• C-3 News 9-13-19

    Posted by Carley Kennedy on 9/13/2019

    Dear C-3 Families,

    Boy have we been busy in C-3 this week! Just a few highlights:

    We have an election season going on in C-3. Mrs. Blow Pop and Mr. Tootsie Pop are running for president of hard candies. The students chose a campaign they feel passionate about and made campaign posters and wrote persuasive letters to the editor and/or persuasive speeches to support their candidate of choice    Some students also worked as speech writers on the campaign trail for each of the candidates. It’s been a contentious race but today the students voted, the ballots were counted, and....Mrs. Blow Pop was elected with 74% of the votes!  (This was all a fun extension of our government unit).

    Please find your child’s corrected Topic 2 math test in their Friday folder. Since I do not assign homework over the weekend, the corrected questions are not due back until Tuesday. Please look over the test and review with your child to help them understand what they missed. As always, please sign the corrected test and let me know if you have any questions.

    We will be starting our math game center rotations on Thursday, September 19th. These will be every other Thursday from 10:30-11:30. I am hoping to get 2-3 parent helpers to run a game/center during this time. Please let me know if you’re able to volunteer for this. Thank you!

    Yesterday, I attended an amazing training on character education. We look forward to bringing some of these great lessons back to C-3 and all Green students.  

     
    Our Geography test on the 7 continents and 5 oceans will be on Wednesday, Sept. 18th.
     
    Some exciting things to look forward to for next week: Reader's Theater, teams lead and teach/present about a historical activist, Math games, Geography, Topic 3 in math.
     
    Have a wonderful weekend!
    Comments (-1)

  • C-3 News 9-6-19

    Posted by Carley Kennedy on 9/6/2019

    Dear C-3 families,

     
    Happy weekend! Our latest news/curriculum updates are:
     
    Math - We are currently working on: addition and subtraction meaning, using mental math to add and subtract, and estimating sums and differences.  Our Topic 2 math test will be on Friday, Sept. 13th.  Students will need to be able to estimate before adding or subtracting, identify the commutative, associative, and identity properties of addition, and show strategies they use to add or subtract using mental math. 
     
    Social Studies: Students are working on memorizing and identifying/labeling the 7 continents and 5 oceans.  We are also learning about local, state, and national government.
     
    Reading: Students are reading and annotating nonfiction text and articles about elections and government.  We are also working in our small reading groups to read, answer questions, and summarize nonfiction text, citing evidence for our answers. Students are asked to find the main idea and supporting details of each article. 
     
    We use graphic organizers to help us understand: graphic features of nonfiction text, cause and effect and signal words to help us identify both, and determining the main idea and supporting details of paragraphs and articles. 
     
    Writing - Personal Narrative writing  - We are working on brainstorming story ideas, using a compelling beginning, supporting details, and a strong conclusion, and focusing our ideas down to a "small moment".
     
    Grammar: concrete and abstract nouns, singular and plural nouns, present, past, and future tense verbs. 
     
    Spelling: (long a sound) became, explained, favored, plain, raised, separate, swayed, vain
     
    Vocabulary: boycott, Jim Crow Laws, strike, suffragists, boarded, organize
     
    Please find your child's spelling and vocabulary tests in their Friday Folder.  They will receive a score of:
    3 - 80%-100%
    2 - 70%-79%
    1 - < 70%
     
    My new Student Teacher, Mrs. Patty Morada, will start in our classroom on Monday.  She will be with us three days a week until Dec. 4th.  We are very happy to have her as part of our C-3 family!
     
    Have a wonderful weekend!
    Comments (-1)

  • C-3 News 9-3-19

    Posted by Carley Kennedy on 8/30/2019

    Dear C-3 families,

     
    Happy 3-day weekend!  I hope everyone has an enjoyable time with friends and family. :)
     
    Some information for next week:
     
    Next week is an exciting week because we are starting our first unit in our reading program.  This means that your child will now have spelling and vocabulary words to study each week (Tests are always on Fridays),  mini books to work on during small group reading time with Mrs. Kennedy, a weekly grammar focus, and their own reading book that they will annotate and study both independently and as a whole group.   Our first unit is Government.
     
    Reading/Social Studies: Government for the People. Essential Question: Why do people participate in government?
     
    Vocabulary: ballot, campaign, candidates, polls, amendment, Supreme Court
     
    Spelling: plans, problems, examples, imagine, printed, helpful, conflicts, upset
     
    Grammar: Concrete and abstract nouns
     
    Writing: Personal Narrative
     
    Service Learning/Acts of Kindness: Charlie's Cooler.  C-3 students are managing our Charlie's Cooler to greet volunteers and workers in the front office.  We are collecting any individually packaged treats/snacks as well as drinks to supply our cooler.  Thank you for any donations you can send in to support this project. ๏’—
     
    Please check your child's Friday Folder, look through their work (which is yours to keep), sign their folder and return on Tuesday.  Thank you!
     
    Have a happy weekend!
    -- 
    Carley Kennedy
    Third Grade Teacher
    Green Elementary School
     
     
     
     
    "The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice."
     
     
    Comments (-1)

  • Two Important Reminder for the Week

    Posted by Carley Kennedy on 8/26/2019

    Hi C-3 families,

     
    Two important reminders for the week:
     
    Thursday will be our Topic 1 Math Test.  Today, your child will bring home a packet of "Quick Checks" for Topic 1.  These can be used to review and practice for the test.  These worksheets do not need to be turned in; they are just an additional resource to help prepare for the upcoming test.
     
    Friday will be our Cultural Museum!  Please make sure your child has an item and a paragraph describing that item to display on their desk.  Each student will also  present about their special item to their classmates. 
     
    Thank you and happy Monday!
    Carley
     
    -- 
    Carley Kennedy
    Third Grade Teacher
    Green Elementary School
     
     
     
     
    "The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice."
     
     
    Comments (-1)

  • C-3 News 8-23-19

    Posted by Carley Kennedy on 8/23/2019

    Dear C-3 Families,

     
    Happy Friday!  I wanted to let you know about a few things that we are currently learning in class.  
     
    Writing: Students are learning how to write a narrative with a compelling beginning, supporting details, and a solid conclusion.
     
    Reading: We are in the process of learning and practicing the routines and skills needed to participate in a successful Reader's Workshop.  Students have been practicing: active listening, following directions, quick and quiet transitions, writing a thorough response to our reading, and author's purpose (to entertain, inform, or persuade).
     
    Our read aloud is The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
     
    Small reading groups and spelling/vocabulary will begin the week of Sept. 3rd.  Students will take their spelling and vocabulary words home each Monday.  They can also be found on our spelling city site.
     
     
    Math:  We are learning about Number sense, number lines, and rounding.  Our topic 1 test will be on Thursday.  Your child should know the following:
     *standard form, expanded form, word form
     *How to find the halfway number on a number line
     *How to round to the nearest ten, hundred, and thousand
     
    At the bottom of this email, I am attaching instructions for how your child can log into our math Pearson Realize site from home.  They can access their text book, practice pages, and online practice games from this site.
     
    Technology: Your child has glued their Google Username and password into the their Minder Binder.  They can access all of our class sites by logging into their school Google account and going to our Clever link.  If they log in this way, their logins and passwords for most of our class sites (such as IXL Math) should automatically generate.  The only exceptions are Pearson Realize (our math text) which I am including the attachment for and Spelling City (which I included the link for above).  They are also not able to take AR quizzes from home.
     
    Cultural Museum: Next Friday is our Cultural Museum!  Please see the info handed out in your BTSN folder.
     
    Please let me know if you have any questions. Have a wonderful weekend!
     
    -- 
    Carley Kennedy
    Third Grade Teacher
    Green Elementary School
     
     
     
     
    "The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice."
     
     
    Comments (-1)

  • C-3 First Week News 8-16-19

    Posted by Carley Kennedy on 8/16/2019
    Dear C-3 Families,

    What a FABULOUS first week of the school year!  Our C-3 family is so sweet, kind, and focused.  I can already tell we are going to have a super year together.  
     
    I will always send a weekly email on Fridays (sometimes on Thursday) with news, announcements, and curriculum updates.
     
    Curriculum Updates:
     
    Reading: Our focus will be on determining the main idea and supporting details as well as the author's purpose.  As readers, we are working on the strategies of active listening and questioning. Students will also learn to annotate as they read.
     
    Read Alouds this week were:
    One by Kathryn Otoshi- This looks like a simple story but it has a strong and powerful message. We had a very thoughtful class discussion as we read. 
     
    How Full is Your Bucket? By Tom Rath - This was a read aloud to kick off our C-3 Bucket Fillers, which the class will do all year long.
     
    Discover Yourself  By our very own Hsiao-Yen (Nova's mom)
     
    Every day, we practice Mindfulness and Metacognition and focus our thoughts on the positive.  We do this for 5 minutes after coming in from recess.  This week, we thought about the things we are grateful for in life.
     
    Cursive practice will start on Monday!
     
    Math: Our first topic is Number Sense.  We will learn about number lines, the halfway number, and rounding, as well as place value and problem solving.  
     
    Writing: We will start Writer's Workshop on Monday.  We begin our writing unit with a focus on personal narrative writing and using compelling beginnings.
     
    Social Studies: Government
     
    Each Friday your child will bring home a Friday Folder filled with some of the work they have completed that week, AR scores, and other reports and/or assessments.  This will start next Friday.  Each weekend, please look over your child's Friday Folder work and sign their Friday Folder log with any comments or questions you have for me.  This should be returned on Monday.  
     
    Also, your child will be writing a letter to you about their week.  They will keep this in a Friday Journal that they will bring home every Friday and back to school every Monday.  Please read your child's letter in his/her Friday Journal.  Write back if you can.  
     

     I wanted to include a typical daily schedule for C-3:

    Morning Warm Up (Review and preview of 3rd grade skills)
    Reading Lesson
    Fitness/Walk/Run
    Reading Groups (Differentiated reading groups/vocabulary/spelling)
    Recess
    Mindfulness/Metacognition/Journal Writing
    Writing/Grammar
    Math
    Lunch
    AR Reading/Annotating Nonfiction
    Science/Social Studies/Art
    End of the Day Reflection Circle
     
    If you signed up to volunteer in class, please let me know if you are available to start next week (You must have already turned in your clearance paperwork to the office).  If you were cleared to volunteer last year, I believe you are still cleared.
     
    Please email me anytime with questions/comments.  I will let you know as soon as I receive information about the BTSN make up date.
     
    Have a wonderful weekend!
    -- 
    Carley Kennedy
    Third Grade Teacher
    Green Elementary School
     
     
     
     
    Comments (-1)

  • C-3 Open Monday, Aug. 12th 10:00-11:00

    Posted by Carley Kennedy on 8/11/2019
    Dear C-3 Parents,

    Happy Sunday!  I hope everyone is enjoying the last weekend before the kids head back to school. I  wanted to remind you that the classroom will be open from 10:00-11:00 tomorrow (Monday) morning if you'd like to drop off your supplies and see the room.  I can still remember how anxious and excited I'd get to start each school year and seeing my classroom, meeting my teacher, and finding out where my desk would be was always consuming my thoughts leading up to the first day.  I am hoping to ease your child's first day jitters by opening the room early.
     
    During this time, I will also make available the sign-up sheets that I will have out for BTSN in case any parents want to sign up for anything early.  I know some of you might not be able to make it to BTSN on Thursday.  There will be sign up sheets for: November conferences, parent classroom volunteers, at home helpers, Project Cornerstone, Junior Achievement, Room Parent, and Yearbook Photographer.
     
    Most of all, I look forward to meeting you and your child.  It's going to be a wonderful year together!
     
    Sincerely,
    Carley Kennedy
     
     
     
     
     
     
    		    
     
     
     
     
    Comments (-1)

  • C-3 News May 3, 2019

    Posted by Carley Kennedy on 5/3/2019

    Dear C-3 families,

     
    Happy Friday!  We are in our last month of the school year - so hard to believe!  While the year is definitely winding down, our work in C-3 is not.  We are very busy!  
     
    Career Project - In your child's folder today, you will find the packet for their Career Report.  They need to complete the notes at home (Due by Wednesday, May 8th).  We will be doing the technology part of the project in the classroom using Google Slides.  Each student will present their project during one of the presentation days (See the packet)
     
    Tea Party - Our Tea Party will be on Friday, May 17th from 11:00-12:00. Please see the information our Room Moms are sending out for sign-ups.  The ladies and gentlemen of C-3 are practicing their etiquette and an original poem to recite during this fun event.
     
    SBAC (CAASPP) Testing - Our testing schedule is:
    Monday, May 13th - ELA Test
    Wednesday, May 15th - ELA Performance Task Test
    Thursday, May 16th - Math Test
    Friday, May 17th - Math Performance Task Test
     
    Next week, your child will have test prep work for homework.  Please set aside some time each night (if possible) to review these together with your child
     
    Testing Treats!  One FUN things we do in C-3 during testing is we enjoy the treat of gum or mints while we are taking the test.  Studies have shown that chewing gum (and/or the scent of mint) can help awaken the mind and support focus.  Whether this works or is just a placebo, we like to do it in C-3!  If you would like to send in gum or mints to share with the class, please send some in anytime prior to testing.  We will start collecting next week.  Thank you!
     
    Have a wonderful weekend!
     
    -- 
    Carley Kennedy
    Third Grade Teacher
    Green Elementary School
     
     
     
     
    "The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice."
     
    Comments (-1)

  • C-3 News 4-26-19

    Posted by Carley Kennedy on 4/26/2019
    Dear C-3 Families,
     
    Happy Friday!  Great news - All of our field trip collections have been completed for the year, so we will not be sending home any more permission slips or asking for any more field trip donations (Always one of my very least favorite duties as a teacher). ๐Ÿ˜  Thank you for all of your support in making these hands-on experiences possible for our students. 
     
    Our field trip to the Alviso Adobe Park is next Tuesday.  The students will be applying their knowledge and expanding their leaning about the Ohlone people, this land during the Ohlone and Rancho periods, and fossils.  It is a very enriching trip! 
     

    Friday Folder - Please do not miss your child's great work in their Friday Folder.  This week, they are bringing home a few amazing pieces of hard work that we simply did not have space in our classroom to display during Open House.  Specifically, I'd  like to point out the Plant Adaptation books.  They put a lot of research and work into those, and I think it shows. :)

     
    Next Thursday, all third grade teachers will be at a meeting.  We will have a substitute in the classroom.  I will be checking my email throughout the day, so please send a message if you need anything.
     
    Students will be starting an incredibly enriching and impressive algebra program next week.  If you can't tell, I get very excited about introducing this to my students each year.  Ask your child about it next week.  It's really beneficial for them to teach others what they have been learning in class. 
     
    I hope everyone has a great weekend!  Enjoy the sunshine!
     
    Sincerely,

    -- 

    Carley Kennedy
    Third Grade Teacher
    Green Elementary School
     
     
     
     
    "The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice."
     
    Comments (-1)

  • C-3 News 4-10-19

    Posted by Carley Kennedy on 4/9/2019

    Dear C-3 Parents,

     
    Happy Tuesday!  Our weekly news is coming to you early this week because we simply have too much going on - I can't wait to share it all! :)
     
    This Friday is Pastries with Parents - Please join your child for a pastry before school if you can.  The MPR will be open from 7:15-8:25.
     
    Thank you for all of the Math-a-thon donations!  Our class averaged a 97% on the Math-a-thon test.  The class will be enjoying a sundae party this Friday to celebrate all of their hard work.
     
    Pioneer Projects are due this Friday, April 12th!
     
    Our Topic 16 math test will be next Tuesday.
     
    Our field trip to Color Me Mine is next Wednesday from 10:15-12:00.  
     
    Next Thursday is Open House from 6:00-7:00.  Please try to be here by 6:10.  The class has a surprise song they are preparing for you. โค  Please bring a bag with you to Open House.  Your child will be bringing quite a bit of wonderful work home with them 
     
    We still need one more driver for our field trip to the Alviso Adobe park on Tuesday, April 30th.  Please let me know if you can join us.  Thank you!
     
    *Save the Date: Our last field trip will be on May 14th.  It will be to the Civic Center and Heritage Center here in Dublin.  This is an all-day field trip.  I will be sending home the permission slips in the next couple weeks, but wanted you to save the date if you can drive.  We will need approximately 6-7 drivers.  Thank you!
     
    Have a wonderful rest of the week!
    -- 
    Carley Kennedy
    Third Grade Teacher
    Green Elementary School
     
     
     
     
    "The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice."
     
    Comments (-1)

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