April 20, 2017
Bel Aire Open House and Art Show - Wednesday, April 26, 6:00-7:30pm
The whole family is welcome. Come tour our classroom, visit the Bel Aire Art Show in the MPR, and bid on the classroom art project.
We will be taking a field trip to Reed School on Monday, May 1st to visit next year's incoming class. The following day, second graders will visit us and learn about their future school from this year's third graders. Your child will bring a permission slip home on Monday. Please sign it and return it as soon as possible.
Bel Aire's Got Talent - If your child would like to participate in the talent show, he/she will need to complete an application form and turn it in to the office by Friday, April 28. Late applications will not be accepted. Extra applications are available in our classroom. The talent show will be the last week of school.
Next week we will be taking the language arts SBAC tests on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday on iPads. We have been reviewing the practice tests this week, and students are familiar with the tools and format of the test. We will take the math portions of the SBAC on May 9 and 11. There will also be make-up dates if your child is ill. The test is not timed, and students will have all the time they need to do their best work. As usual, students should get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy breakfast. You should receive your child's results in the mail during the summer.
Upcoming Dates:
April 21: Star Wars/ Outer Space Spirit Day - tomorrow!
April 24-28: ELA Testing Week
April 26: Open House and Art Fair
May 15-19: Math Testing Week
*Make-ups will be available during testing
May 29: Memorial Day
May 29-June 2: Dive Deep Week
June 8: Field Day
June 9: Last Day of School
March 31, 2017
Good Afternoon & Happy Spring!
Art submissions for the Bel Aire Art Fair are due next Friday, April 7th.
All 3rd graders will begin practicing for the Smarter Balanced (SBAC) test next week. We will work through these practice tests together so that students are familiar and comfortable with the test format on their iPads. Students will need headphones for portions of the test. They may use the headphones the school provides or bring their own from home if they prefer.
In math, students continue to work on measurement (including time), estimating, and rounding.
Last week in writing, students finished and filmed their persuasive speeches on their iPads. This week we began a new opinion piece. Students are writing letters to the USPS Stamp Advisory Committee with their opinions about who should be honored on new postage stamps.
We continued our study of forces in science this week, this time by considering some of the forces involved in designing a bridge. We learned about the challenges engineers had to overcome to design and build the Golden Gate Bridge. Your child also designed and tested their own bridge made of paper.
We began a fun new genre in reading workshop! Students are learning to look for clues and notice patterns in mysteries.
AR benchmarks for the trimester are below.
By 3/31 30% of goal
By 4/7 40% of goal
By 4/21 50% of goal
By 4/28 60% of goal
By 5/5 70% of goal
By 5/12 80% of goal
By 5/19 90% of goal
By 5/26 100% of goal
March 24, 2017
This year, Bel Aire will be having an art fair on the night of Open House. All students will be showcasing one favorite piece of art from the year. It can be something they created with Ms. Caldwell, with me, or at home. Their selection needs to be turned in to me by April 7th. See attached flyer.
This week in science we started our unit on forces, called “Invisible Forces.” Your child learned how almost any action one can imagine consists of a push or a pull, or as scientists call them: a force.
In class your child was presented with a list of action verbs like “drag,” “lift,” “press,” and asked to decide whether they were pushes or pulls. You can help support your child’s learning by continuing this at home. Try applying it to actions that might be of personal interest, like the actions involved in a favorite sport (a throw, a hit, a slam dunk, a tackle, etc.).
We have been learning more about digital citizenship. This week we learned about the rings of responsibility including self, friends and family, as well as community.
In writing we are putting the final touches on our persuasive speeches and filming them.
March 16, 2017
Field Trip Friday
Tomorrow we are off to the Academy of Sciences. Students will need comfortable shoes, a jacket, and a lunch. They will bring their backpacks on the field trip with only the essentials. If your child needs items for after school activities they should leave them in a separate bag. We will be gone most of the day.
Math Update:
We've begun a new unit in math on Place Value and Problem Solving with Units of Measure. I am attaching a tip sheet that shows a little more about the unit. It's still important for your students to keep up with their multiplication and division facts.
Liberia Reminder:
We are still collecting donations towards the $6500 goal, to help bring technology to our sister school in Liberia. Currently they have no internet nor computers.
There are collection envelopes in our classroom, and students may bring cash or checks payable to the Rotary Club of Tiburon Belvedere Foundation. If you prefer to donate by credit card, please visit The Liberia Project website. You can also learn more about the history of the project there. Next week will be our Liberia Spirit Week! See the attached flyer for more information! Thank you for your support!
March 10, 2017
We had a wonderful 2nd trimester! It has been a joy to see all of the students grow so much both academically and socially. Report cards will be mailed out on Monday.
We started a new writing unit this week. Students are learning to be effective opinion writers. They are developing brave, bold thesis statements and brainstorming supportive reasons.
This week in science we explored the mystery, “Why are some places always hot?” We learned about the idea of ‘climate’--that in every place on earth, the weather tends to act a certain way over the year. Your child learned how there are five basic climate zones: polar, temperate, mild, desert, and tropical. You can continue to support your child’s curiosity by talking about a friend or family member who lives in a different climate, and discussing how that climate affects their life. Or look for aspects of our local environment which show what kind of climate we live in.
Next Friday, we are off to the Academy of Sciences for a field trip! All of the students have returned their permission slips. Thank you! Students will need to bring a lunch from home. Thank you to our field trip coordinators, Kim Sichel and Carolyn Clahan for coordinating chaperones! I appreciate that so many parents offered to help chaperone! Unfortunately we are limited on the number of chaperones we are allowed for this trip. If you are not sure if you are chaperoning, or if you would like to be a back up, please reach out to our field trip coordinators.
March 3, 2017
We have been putting the final touches on our Regatta Project with Julian's mom. To cover the costs of the materials and the framing of the masterpiece, we would appreciate your donation ($15 per family). Please paypal your donation to sungmoon@gmail.com.
Bel Aire school launched the second mini dive sessions this week. Ask your child about his/her experiences thus far.
Liberia:
Once again our school is working to raise money for our sister school in Monrovia, Liberia. In years past we have helped them to build a well on their campus, stock a school library, compile learning packets during the Ebola outbreak, and buy a school bus to transport students safely to school.
This year we are raising money to help bring technology to their school. Currently they have no Internet nor computers. There is a classroom competition at Bel Aire to see which class can raise the most money. Our goal is to raise $6,500 by March 24. Currently, we have raised $800.
There are collection envelopes in each classroom, and students may bring cash or checks payable to the Rotary Club of Tiburon Belvedere Foundation. If you prefer to donate by credit card, please visit The Liberia Project website. You can also learn more about the history of the project there. Thank you for your support!
In science we have been exploring the mystery, “How can you predict when it’s going to storm?” We learned about differences between fair weather clouds and storm clouds, and the role of wind direction in determining whether a rain cloud will pass overhead. You can continue to support your child’s curiosity by looking at clouds together and asking, “What kind of clouds do you think those are? I wonder if it will rain…” Ask your child if they’d like to show you their Storm Spotter’s Guide, a small book they made to help them remember how to use the clouds to predict the weather.
We started our biography unit in Reading Workshop this week. In this unit, students will learn to determine importance, to synthesize, and to analyze critically. This week we have been identifying the traits of our subjects and the challenges they have faced.
February 14, 2017
Dave Nettell of Cooperative Adventures visited us today for a few teamwork challenges. We learned the first 12 of 24 steps of his secret handshake. If students want to learn the rest of the steps, they can watch this video.
Wednesday, February 15 is Western Fair Day! This is a Student Council Activity and all money raised is used to buy things for our school that the student council approves.
Please send in store bought baked goods for our bake sale! They can be dropped off at the office in the morning. The bake sale will take place at 10:15 recess.
At 12:25 recess we will have a photo booth for $1, Cowboy Hats for sale $5, and fun games such as "Pin the mustache on MR. J", "bottle knock", horseshoes, line dancing and more!
Read Across America Week 2017:
Bel Aire is ready to celebrate Read Across America Week and Dr. Seuss's birthday!
•Beginning on Monday, February 27th, we will kick off the week with a local "celebrity" guest reader at the Monday Morning Meeting.
•Tuesday 2/28, students can come to school with crazy hair!
•Wednesday 3/1, we will have a Book Swap Cafe in the library. If you child is interested, please have him/her bring in a book from home that they are finished reading in order to exchange for a gently used book that they would like to read. You may bring in more than one, but we may only have enough for students to exchange for one book only.
•Thursday, 3/2 is Dr. Seuss's birthday! We will celebrate by wearing a pair of our silliest socks and DEAR time in class.
•Friday, 3/3 is dress as your favorite Dr. Seuss or book character day.
Please note, all of these days are optional for your child, but we hope everyone will participate! We will have special guest readers each day on the TV show as well. We also hope that you will make a special effort to read with your child each day this week. It's going to be an exciting time to celebrate our love of reading at Bel Aire!
February 6, 2017
This week our class will hold elections for student council representatives. If your child would like to run for office he/she can write a 1-2 minute speech to give to the class on Wednesday.
Students, remember speeches should be about what qualities you have and would bring to student council. Think about it. Are you a good communicator, organizer, planner, do you like listening to others input and working together? You may not promise things such as pizza every day or pass out treats etc during your speech. Thank you!
The student Council has planned a Western Fair day this Wednesday. Students may wear cowboy/girl hats, boots, Levis, or whatever their interpretation is. There will be Western-themed games and a photo booth and a treat and hat sale (store-bought, nut-free donations eagerly accepted in the school office, please.) The treat sale is held at morning recess: 10:15am. Hats are $5. Students should bring no more than $10, preferably in $1's and quarters.
We had a wonderful field trip last week to visit our local landmarks. Thank you to our chaperones and field trip coordinator, Carolyn Clahan! The students learned a lot about the history of Tiburon. They have each selected a local landmark for further research, and we will be working on landmark projects over the next few weeks.
In math, students are continuing to learn about Multiplication and Area. Your child will be bringing their mid-module assessment home today.
In science we completed our Animals through Time study of habitats and heredity. We began a Stormy Skies unit last week and we are learning about weather, climate, and the water cycle. Last week we explored the mystery, “Where do clouds come from?” Your child observed important clues, such as the fact that water changes from a liquid to a gas (even without boiling!). You can continue to support your child’s curiosity by pointing out water vapor whenever you see it rising off hot water in the kitchen or bath, or pointing out tiny droplets of water forming on a mirror, windows, or glasses.
January 30, 2017
On Wednesday, Bel Aire will be participating in Global School Play Day with schools around Marin and the world. The goal is of course to have fun, but research suggests play is also an important, if not critical part of student learning and development. Here's a TEDx talk by Peter Grey, a researcher who has studied play from a biological perspective. Students are welcome to bring non-violent toys (no weapons), legos, blocks, board games, and puzzles. Students may not bring video games, digital devices, or electronics.
On Thursday we will take a field trip to two of our local landmarks to learn more about local history. If you have not already returned your child's permission slip, please do so as soon as possible. We will be back on campus for lunch, but students should bring an easily portable snack. Thank you to Carolyn Clahan for coordinating chaperones!
Valentine's Day is on February 14. Your child will bring home a class list today. If he/she chooses to make valentines, they should include everyone.
January 14, 2017
Welcome back and happy New Year!
Our class is going to be trying out digital portfolios using Student Stories on Class Dojo. Students will be able to take photos and videos of projects they are proud of and share them with their parents. If you are not already connected to Class Dojo, I will send you an electronic invitation. On a side note, there is a feature on Class Dojo that allows you to message me. I don't check this regularly, and email is the best way to contact me.
In science this week we learned about how people create new breeds of animals by selecting certain traits and only having those animals have babies. Your child learned how the earliest dogs were medium-sized and wolf-like, but using selective breeding, we managed to get many different dog breeds, from small dogs to big dogs, spotted dogs to plain dogs.
What makes selection possible is the fact that no two individuals are ever exactly alike--there are always small differences, and yet parents do pass on most of their traits to their offspring. You can help reinforce this learning at home by helping your child to notice these small differences in physical traits between siblings, cousins, and other family members, as well as to contemplate which traits have been passed on from one generation to the next.
In writing workshop, we have been working hard on our expert books. Writers have been researching their chosen topics to add to their prior knowledge. They have been organizing their information into chapters and they are working on publishing their books using Google Docs.
We are starting a new unit in reading workshop. Students are reading series books in small groups. They will be building on their character inferencing work from earlier in the year, and lifting it to a higher level. As the groups read the second and third books in the series, they will learn to revise theories and provide relevant textual evidence. Students should be about halfway to their AR goals by now.
On a personal note, my husband and I are expecting our first child this summer. We are very excited. Everything is going well, and I plan to finish the year with this wonderful class.
December 14, 2016
Bel Aire Holiday Performance - December 15th Students in the Bel Aire Choir and Percussion Ensemble will be performing Thursday morning for their families at 8:30. The Bel Aire staff and students will get to see their performance that same morning after recess.
Next week students are invited to participate in “Spirit Day" activities, planned by our student council.
Dec. 19, Merry Monday Morning:
Wear your PJ's
$1 donation to dance at the "Jingle Bell Rock-Around-the-Clock Sock Hop" - Lunch recess
Dec. 20, Tuesday Santa's Workshop:
Dress like Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, reindeer, etc.
Lunch Recess - holiday goodie sale
Dec. 21, Winter Wonderland Wednesday:
Wear your favorite jackets, scarves, and knit hats.
Dec. 22, Color Block Thursday:
Wear your favorite holiday color or outfit, think red, green, blue, gold, white, silver! Anything festive to kick off the holiday break!
Lunch recess: holiday goodie sale.
Our class Winter Party will be on Tuesday, Dec. 22nd at 11:00. We are all looking forward to celebrating this festive time. Many thanks to the parents who are helping organize this special class event.
Winter Break - No School from Friday, Dec. 23 - Monday, Jan. 9th. School resumes on Tuesday, January 10th.
Students are beginning to learn about area in math. Parent tips for Module 4 are attached.
I wish you all a very special holiday season with your loved ones!!
December 1, 2016
I hope that you all had a lovely break!
Ritter House Gift Drive - If you and your family would like to help a family in need through Bel Aire, we are collecting new toys for children. Names and ages are written on snowmen that are hanging in the school office. Your child can choose a “snowman”, bring it home, then return the snowman tag to school with a new, unwrapped gift taped to it. All new toys and gifts need to be received by our office by December 9th so they can be delivered to the Ritter House in time.
Parent-Teacher Conferences - It was wonderful getting to meet and talk with each of you during conference week. I always find the information we share so valuable in working with your children to ensure they have a successful and fun year in 3rd grade.
Math - Dreambox - Students have been introduced to “Dreambox" during math class. They can work independently at school or at home to work on mathematical concepts and skills at their level. This is great for providing remediation as well as enrichment. Dream box is an adaptive program. Students simply login with their AR user name and password and get started solving problems at their “curricular” level. To learn more about this program, go to the RUSD website.
Math Facts - Students should be practicing and memorizing multiplication facts through 9.
Typing Practice - Some parents had questions about students learning to type at school. Unfortunately, we aren’t able to set aside time to practice this skill during the school day. If your child ever has the time and/or desire to practice at home, there are many great sites you can find that help kids learn the Home Keys and give them practice lessons to use on keyboards.
AR- All students have made new AR reading goals for Trimester 2. They need to reach their goals by March 3, 2017.
Overdue Library Books -Please check with your child to see if they have any overdue books. Some students need to return books that were checked out in September!!
Miwok - We were treated to a special visit by Ann Rovetta, a local artist and historian who shared with us ancient Miwok legends about the many different acorns found in California. The children then made their own “Miwok dice” out of acorns and clay. We also wove baskets this week. Many thanks to Amy Lapp, Debbie Soofer, Bojana Rnjak, Sofia Nadjibi, Derya Seyalioglu, and Jennifer Saavedra for their help with this project. The students are proud of their baskets and can appreciate the hard work and talent the Miwoks put into basket weaving.
November 13, 2016
I hope you and your families have enjoyed Veteran's Weekend. Our class donated 22 pounds of Halloween candy, 1 toothbrush, and many heartfelt cards to the men and women serving in our military through Operation Gratitude. Thank you for supporting out project.
Parent-Teacher Conferences are this week. I look forward to meeting with you all soon. Please note that dismissal time is 11:50 every day. Volunteer Spot will email you a few days before your conference with a reminder.
AR Celebration: The children were treated to an assembly, celebrating all students who met their AR goals for Trimester 1. We all enjoyed the juggling entertainment.
Spirit Week November 14 - 18: To encourage and promote Student Council's fundraising campaign “Pennies for Patients", there will be a special spirit day each day next week, starting with “Pajamas and Pennies Day” tomorrow!
November 3, 2016
Accelerated Reading- Friday is the last day for students to meet their 1st trimester AR goal.
Pennies for Patients- Your child brought home a flyer about a Bel Aire sponsored fundraising event called Pennies for Patients. Each Bel Aire student will be bringing home a small cardboard box for collecting pennies or other loose change. There is also a larger box in our classroom. Money will be collected from November 1st to the 18th. This is a school-wide fundraiser and not a classroom competition. The school's goal is to raise $2500. Thank you for considering this worthy cause.
Please see the attached letter for more information, or visit the Bel Aire website: http://events.lls.org/pages/gba/Bel-Aire-Elementary-School-2017
Operation Gratitude - If your child would like to donate extra Halloween candy to our troops, please send it in tomorrow. Thank you!
Upcoming Dates:
Lastly, you will receive report cards during parent and teacher conference time. Here is a link with information about the report card: http://newreportcard.weebly.com/
October 20, 2016
November 14 - 18th: Parent- Teacher Conferences If you haven’t had a chance to sign up for a conference in November, please do so. I’m looking forward to meeting with each of you to talk about how your child is doing in school and how we can work together to make sure everyone is having the best year possible in 3rd grade! Sign up here.
The RUSD Book Fair is next week, Oct. 24th - 28th at Bel Aire in the Multi Purpose Room. Proceeds from this event benefit all three of our schools. Book sales start Monday from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Family nights are Tuesday, Oct. 25th and Wednesday, Oct. 26th from 5:00 -7:00 p.m. with pizza, drinks and snacks. On Tuesday, Eric Elfman, author of the popular Accelerati Trilogy series will be presenting and signing books at 6:00 p.m. On Wednesday night Elizabeth Singer Hunt, author of the beloved Secret Agent Jack Stalwart will be signing books at 6:00 p.m. On Thursday and Friday come to the Del Mar Pop Up shop from 7:45 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday from 7:45 a.m. – noon. Come support your schools and start your holiday shopping early!
On Monday, the staff attended a Math professional development. At this meeting we decided it would best serve our kids to complete Eureka Module 3 before Module 2 as it adds on to the concept of multiplication that we have been working on in Module 1. Please see the attached parent letter for this Module. We will complete Module 2 later this year.
Beauty and the Beast
Bel Aire Play Parent Meeting
Evening: Nov. 1, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
OR
Morning: Nov. 2, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
If your child is even remotely interested in participating in the Bel Aire production of "Beauty and the Beast," at least one parent must attend one of the mandatory parent meetings. You will learn all about the production, dates, time commitment, volunteering, etc. All student applications will be handed out at these meetings.
Halloween Parade - 1:15 p.m. Parents are welcome to attend. If parents choose to dress up, we ask that you do not wear masks, makeup, or anything else that might obscure your identity. And, no clown costumes. Thanks!
Thank you to Debbie Soofer and Bojana Rnjak for planning a Halloween party for our class following the parade! Parents are welcome to attend the party. Look for an email from Debbie and Bojana with more details about the party.
Tomorrow is Sports Day!
October 12, 2016
We enjoyed our first field trip on Monday to the Marin Museum of the American Indian. We made ducks out of tule reeds, drilled holes in shells, and played traditional Miwok children's games. Our docent taught us Miwok words and songs, and we learned how the Miwok people utilized the natural resources in Marin. It was an engaging hands-on learning experience to launch our unit. Thank you to our wonderful chaperones and field trip coordinators!
This week in science we solved the mystery of “Why do trees grow so tall” (Answer: to hog as much light as possible!) Your child learned how badly plants need sunlight; without it, seedlings will even grow taller before dying, searching for the light. Take a walk with your child sometime this week and together pay attention to the trees you see. Ponder aloud, “Why do trees put so many of their leaves up on top?” If possible, visit a forest when trees have all their leaves and observe how dark it is inside the forest. Why is it dark in the forest? (Trees are so efficient at spreading their leaves to catch sunlight that very few patches of sunlight reach the forest floor.)
In Math, we have finished Module 1 and we are starting Module 2. Please see the attached Parent Letter about the concepts that will be covered. The class was also signed up for Zearn.org this week. This is a great resource as it is aligned with the Eureka curriculum. Currently, Module 1 is open for review and Module 2 is open for support. If your child is absent during a Math lesson they can access a version of that lesson through Zearn.
The fire department will host its annual open house this Saturday. Please see the attached flyer for details.
Upcoming dates:
Thursday, October 13: Picture Make-up Day
Monday, October 17: Staff Development Day
Tuesday, October 18: School Play Information Meeting for students at lunch
Friday, October 21: Spirit Day - Sports Teams
October 5, 2016
We are attending our first field trip on Monday. We will be visiting the Marin Museum of the American Indian in Novato to launch our study of the Early Coast Miwoks. Please return your child's permission slip as soon as possible. Students will need to bring a lunch. Most of the field trip will be outside, so please have your child wear layers and comfortable shoes.
This week in science we solved the mystery of “Do plants eat dirt?” Answer: not really! Your child learned how a plant’s roots soak up mostly water, but also tiny amounts of salty substances--minerals. (Plants’ other needs will be introduced in future lessons.) In class we also built a “Root Viewer,” and we are observing the daily changes to our radish seeds.
Dr. Gold visited our class for a lesson on worry and good voices (positive self talk).
We had our first art class with Ms. Caldwell this week.
Today was the start of mini dives. Each student will be attending their fall mini dive class on Wednesday afternoons.
Family Challenge Night is tomorrow at 5:00. No need to register.
September 29, 2016
Students took their first personal narratives through the revising process last week. They worked to add in descriptive details, dialogue, thoughts, and feelings. This week students are applying all they have learned to draft a second personal narrative. Next week, they will select one of their narratives to fancy up and publish. It is exciting to see their growth and effort as writers already!
Students are about to finish Module 1 in Eureka. They have been learning about properties of multiplication and division and solving problems with units 2-5 and 10. At the end of next week, they will take the End of Module test. Please see the attachment for tips and sample problems.
This week we began our study of the incredible world of plants! We are exploring the surprising idea that plants can actually move around. The primary way they do this is by dispersing their seeds. Your child chose one of three seed models to build, and tomorrow we will drop the seeds from a height, in order to avoid the dreaded "zone of darkness" (i.e. the shade!)
We had a lot of fun during our first visit to the design lab this week to build puff rockets. Students build control rockets and then made modifications to try to increase the height of the flight.
The 4th annual Run For Reed Schools is on Wednesday, October 5th at Blackie’s Pasture. Details and registration here.
Family Challenge Night is on Thursday, October 6th. There will be a short show with The Paper Airplane Guy + guided paper airplane assembly tutorials, plus a series of airplane toss challenges. The event will begin promptly at 5:30 in the MPR. John Collins AKA Paper Airplane Guy will give a short demonstration and walk people through the process of building the World Record Paper Airplane. At 6:00 we will gather on the blacktop. The lower blacktop will have assembly tables and additional instruction from the Paper Airplane Guy and some volunteers. Families can also enjoy food and music on the upper blacktop. At 6:30 we will run a series of contests: 3rd graders, 4th graders, 5th graders, and Parents can compete in a series of paper airplane tosses, and the winners from each group can participate in the final championship challenge!
Lost and found items are donated at the end of the month, which is tomorrow. Please remind your child to check in front of the office for any missing items.
September 21, 2016
Character Day is tomorrow! Over 75,000 groups in 96 countries have already signed up for the third annual Character Day. We will be doing special character building activities throughout the day.
The Paper Airplane Guy (aka John Collins) is a current world record holder in paper airplane distance. All students enjoyed the assembly today, where Mr. Collins shared some of his skills and excitement with students.
At the Family Challenge evening event on October 6, Mr. Collins will host a table with supplies and personalized coaching for Bel Aire families to make impressive paper airplanes. Mr. Collins considers building paper airplanes part of the “maker” movement. According to Collins, it’s a “structured way of thinking… [and] one of the most inexpensive science labs on the planet… It’s fun. It’s active. It’s creative. It helps develop three dimensional thinking, fine motor skills, direction following abilities, and memorization. The most important thing is that it provides an entry point into thinking like a scientist.”
Anti-Bullying Pledge - Reed Union School District Our school community is committed to making schools a safe and caring environment for all students. We will treat each other with respect and refuse to tolerate bullying of any kind. Please sign and return the attached Anit-Bullying Agreement as soon as possible - thank you!
Comfort Kits If your child hasn’t brought in their “comfort kit”, please do so ASAP.
If your child would like to bring in his/her own set of headphones rather than the ones provided by our school, they are welcome to bring them and leave them in their desk for the year.
Mid- Trimester Reports Students who are not meeting grade-level expectations (including classroom behavior, organization, etc) will be receiving a Mid-Tri Report by the end of the month. This is simply to inform you that we are working together and providing support to your child in the area they are currently being challenged in.
Accelerated Reader (AR) Frequently Asked Questions
What is my child's AR goal?
All first trimester goals are initially set at 5 points. As quiz scores begin to come in, I can see the trends in your child's reading habits, and comprehension. I meet with each child to re-evaluate the 5 point goal to ensure your child is properly challenged.
How can I check my child's quiz results and progress toward his or her goal?
Use AR Home Connect. Enter in your child's username and password to see quiz results, and progress towards his or her goal. Your child's username and password were sent home in the blue homework folder on September 3rd.
Help! My child has been reading a book for 3 weeks and I just realized it is not in the AR book finder! How can my child take a quiz and earn points for this book?
Did you spell the name of the book EXACTLY right? The AR book finder is not like Google...mistype one letter and it has no idea what you are looking for. Yes, I typed it correctly: If a book truly is not part of the AR program (again, most are) there is still hope! Children can create their own quizzes for books not in the AR database, and turn them in to me for points. This is not ideal however, since having a child create a quiz is not a valid measure of how well the child comprehended the book (unless I know the book inside and out and can effectively evaluate the created quiz). So...ALWAYS CHECK THE AR BOOK FINDER to see if there is a quiz before you start reading.
My child said he is supposed to read books that are either "yellow, red, or green." What does that mean?
Different book levels have different colors assigned to them. Book levels 2.0 - 2.9 are yellow, 3.0 - 3.9 books are red, 4.0 - 4.9 books are green, and 5.0 - 5.9 are orange.
Children brought home their mid-module math assessment in their blue folders yesterday. Please review the assessment and encourage your child to ask questions and ask for help if there is a concept they have not mastered yet. Let me and/or Ms. Burgess know if you have any questions.
We have been learning how to develop a growth mindset in class. This week we learned about the power of yet. Ask your child "How can you improve the phrase 'I can't do this?"
You and your child can view his/her spelling test results at spellingcity.com. Your child will log in with the same username and password as AR and Home Connect.
September 6, 2016
I look forward to seeing you tomorrow at Back to School Night! It will start at 6:00 in the MPR.
Picture Day is on Thursday. Your child brought an order form home on Friday.
You are invited to attend the fall third grade level parent meeting with Dr. Allan Gold, who, with your help, will paint a developmental picture of third graders and what to expect this year with their social, emotional, and academic growth. During the session you'll have an opportunity to discuss questions, issues, and concerns, share ideas, and get to know other parents with children the same age. The meeting will be from 8:30 to 10:00 on Wednesday, September 14th in the Staff Development room at Bel Aire. We hope to see you there.
Student Comfort Kits - Please Return by September 30
On Friday, Comfort Kit instructions and ZipLoc baggies were sent home with your child. Comfort Kits are to be used in the event of an emergency that requires students to shelter in a place of safety for an extended period of time. The contents of the Comfort Kit serve the purpose of entertaining and reassuring your child while s/he awaits your arrival after an emergency. Refer to the Comfort Kit instructions for further details. Please remember to write, in permanent marker, your child's name, teacher's name, and room number on the outside of the baggie. Comfort Kits are due back in your child's classroom by Friday, September 30th.
Thank you for your participation!
August 31, 2016
Things are going very well in C-1. We are all getting to know each other and settling into life at Bel Aire.
If you would like to order Scholastic books this month, our class code for online ordering is LJGGD.
On Friday, we will be personalizing our Writing Workshop Notebooks. Please help your child to find pictures, photos, stickers, magazine art, etc. that reflect what they enjoy, as well as people and places special to them. Please only send in pictures that are okay to cut and paste onto a notebook. These will provide inspiration for drafts that will grow into wonderful writing pieces. Thank you so much for your help in gathering these pictures! As you look through photos with your child, please discuss special memories. This can bring up some great stories. Photos on computer paper stick to the notebooks better than thick photo paper. Students should bring in their materials for personalizing their notebooks on Friday.
In mathematics students are learning about multiplication and division. They have learned to play circles and stars in class, and directions are included for reference below for homework.
Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. We are off to a great start- I'm very proud of all that the students have accomplished already.
See you at Back to School Night on Wednesday at 6.
August 18, 2016
Welcome to third grade! I am delighted your child is in my class. This will be my tenth year as a classroom teacher, and my fifth year teaching 3rd grade at Bel Aire. I am happy to be back and excited to get to know my new students!
Please plan on attending Back-to-School Night on Wednesday, September 7th at 6:00. This will give us all a chance to meet one another, and kick off a great school year! I will be going over class details at that time. If you are interested in volunteering in the classroom, please stay tuned for more information regarding how to sign up.
Please have your child find five objects that he/she would like to share for a “Paper Bag Biography” activity on Monday. The objects should all fit within the paper bag I sent home with your child today. The objects may include a small stuffed animal, trophy, special card from a collection, art project, photograph, medal, book, etc. These are just a few suggestions.
Please return the Student Responsible Technology Use Agreement, the Elementary Family Handbook Acknowledgement Form, and the Parent Questionnaire by Monday.
Please send me a quick email me as soon as possible so that I can begin to create a group email list for our class. Please include one fun fact about your child. Also, if there is more than one email that you would like to submit, please indicate that in your reply. This quick activity will also tell me that you have read this letter.
Lastly, if you would like to get in touch with me, the best way is through email. I check my email before and after school.
I am looking forward to working with you and your child this year!
Sincerely,
Jessie San Galli
jsangalli@reedschools.org
Bel Aire Open House and Art Show - Wednesday, April 26, 6:00-7:30pm
The whole family is welcome. Come tour our classroom, visit the Bel Aire Art Show in the MPR, and bid on the classroom art project.
We will be taking a field trip to Reed School on Monday, May 1st to visit next year's incoming class. The following day, second graders will visit us and learn about their future school from this year's third graders. Your child will bring a permission slip home on Monday. Please sign it and return it as soon as possible.
Bel Aire's Got Talent - If your child would like to participate in the talent show, he/she will need to complete an application form and turn it in to the office by Friday, April 28. Late applications will not be accepted. Extra applications are available in our classroom. The talent show will be the last week of school.
Next week we will be taking the language arts SBAC tests on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday on iPads. We have been reviewing the practice tests this week, and students are familiar with the tools and format of the test. We will take the math portions of the SBAC on May 9 and 11. There will also be make-up dates if your child is ill. The test is not timed, and students will have all the time they need to do their best work. As usual, students should get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy breakfast. You should receive your child's results in the mail during the summer.
Upcoming Dates:
April 21: Star Wars/ Outer Space Spirit Day - tomorrow!
April 24-28: ELA Testing Week
April 26: Open House and Art Fair
May 15-19: Math Testing Week
*Make-ups will be available during testing
May 29: Memorial Day
May 29-June 2: Dive Deep Week
June 8: Field Day
June 9: Last Day of School
March 31, 2017
Good Afternoon & Happy Spring!
Art submissions for the Bel Aire Art Fair are due next Friday, April 7th.
All 3rd graders will begin practicing for the Smarter Balanced (SBAC) test next week. We will work through these practice tests together so that students are familiar and comfortable with the test format on their iPads. Students will need headphones for portions of the test. They may use the headphones the school provides or bring their own from home if they prefer.
In math, students continue to work on measurement (including time), estimating, and rounding.
Last week in writing, students finished and filmed their persuasive speeches on their iPads. This week we began a new opinion piece. Students are writing letters to the USPS Stamp Advisory Committee with their opinions about who should be honored on new postage stamps.
We continued our study of forces in science this week, this time by considering some of the forces involved in designing a bridge. We learned about the challenges engineers had to overcome to design and build the Golden Gate Bridge. Your child also designed and tested their own bridge made of paper.
We began a fun new genre in reading workshop! Students are learning to look for clues and notice patterns in mysteries.
AR benchmarks for the trimester are below.
By 3/31 30% of goal
By 4/7 40% of goal
By 4/21 50% of goal
By 4/28 60% of goal
By 5/5 70% of goal
By 5/12 80% of goal
By 5/19 90% of goal
By 5/26 100% of goal
March 24, 2017
This year, Bel Aire will be having an art fair on the night of Open House. All students will be showcasing one favorite piece of art from the year. It can be something they created with Ms. Caldwell, with me, or at home. Their selection needs to be turned in to me by April 7th. See attached flyer.
This week in science we started our unit on forces, called “Invisible Forces.” Your child learned how almost any action one can imagine consists of a push or a pull, or as scientists call them: a force.
In class your child was presented with a list of action verbs like “drag,” “lift,” “press,” and asked to decide whether they were pushes or pulls. You can help support your child’s learning by continuing this at home. Try applying it to actions that might be of personal interest, like the actions involved in a favorite sport (a throw, a hit, a slam dunk, a tackle, etc.).
We have been learning more about digital citizenship. This week we learned about the rings of responsibility including self, friends and family, as well as community.
In writing we are putting the final touches on our persuasive speeches and filming them.
March 16, 2017
Field Trip Friday
Tomorrow we are off to the Academy of Sciences. Students will need comfortable shoes, a jacket, and a lunch. They will bring their backpacks on the field trip with only the essentials. If your child needs items for after school activities they should leave them in a separate bag. We will be gone most of the day.
Math Update:
We've begun a new unit in math on Place Value and Problem Solving with Units of Measure. I am attaching a tip sheet that shows a little more about the unit. It's still important for your students to keep up with their multiplication and division facts.
Liberia Reminder:
We are still collecting donations towards the $6500 goal, to help bring technology to our sister school in Liberia. Currently they have no internet nor computers.
There are collection envelopes in our classroom, and students may bring cash or checks payable to the Rotary Club of Tiburon Belvedere Foundation. If you prefer to donate by credit card, please visit The Liberia Project website. You can also learn more about the history of the project there. Next week will be our Liberia Spirit Week! See the attached flyer for more information! Thank you for your support!
March 10, 2017
We had a wonderful 2nd trimester! It has been a joy to see all of the students grow so much both academically and socially. Report cards will be mailed out on Monday.
We started a new writing unit this week. Students are learning to be effective opinion writers. They are developing brave, bold thesis statements and brainstorming supportive reasons.
This week in science we explored the mystery, “Why are some places always hot?” We learned about the idea of ‘climate’--that in every place on earth, the weather tends to act a certain way over the year. Your child learned how there are five basic climate zones: polar, temperate, mild, desert, and tropical. You can continue to support your child’s curiosity by talking about a friend or family member who lives in a different climate, and discussing how that climate affects their life. Or look for aspects of our local environment which show what kind of climate we live in.
Next Friday, we are off to the Academy of Sciences for a field trip! All of the students have returned their permission slips. Thank you! Students will need to bring a lunch from home. Thank you to our field trip coordinators, Kim Sichel and Carolyn Clahan for coordinating chaperones! I appreciate that so many parents offered to help chaperone! Unfortunately we are limited on the number of chaperones we are allowed for this trip. If you are not sure if you are chaperoning, or if you would like to be a back up, please reach out to our field trip coordinators.
March 3, 2017
We have been putting the final touches on our Regatta Project with Julian's mom. To cover the costs of the materials and the framing of the masterpiece, we would appreciate your donation ($15 per family). Please paypal your donation to sungmoon@gmail.com.
Bel Aire school launched the second mini dive sessions this week. Ask your child about his/her experiences thus far.
Liberia:
Once again our school is working to raise money for our sister school in Monrovia, Liberia. In years past we have helped them to build a well on their campus, stock a school library, compile learning packets during the Ebola outbreak, and buy a school bus to transport students safely to school.
This year we are raising money to help bring technology to their school. Currently they have no Internet nor computers. There is a classroom competition at Bel Aire to see which class can raise the most money. Our goal is to raise $6,500 by March 24. Currently, we have raised $800.
There are collection envelopes in each classroom, and students may bring cash or checks payable to the Rotary Club of Tiburon Belvedere Foundation. If you prefer to donate by credit card, please visit The Liberia Project website. You can also learn more about the history of the project there. Thank you for your support!
In science we have been exploring the mystery, “How can you predict when it’s going to storm?” We learned about differences between fair weather clouds and storm clouds, and the role of wind direction in determining whether a rain cloud will pass overhead. You can continue to support your child’s curiosity by looking at clouds together and asking, “What kind of clouds do you think those are? I wonder if it will rain…” Ask your child if they’d like to show you their Storm Spotter’s Guide, a small book they made to help them remember how to use the clouds to predict the weather.
We started our biography unit in Reading Workshop this week. In this unit, students will learn to determine importance, to synthesize, and to analyze critically. This week we have been identifying the traits of our subjects and the challenges they have faced.
February 14, 2017
Dave Nettell of Cooperative Adventures visited us today for a few teamwork challenges. We learned the first 12 of 24 steps of his secret handshake. If students want to learn the rest of the steps, they can watch this video.
Wednesday, February 15 is Western Fair Day! This is a Student Council Activity and all money raised is used to buy things for our school that the student council approves.
Please send in store bought baked goods for our bake sale! They can be dropped off at the office in the morning. The bake sale will take place at 10:15 recess.
At 12:25 recess we will have a photo booth for $1, Cowboy Hats for sale $5, and fun games such as "Pin the mustache on MR. J", "bottle knock", horseshoes, line dancing and more!
Read Across America Week 2017:
Bel Aire is ready to celebrate Read Across America Week and Dr. Seuss's birthday!
•Beginning on Monday, February 27th, we will kick off the week with a local "celebrity" guest reader at the Monday Morning Meeting.
•Tuesday 2/28, students can come to school with crazy hair!
•Wednesday 3/1, we will have a Book Swap Cafe in the library. If you child is interested, please have him/her bring in a book from home that they are finished reading in order to exchange for a gently used book that they would like to read. You may bring in more than one, but we may only have enough for students to exchange for one book only.
•Thursday, 3/2 is Dr. Seuss's birthday! We will celebrate by wearing a pair of our silliest socks and DEAR time in class.
•Friday, 3/3 is dress as your favorite Dr. Seuss or book character day.
Please note, all of these days are optional for your child, but we hope everyone will participate! We will have special guest readers each day on the TV show as well. We also hope that you will make a special effort to read with your child each day this week. It's going to be an exciting time to celebrate our love of reading at Bel Aire!
February 6, 2017
This week our class will hold elections for student council representatives. If your child would like to run for office he/she can write a 1-2 minute speech to give to the class on Wednesday.
Students, remember speeches should be about what qualities you have and would bring to student council. Think about it. Are you a good communicator, organizer, planner, do you like listening to others input and working together? You may not promise things such as pizza every day or pass out treats etc during your speech. Thank you!
The student Council has planned a Western Fair day this Wednesday. Students may wear cowboy/girl hats, boots, Levis, or whatever their interpretation is. There will be Western-themed games and a photo booth and a treat and hat sale (store-bought, nut-free donations eagerly accepted in the school office, please.) The treat sale is held at morning recess: 10:15am. Hats are $5. Students should bring no more than $10, preferably in $1's and quarters.
We had a wonderful field trip last week to visit our local landmarks. Thank you to our chaperones and field trip coordinator, Carolyn Clahan! The students learned a lot about the history of Tiburon. They have each selected a local landmark for further research, and we will be working on landmark projects over the next few weeks.
In math, students are continuing to learn about Multiplication and Area. Your child will be bringing their mid-module assessment home today.
In science we completed our Animals through Time study of habitats and heredity. We began a Stormy Skies unit last week and we are learning about weather, climate, and the water cycle. Last week we explored the mystery, “Where do clouds come from?” Your child observed important clues, such as the fact that water changes from a liquid to a gas (even without boiling!). You can continue to support your child’s curiosity by pointing out water vapor whenever you see it rising off hot water in the kitchen or bath, or pointing out tiny droplets of water forming on a mirror, windows, or glasses.
January 30, 2017
On Wednesday, Bel Aire will be participating in Global School Play Day with schools around Marin and the world. The goal is of course to have fun, but research suggests play is also an important, if not critical part of student learning and development. Here's a TEDx talk by Peter Grey, a researcher who has studied play from a biological perspective. Students are welcome to bring non-violent toys (no weapons), legos, blocks, board games, and puzzles. Students may not bring video games, digital devices, or electronics.
On Thursday we will take a field trip to two of our local landmarks to learn more about local history. If you have not already returned your child's permission slip, please do so as soon as possible. We will be back on campus for lunch, but students should bring an easily portable snack. Thank you to Carolyn Clahan for coordinating chaperones!
Valentine's Day is on February 14. Your child will bring home a class list today. If he/she chooses to make valentines, they should include everyone.
January 14, 2017
Welcome back and happy New Year!
Our class is going to be trying out digital portfolios using Student Stories on Class Dojo. Students will be able to take photos and videos of projects they are proud of and share them with their parents. If you are not already connected to Class Dojo, I will send you an electronic invitation. On a side note, there is a feature on Class Dojo that allows you to message me. I don't check this regularly, and email is the best way to contact me.
In science this week we learned about how people create new breeds of animals by selecting certain traits and only having those animals have babies. Your child learned how the earliest dogs were medium-sized and wolf-like, but using selective breeding, we managed to get many different dog breeds, from small dogs to big dogs, spotted dogs to plain dogs.
What makes selection possible is the fact that no two individuals are ever exactly alike--there are always small differences, and yet parents do pass on most of their traits to their offspring. You can help reinforce this learning at home by helping your child to notice these small differences in physical traits between siblings, cousins, and other family members, as well as to contemplate which traits have been passed on from one generation to the next.
In writing workshop, we have been working hard on our expert books. Writers have been researching their chosen topics to add to their prior knowledge. They have been organizing their information into chapters and they are working on publishing their books using Google Docs.
We are starting a new unit in reading workshop. Students are reading series books in small groups. They will be building on their character inferencing work from earlier in the year, and lifting it to a higher level. As the groups read the second and third books in the series, they will learn to revise theories and provide relevant textual evidence. Students should be about halfway to their AR goals by now.
On a personal note, my husband and I are expecting our first child this summer. We are very excited. Everything is going well, and I plan to finish the year with this wonderful class.
December 14, 2016
Bel Aire Holiday Performance - December 15th Students in the Bel Aire Choir and Percussion Ensemble will be performing Thursday morning for their families at 8:30. The Bel Aire staff and students will get to see their performance that same morning after recess.
Next week students are invited to participate in “Spirit Day" activities, planned by our student council.
Dec. 19, Merry Monday Morning:
Wear your PJ's
$1 donation to dance at the "Jingle Bell Rock-Around-the-Clock Sock Hop" - Lunch recess
Dec. 20, Tuesday Santa's Workshop:
Dress like Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, reindeer, etc.
Lunch Recess - holiday goodie sale
Dec. 21, Winter Wonderland Wednesday:
Wear your favorite jackets, scarves, and knit hats.
Dec. 22, Color Block Thursday:
Wear your favorite holiday color or outfit, think red, green, blue, gold, white, silver! Anything festive to kick off the holiday break!
Lunch recess: holiday goodie sale.
Our class Winter Party will be on Tuesday, Dec. 22nd at 11:00. We are all looking forward to celebrating this festive time. Many thanks to the parents who are helping organize this special class event.
Winter Break - No School from Friday, Dec. 23 - Monday, Jan. 9th. School resumes on Tuesday, January 10th.
Students are beginning to learn about area in math. Parent tips for Module 4 are attached.
I wish you all a very special holiday season with your loved ones!!
December 1, 2016
I hope that you all had a lovely break!
Ritter House Gift Drive - If you and your family would like to help a family in need through Bel Aire, we are collecting new toys for children. Names and ages are written on snowmen that are hanging in the school office. Your child can choose a “snowman”, bring it home, then return the snowman tag to school with a new, unwrapped gift taped to it. All new toys and gifts need to be received by our office by December 9th so they can be delivered to the Ritter House in time.
Parent-Teacher Conferences - It was wonderful getting to meet and talk with each of you during conference week. I always find the information we share so valuable in working with your children to ensure they have a successful and fun year in 3rd grade.
Math - Dreambox - Students have been introduced to “Dreambox" during math class. They can work independently at school or at home to work on mathematical concepts and skills at their level. This is great for providing remediation as well as enrichment. Dream box is an adaptive program. Students simply login with their AR user name and password and get started solving problems at their “curricular” level. To learn more about this program, go to the RUSD website.
Math Facts - Students should be practicing and memorizing multiplication facts through 9.
Typing Practice - Some parents had questions about students learning to type at school. Unfortunately, we aren’t able to set aside time to practice this skill during the school day. If your child ever has the time and/or desire to practice at home, there are many great sites you can find that help kids learn the Home Keys and give them practice lessons to use on keyboards.
AR- All students have made new AR reading goals for Trimester 2. They need to reach their goals by March 3, 2017.
Overdue Library Books -Please check with your child to see if they have any overdue books. Some students need to return books that were checked out in September!!
Miwok - We were treated to a special visit by Ann Rovetta, a local artist and historian who shared with us ancient Miwok legends about the many different acorns found in California. The children then made their own “Miwok dice” out of acorns and clay. We also wove baskets this week. Many thanks to Amy Lapp, Debbie Soofer, Bojana Rnjak, Sofia Nadjibi, Derya Seyalioglu, and Jennifer Saavedra for their help with this project. The students are proud of their baskets and can appreciate the hard work and talent the Miwoks put into basket weaving.
November 13, 2016
I hope you and your families have enjoyed Veteran's Weekend. Our class donated 22 pounds of Halloween candy, 1 toothbrush, and many heartfelt cards to the men and women serving in our military through Operation Gratitude. Thank you for supporting out project.
Parent-Teacher Conferences are this week. I look forward to meeting with you all soon. Please note that dismissal time is 11:50 every day. Volunteer Spot will email you a few days before your conference with a reminder.
AR Celebration: The children were treated to an assembly, celebrating all students who met their AR goals for Trimester 1. We all enjoyed the juggling entertainment.
Spirit Week November 14 - 18: To encourage and promote Student Council's fundraising campaign “Pennies for Patients", there will be a special spirit day each day next week, starting with “Pajamas and Pennies Day” tomorrow!
November 3, 2016
Accelerated Reading- Friday is the last day for students to meet their 1st trimester AR goal.
Pennies for Patients- Your child brought home a flyer about a Bel Aire sponsored fundraising event called Pennies for Patients. Each Bel Aire student will be bringing home a small cardboard box for collecting pennies or other loose change. There is also a larger box in our classroom. Money will be collected from November 1st to the 18th. This is a school-wide fundraiser and not a classroom competition. The school's goal is to raise $2500. Thank you for considering this worthy cause.
Please see the attached letter for more information, or visit the Bel Aire website: http://events.lls.org/pages/gba/Bel-Aire-Elementary-School-2017
Operation Gratitude - If your child would like to donate extra Halloween candy to our troops, please send it in tomorrow. Thank you!
Upcoming Dates:
- November 11th: Veteran's Day & No School
- November 14th-18th: Conference Week with an 11:50 dismissal all week
- November 22nd: Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day
- November 23rd-25th: Thanksgiving Break
Lastly, you will receive report cards during parent and teacher conference time. Here is a link with information about the report card: http://newreportcard.weebly.com/
October 20, 2016
November 14 - 18th: Parent- Teacher Conferences If you haven’t had a chance to sign up for a conference in November, please do so. I’m looking forward to meeting with each of you to talk about how your child is doing in school and how we can work together to make sure everyone is having the best year possible in 3rd grade! Sign up here.
The RUSD Book Fair is next week, Oct. 24th - 28th at Bel Aire in the Multi Purpose Room. Proceeds from this event benefit all three of our schools. Book sales start Monday from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Family nights are Tuesday, Oct. 25th and Wednesday, Oct. 26th from 5:00 -7:00 p.m. with pizza, drinks and snacks. On Tuesday, Eric Elfman, author of the popular Accelerati Trilogy series will be presenting and signing books at 6:00 p.m. On Wednesday night Elizabeth Singer Hunt, author of the beloved Secret Agent Jack Stalwart will be signing books at 6:00 p.m. On Thursday and Friday come to the Del Mar Pop Up shop from 7:45 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday from 7:45 a.m. – noon. Come support your schools and start your holiday shopping early!
On Monday, the staff attended a Math professional development. At this meeting we decided it would best serve our kids to complete Eureka Module 3 before Module 2 as it adds on to the concept of multiplication that we have been working on in Module 1. Please see the attached parent letter for this Module. We will complete Module 2 later this year.
Beauty and the Beast
Bel Aire Play Parent Meeting
Evening: Nov. 1, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
OR
Morning: Nov. 2, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
If your child is even remotely interested in participating in the Bel Aire production of "Beauty and the Beast," at least one parent must attend one of the mandatory parent meetings. You will learn all about the production, dates, time commitment, volunteering, etc. All student applications will be handed out at these meetings.
Halloween Parade - 1:15 p.m. Parents are welcome to attend. If parents choose to dress up, we ask that you do not wear masks, makeup, or anything else that might obscure your identity. And, no clown costumes. Thanks!
Thank you to Debbie Soofer and Bojana Rnjak for planning a Halloween party for our class following the parade! Parents are welcome to attend the party. Look for an email from Debbie and Bojana with more details about the party.
Tomorrow is Sports Day!
October 12, 2016
We enjoyed our first field trip on Monday to the Marin Museum of the American Indian. We made ducks out of tule reeds, drilled holes in shells, and played traditional Miwok children's games. Our docent taught us Miwok words and songs, and we learned how the Miwok people utilized the natural resources in Marin. It was an engaging hands-on learning experience to launch our unit. Thank you to our wonderful chaperones and field trip coordinators!
This week in science we solved the mystery of “Why do trees grow so tall” (Answer: to hog as much light as possible!) Your child learned how badly plants need sunlight; without it, seedlings will even grow taller before dying, searching for the light. Take a walk with your child sometime this week and together pay attention to the trees you see. Ponder aloud, “Why do trees put so many of their leaves up on top?” If possible, visit a forest when trees have all their leaves and observe how dark it is inside the forest. Why is it dark in the forest? (Trees are so efficient at spreading their leaves to catch sunlight that very few patches of sunlight reach the forest floor.)
In Math, we have finished Module 1 and we are starting Module 2. Please see the attached Parent Letter about the concepts that will be covered. The class was also signed up for Zearn.org this week. This is a great resource as it is aligned with the Eureka curriculum. Currently, Module 1 is open for review and Module 2 is open for support. If your child is absent during a Math lesson they can access a version of that lesson through Zearn.
The fire department will host its annual open house this Saturday. Please see the attached flyer for details.
Upcoming dates:
Thursday, October 13: Picture Make-up Day
Monday, October 17: Staff Development Day
Tuesday, October 18: School Play Information Meeting for students at lunch
Friday, October 21: Spirit Day - Sports Teams
October 5, 2016
We are attending our first field trip on Monday. We will be visiting the Marin Museum of the American Indian in Novato to launch our study of the Early Coast Miwoks. Please return your child's permission slip as soon as possible. Students will need to bring a lunch. Most of the field trip will be outside, so please have your child wear layers and comfortable shoes.
This week in science we solved the mystery of “Do plants eat dirt?” Answer: not really! Your child learned how a plant’s roots soak up mostly water, but also tiny amounts of salty substances--minerals. (Plants’ other needs will be introduced in future lessons.) In class we also built a “Root Viewer,” and we are observing the daily changes to our radish seeds.
Dr. Gold visited our class for a lesson on worry and good voices (positive self talk).
We had our first art class with Ms. Caldwell this week.
Today was the start of mini dives. Each student will be attending their fall mini dive class on Wednesday afternoons.
Family Challenge Night is tomorrow at 5:00. No need to register.
September 29, 2016
Students took their first personal narratives through the revising process last week. They worked to add in descriptive details, dialogue, thoughts, and feelings. This week students are applying all they have learned to draft a second personal narrative. Next week, they will select one of their narratives to fancy up and publish. It is exciting to see their growth and effort as writers already!
Students are about to finish Module 1 in Eureka. They have been learning about properties of multiplication and division and solving problems with units 2-5 and 10. At the end of next week, they will take the End of Module test. Please see the attachment for tips and sample problems.
This week we began our study of the incredible world of plants! We are exploring the surprising idea that plants can actually move around. The primary way they do this is by dispersing their seeds. Your child chose one of three seed models to build, and tomorrow we will drop the seeds from a height, in order to avoid the dreaded "zone of darkness" (i.e. the shade!)
We had a lot of fun during our first visit to the design lab this week to build puff rockets. Students build control rockets and then made modifications to try to increase the height of the flight.
The 4th annual Run For Reed Schools is on Wednesday, October 5th at Blackie’s Pasture. Details and registration here.
Family Challenge Night is on Thursday, October 6th. There will be a short show with The Paper Airplane Guy + guided paper airplane assembly tutorials, plus a series of airplane toss challenges. The event will begin promptly at 5:30 in the MPR. John Collins AKA Paper Airplane Guy will give a short demonstration and walk people through the process of building the World Record Paper Airplane. At 6:00 we will gather on the blacktop. The lower blacktop will have assembly tables and additional instruction from the Paper Airplane Guy and some volunteers. Families can also enjoy food and music on the upper blacktop. At 6:30 we will run a series of contests: 3rd graders, 4th graders, 5th graders, and Parents can compete in a series of paper airplane tosses, and the winners from each group can participate in the final championship challenge!
Lost and found items are donated at the end of the month, which is tomorrow. Please remind your child to check in front of the office for any missing items.
September 21, 2016
Character Day is tomorrow! Over 75,000 groups in 96 countries have already signed up for the third annual Character Day. We will be doing special character building activities throughout the day.
The Paper Airplane Guy (aka John Collins) is a current world record holder in paper airplane distance. All students enjoyed the assembly today, where Mr. Collins shared some of his skills and excitement with students.
At the Family Challenge evening event on October 6, Mr. Collins will host a table with supplies and personalized coaching for Bel Aire families to make impressive paper airplanes. Mr. Collins considers building paper airplanes part of the “maker” movement. According to Collins, it’s a “structured way of thinking… [and] one of the most inexpensive science labs on the planet… It’s fun. It’s active. It’s creative. It helps develop three dimensional thinking, fine motor skills, direction following abilities, and memorization. The most important thing is that it provides an entry point into thinking like a scientist.”
Anti-Bullying Pledge - Reed Union School District Our school community is committed to making schools a safe and caring environment for all students. We will treat each other with respect and refuse to tolerate bullying of any kind. Please sign and return the attached Anit-Bullying Agreement as soon as possible - thank you!
Comfort Kits If your child hasn’t brought in their “comfort kit”, please do so ASAP.
If your child would like to bring in his/her own set of headphones rather than the ones provided by our school, they are welcome to bring them and leave them in their desk for the year.
Mid- Trimester Reports Students who are not meeting grade-level expectations (including classroom behavior, organization, etc) will be receiving a Mid-Tri Report by the end of the month. This is simply to inform you that we are working together and providing support to your child in the area they are currently being challenged in.
Accelerated Reader (AR) Frequently Asked Questions
What is my child's AR goal?
All first trimester goals are initially set at 5 points. As quiz scores begin to come in, I can see the trends in your child's reading habits, and comprehension. I meet with each child to re-evaluate the 5 point goal to ensure your child is properly challenged.
How can I check my child's quiz results and progress toward his or her goal?
Use AR Home Connect. Enter in your child's username and password to see quiz results, and progress towards his or her goal. Your child's username and password were sent home in the blue homework folder on September 3rd.
Help! My child has been reading a book for 3 weeks and I just realized it is not in the AR book finder! How can my child take a quiz and earn points for this book?
Did you spell the name of the book EXACTLY right? The AR book finder is not like Google...mistype one letter and it has no idea what you are looking for. Yes, I typed it correctly: If a book truly is not part of the AR program (again, most are) there is still hope! Children can create their own quizzes for books not in the AR database, and turn them in to me for points. This is not ideal however, since having a child create a quiz is not a valid measure of how well the child comprehended the book (unless I know the book inside and out and can effectively evaluate the created quiz). So...ALWAYS CHECK THE AR BOOK FINDER to see if there is a quiz before you start reading.
My child said he is supposed to read books that are either "yellow, red, or green." What does that mean?
Different book levels have different colors assigned to them. Book levels 2.0 - 2.9 are yellow, 3.0 - 3.9 books are red, 4.0 - 4.9 books are green, and 5.0 - 5.9 are orange.
Children brought home their mid-module math assessment in their blue folders yesterday. Please review the assessment and encourage your child to ask questions and ask for help if there is a concept they have not mastered yet. Let me and/or Ms. Burgess know if you have any questions.
We have been learning how to develop a growth mindset in class. This week we learned about the power of yet. Ask your child "How can you improve the phrase 'I can't do this?"
You and your child can view his/her spelling test results at spellingcity.com. Your child will log in with the same username and password as AR and Home Connect.
September 6, 2016
I look forward to seeing you tomorrow at Back to School Night! It will start at 6:00 in the MPR.
Picture Day is on Thursday. Your child brought an order form home on Friday.
You are invited to attend the fall third grade level parent meeting with Dr. Allan Gold, who, with your help, will paint a developmental picture of third graders and what to expect this year with their social, emotional, and academic growth. During the session you'll have an opportunity to discuss questions, issues, and concerns, share ideas, and get to know other parents with children the same age. The meeting will be from 8:30 to 10:00 on Wednesday, September 14th in the Staff Development room at Bel Aire. We hope to see you there.
Student Comfort Kits - Please Return by September 30
On Friday, Comfort Kit instructions and ZipLoc baggies were sent home with your child. Comfort Kits are to be used in the event of an emergency that requires students to shelter in a place of safety for an extended period of time. The contents of the Comfort Kit serve the purpose of entertaining and reassuring your child while s/he awaits your arrival after an emergency. Refer to the Comfort Kit instructions for further details. Please remember to write, in permanent marker, your child's name, teacher's name, and room number on the outside of the baggie. Comfort Kits are due back in your child's classroom by Friday, September 30th.
Thank you for your participation!
August 31, 2016
Things are going very well in C-1. We are all getting to know each other and settling into life at Bel Aire.
If you would like to order Scholastic books this month, our class code for online ordering is LJGGD.
On Friday, we will be personalizing our Writing Workshop Notebooks. Please help your child to find pictures, photos, stickers, magazine art, etc. that reflect what they enjoy, as well as people and places special to them. Please only send in pictures that are okay to cut and paste onto a notebook. These will provide inspiration for drafts that will grow into wonderful writing pieces. Thank you so much for your help in gathering these pictures! As you look through photos with your child, please discuss special memories. This can bring up some great stories. Photos on computer paper stick to the notebooks better than thick photo paper. Students should bring in their materials for personalizing their notebooks on Friday.
In mathematics students are learning about multiplication and division. They have learned to play circles and stars in class, and directions are included for reference below for homework.
Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. We are off to a great start- I'm very proud of all that the students have accomplished already.
See you at Back to School Night on Wednesday at 6.
August 18, 2016
Welcome to third grade! I am delighted your child is in my class. This will be my tenth year as a classroom teacher, and my fifth year teaching 3rd grade at Bel Aire. I am happy to be back and excited to get to know my new students!
Please plan on attending Back-to-School Night on Wednesday, September 7th at 6:00. This will give us all a chance to meet one another, and kick off a great school year! I will be going over class details at that time. If you are interested in volunteering in the classroom, please stay tuned for more information regarding how to sign up.
Please have your child find five objects that he/she would like to share for a “Paper Bag Biography” activity on Monday. The objects should all fit within the paper bag I sent home with your child today. The objects may include a small stuffed animal, trophy, special card from a collection, art project, photograph, medal, book, etc. These are just a few suggestions.
Please return the Student Responsible Technology Use Agreement, the Elementary Family Handbook Acknowledgement Form, and the Parent Questionnaire by Monday.
Please send me a quick email me as soon as possible so that I can begin to create a group email list for our class. Please include one fun fact about your child. Also, if there is more than one email that you would like to submit, please indicate that in your reply. This quick activity will also tell me that you have read this letter.
Lastly, if you would like to get in touch with me, the best way is through email. I check my email before and after school.
I am looking forward to working with you and your child this year!
Sincerely,
Jessie San Galli
jsangalli@reedschools.org