November, 2009

Dear Parents,     

        I hope Halloween was a great time for your family.  I know we had a great time at the school party and Halloween walk around the "circle."    

         Our rocks & minerals science unit has ended and we are focusing on our social studies unit of Native Americans for the coming month.  I hope the children have discussed the great frieze (or mural) we developed for our classroom that depicts a Wampanoag village in winter. The were very creative and it looks fabulous in our classroom 

       Establishing rituals and routines at school has helped us make the transition to our Tier 2  enrichment and intervention time from 9:30-10:15 each day.  This time has been renamed SMART time.  Super Math And Reading Time.  A great way to think of that valuable time that offers extra math and reading time to everyone.  The children that are receiving intervention during that time have been sent a letter indicating what areas are being focused on for the next 6 weeks.  Your children are working well with the new schedule.  Also, just last week we have switched to having recess first and then lunch.  With this switch--the children will have both recess and lunch alone.  We felt that this would work better than continuing the 2nd/3rd grade arrangement in terms of numbers and amount of time to get through lines.  The children seem to enjoy being the only ones in the lunchroom and at recess!!!   

      We are beginning to read at home for 20 minutes every night including the weekends.   I sent a letter home in last week's Friday folder about how they can read more on one day if a certain day is especially busy.  We will check for signatures on Monday's--so please sign the pink sheet on Sunday.  Thank-you for your help.  Working on facts (at home)is also important as we continue through the second unit of addition and subtraction.  Building up speed and number sense is important as we move into bigger numbers.   

         The weekly News From Room 5 newsletter in Friday's folder should offer you an opportunity to discuss what is happening each week in 3rd grade.  We discuss what is in the letter and at times they even suggest things to put in it.  If your child says "nothing happened this week." ask them about the events on the list!!   

      If you have any questions or concerns--please e-mail or call me at school. 

Thank-you!                                                    

Mrs. Haffner