Happy Easter!!!!

Dear Third Grade Parents,

Happy Easter!!!!  I am looking forward to seeing all of my third graders and hearing all about their Easter vacation adventures.  I trust everyone enjoyed their time together while creating new memories to look back on with fondness.

This week will be a regular week with the exception of the  May Crowning on Friday at 10:45 followed immediately by mass.  Should there be any changes to this schedule, I will post them here.

I will not be posting a Curriculum Update for this week, but please know that there will be a Unit 6 Vocabulary Workshop Quiz on Thursday  and a spelling test on Friday.    The Third Grade Curriculum Update will continue to be posted beginning next week.

Lastly, please know that ALL schoolwork that was given in advance for extended vacations must be turned in on Monday.  Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!  Take care and God bless!

Sincerely,
Ms Eileen Griffin
Your Third Grade Teacher

Hallelujah!  He is Risen

Dear Third Grade Parents,

I just wanted to wish all of you a blessed Holy Week as we prepare for what is the biggest Christian holiday of the year.  If I do not see you before we dismiss for the Easter break, I hope all of you have a restful week and enjoy your family get togethers wherever they may be.  Safe travels to all of you!!

I would like to extend a BIG thank you to Mrs. Goldman and Mrs. Koresaar for helping the third graders transform our classroom into an "out of this world" environment.  Come by one morning to see the stars and planets that have fallen from the sky and have brightened up the classroom.  The classroom looks amazing!  I love it! 

Lastly, I just wanted to let you know the students have received templates for our next project, a famous American Report.  The guidelines are pretty self explanatory on the templates.  The only requirement is that all of the information must come from one biography book.  The internet may only be used for "extra" information such as pictures or fun facts.  The "Who Was…"  biography book series is a great resource in terms of finding the information your student needs.  The due date is May 5.  As always, please let me know should you have any questions with regards to this final project.

Please read through the Curriculum Update below.

Curriculum Update for the Week of April 14, 2014:

Religion:  Finish and review chapter 18;  Chapter 18 Quiz on Wednesday;  Holy Week Activities

Math:  Review of multiplication facts and division

Language Arts:  Begin grammar unit on nouns- common and proper nouns;  Writing:  Brainstorm ideas for Earth Day paragraph and begin rough draft;  Vocabulary Workshop:  Begin unit 6- learning the definitions in context and completing the sentences

Reading:  Both guided reading groups will be reading and discussing  The Hundred Dresses while in their separate reading groups;  Whole Group Instruction:  Read discuss the Greek Myth, "Atalanta the Huntress"

Social Studies:  Finish and review Chapter 10;  Chapter 10 Test on Thursday;  Begin to read Biography book for Famous American Report- Due May 5

Science:  Junior Yard Earth Day Themed centers on Tuesday morning;  Continue Chapter 7:  The Solar System- inner and outer planets; Earth's pattern of movement

Art:  The art of Vincent Van Gogh with a focus on, "The Sunflowers"

I hope all of you have a fantastic week.  Thank you for all you do to help and support Stella Maris Academy.  You truly make it an amazing place to learn.  Take care and God bless! 

Sincerely,

Ms Eileen Griffin

Your Third Grade Teacher

Dear Third Grade Parents,

I hope all is well.  I just wanted to remind all parents that tomorrow is a mass day and then the third graders will be celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation at 9:30 as well.  With these two visits to church at the start of our week, it can only be a fantastic start to the day and the week.

Tuesday will be the due date for all of the third graders Earth Day Recycled Art Projects.  I can hardly wait to see all of the projects and the clever ideas of our third graders.

Tuesday is promising to be an "out of this world" day.  Mrs. Goldman and Mrs. Koresaar have teamed up to create a few art projects to kick off our science unit of study on the universe and our solar system.  A BIG thank you to these creative ladies for taking my simple little ideas and making them into something I could only imagine.  It should be a fun afternoon of creativity, learning and possibly making a little mess.

Please be sure to  check this week's Curriculum Update below.  Thank you and enjoy the rest of your sunny weekend.

Curriculum Update for the Week of April 6, 2014:

Religion:  Begin Chapter 18- Celebrating Penance and Reconciliation: God is our Forgiving Father, the parts of the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Math:  Compare Units of Fractions; Introduce Equivalence;  Review division facts of 2, 3, 4, and 5

Language Arts:  Unit 5 Vocabulary Workshop Quiz tomorrow;  Continue review of verbs: helping and main verbs; Review subjects and verbs; Begin unit on Nouns;  Writing:  Begin brainstorming for Earth Day themed Paragraph;  Spelling Test on Friday

Reading:  Guided Reading Groups:  Group 1:  Finish reading and discussing "The Wizard of Oz";  Group 2:  Continue to read and Discuss "The Hundred Dresses"- Chapters 4-7;  Whole Group Reading:  Begin close reading of the Tall Tale, "John Henry" and another tall tale on "Stormalong and the Octopus"

Social Studies:  Continue chapter 10:  Read and discuss a short article on Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin; Freedom of Religion- the Pilgrims and the Puritans; Freedom for all- the Civil War and Equal rights for women

Science:  Begin chapter 7:  What is a star; The solar system - the inner planets and the outer planets

As you can see, there is a great deal of learning in third grade this week.  I am looking forward to it and I know the class will enjoy this week's topics.  Have a fantastic week and thank you for everything you do to help make Stella Maris Academy an amazing place to learn.  Take care and God bless!

Sincerely,
Ms. Eileen Griffin
Your Third Grade Teacher