12/9/2016

12/9/2016

What a week!  I am so proud of all of our third graders for being so flexible and going with the flow as we had different guest teachers in for Ms. Franklin this week!  They really demonstrated 'The Blue Devil Way' and were productive, respectful learners!  Here's what we have been working on:

Writing:  We spent the week publishing, reflecting on, and sharing our Personal Narratives!  This can be a very long difficult process and our students have really persevered!

Reading: We are learning how to summarize a story instead of retelling a story!  We have been reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis and are working on pulling out the main events.  The reading strategy we are focusing on is making inferences.

We were so excited to attend the WMHS production of, 'A WMHS Christmas Carol' today!  If you are looking for something to do this weekend we highly recommend going to the show!

Upcoming dates:
12/14      3,4,5 Winter Concert!  Students should arrive no later than 5:45 and report to their homeroom

12/19+12/20 Winter Differentiated Learning Days!

High/Low

High: bringing in my reading log

Low: going to Book Fair

High: Playing out at recess

Low: Ms. Franklin wasn’t here

High: Going to the high school to see the play

High: Seeing my sister do well on her timesheets

Low: Ms. Franklin not being here

High: I got Grumpy Cat from the Book Fair!

High: I mastered my times 10 sheet

Low: Ms. Franklin is not here

High: going to the high school

Low: Ms. Franklin is not here

Low: Ms. Franklin is not here

High: mastering the 9’s tables

High: going to the bookfair

Low: Going to the concert

High: Most people got to go to the Book Fair

Low: Ms. Franklin is not here

High: Buying at the Book Fair

Low: Ms. Franklin is not here

Low; forgetting my reading log

High: Going to the play!

Low: Ms. Franklin is gone

High: Going to the High School Play!

Low: Ms. Franklin is gone!

Low: No MIT today

Low: Ms. Franklin is not here

HIgh: The book fair!

Low: Ms. Franklin is not here

High: Mastering tables in math and going to the party

Low: Not going to the concert last night

High: Last day of the week!  I can do some free time stuff at home

Low: Ms. Franklin is not here!

High: End of the week!

Low: Ms. Franklin is not here!

High: Being able to see everyone again after being absent

Low: Ms. F’s gone!

High: I filled my sticker chart

Low: Ms. F’s gone!

12/2/2016

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving break!  Students were able to pick up right where we left off and have been very busy learners! Here's what we have been doing:

Writing:  We have all finished our Personal Narrative rough drafts!  We have edited and revised whih means we are ready to start our final drafts next week!

Reading:  We have been looking for elements of fantasty in stories.  We are also working on summarizing what has happened in the text.

Notice:  Ms. Franklin will not be in the classroom next week.  For those of you who don't know, her father is very sick and she is headed to Michigan to care for him.  Mrs. Thompson will be here all week and working with the guest teachers in the other room.

High/Low

High: Reading Dogzilla

High: Reading Dogzilla

High: Handing out cupcakes to both classes

High: Reading Dogzilla

High: Reading Dogzilla

Low: Mrs. T is going to be out

Low: Missing hearing the story How to Raise a Dragon

High: fourth grade coming to Morning Meeting

High: Editing our drafts

Low: Mrs. T has to leave

High: Mastering the table of 9

Low: Ms. Franklin got in an accident

High: Going up farther on my math test

High: Getting to see the fourth graders at morning meeting

Low: They couldn’t stay for the whole thing

High: Reading Dogzilla

Low: Breaking my arm

High: I did a full draft of 30 pages

Low: I needed to pick only one small part of it for my narrative

High: Reading Dogzilla

Low: We won’t be doing writer’s workshop today

High: Going up 19 points on my math test!

Low: Mrs. T is gone this afternoon

High: Making it  into the math Hall of Fame

11/11/2016

Happy Veterans Day!  We were honored to be a part of the Veterans Day ceremony in town with the fourth grade class.  Our third graders have been very busy in both reading and writing this week.

Writing:  Students have completed their drafts for their personal narratives!  Next week we will start learning about how we can revise drafts in order to make them better.  Students have really been improving their stamina and producing more and more writing.

Reading:  We are currently reading, The War with Grandpa which is helping us with our personal narratives.  Students have been reading independently and conferencing with Ms. Franklin.

Reminders:
11/16 Picture Retakes


High/Lows for the week:

High:  Going with Ms. Kauffman
High: Doing symphony math
High: Symphony math
High: Finishing 16 pages on my draft
High: Getting to level D in symphony math
Low: Had to get rid of our old words in word study
Low: Having to take a break
High: Going to the State House to get my award
Low: Getting yelled at, at recess
High: Ms. Franklin's class joined us for science
Low: Football/frisbee is ending in PE today
High: I brought back my reading log!
Low: I wish I could've done more than an hour
High: Getting a 4 on my reading log
High: It was warm enough for outdoor recess all week
High: Getting to see all of you guys
High: learning bubble letters
High: Getting a score of a 3 on the MIT chart
Low: That we have to be scored on MIT
High:  Drafting our personal narratives
High: Having dinner with Mr. Kinnarney at a special dinner
High: I read for 70 minutes
Low: I forgot to pack my reading log

Have a wonderful weekend!

Happy Friday!
It's hard to believe that it is already November. Students have been hard at work in every setting; here are some updates:

Word Study:  We started working in groups studying features of words.  Students have learned extensions to help study their words and took a test today!

Writing:  We have committed to a topic for our Personal Narratives!  Students will begin narrowing down to a small moment and drafting these stories next week!

CLiF Grant Assembly:  We had author Jim Arnosky visit our school and tell us stories as well as play music for us!  We also celebrated the addition of $1,000.00 worth of books to our school library.

High/Lows of the week:

High- starting word study groups
High: Earning three stickers for doing my homework
Low: Some students weren't respectful during the CLiF assembly
High: Voting!
Low: Mrs. Gingras is not here
High: We had a good day with the guest teacher
Low: We didn't get to pick out books
High: The author coming
High: Bringing my reading log back!
Low: School felt very short
High: I fixed Mrs. Thompson's computer
High: The author visit
High: Jim Arnosky coming to do CLiF reading
High: Fixing Mrs. Thompson's computer
High: Doing my homework
High: Jim Arnosky playing guitar
Low: Thinking that I got a 0 on work
High: Starting word study groups
High: Indoor recess was fun
Low: Mrs. Gingras is not here
Low:  I owe reading
High: the author visit with the music
High: Miss Sarah got the movie going for us
Low:  Starting word study
High: bringing in my folder
Low: getting injured at recess

After watching 'ET' as a class we did the ET greeting at our third grade morning meeting today:

Have a wonderful weekend!

We had a wonderful time bowling this morning with the ENTIRE 3rd grade!  We are so proud of everyone for filling their charts.  This afternoon we watched a movie and enjoyed some treats.  Just a reminder that Monday will be a normal school day.

This week we started a new writing unit on Personal Narratives.  We are first learning ways that writers get inspired to write personal narratives.  So far, we have learned that inspiration can come from special people and places.  We will explore 2 more ways next week.

In reading, we are continuing to practice using evidence to support answers.  Our read aloud this week and next will be mentor texts for our writing.

Have a great weekend!

10/21/2016

Oops I forgot to post this last week :)

We have started a new read aloud and are focusing on the difference between the physical description of a character and their personality.  Students are using evidence from the text to support their observations.  In writing we started looking at how we can use sound and color words to made our writing more interesting.   Here are some important reminders/updates for the week:

Literacy Night
We will be holding a Literacy Night and Ice Cream Social on Tuesday in the gym from 5:30-6:30.  During the first part of the night families can circulate around to various tables and learn about tools they can use at home to promote literacy.  At 6:00 pm we will meet author/storyteller Elizabeth Bluemle and enjoy a live storytelling!  After, will enjoy ice cream to celebrate our commitment to reading by signing a CLiF Read to Me! Contracts!

Acknowledgment
Students that have filled their sticker charts will be going bowling on Friday, October 28th!  Mr Kinnarney allows students to bring up to $5.00

Halloween
On Friday, October 28th all WES students are permitted to wear their costumes to school for the day. Students are not allowed to wear masks, make-up, or bring in props.  Please note that students that filled their sticker charts will going bowling that morning.  In the afternoon we will show a movie and allow students to bring in treats if they choose.  We will not be doing any type of Halloween celebration on Monday the 31st.



High/Lows of the week:

High: I brought in my reading log

High: I've been a working good

High: I haven't been sick or missed any day of school!

High: My high was doing the calendar

High: I did well on the hearing test
Low: I found out I had an eye problem

High: I brought back my reading log

High: I brought in my reading log
Low: My guinea pig died

High: Learning about the glitter jar

High: It's my birthday
Low: I forgot to do my homework right after school on Thursday

High:  Doing the fire safety calendar

High: Filling in my sticker chart!

High:  My mom brought in my bag for me
Low; That I forgot my bag

High: Finishing the fire safety calendar
Low: Seeing one of my friends being sad

High: Singing a new song on the bus

High: Finishing my fire safety project

What a week!

We were spoiled this week with beautiful fall weather that allowed us to get outside and enjoy snack! Students were especially excited to work on their forts at the lower field during recess.

We are continuing to work on Launching our Writer's Workshop and have been focused on using precise verbs to enhance our writing and make it easier for the reader to picture.  We spent time creating a chart and brainstormed some examples.  They came up with words like "Whooped, hankered, sauntered, galloped, cackled etc."  We will be encouraging students to use precise verbs in their independent writing.

In reading we are continuing with The Twits and using the text to analyze characters.  We have also been analyzing the setting and identifying setting in our independent reading books.  We spent the end of the week reviewing the difference between fiction and non-fiction text.  We encourage you to ask your child to identify whether they are reading a fiction or non-fiction text.

Here are some High/Lows from our all third grade meeting...
High: Coming to school
Low:  My bus was late!

High: Finally getting to play on the lower field!

High: Filling my sticker chart!

High:  I got a 3 on my reading log
Low: My fort kept falling at recess

High: Getting to go to the lower field and build a fort

High: Being able to play soccer down at the lower field

High: I remembered my reading log!

Enjoy the weekend!

With the short week, we did our Third Grade Meeting today!  We started by sharing our High/Low for the week.  Students shared everything from conquering the monkey bars and doing well on Symphony Math to the cold weather and Ms Franklin being gone for part of the day!  It is always interesting to hear them reflect on their week together.

We have had a very busy week in third grade!  In writing, we are focusing on the difference between a writer's notebook entry and a small moment or narrative story.  We did a shared writing piece on our hike and then took that piece and turned it into a small moment or narrative story!  We will be wrapping up our Launching Writer's Workshop Unit next week and will switch our focus to personal narratives where we will be focusing on one small moment.

In reading, we are finishing up our unit on fluency.  We will be moving into analyzing characters and character traits.  We will be reading, The Twits by Roald Dahl and brainstorming various character traits.

Reminder:
No school Friday 10/7 and Monday 10/10

What a great week we have had!  We started on Monday with our CLiF Year of the Book launch!  After listening to a storyteller, all of our students went home with two free books.  Students were very excited to bring them home to read!  If we receive 20 more 'Read to Me' contracts as a school we will earn another storyteller and ice cream party!

In writing, students worked hard to fill their writer's notebooks with ideas.  This week we learned how to choose an idea, rehearse with a partner, and begin to write!  We are building up our writing stamina and students are doing a fabulous job.

In reading, we are learning what to do when we finish a book.  We are continuing to read the beginning of various titles in our classroom library in order to help students choose books they are interested in.  We also completed our baseline assessment data in order to make goals for each child for the year!

Things next week:

-The All School Hike is Friday!  Make sure your child is dressed in layers wearing comfortable shoes!
-All School Acknowledgement is Thursday for students who fill their sticker charts!

We had a wonderful day at the Tunbridge Fair!  All of our students really exemplified the 'Blue Devil Way' and learned a lot about agriculture!  We were excited to meet up with Michael who was showing his horses this weekend!  Students will spend some time reflecting on their experiences during literacy this week.

If you haven't already check out the pictures on the WES Facebook page by clicking the link below:

WES Facebook Page


A special thank you to Michael's family who allowed students to feed and pet their horses.  They even brought them out of the stalls for us!

Next week we will have an assembly on Monday to kick off our Year of the Book!  Students will listen to a storyteller and be given a free book to take home!  We are so excited for this wonderful event.

Please note that Wednesday is a noon dismissal!  Have a wonderful weekend!

What a wonderful first week!  We have spent a lot of time learning routines, expectations, getting to know each other and about the 'Blue Devil Way!'  We are so impressed with this great group of learners.

Yesterday we introduced third grade to the Zones of Regulation.  We will be using Zones to help identify and regulate our feelings and emotions.  Students worked to sort emotions into the correct zone.  We have also been teaching strategies to help them get back into the 'green' zone and ready to learn.  For more information on this framework check out the link below:

Zones of Regulation website

Couple of reminders:

-No School Monday (Labor Day)

-Open House is September 8th from 5:30-7

-Homework will begin the week of September 12th.  We will explicitly teach homework expectations to our students

-Please make sure Tunbridge Fair Slips are returned by Friday

-'Like' our Facebook page for more updates and pics!  Search 'Ms. Franklin and Mrs. Thompson'

Have a wonderful weekend!

We have had a wonderful first day!  Third graders started their day with an all school assembly.  They were able to meet their new math teacher, either Mrs. Gingras or Ms. Kauffman as well!  We went outside and played a whole group game called, "Zoom" and learned a lot of classroom procedures and expectations.  The first day can be hard for students but this group was outstanding!  We are excited for a wonderful year together!

Tomorrow students will begin their normal schedule which will include science class.  All third graders will be bringing a home-folder home tonight with LOTS of paperwork!  It is very important that the folder be returned to school each day!

We're back!  We have spent the last week meeting with teachers from our school and around the district.  It is so great to be back at school but we miss our students!  Our classrooms are all set to go and we are excited to begin our year.  Remember that there will be a community breakfast from 7:30-8 in front of the school.  The school day starts at 7:55 am.  Enjoy your last few days of vacation, rest up, and we will see you Tuesday!

We had a great morning at the CLiF Storytelling Event!  It was nice to see so many Lil' Devils there enjoying the story and the two free books.  Mrs. Franklin and I are happy to be back at school  again working with students.  We have been spending the afternoons getting our classrooms ready for the upcoming school year!  You will be receiving a letter from us in the mail very soon that will explain third grade in more detail.  Hope you are enjoying your summer!

We are so excited to announce that WES will be hosting a storytelling at 10 am on August 2nd!  Every child that attends will receive 2 new FREE books.  This is a wonderful opportunity for the whole family.  This program is open to ALL children regardless of age or if they are a student at WES.  We hope to see you there!

Summer Lexia!

We hope you are having a wonderful summer!  Just a reminder for those slow, rainy days that student Lexia accounts are still active!

Website:  Lexiacore5.com
Teacher Email:  sthompson.wes@onsu.org

Students from there should be able to type in their log in names and passwords!  Just a few minutes a day could help stop the 'Summer Slide'!