Third Graders, Dreaming Big

Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of a very busy child!! It’s funny, this time of year makes us feel as if the day is longer. We fit in more, because it feels as if the daylight outside gives us more time in our schedule. While it is really an illusion, it is a great feeling to get more accomplished with a little energy left over.

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Your children are going to need their energy to power through these last 6 (!!?!!) weeks of school.  They will need your support when it comes to organization, especially. They are being asked to talk about certain topics at home, bring in certain materials, and complete homework on time.  While ultimately, most of the responsibility is on the student, I do know that the visible finish line will make that more difficult.  They need you! Believe me, my own kids can see the finish line as well, and I’m using all my strength to keep them on target until June 21.  It’s not easy, I know.

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Baby books should be practiced for 20 minutes a night (at least). Work on expression, slowing down speech, slow page turning and tracking the number of readings on the sticky note. Bring it to school EVERY DAY!!!

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Wax museum is right around the corner. Keep me posted if you need help, and send in a parent note if you do.  I get a GAZILLION questions from the kids, but those are hard to sort through. Practice those speeches five minutes a night, and on Wednesday and Thursday nights, they are your only focus, so dig right in!

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Field trips are on the horizon. If you are available to help, be sure your CORI is up to date. We love having the help, and the correct paperwork makes that happen. Buckle UP!!!

After reviewing student, teacher and parent surveys and data, the district has decided to move forward with the Math in Focus curriculum starting in the fall. A comprehensive round of training is in the works for teachers, and all students in grades K-6 will hit the ground running in September!!

Pencils are a challenge for us in the classroom. The only ones that don’t break in the sharpener a MILLION times are the Ticonderoga ones. If you happen to have some laying in around the house, consider sending them in. There are children desperate to do more writing. .

Dream Big,

I am not sure if I will have the time to show the whole video in class (I will try) but Cecilia’s mom sent me an AWESOME link giving us a tour of the International Space Station.  Check it out HERE!!

Our old friend, Kermit the Frog says:  “Green’s the color of spring.  And green can be cool and friendly-like.  And green can be big like an ocean, or important like a mountain, or tall like a tree”.   While he was talking about the color of his skin, I think it can relate to the more global, timely topics of reducing, reusing and recycling.
It seems everywhere we turn, there are messages reminding us to behave in ways that conserve our valuable resources. Some measures we take are easy – putting water bottles and paper in the recycle bin, and using lunch boxes instead of paper bags.

But some forward-thinking ideas are harder to adopt. In 2006, I purchased my first re-useable shopping bags.  I had seen them many times in the stores, but have never taken the plunge.  It took seeing my then-65 year-old dad carrying in his groceries (in Green bags, of course) for me to get the motivation I needed.  So, now I am the proud owner of 1 enormous IKEA bag, and too many “green” grocery bags.  The challenge has lied in where to keep the darn things, so I will actually USE them AT THE STORE!  Not much luck, yet!!! C’mon, Suzy!!

Whether your goal is to reduce water usage, or to recycle more, good luck in your journey. Changing habits of living is not easy!

Mullen is in Year 4 of our Go Green email list. By choosing to receive your M-H notices via email, we can save lots of paper copies. Haven’t signed up yet?  Send me your email and I’ll get you on the list!

Join us in our baby steps to make life greener!

Remember to send in your child’s Wax Museum character choice.  Assignments will be sent home by Thursday.
Our student intern from Upper Cape Tech has been with us since February. His last day is Friday.  Jordan has been a huge help in the classroom and everyone will miss him like crazy.  Thank you, Jordan!!
Have a fabulous April vacation, the year is certainly flying by!!!
Smile Wide,

scaffolding: “A teaching strategy in which instruction begins at a level encouraging students’ success and provides the right amount of support to move students to a higher level of understanding. “
~http://gse.berkeley.edu

As teachers, we try very hard to instill independence in our students, while providing the support they still need.  It’s a tricky balance between the two, as you can imagine.  We are now in Term 3, and the balance will start to tip a little more towards independence.

You will notice this week’s homework sheet is no longer typed by me.  Students will now spend time on Monday afternoons writing in their assignments, and thinking of what is coming ahead this week, both in and out of school.

However, I know how frustrating it can be when my own children write (or don’t write) assignments in their planner, and I have NO CLUE what it means!!  So, I will continue to post typed homework assignments on the blog.

You can support your child by  checking his or her homework sheet, to see it is filled in completely.  If there are any unclear assignments, encourage your child to come to school and ask me.  Taking Responsibility for Learning is a valuable skill that is hard to teach, but at this point in the year, all students are catching on…

Be sure to send in those signed report card envelopes so I can fill them up again on the last day of school.  Thank you!
We will have several field trips coming up this spring.  If you plan on helping out, be sure your CORI form is up to date. I’ll share dates as they become available.
The evening of May 29 is our 3rd Grade Living Wax Museum. Though you have no details, yet – be sure to save the date – it’s a BIG deal!
Smile Brighter,

Did you hear about the upcoming Blueberry Fundraiser?? Check it out!!

You will notice that our homework this week is a little different.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate, and students in Room 204 will get a chance to enjoy the change of pace.

Homework is an important part of school, but with MCAS this week, I felt that everyone needs some down-time.  As a parent, I LOVE nights when there’s no homework, but unfortunately, they are few and far between.

So, this week, students will have homework of a different kind altogether.  See the bottom of this post for more details.

After I present them with their homework in morning meeting, there are bound to be some questions.  All I am asking is that they complete all of their items before Friday, pretty much like a regular school week.  They always ask if they REALLY have to do all of the things they see on the list.  OF COURSE they do!! Don’t let them wiggle out of it!

Before we know it, the weekend will be here, and the Language Arts MCAS will be a wonderful third grade memory.

Praise your children for the hard work they have put in all year, as it truly pays off in the efforts they put forth.

PLEASE let me know if there are any questions about our Snack Bags for MCAS.  I would like to have 100% participation as we had the last two years!  Students LOVE parent notes!!

For those of you new to MCAS, the results of both the Language Arts and the Math tests will be mailed to your home address sometime in October.  It’s a long time to wait, that’s for sure!

Report Cards will come home on Friday. Please be sure to sign and return the envelope.  The contents are for you to keep.
Please be on time for school on Wednesday and Thursday. We get rolling with our MCAS routine first thing in the morning! Thank you!
Tissues and snacks have been coming into the classroom – thank you so much for the support!!
Reach Higher,

Last week I wrote about all of the strategies we are using at school to help us prepare for the upcoming MCAS.  This week, I’m giving you some suggestions for what can be done at home to set your child up for a positive testing experience. (While I am giving these as strategies for the MCAS, they truly are effective year-round!)

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Move it, Move it: Researchers have found that children who participate in vigorous exercise 3 days a week score 10% better in school than their less-active counterparts. With Daylight Savings in effect, get those kids outside running around.  Enjoy the fresh air and warmer weather!

ZZZzzzzz: Extensive research has been conducted on the effect sleep has on academics. Students who lose even one hour of sleep can perform 2 years below their usual capabilities.  In the interest of Restful Slumber, there will be no homework assigned next week. Please be sure your young student has a calm, relaxing evening, and an early bedtime.   10-11 hours per night is the recommended amount for children at this age.

Breakfast is Essential: Research reveals students who regularly eat a nutritious breakfast, perform better on tests measuring math, reading, memory and speed and other cognitive abilities.  Spend some time planning ahead for some easy-to-prepare, yummy and healthy breakfasts.

Encouraging Snacks: Later this week, you will receive 4 paper bags along with 4 index cards, and an instruction sheet.  I am asking parents to fill these bags with snacks for their favorite little third grader, and to include a note of encouragement and/or pride.   We will snack before the test (healthy!) and after the test (fun!).  I can say that notes from parents are treasured by students, and give them the encouragement and reassurance they crave when faced with their first Big Test.  Please be sure to participate!!

Tuesday is an early-release day. Be sure to send in notes if anything changes with your child’s dismissal.

Welcome to Term 3!! Effort, Excitement, Expectations and Energy are going to be at an all-time high for Room 204.  Please support your child as we wrap up the year on a positive, learning-filled note!
Dream Bigger,

Well, all good things must come to an end, as is true for the Brooks’ Family Bed and Breakfast.  We were very lucky during Blizzard Nemo.  Though we lost power for 30 hours, we have a gas fireplace to keep us warm.  We took in various friends and family throughout the storm, which made for a memorable adventure.

Our link to the outside world.

Our blizzard fridge.

Blizzard damage on our beach

It seems that of the nine of us currently staying in the B&B, I’m the only one heading off to school.  I am hopeful that all of my students and families made it through the weekend safely, and are left with lots of great stories to tell (and to write about!!!).

I’m cutting this newsletter short, but have a few announcements:
*  Feb 8 Book Talks will be this Friday.

*  Feb 15 Book Talks will also be this Friday.

*  No Homework, with the exception of Valentines.  No child is required to bring in Valentines for others.  However, if students DO choose to make Valentines, they ARE required to include all of Room 204 students (email me for the list if you need it)

THANK YOU to the drivers who helped bring us to the Cotuit Art Center.  We had such a nice trip, and it wouldn’t have been possible without your help!!

Book orders are on their way! Thank you for your support; our Bonus Points will go towards a big Community Service Project at the end of the school year.

With Thanks, Mrs. Brooks

What I have learned over the years, is that every classroom of students is unique in some way. Some are more serious, some are more independent, some are more chatty. I love how a group dynamic develops over the course of a year.

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What is unique about this particular class, is the fact that they are able to finish their required work in a shorter amount of time than classes in past years. A message these students hear from me is to take their time and be careful in their work. While there are the occasional do-overs, I am finding that careful working students are left with time on their hands to fill with more learning.

In past years, I developed a list of options for students who finished their contracted work with time to spare. This list has doubled in options this year, to give students more variety in their choices in many subject areas. Students are expected to use their time wisely, and to fill it with activities that enhance, broaden, or deepen their understanding in a certain topic. Whether that is writing a blog post on what they love about the Solar System, or practicing tricky math facts, or taking on a challenge, students can find something on the list which interests and motivates them.

I am always on the lookout for new ideas to add to our extensive list. The internet is a great resource, but most often my ideas come from the students themselves. It is their interests and engagement which inspire me every day, and completing these activities makes learning more fun for all of us.

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Be sure to ask your third grader about our list, and remind them of the importance of making good choices all during the school day. Some choices may seem simple on the surface, but with effort and careful thought, a third grader can take it to a deeper level. I keep reminding students to take responsibility for their own learning, and having personal choice in learning helps to do just that!

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I sent home a request for drivers last week for our upcoming field trip on the 7th.  We need seats for 16 students, and at this point, we have space to bring 11 students.  If you are able to drive, please send me a note to let me know by tomorrow, otherwise we will have to cancel. Thank you!!
Tomorrow is the last day to hand in Scholastic book orders.
Smile Wide,

I’m really old, but yet I can still remember learning my multiplication tables when I was in 3rd grade. Mrs. Lynch would have us listen to each times table as a song on her record player, and I could sing you those songs still today.  Combine her strategy with having us practice with flash cards, and needless to say, I memorized all of my facts by years’ end.

I carry some of that tradition to my own classroom, and I hope it is effective.  Students have been listening to and watching the Schoolhouse Rock! videos for each of the times tables through ten. Some tunes are catchier than others, but they are all cute. I can sing those, too, ha ha.

We continue to progress through our quizzes. We have a specific routine for quizzing that I learned from working with Laura Candler and her book Mastering Math Facts: Multiplication and Division. We are working as a team to conquer the 0-10’s tables this year, and so far, we have all mastered 0-2.

Last year, I videotaped our routine to share with families at home.  Miss Sally (my mom) was nice enough to run the camera while we went about our business.  You can check out the video here:

To practice, students can be using flash cards, online games, oral practice, or our XtraMath program online.  In fact, many of the same programs we use in the computer lab and on iPads can also be accessed while at home (ScootPad, Sumdog, XtraMath, etc…)

Five minutes per night is really all it takes – but just imagine how much progress can be made if each student practiced for 10 minutes per night!!

I sent home a request for drivers last week for our upcoming field trip on the 7th.  We need seats for 16 students, and at this point, we don’t have any space at all.  If you are able to drive, please send me a note to let me know.  Thank you!!
Book Talks started this past Friday and WOW – they were terrific!!  Congrats to our first brave friends, and we can’t wait to see the rest of our upcoming performances.
Stand Tall,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIL09nlmGuQ