A Special Sneak Preview!
Third graders at St. Joan of Arc School can look forward to several major changes in the third grade curriculum for the 2010-2011 school year.
Reading
We will pilot a new reading program entitled Foundations and Frameworks. This program was created by Briarwood Christian School in Birmingham, Alabama. Both the best teaching practices and brain-based learning have been incorporated into Foundations and Frameworks. Schools that adopted this program saw student improvement in vocabulary, reading comprehension, critical thinking, problem solving, and written expression. Watch for a special invitation to visit St. Joan of Arc School and see the third graders in action!
Vocabulary
Vocabulary will be part of the reading program rather than from a separate vocabulary book. The children will study ten words per reading unit using a strategy unique to Foundations and Frameworks.
Spelling
A spelling book will not be used. Third graders will be given a word list consisting of twenty words taken from the learning for the week. A pretest will be given on Monday. Any words from the list that the children spell correctly on the pretest are considered "mastered" and will not be used on the Friday test. Instead, each child will study ten words from the spelling list that he still needs to master. This strategy eliminates the time a child spends practicing words he already knows.
Math
Third graders will be using Saxon Math, the same math program that was introduced in second grade last school year. Saxon Math will be supplemented with additional problem solving strategies and practice time.
The teachers, staff, and administration of St. Joan of Arc School continually look for ways to improve our students' academic achievements. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we begin the new school year.
Sue Schneider
Friday, July 30, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
My Blog
Kudos to the Third Grade!
During a recent class meeting, I asked the children for ideas for a service project that we could do during Lent. They decided they would like to read to our pre-Kindergarten and preschool children. Several third graders even offered to do this during their free time on Friday. So, for the past several Fridays, the children have visited both Miss Peggy’s rooms and Miss Jeanne’s room to read and help with other activities. On Saint Patrick’s Day, the third graders will be guiding preschool and pre-Kindergarten through special centers as part of a St. Patrick’s Day celebration. It is amazing to watch how well the “big” kids interact with the “little” kids.
Mrs. Sue Schneider
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Several Things
Thank you Mrs. Bartone and Joey!
Both Mrs. Bartone and Joey were "teacher catchers" this week. When I added "maze" to our spelling list, I used the wrong spelling. The correct spelling for a word meaning corn is "maize". Each student will receive an extra 5% on their spelling test grade.
One of My Thanksgiving Traditions
For the last nine years, I have done a baking activity with my class the week of Thanksgiving. I enjoy baking and I like to include hands-on activities when I plan lessons for the children. Several Indiana third grade standards can be covered in a baking activity, including fractions, sequence, and following multiple step directions. It made me sad to think I would not share this activity with my class this year. I have come up with an alternative plan. I will do a cooking demonstration. The children will participate in a small way. The end result will be several loaves of pumpkin bread which we will share.
Bundle Bag Project
The children's bundle bag projects are due Monday, Nov. 23. Each child will do a presentation, sharing the contents of his/her bundle bag. Each child will receive two grades for this project, one for social studies and one for language arts. I will not accept any late projects.
Special Person's Day
We are looking for donations of sweet treats/baked goods to be served as refreshments on Special Person's Day. Your generosity would be appreciated.
Next Week at a Glance
Monday-Bundle bag presentations and letter writing
Tuesday-Cooking demonstration and finish letters
Wednesday-Special Person's Day Mass and Reception/Art Show beginning at 8:45. Progress Reports will be sent home. 1:00 dismissal.
Have a nice weekend.
Mrs. Schneider
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
This Week at a Glance:
Monday-Spelling pretest on Thanksgiving words. No vocab this week.
Tuesday-Mashed Potato Day
Wednesday-Service project-read to preschoolers
Thursday-Our Mass. Reading skills test Note: This cannot be studied for.
Bundle bag project introduced. Due Monday, Nov. 23.
Friday-Spelling test
Next Week:
Monday-Bundle bag presentations
Tuesday-Baking Day (pumpkin bread)
Wednesday-Special Persons' Day/1:00 Dismissal
Thursday and Friday-Holidays
News:
1. I will be sending home a supplies list of things we need for our Baking Day. If you are able to donate some of the supplis we need, we will have more money to donate to Gleaners Food Bank. You will also have a chance to preorder a loaf of our deliciois pumpkin bread.
2. I am looking for two parent volunteers to go with us to see A Christmas Carol on December 1. We will leave school at 9:45 and return at 12:30. Please let me know if you are interested. Your tickets would be free of charge.
Mrs. Schneider
Monday-Spelling pretest on Thanksgiving words. No vocab this week.
Tuesday-Mashed Potato Day
Wednesday-Service project-read to preschoolers
Thursday-Our Mass. Reading skills test Note: This cannot be studied for.
Bundle bag project introduced. Due Monday, Nov. 23.
Friday-Spelling test
Next Week:
Monday-Bundle bag presentations
Tuesday-Baking Day (pumpkin bread)
Wednesday-Special Persons' Day/1:00 Dismissal
Thursday and Friday-Holidays
News:
1. I will be sending home a supplies list of things we need for our Baking Day. If you are able to donate some of the supplis we need, we will have more money to donate to Gleaners Food Bank. You will also have a chance to preorder a loaf of our deliciois pumpkin bread.
2. I am looking for two parent volunteers to go with us to see A Christmas Carol on December 1. We will leave school at 9:45 and return at 12:30. Please let me know if you are interested. Your tickets would be free of charge.
Mrs. Schneider
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
10 Reasons to be Excited about Third Grade at St. Joan of Arc School
1. Many "hands on" learning activities, especially in math and science
2. Science and social studies included in the curriculum
3. Spanish classes (New this year!)
4. Reading chapter books as a class
5. Learning multiplication
6. Planning school Masses
7. Reader's Theater (January)
8. Famous Black American Wax Museum (February)
9. Exciting field trips
10.Daily snacks (Everyone needs an energy boost!)
2. Science and social studies included in the curriculum
3. Spanish classes (New this year!)
4. Reading chapter books as a class
5. Learning multiplication
6. Planning school Masses
7. Reader's Theater (January)
8. Famous Black American Wax Museum (February)
9. Exciting field trips
10.Daily snacks (Everyone needs an energy boost!)
Friday, August 8, 2008
A New School Year
Third graders can look forward to an exciting school year. I have adopted a new learning plan called "cooperative learning". As part of the plan, the children will sit at tables instead of desks. They will work with three other children on many projects throughout the year. The objective for cooperative learning groups is for the children to learn how to get along while working together.
Every afternoon, the children will use planners to record their homework assignments. I will write the information on the board. The children then copy the information into their planners. At first, I will check each student's planner to make sure all the infomation has been copied. Eventually, I will expect the children to be responsible to copy the infomation without my help.
ISTEP+ testing is scheduled the week of September 14. Please help me help the children remain stress-free during this process. I will have more information to share about ISTEP+ at our Back to School Night.
As a class, we will read at least four different Accelerated Reader chapter books, beginning with Sarah, Plain and Tall. The children will have an opportunity to discuss each chapter, as well as learn new vocabulary words.
Third graders will be Reading Buddies to the children in our Pre-K program. Participating in the Reading Buddies program has shown to improve both reading comprehension and vocabulary of the older student readers . It also gives young readers the chance to develop a love of reading as they begin taking Accelerated Reader tests.
Third grade will follow the same new writing and grammar program as fourth through eighth grades. In adddition, we will use a vocabulary book on a weekly basis, rather than a spelling book with a weekly spelling test.
Please look for an information letter in your child's new red homework folder on the first day of school, Tuesday, August 19.
I look forward to meeting you at our ice cream social. As you can see, we are going to have an exciting year with many new experiences.
Mrs. Sue Schneider
Every afternoon, the children will use planners to record their homework assignments. I will write the information on the board. The children then copy the information into their planners. At first, I will check each student's planner to make sure all the infomation has been copied. Eventually, I will expect the children to be responsible to copy the infomation without my help.
ISTEP+ testing is scheduled the week of September 14. Please help me help the children remain stress-free during this process. I will have more information to share about ISTEP+ at our Back to School Night.
As a class, we will read at least four different Accelerated Reader chapter books, beginning with Sarah, Plain and Tall. The children will have an opportunity to discuss each chapter, as well as learn new vocabulary words.
Third graders will be Reading Buddies to the children in our Pre-K program. Participating in the Reading Buddies program has shown to improve both reading comprehension and vocabulary of the older student readers . It also gives young readers the chance to develop a love of reading as they begin taking Accelerated Reader tests.
Third grade will follow the same new writing and grammar program as fourth through eighth grades. In adddition, we will use a vocabulary book on a weekly basis, rather than a spelling book with a weekly spelling test.
Please look for an information letter in your child's new red homework folder on the first day of school, Tuesday, August 19.
I look forward to meeting you at our ice cream social. As you can see, we are going to have an exciting year with many new experiences.
Mrs. Sue Schneider
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Welcome to your SJA eClassroom
Your eClassroom is a new tool to enhance the educational experience for you, your students and their families
An eClassroom is Essentially a Blog
Perhaps one of the most fascinating tools that has emerged from the Internet cloud in recent years is the Blog. A shortening of the term Web log, the Blog is an online publishing tool that enables people to easily publish their loves, passions, dislikes, peeves, discoveries, and insights.
Blogging is also showing up in schools, where teachers have known for a long time that students develop better communication skills when they are authentically communicating. A number of educators are helping their students developing their writing skills by having them publish their work as blogs, and then invite comments from people in the outside.
There are many freely available tools that facilitate blogging, but none seem especially suited for the classroom. That is the reason for developing the eClassroom for SJA. This online blogging tool is explicitly designed with teachers and students in mind, where the teacher can evaluate, comment on, and finally publish students' blog articles in a controlled environment. It is and will be constantly in development. We need your input to refine the look, content, layout of the eClassroom.
There are many options available to teachers who utilize web journals (blogs) to enhance the learning experience. Teaching in a participatory culture can be challenging, but rewarding. Today, teachers have to learn to communicate in the language and style of their students—who some call digital natives (inhabitants of the Web 2.0 world).
Assignments, etc.
For students in grades 4—8, the eClassroom will be the source point for classroom activites, supplemental learning resources, assignments, long-tern projects, links to relevant sites, field trips, etc. How you integrate your eClassroom may vary from other teachers, but understand that with regular use, this tool will become a vital part of your curriculum and teaching style.
Your eClassroom is a new tool to enhance the educational experience for you, your students and their families
An eClassroom is Essentially a Blog
Perhaps one of the most fascinating tools that has emerged from the Internet cloud in recent years is the Blog. A shortening of the term Web log, the Blog is an online publishing tool that enables people to easily publish their loves, passions, dislikes, peeves, discoveries, and insights.
Blogging is also showing up in schools, where teachers have known for a long time that students develop better communication skills when they are authentically communicating. A number of educators are helping their students developing their writing skills by having them publish their work as blogs, and then invite comments from people in the outside.
There are many freely available tools that facilitate blogging, but none seem especially suited for the classroom. That is the reason for developing the eClassroom for SJA. This online blogging tool is explicitly designed with teachers and students in mind, where the teacher can evaluate, comment on, and finally publish students' blog articles in a controlled environment. It is and will be constantly in development. We need your input to refine the look, content, layout of the eClassroom.
There are many options available to teachers who utilize web journals (blogs) to enhance the learning experience. Teaching in a participatory culture can be challenging, but rewarding. Today, teachers have to learn to communicate in the language and style of their students—who some call digital natives (inhabitants of the Web 2.0 world).
Assignments, etc.
For students in grades 4—8, the eClassroom will be the source point for classroom activites, supplemental learning resources, assignments, long-tern projects, links to relevant sites, field trips, etc. How you integrate your eClassroom may vary from other teachers, but understand that with regular use, this tool will become a vital part of your curriculum and teaching style.
w
An eClassroom is Essentially a Blog
Perhaps one of the most fascinating tools that has emerged from the Internet cloud in recent years is the Blog. A shortening of the term Web log, the Blog is an online publishing tool that enables people to easily publish their loves, passions, dislikes, peeves, discoveries, and insights.
Blogging is also showing up in schools, where teachers have known for a long time that students develop better communication skills when they are authentically communicating. A number of educators are helping their students developing their writing skills by having them publish their work as blogs, and then invite comments from people in the outside.
There are many freely available tools that facilitate blogging, but none seem especially suited for the classroom. That is the reason for developing the eClassroom for SJA. This online blogging tool is explicitly designed with teachers and students in mind, where the teacher can evaluate, comment on, and finally publish students' blog articles in a controlled environment. It is and will be constantly in development. We need your input to refine the look, content, layout of the eClassroom.
There are many options available to teachers who utilize web journals (blogs) to enhance the learning experience. Teaching in a participatory culture can be challenging, but rewarding. Today, teachers have to learn to communicate in the language and style of their students—who some call digital natives (inhabitants of the Web 2.0 world).
Assignments, etc.
For students in grades 4—8, the eClassroom will be the source point for classroom activites, supplemental learning resources, assignments, long-tern projects, links to relevant sites, field trips, etc. How you integrate your eClassroom may vary from other teachers, but understand that with regular use, this tool will become a vital part of your curriculum and teaching style.
Your eClassroom is a new tool to enhance the educational experience for you, your students and their families
An eClassroom is Essentially a Blog
Perhaps one of the most fascinating tools that has emerged from the Internet cloud in recent years is the Blog. A shortening of the term Web log, the Blog is an online publishing tool that enables people to easily publish their loves, passions, dislikes, peeves, discoveries, and insights.
Blogging is also showing up in schools, where teachers have known for a long time that students develop better communication skills when they are authentically communicating. A number of educators are helping their students developing their writing skills by having them publish their work as blogs, and then invite comments from people in the outside.
There are many freely available tools that facilitate blogging, but none seem especially suited for the classroom. That is the reason for developing the eClassroom for SJA. This online blogging tool is explicitly designed with teachers and students in mind, where the teacher can evaluate, comment on, and finally publish students' blog articles in a controlled environment. It is and will be constantly in development. We need your input to refine the look, content, layout of the eClassroom.
There are many options available to teachers who utilize web journals (blogs) to enhance the learning experience. Teaching in a participatory culture can be challenging, but rewarding. Today, teachers have to learn to communicate in the language and style of their students—who some call digital natives (inhabitants of the Web 2.0 world).
Assignments, etc.
For students in grades 4—8, the eClassroom will be the source point for classroom activites, supplemental learning resources, assignments, long-tern projects, links to relevant sites, field trips, etc. How you integrate your eClassroom may vary from other teachers, but understand that with regular use, this tool will become a vital part of your curriculum and teaching style.
w
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