"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." L.M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables

We had another beautiful start to our week.  Students were pleasantly surprised to learn of a new program that we started today called Reading Buddies.  We have partnered up with students from Phillips Exeter Academy who will join our class each Monday for a half an hour.  PEA and LSS students will work together on fun reading activities that relate to our science and social studies units.  This provides a great experience for both age groups.  Today they read a story called The Legend of Scarface: A Blackfeet Indian Tale.  Unfortunately, our time was cut short with our Reading Buddies due to a fire drill.

Our spelling rule involves Suffix Endings this week.  A suffix is an ending added to a base word which changes the meaning of the word.  Students will have a Spelling Cafe choice each night for homework.

In math this week we will be studying the Commutative Property of Addition, patterns in numbers, odds and evens, multiplying and dividing by 10, number stories, and estimation.  Students will have a one-sided math assignment each night for homework.

Students will be working with their Google Drive accounts during Computer Lab on Tuesday morning.  Ms. Tabet will work with them throughout the year on developing solid computer skills.

Have a great week!  :)

"Love the trees until their leaves fall off, then encourage them to try again next year."  Chad Sugg

I can't believe we'll meet another October this week!  Our class was just discussing how quickly time seems to be flying by this morning.  We are finishing up our Maps and Globes Unit and moving into American Indians and Biomes.  We will begin a new chapter book read aloud this week titled Half a Chance by Cynthia Lord.  The story takes place in New Hampshire and our entire school will be reading it in honor of the One School One Book program.

Our spelling rule involves words with two closed syllables including blends.  There will only be one spelling list this week so students who score 100% on their pre-test will not be required to take the test again on Monday.  They will also be exempt from spelling homework for this week only.  All other children will have a Spelling Cafe choice each night.

Math homework this week will relate to the counting up method, trade first, and place value.  Children will have a one-sided assignment each night.

I will be contacting parents who would like to volunteer in the classroom.  Please let me know if you would like to volunteer, but haven't heard from me by Friday.

Have a fantastic week!  :)

“Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.” Lauren DeStefano

We had an awesome start to our week today.  Students have new spelling words based on the Schwa Sound rule.  This sound is most like the sound of short u, but not equal to it.  Students will have a Spelling Cafe choice each night for homework.

Math homework this week involves ballpark estimates, the partial sums algorithm, trade first subtraction and using Base 10 blocks.  There will be a one-sided worksheet each night.

I spoke shortly with you at Open House about our student teacher, Jen Harrington, who will be spending about 15 hours per week in our classroom.  She wanted me to share the following information with you...

Hello Third Grade Families!

My name is Jen Harrington and I would like to introduce myself. I will be spending time in your student's classroom as part of my student teacher requirements for the degree I am pursuing from Granite State College. Not only am I teacher candidate, but I am also a local parent who has children in 2nd, 4th, and 5th grade. My 4th grader was a student in Mara's class last year. I have also been employed at Lincoln Street School for the past two school years as a cafeteria/recess aide. I enjoy working at Lincoln Street and getting to know the students during lunch and recess but am looking forward to getting into the classroom and working with students in an academic manner. I am eager and excited to get started on my student teaching journey.

Welcome to a New School Year! 2014-15

Welcome to my 2014-2015 blog!  Our school year has begun beautifully and I couldn't be happier with my students' hard work.  Thank you to those who attended Open House on Thursday night.  It was wonderful to see all of you.

I will post a blog each Monday afternoon with information pertaining to homework, curriculum, and special events, projects, or activities coming in the near future.   Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at any time.

Best,
Mara

mandriski@sau16.org
775-8897

This is the last blog of the year.  I hope you have enjoyed my blog and this method of communication.

Please remember to send your child to school with props for the Wax Museum tomorrow afternoon.

I have gray bandanas for all the kids to wear on Thursday for Field Day.  Please have your child wear a gray top if possible.  Kids need a water bottle and should wear sunscreen and bug spray to school.  Please contact me with any questions or concerns.

Our play will take place on Friday morning at 9:30am.  Students should wear their green Music t-shirts from the March concert.  If your child doesn't have a t-shirt, they should wear a green top.  We will be having our dress rehearsal on Wednesday morning.  Students should bring their green shirts for that performance as well.  They will only need to wear them for 30 minutes so hopefully the shirts won't need to be washed for Friday's show.  :)

Thank you to my amazing volunteers and to Mrs. Smith who is helping with the Wax Museum and Field Day.

I'm looking forward to seeing you this week!  :)

"Every child deserves a champion - an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be. "  Rita Pierson

I sincerely hope that I have been a champion for your child this year.  I can't believe that summer vacation is right around the corner and my beautiful babies are moving to fourth grade.  :)  It's been an amazing year and I'm beyond proud of my students' accomplishments.  Please know that I will always be here for your child and for you.  If you need help over vacation with a school related issue or your child wishes to say hello, feel free to e-mail me.  mandriski@sau16.org

We will have our last spelling test of the year on Friday.  Our rule this week involves the sound of W and how it affects vowels.  Students will have a Spelling Cafe choice each night for homework.  But this will be the last week of homework for the year.  

Students will have a math activity for homework each night this week.  We have officially finished the third grade math program for the year.  We will continue to review concepts and practice our multiplication and division facts for the remainder of the year.  

We have three parent volunteers coming to our class for Career Week.  Thank you to Mr. Bergeron, Mrs. Simon and Mr. and Mrs. Coole for sharing their occupations with us.  Thank you to all my other volunteers who come in to work with the class week after week.  Mrs. Jelinek, Mrs. Hayward, Mrs. Stevens, Mrs. Harrington and Mrs. Short - you are all appreciated!  

The author of our One School, One Book selection, Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library, will be here to visit with our students tomorrow.  We all enjoyed the book and are looking forward to meeting the mastermind behind it, Chris Grabenstein.

Important dates:  Wax Museum on June 10th at 1:30pm

                           Field Day on June 12th 

                           Our musical "Heroes All" on June 13th at 9:30am

Thank you and have a fantastic week!  :)

I heard from a colleague this morning that we only have six more Mondays until summer vacation - including today! Wow!  Time flies when you're having fun!

Our spelling rule involves the sounds of ch and que this week.  We only have one list so students who scored a 100% on the pre-test do not have to do spelling homework this week or take the test on Friday.    Everybody else has a Spelling Cafe choice each night.

We will be continuing our work with multiplication and division this week.  Students will have a worksheet for homework each night.

In preparation for the end of the school year, I'm asking parents to send in large plastic or reusable bags with handles to help with cleaning out desks and organizational purposes.  Please feel free to send these in at your earliest convenience.

Thank you and have a wonderful week!  :)