Happy (late) St. Patrick's Day!

I hope you had a chance to go out and enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend. This week temperatures are going to drop and there are chances of rain. Please remember that if the temperature is below 60 degrees your child will need to wear a coat outside. This goes for all recesses! :)

 

Just a reminder:  On Monday, 3rd grade is supposed to be getting a new student. As of right now he will be placed in Mrs. Clark's class, but since we share rooms this is vital information to all of us. He is allergic to nuts. So both 3rd grade classrooms will become a nut-free zone. If you send treats or are wanting to celebrate a birthday, treats will now need to be prepackaged, with all ingredients listed clearly. Sorry for the inconvenience with this, but it is vital that we have all students safety and best interest in mind. Thank you in advance!  

Conferences will be held this week. If you do not remember your conference time or can not make it, please notify me or the office. Please feel free to come into the classroom and get started as soon as you get there. These are student-led conferences so, your child can get started sharing their folder and I will make sure I speak to you, to answer any questions you may have before you leave.

Upcoming this week: 3/20 Conferences 4-8 p.m.
3/22 1:30 Dismissal, Conferences 2-6 p.m.
3/23-3/30 No School- Spring Break

Math- Last week we began our graphing unit. So far we have discussed tally tables, line plots, and pictographs. This week we will work on bar graphs and interpreting data. 

Reading-   This week we will read  Dream Wolf by Paul Goble. This story is about a Native American legend, which tells the story of two young children who wander away from their mother. When night falls, the children, cold and lost, take refuge in a cave. A friendly wolf keeps them warm and the next morning leads them home.  

Text Talk- This week we will use  The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig. This is a spin on the classic story of the 3 Little Pigs. Our text talk words are: trembling, extremely, persevere, prowling, secure, and generous.

Science- Mrs. Clark started to discuss weather with the students last week as well as how the earth is the moon's satellite and how the moon orbits. She will be continuing these lessons this week as well.

Writing- We have finished our PowerPoints and are finishing up our editing on our ABC books. The students will present these items to their peers and practice for conferences. They are very excited about showing all their hard work!

Upcoming this month: 
4/2- Classes back in session :)  

4/6- No School 

4/16-4/20 ITBS testing (Please have students get A LOT of rest and eat a good breakfast!)

4/24- Mrs. Clark and I will be gone to a meeting (afternoon only)

4/25 & 4/26- I will be gone to work on PBIS (our school's behavior plan) at Grant Wood AEA (all day, both days)

Have a great week! Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

Mrs. Jodie Yuska 

I'm lovin' it!

There are so many positive things going on in our classroom right now. 

*The kids are working really hard getting ready for conferences.

*They are enjoying the warmer weather! 

*They are still loving the rainforest unit that is coming to an end. 

 

A quick note: On Monday, 3rd grade is supposed to be getting a new student. As of right now he will be placed in Mrs. Clark's class, but since we share rooms this is vital information to all of us. He is allergic to nuts. So both 3rd grade classrooms will become a nut-free zone. If you send treats or are wanting to celebrate a birthday, treats will now need to be prepackaged, with all ingredients listed clearly. Sorry for the inconvenience with this, but it is vital that we have all students safety and best interest in mind. Thank you in advance!  

On Friday, conference notes when home. Please call the office or email me if there is a scheduling conflict.

Upcoming this week: 
3/13 Encore performs- 7:00 p.m. Marion High School
3/14 1:30 Dismissal

Math- This week we will finish talking about coordinate graphs. We will then begin our graphing unit. During this unit, which will last until spring break, we will learn and practice making many tally tables and graphs. These will include: pictographs, bar graphs, and line plots. We will also learn to interpret data. 

Reading-   This week we will not have a Basal story. Instead will will review for our unit quiz and take some extra time to finish work before spring break. We will review and focus on a few of our different comprehension strategies we have been learning this year.

Science- Mrs. Clark has been using science time to discuss the water cycle. I believe she is planning a few more weather themed activities before spring break.

Writing- We will continue working hard on our ABC books and PowerPoint presentations. Students will have a chance to work on presenting and listening skills when they have a chance to share these out.

Upcoming this month: 
3/20 Conferences 4-8 p.m.
3/22 1:30 Dismissal, Conferences 2-6 p.m.
3/23-3/30 No School- Spring Break
4/2- Classes back in session :) 


Have a great week! Happy early St. Patrick's Day! 
Mrs. Jodie Yuska

Crazy Weather

It must be March, the month of crazy weather. If there is snow on the ground or a chance of snow, please send winter boots to school with your child. Also, we have a lot of students not dressed appropriately for the weather. It is still technically winter. Please make sure your child has a winter coat EVERYDAY! Even if the weather is supposed to get to 60, like the forecast predicts for one day this week, morning recesses can still be chilly. If it is nice enough for the students to go in a lighter coat we will let them know. Thanks! :)

Upcoming this week: 
3/5 Last Nutrition Lesson

3/8 Conference times sent home in Brown Envelopes

      Book orders DUE! :)

3/9 Muffins with Mom breakfast sponsored by the Parent Group (slips were due last Friday 3/2)

       Emerson Encore Practice 8:10-8:45

Math- This week we will discuss flips, turns, and slides of tetrominoes (you would find similar shapes in the game Tetris). A sheet when home last week in brown envelopes with practicing this skill. We will also discuss symmetry, motion and congruence, and ordered pairs this week. Next week we will begin our graphing unit that will last until spring break. 

Reading-   This week we will read Storm in the Night by Mary Stolz. This story is about a grandson named Thomas who listens to his grandfather tell a tale about a storm that occurred when he was a boy. As he listens, Thomas begins to overcome his fear of the thunderous night while realizing that fear is a natural response.  

 

Science- Earth Materials test will be taken today in Mrs. Clark's class. I believe she is scheduled to discuss some properties of weather such as the water cycle and precipitation after this unit is over.


Writing- We will continue working hard on our ABC books. During our technology time for the next couple weeks students will be typing reports and creating a 2 slide PowerPoint presentation, which will be shared at conferences. 


Upcoming this month: 
3/13 Encore performs- 7:00 p.m. Marion High School
3/14 1:30 Dismissal
3/20 Conferences 4-8 p.m.
3/22 1:30 Dismissal, Conferences 2-6 p.m.
3/23-3/30 No School- Spring Break
4/2- Classes back in session :) 


Have a great week! 
Mrs. Jodie Yuska

it's March already?!?!?!?

Where does the time go? I can't believe it will be March by the end of the week!

Upcoming this week: 
March 1st- (Thursday) Spring Pictures
March 2nd- Encore practice (8:10-8:45), Dr. Seuss activities in our classroom


Math- Last week we discussed 2-D and 3-D shapes. We spent a lot of time talking about what a vertex (corner), an edge, and a face (sides) were. The kids even categorized the different shapes and had a chance to build using marshmallows for the vertices and toothpicks for the edges. This week we will focus on lines, line segments, rays, and angles. We will take our geometry test on Thursday and take some time to make geobots (robots made from geometric shapes).

Reading-   This week we will read  Tornado Alert by Franklyn M. Branley. This is a nonfiction piece about the dangers and destruction that comes with tornado season. The students are always amazed to learn that Iowa is part of the “Tornado Alley,” and how they can be catastrophic. Students will discuss the main ideas and supporting details of the story.

Text Talk- This week we will use  The Cow Who Wouldn't Come Down again. Our text talk words will be different from our reading vocabulary words. So the kids will get a double dose of vocabulary from this text. Our text talk words are: contrary, glide, ignored, sternly, innovative, and rivals.
 
Science- The students are finishing up talking about rocks and minerals. The study guide and test for this may or may not be given out this week. I will keep you posted, a lot depends on the rate of  evaporation. 


Writing- We will continue our work in our ABC books. Our reports have been written after creating a t-chart and transferring it to number notes. Students thought taking the t-chart to number notes was far more complicated than taking the number notes to a 4 paragraph report! :) We will continue to work with transition words as I did not require them in our non-fiction report. During our technology time for the next couple weeks students will be typing reports and creating a 2 slide PowerPoint presentation, which will be shared at conferences. 


Upcoming this month: 
3/13 Encore performs- 7:00 p.m. Marion High School
3/14 1:30 Dismissal
3/20 Conferences 4-8 p.m.
3/22 1:30 Dismissal, Conferences 2-6 p.m.
3/23-3/30 No School- Spring Break
4/2- Classes back in session :) 


Have a great week! 
Mrs. Jodie Yuska

2nd trimester expectations

Report cards are going home today! Please look for them in your child's brown envelope.

You may notice some big differences in your child's scores. This is largely due to how drastically expectations can change from trimester to trimester. Here is a breakdown of some of the skills your child was asked to master.

Math:
Place Value-

·      Compare and order numbers through 100’s

·      Ordinal numbers and estimation 

·     Rounding to 10’s and 100’s

·     Skip count by 2, 3, 5, and 10 (starting at various numbers)  

Problem Solving strategies- 
·    Can solve multiplication, subtraction, and addition story problems with 1-2 steps 

Addition Skills-
·    2 digit with regrouping (earns % on assessment and practice pages)

o   90%  = 4

o   80% = 3

o   70% = 2

            o   60% = 1

Subtraction Skills-   
·    2 digit with regrouping (earns % on assessment and practice pages)

o   90%  = 4

o   80% = 3

o   70% = 2

            o   60% = 1

Multiplication Skills-
·    earns % on assessment and practice pages

o   90%  = 4

o   80% = 3

o   70% = 2

            o   60% = 1

Algebra- 

·      Solve patterns for 2, 3, 5, and 10

·      Solve for an unknown in addition and subtraction

     (5+?= 8,  10-?= 2) 

·      Quantitative change with one variable leads to a change in the second variable (Stacy is 10, her mom is 38. When Stacy is 12, will her mom be older, younger, or stay the same?

 Time-
·       Can tell time accurately

·      Uses appropriate vocabulary (quarter, half past)

Money-

·      Add and subtract monetary values 

·      Count back change from a dollar with fewest coins possible 

Measurement- 

·      Understands and applies vocabulary (inch, foot, yard, ounce, pound, minute, hour)

·      Decides and uses appropriate tool and unit of measurement

Reading:  

  Fluency-  Independently Reads a 3^rd Grade Passage
·     Guided Reading Level and Dibels Passage used to determine
·     5 point fluency scale (phrasing, expression, pace) are all assessed

Comprehension:  Independently Comprehends 3^rd Grade Reading Material ( *1st trimester assessments were read to students. 2nd and 3rd trimester students read assessments on their own)
·     % on basal story quizzes and unit assessments

o   90%  = 4

o   80% = 3

o   70% = 2

            o   60% = 1

Vocabulary:  Independently Comprehends 3^rd Grade Reading Material ( *1st trimester assessments were read to students. 2nd and 3rd trimester students read assessments on their own)
·     % on basal story quizzes, unit assessments, and Text Talk quizzes

o   90%  = 4

o   80% = 3

o   70% = 2

            o   60% = 1

Writing-
Develops and organizes effectively: Uses Write Tools writing lessons to:


  ·     Able to develop number notes, simple statements, and a question statement 
  ·   Writes a paragraph with a topic sentence, concluding sentence, a big idea, and a give me more      


Word usage: (assessed on writing and daily language assignments)
  ·  Uses correct grammar


Applies correct capitalization and punctuation:

·       Capitalizes days of the week, months of the year

·       Capitalizes salutations and closings of letter 

·       Capitalize beginning of nouns 

Spells correctly in written work

 ·       Spells frequently used words (Word Wall Words) correctly


Hope this helps, please let me know if you have any further questions! :)

Mrs. Jodie Yuska