Beginning Fourth Quarter

What a busy week we've had.  We spent several days preparing for Showcase Night and I think it was a success!  Thank you for attending.  I enjoy getting to see the families of my students interacting together.  The "Guess Who" board was a big hit!   Your child will be bringing home their timeline and "guess-who" paper today, along with some other class work. 

Testing

Along with student work, I will be sending home a letter from our district office regarding upcoming state testing.  The paper gives an overview of the tests, the dates for testing, and some helpful tips for student success.  Please note the dates of testing on your family calendar to help avoid scheduling any appointments that might take your child out of school or cause a disruption in their normal routine.

Spring Pictures

Spring pictures were sent home this week.  Click here to order your child's pictures online. Our picture day ID is: TL413072Y0  If you do not wish to order pictures, just send the packet back with your child.

Academics

Right now, we are learning how to get the most out of reading mysteries and how to find fractional parts of a set, a region, and on a number line.  Also, we have begun our government/citizenship unit in social studies.  Soon, we will be writing versions of Fairy Tales. 

Have a great weekend!
Jodi

Lucky Family Project and More!

Hi Families! 
I hope you had a great work week.  I hope the days of sunshine have helped you feel brighter and energized.  I have just a few things to update you on.

Homework

This week, I attached some multiplication timed tests to the reading log.  I've explained to your child my expectation is for them to set a timer (for 2 min.) and try to do as many problems as they can.  The timed tests are at varying degrees of difficulty.  Feel free to make copies of the tests if you'd like your child to practice even more.  Your child does not need to hand in the timed tests on Thursday...ONLY the reading log.  If you have any questions let me know.

Lucky Family Project

Your child also brought home a green shamrock and a paper explaining the directions to complete the family project.  These will be due Thursday. 

Reminders

Next week ends the quarter.  There will be no school Friday, so teachers can work on grade cards.  The following week is Spring Break. 

Student Showcase RSVPs were due this week.  If you haven't turned them in, please do so Monday.
Showcase is March 27th.

Have a great weekend!
-Jodi

In Like a Penguin

I can't believe tomorrow will be March 1st.  Today, the students will be able to have outside recess, but then it looks like we are back to fridgid arctic conditions.  So, I guess it could be said that this year March will come in like a penguin. 

March is a pretty busy month.  Here is a list of important dates to mark on your calendar:

 March 4th: PTA mtg. (6:30)

March 5th: Showcase RSVPs are due

March 11th: Spring Picture Day

March 14th: No School/Teacher Work Day

March 15th: Mercury Gymnastics Night (6:30-8:00)

March 17th-21st:  Spring Break

March 26th: Report Cards go home

March 27th: Spring Showcase Night!

 

Have a great weekend and stay warm!

-Jodi



Happy February!!

I know the calendar says today is Friday, February 7th but it feels like a Monday to me!!  Could be the 3 snow days in the middle of the week, right? 

Reading:

We have begun our biography unit.  In this unit we will learn that biographies are a type of nonfiction that take on a different structure.  Often when reading biographies we use the same thinking skills we've developed for fictional stories.  When readers study biography, we read to learn about the adversity these people faced and how they overcame those adversities.  Not only can reading biographies help us learn about specific individuals, but also we learn about the history of their time and the world in which we live. 

How you can help: 

Ask your child about the significant person they are reading about.  Specifically, ask them to describe the subject's traits and provide examples of what they say and do.  Also, ask them what kind of hardships the subject faced and in what way they overcame those hardships. 

Writing:

We continue to focus on writing persuasively. At this time we are organizing our ideas and making sure we have considered our audiences view point.

Science:

Students were very excited to begin our study of Matter.  I think they missed science the past weeks!  So, the past week we've acted as particles of matter and moved around the room based on which state we existed in and we observed and recorded the properties of a strange "mystery matter".  Looking ahead we will begin talking about ways scientists measure matter (mass, volume) and changes that may or may not occur when matter changes states. 

Math:

Next week we will wrap up our work learning strategies for solving multiplication problems.  Students need to continue to practice their multiplication fluency at home.  The following unit focuses on understanding the concept of division. 

Up Coming Events and Info:

Field Trip: 

Next Thursday is our Symphony Field Trip.  A permission form with information was sent home Monday.  Please sign and return the form with your child.  We ask that students dress nicely for this field trip.  Picture day clothes would be appropriate. 

Valentine's Day:

Friday is Valentine's Day!!  Class celebrations will begin at 2:15 and last until 3:00.  Students will be handing out valentines during this time.  A treat and drink will be provided by Hawthorn and the PTA.  If your child has a valentine mailbox the have created in years past, they are welcome to bring it.  A list of class names will be sent home today. 

Book Orders: 

I have sent home a book order along with a coupon for a free book.  Book orders will be due by February 21st.  Our online access code is:  1EENK

Other Events:

Feb. 15th: Mercury Night 6:30-8:00

Feb. 17th: No School

Feb. 18th:  Midterms will be sent

Feb. 27th : McTeacher Night 

January 24th, 2014

Happy Friday!!  It has been a great week at Hawthorn.  The only thing that could make it better would be warmer temperatures, but it looks like we'll have to wait a little longer for that. 

This week, we continued to work in our book clubs, analyzing characters and theme.  Theme can be a very challenging idea for 8 and 9 year olds. Theme is the central message the author is trying to teach. We often present it as a life lesson the character learns.

Lately, I have been trying to stress that getting smarter is hard work, but we mustn't give up.  Encourage your child to persevere through complex problems.  Ask them questions about their reading or to explain their thinking/process in math. Continued exposure to this type of thinking will make students less likely to throw in the towel when things get hard.

In Social Studies, we have wrapped up our work on significant individuals: Martin Luther King Jr.  Please ask your child what they've learned about MLK's work and the civil rights movement.  They should be able to tell you what a boycott is and that MLK promoted nonviolent action to make change. 


 

 



In Math, we are continuing our work with multiplication.  Please dedicate some time at home to practice the memorization of these facts.  There are many websites students can visit that will help with this. Multiplication.com is one I've used in the past.  Also, there is an app called SPLASH Math that you can download on to a tablet for practice. 

 

Upcoming Events

Mark your calendars for the following events:

 

1/31- Donuts with Dad (blue fliers have been sent home)(7:45-8:30)

 

2/13- 3rd Grade Symphony Field Trip (9-12)

 

Finally, I wanted to share a cute little video clip of Mrs. Miller's, our new counselor's, lesson this week.  She has been working with the students on steps they can take to avoid having overly emotional reactions.  With all of the cold weather, it is nice to get the kids up and moving during class time.  Enjoy!

 



 



Happy 2014!!

Hi Everyone,
I'm sorry it has been so long since I've written.  We've been plenty busy around here!!

New Year Resolutions

Last week we spent a lot of time reviewing our progress and establishing goals for the new year.  Your child thought about academic and personal goals they had for themselves and made a plan to help them be more successful.  Of course, every resolution needs a little "New Year Bling" to dress it up.  Below is a sample of our resolutions:

Our New Year Resolution Display

ELA

This week we have begun studying book series.  Students have chosen a book to read and have been organized into "book clubs".  Each day they are reading a chapter during class and then meeting with their "club" members to discuss what they've learned in the chapter. We are primarily focusing on characters and how they change through the course of a series and how they stay the same. 

In writing, we have begun our unit on Persuasive Speech writing!  We have only had two lessons, so far, but I sense sharing opinions and trying to persuade others will be highly motivating to this group of kiddos.  (I've already heard the beginning of a "class pet" argument.)  YIKES!

Math

We are continuing to work on multiplication.  This week we've worked to notice patterns within multiples.  A lot of the students are struggling to remember their multiples of 9.  Have you noticed the digits of multiples of 9 always equal 9, when they are added together?

18(1+8=9)      27(2+7=9)      36(3+6=9)     45(4+5=9)     54(5+4=9)     63     72     81     90



 I shared a tip with the class:  To find the product of a 9s fact, first, look at the other factor (not the 9).  In the tens place of your answer you will write the digit that comes before that other factor.  Next, think "what plus this equals nine". That missing addend will be the digit you write in the ones place.  Knowing what number partners equal 9 will help greatly.  (See below for an example:)

An example of the little tip I explained above

The "partners" that equal nine

Our classroom hundred chart we studied to find patterns

Upcoming Events

Mark your calendars for the following events:

1/18- PTA Mercury Gymnastics Night (6:30-8)

1/20- No School MLK Day

1/31- Donuts with Dad for Watch Dogs (7:45-8:30)

2/13- 3rd Grade Symphony Field Trip (9-12)



If you are interested in attending the field trip, please write a note in your child's planner.  Because of the number of seats allotted, we will only be able to take 2 parents per classroom.  We will be drawing names next Wednesday.  

 

Winter Extravaganza

Merry Christmas!  It is such an exciting time of year.  I can tell the students are pretty amped up. I've noticed a great deal of "off task" behavior, recently. Please discuss the importance of staying focused and doing quality work throughout the next 2 weeks of school.  I've explained to students that I am often called upon by Santa as a character witness regarding "naughty" and "nice" behavior.

I hope you have marked your calendar for this Saturday and our annual Winter Extravaganza!  This week a hot pink paper was sent home with information regarding this Hawthorn tradition from 8:30-11:30 am.  I hope to see you there.

On Friday, I sent home a study guide for students to review finding Missouri and its boarder states on the map.  I've asked students to spend a little bit of time each night studying the maps and identifying those places.  We will be testing over this information early next week.

Next week will be our final week of school for second quarter. Next Friday, we will have a school wide Read-In beginning at 9:30.  Students are welcome to wear their pj's and bring pillows for the event.