Spelling Words for August 20-24, 2007

A Sitton Review will be administered each Thursday as a pretest for the following week. The words that a student is unable to spell on the pretest will be added to his/her spelling list in their agenda for the following week. These words become the priority words that the student needs to learn for the dictation spelling test on Friday. The Sitton dictation sentences continually recycle previous high frequency words that the student should already know.

Each student will also be assigned pattern words, content words, or challenge words based on their ability level. The blog will list the words from which the spelling lists will be generated. Partners will administer the spelling tests on Friday.

Please refer to your child’s agenda for their individualized spelling list for the week. Each student will have 10-15 words each week.

Sitton Spellling Words for Week 1:
1. along
2. while
3. might
4. next
5. sound

Short Vowel Words for Week 1:
6. math
7. seven
8. pick
9. shop
10. much

Content Words for Week 1:
11. third
12. grade
13. student
14. school
15. teacher

Challenge Words for Week 1:
16. Mrs. McAuley
17. Mrs. Hebert
18. Mrs. Coalson
19. North America
20. South America
21. Africa
22. Asia
23. Europe
24. Australia
25. Antarctica

Essential Questions for August 20-24, 2007

Reading- What are facts and details? How do you show evidence for your answer to a comprehension question? What are main ideas? Which reading group will I be in?

Writing- How do you vary sentence beginnings? How do you write three paragraphs about your weekend?

Grammar- What are the four types of sentences?

Vocabulary- How will I be using my new vocabulary book? What reading skills will I be using with the vocabulary book?

Spelling- What patterns do short vowel words have?

Math- What is place value? What are the forms of numeration? How do I use base ten blocks to represent numbers? What is the value of a number? What are some problem solving strategies that I can use? Why is it important to know your basic facts?

Science- What is the scientific method? What scientific process skills are used in experiments?

Social Studies- What is your place in space? Do you know the continents and oceans of the world?

Health- What happens when you break rules?

Character Education- Respect for others

Essential Questions for August 13-17, 2007

Reading- What kind of reader are you? What are some specific reading skills? What am I going to learn in 3rd grade this year?
Writing- Who are you? What are your favorite things? What did you do over your summer vacation? What does a good writer look like?
Spelling- Why is knowing how to spell words correctly important?
Grammar-What are the rules of an address format? What should your notebook paper look like when you turn it in? How do you use margins?
Vocabulary- How can learning new vocabulary help us in 3rd grade?
Math- What are some math facts about you? What am I going to learn in math this year? What basic facts do I know? What are some strategies that good problem solvers use? How do you use a math book? How do you write problems on notebook paper?
Science- What is a scientist? Why are safety rules important with experiments? What is the scientific method?
Social Studies- Why do we need a McAuley constitution? What is your place in space?
Health- What is a healthy snack? Why is it important to wash your hands? How do rules keep us safe?
Character Education- Self Respect

Fundraising Parent Needed

Our class needs a PTSA representative to be the Fundraising Parent. The meeting has been changed to Tuesday, August 28th at 9:30. Our Discount Card Fundraiser is going to start the week of August 28th. The Fundraising parent will be more of a "record" keeper for our class to keep track of how many discount cards each child sells. Please let me know ASAP if you are interested. Thank you!

Wednesday

Homework- Read and complete 100 subtraction facts to practice computation

It is very important to continue practicing basic facts so that memorization can occur. There is not much time for counting in 3rd grade. The basic facts are needed to build understanding of more challenging concepts in math.

We took our Math Pretest today for the first nine weeks. The information from this test will allow me to form flexible math groups based on their mastery level of each concept that was on the pretest. This test was not for a grade. The purpose was to see what the students already know and then plan instruction based on the data. I will share the pretest with you at Open House.

It has been fun getting to know the students with their Me Bags. We will be using them for a writing activity on Friday.

Spelling and Vocabulary will begin next week. Please make sure you have purchased the Vocabulary Book from the School Store.

The Art Sketch Books are in. If you pre-ordered, your child will label their sketch book and take them to art class tomorrow. If you still need to order one, print the order form from the PTSA website. They are $4.50.
http://www.fordptsa.com/store%20order%20form.htm

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Tuesday

We had another great day! I am so thankful to have such a well behaved class. I am impressed with their academic achievement and good manners! I apologized for the delayed update. There are problems with updating my blog at school, so I have to wait until I get home. A work ordered has been placed, so hopefully there will be a solution soon.

Homework for Tonight= Return address format and 5 math problems to practice putting math problems on lined paper. Continue to record reading minutes and work on All About Me Bags.

Thank you for signing agendas. I appreciate your support! :)

PTSA Memo

August 13, 2007

Dear Ford Families,

The Ford PTSA would like to welcome you back to another year at Ford. We hope you’ve had a wonderful summer and are ready to get back into the swing of school and routines.

Please go to our PTSA website www.fordptsa.com. It is in the process of being updated. However, there you will find 2 things that you may need now:

1. School Store Information and Order Form – if you were unable to get everything that you need from the School Store, please go the School Store link, print off a form, fill it out, make your check payable to Ford PTSA and send it in an envelope with your child to school marked “School Store”. PTSA volunteers will fill your order and take it to your child’s classroom as soon as possible.

Please note that EVERY child, Kindergarten through 5th grade needs to order a sketch book for art class for $4.50. This was a late addition and some people may not have gotten the message about this. These are NOT currently in stock, but will be delivered as soon as they arrive!

Kindergarten parents – each kindergarten class is ordering their own t-shirts for their class. These are on the order form as New Spiritwear for $10. Each kindergarten class will be getting a different color. You just need to make sure that we have your child’s name, teacher and size of t-shirt that you would like for your child to have. Speak to your child’s teacher if you have any questions regarding t-shirts.

2. PTSA Membership Forms – go to the Membership link on the website to download a form for this. Your membership in Ford’s PTSA automatically gives you membership in Georgia PTA and National PTA. Aside from being part of a national organization that exists to promote the education and well being of children – there are also some benefits that you get from being a member of PTSA. These can also be viewed on this link! The first class to obtain 100% student membership will get a special treat this year. Mayor Tommy Allegood of Acworth has agreed to have lunch with this class! When making a membership payment, please make your check payable to Ford PTSA and place that with the form in an envelope marked “Membership”.

We thank you so much for the enthusiasm and support that we’ve seen so far this year from our Ford Parents! We would like to invite you to sign up for any of our committees that we have posted on the bulletin board by the cafeteria. You will find SEVERAL opportunities for you to get involved and we welcome you to get plugged in somewhere! These are listed on our web site as well.

Our Open Houses will be on Tuesday, September 4th and Thursday, September 6th. Please check the calendar link on the PTSA website to see which grades are on each night. We will have a short PTSA meeting before the Open Houses and will be voting on our Budget for this year. Please bring your PTSA membership card to vote!

We look forward to getting to know as many of you as we can this year! Please contact us with any questions or concerns that you may have!

Sincerely,

Jane Swanson President billjaneswan@bellsouth.net
Wendy Chiaravalloti VP chia1121@aol.com
Natalie Rutledge VP natrutledg@yahoo.com
Michele Miller Treasurer millemi@bellsouth.net
Polly Losure Secretary atllosure@bellsouth.net

First Day of School

We had a wonderful first day of school! It was fun to get reacquainted with each other and get to know our new students. The students got to find out about me with My All About Me Bag. It was fun sharing my family with them. I cannot wait to see what the students share about their lives. It was helpful for me to list out each category on a card and it was also helpful to practice the night before I presented. The All About Me Bags can come in any day, Tuesday-Friday.

Thank you so much for all the donations! I appreciate the extra notebook paper, tissues, paper towels, baggies, soap, sanitizer, and Dum Dums. We could use a few more boxes of tissues, hand soap, sanitizer, Dum Dums, and Smarties. Thank you so much for your generosity.

We were unable to go out to recess due to the heat index. However, the students were pleased with indoor recess. The Fall Festival Game Basket followed them from last year, so they were happy to see some familiar activities. One thing that I forgot to request was playground equipment. Used balls from your garage make them very happy. I am always amazed at how much children like to play with balls!

Ask your child if they can remember all of the student's names with the alliteration game. This would be fun to play at the dinner table tonight! We also started cursive and multiplication today. The students were very excited about getting their agenda organized. Most of our day was spent on procedures.

I am turning the parent volunteer names to PTSA in the morning. The only volunteer parent that we are lacking is the Fundraiser Parent. Please let me know if you are interested.

More to follow tomorrow....