Room 302 News

Dear Families,

Last week our third graders explored an online math program called Khan Academy. They learned how to log in using their new district Google Account, took a quick test, and practiced some skills.

Khan Academy has some really great features:

• It determines their skill level and gives them tasks according to their individual needs.

• It gives them Mastery Challenges to determine if they mastered specific skills.

• It allows them to assign a math coach (me) so I can make recommendations for them, and so I can track their progress.

• It gives them hints when they are learning a new skill.

• It shows videos to help teach new skills.

• It gives them immediate feedback so they know if they did a problem correctly.

• It allows them to review math concepts, and to explore beyond what we teach in third grade.

Our class was buzzing with enthusiasm as they learned how to use Khan Academy to enrich their math learning. We assigned it for homework that first day, and most kids who tried it were successful. If you have tried it at home with their new Google Accounts I'd appreciate your feedback. For those students who forget, they have to choose "sign in with Google".

Also on Friday, I took few minutes to show them around their new email accounts, and things they could do. They were quite excited to see the few things I explained. More information is here.

The one thing I was very clear on was reminding them to always get permission before using these sites, or any of our other sites.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions.

Good luck and have fun!

Best Regards,

302 Newsletter

Hello families. I hope all is well. 

Here are 4 items of possible interest:

1. We're very low on snack. For those who send snack to share.

2. Mrs. Smith asks that we remind everyone " to have kiddos wear appropriate gym shoes on PE days.  They can also bring shoes to change into. Boots and shoes with heels are not safe to move around in the gym, hard on their feet when we jog for several minutes and they can't go on the climbing wall with these.  It's really a tool to do their best work safely :)

3. We finished Volume One of our math workbooks. I'm sending them home. They still contain pages and pages of resources the student may use to practice multiplication and division, as well as other things. Please keep them at home and use as you see fit.

4. From our technology department: Students in the Enumclaw School District now possess an Enumclaw School District Google Apps for Education Account, which includes access to a variety of Google tools for learning and work, as well as their own business email (Gmail) account. More information here.

Any questions? Just let me know.

Thanks.

Fwd: Conference Reminder

Dear Families,

Just a reminder that conferences are coming up in the next few days before Thanksgiving. Please plan to bring your child with you. I'm planning for 20-25 minutes. We will start with any questions you may have, and then show you some of the work we've been doing. If you need a reminder of the time, just let your child know and he or she can write it down and bring it home. If you have siblings with you, that's absolutely fine. We can find something for them to do while we conference.

See you soon.

Newsletter, October, 2015

Room 302

Newsletter 10/25/15

Dear Families,

I hope things are going well. Here are 3 things I need to share with you:

Our Halloween party will be this Friday, October 30, from 9:05-9:50. Students may wear their costumes to school. Costumes must be school appropriate: no weapons, etc. We'll read a book, make a snack, and do a game or craft. Please go to here to sign up online for something you can send for the party. (Sorry for the short notice.) We have PE at 10, so we'll change back into our regular clothes before then. As always, please no peanuts.

Conferences will be November 19, 20, 23 and 24. Last Friday our staff met to plan times so that sibling conferences would be consecutive. We also tried to accommodate the times indicated on the orange sheets we sent home earlier (although I did get one without a name on it--sorry). Today I sent home the blue half-sheet with your time. Please let me know ASAP if that time doesn't work so we can find one that does work.

I try for conferences to be about 20 minutes. That way I don't go over and mess up the times for all the people that follow. (And I don't mess up the times for all the teachers waiting for the parents who come to them after me.) Please bring the students to the conferences with you. They will be the ones sharing their work. It's a great chance for them to demonstrate their learning.

Google Drive is now an option for every third grader. We've given each of them an account, and they all got a chance to start using it today. We are currently using it to write Animal Reports. Students can access this anywhere that has internet.

The log-in name is their school log-in, with "@paleblue.in" at the end. The password is their school number, followed by the first initial. For example, imaginary student Bill Smith might use 25bsmith@paleblue.in for his log-in and 0619898b.

As always, please let me know if you have questions about any of this.

Jeff

https://twitter.com/room302

http://room302.blogspot.com/

Newsletter 3.....follow up.....math

Hi.

I've had several questions about math so I thought it would good to just clarify for everyone.

Our goal with the homework is to try and be consistent with what we (think) we know about learning at this point. I say "think" because people are always learning more and more about how learning works. For example, a few years ago I would have said DO NOT use flash cards. I thought they sent the wrong message: that math is about speed and memorizing rather than about thoughtful problem-solving. My current thinking is still to teach thoughtful problem solving, but that students need those basic tools, like facts memorized, so they can devote time and brain power to the more complex problems. I've also recently read research saying that self-testing is one of the best ways to enable long term learning, and that flash cards can often be a wonderful tool for self-testing.

So.....

For the fact practice on the homework sheet in the red take-home folder, I will be sending home the practice pages from the book. I have already sent home one page of 5's. More will be coming. Students should continue to practice a mixture of old and new facts. If you or your child would like to use something additional or different than those pages, that's fine with me--even flash cards.☺

I think the key to the practice will be a little each day. By the end of the year, we would like the students to know them all. We take a test at the end of each month to track progress, with the goal being 50 correct in 3 minutes.

The exit slips are a quick way to practice/review the main math skill taught that day. If your child can't do the work, please help if you can. If you teach it differently than I do, great. Now the child has two ways to look at a problem. If neither of you know what to do, that's fine too. That happens in real life all the time. What I want at that point is for the child to come to school, ask me about it, learn it, and then go back home and teach the parent.

The back of the exit slip will have a skill taught/learned previously at some point...and which the child still needs to know. Math is builds upon itself, so they need to remember and use it all.

I hope that helps clarify some of the math questions. Thanks to all the quick replies for letting me know what you're thinking. If you have any other questions, please let me know.

--

Jeff

3rd, BDE

Newsletter 3, 15-16

Dear Families,

 

I like the four-day weeks to start. It lets us build stamina slowly. We are spending time getting used to each other and getting used to our 3^rd grade routines. This letter has some of the same information as the last, just in case you missed it.

Snack

We eat lunch at 1:00; that's four hours after school starts. It's a long time to go without food, so please consider sending snack—either daily just for your child, or once in awhile to share with others who would rather do it that way. I'll get a rough count on who prefers what once we start.

The best things to send are healthy, and easy to distribute evenly. No peanuts please.

Music and P.E.

We have Physical Education with Mrs. Smith and Music Education with Miss Olds on Mondays and Fridays.

Homework

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 policy is as follows:

1.   Four days/week (Monday-Thursday) the students will bring home a math exit slip. It is a two-sided half sheet that allows them to practice the skill we targeted in class that day, and to review a skill that was already taught.  Students should 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 to themselves. Each day they will 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. Both student and adult initial the boxes to show what they did each day. They keep the log in the back of their red folder.

5.   We will use the monthly logs and the exit slip returns for the homework grade on the report card as follows: 6-7 times per week=Meets Expectations; 5 times per week=Approaches Expectations; less than 5 times per week=below expectations.

Please email or call if you have any questions!

--

Jeff

3rd, BDE

Newsletter 2 2015

 Newsletter 2                       2015-2016                             9/8/2015

Dear Families,

We had a great first day! We spent some time reading, writing, and getting to know each other. Thank you for trusting me with your children. I’m looking forward to our year together. I prefer to use email for newsletters and things as much as possible. I made a list of the email addresses on record here and sent this note. At this point I have 24 students on the list. If there is a different email address you want me to use, please email me from it with a note. If you would like the paper version, just let me know. Here are some things to keep in mind at this point:

Snack

We eat lunch at 1:00; that’s four hours after school starts. It’s a long time to go without food, so please consider sending snack—either daily just for your child, or once in awhile to share with others who would rather do it that way. I’ll get a rough count on who prefers what once we start.

The best things to send are healthy, and easy to distribute evenly. No peanuts please.

Music and P.E.

We have Physical Education with Mrs. Smith and Music Education with Miss Olds on Mondays and Fridays.

Jackdaw

What is a jackdaw? A jackdaw is a bird that collects things. It’s also 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. Students should use the index card to list the items in the bag. We’ll share our jackdaws in class.

Here are the guidelines:

                It must all fit inside the bag.

                Bring in 4-6 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 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

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 Friday, 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.

Here’s to a great year!

Sincerely,

Jeff Kurtz

15-16 News

6/23/2015

Dear 302 Families,

Welcome to 3rd grade!

We had move-up day today. All the students gathered with their teachers and classmates for next year, and your child was with me. What a nice group we have! We read a story, did an art project, and just generally got a feel for each other.

I love teaching, and I am already thinking about ways I can help them have a great year next year. There will be plenty of new experiences and challenges in 3rd grade. It’s probably one of the biggest transition years in elementary school, and I think the kids have been well prepared. If not, that’s okay. One of our district slogans used to be “We’re ready for you!” I love that idea: that we accept and appreciate all students, no matter what they have or have not learned so far.

One thing I love about teaching is finding out where the students are, and then see how much further I can take them. That will continue to be the case. I expect all students to continue growing, learning, and having fun. Of course I’m sure you know that you, the parents, play the biggest role in your child’s learning. If I could ask one thing over the summer, it would be that you keep reading aloud to them every night.

Reading aloud to kids this age can be counterintuitive for some, so let me explain one reason it’s so helpful. We assess the students’ reading in several different ways. An important way is fluency: tone of voice, phrasing, stopping at periods, and rate. Lack of fluency is a problem that stalls many third graders every year. The things they read get harder and harder, and those students who aren’t fluent need to be taught. If you read to your child, he or she is used to hearing the harder books, so they have a better idea of what to do when it’s their turn—much like a kid who has watched a lot of baseball knows what to do when it’s his turn. By the way, fluency is only one by-product of reading to your child. There are many others.

I’m excited at the prospect of starting a new year together with the new third grade class. If you have any questions now, or at any time, please ask. I’m happy to help in any way I can. In the meantime, I hope your break is filled with lots of fun and reading. And if you want an early jump on the supplies, the list for next year is below. I also created an Amazon list in case that helps anyone: http://amzn.com/sl/3N050VTQFD77S.

Sincerely,

 

Jeff Kurtz

Room 302

 

 

Grade 3 Supply List

• 1 box 24 ct Crayola crayons
• 5 large glue sticks
• 3 dozen #2 pencils (Ticonderoga preferred, available in bulk at Costco)
• 2 black sharpies (fine tip and regular tip)
• Pencil top erasers
• 2 dry erase markers
• 5 wide-ruled spiral notebooks (70 sheets is enough)
• 2 folders with 3 hole fasteners
• 1 pair Fiskar scissors
• 1 pencil sharpener with shavings box
• 2 blue or red ball point pens
• 1 pack sticky notes
• Earphones (in a Ziploc with name)
• 1 water bottle
• Tissues
• 1 box Ziploc bags (any size)
• 1 super star kid, ready to have fun and learn!

 

 

 

Newsletter 13

Newsletter 13                      2014-2015                             5/26/2015

 

Dear Families,

 

State computer testing is done.

And that is that.

My advice to everyone involved would be to minimize the importance—no matter what the results. I think it's what we see each and every day that really matters. If I gave my three kids a written test on manners, they'd probably all pass. But what I really care about is how they conduct themselves each and every day. The test cannot measure or predict that.

Similarly, I can give the students all kinds of reading tests. But the real test for me is whether they want to read away from school. Kids who want to read, will read. They don't need to be told or reminded. That's my goal. (Of course, it never hurts to stack the deck a bit: regular trips to the library, interesting read-alouds, magazine subscriptions, and sharing your reading with them are all things that nudge them in the right direction.) I hope you're seeing voluntary reading. If not, I'd be happy to talk about ways to encourage this over the summer.

Fact Practice

Our final timed test is at the end of May. My goal is for every third grader to start fourth grade with facts memorized. Keep the practice going.

Art Show

            The third grade classes have their papier-mâché animal sculptures on display at the high school art show. It's open to the public this Thursday from 5:00-8:00. It is in the high school commons and down a hall. Look for the signs. I hope you can make it.

Upcoming Academics

               The year is winding down. We are not. We have lots left, including 3 field trips; finishing our study of area, perimeter, and fractions; and writing fairy tales and informational reports about Black Diamond (two separate things J). I'll be sending more information about the field trips at a later date, but I wanted to remind everyone that there is volunteer paperwork to fill out if you want to join us.

 

 

Please email or call if you have any questions.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

Jeff

 

 

 

Boletín 13                                              2014-2015                                                       12/05/2015

 

Estimadas familias,

 

Pruebas de equipo Estado se hace.

Y es eso.

Mi consejo para todos los involucrados sería minimizar la importancia, no importa lo que los resultados. Creo que es lo que vemos todos los días que realmente importa. Si yo di mis tres hijos una prueba escrita de modales, que había probablemente todo pase. Pero lo que realmente importa es cómo se comportan cada uno y todos los días. La prueba no puede medir o predecir eso.

Del mismo modo, puedo dar a los estudiantes todo tipo de pruebas de lectura. Pero la verdadera prueba para mí es si quieren leer fuera de la escuela. Los niños que quieren leer, se lee. Ellos no necesitan que se les diga o recordado. Ese es mi objetivo. (Por supuesto, nunca está de apilar la cubierta un poco: viajes regulares a la biblioteca e interesantes de lectura en voz alta, suscripciones a revistas, y compartiendo su lectura con ellos son todas las cosas que les empujón en la dirección correcta.) Espero que 're viendo la lectura voluntaria. Si no es así, yo estaría encantado de hablar sobre maneras de fomentar este durante el verano.

Hecho Práctica

Nuestra prueba cronometrada final es a finales de mayo. Mi meta es que cada estudiante de tercer grado para iniciar el cuarto grado con hechos memorizados. Mantener la práctica de ir.

Muestra de Arte

Las clases de tercer grado tienen sus esculturas de animales de cartón piedra que se exhiben en la feria de arte de la escuela secundaria. Está abierto al público este jueves de 5:00-8:00. Es en los bienes comunes de la escuela secundaria y por un pasillo. Busque las señales. Espero que pueda hacerlo.

Próximos Académicos

El año está por terminar. No somos. Tenemos un montón de izquierda, incluyendo 3 viajes de estudio; terminando nuestro estudio de área, perímetro, y las fracciones; y escritura de cuentos de hadas y los informes informativos sobre Diamante Negro (dos cosas separadas ). Voy a enviar más información acerca de los viajes de estudio en una fecha posterior, pero quería recordar a todos que hay papeleo de voluntarios para llenar si desea unirse a nosotros.

 

Este es mi primer intento de utilizar Google Translator para toda mi boletín de noticias. Por favor, hágamelo saber si le resulta útil. También me gustaría saber si no tiene sentido. Gracias.

Por favor, correo electrónico o llamar si tiene alguna pregunta.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jeff

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