St. Thomas More - 3rd Grade

SF Parish Family Night Photos

2009-05-29T22:43:00.001-07:00

Such a great game! Thanks to all of the families who attended tonight's game, and special thanks to Natasha for her bravery and representation of STM to the entire crowd at AT&T Park! I hope you all had a fun evening. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Updates and upcoming events

2009-05-13T13:52:00.000-07:00

Book Signing + Sewing Activity
With Lotta Jansdotter Saturday, May 16
1-4 PM

The Museum of Craft and Folk Art is excited to announce a workshop by world-famous
linens, stationery, and ceramics designer Lotta Jansdotter to introduce the
publication of her new book, Simple Sewing for Baby. Follow along with Lotta as she
demonstrates how to create a children’s plush toy. This event is co-sponsored by
Chronicle Books, and is free and open to the public, ages 8 and up. For information
call 415.227.4888 ext. 13.



The Craft Gym: Public Sessions
Starting Tuesday, May 26, 6.30-8.30 PM
Sewing Machine Basics: Summer ScarfLevel: Beginner
 
Gain confidence in this session designed for anyone wanting to machine sew. This
class will cover basic cutting, sewing and pressing techniques, as well as sewing
terms, fabric selection, and operating a sewing machine. Participants will make and
take a 2-sided panel scarf in this session. All equipment (including sewing
machines) and materials will be provided.
 Total Fee: $50 (includes $10 materials fee.) To register, visit the Craft Gym's
website here and click "Add to Cart" to pay via PayPal, or call 415.702.5700.  
 In collaboration with the Craft Gym, the Museum of Craft and Folk Art will host
craft sessions the last Tuesday of every month through the end of the year. Click
here for a full description of each workshop.



Last Chance:
Inside/Outside: Artist Environments 
Closes May 24
 
From folk art environments to homes, artist environment builders blur the lines and
push the boundaries of how we define art.
 
Featuring Edgar Arceneaux and the Watts House Project, Jacob Sockness, Merritt
Wallace, and Megan Wilson, along with historic documentation of famed California
environments, and a new commission by Mike Shine. 



Other items of note:

Today, you will find a number of important notes in the Wednesday envelope, including information about Spirit Week,
a summer reading list, and a supply list for next year. 

Don't forget!  Our dance festival is next Tuesday, May 19th in the STM gym.  Hope to see you there!

There is no book report assigned this week. 

We continue to practice division, both on its own and in applied word problems.  We're discussing the Sacrament of
Anointing of the Sick in religion.  Tying social studies and literature together, we're examining Native American tribes and their
creation of many totem poles.  Have you seen a totem pole in your neighborhood?  We'll make our own totem poles
before the end of the week out of paper.  We're also learning about simple machines, including the lever, pulley,
wedge, and screw.  How does one know if he/she is doing work?  Ask your child to tell you.

I hope you're having a wonderful week, and enjoying the sunny weather!

Great first day

2009-04-20T18:13:00.000-07:00

We had an awesome first day back at STM, including warm weather and making birthday cards for Ezekiel. We're diving deeper into division this week, the spelling list is one of review, and our review of each of the seven sacraments begins. This week asks a lot of the third grade families, including sandwiches for the needy on Wednesday (4/22) and help completing a small project about family history.

This week's literature selection is about oral history, and how the history of a people can be passed down from one generation to the next. Questions about family history will be decided by students, and will not require anything extraordinary. Today, students are to list one (or two) people they can speak to about their family history. Tomorrow, students will make a list of questions to ask this person (or people), and will need to take notes when listening to the answers. The remainder of the week will allow students to transform their notes into a few paragraphs about their family history.

This Wednesday (4/22) is our second Chevy's night, benefiting the Outdoor Education program. The location is in South San Francisco from 4:00-10:00pm.

STM will have a Knockout competition on Friday (4/24) at 1:15pm. The cost is $5.00. Forms went home today, and the bottom portion and fee are due no later than Thursday (4/23). Hopefully all students will want to participate in this form of basketball game!

As for an update on my father's condition, he is home and recovering well. His surgeon has told our family that, with the removal of a portion of my father's kidney and the tumor, he is now cancer-free! There will be follow-up tests and my father will have a slow and somewhat painful recovery, but this news is the best we could have asked for from his doctors. My family and I genuinely appreciate your thoughts and prayers over these few weeks, and look forward to happier days ahead.

Welcome back! : )

Almost spring break!

2009-04-07T23:14:00.000-07:00

The week is passing so quickly! Our class participated in Reconciliation yesterday morning, and received the delightful gift of a kite in celebration of Easter. The sunshine and warmth of the day helped to symbolize how God welcomed our words and our thoughts throughout the day. We've begun making cards for Alma Via residents this week, sending Easter wishes their way. With a math test today, the math homework will be light this week, and (as an Easter gift to the class) there will not be a book report assigned this week. Report card comments will be sent home by the end of this week...thank you for your patience.

To celebrate Easter in the classroom, we will have a refreshment and a treat on Thursday before dismissal. Remember, Thursday is 12:25pm dismissal!

Thank you to everyone who sent well wishes to my family and me regarding my father's surgery. His surgeon believes that by removing a portion of his kidney and the tumor, all of the cancer has been removed. We will not know if this is 100% factual until we have the results of new tests within the next week. As of now, he is stable, in the hospital, and eating solid foods. He is being monitored due to low levels of potassium, but may be able to return home in the next four or five days. It would be wonderful to have him home for Easter, but that remains to be seen. I was able to attend the Rosary of our family friend on the night of the surgery and say my father's written words on his behalf. It was an exhausting day, but incredibly worthwhile. My family could not be more relieved than to hear that my father may be cancer free, and will continue to pray for 100% certainty.

I hope that you all have a fun and safe spring break, including a joyous Easter Sunday. :)

It's been a while

2009-03-30T10:20:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks have been eventful, to say the least! We have written short (two paragraph) essays about how we feel during Spring, and experienced the full writing process. We have learned about area, perimeter, and how to identify patterns. We've identified shelters made by humans and animals, and reasons why different kinds of shelters are made in different geographic locations. We've participated in many movement activities and discussed our successes during this Lenten season. All in all, our classroom as been vibrant, fun, and enthusiastic! :)

Personally, however, I must say that these weeks have been difficult. It is highly likely that my father has cancer, and will undergo surgery this Wednesday to have a large tumor removed from his kidney. We have been told that there is a 5-10% chance that it is benign, and will continue to hope and pray that this is the case. We won't know much more about his condition until the surgery is completed on Wednesday afternoon. Furthermore, a close friend of my family passed away unexpectedly on Friday evening. I will be attending his Rosary in addition to my father's surgery this week.

Miss Pinnick will be here for our class on Wednesday during my absence. Report cards will go home on Wednesday. I will do my best to also send home report card comments on this day, but cannot guarantee that the comments will be finished. You will receive the report cards on Wednesday, but may not receive comments. I appreciate your patience at this time.

Birthday lunches will be provided this week by the families of Andrew, Nicole B., and Tony. Today, lunch will be provided. Please do not bring lunches on Tuesday or Friday for this reason.

Our field trip to see "Seussical" is this Thursday. Students will eat their lunches upon our return in the afternoon.

Also, I want to thank all of you who have contributed to my fund raising efforts for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Within the next two weeks, I will successfully reach my goal of $2,500 and will be able to participate in the Wildflower Triathlon on May 3rd. Training is going well, and I am grateful for the resources Team In Training is able to offer me now that my father's situation may change.

The third graders continue to be bright, warm, and thoughtful. I am happy to have such a great class this year, and will update again soon. :)

Congratulations!

2009-02-22T21:43:00.001-08:00

The 3rd grade boys are CYO basketball champions!

Field Trip: Conservatory of Flowers 1/28/09

2009-02-11T17:21:00.000-08:00

We were incredibly lucky to have sunny, warm weather for our field trip!

Unfinished work?

2009-02-05T20:13:00.000-08:00

Each student's planner was not checked today, as I spent the afternoon trying to convince the printer to spit out report card comments. Only a handful of students had unfinished work. If you do not see any unfinished work in your child's planner or homework folder, you can safely assume there is none to be completed.

As it turns out, I have a Microsoft Office version issue that I can soon resolve. No more frustration with the printer...hooray! Enjoy your 3-day weekend. :)

Strongly recommended!

2009-01-27T16:37:00.000-08:00

If you have the opportunity to check out this book, please do! It was featured on today's "Oprah" show, and offers great healthy alternatives to what may be part of an unhealthy, routine diet.

Especially note calories from drinks each day, portion size, and sugar intake. I've got the adult version of this book, and it's wonderful. It even rates restaurants!

I welcome your comments on this subject. Please don't think that I am telling anyone how or what to eat. I'm simply offering an informative reference, should you want to use it. :)

Lunch provided Tuesday, 1/20/09

2009-01-16T15:22:00.000-08:00

To celebrate Lorenzo's birthday, his family will provide a pizza lunch for our class on Tuesday, 1/20/09. Please do not send your child with a lunch on this day. Hooray for so many January birthdays!

New Items & Updates

2009-01-13T17:56:00.000-08:00

We're back into the swing of things, with a few noteworthy updates:

1) This FRIDAY 1/16, please do not have your children bring a lunch. We will celebrate Nicole Rubino's birthday with pizza brought to us by her family. Yum!

2) The score given to the weekly spelling sentences assignment has changed. From now on, please check all of your grammar and be sure that all of your spelling sentences make sense. Without doing so, points will be subtracted from a possible perfect score of "10."

3) Our boys basketball team is still undefeated! They've got the weekend off for the MLK holiday, so look for info on their next game and watch them play.

4) We're going even further into multiplication this week, but many students still have not mastered their addition and subtraction facts. It is imperative that everyone have addition and subtraction flashcards at home for extra practice, as well as a set of multiplication and division flashcards for their desks at school. Help your child feel confident by providing supportive materials and encouragement! :)

5) Please return the cioppino form sent home in December. We are seeking 100% feedback, so please send in the form if you have not done so already. Thanks!

6) Lastly, I will be updating the blog weekly to let you know what's happening in third grade. Hopefully you will find it helpful in asking your child questions, instead of the usual, "How was school?" :)

Please email me if you have questions or concerns about these updates. I hope your week is off to a great start!

Quick Reminder

2008-12-18T10:11:00.000-08:00

Come watch the third grade boys basketball team this Saturday at 11:00am at STM...they are undefeated so far! GO BRONCOS!!!

Did anyone try the suggested math resources?

2008-12-02T21:02:00.000-08:00

Any thoughts or suggestions? I'd really love to know your feedback. Email or post in the comments section if you can. Thanks!

Slight change for future spelling tests...

2008-12-02T20:42:00.000-08:00

The third grade class has done extremely well on the first 12 lists of spelling words! It seems as though even the challenge words are not tricky enough!

Therefore, in the future, words previously given as "challenge" words on each spelling list will be considered ordinary words. A score of "100%" on a spelling test will now require students to correctly spell 24 out of 24 words.

I will closely monitor the progress of our class with this new change to our spelling test grading process. Should a student need extra practice or feel overwhelmingly frustrated, please let me know.

We can move forward confidently, knowing we will never make this mistake:

Yikes!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T12:56:00.000-08:00

To all of the third grade class, thank you for welcoming me to St. Thomas More School with smiles and excitement. I'm truly a lucky teacher to spend each day with all of you.

To all parents, thank you for your open communication, support, and enthusiasm. Have a wonderful day!

Reminder: Sandwiches for the needy TOMORROW

2008-11-25T08:42:00.001-08:00

Just a reminder for everyone to bring extra sandwiches tomorrow, as our class is responsible for STM's sandwiches for the needy. Every student who brings 2 or more extra sandwiches gets a free homework pass! Please bring as many sandwiches as you can! :)

Math resources

2008-11-24T19:45:00.000-08:00

Extra math reinforcement is always a great idea, but can get boring and repetitive by only using flashcards at home. Here are some other ideas:

1) Check out teacher supply stores for games and fun!
Most often, Toys 'R' Us or Target come to mind for educational toys or games. Teaching supply stores can actually be the best place to find items that connect school curriculum to at-home practice. Check out Educational Exchange at 600 35th Avenue in SF. Their website is http://educationalexch.com. You can find great gifts here, too!

2) Drills are a great traditional way to practice.
On the way to and from different locations (school, grocery store, sports practice, etc.), you can verbally quiz your child without the use of flashcards or a number line. Even a few minutes a day can really make a difference in his/her computation.

3) Use online games!
Instead of worrying about what kids might be finding on the Internet, direct them to some fun and engaging online math games. Some noteworthy sites are:
www.coolmath4kids.com
www.funbrain.com
www.mathplayground.com
www.coolmath.com

There are plenty more out there! Please post any other sites you find useful in the "comments" section for other students and parents to see.

Thanks for all of your cooperation as parents! Keep up the good work!

PUPPIES!

2008-11-10T15:55:00.000-08:00

If you'd like to see a live webcam of Shiba Inu puppies, click here. They're adorable!

Congratulations boys soccer team!!

2008-11-08T20:48:00.000-08:00

Congratulations! The third grade boys won their playoff game today against St. Gabriel School...2 - 0!

The championship game will be next Saturday (11/15) at 9:00am at the West Sunset field. Hope to see you there!

Go broncos!!!

More photos!

2008-11-06T18:51:00.000-08:00

I hope you all had a safe and happy Halloween! :)

3rd Grade Photos

2008-11-05T18:59:00.001-08:00

Halloween, etc.

2008-10-23T10:26:00.001-07:00

Halloween is quickly approaching! Please keep the following items in mind when sending your child to school on Halloween in costume:

-Costumes must be bathroom accessible
-Students must wear non-skid shoes
-No weapons or weapon-like toys may be brought to school
-Face makeup should be minimal and done at home

This is a very exciting time for students and parents! Our Halloween costume parade will begin at 10:45am on Friday, 10/31 and last for one half hour. Our third grade class will have a celebration between 11:15am and 12:30pm. We will have pizza during that time. You are welcome to visit our classroom during this time. Young family members and strollers should stay at home. ☺

On another note, our class is collecting boxtops for education, so if you have any at home, please bring them in! It'll be great to see how much money we can raise as a class!

Fall is here! ...continued

2008-10-07T23:03:00.001-07:00

Also, since the September post, I have attended two professional development conferences. At the first conference, I had the opportunity to learn much about the Catholic Television Network and Discovery Streaming video. Both forms of technology can be brought into our classroom to enhance the curriculum presented in text form. At the second conference, I learned much about our new writing program, "Step Up to Writing," including the fundamental skills that students will carry with them from this grade to the next. The program is easy to understand and allows students to quickly assess their writing format and details.

To help incorporate my new knowledge into the classroom, I have purchased a small speaker system that will allow me to play music and podcasts through my iPhone in the classroom. For example, our current reading is about Jackie Robinson and the challenges he faced in trying out for the Major League. I can now find a podcast of Jackie Robinson speaking about his experience and play it for students to hear. I'm eager to try out all of these new, fun ideas!

Fall is here!

2008-10-07T22:20:00.000-07:00

A lot has happened since the last post! We had our first class debate, with the hypothetical question: "Should STM have a cafeteria?" With the class divided in half, students enjoyed voting and expressing their ideas with enthusiasm!

We've passed the midway point of the quarter, which means much of the review from second grade has passed and we're moving into new, more difficult curriculum. I encourage all students to stay focused and keep up the great work ethic they've presented thus far.

Iowa Test of Basic Skills -- This Week

2008-09-15T20:04:00.000-07:00

The third graders will be tested each day this week, with the testing schedule ending Friday. It is important that everyone...

eat breakfast,

get plenty of sleep,

be on time,

and try their best on each section of the test.

There will be no homework, no spelling list, and no other tests this week. Graded work will be sent home on Wednesday, and Missing Work reports will be sent home on Friday.

Off to a great start!

2008-09-14T20:01:00.000-07:00

With the first few weeks behind us, there are only a few reminders left to mention.

First, you will be receiving graded work for your review each Wednesday in your child's weekly envelope. You will see the first graded spelling tests this week. Please note that correctly spelled challenge words are worth one extra credit point each. For example, your child may miss two words from the first twenty on the test, but because (s)he correctly spells two challenge words, your child may receive a "100%" on the test. Furthermore, I understand that correctly spelling all four challenge words would indicate greater than 100% on the test, but the Archdiocesan grade scale does not reach higher than an "A," so you and your child will still read "100%" for the test grade.

Second, please be sure your child's clothing and supplies are clearly labeled. We've already found two sweaters without owners, and it's a sad sight to see. Send me a note if you're missing a sweater. :)

Lastly, many students will not have missing work on Fridays. Instead of printing a near-blank sheet of paper for each student without missing work, I will write a small note in his/her planner for you to see. Please respond in the planner or via email if you suspect your child may have missing work and I've skipped over it somehow. This is just a small way of saving paper and ink and to relieve your child of another paper to remember on a Friday afternoon.

Thanks for your support thus far!

What's our homework?

2008-09-02T20:42:00.000-07:00

Each night, your child should expect to have 30-45 minutes of homework, as shown in the St. Thomas More School handbook. Please remember that this amount of time is given for the "average" student, meaning that your child may work for more or less than this amount of time each night, depending on the assignment(s).

Here is a rough outline of the homework to be expected for each day of the week***:

Monday: Make spelling word flashcards (template given), math review (1-2 pages)

Tuesday: Choose 10 spelling words and write each one three times, math review (1-2 pages)

Wednesday: Choose 10 spelling words and write each one in a complete sentence (in other words, show that you understand the word's definition), math review (1-2 pages)

Thursday: Study for spelling test, math review (1-2 pages)

Friday: No homework! :)

It is imperative that students turn in their homework on time. As with every assignment, all late work is worth half credit (exceptions given for excused absences, of course). Because the homework schedule is quite regular, it may be easy to recognize if an assignment has been missed. I assure you that no new concepts will be introduced for homework, unless otherwise requested by students seeking an extra challenge.

I hope that you've all had a wonderful Labor Day weekend...I'll see you around STM very soon.

***Please note: There are often simple religion activities and social studies activities available within various chapters that I will send home as additional homework. It is not my intention to greatly increase the amount of minutes your child spends doing his/her homework. Please contact me if you believe the amount of homework given for your child is impossible for him/her to complete in 45 minutes, and I will make accommodations as needed. Thanks!

Welcome to third grade!

2008-08-27T22:46:00.000-07:00

It has been wonderful to meet all of you for the first time! Thank you for listening carefully as I told you many of the procedures and expectations for our classroom. I hope you enjoyed making portraits of yourselves for tonight's Back-to-School Night meeting. Did your parents guess your portrait correctly? :)

Attention PARENTS: Here are some important points from tonight's meeting:

*Remember to return the emergency information forms from the Wednesday envelopes, as well as photo order forms if you'd like to buy school photos.

*Check your child's uniform daily. Please do not allow him/her to wear bracelets, canvas shoes, or anything other than stud earrings (boys are not to wear earrings).

*If your child still needs any of the following items, please obtain them and have your child bring them to school on Tuesday, 9/2/08:
-Planner
-Calculator
-2 Two-Pocket folders
-2 Sets of flashcards (multiplication & division)

*Hot lunch begins next week.

*Textbooks will be sent home next week to be covered by parents (one per night). Stretch book covers are preferred, but not mandatory. Please return each textbook to school the following day. Thank you.

*This year, Wednesday envelopes will also contain graded work for your review. Missing work notices will be sent home each Friday, as well as the work needing to be completed. Please review the graded work and missing work notices so that you are aware of your child's progress. Email me if you have questions or concerns about such work.

*To celebrate birthdays, you must purchase a birthday book from the selection available outside of the third grade classroom. Furthermore, please give me one week's notice if you would like to celebrate your child's birthday in the classroom with a meal or treats. If you recognize that many students have birthdays around the same time, it may be helpful for you to partner with another parent to celebrate birthdays together. Email me if you have questions about the celebration of birthdays. :)

Lastly, please contact me via email any time you wish if you have questions or concerns. I'm looking forward to an exciting year with all of you! :)