Open House

Dear Families,

There will be a 1st-5th grade Open House on Friday, June 3 from 1:00-2:00 p.m.  Third graders will be sharing their Australian animal sculptures and research.  We would love to have friends and family attend!

I will be posting photos from the third grade Shelburne Farms Trip and Tennis in the next few days.  As I am sure your student has informed you, there is no more third grade paper homework!  Students are encouraged to continue reading for 20 minutes a day.

Sheburne Farms Field Trip

Dear Families,

We will be leaving for Shelburne Farms at 8:15, tomorrow morning.  We plan to return to school in time for the end of the day dismissal.  Please have your child dress to be outside in the Wetlands.   The farms is an environmental education center.  If students are bringing lunch from home, Shelburne Farms encourages students to pack their lunch in reusable containers.  They will need to pack in, pack out their trash.

What to bring:  Students should bring a snack, lunch, and water bottle. Weather permitting, we will be eating a picnic lunch on the grounds by the lake.  (If your child ordered the school snack and lunch we will be providing food for your child.)

What to wear:  As you know, weather can be unpredictable.  Students and chaperones should wear clothing, boots or old shoes that they can expect to get muddy.   Students may want to  bring a change of shoes, dress in layers and bring a raincoat.           

Friday is our Tennis Day!

On Friday, we will be leaving school at 9:30 a.m. to walk the bridges in Middlebury.  If it is raining, we will spend time at the Ilsley Library reading and having lunch.  At 12:30, we will go to Middlebury Indoor Tennis for a tennis lesson.  Tennis balls and racquets will be provided for students.  Students should wear sneakers and dress in clothes that they can run around in.   If your child ordered school snack and lunch, we will be providing food for your child.

                                                       

                                                            

Testing and Field Trips

Dear Families,

Next week, third graders will be taking their SBAC test.  It is important that your child comes to school well rested and on time.  I would like to offer students a healthy snack on each of the testing days.  If you would like to provide a snack for the class one day next week,  please let me know.  Good ideas include fruit juice popsicles, fruits or vegetables, crackers and cheese, muffins, popcorn...

We have two field trips coming up.  On Wednesday, May 25, we will be visiting Shelburne Farms for a Wetland study.  We will be transported to and from Shelburne Farms by bus.  On Friday, May 27, Wanda and Tom Boise have arranged for our class to have an afternoon tennis lesson at Middlebury Indoor Tennis.  We will leave school at 9:30 for a walk around Middlebury, a visit to the library and a picnic lunch prior to tennis.  We need parents to help transport students to and from Middlebury.  Please let me know if you are available to help.

Third grades had a wonderful time participating in Green Up with our preschool buddies.  Here are a few photos of our adventure.

The Week in Pictures!

Australian Animal Research

   Two Digit Multiplication

Australian Animal Sculptures

Fraction Lesson with Stephen

Bird Obstacle Course in Science

Home Stretch

Dear Families,

I hope everyone had a fun, relaxing vacation.  We are entering the final 8 weeks of third grade.  We have a lot planned to keep the third graders academically focused until the final day of school, Thursday, June 9.  In literacy, we will begin a research unit.  Third graders will be working collaboratively to research an Australian animal and then each third grader will write a report from their animal's perspective.  In addition, they will create a sculpture of their chosen animal in art class.  Students will also be reading book club books in mixed grade level groups.  At 1:00 on June 3, we will have a 3-5 Open House to share work.

In math, we are beginning our final unit.  This unit is centered around multi-digit multiplication and fractions.  Here is a description of what your student will be learning in this unit.
Unit 7


During the week of May 16-20, third graders will be participating in the SBAC test.  It is very important that your child arrives at school on time this week, ready to test.  We will be spending a large part of the morning working on this computerized test.  If students need more time, they will be able to continue with the test in the afternoon.

This summer, I will be helping teachers around the country get started with the Bridges Math Program.  I would like to use some photos and short videos of students working on math, as well as a few work samples in my presentation.  Your child is bringing home a permission form to allow me to use these items.  I would appreciate it if you would sign this permission form and return it to school as soon as possible.  No identifiable information about your child will be used.  Before vacation, you received a permission form from Steven, the Middlebuy College intern that has been observing in our class, to video tape a math lesson that he will be teaching next week.  If you have not signed the form, I would appreciate it you could sign it and return the form to school before Thursday.

I hope you have marked your calendar to join us on our Shelburne Farms field trip on Wednesday, May 25!

Here are some fun photos from the past few weeks.

How many tokens for this item?

Checking out the items.

Thomas did a good job bartering.

A quick way to subtract across zeroes.

Using the law of constant difference.

Holly handing out morning fruit!

This must be a good book.

Third Graders will be bringing home cabbages today for a 3rd Grade Cabbage Contest.  Please read the attached information to learn more about this fun opportunity for your child.

Cabbage Contest