Dear Parents,
First, I would like to wish you all a happy and safe Thanksgiving break. I hope you have the chance to unwind and spend some quality time with family and friends. Personally, I'm looking forward to getting caught up on some sleep and some work, like posting the GT Expo pictures.
The students have been reminded that I expect them to keep up with their reading logs over the break. There is no other homework. However, the people at Think Through Math are offering a bonus of 1,000 points to students who log in and do some math over the break. It would be good if everyone could find 30 minutes or so to do some TTM over the break. The class is very close to meeting the 500,000 point goal we set at the beginning of the year.
Happy Thanksgiving! I look forward to seeing everyone back on December 2!
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Up coming!
Tomorrow night is Sinclair Math Night. This will be an opportunity for parents to learn about the math curriculum at each grade level and to learn how you can help your child to be successful. The event begins at 5:30 and will be followed by the PTA meeting.
Tomorrow is our Thanksgiving lunch and the children will be going to lunch at a slightly different time, noon, rather than 12:10. That said, things frequently get backed up so please be patient.
There will be no homework next week with the exception of the reading log. I expect all students to return from the holiday ready to take some AR tests.
LAST CALL for Box Tops! I must have them by Friday. Thank you to all of you who have been sending them in.
Tomorrow is our Thanksgiving lunch and the children will be going to lunch at a slightly different time, noon, rather than 12:10. That said, things frequently get backed up so please be patient.
There will be no homework next week with the exception of the reading log. I expect all students to return from the holiday ready to take some AR tests.
LAST CALL for Box Tops! I must have them by Friday. Thank you to all of you who have been sending them in.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Homework schedule correction
There is a mistake on the homework schedule. It incorrectly shows that there is a spelling worksheet this week. There is not as this is a review unit. I have updated the schedule in the links. Please let me know if you need a new printed copy.
Monday, November 4, 2013
GT Expo This Friday
This Friday, November 8, from 1:30 to 2:30, Sinclair will host the first GT Expo of the year. Please try to stop by to check out the great work that your child and the children in the other classes have been doing. I hope you can make it.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Let the 2nd Nine Weeks Begin
This week begins the 2nd grading period of the year. On Monday the students will receive the new homework schedule and the new spelling and vocabulary word lists. These will also be posted on the website. This is a short grading period with several special events cutting into our instructional time. Please do all that you can to make sure that your child is at school every day.
If you have looked at the homework schedule, you will have noticed that in the reading log column it states my expectation that each student earns at least 2 AR points each week. In class we read at least one AR book every week, usually more. Furthermore, they go to the library each week and are expected to check out AR books there also. I have discovered from conversations with some you that I have not been clear enough about the AR program and how it works. So let me explain.
Accelerated Reader (AR), is simply a large bank of quizzes that the students have access to at school. These are not special books that they can find only at school. An AR book is simply a book for which there is a quiz in the AR program. (Many of the book tests also have a separate vocabulary test.) I am adding a link in the sidebar to the site AR Bookfinder. The students are familiar with this site. It is a database of all AR quizzes and includes information like the book's reading level and point value. The site allows you to search by title and author as well as by subject if your child is interested in something in particular.
Back to the AR expectations, whatever students are reading at home, it is probably an AR book and they should plan to bring the book to school so that they may test on it. By way of an incentive, we are participating in the Book It! program through which students can earn a free personal size pizza at Pizza Hut if they make the monthly reading goal. October's goal is 10 points. Many students have already met the goal or are very close. Several however have not been quizzing on what they are reading and have a ways to go. Please ask your child how they are doing in AR a few times each week. If you have any questions I have not answered about the program, please let me know.
AR tests can only be taken at school, but two of the programs we use that can be used at home are IStation and Think Through Math. I know many of you have your children using these at home already. If not, please let me know and I will send you the information you need to get started.
If you have looked at the homework schedule, you will have noticed that in the reading log column it states my expectation that each student earns at least 2 AR points each week. In class we read at least one AR book every week, usually more. Furthermore, they go to the library each week and are expected to check out AR books there also. I have discovered from conversations with some you that I have not been clear enough about the AR program and how it works. So let me explain.
Accelerated Reader (AR), is simply a large bank of quizzes that the students have access to at school. These are not special books that they can find only at school. An AR book is simply a book for which there is a quiz in the AR program. (Many of the book tests also have a separate vocabulary test.) I am adding a link in the sidebar to the site AR Bookfinder. The students are familiar with this site. It is a database of all AR quizzes and includes information like the book's reading level and point value. The site allows you to search by title and author as well as by subject if your child is interested in something in particular.
Back to the AR expectations, whatever students are reading at home, it is probably an AR book and they should plan to bring the book to school so that they may test on it. By way of an incentive, we are participating in the Book It! program through which students can earn a free personal size pizza at Pizza Hut if they make the monthly reading goal. October's goal is 10 points. Many students have already met the goal or are very close. Several however have not been quizzing on what they are reading and have a ways to go. Please ask your child how they are doing in AR a few times each week. If you have any questions I have not answered about the program, please let me know.
AR tests can only be taken at school, but two of the programs we use that can be used at home are IStation and Think Through Math. I know many of you have your children using these at home already. If not, please let me know and I will send you the information you need to get started.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Update Oct. 23
Parents,
There will be no graded work sent home this week as I try to wrap up the grading period. Work will go home next Wednesday as usual.
There will be no graded work sent home this week as I try to wrap up the grading period. Work will go home next Wednesday as usual.
I need a volunteer chaperone for the field trip on the 29th. Let me know if you are interested.
The permission slips went home with the students today. We will be eating at school, but at an earlier time. No special lunch arrangements need to be made.
Thank you to everyone who was able to make it to open house last week. It was great to see you.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Mid October Reminders and News
Just a few tidbits and reminders for the next few weeks.
First, Open House is this week on Thursday. The open house portion is from 5-6, with a PTA meeting from 6-7 which I hope you will be able to stay for.
Also, the fall festival is this coming Friday. A note went home on Wednesday regarding the items that 3rd grade has been asked to donate. The PTA would like us to donate spa type items (lotions, scented candles, bubble bath, fuzzy slippers, etc. such as one might give on Mother's Day) for the silent auction basket. They have also requested dessert items. The basket items can be dropped off anytime, but the dessert items should wait until Thursday or Friday morning.
Our first field trip is the 29th of October. We will be visiting the MFAH in the afternoon. Please be sure that your child has the new Sinclair shirt as that will be the only one they are able to wear and attend the field trip. The office does not have any of the new shirt to lend as they have in years past.
Finally, I have a personal request. Please make sure that your children are eating healthily, washing their hands frequently, and getting a good night's sleep. We've had a rash of illnesses sweeping through the room and that missed time simply cannot be replaced. The missed work can be made up, but the teaching is necessarily hurried so as not to fall behind in the curriculum. Thank you.
First, Open House is this week on Thursday. The open house portion is from 5-6, with a PTA meeting from 6-7 which I hope you will be able to stay for.
Also, the fall festival is this coming Friday. A note went home on Wednesday regarding the items that 3rd grade has been asked to donate. The PTA would like us to donate spa type items (lotions, scented candles, bubble bath, fuzzy slippers, etc. such as one might give on Mother's Day) for the silent auction basket. They have also requested dessert items. The basket items can be dropped off anytime, but the dessert items should wait until Thursday or Friday morning.
Our first field trip is the 29th of October. We will be visiting the MFAH in the afternoon. Please be sure that your child has the new Sinclair shirt as that will be the only one they are able to wear and attend the field trip. The office does not have any of the new shirt to lend as they have in years past.
Finally, I have a personal request. Please make sure that your children are eating healthily, washing their hands frequently, and getting a good night's sleep. We've had a rash of illnesses sweeping through the room and that missed time simply cannot be replaced. The missed work can be made up, but the teaching is necessarily hurried so as not to fall behind in the curriculum. Thank you.
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