Popcorn Box Top Party Winners!!!

So this is what success looks like!!! Congrat's class! Hope we can do it again!

International Festival of Raleigh

Parents...students...everyone!!! It's time to "discover the world in Raleigh!" This weekend, there will be an International Festival at the Raleigh Convention Center.

Doors Open:
Friday 12pm - 10pm, Saturday 10am - 10pm, Sunday 12pm - 6pm
If you want more information click here!

This is a great opportunity to expose your child to the amazing world and cultures around us. If you do go, please take pictures!!! I would love to post them on our website! I hope you can make it!

Fall Festival

Fall Festival will be on October 23rd (6:30-8:30 pm).
Please remember our Snack Basket for the Fall Festival. Please send items in as soon as possible!!! Thank you!
Snacks must be non perishable and individually wrapped. This includes anything from crackers, chips, cookies, candy, dried fruit, to popcorn, fruit snacks, nuts, and cakes.

Spelling Words Sept 28-Oct 2

Compound Words
1. schoolhouse
2. sunflower
3. doghouse
4. another
5. firefighter
6. quarterback
7. downgrade
8. copyright
9. headlight
10. sandalwood
11. polygon
12. angle
13. rectangle
14. rhombus
15. pentagon

Blue Ribbon Words
1. responsibility
2. integrity
3. adapting
4. quadrilateral
5. parallel

Gazette Memo Sept 28-Oct 2

We are soaring to great heights this year! All the third grade classes are joining together to take part and start “Caps for a Cure.” We will be collecting all soda tabs, and water/soda bottle lids. These items are recyclable and will help us raise money for our cause this year: Cancer. The 3rd graders will be creating posters and speeches for the next few weeks and will begin promoting our campaign. We are going to try and get the ENTIRE school involved. From what we’ve learned in Social Studies, “it is OUR responsibility to help others.” Please spread the word and help us on our newest venture.
This week’s objectives:
Math- multiplication, lines, the names of 2D and 3D shapes, angles, permutations and combinations…a study guide will be going home soon!!!
Reading- compound words, connections, reactions, opinions, predictions, questioning, visualizing, and summarizing.
Social Studies- citizenship (may have a guest speaker on Friday)
Writing- completing polygon monster stories and begin writing instructions of their choice (ex. How to make a ham sandwich)
Please make sure all interim reports and green photo permission forms are signed and returned promptly. Have a lovely week!

A Friendly Reminder...

Interim reports will be going home tomorrow, Friday September 25th. There will also be a letter attached to the interim about parent approval for students to have their pictures on our classroom website. If you have any questions about grades and additional ways to help your child at home, please call and set up a conference at 662-2458. Thank you and have a Fantastic Friday!!!

Very Responsible Citizens

Today we took our first Social Studies assessment and I am extremely pleased to inform all of you that each and everyone of my students passed with flying colors!!!! I am so proud of them...keep up the fantastic work Superstars!!!

Picture Day/Retakes

Just to let you know, if you were unable to send in money today for school pictures, they will be retaking them again sometime in October. If you didn't pay today, you will not be able to get today's pictures...sorry!

Scholastic Book Club Online

Dear Parent,
I have exciting news. You can now place your Scholastic Book Clubs orders online!
Browse all the great monthly Book Club selections at low prices and order online. Plus, our class earns a FREE book every time a parent orders online.

Here’s how it works:

1.Use the information below to access the Scholastic Book Clubs Web site.
2.Browse the titles with your child and place your order with your credit card.
3.Your order will come to me, and your credit card payment will go directly to Scholastic’s secure server. There’s no need to send money to school.
4.After I submit the entire class order to Scholastic, your order will be delivered to our classroom for your child to take home.

To get started, go to the Web address below and enter our class’s personalized user name and password in the sign-in fields on the right side of the page. Note: You do not need to create your own user name and password.

www.scholastic.com/bookclubs
User Name: MsBuchanansClass
Password: books

Ordering online is the most convenient way to use Scholastic Book Clubs. You can order anytime, right up until the online order due date. You’ll also get instant access to over 500 additional titles plus online-only specials and discounts.

And don’t forget: Every time a parent places an order online, we earn a FREE book for our classroom library!

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Yay!!! We won!

Our class won the first Box Top Party of the year!!! We will be able to have our popcorn party this Friday! Great job class! Let's continue to bring in the Capri Sun pouches and Box Tops so we can win them all!!! Our next collection date is December 4th! Hip Hip Hooray!

Social Studies Study Guide

Being a Responsible Citizen with Responsibilities

Goal 1.01, 1.03, 1.05

STUDY GUIDE- TEST ON WEDNESDAY

1. Every community has people who work for the common good. What does that mean?
2. Name 2 things a volunteer can do to help their communities:
3. Why do we recycle?
4. What is a responsible citizen?
5. Why do communities have governments?
6. What might be a consequence of breaking a law?
7. How old do you have to be to vote? _________ years old.
8. How do citizens choose their leaders?

9. Why is it important that people meet their civic responsibilities?
   

Gazette Memo Sept 21-25

Thank you to all the parents who were able to make it out to Open House last week. It was great seeing some of you again and meeting others of you for the first time.
I just wanted to let you know that interim reports will be going home this Friday! I can’t believe a half a semester has already passed.

Here is what we’ll be working on this week:

Social Studies- We have been discussing responsibilities of citizens and will have a test on Wednesday (multiple choice).

Math- We are still working on QISWA for problem solving, subtraction, and multiplication. We will begin permutations and combinations this week.

Reading- Guided Reading groups begin this week. I can’t wait to see what everyone can do independently during reading time.

Writing- Last week, the class created monsters using pattern blocks and they will begin writing a story (problem/solution) about their personalized creation.

I am in the process of creating a blog for my students and parents. In case your child loses their spelling words, assignment sheet, etc, you will be able to look it up on there. I will also be able to post pictures during projects and update you on what we are up to!!! Here is the web address:

http://www.buchananstars.blogspot.com/

Remember, I am still trying to get it in good condition, but please feel free to leave me a comment of anything you would like to see on the site. This is another way we can stay in touch!

Spelling Words Sept 21-25

LONG VOWELS

1. escape
2. slope
3. cried
4. raising
5. although
6. tomato
7. salute
8. commute
9. pollute
10. alley
11. addition
12. multiply
13. divide
14. subtraction
15. method

BLUE RIBBON Words (optional)
1. diminutive
2. lackadaisical
3. influenza
4. habitual
5. strategy

Literacy Menu Sept 21-25

Literacy Objectives:
1. Develop fluency through oral reading and rereading
2. Spell words with long vowel sounds
3. Make reactions, opinions and ask questions before and during reading
4. Learn vocabulary related to The Lost and Found

Required and Optional Activities (depending on what group they are in):
○ Station #1- Vocabulary Foldable (words, pictures, definitions)
○ Spelling Letter to Mrs. Buchanan (10 of your spelling words)
○ CROP-QVS- use your leveled reader
○ Listen to The Lost and Found (pg. 94) on CD (track 4)
○ SSR- Read at least one short book (library book) and take an AR test.

□ Station #2- Word Hunt- Look through The Lost and Found and find all the words on the list.
□ Station #3- Story Board- Using your leveled reader, complete a story board. Make sure to recognize whether your book is Fiction (fake) or Nonfiction (true).
□ Spelling Practice- Go to http://www.spellingcity.com/ (smithbee) and practice spelling your words this week.
□ Station #4- Poetry Choice- Take a poem. Glue it in your Station Notebook. Using a dictionary, find the synonyms for the underlined words and rewrite the poem on the next page.
□ Station #5- Story Element File Folder Activity- put the cards under the correct headings. Write 2 examples of each heading in your Station Notebook.

Communication Domination

Hi students and parents! I am so excited to try blogging with my class this year. This will be an easy way for you to see what we are doing within the classroom. I will be able to upload links, pictures and homework on this site. Isn't that awesome?!?! Please let me know of anything you would like to see on here to help you out at home. Just write me a quick message and I will get back with you as soon as I can. Thank you and enjoy!!!

Gazette Memo Sept 14-18

Reading group stations are almost up and running. This week will be a practice round, so next week guided reading will begin.

Remember that Open House is on Thursday starting at 7 pm. Students whose parents attend, will not have to do math homework that night!!!

We took a reading assessment last week and many students were not comfortable reading a page-long story and answering questions about it. There were many low grades, so please work on reading comprehension at home. If you would like questions you can ask before, during or after reading any book or story, please let me know and I will send some for you to use at home.

In math this week, we will continue working on place value and will begin introducing two-dimensional shapes. Be on the lookout for a study guide going home this week.

In Social Studies, we are continuing our study of qualities of a good citizen and people who make differences in our communities and communities around the world.

In writing, we will be creating a book to have in the classroom. The class has picked a problem (large or small) that we face daily throughout the world. They have brainstormed solutions to these problems and will be writing their essays this week. They are SOOOOOO creative!!! I am very impressed with their global mindedness.

If you are interested in volunteering, you will need to register online at our school in order to come into the classroom. We are tightening up on the safety and security of our students.

Spelling Words Sept 14-18

SHORT VOWELS

1. fence
2. crunchy
3. witch
4. wedge
5. crust
6. shock
7. ridge
8. knob
9. crumb
10. patch
11. connection
12. prediction
13. reaction
14. question
15. title

BLUE RIBBON Words (optional)
1. surprised
2. investigate
3. distance
4. unusual
5. companion

Literacy Menu Sept 14-18

Literacy Objectives:
1. Develop fluency through oral reading and rereading
2. Spell words with short vowel sounds
3. Make connections, predictions and visualize before and during reading
4. Learn vocabulary related to The Ballad of Mulan

Required and Optional Activities:
○ Vocabulary Foldable (words, pictures, definitions)
○ Spelling Letter to Mrs. Buchanan (5 of your spelling words)
○ CROP-QVS- use your leveled reader
○ Listen to Ballad of Mulan (pg. 54) on CD (track 3)
○ SSR- Read at least one short book (library book) and take an AR test.

□ Word Hunt- Look through a story you are reading this week and find all the words on the list.
□ Story Board- Using your leveled reader, complete a story board. Make sure to recognize whether your book is Fiction (fake) or Nonfiction (true).
□ Spelling Practice- Go to http://www.spellingcity.com/ (smithbee) and practice spelling your words this week.
□ Poetry Choice- Take a poem. Glue it in your Station Notebook. Using a dictionary, find the synonyms for the underlined words and rewrite the poem on the next page.
□ Story Element File Folder Activity- put the cards under the correct headings. Write the answers in your Station Notebook.

Gazette Memo Sept 7-11

We have been very busy during our first two weeks of school. It is a tiring process to learn and practice the routines of the classroom. Now that I have finished will all of the beginning of the year reading assessments, we will begin to practice our classroom centers and will begin gearing up for reading groups. It will be very helpful if all parents would revisit the classroom expectations with their child. I will be firm in holding them responsible for these classroom expectations as we begin to work in independent work stations.

Spelling Words Sept 7-11

LONG VOWELS

1. paint
2. clay
3. feel
4. leave
5. neighbor
6. eight
7. seem
8. speak
9. paid
10. need
11. expanded
12. standard
13. place value
14. hundred
15. thousand

BLUE RIBBON Words (optional)
1. Savory
2. Belated
3. Revitalized
4. Belabor
5. Ingenious

Word Study Parent Letter

Dear Parent(s),
Word Study lists will come home in your child’s Homework folder each week of school.
*The first 10 words relate to the current goals for the quarter.
*The next 5 words are related to a current theme that we are studying in class.
*The Blue Ribbon words at the bottom of the page are optional and are used by those who master the pre-test given on Mondays.
All students are allowed the opportunity to learn the meaning/spelling of the Blue Ribbon words. Students can earn tickets for each Blue Ribbon word that is correctly written in a sentence on the post-test (1 ticket per sentence). These tickets will give them a chance to win a prize on Fridays.

Each Monday I will give a pre-test to those who want to try to compact out of the assigned words/assignments for the current week. Those who correctly spell the first 15 words may compact out for the week.

Students who do not want to take the pre-test may begin working on their assignments from the “WORD STUDY Think-Tac-Toe Menu.” The Think-Tac-Toe Menu is kept in the homework folder and changes each quarter. Four assignments are to be completed during the week. Students need to put their name, # and title of assignment at the top of each assignment. It will be expected that one assignment be turned in each day (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday). If your child chooses to complete all of the four assignments the first day, that is his/her choice. Just make sure to turn in only one per day. Illegible assignments will have to be re-done. One of the first quarter convention goals is: 5.08 Students will create readable documents with legible handwriting (manuscript). Please encourage your child to take time and put effort into the assignments. Post-tests will be given on Fridays.

Those students who compact out for the week will be expected to learn the definition and spelling of the 5 BLUE RIBBON words for the week. On Fridays, they will be asked to write five sentences using the Blue Ribbon words (spelling and context of word will be evaluated). Again, tickets may be earned for each sentence that is correctly written. During the week these students only have to do the 4 assignments from the Think-Tac-Toe Menu for the Blue Ribbon words.

I am trying to differentiate the Word Study lists to meet the needs of each student. Students will have different amounts of spelling words each week depending on how they do on the pretest. I will highlight words that need to be studied for the week.
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about your child and his/her progress with WORD STUDY.

Thank you for your support!
Mrs. Buchanan