100 Squares Party

Where:  Mrs. Coulon’s Classroom

When:  Friday, January 8, 2016

Time:  12:30 to 1:30 and 2:30 to 3:00PM

Dear Parents,

Wow!!!  The students have earned their third 100 Squares Party.  They have worked really hard at being responsible, respectful, and safe.  Now, it is time to reward them for all their hard work.

I have decided the theme for this party will be a Pajama Party and watch a movie.  We will be voting on what movie by Tuesday.  Students may bring in (please do not wear to school) appropriate PJ’s to school and a favorite blanket or “small” pillow.  While watching the movie, students will also be enjoying snacks.  I will supply the drinks.  I am asking parents to volunteer to send in an extra snack on the day of the party for their child only.  Please keep in mind the Wellness Policy.

Thank you,

Mrs. Coulon

Winter Break Challenge

Tomorrow,  students will be coming home with a Winter Break Reading Challenge.  Students need to choose 10 of the reading activities (in the marshmellows) and glue them into the hot cocoa cup.  Each marsh mellow is 20 minutes, so the challenge is to read 200 minutes over vacation.  There will be a reward of Monday, January 4th for any student who completes the challenge.  HAPPY READING!!

Polar Express Day

Today was Polar Express Day in our room and Ms. Brown's room.  We read the story in the morning and then made necklaces.  Students were given a bell and then asked to put beads on making a pattern.  When they finished, they worked on hidden pictures.  Then this afternoon, students watched Polar Express the movie.  While watching, they had to complete a venn diagram on how the book and movie was the same and different.  We had a great day!

Math Class Work

We have started our next unit in math on multiplication.  To get ready for this unit, we have gone back to go over the properties and strategies to solve multiplication problems when they are not known automatically.  Here is some work from students this week.

Start Collecting

As we start Unit 3 in reading, Money, please start collecting your coins and bills from other countries. I am asking students to bring in coins and bills from around the world.  They will be sharing this money with the class each day.  I will also be using a website to compare the money to the United States.  Please start sending in money after the holidays.

Guidance

Today students listened to a lesson on acceptance. Mrs. Jordan read 2 books about characters that were different then their friends or classmates. Then students had a chance to work together to make drawings cooperatively. 

Multiplication - XtraMath

As we begin our next unit in math on multiplication, I have challenged some students to start practicing their multiplication facts on XtraMath.  Most students enjoyed this new challenge.  If your child expresses that he/she would like to continue to practice the addition and subtraction facts some more before moving onto multiplication, please let me know.  

Chorus Concert

We had a few students from the class that participated in chorus this year. They did a wonderful job singing and performing to the school on Wednesday. Thank you for a great concert!

North America Map Quiz

Students came home today with a study guide for their North America Map Quiz.  Please help your child study each night.  Their quiz will be on Friday, December 18th.  Students will have to know where each country or body of water goes on the map.  However, there will be a word bank for the students to choose from so they don't need to know how to spell the words.  Points will be taken off if a word is misspelled or labeled in the wrong spot.

Hour of Code

Today our class participated in in the international computer science program, "Hour of Code."  Students chose from "Frozen," "Star Wars," "Angry Birds," and "Minecraft" programs which required them to write lines of code to accomplish specific tasks and puzzles.  Thanks to Mrs. Overmyer for bringing us this special opportunity!

Student can continue to go on the website throughout the week.  Use the above links to enjoy more hours of code.

Health Class

Health class for third grade start this week.  For our class, we will have Health on Thursdays from 12:40 to 1:30 for the whole second trimester.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

November Reading Log/ Pizza Hut Book IT

Congratulations!

The following students completed all the requirements of their November Book It.  Students needed to read 250 minutes and pass 3 AR tests.  They will receive their Free! Personal Pan Pizza slips tomorrow.  

Met the Requirements                          So Close - Honorable Mention

Jacob - 4 books read                            Hannah - 1 book

Andrew B. - 5 books                             Margo - 2 books

Gavyn - 4 books                                  Shanaira - 2 books

Bryn - 3 books                                     Emma - 2 books

Jeffrey - 4 books                                  Ava - 1 book

Olivia - 3 books                                    Braden - 1 book

Jason - 4 books

Zoey - 5 books

Andrew V. - 3 books
Owen - 3 books

December Book Order - DUE Dec 3rd

December Book It

Virtual Field Trip today in Library

Padlet wall for Make Way for Ducklings Google Lit Trip

Today in Library, students took a virtual field trip to Boston.  They had to answer questions while using the Google Earth website to follow the path the ducklings took in the story "Make Way for Ducklings".  After students were done, they were asked to answer a question using the Padlet wall.  Ask you child about their field trip today.

100 Squares Party & Ice Cream

We also had our 100 Squares party on Tuesday. Students dressed up as their favorite story book character. Then we watched the movie Inside Out. 

We were also very lucky to have ice cream from the PTA for having the most box tops handed in. Thank you to the PTA for our wonderful treat! 

Thanksgiving Activities from Scholastic - Day 2

Students were able to work on another Thanksgiving activity from Scholastic. Ms.  Brown assigned students a scavenger hunt where students had to answer 10 questions by navigating the website. The reward was a homework pass to the students who answered the most questions correctly.

Habitat Boxes

Today students started their habitat boxes.  Our first step was to paint the background for their animal.  We started today with blue, green and brown paint.  I must say that students had a lot of fun painting.  However, I think they had more fun painting their hands then the boxes!  If students were not painting, then they were reading the story "Two Days in May" and answering questions about the story. 

Tomorrow we will put the finishing touches on the background paint.  After Thanksgiving break, students will start making their animal in Art.  Tomorrow, students will be researching about their animal to find out what it eats, where it lives, and what it looks like.

Thanksgiving Activities from Scholastic

Scholastic Thanksgiving Activities

Today we joined Ms. Brown's class in learning more about Thanksgiving.  Scholastic has created lesson plans with a focus on The First Thanksgiving for grades 3-5.  They will explore the experience and historical significance of the Pilgrims' voyage, settlement, and first harvest celebration.  Throughout the activities, students will develop and understanding of historical events from the perspective of several pilgrims while practicing comprehension, creative writing, sequencing, and research skills. (Scholastic website)

Here are some pictures from the first day!

Video and Audio Recordings Paper

On Tuesday, students will be coming home with a "Permission for Video and Audio Recording for Instructional Purposes" form.  Please read this paperwork and fill out the form at the back.  We are looking for these forms to be returned by Friday, December 4th.

Coming in December

*** I have changed the spelling homework for the month of December. For the next story, "Crinkleroots", students will need to complete enough tasks to make 20 points. This means students may decide to complete 4 tasks that are 5 points each, or 2 tasks that are 10 points each, or 1 task that is 20 points. Students also informed me that they could do 2 tasks that were 5 points each and 1 task that was 10 points. As I described this new spelling homework, students expressed that they were very excited because now they had a choice. The first new spelling homework will come home on Monday, November 30th.

Book Buddies this week

On Monday, we had book buddies with Mrs. Rehm's fourth grade class. Students continued to read their Magic Tree House books to their book buddy.  Reading group four also decided they wanted to read their Veterans Day play to their book buddy. They did a great job! Can't wait for the next meeting.

What does the equal sign mean?

Mrs. Labelle, who works in our room daily, taught a lesson about what the equal sign means to the students on Thursday. She had them define what it is, prove it with a balance, and then explore more on their own. Students decided at the end that the equal sign means "the same as". Thank you Mrs. Labelle.

Paragraph Writing

Starting on the Unit 2 reading tests, the students started having to answer an open response question about the story. After the first few tests, I decided it was time to challenge the students to answer in paragraph form. This week in reading groups, each group wrote a paragraph answering the question, "Why is the island a good city place for the Mallards to live?" Here is what each group came up with. 

Can't wait to see this weeks reading test.  

Wolf Island - Making Connections

We read "Wolf Island" in class today.  The students were asked to make connections to the story.  Some students make connections about being curious about something, like the cub wolves were curious about the raft.  Other students made connections with the animals that were SO hungry.  Here are some of their connections...  (the number beside the connection is the cubby number of each student).

1.  I know that a rabbit hibernates in the winter.
2.  (Absent)
3.  I have seen a hole in a tree that could have been a squirrels home while at the Audubon.
4.  I have seen rabbits.
5.  Some people kill living nature like deer. 
6.  I have seen a rabbit.
7. There are tons of animals on the island.
8.  (Out of classroom)
9.  I have seen ice, snow and an island.
10.  I went to Florida and came back.
11.  I have been curious before.
12.  I have been on a raft with my dad.
13.  I wolf lives in my backyard.
14.  (Absent)
15.  I have made a raft with wood and vines.
16.  I have seen a wolf and rabbit.
17.  Rabbits live in my backyard.
18.  I have been on a raft before.
19.  I have seen an island before.
20.  I have seen a wolf.
21.  I have dug through snow.
22. I have seen a wolf on an island before.

Science - Rock Assignment

Today, Ms. Weldon assigned the students a "Rock Assignment".  Please see below for the direction for this assignment.  Note: This is DUE on December 3rd.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact myself or Ms. Weldon.

Guidance - Self talk

Mrs. Jordan came into the classroom today to discuss "Self Talk".  Students had to decide if a situation was a huge problem (red), big problem (orange), medium problem (yellow), little problem (light green) or tiny problem (green).  After, students had to come up with a situation that they find frustrating and how how they would cope with the problem.  Then they had to come up with a self talk strategy to use to help them get through the frustrating situation.

100 Squares Party - Favorite Story Book Character

100 Squares Party

When: Tuesday, November 24th
         
Time:  12:45 to 1:30 and 2:30 to 3:15

To do:  Dress as Favorite Story Book Character, Movie, Snack

Dear Parents,

We have earned our second 100 Squares Party.  After a lot of thought and voting, the students have decided to dress up as their Favorite Story Book Character.  I have explained to students that they have to let me know what character they want to be by Thursday, November 19th.  There are a few things that I ask.  First, please do not go out and buy a costume.  I have explained to students that they need to be creative and make their costumes.  Second, please no swords or sharp objects.  The safety of all students is still a concern.  Third, I ask that students not wear their costume to school.  Students will be given time to change after recess.  Lastly, students may bring in an extra snack for themselves.

Congratulations,

Mrs. Coulon

Veterans Day Assembly

On Tuesday, HMS held a Veterans Day Assembly to honor our veterans.  Mr. Saxton (our janitor) sang the Star Spangled Banner.  Then we have two of our students, Angelina & Bryn, read a Veterans Day Play in front of the whole school.  After, a slide show presentation with pictures of all the students veterans was played for everyone.  Students were asked to stand and salute their veteran.  Here are some pictures of the great presentation.

Veteran's Day Assembly Tomorrow

Tomorrow the school will be honoring Veteran's Day with an assembly at 10:00 AM.  We are asking all students to wear red, white and blue to help celebrate as well. 

Thank you to all the Veterans for your service!!

New Dictionaries

A huge Thank You to the Hooksett Grange for our new dictionaries.  They raised money for every third grader to get his/her own dictionary.  We will be writing thank you letters next week.  Then I told my students that they could take these new dictionaries home or keep them at school.  

Concept and Question board for Unit 2 - Habitats

Here is a look at our Concept and Question Board for Unit 2 - Habitats.  Students have been bringing in pictures and making pictures.  We have discussed the 3 things that animals need to make a habitat: food, water and shelter.  Next week, I will be asking students to bring in duck pictures to go with our story "Make Way for Ducklings".  Thank you to all the students who have helped make this board complete.

Harvesting Our Plants

Today Ms. Weldon completed the last step in the plant cycle with the students.  They harvested their pods and learned that these pods have seeds in them.  After harvesting, students counted them to see how many seeds they harvested from the four seeds they planted.  Our class had 706 seeds!!  These seeds should have come home today in a ziploc bag.

Sumdog Website

Today I introduced students to a new math website that they can go on to practice their skills.  This site is called Sumdog.  

"Parents need to know that Sumdog is a way for kids to practice math skills while playing fun, math-related games against friends, classmates, or students from around the world. Games are individualized for each kid's ability level, so users can play against opponents who have the same skills. It's free, but a subscription to Sumdog Premium provides more games and more detailed feedback. " (Common Sense Media review"

Sumdog Website - click here to log onto website

More About Sumdog - click here to learn more

Students need the following information to log on:

Username: first letter of first name, first letter last name, number 1

Password: Sumdog

School: hooksettmemorial

Below are some pictures of students enjoying the website today.

Congratulations - October Book It

Congratulations!!

The following students have completed their October Book It and earned their own personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut.  These students had to read 200 minutes and pass 2 AR tests with 80% or better.  Many of these students read well over 200 minutes and passed more then 2 AR tests.  

Great job!

Jacob - passed 5 tests
Hannah - passed 2 tests

Andrew B. - passed 4 tests

Owen - passed 9 tests

Gavyn - passed 2 tests

Braden - passed 2 tests

Bryn - passed 4 tests

Jeffrey - passed 9 tests
Margo - passed 1 test

Olivia - passed 1 test

Shania - passed 3 tests

Jason - passed 2 tests

Zoey - passed 5 tests

Andrew V. - passed 1 test

With 9 tests passed, Owen and Jeffrey both have earned a free book in the November Book Order!