Tomorrow and Wednesday, the third graders will be taking a STAAR practice test. The third grade team will be simulating actual test conditions in order to prepare the students for the actual tests which they will take on April 22nd and 23rd. They will be held to a 4 hour time limit, the desks will be spread out so that they are not too close to another student, and one of the other 3rd grade teachers will be monitoring the test. (HISD does not allow teachers above 2nd grade to test their own students.) It is extremely important that the students be here and on time these next 2 days. The results of these practice tests will be used to design review lessons and activities for the next 3 weeks leading up to the real testing. Please talk to your child tonight about the importance of taking these practice tests seriously.Thank you for all you do.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Friday, March 14, 2014
HAPPY SPRING BREAK!
We made it! Spring break is finally here. I hope everyone enjoys a well deserved rest. I am definitely in need of a few days off. I have not assigned any homework for the break. HOWEVER, I certainly hope that everyone will read and continue to work on TTM while they are off. When we return, there will be exactly 4 weeks before the STAAR testing begins. That time will include a great deal of review and practice, so it is vital that everyone be here every day, on time.
Have a great break!
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Graded Work
My apologies. I was not able to get the graded work ready to go home in time today. It will go home tomorrow. Thank you for your patience.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Making every day count...
Dear parents,
Unbelievably, it is nearly March. After today, there are only 34 school days until the students take the STAAR Math and Reading tests. This is what we might call crunch time. Passing scores on both the Math and Reading tests are promotion standards for students to move on to the 4th grade. While we are not "teaching to the test", part of each day will include important practice exercises and assessments that will help me determine for each student what particular skills need sharpening over the next 30 days. For that reason it is imperative that your child is at school and on time every day, unless they themselves are genuinely ill (feverish/ uncontrollably vomiting/ etc.). In this class, and in others around the school, we are experiencing a rash of tardies and absences. With so much going on, this lost time is extremely difficult to make up, and, inevitably, students with frequent tardy arrivals and absences miss instruction. Please do all that you can over the next few months to get your children to school every day. Quite aside from the instruction absent students miss, HISD and the state fund schools based, in part, on their average attendance. Fewer children at school means less money for the school. Thank you so much for all that you do to support our work here at Sinclair. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Unbelievably, it is nearly March. After today, there are only 34 school days until the students take the STAAR Math and Reading tests. This is what we might call crunch time. Passing scores on both the Math and Reading tests are promotion standards for students to move on to the 4th grade. While we are not "teaching to the test", part of each day will include important practice exercises and assessments that will help me determine for each student what particular skills need sharpening over the next 30 days. For that reason it is imperative that your child is at school and on time every day, unless they themselves are genuinely ill (feverish/ uncontrollably vomiting/ etc.). In this class, and in others around the school, we are experiencing a rash of tardies and absences. With so much going on, this lost time is extremely difficult to make up, and, inevitably, students with frequent tardy arrivals and absences miss instruction. Please do all that you can over the next few months to get your children to school every day. Quite aside from the instruction absent students miss, HISD and the state fund schools based, in part, on their average attendance. Fewer children at school means less money for the school. Thank you so much for all that you do to support our work here at Sinclair. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
GT Expo Pics
Thursday, February 13, 2014
GT Expo Projects Due Monday! (and other news)
The GT Expo Projects are due Monday. That includes the brochure and the oral presentation. I will give each student a large sheet of white construction paper for their final copy of the brochure. However, they are not obligated to use it if they wish to use another paper or computer based brochure maker. Students should be practicing their "commercial" for a few minutes each night so that it sounds natural and well prepared. They will start presenting to the class on Monday. The GT Expo is scheduled for Thursday the 20th, from 1:15-2:15. I hope you are able to stop by. From what I have seen, the planet presentations will be awesome.
Also, with all of the miserable weather we have had to endure, we are running low on tissues. If you can send a box or two, we should be able to last the rest of the year. Thank you!
Also, with all of the miserable weather we have had to endure, we are running low on tissues. If you can send a box or two, we should be able to last the rest of the year. Thank you!
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