Mrs. Bzura’s News
2/3/12
Reading: This week we read the book Hobo the Detective from our FAST series. The children were excited to “meet back up with” with Hobo, a character we met in the Tales of Adventure series earlier this year. They also made the connection of an animal disappearing into the “fog” in the same way it did in the last book. This theme will be the mystery that runs throughout this series. The answer won’t be revealed until book 8! Next week we’ll be reading Danger in the Dark, yet another book from the Tales of Mystery series. We will continue to work on comprehension, vocabulary and sequencing as well as identifying the problem in the story.
Spelling: We’ll focus on the cy change rule this week, learning when to change the y to I before adding a suffix. Our words for next week are busier, crying, delayed, enjoyed, fancier, fried, frying, played, happiness, ladies, penniless, relayed, stayed, tried and trying.
Writing/Grammar: This week we reviewed past tense verbs. We’ll continue that next week and hopefully begin writing our final copy of our snowman stories, getting them ready for publication!
Religion: We talked a great deal about the Holy Trinity this week. We also enjoyed a beautiful MASS for Catholic Schools’ Week, had our throats blessed, and had the chance to sing for the rest of the school. Next week we’ll make peace doves and wrap up Chapter 8. The tentative date for the test over Chapter 8 is next Friday. As always, I’ll keep you updated as to any changes to this.
Math:We have quickly moved into multiplication and the students are doing really well with it. We have learned many different strategies on how to solve multiplication problems. We have learned important vocabulary words such as product and multiples. We will continue to look into different patterns in multiplication and we will work on story problems specific to multiplication. Please continue to work with your child and their basic facts. It is important to their success in Math!
Social Studies:We began our study of Chapter 4. The students are learning many different techniques in learning how to read for information. Last week we started learning how Michigan became a state. We talked about what a key event is and how it affects the way things happen. Next week we will talk about the War of 1812 and its impact on Michigan.
Science: ENERGY! We’ve been talking about how energy is the ability to cause change. The children brainstormed what they thought it was and then discovered that it’s much more! We talked about where energy ultimately comes from and how it can transfer from one place to another. They enjoyed their trip to the LAB to begin investigating HEAT. Next week we’ll continue this course of study, examining specifically what heat and thermal energy are.
** We are using dry erase markers and boards daily. Please check your child’s planner to see if he or she is in need of a new dry erase marker.
UPCOMING DATES:
2/11,12 Hoops for a Cause – Breast Cancer Awareness fundraiser at home basketball games
2/14 Valentine’s Day – Wear Red & Jeans
2/16 Room 3-17 helps celebrate MASS
2/17-2/21 NO SCHOOL
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Voracious Reader Eater
We had the privilege of watching a wonderful assembly called the Voracious Reader Eater during March is Reading Month. Ms. Carrie the Clown and her assistant Mr. Rowe were very entertaining and taught us how being a good reader is helpful in our daily lives.
How To Presentations
In the month of March, the third graders wrote How-to papers. Then they gave oral presentations to the class, showing how to complete the chosen task. They did a wonderful job and learned a few tips about public speaking.
Newsletter
Mrs. Bzura’s News . .
4/4/11
The St. Pius School Community, strives to follow Jesus as we Study, Pray, and Serve.
**Come join us in the social hall for a Lenten Fish Fry each Friday.
March was Reading Month! The children read and read and read in the month of March. Their flowers are covered with petals which represent the books read. We ended the month with a wonderful performance by Carrie the Clown and Mr. Rowe and by having an all school read-in on Wednesday.
Reading: We’ll begin reading another novel, Frindle this week. The children will be reading and discussing questions in literature groups before answering the questions themselves on paper.
For the month of April, the children are required to read an AR book and take a test on it.
Writing/English: This week in Writing, we’ll be writing creative Easter stories. The children will choose an egg from my Easter basket, open it, and begin a story about the picture they find inside. When finished, they’ll start another. They’ll eventually choose their favorite story, conference with a partner, revise it, and publish it.
The grammar focus will be on proofreading marks.
Science: OK, so we have animals living in our room. They are welcome to stay through the 8th of April if you wish. The children have loved watching the animals in their temporary homes. This week we begin our research on animals. Each child has a self-chosen animal about which he or she will be taking notes. All note-taking will take place in class. The children will then be putting their information into sentences/paragraphs in their own words so as not to plagiarize. The final product will be an illustrated flip book about their animal.
Religion: We’ll finish Chapter 11 this week and take a test on Wednesday, April 6th. We continue copying and singing our song/poems about the Easter season. This is for both Religion and Handwriting this month. The children have really enjoyed singing in class! We will begin Chapter 12 on Monday, April 11th.
We go to the church each Friday at 2:15 for Stations of the Cross. Please join us if you are able.
Spelling: The spelling words this week are a little difficult. It may be necessary for your child to practice a bit more at home in order to do well on their test. This week’s words are: actual, division, equation, especially, factual, famous, feature, location, pressure, nature, picture, pressure, provision, special and temperature.
Social Studies: We’ll be making flags to represent the countries from which people have migrated to Michigan. We are also learning about our economy in MI and about products that are made here. The children may bring in a MI made product or a picture of one to add to our display.
*In March, many families earned casual days related to donations given for our school auction. If your family earned 5 casual days, and only took 4 due to required uniforms on our field trip day, the extra casual day may be taken on Tuesday, April 12th.
Upcoming Dates:
4/5&6 – Accreditation team @ St. Pius
4/15 – Last day of school – Easter Break!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Newsletter
The St. Pius School Community, strives to follow Jesus as we Study, Pray, and Serve.
REMINDER: We’re going to the Masonic temple Monday to see Junie B Jones. Students are to wear their school uniforms.
March is Reading Month! In celebration of this, we are having silent reading time EVERY Tuesday and Thursday this month. Your child may bring in a blanket or pillow to use during that time. They will not however, be able to keep those items at school – we just don’t have the space. They will have to carry it to and from school each time.
This week in particular, we’ll have lots of guest readers! I can’t wait to hear from all our parents who volunteered to share their favorite books.
Reading: The students will be reading individual books this week of varying titles. They will read the books independently and then join in groups to discuss their stories. The focus will be on identifying the main ideas of the stories and on finding supporting details.
Writing/English: Due to lack of time last week, we did not begin our How-to stories. Therefore, we’ll begin drafting those this week. Each child will come up with their own topic. They will list the steps needed to get to an “end”. As a culminating activity, each child will make a presentation to the entire class.
Our grammar focus will be on pronoun/verb agreement.
Science: We’ll begin our study of the organization of living things this week. We’ll begin by classifying living things based on their observable characteristics. First we’ll look at animals. We’ll talk about how different body parts and the way certain animals are made can help them adapt to their daily lives.
Religion: We wrap up our study of Lent this week. From there we’ll move back to chapter 11 which focuses on serving others. The students will begin by taking a close look at themselves and the “good” qualities they possess. In particular, we’ll look at the gift of grace. Each child will be making a prayer card to pass along to others in need of hearing the Good News.
Handwriting: We continue practicing cursive writing and copying scripture this week! The children are now required to write their names in cursive and are copying their spelling words in cursive as well.
Spelling – This week’s words focus on the U sound at the “tail end” of words – spelled ew. The words for the week are: blew, chew, dew, few, grew, new, stew, view, brew, crew, drew, flew, knew, pew, and threw.
Social Studies – We’ll make our heritage mobiles this week. Then we’ll begin looking at when certain groups of people migrated to MI, and where they lived.
Upcoming Dates:
3/21 – Field Trip to Junie B Jones play
Last day of the marking period
3/25 – Lenten Fish Fry 4-7p.m.
3/26 – St. Pius School Auction @ Crystal Gardens
3/28 – NO SCHOOL!
3/29 – Read a Hat/Shirt Day
K-3 participates in the “Voracious Reader Eater” show
3/30 – PJ Day & All-school Read-in
Book orders are currently available online @ online at www.scholastic.com/bookclubs. Our activation code is GQ9YV.
REMINDER: We’re going to the Masonic temple Monday to see Junie B Jones. Students are to wear their school uniforms.
March is Reading Month! In celebration of this, we are having silent reading time EVERY Tuesday and Thursday this month. Your child may bring in a blanket or pillow to use during that time. They will not however, be able to keep those items at school – we just don’t have the space. They will have to carry it to and from school each time.
This week in particular, we’ll have lots of guest readers! I can’t wait to hear from all our parents who volunteered to share their favorite books.
Reading: The students will be reading individual books this week of varying titles. They will read the books independently and then join in groups to discuss their stories. The focus will be on identifying the main ideas of the stories and on finding supporting details.
Writing/English: Due to lack of time last week, we did not begin our How-to stories. Therefore, we’ll begin drafting those this week. Each child will come up with their own topic. They will list the steps needed to get to an “end”. As a culminating activity, each child will make a presentation to the entire class.
Our grammar focus will be on pronoun/verb agreement.
Science: We’ll begin our study of the organization of living things this week. We’ll begin by classifying living things based on their observable characteristics. First we’ll look at animals. We’ll talk about how different body parts and the way certain animals are made can help them adapt to their daily lives.
Religion: We wrap up our study of Lent this week. From there we’ll move back to chapter 11 which focuses on serving others. The students will begin by taking a close look at themselves and the “good” qualities they possess. In particular, we’ll look at the gift of grace. Each child will be making a prayer card to pass along to others in need of hearing the Good News.
Handwriting: We continue practicing cursive writing and copying scripture this week! The children are now required to write their names in cursive and are copying their spelling words in cursive as well.
Spelling – This week’s words focus on the U sound at the “tail end” of words – spelled ew. The words for the week are: blew, chew, dew, few, grew, new, stew, view, brew, crew, drew, flew, knew, pew, and threw.
Social Studies – We’ll make our heritage mobiles this week. Then we’ll begin looking at when certain groups of people migrated to MI, and where they lived.
Upcoming Dates:
3/21 – Field Trip to Junie B Jones play
Last day of the marking period
3/25 – Lenten Fish Fry 4-7p.m.
3/26 – St. Pius School Auction @ Crystal Gardens
3/28 – NO SCHOOL!
3/29 – Read a Hat/Shirt Day
K-3 participates in the “Voracious Reader Eater” show
3/30 – PJ Day & All-school Read-in
Book orders are currently available online @ online at www.scholastic.com/bookclubs. Our activation code is GQ9YV.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Box Tops & Campbell's UPCs
A huge thanks to all families who help collect Box Tops and Campbell's UPCs for our school. Also, a huge thank you to Mrs. Mandernach who takes the time to reward the students with goodies, such as the brownies pictured below, each time we reach our goal. We love the thoughtfulness of it all!
HAPPY CUTTING!
March is Reading Month!
READING - one of my favorite things to do. What luck - a month to celebrate that! This year, for March is Reading Month, there are many exciting activities taking place. Currently, we are trying to read as many books as possible over the course of the entire month! Each child is keeping track of his or her books by putting a "petal" on their flower each time they complete a book. See our Reading Helps Your Mind Bloom display in the hallway to check our progress.
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