Dear Parents,

Please note that the SBAC test for third graders at the end of the year will ask them to type sentence and paragraph responses.  They only have computers once a week.  Please have them practice typing at home using home row keys instead of hunting for the letters and pressing them so they will be better prepared for typing more quickly.

Mark your calendars!

Minimum day –  Friday, December 20th is minimum day.  Dismissal is at 12:30 for grades 1-6.

Cookies and Cocoa – On Friday, December 2oth, we will enjoy cookies and cocoa and possibly a short activity.  A note was sent home in the Cougar folders on Monday.  There will be a link sent to you for signing up to donate for our cookies and cocoa.

Winter vacation – Our last day of school is December 2oth.  There will be no school from December 23rd to January 6th.  The first day back for students is January 7th.

Here is a look at what we are doing in class this week:

Math – We are learning strategies to help solve division equations.  There will be a mid chapter quiz on Tuesday.  We will review the chapter on Friday and have the chapter 6 test Monday or Tuesday of next week.

Reading – We are reading about holidays around the world.  This week we are reading about how the holidays are celebrated in Australia and Israel.

Social Studies – We are reading about Christmas traditions around the world.  We are using text evidence to answer questions in complete sentences.

Science – We are learning our last lesson for our first unit about animals through time.  This lesson is about how long humans and animals can survive in space.

Writing – We are revising, editing and writing our final drafts of a second personal narrative of the year.

Grammar – We are practicing prepositions and prepositional phrases.

P.E. –  Tuesdays and Thursdays

Library – No library this week

Computers – Students will go to the computer lab on Thursday morning.

Dear Parents,

Welcome December!  Although this time of year is traditionally very busy, it is still one of my favorites.  I love the songs and the lights and the giving of gifts.  I hope you will find much to enjoy this season as well.

Of course, along with the beginning of December, comes the nippy weather.  Brrrrr!  Curl up in the evenings with a nice cup of hot coffee, tea or cocoa and snuggle with your sweet children.

Please remember to put your child’s name on sweaters, sweatshirts, and jackets so we can get these items to the appropriate person if left on the playground or in the classroom.

Mark your calendars:

Minimum day –  On Friday, December 20th, dismissal is at 12:30 for grades 1st – 6th.

Cookies and Cocoa party – On Friday, December 20th, we will have a cookies and cocoa party in our classroom. Students will be exchanging compliment cards for their classmates.  Please read the parent letter that was sent home in the Cougar folder on Monday.

Winter Vacation – December 20th – January 7th; school resumes on January 8th.

Here is a look at what we will be doing in class this week:

Math – We have begun a new chapter this week and will be learning about division.  Also, make sure your child is practicing those multiplication facts!  It is very important that they know them with automaticity.

Reading –  We are reading about how the holidays are celebrated around the world.  This week, we will be reading stories and discussing celebrations in Mexico.  Students will be reviewing setting, characters, problem and solution as well as identifying new facts they learn.

Spelling – We will be learning how to spell plural nouns: when to add -s, -es, or change the ending to -ies.

Writing – We are writing our second personal narrative.

Science –  We are learning about how to avoid mosquitos.

Social Studies – We are finishing up our study of Native Americans.  Students will be writing a paragraph or two related to a nonfiction article we have read as a class.

P.E. – We have P.E. on Tuesday and Thursday.
Computers – Students will go to their computer class on Friday.
Holiday Shop – Students will shop in the Holiday Shop to buy gifts for family members and/or friends if they would like.  Our day to shop is Monday the 9th.

There will not be library this week.

Dear Parents,

Please mark your calendars for the following upcoming events:

Camp Castello – Students will be performing “Camp Castello” on Wednesday morning at 9:00 for students and again on Thursday morning at 9:00 for the parents.

Minimum Days – Minimum days begin on Friday, November 15th and continue every day through November 22nd.  Dismissal for grades 1-6 is 12:30.

Thanksgiving Break – Thanksgiving break will be from November 25th to November 29th.  School resumes December 2nd.

Here is a look at what we are doing in class this week:

Math – We are working through our final chapter on multiplication.  It is vital that students memorize their multiplication facts.  They will need them to be successful with our upcoming chapters on fractions and on division.  Please practice regularly at home.  There is a mid chapter quiz this week on Friday.

Reading – We have been focusing on Native American legends this week.  Students are noticing what is similar about these stories and will help to write a definition of a legend.

Science – We are furthering our discussion about selection by asking whether the process of selection can happen without people.  There will be a quiz on Friday.

Library – Tuesdays
Computer Lab – Thursdays
PE – Tuesdays and Thursdays

Dear Parents,

Please mark your calendars!

Minimum Day and Movie Day – This Tuesday, November 5th, is a minimum day.  Dismissal for grades 1-6 is at 12:30.  For those who bought tickets, Toy Story 4 will be shown after school.

Book Fair – this week Monday through Friday.  Our class will visit the Book Fair on Wednesday before lunch.

Book Orders – due this Friday

Veteran’s Day – There is no school next Monday, November 11th for Veteran’s Day.

Parent/Teacher Conferences – In room E6, conferences will begin Friday, November 15th and continue through Friday, November 22nd.  Conference confirmation slips will be sent home with students on Tuesday, November 12th.

Thanksgiving Vacation – There is no school the week of November 25th to the 29th.

Please read below for a look at what we are doing in class this week:

Math – We are finishing our second chapter on multiplication strategies and problem solving.  We will review chapter 4 concepts on Thursday and there will be a test on Friday, November 8th.

Reading – We are reading native american legends and discussing characteristics of this genre.

Science – We are discussing the different types of animal species we have developed through the process of selection.  There will be a quiz on Friday.

Writing – Students are writing and revising their second personal narrative. Students are writing interesting leads and endings and including dialogue, details and strong word choices in their writing.

Vocabulary – In the last 8 weeks, we have learned 40 new words.  We will be reviewing those words all week and taking a unit test on Friday.

P.E. – This week we have P.E. on Tuesday and Thursday.

Computers – We have computers each week on Thursdays.

Library – There will be no library this week due to the Book Fair.

Dear Parents,

As we welcome cooler weather, please remember to put your child’s name in their jackets, lunch boxes and water bottles.  There are so many items that are left out on the playground or in the classroom!  It makes it much easier to find the owner if their name is written on the article.

Also, if you have been wondering where a certain jacket, sweater, sweatshirt or lunchbox has gone, please check our lost and found.  We have a basket FILLED with expensive looking items that children have lost.  Items are very often laid out across the stage for students to see as they walk by for lunch but I do not see many items being claimed.  You are always welcome to come check or tell your child specifically what to look for.

Important Dates:
Minimum Days – Next Tuesday, November 5th is a minimum day.  Students in grades 1-6 will be dismissed at 12:30.
As a heads up, we will also have minimum days starting Friday, November 15th and continuing  the following week November 18th through the 22nd.

Movie Day – After dismissal at 12:30 on November 5th next week, there will be a movie shown for students who paid for a ticket.  Ticket money and order forms are due by Wednesday, October 30th.

Camp Castello – Our third graders will perform “Camp Castello” for the parents on the morning of November 14th at 9:00 in the multi-purpose room.  Please join us!

Parent Conferences – Parent conferences begin Friday, November 15th and continue through Friday, November 22nd.

No School – Monday, November 11th is Veteran’s Day.  There will not be school that day.

Thanksgiving Vacation – There will be no school from November 25th through November 29th.

Here is a look at what we are doing in class the week of October 28th through November 1st:

Math – We are working on multiplication strategies and the memorization of multiplication facts.   It is vital that students know their multiplication facts well.  Please have your child practice their facts regularly at home.  There will be a mid chapter 4 quiz on Wednesday this week.

Reading – We are reading Scholastic News and practicing using text features in expository text to answer questions.

Writing – Students have finished their final drafts of their first personal narrative.  They will be writing one more personal narrative before we move on to the next genre.

Spelling – We will focus on the spelling patterns for plural nouns.

Science – We are learning about dinosaurs – Can You Outrun a Dinosaur?

P.E. – Tuesdays and Thursdays

Library – Tuesdays

Computers – Thursdays

Dear Parents,

Castello’s annual Fall Festival is rapidly approaching.  I hope you are planning to come out and have some Cougar fun this Friday night, October 25th from 5:00 to 8:00.  We’re gearing up for a ton of fun!

KidsCan! – Please send in your donations of canned and/or boxed non-perishable food to help families in need.  You can send your food items in any time between now and November 8th.

Please read below for a look at what we are doing in class this week:

Math – We are learning many strategies to put in our “tool box” for figuring out multiplication problems.  We have begun chapter 4. This chapter teaches students strategies for multiplying by each one digit number through 9.

Reading – We are reading Third Grade Angels this week and practicing strategies good readers use.  One of those strategies is to ask and answer questions while you read.

Writing – We are editing the personal narratives that we have been revising the past several weeks.  The writing of the final draft will begin this week.

Grammar –  We are learning about common and proper nouns, punctuating dialogue, and identifying prepositional phrases.

Science – We are learning about Animals  Through Time.  This week we are finding out how scientists know what dinosaurs looked like.

Social Studies – This week, students will take a short test on the four California regions.  The group projects and presentations are complete.  We will be starting an article in Scholastic News about the Constitution.

P.E. –  We have P.E. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Library – We will be visiting our school library on Tuesday.
Computers – We have computer lab on Thursday morning.

Dear Parents,

I hope you are all enjoying the cool down of the weather as Fall fully ushers its way in.  Here are a few important dates coming up for you to mark in your calendars.

Friday, October 25th:  Students and teachers can dress up as a character from a book during the school day.  Fall Festival will be in the evening that day from 5:00 to 8:00.  Students can wear costumes to the festival but masks and weapons of any kind are not allowed.

Third grade will be running a nachos booth at the Fall Festival as a way to earn money for our grade level.  Be sure to come by and buy some nachos or a soda!  Third grade will also be running a Pumpkin Golf game booth this year.  A sign-up genius link was sent out for parents to sign up to volunteer for a shift or to donate if they are able.

Our character trait this month is Healthy Choices.

Here is a look at what we are doing in class this week:

Math –  We will continue to learn about multiplication through equal groups and arrays.  We will apply these strategies to solve problems. There will be a test on Thursday covering concepts we learned in chapter 3 regarding strategies for multiplication.  On Friday, we will begin learning to multiply one digit numbers.  Students will be learning multiple strategies they can use to multiply by each individual factor through 10.

Reading – We are reading Third Grade Angels as a class.  Students are answering questions in complete sentences using the text as evidence.  They are also analyzing characters to determine their traits and they are practicing the skill of visualizing what they read.

Writing – We are continuing our revisions of a personal narrative.  Students have learned about using interesting words, adding detail, using and punctuating dialogue, writing interesting leads, using transition words and when to start a new paragraph.  All of these writing skills will make them the best writer they can be!

Science – This week in Mystery Science, we are learning about animals through time:  what they ate, how they survived in their environments, where we find fossils and what the location of those fossils means.

Social Studies – We have learned about text features found in non-fiction literature and are practicing identifying them.  Text features are: table of contents, bold words, titles, headings, pictures, captions, maps, labels and diagrams.  Students have also been completing their group projects about a California region that was assigned to them for research.

Grammar – We are practicing what we’ve learned thus far with prepositional phrases and common and proper nouns.

Spelling – The pattern this week is final e.  What happens to the other vowels in a word when there is a silent e at the end?

P.E. – We have P.E. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Computers – We have computers on Thursday mornings.

Library – We have library on Tuesdays.

Dear Parents,

Here are some important dates for you to remember:

October 25th – Dress As Your Favorite Storybook Character at school:  instead of a Halloween costume, dress up as your favorite character from a book.  Teachers will be dressed up as well.  It’s such a fun day!

October 25th – Annual Fall Festival at Castello; come anytime between 5:00 and 8:00 – free admission! Costumes are allowed but no weapons, masks, or graphic costumes.

Here is a look at what we are doing in class this week:

Math – We are learning the concept of multiplication (equal groups and how many in each group) as well as a variety of strategies we can use to solve multiplication properties.  It is very important that your child know their addition facts with automaticity.  Please have your child practice regularly at home.  There will be a mid chapter quiz on Wednesday this week.

Reading – We are reading a class novel, Third Grade Angels.  Students are learning about sequencing, visualizing, analyzing characters and answering questions in complete sentences using text evidence.

Writing – We are continuing to revise our personal narratives.  Students are learning how to write interesting leads, add more detail to their writing, choose interesting words and use dialogue with correct punctuation.

Vocabulary – Every week, students are learning 5 new vocabulary words, synonyms and antonyms for each and are drawing a picture for each.  They also learn one word per week that has a prefix, suffix, or both.  They learn the meaning of the prefix or suffix and thus the meaning of the word.  They help me come up with other examples of words that have the same prefix or suffix.  Words are reviewed regularly.

Grammar – We will be continuing our practice of identifying prepositional phrases.  We will also continue our review of common and proper nouns.

Social  Studies – Students have been working in groups to learn about one of the four regions of California.  They are currently designing a poster in their groups for their region.  Each group will make a short presentation to the class about their assigned region.  They will be expected to teach the rest of the class about their region.  The class will be expected to listen, take some notes and prepare to take a short quiz on the four regions.

P.E. –  We have P.E. every Tuesday and Thursday.

Computer class is on Thursdays.

Library – We visit the school library on Tuesdays.

Dear Parents,

Mark your calendars for some important dates!

Walk To School Day – Wednesday, October 2nd.  Teachers will be waiting at each of the surrounding parks to walk with kids to school.  A pink walk to school coupon will be given to each student who walks to school that morning.  They can turn these coupons in along with their Cougar coupons for the chance to win a prize on Friday.

Dress as Your Favorite Storybook Character Day – Friday, October 25th 
Students are not allowed to wear Halloween costumes to school.  We dress as our favorite storybook character in place of Halloween costumes.

Fall Carnival – Friday, October 25th.  Come to school from 5:00 to 8:00 for some Fall Fun!  There will be games, crafts, and snacks.  We are planning some new games, too! Costumes are allowed but you may not wear a mask or carry any weapons or accessories.

Here is a look at what we are doing in class this week:

Math –  We will have a math test this Thursday on chapter 2.  In chapter 2 we have learned about organizing and analyzing data in tally tables, frequency tables, bar graphs, picture graphs and line plots.

Reading –  We will be beginning a class novel, Third Grade Angels!  My class loves this book every year.  It is a fun story about a third grader who is trying to win a prize set forth by his teacher.  He learns many things about himself along the way.  We will be focusing on answering questions by using text evidence in complete sentences and sequencing this week.

Writing –  We are revising our personal narratives to make them the best they can be.  For the past several days we have been learning about dialogue, why writers use it, and how to punctuate it.  We will also learn about adding details to our stories this week and how that makes our stories stronger.

Grammar –  We are learning about common and proper nouns.  There will be a quiz on Friday.

Science – We are learning about making observations and problem solving in groups by completing a variety of STEM projects.

P.E. –  We have P.E. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Computers – We have computers on Thursdays.
Library – We have library on Tuesdays.

Dear Parents,

Please remember to put your child’s name on their jackets, water bottles, and lunch boxes.  If they leave it out on the playground, it is much easier to identify who it belongs to and get it back to them.  Our lost and found always has a lot of quality items and many of those items don’t seem to be claimed.  Remind your student to check lost and found if they have lost something.  It is located in the cafeteria and sometimes items are spread out on the steps so students can look as they walk by on their way to lunch.

Read below for information about what we are doing in class this week.

Week of September 23 to September 27:

Math –
We have begun chapter 2 which is about showing and interpreting data.  Students are learning about bar graphs and tally tables this week.  There will be a mid chapter quiz on Wednesday.

Reading –
Students are learning reading strategies relating to expository text this week.

Spelling –
Our words focus on the long “i” and “u” sounds this week.

Writing –
We are practicing writing interesting leads for our personal narrative stories.  We will spend time learning about dialogue this week.

Grammar –
We are practicing identifying prepositional phrases in sentences.  We are also learning about common and proper nouns.

Social Studies –
Students will be put in groups to research one of the four regions in California.  They will be expected to work as a team but also to complete individual assignments about their region.

P.E. – Tuesdays and Thursdays
Library – Tuesdays after lunch
Computer Lab – Thursdays