News from the Week of 10/4-10/8

This week has been a busy start to October.  The children maintained a good attitude and worked hard on all of the tests.  I am very proud of them.  Thankfully we will be back to our regular routine and schedule next week.  In the midst of all the testing, we have learned some interesting facts about Christopher Columbus and had a fun time with our poems, reader's theater and a Columbus game.

3rd Grade Grading Scale:

E - Excellent Progress
S+ - Strong Progress
S - Satisfactory Progress
N - Needs Time/Improvement/Expereince

Next week we will be starting the novel, Charlotte's Web by E.B. White.

Charlotte’s Web opens the door to a magical world, which a young girl named Fern finds herself a part of. Fern spends her free time with Wilbur the pig whom she loves and the other barn animals who play a large part in the life of Wilbur. Charlotte A. Cavatica, the large gray spider, befriends Wilbur and helps him deal with the shocking news that his life will end as bacon on someone’s plate. Charlotte goes as far as coming up with an interesting plan that only this spider could carry out with the help of Templeton the rat (who never does anything unless there is something in it for himself) to help Wilbur escape death.  http://www.edocere.org/book_summaries/charlottes_web.htm

We will be memorizing the poem, Recipe for a Hippopotamus Sandwich, by Shel Silverstein for the month of October.  Every day before lunch we practice the poem.  By the end of the month each child is required to recite the poem in front of the class or privately to me.


RECIPE FOR A HIPPOPOTAMUS SANDWICH

-by Shel Silverstein

A hippo sandwich is easy to make.
All you do is simply take
One slice of bread,
One slice of cake,
Some mayonnaise,
One onion ring,
One hippopotamus,
One piece of string,
A dash of pepper--
That ought to do it, And now comes the problem... Biting into it!

Please make sure you continue checking homework and signing off on the blue homework sheet every night.    Most children need to have adult support in getting this done.  They will be more independent as the year progresses.  Please remember that homework needs to be turned in on time unless there are extenuating circumstances.  Late work should be the exception.  Unfortunately,  I have been receiving many excuses for why work is not done.  Your child should have the two main homework books (Workbook Plus for English and Home Links for Math) at home and stored in a safe place.  If your child loses his/her book, you will have to purchase a replacement.    If your child does not turn in a late assignment by the following Monday of the week in which it is due, they will stay in at recess to complete it.