Liz Sikes and Asa Massey

Newsletter March 16, 2013

We want to thank everyone for our wonderful week. We always feel so lucky to have a class and parents like you guys, but this week we felt extra special. Thank you again.

Remember, we are still in a reading competition, so make sure your child reads, reads, and reads.

Our class has finished all of our Benchmarks and the children did really well. We are very proud of them.

Congratulations to Matt Simms for being our feature writer last month and Bryant Madaris for this month.

It was great to see some of our parents come to Cafe LeVaughan and show their children how much they support their writing. We know the students really enjoyed sharing the writing with you.

Upcoming Dates:

Mar. 22^nd                     Report Card Distribution

Mar. 25th                    Vaughan Blood Drive

Mar. 26^th                     Vaughan Spirit Night at Marietta Pizza Company

Mar. 27th                    Kindergarten Registration

April  4th                    Family Fitness Night 6:30-8:00pm

 Curriculum:

Reading- Next week, we will be reading about Magnets in guided reading. We will also begin each reading class by reviewing our reading strategies and practicing comprehension.  

Writing- Our focus this 9 weeks is Persuasive Writing. We will begin this week learning how to persuade. Next, we will write a persuasive piece, sharing reasons and examples. 

 Spelling- New list of words coming home on Monday

Math- Next week, we will begin learning about Rectilinear Shapes and how to find the Area of those shapes. We will study Mass and Volume after the CRCT.  

Write "Lucky Clover" in your child's agenda only on Monday. If you write the secret phrase in your child's agenda,  he or she will receive $.25.

Science- Next week, we will be reading and studying about Magnets. 

 

Newsletter March 9, 2013

We have started March Madness. It's the girls vs. the boys in reading minutes. At the end of the month whomever has the most minutes will receive milkshakes. Yummy!! Make sure you are reading and recording your minutes.

Upcoming Dates:

Mar.  11th, 12th and 15th Language Arts/Social Studies Benchmark

Mar.  11th                    Reading Logs due

Mar. 12^th                      Spring Pictures and Class Pictures (schedule attached)

Mar. 11th-14th            Book Fair

Mar. 14^th                      PTSA/Café Le Vaughan/SPLOST presentation: 6:30 K-2^nd, 7:00 PTSA meeting, 7:30 3^rd-5^th

Mar. 15th                     Habitat Assessment 

Mar. 22^nd                     Report Card Distribution

Mar. 26^th                      Vaughan Spirit Night at Marietta Pizza Company

 

Curriculum:

Reading- This week we worked on finding theme and main idea. We compared two books by the same author "Jan Brett". Finally on Friday, we discussed the rhyme and rhythm of a poem. 

Writing- This past week, most of the children worked on finishing their  Narratives. We reviewed what revising really means and the students had to turn in all the changes (revisions) they made in the narratives. 

"Change your clocks, change your batteries" is our secret phrase. If you write the secret phrase in your child's agenda Monday, he or she will receive $.25.

Vocabulary and Spelling-  No Vocabulary or Spelling this coming week.

Math- This past week, we started talking about mass. We took  our Benchmark test for the end of the quarter, and most students did really well. We are very proud of their progress. Next week, we will continue with mass and volume.

Science- We will take our Habitats quiz on Friday, but we will also begin learing about Matter.

Social Studies- Benchmark test is this coming week.

Newsletter 3/1/2013

Thank you to all of the parents that sent in popcorn this morning. We had enough for today and more for another movie day. The children seemed to really enjoy the movie. We discovered that the movie was very different from the book.

Upcoming Dates:

Mar. 12^th                      Spring Pictures and Class Pictures (schedule attached)

Mar. 11th-14th            Book Fair

Mar. 14^th                      PTSA/Café Le Vaughan/SPLOST presentation: 6:30 K-2^nd, 7:00 PTSA meeting, 7:30 3^rd-5^th  

Mar. 22^nd                     Report Card Distribution

Mar. 26^th                      Vaughan Spirit Night at Marietta Pizza Company

 

Curriculum:

Reading- This week we finished reading Mr. Popper's Penguins and wrote the next chapter in the book. 

Writing- This past week, the children worked on a Narrative of their choosing. We used a story mountain as an organizer. This included an Introduction, Rising Action, Climax(or Problem), Falling Action, and a Wrap-up. We will finish these early next week.

Snow Flurries is our secret word. If you write the secret word in your child's agenda Monday, he or she will receive $.25.

Vocabulary-  Unit 1-4 Review. Next week, we will be working on grammar skills.

Math- This past week, we learned all about the Multiplication Properties and worked on some multi-step word problems requiring multiplication. Next week is our Benchmark test for the end of the quarter.

Science- We finished our Georgia Regions Pop-up books. Next week, we will finish our Habitat Unit.

Social Studies- Next week, we will finish learning about Eleanor Roosevelt. She is our last famous person for this 9 weeks.

H.W. 2/22/2013

Reading- Reading Log

Cellar Visualization

Friday folder

Newsletter 2/14/2013

Upcoming Dates:

February 18, 2013 Holiday

February 19, 2013- Reading Log due

February 19, 2013- Begin collecting change for Rally

February 20, 2013 F.D.R. Quiz

February 20, 2013- Variety Show 6:30pm

February 21, 2013- Variety Show 6:30pm

 

 Curriculum 

Reading Workshop- This week we continued reading  Mr. Popper's Penguins and discussed how our character has changed from the beginning of the book. Our class also touched on Poetry. We learned about a Cinquain poem. 

Writing Workshop- This past week, the children began writing about each region that we have learned about in Science. We are creating a Regions Pop-Up book. We really focused in school about revising and editing our paragraphs, making sure we make them the best we can do.  

Math Workshop- This past week we did a little more with Data Analysis, and then moved on to Area models again. We will be discussing how Perimeter and Area are related.  

If you are reading this newsletter write Area = L x W in your child's agenda for Tuesday, and they will be rewarded.

Grammar- No spelling or vocabualry this coming week. We will continue with Shurley English.  

Grammar- This week we talked more about possessives. Next week, we are going to continue with Shurley English. We want the children to be able to label the words in a sentence.

 Science- Different Regions 

Social Studies- F.D.R. Assessment on February 20, 2013. We will also begin talking about 5 important rivers.

 

 

Newsletter February 3, 2013

Please congratulate your child because we tied with Mrs. Bahr's class for winning the Golden Spoon award for our behavior in the cafe!

Upcoming Dates:

February 4, 2013- Reading Log due

February 5, 2013- Wellstar Program "Germ Quest"

February 6, 2013 Super Specials (Afternoon)

February 7, 2013- Diorama due

February 14, 2013- Valentines exchange

February 15, 2013- Holiday

February 18, 2013- Holiday

**If you read this newsletter write Mr. Popper in your child's agenda, and he or she will receive a little extra money on Monday morning.

 Curriculum 

Reading Workshop- This week we read the first 3 chapters of Mr. Popper's Penguins and during guided reading we read about F.D.R.. To show our understanding of our Just Right Book we read, the children created a Bood Advertisement. Next week, we will continue reading Mr. Popper's Penguins.  In guided reading, the students will continue reading about FDR.

Writing Workshop- This past week, the children wrote an informational piece about penguins. After I conferenced with each child about their writing, then they each typed the paragraph they had written. 

Math Workshop- The children have been doing a great job with their Multiplication Time Tests.  The children will have to score an Exceed this time to move on to the next test. That means they can miss no more than 7. Please make sure they are studying a little each night. We know they can do it. This week we worked on comparing and ordering common fractions using number lines or drawing models.

Spelling/Vocabulary- No spelling or grammar this coming week  

Grammar- This week we talked more about possessives. Next week, we are going begin Shurley English again. We want the children to be able to label the words in a sentence.

 Science- Different Regions (Diorama project due Thursday, Feb. 7th)

 

 

Newsletter January 20, 2013

GO FALCONS!!

Thanks to the parents who attended Math night. It was great for the children to explain their work on the Constructed Response problem and then have their parents go through solving a problem and writing an explanation.

 

Upcoming Dates:

Jaunary 21, 2013- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (School Holiday)

January 22, 2013- Reading Log due

January 22, 2013- No Specials

January 31, 2013- Six Flags Reading club form due with parent signature

February 7, 2013- Diorama due for Habitat project

**If you read this newsletter write "Rise Up" in your child's agenda, and he or she will receive a little extra money on Tuesday morning.

 

Congratulations: To Brynn Capuano for doing some amazing writing,and  Meda Lutes for being our Terrific Kid and Above and Beyond student for this month.

Curriculum 

Reading Workshop- This week we learned about the elements of Fables. We learned that fables teach a moral or lesson. We learned that Personification means that animals take on human characterisitics. At the end of the week we used our National Geographic to read a nonfiction article on the Birds of New Guinea. We read the article and discussed visualization which means making a movie in your head. The children are also continuing to read their "Just Right" chapter books.

Writing Workshop- This past week, the children wrote a Fable of their own. We gave them to animals that they had to make their characters in the fables. They also had to include the different fable elements in their stories.

Math Workshop- The children have been doing a great job with their Multiplication Time Tests.  The children will have to score an Exceed this time to move on to the next test. That means they can miss no more than 7. We know they can do it. This week we worked on comparing and ordering common fractions. 

Spelling/Vocabulary- Next week in place of spelling, we will begin practicing cursive writing. 

Grammar- This week we talked about how Adjectives make sentences better and next week we will add adverbs to our sentences.

 Science- Habitats 

 

 

Newsletter January 11, 2013

We want to start the newsletter by saying thank you so much for the wonderful gifts we received for the holidays. We feel very loved.

I am so happy to finally be back to school doing the job I love. Thank you so much for all of the kind words and prayers I received while I was out. I was so thankful to Mr. Massey for all of the extra work he took on while I was out. We are all lucky to have him.

Upcoming Dates:

January 11, 2013- Report cards go home

January 14, 2013- Report card envelopes with signature cards come back to school

 January 17, 2013- Family Math Night 6:30pm meeting and classrooms from 7-8pm

January 18, 2013- School-wide assembly about Bullying with Gutsy the Flying Fox

Jaunary 21, 2013- Matrtin Luther King Jr. Day (School Holiday)

Congratulations: To Brynn Capuano for doing some amazing writing,and  Meda Lutes for being our Terrific Kid and Above and Beyond student for this month.

Curriculum 

Reading Workshop- This week we learned about asking questions about the title and text to help us with our comprehension. We also started the week talking about what Character Traits we need to possess to succeed in third grade. The students wrote a paragraph or two about their trait and then presented the information about the trait today. The children also started chapter books on Thursday that they can read independently. We will meet with them a couple of times a week to  check in.

Writing Workshop- This past week, the children wrote a Personal Narrative about a time they persevered. The students began taking notes on different chapters in Mary Bethune. They will finish this next week and then teach the class about their chapter.

Math Workshop- The children have been doing a great job with their Multiplication Time Tests.  The children will have to score an Exceed this time to move on to the next test. That means they can miss no more than 7. We know they can do it. This week we worked on comparing common fractions. 

Spelling/Vocabulary- Next week, the children will get their new spelling list. We will also begin practicing our cursive letters.

Grammar- This week we talked about how Adjectives make sentences better.

 Social Studies- Famous American- Mary Bethune 

If you read this newsletter, please write in your child's agenda Act of Kindness so they can earn a little extra money on Monday morning during banking.

 

Newsletter Week of December 17, 2012

Newsletter Week of  December 17, 2012

Ms. Sikes – Ms. Sikes will be back in January!  I have enjoyed being with your precious children while she’s been away.  Thank you for all the generous and sweet holiday gifts and treats.  Have a safe and wonderful holiday season!

Christmas Stockings Stuffers – Thank you to everyone who sent in items for the stockings.  The kids were really excited about all the treats!

Christmas Party – Thank you to our room moms for planning such a fun holiday party.  The kids had a wonderful time!

Eraser Caps – Thank you to everyone who sent in eraser caps.

The Good News Club will not have any meetings in December and will not meet again until January 17^th.

This Week – We finished our benchmark assessments in language arts, math, and writing.  We also researched facts and information about reindeer on the computer.  We used these facts to create an informational writing piece.  We also used what we learned about reindeer to create a narrative story utilizing what we’ve learned about fact vs. fantasy.  In math we learned how to find mixed fractions on a number line.  We also completed a reading response activity to the story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Winter Break – the dates for winter break are Friday, December 21 through Monday, January 7.  Students will return to school on Tuesday, January 8.  Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Newsletter Week of December 10, 2012

Newsletter December 10, 2012

Christmas Stockings Stuffers (please send in by Monday, Dec. 17) – Next week we will be putting up Christmas stockings in our classroom.  We’d like to ask each child to bring in 24 items (one for each child) to put in the stockings.  Please make sure these items are small enough to fit since we will need to put 24 items in each one.  A good place to buy items is at The Dollar Store, Target One Spot and anywhere else you can buy packages of multiple items.

Christmas Party – Our class Christmas party will be on December 19^th in the afternoon.  Our room moms are planning a fun party for our class and all parents are invited.  An e-mail will be sent out soon from our room moms with more information.

Eraser Caps – We have run out of erasers for our pencil tops!  If you would like to donate a package or two to our classroom, we would greatly appreciate it.  Thank you! 

The Good News Club will not have any meetings in December and will not meet again until January 17^th.

This Week – we finished our units in science and social studies.  We have also begun our benchmark assessments in language arts, math, and writing.  We are hoping to finish assessments by Friday.  Please make sure your child eats a good breakfast and gets a good night’s sleep. 

Winter Break – the dates for winter break are Friday, December 21 through Monday, January 7.  Students will return to school on Tuesday, January 8.  Have a safe and happy holiday season!