Last Week of School News
Posted by Mrs. Morris on June 9th, 2008
June 9, 2008
Dear Third Grade Parents and Students,
We’ve only got a few days left together! Just a few reminders for the week:
• Thursday is a noon dismissal day.
• Friday is our last day of school with dismissal at @10:00 am (directly after Mass). Mass begins at 8:45 am. Please join us if you can.
• Bring back those library books or a check for their replacement by tomorrow.
• Make sure your child has returned all textbooks.
Fire Chief Dean: Today the students had a special visitor. In social studies we wrote letters to the people and departments of city hall. Some students wrote to Fire Chief Dean. He contacted me and asked if he could visit the students. He taught them about fire safety and answered their questions. It was a memorable moment in 3B!!
Papers coming home this week: I will be returning lots of papers this week. Please take some time each day to look through these. You do not need to return any papers to school this week. You can expect the following to come home with your child:
Wednesday: portfolio papers from the entire year
Thank you so much for all that you have done for me this year. I greatly appreciate all of your support and thoughtfulness this year. You work so hard with your children to help them succeed, and it makes all the difference in the world. I have so enjoyed working with your children this year. They are all so full of enthusiasm and kindness. They really are a special group. I hope all of you have a wonderful summer. You all definitely deserve it!!
Isn’t it incredible to think about the changes that have taken place in your child this year? Way back in September it was a struggle for most just to copy down homework in the assignment notebook, and now, the children can work so independently! From learning cursive, to multiplication, to writing reports or reading long chapter books, your child has come a long way and is truly ready for the new challenges fourth grade will bring!
I am asking each of the students to bring in one small item to symbolize a particular area that he/she has grown or improved in this year. Each child will then explain why they chose that symbol and what growth/improvement it represents. Students can focus on academic, social, spiritual, or physical improvements they have made/goals they have achieved. The children will bring these symbols in and share them with our class on Wednesday. I am hoping this will provide our class an opportunity to reflect on our accomplishments as a group and individually.
Report cards will be passed out on Friday, and a list of items students need to get for next year’s “comfort kits”. These kits will be used in preparation for an emergency, such as an earthquake.
Of course, continually practicing the skills we’ve worked so hard on is extremely important. In this newsletter, I’ve included some ideas and activities you can choose to have your child do this summer to maintain and continue to improve his/her progress. Not only will this practice keep the summer from getting dull (if that’s possible), it will help your child begin fourth grade with his/her skills nice and sharp! These activities are optional, but highly encouraged.
Many parents have asked where to purchase practice workbooks for math, reading, writing, etc. There are all sorts of bookstores that have great resources, but one of the best in this area is called Children’s Bookstore in Burien on 152nd Ave (near Ambaum). It carries lots of books, workbooks, activity books, instructional aids, parenting and teaching materials, CD’s and fun educational games. If you are looking for materials to help your child practice their skills this summer, this would be a great place for you and your child to investigate together. Having your child help choose the practice materials he/she will use during the summer helps him/her become more motivated to complete them.
First, and always important, is READING! You and your child know the importance of daily reading and how it affects all other learning. Continuing this practice throughout the summer is something that every child needs.
A librarian from the Seattle Public Library has spoken with our class about their summer reading program. I encourage all students to participate. In fact, get the whole family involved!
Attached to this newsletter, you will find a list of good comprehension/discussion questions, which could be used with any novel/story/picture book.
Next, students can be WRITING every day. I am so excited that so many of the students decided to participate in our pen-pal program! I think it would be so fun and great practice! The students will bring their journals home, so they can continue writing in them, use a new journal, or even make little books. Students can write stories, poems, and letters in cursive. Students will also bring home their cursive workbooks to use for summer practice. Students, come visit me at recess during the first week of fourth grade–show me some of your summer writing–and you’ll get a surprise!!
All third graders should be practicing their MATH times tables and basic division facts. It would also be a good idea to review addition and subtraction facts now and then. Ten minutes of practice here and there is all it takes to keep those facts in long-term memory. I will send home a copy of a multiplication and division timed test. You can practice timing yourself a few times a week, and set a goal for speed and accuracy. For example, start off with a goal of 4 minutes per side and reduce your time by 15 seconds each time you set a new goal. Parents can offer a prize at home for reaching your goals! The division test with 30 problems is designed to be completed in 1 and a half minutes. You can also quiz your child orally by setting the timer for 1 and a half minutes and asking them 30 division problems.
Most importantly students, don’t forget to PRAY. God wants to be a part of your life. Make time to pray and be thankful for all the great people and things that God has made possible for you. When you are sad or upset, God is with you, and wants to comfort you! Always remember you are an image of God. I look forward to seeing you at Mass.
Finally, I want to thank 3B students for all their energy, humor and kindness. They have kept me laughing and smiling all year long. They have a special place in my heart as my last third grade class!! Know that you are always welcome in my classroom, please stop by and visit often. Remember I will be in the Kindergarten Kingdom! I hope all of you have fun, relaxing and safe summer.
Love, Maria Morris
Sample Reading Comprehension &
Discussion Questions
• What are the main events in the story. Use the words “first, then, next, after that, finally” to retell the story.
• Describe the main characters using three words. What do they do or say in the story that makes you choose those words?
• Which character in the story is most/least like you?
• If you could choose any character in the story to be your friend, whom would you choose? Why?
• What is the setting of the story? How would the story be different if the setting were different?
• Compare and contrast two characters in the story. How are they alike and how are they different?
• What problems do the characters have to solve in the story? How do they solve these problems?
• What is your favorite part of the story? Why?
• What is the overall mood of the story? (scary, funny, suspenseful, etc.) What does the author do to help create this mood?
• If you could add another chapter to the end of this book, what would you have happen?
• How would you rate this book? (1-5 stars) Why did you like it (or not) ?
• What messages are in this story? What you can learn from the story?
• What is the author’s purpose for writing this story?
• Find 3 quotes from the story, which show the personality traits of a character.
• Relate this story to your own life or to other stories you have read.
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