Sorry that I didn't chance to update you all on our goings on last week. I had a sick baby at home who then decided to share his germs with me!
In reading we recently finished the book Molly's Pilgrim that goes with our unit on immigration and family. It is the story of a young girl who's family has recently moved to the United States from Russia and her struggles to fit in at her new school. We have also started working on a new reading strategy, making predictions. This is an excellent reading strategy to help students learn to focus on their reading and it gives them a purpose for their reading. Please encourage your child to use this strategy at home while working on their reading logs.
In writing we have begun to work on the narrative writing process. So far we have discussed the differences between narrative writing and expository writing and are now going through the writing process with a modeled story. Soon students will be writing creative and exciting stories of their very own.
In math we have started a new unit on geometry and measurement. The first chapter focuses on measuring the length of objects using both customary units and the metric system.
In science we have begun our 2nd unit, Structures of Life. So far we have discovered that the part of a plant that contains the seeds is called a fruit and are now busy observing seeds growing in their mini sprouters. After the winter break they will also have the opportunity to observe some other living organisims, crayfish!
The Passports have been turned in and about half the class had a chance to share their oral reports with the class on Friday. Those who didn't share will be doing so on Monday. Thank you for all your help and support getting those completed. Don't forgot that as a culmination of our unit on immigration we will be having a cultural feast on Friday, 12/18 during lunch time. Many of you have already returned the green form letting me know who will be joining us and what kind of dish you will be bringing. We are very excited to share our cultures and food with everyone.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
November 20
Wow, what a busy week we've had in room 14!
Students were busy working on their multiplication skills both in class and in the tech lab. They are currently working on making multiplication books using a program called Kidpix in the lab. We also completed chapter 6 in math and took the chapter test this week. Room 14 students are excellent multipliers and all did a wonderful job on the test.
In writing students continued to work on their expository writing skills during workshop time. Now that we are starting the second trimester of the school year we will move onto narrative writing during workshop time but students will still be asked to use their expository writing skills in the content areas such as math, science, social studies, and reading. I look forward to reading the stories they will be creating in the coming months.
We also spent the week working on our Too Good For Drugs unit. Students are learning about making smart choices in order to stay healthy and to set positive, attainable goals for themselves.
During art students created turkey's out of construction paper and wrote on the feather's the things that they are thankful for. I hope that each of your family's have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday next week!
Students were busy working on their multiplication skills both in class and in the tech lab. They are currently working on making multiplication books using a program called Kidpix in the lab. We also completed chapter 6 in math and took the chapter test this week. Room 14 students are excellent multipliers and all did a wonderful job on the test.
In writing students continued to work on their expository writing skills during workshop time. Now that we are starting the second trimester of the school year we will move onto narrative writing during workshop time but students will still be asked to use their expository writing skills in the content areas such as math, science, social studies, and reading. I look forward to reading the stories they will be creating in the coming months.
We also spent the week working on our Too Good For Drugs unit. Students are learning about making smart choices in order to stay healthy and to set positive, attainable goals for themselves.
During art students created turkey's out of construction paper and wrote on the feather's the things that they are thankful for. I hope that each of your family's have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday next week!
Friday, November 13, 2009
November 13
Happy Friday!
Just a few updates for you all this week. I have extended the book order through Monday, Nov. 16th so if you haven't had a chance to place your order you can do so this weekend. We will be taking the Chapter 6 math test on Tuesday and will then start Chapter 7 which is still part of our unit on multiplication. Thank you for helping your children study for their weekly multiplication facts quizzes, the hard work is paying off! This coming Friday, Nov. 20th is our field trip to see the play, Charlotte's Web. We will be returning to school around 11:00 so no need to make special lunch arrangements. Unfortunately I am only able to bring along one parent on this trip but thank you for all the volunteers.
On Monday, November 23rd, our whole school will be celebrating a day called Ability Awareness. The children learn about the various abilities and disabilities of children throughout the community and world. Each class is responsible for recruiting volunteers. Our class needs 2 volunteers from 9-10am and 2 volunteers from 10:30-11:30am. You can volunteer for both times if you would like. Snacks and drinks will be provided for you. The "lesson/activity" is done for you. It tells you exactly what to do and what to say. You DO NOT have to think of ANYTHING!!! Please go to the Dilworth Homepage and sign-up.
Thanks so much for making this day special for our students,
Just a few updates for you all this week. I have extended the book order through Monday, Nov. 16th so if you haven't had a chance to place your order you can do so this weekend. We will be taking the Chapter 6 math test on Tuesday and will then start Chapter 7 which is still part of our unit on multiplication. Thank you for helping your children study for their weekly multiplication facts quizzes, the hard work is paying off! This coming Friday, Nov. 20th is our field trip to see the play, Charlotte's Web. We will be returning to school around 11:00 so no need to make special lunch arrangements. Unfortunately I am only able to bring along one parent on this trip but thank you for all the volunteers.
On Monday, November 23rd, our whole school will be celebrating a day called Ability Awareness. The children learn about the various abilities and disabilities of children throughout the community and world. Each class is responsible for recruiting volunteers. Our class needs 2 volunteers from 9-10am and 2 volunteers from 10:30-11:30am. You can volunteer for both times if you would like. Snacks and drinks will be provided for you. The "lesson/activity" is done for you. It tells you exactly what to do and what to say. You DO NOT have to think of ANYTHING!!! Please go to the Dilworth Homepage and sign-up.
Thanks so much for making this day special for our students,
Monday, November 9, 2009
Book Orders
On Friday, November 6th I sent home new book orders. Please note that the due date for these is Novermber 13th. Remember the he best and easiest way for you to order books is online. Attached to the book order catalogs was an instruction sheet with the class login and password. There is also a link that you can use on this page located on the right hand side.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Friday, October 23, 2009
October 23 Update
Hello,
Here are a few reminders and updates for this week:
1. Monday, Oct. 26 is Learning Day so there is no school for students.
2. Tuesday, Oct. 27 is Picture Day and pictures will be taken of all students. An envelope with ordering information was placed in your child's Friday Folder. If you would like to order pictures, please fill out and return the envelope with your child on Tuesday.
3. Don't forget that book reports are due this coming Wednesday, Oct. 28th. Students are required to submit their written reports and have an oral presentation prepared as well. They have been asked to not just read their book jackets in front of the class.
4. We will be celebrating Halloween on Friday, Oct. 30th. The morning will be spent rotating through all the third grade classrooms where they will do a Halloween themed project with each teacher. After lunch students will change into their costumes if they want to and then we will have our school wide Halloween Parade. Parents are welcome to come for the parade. We will also be having a party in our classroom after the parade. If you would like to bring in treats for our tricksters, please see the sign up sheet by our front door.
5. Our field trip to Fallon House is coming up on November 3rd. Many of you indicated that you would be able to join us on the trip. I can only bring 4 parents with us on this trip so if you aren't chosen for this trip I will make sure to include you in another trip this year. I will be sending an email to parents this week asking if they can still come with us.
Here are a few reminders and updates for this week:
1. Monday, Oct. 26 is Learning Day so there is no school for students.
2. Tuesday, Oct. 27 is Picture Day and pictures will be taken of all students. An envelope with ordering information was placed in your child's Friday Folder. If you would like to order pictures, please fill out and return the envelope with your child on Tuesday.
3. Don't forget that book reports are due this coming Wednesday, Oct. 28th. Students are required to submit their written reports and have an oral presentation prepared as well. They have been asked to not just read their book jackets in front of the class.
4. We will be celebrating Halloween on Friday, Oct. 30th. The morning will be spent rotating through all the third grade classrooms where they will do a Halloween themed project with each teacher. After lunch students will change into their costumes if they want to and then we will have our school wide Halloween Parade. Parents are welcome to come for the parade. We will also be having a party in our classroom after the parade. If you would like to bring in treats for our tricksters, please see the sign up sheet by our front door.
5. Our field trip to Fallon House is coming up on November 3rd. Many of you indicated that you would be able to join us on the trip. I can only bring 4 parents with us on this trip so if you aren't chosen for this trip I will make sure to include you in another trip this year. I will be sending an email to parents this week asking if they can still come with us.
Friday, October 9, 2009
October 9, 2009
Just a few updates and reminders for this week:
October book orders are due today. Since only two orders have been received so far I will extend it through the weekend and submit the order on Sunday afternoon.
If your child owes pledge money from Walkaround it is due by Monday, Oct. 19th. You can send the money in to the classroom or give it directly to the office.
Monday and Tuesday of next week (Oct. 12th and 13th) are minimum days due to conferences and students will be dismissed at 1:00pm.
Student of the Week
Next week we will have our first Student of the Week in room 14. Each week one student will be featured in the class. The Friday before they will be given an All About Me poster to complete over the weekend and return on Monday. Monday morning they will share their posters with the class and if they want they can also share a special item with the class (stuffed animal, something brought back from a trip, etc). At the end of the week each student in the class will write a friendly letter to our Student of the Week and these letters will be made into a book for that student.
October book orders are due today. Since only two orders have been received so far I will extend it through the weekend and submit the order on Sunday afternoon.
If your child owes pledge money from Walkaround it is due by Monday, Oct. 19th. You can send the money in to the classroom or give it directly to the office.
Monday and Tuesday of next week (Oct. 12th and 13th) are minimum days due to conferences and students will be dismissed at 1:00pm.
Student of the Week
Next week we will have our first Student of the Week in room 14. Each week one student will be featured in the class. The Friday before they will be given an All About Me poster to complete over the weekend and return on Monday. Monday morning they will share their posters with the class and if they want they can also share a special item with the class (stuffed animal, something brought back from a trip, etc). At the end of the week each student in the class will write a friendly letter to our Student of the Week and these letters will be made into a book for that student.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
October News
Hello family and friends of room 14!
Thank you for getting the goal setting conference forms back to me so quickly. I am looking forward to meeting with everyone over the next two weeks to discuss ways for your children to make the most of their time in the third grade. Remember that students will be dismissed at 1:00pm Oct. 5-13th.
I also wanted to thank those of you who have returned the permission slip and money for our two field trips coming up in the month of November. We will be going to Fallon House ($17) in Downtown San Jose to experience Victorian life on November 3rd. I will be contacting parents who said they can join us as the date gets closer with more details. We will also be going to see the play Charlotte's Web ($12) at the Flint Center on November 20th. If you have not yet returned the permission slips or the money please do so as soon as possible. If you need a new copy of the permission slip letter please let me know and I will get one for you.
I am sending home the first book order of the school year. In order to make the process smoother you can now order books online. I attached a letter with more information about this process or you can follow the link found on the side bar of this page. The last day to submit orders is Friday, October 9th.
Don't forget Walkaround is this Saturday, October 3rd from 2-7pm. Make sure to get those pledge cards signed and returned by Friday, 10/2 in order to participate. Be sure to check out the Silent Auction for a chance to win some cool treats!
Thank you for getting the goal setting conference forms back to me so quickly. I am looking forward to meeting with everyone over the next two weeks to discuss ways for your children to make the most of their time in the third grade. Remember that students will be dismissed at 1:00pm Oct. 5-13th.
I also wanted to thank those of you who have returned the permission slip and money for our two field trips coming up in the month of November. We will be going to Fallon House ($17) in Downtown San Jose to experience Victorian life on November 3rd. I will be contacting parents who said they can join us as the date gets closer with more details. We will also be going to see the play Charlotte's Web ($12) at the Flint Center on November 20th. If you have not yet returned the permission slips or the money please do so as soon as possible. If you need a new copy of the permission slip letter please let me know and I will get one for you.
I am sending home the first book order of the school year. In order to make the process smoother you can now order books online. I attached a letter with more information about this process or you can follow the link found on the side bar of this page. The last day to submit orders is Friday, October 9th.
Don't forget Walkaround is this Saturday, October 3rd from 2-7pm. Make sure to get those pledge cards signed and returned by Friday, 10/2 in order to participate. Be sure to check out the Silent Auction for a chance to win some cool treats!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
September News
Thank you all for helping to make the transition into a new school year so successful for our class! It is hard to believe that we have been together for a month already. It was a big help to get in all the forms and other paperwork so quickly. If you have not paid for this years subscription to Time for Kids and for the field trip t-shirts, please do so ASAP. If you will not be purchasing a new t-shirt for your child then please make sure you send in last years to me.
We have begun our first unit in science, Matter and Energy. During the course of the unit we will be developing the idea that matter is the stuff from which all common and familiar objects and materials are made. We will explore sources of energy and identify forms of energy. We will also discuss the phase changes of matter (from solids, liquids, and gas).
In Social Studies, students have started exploring Unites States geography
with some games and activities. Students used a Scavenger Hunt to explore their Social Studies textbooks. Soon students will be exploring life in communities in the United States and beyond. If you can, find the time to talk with your child about the community in which you
grew up, and how it is similar or different to where you live now.
In math we have just completed our first unit on number sense. Students reviewed place value, comparing and ordering numbers, and rounding. We will soon be starting our second unit in which we will be reviewing and expanding on addition and subtraction skills.
In writing we are working on writing expository paragraphs. Students are learning the importance of good planning (pre-writing) before the actual sentence writing begins. We are also working on writing topic sentences and adding detail to make our writing more interesting.
For our reading instruction students are participating in Reader's Workshop. We start with a mini lesson that focuses on a particular comprehension skill or strategy and then students are given time to read a book of their choice and write in their reading response journals about what they have read. Some mini lessons so far have covered how to choose a "just right book", making connections to what we read (text-text, text-self, text-world), and different story elements (characters and setting).
We have begun our first unit in science, Matter and Energy. During the course of the unit we will be developing the idea that matter is the stuff from which all common and familiar objects and materials are made. We will explore sources of energy and identify forms of energy. We will also discuss the phase changes of matter (from solids, liquids, and gas).
In Social Studies, students have started exploring Unites States geography
with some games and activities. Students used a Scavenger Hunt to explore their Social Studies textbooks. Soon students will be exploring life in communities in the United States and beyond. If you can, find the time to talk with your child about the community in which you
grew up, and how it is similar or different to where you live now.
In math we have just completed our first unit on number sense. Students reviewed place value, comparing and ordering numbers, and rounding. We will soon be starting our second unit in which we will be reviewing and expanding on addition and subtraction skills.
In writing we are working on writing expository paragraphs. Students are learning the importance of good planning (pre-writing) before the actual sentence writing begins. We are also working on writing topic sentences and adding detail to make our writing more interesting.
For our reading instruction students are participating in Reader's Workshop. We start with a mini lesson that focuses on a particular comprehension skill or strategy and then students are given time to read a book of their choice and write in their reading response journals about what they have read. Some mini lessons so far have covered how to choose a "just right book", making connections to what we read (text-text, text-self, text-world), and different story elements (characters and setting).
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
I am looking forward to meeting all of you at Back To School Night on Thursday, September 10th. I will be filling you in on all the wonderful things your children will be learning in the third grade. For grades 3-5, Back To School Nights begins at 6:15 pm.
THANK YOU!
I would like to thank all the families who have already generously donated items to the classroom. Keep checking our class wishes board on the front door through out the school year for other items we may be in need of.
WELCOME
I want to welcome you all to a new school year and to our class blog. My goal is to use this site as an easy communication tool between home and school. Please check back often for updates and to learn more about what we are up too in room 14.
I am delighted to be teaching the 3rd grade at Dilworth! I was born and raised in Woodland, California (a small town outside of Sacramento). I attended Chico State in Northern California to obtain my Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Studies and then went on to Sacramento State where I earned my teaching credential. I moved to the San Jose area in August 2003 and am enjoying living here. When I am not teaching my 3rd graders, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, reading, camping, and playing with my 7 month old son Cooper.
Mrs. Barkve
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