Monday, October 27, 2014

Newsletter 6, 14-15

 

Newsletter 6                       2014-2015                             10/27/2014

 

Dear Families,

 

 

We have had lots going on. I appreciate all the help to make it work on both ends.

Homework

I hope the new homework is going well. Please help them to remember to fill out the sheet every day, whether they do something or not. I’ve heard that many of them enjoy doing Khan Academy, but I realize not everyone has access. That’s fine. They should use the “comments” section to explain the math they did instead. As in all their writing, I expect them to double-check for spelling, capitals, and punctuation.

Halloween

Our class is celebrating Halloween on the morning of Friday, October 31st. (9:15-10:30) Students may come to school in their Halloween costumes. (Please, no blood and gore, nor toy weapons.) Have them bring regular clothes to change into after our party because they have PE and will need to be able to move freely.

We’ll read a book, make a snack, play a game, and make a craft. If you’re able to send in a snack, please let me know. I’d love some healthy choices, such as carrots and celery. We can also use cups and plates.

Please remember that we cannot have food with peanuts, or made in a place that uses peanuts. I’ve mentioned that before, but we’ve had several such snacks sent in recently, so I thought a reminder would be good.

If you want to join us for the celebration, we’d love your help. If you’ve filled out volunteer forms, the office should be able to tell you whether or not those have cleared.

Book Orders

Thanks to Mrs. Andrade, we have started sending out book orders. I have urged the students to use the book orders to not only buy books from Scholastic, but to also use them to help find books at the library.

Students currently keep a reading log showing what they’ve already read. Another thing readers do is think about the next book they want to read. The book orders can help them with this.

Art

We plan to make realistic drawings of pumpkins this Wednesday. If you have any uncarved pumpkins at home, please send them in with your child on Tuesday or Wednesday (if they aren’t too big to carry!)

 

Please email or call if you have any questions.

 

 

 

Sincerely,
 


 

Jeff

 

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Friday, October 03, 2014

Newsletter--Homework

Newsletter 4                       2014-2015                             9/29/2014

 

Dear Families,

 

Last week I mentioned that my third grade teaching partner and I are trying a new homework routine in 3rd grade.

We want homework to be accessible to all kids at their learning level. And, we want it to focus on what we consider the most important skills to learn in elementary school: Enjoying reading and becoming a fluent reader with strong comprehension!

So, our new policy is as follows:

New Homework Policy

1.      Each day (Monday-Thursday)  the students will work on a math exit slip. It is a single problem that allows them to practice the skill we targeted in class that day. Return it to school the next day.

2.      Each day they will practice their multiplication and division math facts for 5 minutes. This can be done independently and sometimes they can have a partner test them.

3.      Each day they will read and/or have an adult read to them! This includes the weekends!

4.      They will be given a reading and math log each month to keep track of their math fact practice and reading. Please initial the boxes to show what they did each day. They keep the log in the back of their red folder.

5.      If students want to participate in the PTA sponsored Rich Reading program, they can also keep track of their minutes read each day in the independent column. It will count for time read and we will turn it in at the end of the month. That way they don’t have to keep track on two different sheets.

Please email or call if you have any questions!

 

 

 

 

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Thursday, September 25, 2014

Newsletter 3

Newsletter 3                       2014-2015                             9/25/2014

 

Dear Families,

 

Things are going great. We created a set of class rules; and we have been using the jackdaws to get to know each other (and to learn cursive and spelling, to practice speaking in front of a group, and to practice listening.) We also made 3D self-portraits. Look for those in the hall when you’re here for the parent meeting.

Parent Meeting

Our Curriculum Night is Thursday, September 25 at 6:30 PM. We’ll meet in Room 302. For those of you that have more than one child here, there will be a repeat of the meetings at 7:05 PM. This is a meeting for adults only. There will not be child care. That said, I’d rather have your child here reading a book, than have you not attend. So please bring your child if you need to. I hope you can make it.

Volunteer

I welcome volunteers. If you would like to help out on a regular basis please let me know. If you want to be here for special occasions like parties or field trips that’s fine too. The forms for background checks have to be filled out each year. They’re available in the office and they take a while to process, so please turn them in a week or two before you want to volunteer.

Homework

Starting Monday we will be asking for 3 regular things at home: the exit slip we’ll send each day, math fact practice (about 5 minutes per day), and reading. Look for a check sheet to keep track of practice. Students may also bring home unfinished work in other areas. That should be completed and return ASAP.

Permission Slips

I’m sending home slips for you to sign that let me use your child’s work and photo on our web sites. There will never be names with photos, and no last names. There’s also permission for me to take photos all year and share them with you all. Please let me know if you have questions about this.

Snack

Thanks to everyone for the snack sent so far. I’m trying to keep track here and help the students remember. If you want to send birthday treats, please do (totally optional though). Thanks for remembering about no peanuts. Another option people have used instead of sending food has been donating a book to the class—a gift that keeps on giving.

 

Sincerely,

 

                Jeff

 

 

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Saturday, August 30, 2014

FW: Newsletter 2

Newsletter 2                       2014-2015                             8/29/2014

 

Dear Families,

 

Hello, and welcome to Room 302.

If you've received this, that means I was able to successfully put you on my class email list for this year. If there is another address you'd like to use or add, please let me know.

 

I think this is going to be a great year, and I'm really looking forward to learning about your children, and to teaching them. I want to remind you about some ways to stay in touch with what we're doing. Email is always good if you need to contact me. You can also call.

 

Our Twitter account is https://twitter.com/room302. We have a blog at http://room302.blogspot.com/ and our classroom web site is http://swift.enumclaw.wednet.edu/bde/jkurtz/index.php. Once school is started, my goal will be to use the Twitter site to tell about what we do during the day. You can also go back and read what we've done in the past, and you can use the blog if you're curious about that as well. I those sites to post other links that may be of interest, as well.

 

It was great to see some of you the other day at Open House, but if you couldn't make it, that's okay. I'll see everyone on the first day, Tuesday, September 2. If you haven't brought supplies yet, please bring them that first day. (The list is below in case you need it.)

 

We'll have snack time every day. If you want to send in snack to share, that would be great. We currently have 24 students. For those who would rather bring their own snack, that's fine too. Either way, no peanuts please.

 

If you have questions now, or at any time, please ask. I'm happy to help.

 

See you soon.

 

Supplies:

Please put names on this stuff:

·         1 box 24 ct Crayola crayons

·         5 large glue sticks

·         Pencil top erasers

·         2 Dry Erase Markers (black or blue)

·         5 wide-ruled spiral notebooks

·         1 water bottle

·         3 dozen #2 pencils (Ticonderoga) Please sharpen

 

·         2 folders w/3-hole fasteners

·         1 pair Fiskar scissors

·         1 Supply Box

·         1 pencil sharpener with shavings box

·         2 ball point pens (blue or red)

·         2 black Sharpies

 

We'll share this stuff:

Kleenex   &  1 pack of sticky notes

 

 Sincerely,

Jeff

 

 

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