Daily Archives: September 4, 2020

Labor Day on Monday!

I’m not sure how this happened, but next week is WEEK 3 already!

We started working on multiplication, took our first writing pre-assessment, really began to dig into Growth Mindset, and laughed…a lot! I’m headed into this long weekend with a very full teacher heart — and exhausted pregnant body!

Please read on for a variety of reminders and information, and for upcoming dates. Thanks so much! Like last week, I included a few pictures from our week at the end of this post.Β They’ll have to do until you can come visit “Our Neck of the Woods” in person! πŸ™‚

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Short Week

Another short week for the kids this week! Please remember thatΒ students will not have school this coming Monday, Labor Day (9/7).

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Sports Events and Performances

There’s nothing I love more than supporting my students in their interests outside of school!Β While I know this year has limited extracurricular opportunities for students, I would love to support your child in any activities he or she is a part of!Β While I cannot guarantee that I make it to an event, IΒ canΒ guarantee that if I don’t know about it there’s no way I’ll be there πŸ˜‰Β 

Please email me a schedule of your child’s sports, dance, karate, musical performances, or whatever else they have going on (virtual events included!) and I will try my very hardest to make it to at least one! Email me at kdeters@hpseagles.net . Thank you!

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Reading Logs

Beginning Monday, September 14th, a weekly reading log will be sent home for students to keep track of their reading outside of school, and will be turned in the following Monday. PLEASE DO YOUR BEST to encourage your child to read for a minimum of 100 minutes each week!

Please…

  • Read with your child
  • Have them read to or with a sibling
  • Have them read alone
  • Have them read in the car
  • Have them read while waiting for dinner
  • Have them bring a book to a sibling’s sports game or practice
  • WHENEVER and WHEREVER you can to get those 100 minutes in!

We do not have traditional homework in 3rd grade because the number one indicator of success in literacy (anything related to reading and writing…which is just about every subject out there!) is tied directly to a child’s time spent reading!Β 

We work very hard at school to grow as readers and writers in 3rd grade, but the time constraints of our school day just don’t cut it. Please encourage your child to read anything and everything they find interesting — I had a girl last year who read cookbooks and food blogs most nights. That’s great! If they’re excited to be reading something, please ENCOURAGE that!

Thanks so much for your help in this, parents πŸ™‚

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Library

Speaking of reading — trips to our school library will begin the week following next: Monday, September 14. A variety of books were not returned to the GES library due to the abrupt school closure last spring, so please do your best to get them returned as soon as you’re able. Thank you so much to those of you who have already brought yours in this fall!

We will have library on Wednesday afternoons this year.

Thanks so much!

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Long-Term Substitute for Maternity Leave

Of all the years to have your child’s teacher be leaving to have a baby, this was the perfect one, right?! I have some very exciting news to share, though…

We have a wonderful substitute teacher all lined up!

As we get closer to my November 8 due date, I will let you know more about our plans for the leave as well as will introduce her; however at this point we are still solidifying everything with HR. I’m so relieved (as I’m sure you especially are!) to have a great guest teacher lined up for the weeks I will be stepping away with Baby Deters.

Thanks so much for your support in this!

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Outdoor Learning

This week we will continue to spend time learning outside. I do have extra towels and mats on hand, but if you would like your child to have their own please be sure to send one in this week!

We will be working under a shady spot outside the 2nd/3rd wing.Β I will do my best to encourage dry, grassy sit spots, but if a towel gets overly dirty or muddy I will send it home with the student in a plastic baggie that day to be washedΒ (yoga mats can be wiped down when we head back into the classroom). Thanks so much for your help with this added laundry β€” I know you never have enough with little kids, so I thought I’d find a way to throw another bit your way πŸ˜‰

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Lunch

Third graders will be eating lunch in our classroom this fall! Students getting hot lunch will go to the cafeteria to get their meal, then bring it back to the room to eat. What an adventure this will be! πŸ˜‰

  • On Early Release days, students wishing to get school lunch can get a sack lunch to go!
  • SeptemberMenu2020Β Calendar

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Curriculum

This week begins the first lesson or two in 3rd grade content and curriculum. I can’t wait to partner with you to help your child reach his or her full academic potential this year!

  • Reading: We will begin our first Reader’s Workshop unit, β€œBuilding a Reading Life”. Students will learn how to combine literacy skills with personal reading preferences to make reading the BEST it can be, and to begin the road to being a lifelong reader.
  • Writing: This week we will begin the first unit of our Writer’s Workshop:Β Crafting True Stories.
  • Math: We will continue working on multiplication, expanding on equal groups and introducing arrays and the Commutative Property of Multiplication.
  • Social Studies: We will build on the work we did looking at Growth versus Fixed Mindsets, and learn more about how are brain works and why it is so important to be willing to take risks!

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Upcoming Dates

  • Monday, September 7:Β Labor Day / No School
  • Friday, September 18:Β Early Release (12:15 pm dismissal)
  • Friday, October 23:Β Early Release (12:15 pm dismissal)

Above: Week 2’s Morning Bins brought LEGOs!

Above: Multiplication with equal groups was delicious!

Above: Reading outside after a week of earning it inside!

Above: Transferring our skills with equal groups from candy to whiteboard work.