to teach this wonderful group of individuals this year. They have shown they like to have fun, but are very respectful and honest.

Here are some of the things we have done this week:

Math- We took a "Key to Fact Mastery" (2 minute time test) for +1 and +2. I am asking students to try and get 40 problems correct in the 2 minutes to fit with our 3rd grade benchmarks. If this is something your child struggles with, please encourage them and let them know once they know their basic facts, math becomes easier. Flashcards can be found at many stores for a dollar right now too, and make wonderful items to work on at home. Looking forward multiplication and division flashcards might make nice gifts or stocking stuffers! :) For lessons we have been reviewing different addition strategies and problem solving skills.

Reading- This week we read Horrible Harry Moves Up to Third Grade by Suzy Kline. In this story Harry and Doug are coming back to school, starting their third grade year. So many things have changed, yet they soon realize a lot is the same. We discussed finding the main characters, creating a super sentence, and determining the setting where the story takes place.

Writing- This is an area where students have the most struggles at the beginning of the year. I am working a lot with just getting ideas down on paper versus correcting all their grammar and punctuation, which I will do on many items. Today we read a book called Dear Teacher by Amy Husband, students were then to asked to write a letter to me, in which I will respond back. :) Coming home today you will also see a piece of paper numbered 1-5 with random thoughts on them. These were your child's thought to a poem called "Welcome Back to School" by Kenn Nesbitt.

Welcome Back to School
by Kenn Nesbitt
“Dear students, the summer has ended.
The school year at last has begun.
But this year is totally different.
I promise we’ll only have fun."

“We won’t study any mathematics,
and recess will last all day long.
Instead of the Pledge of Allegiance,
we’ll belt out a rock ’n’ roll song."

“We’ll only play games in the classroom.
You’re welcome to bring in your toys.
It’s okay to run in the hallways.
It’s great if you make lots of noise."

“For homework, you’ll play your Nintendo.
You’ll have to watch lots of TV.
For field trips we’ll go to the movies
and get lots of candy for free."

“The lunchroom will only serve chocolate
and Triple-Fudge Sundaes Supreme.”
Yes, that’s what I heard from my teacher
before I woke up from my dream.


This activity is called free response. I pause different times during the reading and have students reflect and respond to various forms of written work. We will complete more of these next week.

Science- Mrs. Clark is teaching all science lessons to 3rd graders this year while I teach math to all 3rd graders. She has been introducing science through discussing things that float and sink, including ice. She will also be teaching and testing spelling during this time.

That is a quick rap up of our week. We have quickly built a community. Which I am so proud to be a part of. Thank you for your assistance in raising such wonderful children. I look forward to our adventure to success together.

Mrs. Jodie Yuska

1st day of school

Right now your children are currently in P.E. We have just about an hour to go in the first day of school. And if I may say so, it has been quite a successful day. We have covered expectations and procedures for the hallway, lunchroom, and bathrooms. We completed a handful of get to know you activities, about myself and each of them. Curriculum we started was discussing how to read a book with and without words for our first Daily 5/ CAFE (comprehension, accuracy, fluency, and extended vocabulary) lesson. We will be covering different lessons for the first month of school and the students will place these into practice building their reading stamina (strength) as we move to Guided Reading. The members of our class are also working on "bucket fillers" treating others with respect and kind words. Each student decorated their bucket, so we can start receiving cards with kind words tomorrow.

Tonight, planners will go home for the first time. Please sign or place your initials on the bottom and place them back into your child's bag for tomorrow. We are working on responsibility of taking items to and from school nightly.

Last but not least thank you for attending Open House last night. It was so nice to place some faces with names. It always makes me eager to start the year. This is going to be a fabulous year and am so happy it is off to such a terrific start.

Have a great evening!
Mrs. Jodie Yuska

WE ARE WILD ABOUT 3RD GRADE!

Welcome to 3rd Grade! I hope you had a great summer and are as anxious as I am to get back to school. I’d like to introduce myself to you. My name is Mrs. Yuska. I know that looks like an unusual name. It is pronounced Mrs. You-ska. I have been teaching 3rd grade for the last six years. I taught five years at Starry Elementary and am very excited about starting my second year at Emerson. My husband, Brandon and I live in Cedar Rapids with our two daughters Katelyn
(3 1/2 years old) and Hayden (1 year old) and our dog Dakota (a German Shepherd/ Black lab mix).

This is my second year of trying something new by using this blog as an additional form of communication. I know notes home can often get shoved to the bottom of your child's bag or better yet lost. My attempt is to place my newsletters on this site as well as any additional information you may need to provide a place to keep you up to date on what is happening in our classroom. This should also help limit the amount of paper being sent home.

Every night your child will be taking home planners stating what we have learned that day. If an item is highlighted, it will be an assignment to be completed and returned to school the next day. This is a great opportunity to sit down with your child and talk about the day. I also ask that you sign or initial the bottom of the column so I know you have looked at it. If you have any questions, or comments for me, feel free to add them at the bottom of the planner. In the front cover will be your child's behavior chart. There is a key on the side of what each color of smiley face means.

Something new that will be happening this year, is that all students will have a class with me and Mrs. Clark. I will be teaching all 3rd graders math and Mrs. Clark will be teaching all 3rd grade students science, social studies, and their spelling words (Words Their Way). Mrs. Clark and I will be sharing and communicating about your child often so we both know what they need as an individual. All other subjects will still be taught to your child by me in our classroom.

I look forward to meeting each of you on August 22nd between 4 and 6 pm.

Mrs. Jodie Yuska
jyuska@marion.k12.ia.us