Global School Play Day

Global School Play Day

On Wednesday, February 6th we will be participating in the Global School Play Day! The children are excited to spend most of the day just playing! 

 Students may bring anything they wish to play with to school on Wednesday, February 6th. The only restrictions: they must bring toys and these toys may NOT require batteries or electricity. No devices. Some suggestions are: board games, dolls, Legos, blocks, trucks, cars, race tracks, playing cards, jigsaw puzzles, arts and crafts, or social games (charades, Pictionary, etc.) The only exception on the electronics rule would be a board game that has an electronic timer. If you have any craft or recycling materials that you’d like to donate- for creative play that would be great too! 

Update 1/29

Valentine's Day- Our class will celebrate Valentine's Day with a Party in a Bag. Parents will create a party bag for their child. Directions were sent home today, so please watch for them.   Missing Snow Pants- A classmate is missing a pair of black snow pants. There was a pair of snow pants size 10/12 left at school. Please check your child's snow pants to see if there was a mix-up.   Math- Last week we completed our graphing unit. The students practiced reading and interpreting bar graphs and line plots. As a culminating project, each student used Google Forms and came up with a survey question. The students shared their survey questions with the class and everyone had fun answering all the surveys.  Next, the students created a graph and analyzed their results. This week the class started learning about the metric system. Reading-  Over the past few weeks, the class has been learning about nonfiction. As a class we discussed interesting vs. important information and the main idea of a passage. The students have also practiced looking for key details and explaining how they support the main idea of a text. Writing- The class is currently taking an opinion piece through the writing process. Lessons have focused on stating a strong opinion, and including reasons and details to support opinions.  Science- The class has learned the difference between weather and climate, studied different types of clouds, discussed the water cycle and did an experiment to prove that air is present. Next, students will begin working in groups to study a type of severe weather. 
Here's a few pictures of the class researching severe weather.

1/9/19 Update

Math- Over the past few weeks, the class has been practicing division. The students have learned to make equal groups, use related multiplication facts to solve division problems and solve division problems with remainders. Next, we will be learning about graphs.

Reading- We have begun our nonfiction reading unit. The students have been identifying text features and learning how they help readers. We have discussed headings, captions, charts, maps, timelines and the table of contents. The class is excited to read nonfiction books!

Writing- We just started our opinion unit. The students will be taking an opinion piece through the writing process. Students will learn to include reasons and details to support their opinions.

Science- We have begun an exciting project about severe weather. Ask your child which type of severe weather they will be studying.

Spelling- This week the class got some spelling words to practice during WIN time. The students have the words in their homework folders if you would like to help them practice at home. This week's words are high-frequency words that I often see the children misspell. On Friday the students will be quizzed on the words they didn't know on Monday.

Reminders

-I will place the Book Order today at 3:30.
-Parent Teacher Conferences are Thursday and Friday. If you are unsure of your conference time, please contact me through Bloomz or email.
12/6 Delayed Opening at 11:15
12/7 Early Release @ 12:00 (No Lunch served)

~Please contact me with any questions or concerns. I look forward to meeting with you at conferences!

Important Announcements

1. The children were very excited to meet their new classmate, Anna today. I know that you will all join us in welcoming her and her family to Topsfield.
2. There is no assigned homework this week. Children are encouraged to read for pleasure and practice math facts. 
3. Wednesday is an Early Release at 12:00-No lunch

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families!

News for the week of 11/12/18

We have been very busy in Room 215! Math- The students were asking why facts such as 2x2, 3x3, 4x4 are called squares. So we did a little investigation and built area models to find out why. Ask your children about what we discovered.

During math, the class used area models and manipulatives to learn multiplication facts. Students also practiced using known multiplication facts to solve unknown multiplication facts. 

Reading-We finished the Global Read Aloud "A Boy Called Bat." The children loved it and are looking forward to reading another book in the series. Our current read aloud is "The World According to Humphrey." During reading, we continued to discuss a character's traits and feelings. We also examined how a character's actions contribute to the sequence of events. The children also learned about plot and how most stories have a problem, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution.
Writing- The students are wrapping up their personal narratives and I am conferencing with each of them before we share them as a class. 
Social Studies- The class is currently working on a research project. Each child chose to learn more about the Wampanoag or Pilgrims and the topics they wanted to teach others about. Students are using videos, books and our Social Studies text as resources.
Tuesday was National Kindness Day and the students participated in an online challenge to learn about digital citizenship and safety.

Homework

Homework will be a little different for the next two weeks. The third graders will focus on learning their multiplication facts using a system called Multiplcation in 7 Days. Starting Tuesday night, students will practice an assigned group of facts. Each night, Students will bring home a letter explaining that night's assignment and flashcards to practice. Any opportunity you have to practice facts with your child will be helpful. We will be using multiplication for the remainder of the year, so efficiency with facts is very helpful.

This is just one way that we will practice and learn about multiplication. Students will also build models, draw arrays, and use repeated addition to demonstrate understanding of multiplication.

HOMEWORK 

Tonight - Read for 2o minutes

Tuesday-Thursday -Read for 20 minutes and practice the facts assigned for that night

Halloween Party 2018

Our Halloween Party was a huge success!  The children looked great in their costumes! Thank you to everyone that provided food, crafts, paper products and helped with the party. 

Halloween Party 10/31

We will have our Halloween Party tomorrow, October 31st from  1:30-2:30. The class has been working hard and is looking forward to the party!  
There will be time prior to the party for the children to change into their costumes. Students should leave all props and make-up at home. 
Please feel free to drop by and join us for our celebration.

News for the week of 10/22

3:1
We just started a new unit in math. The children are learning to use Bar Models to solve one and two-step word problems. 

During reading we read the book The Raft and wrote Gist Statements to focus on the main idea of each page. Then we used that information to analyze how a character changes over time.

The students are finishing up their narratives in writing. They had to add thoughts, feelings and dialogue to make their writing more interesting. 

We just finished our most recent science unit and the children learned about inherited traits and learned behaviors. 

On Friday we met with our First Grade Buddies and completed a Stem Challenge together. The challenge was to build a tower using index cards and dot stickers. The children worked amazingly well together!

Just a couple of things...
I will submit the Book Order Monday at 9:00 AM, so it’s not too late to place an order.

The Unit 4 Subtraction Test was sent home today. Please sign and return it at your convenience.

We met with First Grade buddies today and did a stem challenge together. The challenge was to build a tower using index cards and dot stickers. The children worked amazingly well together! 

We just started a new unit in math. We are using Bar Models to solve one and two-step word problems. 

During reading we read the book The Raft and wrote Gist Statements to focus on the main idea of each page. Today we used that information to see how a character changes over time.

The students are finishing up their narratives in writing. They had to add thoughts, feelings and dialogue to make their writing more interesting. 

We just finished our most recent science unit and the children learned about inherited traits and learned behaviors. 

As always please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.The Unit 4 Subtraction Test was sent home today. Please sign and return it at your convenience.

We met with First Grade buddies today and did a stem challenge together. The challenge was to build a tower using index cards and dot stickers. The children worked amazingly well together! 

We just started a new unit in math. We are using Bar Models to solve one and two-step word problems. 

During reading we read the book The Raft and wrote Gist Statements to focus on the main idea of each page. Today we used that information to see how a character changes over time.

The students are finishing up their narratives in writing. They had to add thoughts, feelings and dialogue to make their writing more interesting. 

We just finished our most recent science unit and the children learned about inherited traits and learned behaviors. 

As always please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Welcome Back!

Dear Families, Our class had an excellent first week of school!   The students have had fun catching up and getting to know one another. We also spent some time learning about our classroom and creating class rules. The children couldn't wait to  borrow books from the classroom library and we are already practicing good reading habits.  
I'm happy to report that the entire class earned multiple boxes for listening the first time and demonstrating role model behavior. 
 If you haven't done so already, please return the yellow Emergency Information Card and parent survey at your earliest convenience.
If you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call or email. I am looking forward to a fantastic year!
Mrs. Corliss

Important Dates

Important End of the Year Dates

With the end of the year rapidly approaching, we wanted to send out the dates of some of our end of year events. If you would like to be considered to volunteer for Field Day or Fun Finale  or chaperone a field trip, you must complete  a CORI. You may see Mrs. B in the office for the CORI form or to check if you need to complete one.

Thank you!

May 24th- Poetry Celebration @ 2:00 Room 215

May 31st-Open House/Ice Cream Social @ 6:00

June 7th- Lunch on The Commons and Proctor Play *

June 11th- Field Trip to The Boston Tea Party Museum*

June 12th- Field Day (Rain Date June 13th)

June 14th- Fun Finale (Rain Date June 18th)

*More information/permission slip to follow.

Math MCAS

Dear Families,

MCAS are coming! We want to make MCAS days as enjoyable and stress free as possible. Please help your child by making sure he/she is well rested and fed. Also, please pack him/her an extra snack on MCAS days. We are planning on having extra recess and reduced homework on testing days as a special reward.

5/8   MCAS: Math

5/9      MCAS: Math

ELA MCAS

MCAS are coming! We want to make MCAS days as enjoyable and stress free as possible. Please help your child by making sure he/she is well rested and fed. Also, please pack him/her an extra snack on MCAS days. We are planning on having extra recess and reduced homework on testing days as a special reward.

4/10 MCAS:ELA

4/11    MCAS:ELA

Important Information

3/23 Early Release @ 1:15

Parent Conferences 4/5 & 4/6

Please click on the "Conference Sign Up" tab on my blog to sign up for a time. I look  forward to meting with you!

Global Play Day

Global Play Day was a huge success! I loved all of the collaboration, creativity, and kindness that I saw today! The students were all smiles and had a blast.

Force and Magnetism

We had an excellent enrichment program with Discovery Science Museum on Wednesday!The class  reviewed the basics of force and motion and experimented with magnetic force. Applying what they learned, students designed and built a toy that used the force of magnetism to operate.

Families please visit http://tinyurl.com/TSWactivity  and complete a five question survey about this workshop with your child. You will receive a free admission pass to the Discovery Museum!

Thank you TESPTO for generously funding this program!

Our Holiday Party was a huge success! Thank you to all the families who sent in food, and paper products for the Holiday Party. The children loved making the craft and playing the games. Also,  a big thank you to everyone who helped organize the party and volunteered to help. Mrs. Corliss' class wishes everyone a joyous Holiday season!