Another New Student

We added another new student this week. Madison joined us on Wednesday, which means we are now up to 23 students in the Van Clan! The students were very welcoming and helped her find her way around Iowa-Grant.

Welcome Madison!

Reading!

There are two things to recognize for reading today!

First, congratulations to the whole Van Clan group for reading over 1 million words as a class! What a great start to the school year.

The other congratulations goes out to the students who turned in their reading calendars for October. They earned an extra recess and a free personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut. Great work!
Jaiden A.
Avery B.
Ryan E.
Luke F.
Josh H.
Isaiah L.
Jalen L.
Elly L.
Lauren L.
Colin M.
Olivia N.
Nic P.
Courtney S.
Brena S.
Austin T.
Grace V.
Brynna W.
Isaiah Z.

WKCE Testing

Next week, November 7-11, we will be taking the WKCE (Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination). I sent home some information about the testing tonight. Third grade is the first year they take this test. The students will take a language arts portion and a math portion of the test.

The students take the test in the classroom and I'll have a schedule listed below. Please make sure the kids are well rested and here if possible. We'll follow our usual schedule and have one language arts test in morning and one math test in the afternoon.

Since we will be testing next week there will be a few changes to the usual schedule. First, in language arts we won't have spelling or guided reading. We'll resume spelling tests on Monday, November 14. Also, in math we won't finish many, if any lessons during WKCE testing. Since they are testing and there is a limited amount of new curriculum there won't be homework next week either. It's also a nice reward for the students in exchange for giving their best effort on the tests.

Here is the tentative schedule:
Monday, Nov. 8 - Language Arts Testing (8:30-9:10) - Practice Test
- Math Testing (1:00-1:30) - Practice Test
Tuesday, Nov. 9 - Language Arts Session 1 (8:30-9:10)
- Math Testing Session 1 (1:00-1:25)
Wednesday, Nov. 10 - Language Arts Session 2 (8:30-9:10)
- Math Testing Session 2 (1:00-1:30)
Thursday, Nov. 11 - Language Arts Session 3 (8:30-9:10)
- Math Testing Session 2 (1:00-1:30)

Green and Gold Experience - Take Two

I forgot a student in the first video. You can watch both videos and see if you can find who I missed!

Reading Notes

1. Don't forget your October Reading Calendar! They are due tomorrow, Tuesday, November 1st. We will have our extra reading recess tomorrow and the students will earn a coupon for a free personal pan pizza at Pizza Hut.
2. We are spending two weeks on Balto, we didn't get to much of the story at all last week as we finished up our writing piece and had a short week.
3. We have 10 challenge words this week from Turtle Bay and Balto. It is okay if the kids struggle, as they are not easy words. I have told them the goal is to improve and for some that may only be 3 or 4 right on the post test.

Green and Gold Experience

Here's a video I made from the Green and Gold Experience on Thursday. It was lots of fun for the kids, but I wished I could have played more. Unfortunately, I missed a couple of kids so I had to get them in the video another way. Check out the video to find out how!

No School Friday

The secretary sent out an e-mail saying several parents had called in asking if there was school tomorrow. So just to make sure all my families know, we don't have school on Friday, Oct. 28.

Enjoy!

Weekend Game

For math we are working on measurement. We are measuring in both the U.S. customary system and the metric system. In the game below they can choose different levels. I would suggest starting with easy. We have only spent one day working on fractions as a small as a 1/4.

Enjoy the long break!

Measure It!

New Student

We have a new student in the class starting today. Welcome to Donavin, who started this morning.

The class has done an OUTSTANDING job this morning of being helpful and showing him how our class runs. Great work Van Clan and welcome Donavin!

Nouns!

This weeks part of speech is nouns. We will start by looking at some common and proper nouns.

Updates

There are several updates to start the week.
- The calendar at the right of the blog has been updates through December.
- Starting this week for spelling the students will be writing their words in cursive. We haven't gotten to uppercase letters in cursive yet, but those aren't necessary for spelling. For the next few weeks they will write the words on the test in cursive and print so they don't miss words because of cursive errors.
- This afternoon we will be going to the Fire Safety House, which will be set up at Iowa-Grant. It goes through different precautions you should take at home to keep your house safe.
- We will be starting Unit 3 in math tomorrow. This unit focuses on measurement.
- Each year student council gives each class a pumpkin to decorate. We are going to make our pumpkin a mad scientist. If you have anything to help decorate that would be great.
- The pictures for science are due on Tuesday. Most of the students have those in, but I wanted to up one more reminder.
- The Green and Gold party is on Thursday afternoon. This goes along with the Parent/Teacher Club fundraiser. All students get to go and our time is from about 1:00-2:00.
- Finally, for the weekend game I put a little joke in for how to carve a pumpkin. This link will actually allow you to carve an online pumpkin: Carve a Pumpkin

Weekend Activity/Game

I've already told the kids, but this has to be one of my favorite games all year. It fits perfectly with our language arts as the kids are writing how-to directions this week. I have them write how to carve a pumpkin because it fits so well with this activity.

It goes through great detail to teach you how to carve a pumpkin. Make sure you have your volume is on too, as there are some directions. Look at the directions carefully before you choose a pumpkin to carve.

How to Carve a Pumpkin Like a Pro

Halloween Party

Our Halloween Party will be in the afternoon on Monday, October 31st. We have a party committee who will bring treats and prepare games. Jaiden, Avery, Ryan, Luke and Mason are on our first party committee.

Please do not have students bring or wear their costumes to school. Thank you.

Parent Pictures

We have begun a unit in science on the life cycle. The first part discusses changes animals go through in their lifetime.

Our class will be doing an activity that requires them to observe changes, too… but they will be looking for ways you have changed through your life.

Please send a picture of one parent/caretaker from each of the following time periods with your child:
· Infant through 3 years old (or approximately)
· elementary age level
· teenage years
· adult

Enclose the pictures in a Zip-Loc bag or envelope with your child’s name on the bag. It is a good idea to write your name on the back of each picture too. Your pictures will not be harmed or within reach of curious fingers, etc. The pictures will be returned to you in their original format; however, some parents have digital images that printed on paper.

Your child needs these pictures no later than Tuesday, October 25, please. You may send them as soon as you find them, and I’ll hold on to them.

Conjunction Junction

On Tuesday we will be watching the Conjunction Junction video as we learn about making compound sentences.