News From Room 9!
October 26, 2009
What a lovely month this has been! We went on our first field trip to Forest Home Farms, we started Centers, and we have had alot of fun with Halloween math projects!! Charlotte's Web has yielded many interesting discussions about character development in literature, and we are singing some fun Halloween songs - "Ghostbusters" and "Pumpkin Jack".
Last week, we planted our new third grade garden, much to the excitement of the students! Please remember our Halloween parade starting at 8:30 am and our classroom party this Friday!!!
Mrs. Hassen
September 25, 2009
This week, we started with multi-digit addition and regrouping. We worked on graph paper to make sure everything was lined up and the kids found it so easy! We also played a couple math games . . .Score for Addition, and another addition game I made up using a place value chart.
For language arts, we finished up a first narrative piece and also wrote about a prehistoric pet we might like to raise if we could. We had begun a social studies unit on the pre-history of San Ramon Valley and then took off on a discussion of the animals that lived here millions of years ago. My personal favorite is the original horse that was the size of a housecat!
We read Flat Stanley and next week, we begin one of my favorite books of all time, Charlotte's Web. I only have a couple students left to test in New York reading, so I will have reading levels for you for our conferences!
I will send a note home on Monday with your conference time. Please make a note of it for next week. We had a wonderful week here in room 9. I hope you all have a great weekend.
Mrs. Hassen
September 18, 2009
Hi All! What a week!
Please look for conference letters next week. I don't yet have a distribution list working and so, I will send home conference information with your children on Monday. Fill it out and return, and then I will be able to creat a conference schedule.
By the way, is there anyone out there who could help me set up a distribution list here that will work? I have spent 5 hours on this and addresses keep bouncing back. If someone out there has more experience than me, I sure would love your help!!
New York Testing is still slow going. 9 students completed and 10 to go! But the good news is that I will have helpful information about your children to help them as readers throughout the rest of the year!
We are coming to a close on our first narrative piece in writing. We are learning to focus on a small moment, and how to show feelings and action, not tell. I am seeing improvement in writing already!
For math homework, I often send home the workbook page from the math adoption. I expect the practice side to be completed for homework. However, the reteach side can be very helpful. At the top is a mini-lesson about that's day math concept.
Coming soon! Flat Stanley!
Have a wonderful weekend,
Mrs. Hassen
September 16, 2009
Please read about the new student wellness program in the Ranchogram this week. The School Board has approved a new policy about food and beverages at school to promote student health. For your convenience, details about the policy are available in the Student Wellness link below. I have also attached the September newsletter for the class.
Many thanks,
Mrs. H
September 11, 2009
What a week! It was great to see everyone at Back to School Night! I hope you give me a bit of time to match your faces with those of your children. I was very pleased to see a sea of friendly faces as I looked out and rambled on. Thank you all for coming and for supporting everything we do in Room 9 at home.
We have had an active week in the classroom. Some highlights include: completing a unit on place value in math, learning New York reading strategies, starting narrative stories in our writer's notebooks, finishing our second spelling unit, figuring out what a predicate is (OK - so what exactly is a predicate? Anyone remember?) . . .and the ever-important job of getting used to each other and to the routines in Room 9. It is a lot of work being a third grader!!!!!
I tried to make a distribution list for our class and sent out a mass email to test it. I hope you got it. Some addresses bounced back . . . gggrrr....I wish there was a magic pill to give my computer sometimes.
The week ahead includes rounding, exploring atlases, cursive practice and much much more. If you want a smile, ask your child to sing the chorus of "Walking on Sunshine." Happy weekend to all!
Julie Hassen
September 9, 2009
Room 9 is off to a great start!! After several days of getting to know each other and establishing classroom routines, we are off into our academic year. In language arts, we are beginning to learn NY Reading strategies to deepen reading comprehension. We also started our first spelling unit and are reviewing grammar basics from 2nd grade. In math, we are exploring place value, and rounding. We are also remembering those important addition and subtraction math facts. In social studies, we are beginning a unit on map skills and the history of San Ramon Valley. And let's not forget planners and homework binders - always a very exciting part of 3rd grade!
I will keep in touch regularly and I look forward to seeing everyone at Back-to-School Night on Wednesday, Sept. 9th at 7pm. To contact me, email me at jhassen@srvusd.k12.ca.us
Julie Hassen