Our final field trip of the year will be to the University of Arizona on May 15th. We will leave Soleng Tom as soon as we take care of the morning business. The plan is to walk around the campus and see as many of the sites as possible. Then we will have a picnic before we return to school. The permission form will be in Monday's Dragon folder and I will be asking for volunteers to drive. This field trip is usually very enjoyable and a lot of walking. Please volunteer to drive if you can.
The staff is starting to prepare for next school year. I have been assigned to teach fourth grade next year. Mr. Dotson will write a letter to the parents of my current third grade students. The letter will give you a choice of your child staying in my class next year or being placed in a different fourth grade class. I would be pleased to have any of my All Stars again! Please make the decision based on what you feel is best for your son or daughter. I will not be offended if you feel a change would be beneficial.
I am very pleased to share that our Soleng Tom track team finished third in the city track meet on Saturday - about thirty schools competed. Our very own Sasha earned a second place in the D high jump and Joseph was on the D relay team that placed third. Great job Dragons!
This will be an exciting week with the fourth grade book reports due on Wednesday and the third grade state floats due on Friday! The book reports are free choice on the book and the report. It will be exciting to see the Power Points, games, written report or what ever method the student selects to prove they read the book. The third grade state report is more structured with the requirements on the float. I will offer colored paper to the students that need it for their float or report.
Please save the date of May 5 for the Soleng Tom Family Barbecue - it is always a lot of fun! The third and fourth grade will perform a concert at the barbecue. The third graders will play their recorders and the fourth grade their boom whackers. I'm positive the concerts will be excellent! I am looking forward to the concert and visiting with many of you.
Thank you for your continued support!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Figueroa
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Homework week of April 27, 2015
Third grade
Monday - vocabulary 53 & 55, math 19, and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 98 & 99, 3 digit addition, and reading log
Wednesday - work on state float, math 21 & 22 and reading log
Thursday - finish state float, math 27 & 28 and reading log
Fourth grade
Monday - work on book report, math page 7, and reading log
Tuesday - finish book report, math 11 & 12 and reading log
Wednesday - language arts, math 14 & 15 and reading log
Thursday - study spelling words, math 19 & 20 and reading log
Monday - vocabulary 53 & 55, math 19, and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 98 & 99, 3 digit addition, and reading log
Wednesday - work on state float, math 21 & 22 and reading log
Thursday - finish state float, math 27 & 28 and reading log
Fourth grade
Monday - work on book report, math page 7, and reading log
Tuesday - finish book report, math 11 & 12 and reading log
Wednesday - language arts, math 14 & 15 and reading log
Thursday - study spelling words, math 19 & 20 and reading log
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Third grade spelling: Alejandro's Gift
1. pennies
2. buried
3. replied
4. candies
5. emptied
6. stories
7. married
8. copies
9. parties
10. studied
11. mysteries
12. discoveries
13. worries
14. families
15. ponies
Bonus words
windmill
ample
cherished
shunned
furrows
growth
2. buried
3. replied
4. candies
5. emptied
6. stories
7. married
8. copies
9. parties
10. studied
11. mysteries
12. discoveries
13. worries
14. families
15. ponies
Bonus words
windmill
ample
cherished
shunned
furrows
growth
Fourth grade spelling: Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox
1. practice
2. members
3. dinner
4. suppose
5. except
6. problem
7. shallow
8. stubborn
9. logger
10. cotton
11. object
12. shelter
13. distance
14. pattern
15. captive
16. publish
17. sitting
18. tractor
19. servant
20. hidden
Bonus words
bellowing
softhearted
ration
tragedy
fateful
gadgets
2. members
3. dinner
4. suppose
5. except
6. problem
7. shallow
8. stubborn
9. logger
10. cotton
11. object
12. shelter
13. distance
14. pattern
15. captive
16. publish
17. sitting
18. tractor
19. servant
20. hidden
Bonus words
bellowing
softhearted
ration
tragedy
fateful
gadgets
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Teacher's note April 20, 2015
As far as I could observe, the students gave their best effort to the Az Merit testing last week. I was pleased with the effort the students displayed. I believe the test results will be available next fall - we certainly will be interested in the results.
We all understand the main purpose of school is teaching the curriculum, but I have been very impressed with the friendship of this group of students. Carrie has been healing from surgery for the past six weeks and has had to stay inside during the healing process. The kids have made a list of volunteers who keep her company during P.E. and lunch. Those volunteers have included third and fourth grade boys and girls. I wondered how long the volunteers would continue. I am pleased to say that she always had a buddy and the list of those willing to help goes beyond the current need. Watching this situation unfold has made me love my class even more! Thanks for teaching your kids to care!
It will be back to our curriculum routine this week with vocabulary, spelling and math homework.
In addition to our lessons from the reading anthology, we will work on writing poetry, reading the state or book report novel and third grade will work on their state brochure. As you can see, we have more than enough to keep us busy.
In our team meeting Friday we discussed when the third grade state float and the fourth grade book report should be due. We agreed that the fourth grade book report will be due on Wednesday, April 29th and the third grade state float on Friday, May 1. Of course, students may complete their project ahead of time.
Math will be exciting this week too! The fourth graders will be studying probability. They will conduct three different probability experiments and graph the results of the experiments - this is an exciting section of the unit! Third grade will be begin studying 3 dimensional geometry.They will have the opportunity to build different solids and determine the characteristics of each shape.
We have started the final project of the science electricity unit. The kids have been divided into groups to wire a cardboard house. The have to build a house with a working light and switch for each room. Each student has to wire the switch and light for their room. The kids always seem to love this project!
I hope we all have a wonderful week full of learning opportunities.
Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa
We all understand the main purpose of school is teaching the curriculum, but I have been very impressed with the friendship of this group of students. Carrie has been healing from surgery for the past six weeks and has had to stay inside during the healing process. The kids have made a list of volunteers who keep her company during P.E. and lunch. Those volunteers have included third and fourth grade boys and girls. I wondered how long the volunteers would continue. I am pleased to say that she always had a buddy and the list of those willing to help goes beyond the current need. Watching this situation unfold has made me love my class even more! Thanks for teaching your kids to care!
It will be back to our curriculum routine this week with vocabulary, spelling and math homework.
In addition to our lessons from the reading anthology, we will work on writing poetry, reading the state or book report novel and third grade will work on their state brochure. As you can see, we have more than enough to keep us busy.
In our team meeting Friday we discussed when the third grade state float and the fourth grade book report should be due. We agreed that the fourth grade book report will be due on Wednesday, April 29th and the third grade state float on Friday, May 1. Of course, students may complete their project ahead of time.
Math will be exciting this week too! The fourth graders will be studying probability. They will conduct three different probability experiments and graph the results of the experiments - this is an exciting section of the unit! Third grade will be begin studying 3 dimensional geometry.They will have the opportunity to build different solids and determine the characteristics of each shape.
We have started the final project of the science electricity unit. The kids have been divided into groups to wire a cardboard house. The have to build a house with a working light and switch for each room. Each student has to wire the switch and light for their room. The kids always seem to love this project!
I hope we all have a wonderful week full of learning opportunities.
Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa
Homework week of April 20, 2015
Third grade
Monday - vocabulary 49 & 50, finish math 1-5 and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 95 & 96, math page 7 and reading log
Wednesday - Tree on a Hill poem, math 9 & 10 and reading log
Thursday - study spelling words, finish math 11- 14 and reading log
Fourth grade
Monday - vocabulary 113 & 114, math 45 & 46, and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 95 & 97, math 48 and reading log
Wednesday - fact and opinion 149, math 51 & 52 and reading log
Thursday - study spelling and reading log
Monday - vocabulary 49 & 50, finish math 1-5 and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 95 & 96, math page 7 and reading log
Wednesday - Tree on a Hill poem, math 9 & 10 and reading log
Thursday - study spelling words, finish math 11- 14 and reading log
Fourth grade
Monday - vocabulary 113 & 114, math 45 & 46, and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 95 & 97, math 48 and reading log
Wednesday - fact and opinion 149, math 51 & 52 and reading log
Thursday - study spelling and reading log
Third grade spelling: I'm in Charge of Celebrations
1. farmer
2. useful
3. softly
4. suitable
5. lonely
6. quietly
7. teacher
8. thankful
9. exactly
10. readable
11. nicer
12. safer
13. harmful
14. playful
15. quietly
Bonus words
signal
tracks
celebrations
admiring
choosy
average
2. useful
3. softly
4. suitable
5. lonely
6. quietly
7. teacher
8. thankful
9. exactly
10. readable
11. nicer
12. safer
13. harmful
14. playful
15. quietly
Bonus words
signal
tracks
celebrations
admiring
choosy
average
Spelling fourth grade: The Gold Rush
1. hasn't
2. I've
3. I'd
4. we've
5. wouldn't
6. you'd
7. haven't
8. wasn't
9. they've
10. you've
11. she'd
12. didn't
13. won't
14. shouldn't
15. couldn't
16. weren't
17. we'd
18. hadn't
19. they'd
20. don't
Bonus words
beckons
abandoned
fares
rugged
profitable
multicultural
2. I've
3. I'd
4. we've
5. wouldn't
6. you'd
7. haven't
8. wasn't
9. they've
10. you've
11. she'd
12. didn't
13. won't
14. shouldn't
15. couldn't
16. weren't
17. we'd
18. hadn't
19. they'd
20. don't
Bonus words
beckons
abandoned
fares
rugged
profitable
multicultural
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Teacher's note April 13, 2015
This is the week for the Az Merit standardized testing and our chance to demonstrate what we have learned. I will be testing my third and fourth graders together because the teacher's script is identical. My students with accommodations will be testing with Mrs. Damek. The majority of our time this week will be invested in preparing for and taking the assessments.
Please encourage the students to get plenty of rest, eat a good breakfast and come to school with a positive attitude this entire week. We want to be calm and focused. These conditions will help us be more successful during the testing. I hope we have perfect attendance all week!
Tuesday will be the writing test. Thursday will be reading part 1 and math part 1 and Friday reading part 2 and math part 2. The testing will start by 9:00 and the kids may have as long as they need to complete the exam. We traded lunch times with the kindergarten classes to allow more time for the test in the morning. All of this week my class will go to lunch at 12:18 and return at 12:55.
You may love the idea that there will be far less homework this entire week. I do expect the kids to continue their reading log and suggest the fourth graders read the book for their book report. We will alternate reading their language arts notebook and math notebook for homework just to refresh our memories on some of the topics covered this year.
I will introduce our poetry unit Wednesday afternoon and the kids will begin writing poetry. The kids usually love this project! We start with very structured poems like a bio poem and I Am. This will be a chance for the students to be creative and artistic. The poetry project will continue until the end of the school year. We will work on different types of poems each week.
Let's plan on having a wonderful week!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Figueroa
Please encourage the students to get plenty of rest, eat a good breakfast and come to school with a positive attitude this entire week. We want to be calm and focused. These conditions will help us be more successful during the testing. I hope we have perfect attendance all week!
Tuesday will be the writing test. Thursday will be reading part 1 and math part 1 and Friday reading part 2 and math part 2. The testing will start by 9:00 and the kids may have as long as they need to complete the exam. We traded lunch times with the kindergarten classes to allow more time for the test in the morning. All of this week my class will go to lunch at 12:18 and return at 12:55.
You may love the idea that there will be far less homework this entire week. I do expect the kids to continue their reading log and suggest the fourth graders read the book for their book report. We will alternate reading their language arts notebook and math notebook for homework just to refresh our memories on some of the topics covered this year.
I will introduce our poetry unit Wednesday afternoon and the kids will begin writing poetry. The kids usually love this project! We start with very structured poems like a bio poem and I Am. This will be a chance for the students to be creative and artistic. The poetry project will continue until the end of the school year. We will work on different types of poems each week.
Let's plan on having a wonderful week!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Figueroa
Homework week of April 13, 2015
Third and fourth grade homework
Monday - review language arts notebook and reading log
Tuesday - review math notebook and reading log
Wednesday - review language arts notebook and reading log
Thursday - review math notebook and reading log
Monday - review language arts notebook and reading log
Tuesday - review math notebook and reading log
Wednesday - review language arts notebook and reading log
Thursday - review math notebook and reading log
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Teacher's note April 6, 2015
I am pleased with my students that attended the track meet and those that worked in our class last Tuesday. Our team finished in second place out of five schools and Joseph and Sasha qualified for city! The substitute wrote that the students were fabulous on Tuesday. I was a very happy teacher and coach!
Monday we will try a new seating chart with the third and fourth graders mixed at each table. We are constantly on the move with centers and math. It will be interesting to see how the new seating chart works.
I will introduce the state report project to my third graders on Monday. They will research information and check out a book on a state of their choice. We will be using the website 50states.com. The kids will be producing a brochure with information and pictures at school. At home they will build a "float' with specific information that must be included. You are going to want to save an empty cereal box for the float. The kids go to the library on Monday to select a state book. Look for information in the Dragon Folder explaining the project.
Fourth grade has a free choice book report fourth quarter. They may select what type of book they want to read and what type of report to make to prove they read the book. I will discuss the possibilities with the kids on Monday and send them to the library for a book. The book report will be due on April 24. The kids will have time to read their book in class.
Now both grades are studying data analysis in math. We will be working on reading a variety of graphs, building line plots and bar graphs, and making statements about the data. We will also be reviewing for next week's AZ Merit testing.
Please note that next Tuesday, Thursday and Friday are testing dates for AZ Merit. I hope every student eats breakfast, comes to school with a great attitude and gives the test their best effort. It will be a chance for the students to showcase what they have learned. Please do everything possible for the students to arrive on time and be prepared to do their best. I will allow the students to suck on a candy during each test. If you would like to donate a bag of Jolly Ranchers or a similar candy, I would appreciate your kindness.
I hope each of us has a wonderful week full of learning activities.
Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa
Monday we will try a new seating chart with the third and fourth graders mixed at each table. We are constantly on the move with centers and math. It will be interesting to see how the new seating chart works.
I will introduce the state report project to my third graders on Monday. They will research information and check out a book on a state of their choice. We will be using the website 50states.com. The kids will be producing a brochure with information and pictures at school. At home they will build a "float' with specific information that must be included. You are going to want to save an empty cereal box for the float. The kids go to the library on Monday to select a state book. Look for information in the Dragon Folder explaining the project.
Fourth grade has a free choice book report fourth quarter. They may select what type of book they want to read and what type of report to make to prove they read the book. I will discuss the possibilities with the kids on Monday and send them to the library for a book. The book report will be due on April 24. The kids will have time to read their book in class.
Now both grades are studying data analysis in math. We will be working on reading a variety of graphs, building line plots and bar graphs, and making statements about the data. We will also be reviewing for next week's AZ Merit testing.
Please note that next Tuesday, Thursday and Friday are testing dates for AZ Merit. I hope every student eats breakfast, comes to school with a great attitude and gives the test their best effort. It will be a chance for the students to showcase what they have learned. Please do everything possible for the students to arrive on time and be prepared to do their best. I will allow the students to suck on a candy during each test. If you would like to donate a bag of Jolly Ranchers or a similar candy, I would appreciate your kindness.
I hope each of us has a wonderful week full of learning activities.
Warmly,
Mrs. Figueroa
Homework week of April 6, 2015
Third grade
Monday - vocabulary 44 & 45, math 5 & 6 and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 90 & 91, math 28 & 29, and reading log
Wednesday - language 46 & 47, finish math 32 - 36, and reading log
Thursday - study spelling words, math 42 & 43 and reading log
Fourth grade
Monday - vocabulary 109 & 110, math 22 - 24 and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 90 & 91, finish math 31 - 33, and reading log
Wednesday - Main Idea, math 37 & 38 and reading log
Thursday - study spelling, math 39 - 42 and reading log
Monday - vocabulary 44 & 45, math 5 & 6 and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 90 & 91, math 28 & 29, and reading log
Wednesday - language 46 & 47, finish math 32 - 36, and reading log
Thursday - study spelling words, math 42 & 43 and reading log
Fourth grade
Monday - vocabulary 109 & 110, math 22 - 24 and reading log
Tuesday - spelling 90 & 91, finish math 31 - 33, and reading log
Wednesday - Main Idea, math 37 & 38 and reading log
Thursday - study spelling, math 39 - 42 and reading log
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Third grade spelling: If You Made a Million
1. combination
2. action
3. vision
4. motion
5. section
6. nation
7. permission
8. confusion
9. question
10. attention
11. vacation
12. production
13. quotation
14. tension
15. sensation
Bonus words
congratulations
receive
value
combinations
amount
choices
2. action
3. vision
4. motion
5. section
6. nation
7. permission
8. confusion
9. question
10. attention
11. vacation
12. production
13. quotation
14. tension
15. sensation
Bonus words
congratulations
receive
value
combinations
amount
choices
Fourth grade spelling: In My Family
1. lamb
2. often
3. castle
4. listen
5. comb
6. climbed
7. fasten
8. crumbs
9. soften
10. thumb
11. doubt
12. whistle
13. honest
14. rhyme
15. answer
16. column
17. numb
18. tomb
19. glisten
20. hasten
Bonus words
culture
chile
barbecue
mesquite
confetti
accordion
2. often
3. castle
4. listen
5. comb
6. climbed
7. fasten
8. crumbs
9. soften
10. thumb
11. doubt
12. whistle
13. honest
14. rhyme
15. answer
16. column
17. numb
18. tomb
19. glisten
20. hasten
Bonus words
culture
chile
barbecue
mesquite
confetti
accordion
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