January 29 - February 2

Hi Families,

Students decided this week that our class wanted to BE the Change by helping to pick up trash rather than walking past it. You can remind your child that they can try this at home too!! :)


Check out the pictures below from the Celebrate NDLC Dress Up Days!

Students got together with their first grade buddies to celebrate being adventurous!

Reminders/Updates

• Please fill out and return the pink confirmation forms with your child ASAP.
• Field Trip forms for Beauty and the Beast were sent home this week. Return those as well!
• STEAM classes will be doing a project and is in need of newspaper. If you have any that you are willing to donate, send them in!

Don't forget...January is a BIG month for our school!  There are many informational events taking place to help others learn more about New Directions.  Please share these dates with anyone you think may be interested in learning more about what a great place New Directions is for students to learn and grow!

Thursday, February 1st-6:00-7:00 PM-Info Session at New Directions


Families can also call Mrs. Frischmann at 766-6116 to set up individual tours.

Upcoming Events

February 1: NDLC Parent Info Session 6-7
February 14: Wear Pink/Red
February 16: Funky Friday Wear

Curriculum Update

Math: We finished up Unit 3 this week by taking the test. Take some time to go over it with your child, sign it, and turn it back in. We'll put them in our portfolios! We also took the Mid Year test to assess all that students have learned so far. That means next week we get to start Unit 4, which is Fractions, Measurement, and Time! We'll start by talking about what a fraction is and the terms we use when describing fractions, like numerators and denominators. Fractions are a new concept to students so it will be helpful to show your child where they might see fractions at home! For example, if you're cutting a pizza into 8 equal sized pieces, and you take one slice, you took 1/8 of the pizza. Or, if you have a family of 6, your child is 1/6 of the family. Having students hear fraction terms (one-eighth or one-fourth) and realize that fractions are all around them will get them feeling more comfortable with fractions. 

Writing: This week students have been working on writing a compare/contrast essay between two characters, relationships, or lessons in two books. We have been typing these on Google Docs. Actually, for this essay, students have gotten the chance to voice type! Next week, we'll be working to improve these essays with introductions, topic sentences, and as always reading it over to check to make sure it makes sense. We are getting towards the end of our Opinion unit--if you have internet access at home, feel free to check out your child's work or they're always welcome to work on it at home as well! 

Word Study: We have been working on vowel-consonant-e words, like PINE. Next week, we'll continue with this by discussing vowel-consonant-e syllables, like misTAKE, and exceptions to the v-e rule, like GIVE (the e is silent, but it doesn't make the vowel i say its name.) Have your child work on the Word Study pack a little bit each night! Students also have been trying to use the trick words in one sentence, so if your child is feeling creative, challenge them to write a sentence including the three trick words for next week: right, place, and together. 

Reading: This past week in Reading we looked at how all stories tend to go. They follow the same predictable pattern--a plot mountain. In the beginning of books readers are introduced to characters and usually where the story takes place (setting). Then as you go up the mountain (story) you are introduced to the problems. The climax is the top of the mountain where the problems have escalated and things can't get much worse. Then as you go down the mountain there is a turning point. Something occurs that causes the problems to seem like they might get better and then lastly there is usually a solution to the problems or it is resolved in some way. This coming week we are continuing to pay attention to characters and how they react to their problems. This can usually tell us A LOT about them. We will also start to study the secondary characters in books and realize that they are usually impacting the main character in some way!

Reading at this point in the year for homework is going to be really important! We want students to be building their stamina and practicing their skills. This extra practice will be helpful to build their comprehension as they enter newer reading levels. Here are some possible questions to ask your child about their reading....

• What is the biggest problem your character is facing in your book?

• How do you think your character's biggest problem will be solved?

• Name a secondary character in your book. What role do they play? (advisor, sidekick, challenger) Why?

• What's the turning point in your book?

• What lesson did your character learn? (In life....)

• Tell me about the part you are currently reading. How does this part fit with the rest of the story?

Content: Students have been LOVING our new unit on motion and design! We began by building a model vehicle. I have been impressed with how well the students have been working together in a group and resolving their issues. Next week, we'll build upon the model that we created and do some close reading of an article of a drag racer! Check out Seesaw for pictures and videos of students creating and testing their vehicles!

Know that you can always contact me with any questions or concerns. Have a wonderful weekend!

Best,

Jenny

January 22 - 26

Hi Families,

WOW, where has the year gone!? It's so hard to believe that 3rd grade is half over; our students are closer to being 4th graders than they are 2nd graders!! I think halfway through the year is always a great time to talk to your child about what yet they want to achieve in third grade and what they're going to do to get there. They really are some incredible students, and I cannot wait to see what the second semester has in store for each one of them. :)

Reminders/Updates

• Monday will be Day 3.
• Pink confirmation forms were sent home. Please fill them out and return them with your child ASAP!
• Celebrate NDLC Week is next week! Check the flyer below for dress up days and events. 

Don't forget...January is a big month for our school!  There are many informational events taking place to help others learn more about New Directions.  Please share these dates with anyone you think may be interested in learning more about what a great place New Directions is for students to learn and grow!

Monday, January 22nd-10:00 AM-1:00 PM Open House for prospective families at New Directions
Thursday, February 1st-6:00-7:00 PM-Info Session at New Directions


Families can also call Mrs. Frischmann at 766-6116 to set up individual tours.

Upcoming Events

January 22: NO SCHOOL

January 23-26 Celebrate NDLC Week

February 1: NDLC Parent Info Session 6-7

Curriculum Update

Math: We're nearing the end of Unit 3! Students have been working on 3 digit addition and subtraction, how the two operations are related, and multi-step word problems. Next week Tuesday, we'll go over the review that students have been working on as homework and then take the Unit 3 Test on Wednesday and Thursday. We also will be taking a Mid-Year math test on Friday. With all of this testing, remind your students to be getting a good night's rest and a breakfast in the morning! Let me know if you or your child have any questions regarding the questions on the test. 
**If your child is feeling bored over the long weekend, they can work through the Math Review on Think Central! :) 

• You can go to Think Central by clicking on the link or through Google Classroom. Their username does not include @kaukaunasd.org. Their password is their 6 digit birth date. They can log in, go to "Things To Do" and click on "Unit 3 Math Review." 

Writing: This week students chose a text that they wanted to write literary essays on. We worked to find evidence that matches our claim and say more about it by explaining how the evidence supports our claim. Ask your child what the claim for their literary essay is! Students have been typing these essays. If your student is interested, they are more than welcome to work on their essays at home as well. Next week, we'll continue our literary essay unit by crafting compare/contrast essays, looking at the similarities and differences between two texts. 

Word Study: We finished up Unit 5 and took the test on Friday. Look for the test to come home early next week. In Unit 6, we'll be focusing on the vowel-consonant-e syllable. For example, in the words "cape," "home," or "pine" there is a long vowel, a consonant, and a silent e. A vowel is long if it says it's name. The trick words for next week will be only, house, and move. 

Reading: This past week in Reading we looked at how all stories tend to go. They follow the same predictable pattern--a plot mountain. In the beginning of books readers are introduced to characters and usually where the story takes place (setting). Then as you go up the mountain (story) you are introduced to the problems. The climax is the top of the mountain where the problems have escalated and things can't get much worse. Then as you go down the mountain there is a turning point. Something occurs that causes the problems to seem like they might get better and then lastly there is usually a solution to the problems or it is resolved in some way. This coming week we are continuing to pay attention to characters and how they react to their problems. This can usually tell us A LOT about them. We will also start to study the secondary characters in books and realize that they are usually impacting the main character in some way!

Reading at this point in the year for homework is going to be really important! We want students to be building their stamina and practicing their skills. This extra practice will be helpful to build their comprehension as they enter newer reading levels. Here are some possible questions to ask your child about their reading....

• What is the biggest problem your character is facing in your book?

• How do you think your character's biggest problem will be solved?

• Name a secondary character in your book. What role do they play? (advisor, sidekick, challenger) Why?

• What's the turning point in your book?

• What lesson did your character learn? (In life....)

• Tell me about the part you are currently reading. How does this part fit with the rest of the story?

Content: Students were so excited and a little bit nervous too to present their country slideshows! I was impressed at how brave each student was! To finish up our world unit, students took a world map test. Those will come home next week as well. Our next unit for content will be science--motion and design! This will be an engaging and interactive unit where students consider design options.

Know that you can always contact me with any questions or concerns. Have a wonderful weekend!

Best,

Jenny

Week of January 15-19

Hello Families,

It's crazy to think our school year is almost half over!! As we are getting to the halfway mark, that means we have some testing coming up. Next week, students will take the MAP test again for Reading and Math. We also will be taking a World Map test. Let me know if your child is feeling anxious over any of these tests and we'll work to help alleviate that.

Reminders/Updates

• Monday will be Day 3.
• Pink confirmation forms were sent home. Please fill them out and return them with your child!
• Yearbook forms were sent home last week. The forms are due back January 19th if you are interested in ordering. 

Don't forget...January is a big month for our school!  There are many informational events taking place to help others learn more about New Directions.  Please share these dates with anyone you think may be interested in learning more about what a great place New Directions is for students to learn and grow!

Thursday, January 11th-5:30 PM District-Wide Info Session held at Tanner Early Learning Center
Tuesday, January 16th-6:00 -7:00 PM Info Session at New Directions
Monday, January 22nd-10:00 AM-1:00 PM Open House for prospective families at New Directions
Thursday, February 1st-6:00-7:00 PM-Info Session at New Directions


Families can also call Mrs. Frischmann at 766-6116 to set up individual tours.

Upcoming Events

January 15: Reading MAP test for students

January 16: NDLC Parent Info Session 6-7
January 17: Math MAP test for students

January 19: Students dismissed at 11:30
January 19: World Map Test for students

January 22: NO SCHOOL

January 23-26 Celebrate NDLC Week

February 1: NDLC Parent Info Session 6-7

Curriculum Update

Math: This week we practiced 3-digit addition using different methods and began 3-digit subtraction. Before we introduce the numerical methods (what most adults use), it is helpful for students to see what is happening in place value drawings. Then, they can connect what they did in their drawings to how it looks when we add or subtract numerically. Next week, we will practice what we have learned so far by discussing different methods of subtraction and relating subtraction and addition together. What we work on in class is most likely different than how you remember adding and subtracting! Encourage your child to explain to you what they're doing. As always, feel free to contact me as well if you're having a hard time understanding! :)

Writing: We started our next unit, Baby Literary Essays. For the first bend of this unit, we will be writing multiple essays on the same book, Those Shoes. In our literary essays, we need to have a claim and support that claim with evidence from the text. This strongly relates to what students will be asked to do on the Forward exam. Students have enjoyed typing their essays! It is something fun and just a little bit of a change of pace. Next week, students will be able to choose a text that they will write essays about as they gain more independence in writing literary essays.

Word Study: This week we practiced breaking apart words into its syllables. This is helpful for students in both reading and writing--to correctly read or spell a word with multiple syllables. Next week, we will add our trick words: always, often, and once, and continue practicing with syllables. 

Reading: This past week we talked about how to find character/people's traits. We know we can pay attention to what characters/people say or do and that can tell us a lot about a person! We also learned to look for evidence in the book when we say a character is a certain way. The more evidence we have, the stronger the theory! Book clubs are going so well! I am so impressed with the conversations these students are all having. The students are prepared with thoughtful ideas to share with their groups. I think the kids are leaving their club meetings feeling satisfied and wanting to read MORE! This coming week we will we continuing to look at characters and make predictions about what they will do based on how they act. We will also study secondary characters because we know that these people are important and sometimes extremely influential to the main character.

Content: Students were busy researching their country this week in online databases and in books. Mrs. Wolf even came in to teach us about Google Slides! Feel free to have your child play around with this at home--students find it fun making slideshows! Next week, we will present and watch each other's slideshows. I know presenting can be terrifying for some students--if your child is feeling that way, let me know and we can work thought it! We will also take this Unit's test on Friday: students will get a blank map and will fill in continents, oceans, and the main rivers and mountains in the United States. This is everything we have covered in class! I sent home a blank map if students want to practice at home (the test will be VERY similar.)

Know that you can always contact me with any questions or concerns. Have a wonderful weekend!

Best,

Jenny

January 8 - 12

Hello Families,

It's good to be back! I enjoyed hearing all about winter break and getting back in the swing of things. I have been so impressed at how well students were able to get back into our routines and being even BETTER students than they were in 2017! We have talked about some New Years Resolutions and things we are going to try this year to be a more respectful, responsible, and caring student and friend. Feel free to continue these conversations at home with your child.

Reminders/Updates

• Monday will be Day 4.
• Yearbook forms were sent home this week. The forms are due back January 19th if you are interested in ordering. 
• Our post-it supply is getting low. If you are willing and able to donate some standard sized post-its to our classroom, it would be greatly appreciated! :)
• If your child brought their yoga mat towel home last time to get it washed, please bring it back! We will have yoga next week. 
• Don't forget to check out Seesaw! This week I uploaded a video and some pictures of students from our Writing Celebration. 

Upcoming Events

December 22-January 1: NO SCHOOL Winter Break! :)

January 16: NDLC Parent Info Session 6-7

January 19: Students dismissed at 11:30

January 22: NO SCHOOL

January 23-26 Celebrate NDLC Week

January 23: Game Wear Day (characters, twister, Mario, etc.)

January 23: Family Night: Art Night

January 24: Backwards Wear Day

January 25: Active Wear

January 25: Jump Rope For Heart 6:00

January 26: Camping Wear Day

February 1: NDLC Parent Info Session 6-7

Curriculum Update

Math: We discussed estimating and rounding to the nearest hundred and ten. This is such a useful skill for students to have! Talk to your child about when you use estimation or rounding in your life. Next week, we will work through different methods for adding and subtracting three digit numbers. I encourage students to try out the different methods, but they can choose whichever one makes the most sense to them. These methods might be (probably are) different than what you're used to! Instead of "carrying the one," students will move the "group" to the correct place value. These "groups" can be above the numbers (what is familiar to us when we "carry the one") or below the numbers. I have attached a few pictures that might help. Encourage your child to teach it to you--asking questions as you have them! If you are still having difficulty understanding, you are always welcome to contact me :) 

Writing: We used this week to publish our information books! We celebrated all that we have learned by teaching our book. As this unit comes to an end, that means another unit begins! We will start our next unit, Baby Literary Essays, on Monday. Our goal for this unit is to write an essay that states a strong opinion about a piece of literature and support it with evidence from the text. We will begin by flash drafting multiple essays about the same text. We will make our evidence even stronger by lifting lines from the text and using evidence from the beginning, middle, and end. This unit will also be special in that we will be typing these essays instead of hand writing them! We chose to do this for a couple of reasons: students need practice typing, students are required to type their responses on the state tests, and it's something different that I think students will enjoy! :)

Word Study: This week we practiced breaking apart words into its syllables. This is helpful for students in both reading and writing--to correctly read or spell a word with multiple syllables. We will continue practicing this into next week. Our new trick words for this week are: against, knew, and know. A word study pack will come be coming home Monday. 

Reading: This past week we did a few assessments since we are transitioning into a new unit. We also got our FIRST book clubs of the year! This is SO exciting! Students are in groups of 3,4,or 5 and they will all be reading the same book. As a club they will decide how much they will be reading at school each day AND how much they will need to read as homework. They will be the "bosses" and it is impressive the wonderful expectations they set for themselves. Monday we will start our Character Study unit. We will be looking deeply at characters and figure out their traits and WHY they act the way they do. Our read aloud we started is Because of Winn Dixie! This is one of my favorites and I am sure the students will love it!

Content: Students were able to choose a continent they would like to study in depth and started this investigations into a country in that continent this week. Ask your student which country they're learning about and what they have learned so far! We will be making presentations and sharing them with the class. Feel free to work on this at home as well if your child is interested!



Know that you can always contact me with any questions or concerns. Have a wonderful weekend!

Best,
Jenny