Crew News 12.15.11

Students did a GREAT job leading the All School Meeting! Watching students overcome nerves and show leadership at the all school meeting was a highlight of the week!

  

Keep Up the Good Work with Technology :) Over the break and during the next semester, students are encouraged to keep up the good work with technology at home.  *Students can log onto kidblog.org/MrsLaurensCrew to write reading response blogs about what they are reading. (I have to approve all blogs/comments before they will appear). *Students are also welcome to log on to TypingPal to work on typing skills. Here is more information about how to log on.

 

Holiday Celebration For tomorrow, I have invited students to wear their pajamas to school and to bring from home their favorite holiday/winter books. Students can also bring a pillow or stuffed animal. We will have a celebration at the end of the day where students will enjoy hot chocolate and reading stories to each other. Sounds like a cozy and festive way to spend our afternoon!

Crew Learning Expedition: We have continued our geography study in learning about landforms and becoming experts in Colorado geography. HINTS AT HOME: Share some interesting facts you learned about Colorado geography.

Writing/Language Workshop: This week, we have been practicing writing summaries. This is tough to master, so we will revisit it in January. HINTS AT HOME: Have your child summarize something they read at home.

Math: Today we took our unit assessment on place value. Students should be comfortable with writing and comparing numbers to the ten-thousands place. It is okay if they are still not comfortable with decimals/fractions. They are not expected to master this yet. HINTS AT HOME: Continue studying multiplication/division facts at home. There are tons of great internet/ipad/cell phone games/resources that make practicing these fun.

Reading Workshop: We continued working on the reading strategy of "monitoring understanding." Students demonstrated that they could not only identify when they were having trouble understanding, but also that they could use their strategies to increase understanding. HINTS AT HOME: Hope you enjoy some great reads over the break!

Electronic Progress Reports (EPRs): EPRs will be available through Parent Portal tomorrow. Please see the email sent home on Wednesday about grades this semester. If you have questions or concerns, I would be happy to meet with you after the break.

Schedule Change: We will be in school next Friday (December 16) and January 3^rd is a Teacher Workday. Students will return from the break on Wednesday, January 4^th. This is different than other schools in the district, so please be aware of the change. 

Music Blog: Check out Ms. Cheryl's blog about what the students are doing in music! http://remsmusic.wordpress.com/ 

Dec 16: Winter Celebration (Bring favorite holiday stories & wear PJs)

     **Electronic Progress Reports available through Parent Portal

Dec 19-Jan 2: Holiday Break

Jan 3: Teacher Work Day

Jan 4: Students Return to School
Jan 28: REMS Winter Festival
Feb 29-Mar 1: Winter Voyage

Crew News 12.8.11

Thank you for coming to student led conferences! A big thank you for coming to student led conferences this week. It is a exciting time for parents to celebrate all the great work and learning that we are doing in our classroom. Students reflected how proud they felt and their determination to work on their goals. Awesome!

  

Holiday Celebration Next Friday, I am going to invite students to wear their pajamas to school and to bring from home their favorite holiday/winter books. We will have a celebration at the end of the day where students will enjoy hot chocolate and reading stories to each other. Sounds like a cozy and festive way to spend our afternoon!

Crew Learning Expedition: Students have been learning a lot about geography this week. They have looked at continents/oceans of the world, regions of the U.S., types of maps, reading a map grid, the compass rose and using a map key. HINTS AT HOME: Share some interesting facts you learned about geography.

Writing/Language Workshop: Our new genre study is BOOK REVIEWS. We noticed that an important part of a book review is a summary of the story, so in writing we have been practicing our skills of summarizing. Students have found it challenging to give an overview of the story without making it too detailed or too brief. Tricky! HINTS AT HOME: Have students summarize (out loud or in writing) a story they are reading at home.

Math: We have moved from numbers in the ten thousands to decimals: tenths and hundredths. To help build understanding of decimals/fractions being parts of a whole, we have used base-ten blocks and shading which helps visualize these numbers. HINTS AT HOME: Continue studying multiplication/division facts at home. There are tons of great internet/ipad/cell phone games/resources that make practicing these fun.

Reading Workshop: Our next reading theme unit is titled “Now and Then.” We have been reading a variety of text that compares people, places, and cultures in the present and past. The reading strategy we are working on is MONITORING UNDERSTANDING. We have defined this as noticing when you are or are not understanding text, and then using one of the many strategies you know to understand (reread, reflect on meaning, ask questions, used genre knowledge, and etc.). HINTS AT HOME: Have you child point out a spot in their nightly reading of where they notice they were not understanding, and then tell you about what strategy they used to comprehend.

All School Meeting: On December 14^th, our crew will be leading the all school meeting. Parents welcome! We will be wearing Santa hats to be festive. :)

Spelling : Here are this week’s spelling words. Spelling practice homework and tests are due/on Wednesdays.

-Spelling List Week 12

-Description of Spelling Practice Options

Electronic Progress Reports (EPRs): EPRs will be available through Parent Portal. I will give more information about these next week.

Schedule Change: We will be in school next Friday (December 16) and January 3^rd is a Teacher Workday. Students will return from the break on Wednesday, January 4^th. This is different than other schools in the district, so please be aware of the change.

Dec 14: Our Crew Leads All School Meeting (Bring your Santa hat)

Dec 16: Winter Celebration (Bring favorite holiday stories)

     **Electronic Progress Reports available through Parent Portal

Dec 19-Jan 2: Holiday Break

Jan 3: Teacher Work Day

Jan 4: Students Return to School

Crew News 12.1.11

Student Led Conferences Part II Thank you for signing up for student led conferences next week. Here is a little bit more information about this conference. Preparation:          To prepare for student led conferences, students will be reviewing their work to select samples from each content area that they would like to showcase. This is a thoughtful process for students to reflect about their learning. Students will practice their presentation skills to gain confidence in explaining their selected works as well as why they were chosen. The Conference:          The student is the presenter. The parents are the audience. The teacher is the timekeeper and the facilitator. Parent’s Role During the Conference: Please arrive on time with your child to the conference (it is preferred not to have younger siblings present so that the focus is on the student).           ***Please ask probing questions! Students will have prepared to speak about their selected works, but it is very beneficial to ask them questions about why they were selected. Here are sample questions to ask:          -What makes this your best work?          -Why did you select this piece?          -If you could go back and work more on this, what would you do?          -What was important to you as you worked on this piece?          -How does this relate to what you learned before?          -What would you like someone to notice about you as a (math/reading/writing) student?          -How can you use what you have learned in the real world?          -What are you most proud of?          -What has been a challenge? How did you work to overcome that challenge?    If you have questions about the format or process of student led conferences, I would be happy to clarify. Again, these conferences are a time to celebrate and not a time to express concerns. I am excited for you to come and see all the great learning we have been doing!

 

Technology Launch: This week, students have learned about how to use their district email, document sharing, kidblogs, and Typing Pal. With each of these, we will be practicing in class and library before there is any expectation to do these at home. I am glad to see so much enthusiasm about this!  Please check out this Q&A about Google Apps used at home. Please read!

  

Crew Learning Expedition: This week we have been using some expedition time to prepare for student led conferences. Students updated their portfolios with this year’s work, and tomorrow they will begin selecting work they want to share at conferences. Also, we began a mini-unit on geography that we will be working on through December. During a gallery walk, students brainstormed what they already know about this topic and what questions they have. HINTS AT HOME: If you can, please send in various kinds on maps and geographical books/puzzles for us to look at during the next two weeks.

Writing Workshop: Besides our launch of technology, we have been revisiting what makes a good sentence (capital, punctuation, spelling, clear idea of who/what and an action). We have been brainstorming why it is easy to identify a good sentence, but it seems challenging for this to transfer into our writing. Hmm! HINTS AT HOME: Ask students to do some writing at home. Ask them to show you what makes a good sentence.

Math: This unit expands our understanding of place value up to the millions. Students have done a great job with reading and comparing numbers with seven digits. HINTS AT HOME: Continue studying multiplication/division facts at home. There are tons of great internet/ipad/cell phone games/resources that make practicing these fun.

Reading/Language Workshop: We are building up to our new genre study, which still has not been revealed. To prepare for the study, we have been thinking about what things we love about books and what big things we remember about a book (which will develop into summarizing). HINTS AT HOME: Many students are choosing books that are too easy or too difficult. Check in to see that students are reading just right books at home!

All School Meeting: On December 14^th, our crew will be leading the all school meeting. Parents are always welcome to come to these! It is a fun way to see how we build culture and to see what is going on at Renaissance.

Spelling : In an effort for students to deepen their understanding of spelling patterns (not just for the weekly test but so that it transfers into their independent writing), I have asked that students begin doing weekly spelling practice homework. Students have a choice on what spelling practice they would like to do. As the year continues, I will add to this list. Spelling homework will be due on Wednesdays.

-Spelling List Week 11

-Description of Spelling Practice Options

Book Orders: New scholastic book orders will go home on Friday. Please submit orders online by next Wednesday, December 7th, so that orders will be delivered before we leave for winter break. The website is www.scholastic.com/bookclubs  and our class activation code is GP449.

 

Dec 5-9: Student Led Conferences (Don’t forget to sign up!)

Dec 14: Our Crew Leads All School Meeting

Dec 16: Electronic Progress Reports available through Parent Portal

Dec 19-Jan 2: Holiday Break

Jan 3: Teacher Work Day

Jan 4: Students Return to School

A Day of Celebration!

A huge THANK YOU for all your support for making our Artography Gallery Opening a success!!! Students loved sharing their artwork and learning. As a teacher, it is truly a wonderful feeling to see a room full excitement about learning! :) This was a perfect ending to this marvelous expedition.

Also we celebrated the finish of our genre study of Tall Tales.  Students loved sharing these with Ms. Jody's kindergarten crew. Afterward, we reflected on what we enjoyed learning about this genre and what we can take from this study to help us become better writers.

Enjoy the pictures!

Crew News 11.17.11

Student Led Conferences

During the week of December 5th, our class will be holding student led conferences. These conferences will be thirty minutes long with three ten-minute stations (the order may vary): 1) your child will share with you selected samples at their desk; 2) your child will give you a tour of the room explaining the projects featured on the walls; and 3) your child and you will meet with me to discuss goal-setting and progress. The format of the student-led conference allows three conferences to occur simultaneously.

If you have any outstanding concerns or questions, I will set up a meeting with you at another time.

Why Student Led Conferences?

         Student led conferences facilitate strong communication about learning between the student, parents, and teacher. These conferences allow students to take ownership of and responsibility for their learning. It also allows students to make decisions and set goals about their work. The presentation and reflection will encourage parent involvement, student motivation, and student accountability. This is a wonderful time to celebrate and show pride in the achievement and learning of your child in their semester as a 3rd grader.

Scheduling: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0A4AA8AE2A1-listening

Password was sent in the Crew News Email.

If you have questions about student led conferences, I would be happy to clarify. Again, these conferences are a time to celebrate and not a time to express concerns. I am excited for you to come and see all the great learning we are doing.

Crew Learning Expedition: This week, I have been thoroughly impressed by the creativity, effort, and excitement about creating a product in expedition!!! Students were asked to create a piece of art that represents something about American, Renaissance, or personal culture. Students cannot wait to share these with you next Tuesday morning at our “Gallery Opening.” HINTS AT HOME: What are you creating and what does it say about culture?

Writing/Language Workshop: Students have been hard at work in writing their tall tales. Students have done such an excellent job of taking apart the tall tales that we have written, that the stories they are creating sound like they are already published works! Next Tuesday, we will be sharing our tall tales with Ms. Jody’s kindergarten class. HINTS AT HOME: Tell me about the process of writing your tall tale. Where did you get your ideas from? What is your favorite part? What has been a challenge?

Math: We have finished this unit on multiplication. The unit ended with a look back at map scales and coin toss probability. We will take the assessment for the unit tomorrow. HINTS AT HOME: Continue studying multiplication/division facts at home. There are tons of great internet/ipad/cell phone games/resources that make practicing these fun.

Reading Workshop: This week we finished our reading theme called “How Does Electricity Work?” We continued practicing the reading strategy of synthesizing (where you put together pieces of information as you read to form new ideas). HINTS AT HOME: Keep reading over the break!

Gallery Opening: Students are so excited to have you come see what they have been working so hard on and to share their learning from this expedition about art and culture. Marianne will be coordinating parent volunteers to help with this event. Thanks in advance! See you from 8:40-10 on Tuesday!

Spelling : Happy Thanksgiving. No spelling until after we return.

Book Fair: Thanks for all your support and encouraging a love for books!

Art Blog: Ms. Pam has been doing a great job of updating her art blog. Check out what is going on in the art room at REMS! http://artteacherc.blogspot.com/

Technology: After the break, 3^rd grade will be incorporating the use of technology into the classroom. Stay tuned! :)

Nov 11-18: REMS Book Fair 

Nov 22: Gallery Opening from 8:40-10:00 AM 
Nov 23-25: No School for Thanksgiving Holiday

Dec 5-9: Listening Conferences (Don’t forget to sign up!)

Dec 16: Electronic Progress Reports available through Parent Portal

Dec 19-Jan 2: Holiday Break

Jan 3: Teacher Work Day

Jan 4: Students Return to School

Check out all the hard working artists! Students are showing outstanding craftsmanship and creativity in creating a product that shows something about culture. AWESOME!

Crew News 11.10.11

We enjoyed a great week of climbing! It was fun to watch students celebrate the rewards of working towards/reaching personal goals, showing perseverance, and taking risks. A big thank you to all of our volunteer belayers. We could not do this without you!

Gallery Opening: Tuesday November 22nd from 8:40 to 10:00AM To wrap up our expedition study of art and culture, students will be creating their own art pieces that share something about culture. We will be working on this next week, and students will decide whether they want to create a piece that shares about personal/family culture or Renaissance culture. To simulate a gallery opening, where parents will be invited to come view and ask questions about our art, we are going to make this a fun occasion where we will ask families and students to get dressed up. We will serve scones and tea. Please save the date and plan on coming to see the finale of our expedition!

Crew Learning Expedition: Students enjoyed this unit of learning about other cultures through art. We have analyzed art and read text to learn about cowboy, pioneer, and Mexican American culture. Students have deepened their understanding of what culture is and how you can learn about culture using art. HINTS AT HOME: What did you see in the art you looked at and what did it tell you about culture?

Writing/Language Workshop: We have enjoyed being readers of TALL TALES and this week we began the process of becoming writers of tall tales. Before starting, we took some time to brainstorm our main character, setting, and the plot of our story. Today, we looked at mentor text tall tales to use for inspiration for crafting a lead. HINTS AT HOME: What are you enjoying about this genre study? What challenges you? Tell me about your tall tale.

Math: This new unit is building conceptual understanding about multiplication and division. We have been exploring how to solve mult/div problems using pictures, arrays, shortcuts, and fact triangles. HINTS AT HOME: Please begin a routine of studying multiplication facts at home. By the end of third grade, students are expected to show mastery of facts 0-12.

Reading Workshop: This week we continued our reading theme called “How Does Electricity Work?” We continued practicing the reading strategy of synthesizing (where you put together pieces of information as you read to form new ideas). HINTS AT HOME: Set a routine for 3rd graders to be reading every night. Have your child share with you what he/she can synthesize from the text and how it helps to better understand the text.

Spelling : Sorry for the confusion with spelling. The snow day last week knocked me off schedule. Here is the list for this week, test will be next Wednesday, and the new list will come home on Thursday.

Book Fair next week. Come check it out. There is a classroom wish list too, if you would like to donate to our classroom library. Family night is Tuesday from 5:30-7:30. Thanks for supporting the book fair! :)

Nov 11-18: REMS Book Fair 

Nov 22: Gallery Opening from 8:40-10:00 AM
Nov 23-25: No School for Thanksgiving Holiday

Dec 5-9: Listening Conferences (I will release a sign-up next week)

Dec 16: Electronic Progress Reports available through Parent Portal

Dec 19-Jan 2: Holiday Break

Jan 3: Teacher Work Day

Jan 4: Students Return to School

Crew News 11.3.11

A Great Day of Learning at the Denver Art Museum It was exciting to see the students so engaged today listening to our guided tour about Native American art. Students enjoyed learning about past and present art from regions across the United States, including the clothing, baskets, and paintings.  Then students got to see more art about the cultures we have been studying. Students are doing a great job on this expedition and discovered how much they can learn about a culture through art. Bravo! Please ask for your child to tell you about what it was like to visit the museum, what art was interesting, an interesting thing that was learned, and what was surprising about this visit. How does this visit support the learning in our expedition? A big thank you to our parent volunteers who helped out today!

Hello Families,
Wow! What an fun week the students had this week: Halloween Parade, Snow Day, Denver Art Museum, and then no school tomorrow. I am going to hold off on doing my write-up of "crew learning" until next week, when we have had more classroom learning time. :)

Climbing: Next week we are in the gym climbing. Woohoo! As of right now, we only have 4-6 volunteers for belaying. The more volunteers we have, the more the kids will get to climb! We can have up to 12.
**Tomorrow at 9am is the last chance you have to get trained by Doug before you can sign up. Hope to see you next week!


Tissues: It is the "cold-season" and our class is going through tissues rapidly. If you can, please send a box of tissues to help our classroom supply. THANKS!


Nov 4: No students; Teacher Professional Development
Nov 7-11: Fall Climbing 9:55-10:45am Click here for directions on how to sign up!
Nov 11-18: REMS Book Fair 

Nov 22: Save the Date: Expedition sharing event in the morning
Nov 23-25: No School for Thanksgiving Holiday