September 6th

Hello Everyone!
This week our homework looks a little different. I am asking the children to play a game on SpellingCity.com with their spelling words. I'm sure they will enjoy the break from spelling sentences! Also, on Wednesday, they need to think of 15-20 words that describe what Shorecrest means to them. Please check their spelling for accuracy. We will be making a Wordle out of the words in class.
I hope the geography projects are going well. One student turned hers in early, and it looks great! I'm excited to see them and also to allow them in class next week to share. Another homework assignment coming home late this week or early next week will deal with creating a family tree. This goes along with our theme of family traditions in our Voices reading stories.
Today the manila envelope with graded work is going home. Please keep the papers and sign the front of the envelope to return to class tomorrow. If you have questions about anything, please let me know.

The new vocabulary words to be tested on Sept. 16th are:
Wordly Wise-
attract, attractive, attraction, crew, dangle, drift, event, launch, opposite, reverse, signal, steer
Collection Vocabulary-
deceased, documents, memento, cuddles, dewy, mingle, edible, yanking, lumber, satchels, pennants, consecutive, collegians, seamstress, advised

Wishing you all a wonderful week!

August 29, 2011

Happy Rainy Monday to Everyone!
Rainy days can make for long days indoors! It's a good thing we always have so much to do! This week we will continue adding ideas for our stories in Writer's Workshop. We are reading stories in our Voices reading series and focusing on expanding our vocabulary, writing responses to our reading, and working on grammar skills. Ask your child about our read aloud, Gooseberry Park. It's a class favorite! Our math lessons are reviewing skills taught last year. Name collection boxes, measurement, telling time, using a calculator, and finding differences highlight our lessons this week.
We are beginning our first science experiment this week using the scientific method. We are studying land forms this week in Social Studies. There will be a project assignment given out on Tuesday that deals with geography. The project is due the following Thursday. Be creative and fun with this first project. Your help should be minimal. I really want to see what your child can do. I have confidence that they will do a fantastic job and learn much along the way!
This Friday we will have our spelling test as well as quizzes over the vocabulary words. I expect that this graded work will go home this time next week. It will be in the manila envelope I spoke about at Open House.
Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions you may have regarding your child or what we are doing in class.
Wishing you all a wonderful week!
Ms. Mitchell

A couple more things...

Here are the vocabulary words that will be tested on next Friday (Sept. 2). They are not required to spell the words...just read and understand them.
Wordly Wise:
cylinder, examine, fatal, feature, grasp, jet, marine, scar, tentacle, vessel
Collection Vocabulary:
Uptown, combination, Harlem, sways, stagger, pomegranate, dispute, terrified, blared, tinged, wafted, muffled, tumult, examination, origin

August 22, 2011

Happy Monday Everyone!
Here we are on the first full week of school. I love the start of a new school year! It's like taking a journey...full of hopes, expectations, and usually quite fun. You will probably find that the leap from second grade to third grade is a big one. Please know that I will always have the best interest of your child in mind. We will go over third grade expectations during Open House this Thursday. The program begins at 7:00 in the theater. Please join us there. Much information will be shared, and I hope to see you all.
One change from last year is that each Friday is Spirit Day! There are guidelines in the handbook for dress code that pertains to Spirit Day as well as other school days.
Homework assignments will be written in the student's agenda. Please look at their agenda each day and initial the page so that I know your child showed it to you.
Thank you all for a smooth start to the school year. We will work as partners together throughout the year to ensure success for your third grader!
Wishing you all a great week!
Ms. Mitchell

August 18, 2011

Welcome!
We had a fabulous first day of school! The children are all very excited about learning and came with their very best manners. Many thanks to all of my parents for attending the Meet the Teacher yesterday and bringing their school supplies. It was a big help! Please look for my blog every Monday afternoon. It will usually be posted by 5:00 in the afternoon and is filled with important information.
I am looking for a parent to take a class photo for the blog. Please let me know if you are interested in helping us out with this.
Until then...have a great rest of the week!