New Year Countdown - New Year Layouts

Holiday Fun Day

This past Monday, we held our annual Holiday Fun Day where each class spent time with each third grade teacher and participated in a different holiday activity. This is always a day the third grade teachers look forward to each year. The children are excited and have fun and we get to share with them the joys of the season. In my class, students learned about some of the Chanukah traditions and we played the dreidel game.

If I don't get to see you before the break, I wish you and your families all the best this holiday season and best wishes in the new year.

Goals for 2010

We have started writing about goals for 2010. Ask your child what goal(s) he/she has for the coming year. Many have said they want to try a new sport or get better at a sport they already do. Others are interested in doing better in school for one particular reason or another. Yet others want a better relationship with siblings or other members of the family.

Holiday Breakfast

Today, we just finished bundling together note cards and envelopes to sell at Saturday's Holiday Breakfast here at Fawn Hollow. Each student designed a cover in the computer lab and we turned those designs into adorable note cards. Make sure to stop by the Holiday Breakfast this Saturday and purchase some very sweet stationary!

Conference Time

Hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving - sharing in great food and great company! My two were polishing down Grandma's sweet potatoes like they were going out of style.

Conferences will be held December 1 through December 3. Just a reminder that dismissal will be at 1pm each day and that students should bring a bit more with their snack. Since they will not be eating until they get home - around 2pm, packing a sandwich and a larger drink would be very appropriate.

At conferences, we will be discussing your child's progress to date and you will get to view some work samples. Be prepared to discuss any goals that you might have for your child at this time.

I look forward to seeing you all very soon.

We Did It!

We have reached our goal of $50 for the Garbage Museum!! Thanks to all of you who have donated cans and bottles for the cause. A check for $51.35 will be sent in Room 2's name. If you would like to make any donations to the museum to help fund environmental education, you can send your donations to:
The CRRA Garbage Museum
1410 Honeyspot Road Ext.
Stratford, CT 06615

Donations made payable to the Garbage Museum will qualify as charitable donations under Sec. 170(c)(1) of the IRS code. Visit www.crra.org for more information.

Ron Roy Visits

On Monday, November 16, author of A-Z Mysteries - Ron Roy will be visiting and sharing with us his experiences as an accomplished author. If you have some time, visit his website and share it with your child - www.ronroy.com

We created a mystery of our own. As a class we wrote, The Mystery of the Missing Teacher. Each student added his/her own sentence to complete the story. It will be hanging in the foyer's showcase along with other students' work in honor of Ron Roy and his work.

Spelling Practice/Games

Go to www.spellingcity.com

You or your child may register/log in, find our school's name as well as my name, choose the current spelling list and choose from a long list of games (missing letter, hangman, cloze and many more). Games can be played online or in a printable version. There's also a "teach me" and a "test me" option. Check it out!

Molly's Pilgrim Project

In conjunction with the reading of Molly's Pilgrim, students were assigned the project of making a clothespin doll - just like Molly had to make in the story. The clothespin can resemble the traditional Thanksgiving Pilgrim, Native American, or your child can have it resemble an ancestor. We learned that it takes all Pilgrims to make Thanksgiving. These will be due on Friday, November 13. The picture shows dolls from a previous year. I hope your child enjoys making them!

Garbage Museum Saving UPDATE

We are up to $39 and change for the Garbage Museum. Our goal is $50! Keep those cans and bottles coming. Thanks to those who have recycled themselves and sent in the money - it is very much appreciated!

What we're reading....

The month of November brings Thanksgiving. What better time than now to discuss immigration, the multi-ethnic nature of America's citizens and the courage these early people had - the courage to do whatever necessary to make a better life for their families.

We will be using many books during the month to teach and illustrate this time in our country's history. However, there are two in particular that all students will be reading.

Molly's Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen
From School Library Journal
Molly, a young Russian Jewish immigrant, feels that she doesn't belong and will never belong in America. Her third grade classmates make fun of her accent, her dress, her customs and mock her with a sing-song rhyme, "Jol-ly Mol-ly, Your eyes are awf'ly small. Jol-ly Mol-ly, Your nose is awf'ly tall." With the help of a loving mother and the understanding of a sensitive teacher, Molly earns class recognition and, finally, happiness. Her clothespin Pilgrim doll resembles her Russian mother more than a traditional Pilgrim, for her mother is indeed a pilgrim who came to America for religious freedom. This story will encourage dialogue and lively discussions on numerous topics: American values, tolerance, religious freedom, Thanksgiving traditions, Jewish customs and holidays. It will captivate an attentive audience every month of the year.

Patricia Mahoney Brown, Franklin Elementary School, Kenmore, NY

The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh
From barnesandnoble.com
In 1707, young Sarah Noble and her father traveled through the wilderness to build a new home for their family. "Keep up your courage, Sarah Noble," her mother had said, but Sarah found that it was not always easy to feel brave inside. The dark woods were full of animals and Indians, too, and Sarah was only eight!

The true story of Sarah's journey is inspiring. And as she cares for her father and befriends her Indian neighbors, she learns that to be afraid and to be brave is the greatest courage of all.

These two books are great examples of the fact that it "takes all kinds of Pilgrims to make a Thanksgiving."

It's almost November?

Yikes - where does the time go?

Yesterday I was at the CECA/CASL joint conference on Teaching and Technology for the 21st Century. A full day of Wiki, Blogs, Moogle, Smart Boards - a whole lot of technology and how to effectively use it in today's classroom. Just when I became a pro at using the calculator.........

Today, students were given an assignment due Friday, October 30. They are to create a creature and write about it. Work will be shared on Friday in class. Should your child have a problem and/or question, have them see me ASAP. It's always a fun project that I enjoy doing with the children. The creativity is wonderful!

Friday will be our annual Halloween Parade and party. I wish that I could invite everyone to the class party, but as per Mrs. Kosisko's letter, only in-room helpers, Room Reps and the class photographer will be allowed in due to fire-code limitations. However, all are invited to the parade which will take place around the school starting at 2:45pm. Want a good "seat?" Stand outside at the primary playground. Nobody ever stands there and you'll get great pictures/video! Parents can pick-up their child at the end of the parade.

I can't believe the month is over. If I don't get to see you before Friday - Happy Halloween! BTW - all Kit Kats and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups must be evenly shared with Mr. Farias.

Today's Geography question was.....

"What is the name of the Earth's four oceans?"

I don't know how this topic ever came up in conversation, however, sometime last year, my wife - always the science teacher - was saying that there were 5 oceans. I looked at her with that - oh, you silly rabbit - type of look. She was adament. I was adament that there were four. I googled it to prove her wrong......... looks like I was wrong :(

OCEANS

The planet is approximately 71% water and contains (5) five oceans, including the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific and Southern. Their borders are indicated on the world image in varied shades of blue.

For many years only (4) four oceans were officially recognized, and then in the spring of 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization established the Southern Ocean, and determined its limits. Those limits include all water below 60 degrees south, and some of it, like the Arctic Ocean, is frozen.
from worldatlas.com

So, this afternoon, when your child comes home from school, ask him/her - how many oceans are there? In your infiniate wisdom, you can now correct your child as we will only be going over the answer tomorrow morning. We parents have to watch out for one-another!

Who knew there were 5 oceans? It would have been nice if the International Hydrographic Organization put out some public service announcements so we wouldn't look so clueless in front of our children!!

Get the word out - 5 oceans!!

Frogs in Room 2

So......

I get an email asking if I would adopt some baby frogs. Why not, I thought. In grade 3, we study plant and animal adaptations. This will be perfect! We can learn how this EcoAquarium works and through the WildCreations.com website, share stories and photos about our new class pets. We named our frogs Febe Frog and Ally Frog.

Thanks to Mrs. Antolini! Make sure you remember to say Hi during conferences! I'll be sure to update!!

Helen Keller

Each month, students are given a "Monthly Packet" to work on during their free time. It reviews work and skills that we have covered in class and students can earn a prize at the end of the month by successfully completing the work. For completing September's packet, students earned a Movie and Popcorn party.

We had been learning about Helen Keller's struggles as a young child with her loss of both her hearing and eyesight. In conjunction with our studies, I felt it was most appropriate to show Disney's remake of The Miracle Worker. It depicts Helen as a young child and the work her hired teacher, Annie Sullivan, did to get Helen to recognize words, language and the ability to communicate.

Ask your child to share their thoughts on the movie and what they learner about Helen Keller with you.

Scholastic Book Club

Orders are due this Friday, October 16. Remember that you can also order online by going to:
www.scholastic.com/bookclubs
User Name: fariasatfh
password: fhroom2

Saving the Garbage Museum

The Garbage Museum in Stratford is fundraising to keep its doors open and as a class we are trying to help by raising money using your recyclables! To date we have raised $19 and change! Our goal is $50! Keep those cans and bottles coming. Thanks to those who have already donated their recyclables. I'm sure the museum appreciates all of our efforts!

Time goes by.....

Welcome to the 2009-2010 school year! It has been a great start. Students are doing well and have adjusted well to the new grade level. Make sure to come back often for classroom updates and important information. Enjoy your long Columbus Day weekend!

50 State Mail Race!

We've heard back from three states!

Thanks to Ms. Allen at Greenwood Elementary School in Maryland, Kelli Redman at Lincoln Elementary in Michigan and Mrs. Clark at Esperanza Elemenatary in New Mexico!

The kids are so excited to hear back!

We have started our 50 State Mail Race. We are sending a letter and questionaire to every state in the country and hope to get a response from each. We've already researched elementary schools in each state and have written letters to each. Now we have to make our envelopes and stuff them! Ask your child how the project is going. We can't wait to get some responses and learn how other third graders across the country spend their days in school.

VOTE EARTH

THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 28 AT 8.30PM, YOU CAN VOTE EARTH BY SWITCHING OFF YOUR LIGHTS FOR ONE HOUR - EARTH HOUR. VISIT EARTHHOUR.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION!

CMT's

On Tuesday, March 3, grade 3 and grade 4 students were involved in a CMT Pep Rally. Each class got to dance and let lose as well as show off CMT posters that they made at home or in school during recess. Everyone had a blast and it was a great way to kick-off the start of the CMT's. We will be testing for the next three weeks. Have your child get plenty of rest and a good breakfast each morning.

Black History Month

The Black History Month projects are in and they have been shared in class. Now, they have been displayed in Fawn Hollow's Library for all to enjoy. Students worked very hard on these and my hope is that they enjoyed learning about the important things these people done to shape both our country and our world. Make sure to stop in at the Library to see their hard work!

Earth Day 2009

Go to www.earthday.net for great ideas on what you and your family can do to help protect our earth!

I'm alive!!!

Wow! I haven't updated in a while. See what having a baby does.....

Elliott Reid is doing well and we are still trying to adjust at home. I must thank you all for your well wishes and words of encouragement! My wife and I are getting sleep, however, so things could be worse.

As we quickly approach CMT time, we will be having students work on CMT - like work just so that they have an idea of what the real tests will be like. Since this will be the first time that they will have to take so many standardized tests, the practice will help in easing any fears students may have.

In class we have been talking a lot lately about MLK, civil rights, and the inauguration. We all got to see it live! Many students came away from it saying that they felt special while watching it. Many couldn't believe all the pomp and circumstance. One said - I thought it was just going to be a speech. I'm glad that we were able to have them take part in, what was, an historical day.

Hope 2009 is treating you well!