Dear Third Grade Parents,

I hope you are all enjoying the last few hours of a relaxing weekend.  I know I am.  It is going to be a busy week in third grade as we prepare to finish up our lessons and and gear up for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.  I know the students are looking forward to a whole week of family fun and entertainment.  I cannot wait to hear all of their stories when we return.  Until then, there is a little bit of school work to wrap up.

With the shortened week due to Parent-Teacher Conferences, I am posting a condensed curriculum update.  I can honestly say I am going to try my best to cover as many subject areas as we can, but I cannot make any promises.  I do know the third graders and I will be covering the subjects of religion, reading and math every day.  I am hoping to cover Social Studies and Science every other day.  Please look over this week's Curriculum Update and as always, please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions or concerns.

Curriculum Update for the Week of November 18, 2013:

Religion:  Continue Chapter 6- The Liturgical Calendar and the celebrating the life of Jesus Christ

Reading:  Continue to read and discuss the story, "The Boy Who Didn't Believe in Spring";  Reading Comprehension test on Wednesday;  Read and discuss Thanksgiving Day themed picture books

Math:  Telling Time; Time Before and After the Hour; Adding and Subtracting Time; Solving Word Problems Involving Time

Social Studies:  Continue to learn about Native Americans and their communities

Science:  Balloon puppet due Tuesday;  Continue Chapter 6:  Classifying Plants

Spelling:  Test tomorrow!!;  No test on Friday

I would like to thank Mrs. Steele for coming in this week to be our Secret Reader.  The third graders and I learned so much about eating smart and making sure we eat healthy snacks.  Mrs. Steele read the picture book, The Bernstein Bears and Junk Food.  It was a great way to learn how to take care of ourselves and our bodies. Thank you, Mrs. Steele!

I am looking forward to meeting with all of you this week during Parent-Teacher Conferences.  It will be a pleasure to sit with all of you and discuss the academic and social growth of each of your children. Until then, have a fantastic week and thank you for all you do to help make Stella Maris Academy a fabulous place to learn!  Take care and God bless!  Have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!!!

Sincerely,
Ms. Eileen Griffin

Your Thankful Third Grade Teacher

Happy Veteran's Day!

Dear Third Grade Parents,

Happy Veteran's Day!

Thank you to Mrs. Ornelas who came in last Friday as our Secret Reader.  She did an amazing job reading in Spanish and translating the story, "The Emperor's New Clothes" by having the students act it out.  It was a fantastic experience and the class truly enjoyed the time.  Thank you, Mrs. Ornelas!

Here is this week's Curriculum Update!

Curriculum Update for the Week of November 11, 2013:


Religion:  Chapter 5 Quiz Thursday!  Begin Chapter 6- The Church Year and the Liturgical Calendar

Math:  Metric units of liquid volume;  Customary units of weight and metric units of mass;  Solving word problems involving liquid volume and mass; Telling time

Reading:  Read and discuss the story, "The Boy Who Didn't Believe in Spring";  complete comprehension activities and go over selection vocabulary- crops, decorated, vacant, mound, patch;  Comprehension quiz on Friday
Continue in guided reading groups and read, Who Was Johnny Appleseed  and Who Was King Tut

Science:  Classifying plants- flowering plants and non flowering plants

Social Studies:  Review Chapter 2;  Begin Chapter 3- Native Americans and their communities

Grammar:  Contractions; Vocabulary Workshop:  Unit 2 test Friday

****Due to the shortened week, the Spelling test will be next Monday!!!!!

I hope everyone has a fantastic week!  Take care and God bless.  Thank you for all you do to make Stella Maris Academy a fabulous place to learn.

Sincerely,
Ms. Eileen Griffin
Your Third Grade Teacher

Curriculum Update

Dear Third Grade Parents,

I cannot believe it is already November!!!!  Where has the time gone?!?!  I am just astounded by the fact that time is flying by and the Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations are literally just around the corner.  These are exciting times ahead and I am looking forward to sharing the days leading up to the holidays with my third graders.  I have some fun and exciting ideas up my sleeves and I cannot wait to share them with you….!!!

In the mean time, I absolutely must thank Mrs. Calva-Ortiz for organizing our class Dia de Los Muertos celebration.  What a fantastic time had by all.  Thank you to all of her assistants as well.  All of you made the day special and quite memorable.  I should have pictures of the altar and an "action" shot just as soon as I am able to upload them.

****  Just a small request:  Parents, if your child has a particular food allergy or special dietary needs, could you please send in a ziplock bag of special snacks for your child to have during our class celebration times.  I want to make certain students do not feel left out during these fun times.  Thank you so very much!

Here is this week's Curriculum Update as we begin the 2nd quarter of the school year.

Curriculum Update for the Week of November 4, 2013

Religion:  Finish Chapter 5- the ancestors of our faith: examples of holiness;  Review Chapter 5 key terms and points- martyrs, Gospels, apostles and saints;  Chapter 5 Quiz on Friday

Math:  Continue to review multiplication  and division facts; Unit 2 Review; Test on Wednesday;  Begin Unit 3:  units of measurement

Reading:  Continue guided reading groups- Who Was Johnny Appleseed group:  read and discuss chapters 2-4;  Who Was King Tut group:  read and discuss chapters 2-5;  Whole group reading story, "The Legend of Damon and Pythias"; discuss and complete comprehension exercises

Vocabulary Workshop:  Finish Unit 2;  This week's spelling list will be the vocabulary words from unit 2;  Vocabulary Unit 2 test next Monday

Grammar:  Continue complete subjects and complete verbs; Begin Direct Objects

Social Studies:   Continue reading about and discussing ways to care for our resource and how to protect them

Science:  Review of Simple and compound machines;  Begin Chapter 3- How do plants change-  Discuss and complete pinto bean experiment

I hope all of you have a fantastic week and enjoy the new fall-like weather.  Thank you for all you do to help make Stella Maris Academy a great place to learn!  Take care and God bless.

Sincerely,
Ms.  Eileen Griffin
Your Third Grade Teacher