Tuesday, October 09, 2012
Friday, September 28, 2012
Book Orders
BOOK ORDERS! 9/27/2012
Book Club Order Due Date: Friday October 5th
Scholastic Book Clubs Ordering Information: www.scholastic.com/bookclubs
Class Activation Code: HJHTW
Dear Families,
My name is Renee and I am a Parent Volunteer in Mr. Kurtz classroom for this school year. I will be in charge of the classroom Book Orders for the year. Book Orders provide families and the classroom with opportunities to expand their book collections.
Take some time and explore the attached Scholastic Books Clubs flyers with your child. Once you've decided which books to purchase, the best way to order books is online. It saves time, offers more book choices, and earns extra rewards for the classroom.
To start ordering online, follow these simple steps:
1. Register at Scholastic Book Clubs' secure Web site www.scholastic.com/bookclubs, and create your own User Name and Password.
2. Enter the onetime Class Activation Code above to link you to our classroom. (Ours is HJHTW)
3. Choose the books that you would like to order.
4. Pay for your selections using your credit card or debit card.
5. Submit your order to me online.
These Book Orders also provide ideas for books to look for at our local Black Diamond Library. Check out the libraries web site at http://www.kcls.org/ or take a trip to the library!
If you have any questions regarding the Book Orders please feel free to contact me by phone or email. My contact information is below.
Book Orders Due date: Friday October 5th.
Thank you,
Renee
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Newsletter 2
2012-2013 9/25/2012
Dear Families,
We had a great first day! I hope you hear good things. Thank you for trusting me with your children. I’m looking forward to the next 179 days our class has together. Here are some things to keep in mind at this point:
Snack
Since we don’t eat lunch in the upper grades until 1:00, snack can be pretty important for some of them. I know it is for me. There are two ways we can do snack: Students bring their own snack each day and eat that, or students bring in snack to share. I’m happy either way. Talk to your child about which one you want to do. We’ll make a list and try to keep track. Those who are sending in snack will want to know how many are eating and how often to send it. The best things to send are healthy, and easy to distribute evenly.
Music and P.E.
We have Physical Education with Mrs. Smith on Thursdays and Fridays, and Music Education on Tuesdays and Thursdays with Mrs. Couch. I’m not sure yet when we will have library.
Jackdaw
What is a jackdaw? A jackdaw is a collection of things about a topic. In this case, the topic will be each student. So our jackdaws will be collections that tell about each of us.
I have given each student a gallon size Ziploc bag and I’m asking them to make a jackdaw about themselves. Part of the fun is finding and building the collection to share with others. We’ll share our jackdaws in class, and we’ll write about them.
Here are the guidelines:
It must all fit inside the bag.
Bring in items that represent:
· some of your "gifts"-- things you are good at (maybe a book or a paint brush or a game piece)
· some of your interests - things you are fascinated with and like to spend your time reading about or doing (maybe a catcher's mitt or word puzzle)
· relationships you have with other people (maybe a photo of friends or a souvenir from a family trip)
· ways you already help others (maybe a leash if you walk the dog or spoon if you set the table)
· other things you can think of that will tell us about you
The jackdaws should be brought to school and each child gets to share their collection with the rest of the class. They should practice telling about them at home so they’re ready when it’s their turn.
I’d like the bags done and back by Tuesday, September 4, but they can come back sooner and we’ll start sharing when they do. This is a fun way to get to know each other. I can’t wait.
Curriculum Night
We’ll be having our parent meeting this year on September 27 from 6:30 to 7:30. That’s when I’ll talk about me, what I do, and why. It will be a great time for general questions you have. But don’t feel you have to wait: if there is something you need to know before then, or you want to talk about your child, please let me know and we’ll make it happen. My contact info is always on these newsletters.
Classroom Visits and Volunteering
I welcome visits and volunteers, any time, no need to call first if you want to drop by. If you want to help on a regular basis, that would be great. There will be a volunteer sign-up sheet at parent night, or just send me an email if you have a specific day or time and we’ll make it work. If you think you’d like to be in the classroom—or in any way be with the students here or on a field trip—please make sure you have all the volunteer forms and paperwork filled out. Those are available in the office, and I’ll have some at parent night, too. If you filled out forms last year, we still need you to do it again (although I think we need fewer the second time).
Birthdays
We will always celebrate birthdays (unless asked not to do so) and sending in treats for the class is always an option. We usually pick up summer birthdays at the end of the year.
Calendar
September 3—No school
September 13—PTA Meeting, 3:45-4:45
September 17—Picture Day
September 27—Curriculum Night, 6:30-7:30pm
Here’s to a great year!
Sincerely,
Jeff
Sunday, September 02, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
2012-2013 Newsletter 1---Welcome!
Newsletter 1 2012-2013 6/21/2012
Dear Families,
Welcome to third grade in Room 302! I'll be your teacher for 2011-2012.
I had the chance to meet with the students during our school move-up day. We read a couple of stories and did some art. We had fun, and I'm excited about working with them in the coming year.
I've been teaching since 1989, and from the beginning my focus has been on finding ways to try and meet the needs of individuals. That is where my teaching is most effective. I try to find ways to connect learning to students' lives. I think Why do we have to do this? is a great question. It needs a great answer, and my goal is to always have one ready.
As a father with 3 kids of my own (Jordan-13, Jeremy-12, Janelle-9) I'm well aware that families know their children best. I count on families to help me monitor progress and needs, so together we can find ways to meet the needs of each child.
The best way to keep in touch will probably be email, as it seems to offer the most flexibility. I ask that you email me when you get this note, or as soon as possible. That will let me know you got the note, and it will give me an email address where I can contact you as needed with newsletters, questions, updates, etc. You can also call me at school.
August 29th is our first day back to school in the fall. I'll be here prior to that, in case people want to stop by, say hi, and drop off supplies (The supply list is on the back of this page.). I'm not sure of that date yet, but when I know, I'll email it to you. If you have more than one email you check, feel free to send both. It's easy for me to add more than one to the list.
I also try to post updates to our class twitter account (https://twitter.com/#!/room302), our blog (http://room302.blogspot.com/), and our district website (http://swift.enumclaw.wednet.edu/bde/jkurtz/index.php). Those are also good places to find out what we've done in past years.
If you have questions at any time, now or in the future, please don't hesitate to ask. I look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
Jeff
Supply List 2011-2012
Hi.
This is what I'd like the students to bring. The only things we'll share will be Sharpies and Kleenex. The rest should have names on it. Please send pencils in already sharpened, if possible.
1 box 24 ct Crayola crayons
3 large glue sticks
3 dozen #2 pencils (Ticonderoga-avail @ Costco in bulk)
Pencil top erasers
2 Dry Erase Markers (black or blue)
5 wide-ruled spiral notebooks
1 water bottle
2 folders w/sturdy bottom pockets
1 pair Fiskar scissors
1 Supply Box
1 pencil sharpener with shavings box
2 packs sticky notes
colored pencils
markers
2 black Sharpies
Kleenex
Saturday, June 09, 2012
FW: Newsletter 12
Newsletter 12 [6/8/2012]
Dear Families,
Third grade is almost done. It sort of sneaks up on me every year. But we're ending with some great things.
Field Trips and CBA
Thanks to everyone for all the support and help to make the field trips a success. I think all the students (and many of the adults) learned lots about this area and its history. A special thanks to Don Mason for guiding us at the museum and the Franklin mine. We appreciate his expertise, and how he keeps it interesting for all.
Students are using what they learned to write their Classroom Based Assessments on city history.
Spirit Week
Next week we are again lucky to be having Jim Valley come to our school and provide some extra music for us. This is always a treat, and his web site is http://www.rainbowplanet.com/.
To go along with that, each day will have a theme:
Monday, June 11th—School Color Day (Red/Black)
Tuesday, June 12th—Hat Day
Wednesday, June 13th—Wacky Wednesday (wacky hair/clothes)
Thursday, June 14th—Red, White and Blue Day (the 14th is also Flag Day)
Friday, June 15th—Sports Day (this is field day)
Summer birthdays
If any of the students with summer birthdays want to pick a day to bring in treats/celebrate with the class, just let me know and we'll make it happen on one of these upcoming final days.
Sincerely,
Jeff
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