Important 3^rd Grade Notes and Reminders . . . May 8^th, 2008

** Happy “early” Mother’s Day! I hope you have a WONDERFUL day!  **

** PLEASE remember to return the next “Multiplication Minutes” calendar TOMORROW! A new calendar is coming home in today’s folder. Thank you for your help and dedication with studying these facts!  **

** Our last 3^rd grade mass is next WEDNESDAY, MAY 14^th at 9:30 AM! Mass parts are in today’s folder. If your child has a reading part, please have them practice several times this week-end, focusing on speaking loudly, clearly, and slowly! **

** Also coming home in today’s folder is a salmon-colored sheet with several vocabulary words on it. This sheet goes along with the story we are reading next week called Ramona Quimby, Age 8. It’s a tricky story; I’m hoping this extra sheet will help your child better understand what’s happening!  **

** We visited the school library on Tuesday for the last time this year. REMEMBER, ALL library books are due back to school on or before FRIDAY, MAY 16^th! Thanks again to Dayna Rea who is our library volunteer!  **

** On Tuesday, May 13^th, the 3^rd and 4^th graders will be traveling to Little Falls to tour the Charles Lindbergh house and museum. We’ll eat lunch at Charles Lindbergh State Park, and will then tour the Weyerhauser Logging Museum in the afternoon. Thank you to Amy Schreifels and Donna Dingmann who have volunteered to go along with us. We can still take more chaperones---if you are interested, just send me a note at school.

Here are some important things you need to know for our trip:

• Pay attention to the weather forecast! Your child needs to be dressed appropriately for walking indoors and outdoors!

• No flip flops! We’ll be doing a lot of walking!

• Wear layers!

• Your child needs to bring a cold lunch!

• I would also encourage your child to bring something “quiet” to do on the bus ride!

Pray for nice weather Tuesday! We’re all looking forward to our trip!  **

Here’s what we’ll be up to this next week:

** Spanish: We’ll review the different types of communities and housing that people live in. We’ll also learn how to tell someone where you live (downtown, in a certain neighborhood, near to or far from a city). **

** Math: We’re currently working on Chapters 13-15 on division. We’re busy learning our division facts for the numbers 0-11. We continue to take daily multiplication timed tests as well---I have seen such an improvement in the kids’ accuracy and speed! Next week, we’ll work on solving word problems by adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing to get our answer. I am looking at testing on these chapters around FRIDAY, MAY 16^th! We’ll spend the rest of the school year on measurement (length, capacity, and mass/weight), 2 and 3-dimensional shapes, and fractions. **

** Religion: This week we’ve been talking about the Apostles and the four marks of the church (that it’s one, holy, catholic, and apostolic). Next week, we’ll prepare for our mass and will also learn the meaning of the Apostles’ Creed. **

** Social Studies: We’ve been busy this week learning how transportation and communication have changed over time due to technology. We’ve also had the chance to learn about some important men and women who have made contributions in these areas. Next week, we’ll learn about the English Channel and its’ impact on England and France. I am looking at testing on Chapter 10 around MONDAY, MAY 19^th. **

** Science: The students were busy this week talking about bicycle safety and learning about the differences between communicable and non-communicable diseases. They’ll spend time on Monday learning about Charles Lindbergh, and will spend the rest of the week talking about HIV and AIDS. **

** Reading/Spelling/Writing: We’ll read the FINAL story in Theme 6, Ramona Quimby, Age 8. This story is actually a chapter taken out of the book written by Beverly Cleary, where Ramona and her family struggle with a dismal, rainy Sunday. The day turns around when a trip to Whopperburger gives all the Quimbys something to smile about. This story is packed full of “tough” words, so PLEASE spend some extra time reading with your child! Besides reading, we’ll also learn about adverbs, contractions, making generalizations, and using the spelling table in a dictionary. **

Here’s your reading schedule for the week:

MONDAY---Look at and discuss vocabulary words on pages 308-309 and read pages 310-321

WEDNESDAY---Read pages 322-333

THURSDAY---Review vocabulary words on pages 308-309 and reread pages 310-333

Have a FANTASTIC week-end!

 Mrs. Kraemer