Ms. B. in Class

Happy Monday!

Some of you know that I created a Table Top Gaming Group which met after school last year.  I am going to create that same group this year.  I will likely do at least two sessions so I can get more kids into the program.

Gamewright Games, one of the creators of a handful of games that I use in that club and as centers in my classroom, has agreed to sponsor a Gamewright Game Night at Stuckey.  Students and Families can come and demo all kinds of games, from simple dice games to complex strategic games.  Gamewright also allows us to keep a portion of the sales from that night.  I am really excited to be organizing our first event like this at Stuckey.  I will send home forms for the Table Top Group after the Gamewright night concludes.  This all happens on September 11.  I’ll send home fliers with more details soon!

Homework & Curriculum

This week students will have paper homework.  We are still setting up accounts on Freckle, Xtramath, Prodigy, and others.  Starting next week, students will have an option of paper or digital homework.  We also MAPs test on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, so homework will be light.

My homework policy can be found here if you have any questions.  https://msbinclass.com/homework-policy/

Your students will start the year with a reading contest.  We will chart progress on our wall in class.  I encourage all students to read 20 minutes each night.  I care more about the fact that students are reading than carving out specifications of content.  If your student loves Pokemon and has a Pokemon training book that they want to read, let them read it.  If they like to read nonfiction, that’s fine.  If they like science fantasy, encourage them to read it.  The log for the beginning of the year will require that they write in the name of a book or article, the author, the date they started reading, the date the complete the book or article, and the number of pages.

We will start creating our own set of multiplication flash cards for school and a second set for home this week as well.  One set stays in their desk, and one set will stay in their GO folders until we complete the set.  Once complete, they can keep that set at home.  For roughly 12 nights, students will be required to cut out and solve multiplication problems on construction paper.  If you don’t have students scissors at home, let me know and I’ll get a pair in their GO folder.

We will record our homework in our GO folders each night.  I ask that you sign the GO folders each night so that you are aware of the work they are doing, and to verify digital homework.

Important Upcoming Dates

• 8/20 – Tuesday – Be Kind day (every Tuesday)  Students can wear Be Kind shirts and standard uniform pants/shorts
• 8/26 – SOT Meeting
• 9/2 – No School – Labor Day
• 9/4 – Fall Pictures
• 9/6 – Pizza Friday
• 9/6 – Free Dress Day – Superhero Day
• 9/9-9/13 Fall Book Fair
• 9/11 – Gamewright Game Night
• 9/13 – Grandparents Breakfast (Thank you PTA!)
• 9/18 – Open House

As always, if you have any questions, I’ll do my best to respond quickly!  Here’s to another great week!

Here’s a pdf of this week’s homework absent the math fact cutouts:  2019-08-19 Homework

We had a lot of fun with Camp Emoji today. Our students were trapped and had to solve math, reading, and writing clues to get released from the camp. We also demonstrated the writing process with Play-Doh. We had a great time!

The gummy worm feed has capsized and his life preserver is stuck under his boat. How will they save him with just four paper clips without touching anything other than the paper clips? With their brains! Your kids can do anything. #wecandohardthings

Parents,

I hope your week is going well.  We’ve had a great year thus far.  I wanted to reach out about a few things.

I’ve decided that we will have a snack time this year around 1:35.  Because we will often write and eat, please send in things like goldfish, fruit snacks, raisins, pretzels, but NO NUTS.  We do have a nut allergy.

We will take our MAPs test next week in our classroom.  If you have not turned in your Chromebook forms, please make sure to do so, as we will test in our classrooms again this year in 3rd grade.

I am putting together a parent volunteer list this week based on the forms I’ve received from you.  As soon as I have it mapped out, I’ll put up a calendar.  Thank you for being so generous with your time!  I really appreciate it!

As always, if you have any questions, I will try to answer them as quickly as possible.

Hi, parents!

I think we had a great first day in third grade.  Thanks so much for all that you did to prepare your students for their first day of school.  I know that we ask a lot of you in these first weeks, and I appreciate all that you do to make this process as smooth as possible.

I also know that purchasing clothes, school supplies, and everything else that comes at the beginning of the year can be taxing, especially on our wallets.  Know that I know that.  If you have not sent in a specific supply, take your time and send it in when you can.  We have some great families who sent in some additional supplies.

With regard to Chromebook forms:  please send in the form even if you do not have the $10 needed to accompany the form.  Students cannot use the Chromebooks until we have the agreements signed.  If you need another couple of weeks for the $10, I completely understand.

We did a lot of community building today.  Tomorrow, we will start our working on 3rd grade curriculum.  Your students are great members of our 3rd grade community.  They must get that from great parents!  🙂

Welcome!

I was so happy to meet all of you last week at meet the teacher.  If you were unable to attend, I understand completely.  I will send all of the materials I handed out on Friday home with your student.

I also added a few of the items on my forms page for easy reference.  The chromebook forms are on my Forms page.  I’ve also uploaded the 2019 Meet & Greet paperwork and the QR Survival page.  Most of the information on the Meet & Greet paperwork can be found on this website, but I understand people may prefer a paper copy.

If you have not filled out the survey about how you would prefer to be contacted, please do so.  It isn’t long, and it helps me make sure I am communicating in a way you hear me.  That link is here:  https://forms.gle/EaQHDC5iWWytAYLb8

Curriculum

This week we will start building our community in our writing program, Being a Writer.  The class will create an anchor chart of expectations for writing time and work to define how each student can become an author.

Students will be introduced to our behavior management program http://www.classcraft.com.  Through this program students can earn class rewards, armor, and pets (in software) by helping others, being kind, and showing teamwork.  I encourage you to sign up for a parental account via the website or iOS or Android app.  It is free.  I’ve also included instructions on how to sign up in your student GO folders which your students will bring home this week as well.

We will read a variety of read alouds this week about classroom expectations and a community of kindness.  At the end of the week, we will begin working on our first writing narrative.

We will also work together and become a community this week.  Our theme this year is Thunder Boelters Are All In!  Students will participate in a variety of team building exercises.

Please make sure to turn in all required school forms placing by them in the Return to School side of your student’s GO Folder.

If you have any questions, you can contact me via email until we establish a preferred contact method.  Thank you for trusting me with your student’s education! We are going to have a great week and a better year!

I can’t wait to see all of your student’s smiling faces tomorrow at meet the teacher!  I will be waiting for you at 12:30.  Our meet the teacher will last from 12:30 to 2:30.  I am in room 2016, upstairs.

Spoiler Alert!!

We have a class pet, and we may be the only class which has one!  How exciting is that?!?!  Hopefully Elvis the gecko will help ease your student into their new surroundings.  I have his tank right by the door.

As we start this year, know I am as nervous as your students may be, but together #wecandoanything!

Please keep an eye on your mailbox.  Today, I mailed all of you a letter!  I’ve added it here as well, just in case a letter is lost in the mail.

Hello Third Grader!

I’m so happy to have you in my class for the 2018-2019 school year!  Third grade is such an exciting time. I can promise that you will learn so much by next May.  I already have lots of fun and interesting lessons, activities, and projects planned for us during the upcoming months.  We are going to teach each other so many new things. In third grade your reading and writing skills will get better and better, plus you will learn your multiplication facts!  You can count on a lot of fun and exciting learning surprises along the way too!

Here is your first bit of third grade homework!  I would like you to write a letter introducing yourself and bring it with you on the first day of school or to meet the teacher.  Follow these six steps:

1. Start with a greeting like Dear Ms. Boelter,
2. In the first section, tell me about your family and any pets you have.
3. Skip a line and in the next section, tell me about three different things:  what you really like about school, what you want to learn this year, and what you would like help getting better at.  (Don’t worry – we all have something we can improve on!)
4. Skip another line to make a new paragraph and tell me what you like to do for fun.  What are your hobbies? what sports do you like to play, what shows you like to watch, etc.
5. In the last paragraph, ask me any questions you might have about third grade.
6. End your letter with a closing and sign your name.  For example, Your student, Frank N. Stein

I will be sure to answer all of your letters!  I would also love for you to bring me a favorite 3×5 or 4×6 photo of yourself or your family during the first week of school.  We will display these pictures in our room all year long!

Please enjoy every last moment of your summer vacation.  I hope it has been a fantastic summer for you and your family.  I can hardly wait to meet you and find out all about you. I’m looking forward to seeing you at Meet the Teacher on Friday, August 9th, from 12:30-2:30.  Feel free to bring your school supplies that day.  See you soon!

Your 3rd Grade Teacher,

Ms. Boelter aka Ms. B.