Matthews Tribune

May Flowers

Two more weeks of school.  Just wanted to give you a heads up of some of the things we will be doing to wrap up the school year.

May 16th is the date set for our annual Field Day. If you would like to volunteer for field day, please contact Mr. Evans or Mrs. Stafford in the P.E. department.

We are having an ice cream party on Wednesday May 21, 2008.  This is our end of the year party.  Everyone of our babies have worked very hard this year and deserve this celebration!!

                Friday May 23, 2008 is the last day of school.  Students will not be allowed to bring bookbags to school.

Please continue to read for 20 mins every night.

April Showers

Relay for life: Big Shanty Relay for Life team has the goal to collect $1 from each person who spends their day at Big Shanty.  In turn the students will take part in a Mock Relay honoring our collaborative fight against cancer on Friday, May 2.  If we reach 100% participation for a total of $885 the students will have a special surprise that day!  Your participation by allowing your child to bring in a $1 will be greatly appreciated.

Snacks for CRCT: Each students has been assigned a day to bring a snack for the class during CRCT.

**Any unused snacks will be saved and used for field day**

Wednesday April 23rd: Christian-Salty snack, Elizabeth/Hanna-Sweet snack, Doreen/Bradly: Drinks

Thrusday April 24th: Meagan-Salty snack, Christopher- Sweet snack, Michael/Miranda-Drinks

Friday April 25th: Alex-Salty snack, Jackie-Sweet snack, Ricky-Drinks

Monday April 28th: Drew-Salty snack, Erin-Sweet snack, Chase/Lauren-Drinks

Tuesday April 29th: Stephanie-Salty snack, Cameron-Sweet snack, Taylor/Marco-Drinks

CRCT starts on Wednesday April 23-29, 2008.  It's important that all students arrive on time for test day.  Test begin in our school at 8:00 am.  Students will not be allowed to enter the testing room once testing has begun. 

Continue to read every night for 20 mins.

Field Trip

We are going on a field trip!! We will be leaving on Tuesday April 1st @ 9:00am to see the performance: "Duck Soup".  We will return to school @ 12:00 noon.  The students will have lunch when they return from the field trip. 

Spring

Spring is finally here!!

***Reminder return report card envelopes they will be needed to mail out final reports.***            

Besure to visit the practice CRCT website.  CRCT is coming up in the next few weeks.

The CRCT will be here before we know it!  Let's work together to prepare your child for this state-wide assessment.  During Spring Break, your child will have a packet to work on.  So be on the lookout for that!  Also, you will find some great resource links below for information on the CRCT and practice tests.

Information and study guides ~ The main page informs you about the CRCT.  On the right side, the blue box of "Study Guides" has practice tests for all subject areas, answers, and explanation of answers

Georgia Online Assessment ~ Practice tests that the 3rd grade teachers created for all subject areas.  You must use the login and password that was sent home in January.

Georgia Department of Education ~ information on Georgia curriculum and testing

Please continue to read to your children and have them read to you every night.

Spring Carnival Basket

Parents, you should have received nearly a month ago (in your child's binder) a note from our room mom, Mrs. Smith, about the spring carnival. Every class will be donating a basket filled with different themed goodies. Our theme this year is "Tea Party". Please send these items in by your child by April 10th.

Thank you for your continued support!    

As the last months of school come to a close, please emphasize to your child the importance of staying on track at school. It is easy to get spring fever and forget homework or the rules. Let's work together to keep all the kids on track for the remainder of the school year. Enjoy the beautiful spring weather!

Parents, you should have received nearly a month ago (in your child's binder) a note from our room mom, Mrs. Smith, about the spring carnival. Every class will be donating a basket filled with different themed goodies. Our theme this year is "Tea Party". Please send these items in by your child by April 10th.

Thank you for your continued support!    

As the last months of school come to a close, please emphasize to your child the importance of staying on track at school. It is easy to get spring fever and forget homework or the rules. Let's work together to keep all the kids on track for the remainder of the school year. Enjoy the beautiful spring weather!

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!!!

We will be celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday on Monday, March 3rd by having a Pajama Jammy Jam!  Students will be allowed to wear PJs that are appropriate for school and the wintry weather.  They are allowed to bring a blanket, pillow, or stuffed animal that will fit in their bookbags.  I will supply hot chocolate for the kids, but any other goodies (i.e. cookies, brownies, cupcakes) can be donated by the parents if they choose to.

REMINDER: There will be an EARLY RELEASE DAY on Wednesday, March 4. Dismissals will begin at 12:10pm.

READING LOG:  Remember that reading logs are due on Mondays. They also receive their new reading log for that week on Monday.  Thanks so much!

Season's Greetings!

It is hard to believe that we are nearing the end of the 2nd nine weeks and we are officially halfway through the school year!  We have covered a lot of important skills and have many more to cover as the year goes on it time draws closwer to CRCT.  Here are some important tips in helping your child stay on track:

** Practice Multiplication Facts constantly throughout the week

** Make sure you child reads and logs their reading DAILY!  Reading logs are not being filled out by many students on a regular basis

** Check HW folders and agendas daily and Thursday folders each week for important information and updates.

** Communicate with your child!  Discuss work that is coming home and other projects!  Go over their grades and any behavior that you see needs attention.  It takes us all working as a team to make sure you child is successful!

DECEMBER NEWS

We have many fun activities planned this month as we prepare for our Winter Break.  This week the students were able to decorate their shirts/sweatshirts with the, "How to Build a Snowman" theme.  They are all unique and fun and show each child's personality!  Those that did not bring in a shirt were able to make  a poster.

Classroom Sites

Swamp Animals

GA Habitats

Kids Dictionary Page

Nettrekker

Wacky Tales

Maps and Globes Webquest

Plug into Mathmetics

Primary Games

Learning Planet 

http://www.kidscom.com/home_flash.html

http://www.nanana.com/edugames.html

http://www.prongo.com

http://www/dalymath.simplenet.com/

http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/games/

http://www.syvum.com/online/games.html

http://www.eduplace.com/kids/

http://www.lycoszone.com/mindgm.asp

http://www.edu4kids.com/

http://yavsoft.com/index.html

http://www.wuzidgames.com/

http://k-6educators.about.com/cs/educationalgames/

http://www.gamequarium.com/

http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/games/

http://www.mcgruff.org/

www.preschoolprintables.com

www.kidscastle.si.edu

www.4kids.org/coolspots/fungames/pagel.shtml

www.alfy.com

www.funbrain.com

www.enchantedlearning.com

http://chndra.harvard.edu/edu/games.html (x-ray observatory)

http://sydicate.com/ (vocabulary)

http://www.kidsedge.com/cgi-bin/kidsedge/scripts/kidsedge/index.jsp

http://www.torpedosoftware.com/scrsav.htm (geography)

http://www.scugog-net.com/room108/starflight/gamesl.html

http://dmoz.org/Computores/Software/Education/Games/

http://www.playkidsgames.com

http://www.kidsdomain.com/

http://www.eduplace.com/edugames.html

www.coolmath.com

www.homeworkspot.com

www.aaamath.com

More fun sites:

www.discoveryschool.com

www.iknowthat.com

www.fcatexplorer.com

www.yahooligans.yahoo.com

www.funschool.com

www.brainpop.com

www.diney.com

www.nick.com

www.holes.com

www.50states.com

www.hotwheels.com

www.nbaballers.com

www.nationgeographic.com/ngkids

www.kids.gov

www.crayola.com

www.highlightskids.com

www.pbskidsgo.org

Welcome to October!!!

I would like to thank you as parents and the students for a great week of testing.  The kids did a great job of focusing and staying on task!  Thank you as well for those of you who were able to attend the PTA performance.  It was a great success and their hard work and practice really showed off!

What's Happening....NOW!!!

Hello everyone!  I know by now you most definately feel like official 3rd grade parents!  Our classroom is alive and busy as the kids are progressing and learning more and more.  There are a lot of different things that have been coming home lately that really need your special attention.

We are impressed with the wonderful speeches given by our Student Council Candidates.  Congratulations to STEPHANIE SMITH for recieivng the most votes.  Congrats as well to Cameron Kulkarni, our alternate.  We know that both of these students will represent of well!

Information on the overnight Zoo Atlanta trip came home this Thursday. I realize that this trip is not cheap and the holidays are approaching, but the 3rd grade teachers are busy planning fundraising ideas to help offset the cost. What a wonderful opportunity this is and an event that your children will NEVER forget!

We are extremely excited to begin our Pedometer Log.  This is a great way for the kids to monitor their fitness level, as well as, a way for me to make teaching  a real life learning experiences for the kids.  Everything that you can do to help the kids keep up with their pedometers will be greatly appreciated! They need to try and make a habit of recording their steps each night and resetting their pedometer for the next morning. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

September 21: Fall Picnic and Outdoor Movie @ 6:30

September 24:  Remainder of field trip forms for Chattahoochee Nature Center need to be turned in.  The deposit has to be mailed to them on this date to hold the field trip time slots.

September 28:  Remainder of students attend Fernbank session on Rocks and Minerals.

September 26-27:  COGAT standardized testing

October 1-5:  ITBS standardized testing (your child must be here and on time!)

October 16:  Field trip to Chattahoochee Nature Center

October 17: Early Release Day

Scholastic Reading Inventory

This week your children took the SRI, which is a computer based comprehension test. It is a tool that helps us determine their comprehension level.  This is to help with placing students with the right reading material for instruction and indepenent reading.  They use the Lexile scale to place students on a particular level.  To learn more about Lexile and to find books on your child's level visit: Lexile Website