Problem of Week Challenge

CONGRATULATIONS 

to the following students for solving last weeks challenge:

Seth

Quintin

Ava

Jack

Logan

Planetarium Exploration

On Friday, the 5th grade teachers invited classes to visit their blow up planetarium in the common area.  Our class went in to read with a partner and then I read from "Trumpet of the Swan".  The stars were there, but we really didn't get a chance to study them.  Thank you 5th grade!

Spring Reading Challenge

I am sending home a Spring Reading Challenge for the students to complete over April Vacation.  Students who are able to complete the challenge will be able to pick a reward coupon on Monday.  Students can color the paper as well.

Wild NH Day

100 Squares Party

Where:  Mrs. Coulon’s Classroom

When:  Friday, April 21, 2017

Time:  1:30 - 3:00 PM

Wow!!!  The students have earned their next 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 watching “Trumpet of the Swan”.  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.

Week of April 17th Reminders

Hope everyone is enjoying the wonderful weather for this holiday weekend!  Just a few reminders for the week...

1. There is no reading story or spelling list this week due to the ELA SBAC testing.

2. SBAC testing celebrations - Tuesday - wear a zipper to remind us not to zip through the test.  Wednesday - wear yellow - we are half way done!

3. Students can bring in a blanket, stuffed animals, and gum on Tuesday and Wednesday for SBAC testing.

4.  100 Squares Party on Friday - more information to come this week.

5. EXPO NIGHT - Monday, April 17th from 5:30 to 7:00 PM - Students have worked very hard and have a lot of work to share.  Please come to share in their successes this year!  There will be a Book Fair in the Library during EXPO Night.

6. Red Sox Day - Wear Red Sox attire or Red, White & Blue tomorrow.

Week 9 - Final Class

Today we had our last SCA class.  Miss Kaitlin, Miss Haley, and Mr. Pete put together a Jeopardy game that reviewed all their lessons throughout the 8 week program.  Students were put in to groups and worked together to answer all the questions.  Then students were given a bookmark, journal and name tag to keep.  Thank you for a great time!

First Day of SBAC

I am extremely proud of how hard the students of 3C worked today.  They were taking their time, reading all of the questions, and answering in complete sentences.  As a reward, I will be taking the student out for an extra recess before testing as a way to say Thank You for all their hard work.  Also, Thank You to all the parents for their support in making sure their child was ready for testing.  Students wore their green; got a good nights sleep; ate a good breakfast and lunch; and brought a blanket, stuffed animals and gum. I look forward to another great day of testing tomorrow.

Reminder - Students should bring in a stuffed animal that is fast, to remind students not to go too fast through their test.

Problem of the Week

This week, student completed another boggle board.  Students had to use the letters on the board to complete as many words as they could.  As a second challenge, I asked students to find the longest words they could make as well.

CONGRATULATIONS

The following students were able to create the most words using this boggle board.

Jack - 301 words

Quintin - 242 words

Tobi - 55 words

Kate - 50 words

The longest word that students found were 8 letters: trackers

Week of April 10th

SBAC testing starts tomorrow!  As a reminder, students can wear GREEN.  The students and I spoke on Friday about making sure they got a good nights sleep and a good breakfast.  I have told the students they can bring in a small blanket and a stuffed animal.   Students should also bring in their own headphones to use (for their comfort). Also, with a parent note, students can bring in gum to have during testing.  

In preparing for SBAC ELA testing, I have already told the students that there will be NO spelling list this week.  There is a list of words that students will be working on during Daily 5 (Word Work), but just in the classroom.  For homework, students will have: reading 15 minutes, fluency and a math worksheet.  Also, there will be no reading story this week.  Instead, we will be working on a two week POETRY unit in the classroom.  

In Math, we will finish Chapter 13 with graphing.  Our test should be on Thursday.  Students have been doing a great job with reading and interpreting bar graphs so far.  Now this week we will be working with line plots.  

As SBAC begins, if you have any questions or your child expresses any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.  

SCA - Week 8

This week, students went back in time to the 1700's to find out what animal had been stealing things from the explorers campsite.  Students had to use clues using the furbearer, scat and pelts to figure out what native animal it was that stole things.

Then students broke off into 3 groups to learn more about the furs, tracks and skulls.  

SBAC Celebrations & Parent Homework

Dear Family,

SBAC testing is just around the corner! Thank you in advance for making sure that your child is in school on the days that our class is testing.  The days we will be testing on are :

• Monday (4/10) - ELA - Wear  GREEN
• Tuesday (4/11) - finish ELA     - STUFFED ANIMAL (fast)

• Tuesday (4/18) - ELA Performance Task  - Wear Zippers

(We will NOT zip through our test.  We will take our time)

• Wednesday (4/19) - finish ELA Performance Task -  Wear YELLOW (Midway through)

• Tuesday (5/2) - Math - Wear T-shirt with  POSITIVE message day

• Wednesday (5/3) - finish Math   - Bring “SMART” food for a snack

• Monday (5/8) - Math Performance Task  - Wear BLUE

(We are not sad that we are almost done)

• Tuesday (5/9) - finish Math Performance Task       - Wear RED

(We are DONE!)

The importance of a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast on the morning of the test cannot be stressed enough! In class, we will be reading Winner’s Never Quit by Mia Hamm.  Just like an athlete must always do their best and never give up, students must do the same!  Our theme for testing will be to be Game Day ready!

Athletes also need encouragement from their fans! That’s you! On the next page you will find baseballs.  Please write encouraging notes to your child inside the baseball.  Cut it out and return it to school in the attached paper bag so that your child cannot peek! Each time before we start a new section of testing, I will give an encouraging note to your child from you or myself to remind them that we believe in them!  Sorry for the short notice, but please try to return by Friday, April 7th.

Another way that we will be celebrating is to come up with a theme for each day.  We have come up with our themes.  (Please see above)  Along with this theme, students are allowed to bring in a favorite stuffed animal or small blanket to have near them while they test.  Also, if you would like your son or daughter to be able to chew gum during the test, please send in the gum on the day of the test WITH a note saying that he/she can chew gum during testing.  Lastly, I spoke to students about having them bring in a pair of headphones that are comfortable to them.  Each time that they test, they will be asked to put on a pair of headphones.

Thank you,

Mrs. Coulon

March Book It

I want to CONGRATULATE the following students for completing their March Book-It.  They had to read 440 minutes, take 4 AR tests, and earn between 2-5 points.  Great job to:

Jaylin - 29 tests passed

Kaylee - 14 tests passed

Alexandra - 13 tests passed

Laci Hall - 7 tests passed

Tobi Runnion-Bareford - 4 tests passed

SBAC Schedule & Headphones

3C SBAC Schedule

Monday (4/10) - ELA

Tuesday (4/11) - finish ELA

Tuesday (4/18) - ELA Performance Task

Wednesday (4/19) - finish ELA Performance Task

Tuesday (5/2) - Math

Wednesday (5/3) - finish Math

Monday (5/8) - Math Performance Task
Tuesday (5/9) - finish Math Performance Task

*It is recommended that students bring their own headphones for testing if they have them. The ELA portions of the testing require students to listen to passages and then answer questions.   We do have headphones available for students, however, they are allowed to bring their own.  Headphones are optional for math testing, but sometimes, students like them to block out noise.

Book Bags!

Book Bags

Our PTA is amazing!  Our PTA funds grants for teachers in our schools.  This spring, our class was funded with book bags through this grant.  They are wonderful bags (much better than the ziplock ones we were using) that allow the students to hold their Read to Self and Read to      Someone books. By using book bags, students spend much more time reading, rather than perusing the library.  In their book bags, students have between 3-6 good-fit books that they are choosing to read.  Thanks PTA!

Upcoming Field Trips

We have a few field trips in the near future...

On Thursday, April 6, 2017, all of HMS will go to Cawley to see the 8th grade musical production of The Wizard of Oz.   Permission slips have gone home.  Please return them ASAP!

Our third grade trips are a little further out, but please note the dates.

Tuesday, May 16 - Head School - We will go to Head School to learn about the schools and games of long ago.  It will go with our unit of study in social studies of long ago vs. today.

Monday, May 22 - Bear Brook - This is our first year going to Bear Brook State Park.  This is our culminating activity for SCA.  

I'll keep you updated about our May field trips as the dates get a little closer!

SpellingCity Website

April spelling homework with bring some NEW and FUN ways of studying spelling words.  Mrs. McLain has invited our class to use her SpellingCity site.  Students can log in using the following address: https://www.spellingcity.com/mclainhms/ .  Then students need to find the correct story and complete the spelling activities.  I am asking parents to initial the spelling homework pages to let me know that the student has completed the activity.  Thank you Mrs. McLain!!

Art to Remember

The PTA has once again coordinated with the art teachers to create an Art to Remember piece.  Please make sure that you take a look and place your order by Friday, April 7th.

April Book Order

Please enjoy picking out some new books.  Be sure to send in your order by 

Friday, April 7th.

April Reading Calendar

The Book-It program that is sponsor by Pizza Hut officially ends in March.  However, I want to keep students reading, so I sent home an April reading log calendar on Friday. Please keep encouraging your child to read each night.

Next Writing - Opinion

Sledding

Students will be reading two articles about sledding.  The first article, “A Ban on Sledding” gives the dangers of sledding with a plan to fix  it.  The second article “Safety Tips: Sledding” discusses the safety tips needed to go sledding.  While reading each article, students will have to pick out the main idea of each paragraph.  Students will then pick either to sled or not to sled and write an opinion writing convincing their peers their opinion is right.

 

Not Safe Safe