April 28, 2017

Good Afternoon,
  As I write this post, I am sitting in the empty classroom and starring out the big window.  It is certainly nice to see the sun and blue sky.  This week we continued working on persuasive pieces.  We read the book The True Story of the Three Little Pigs.  It allowed me to focus on the idea of perspective and the students had to use evidence from the text to support his point of view.  Next week, we will write a piece that defends the wolf and how it was all a big misunderstanding.

This morning we were visited by two lambs.  A student in Mr. Greenleaf's classroom brought in his lambs to share and then brought them to each room to share.  Needless to say math class came to a stop and all attention was given to the two animals.

NOTES:

*Your child has reading homework in his/her bag.  Please make time for them to read over the weekend.

*Please read and respond in your child's Weekly News journal.

That is all for now.  I hope you have a fabulous weekend.

Tommy

April 24, 2017

Welcome Back, Welcome, Back, Welcome Back!  I hope those of you who were fortunate to have some time off truly enjoyed it and found it to be a refreshing break as we transition into spring.  May and June prove to be a whirlwind of a time.  Between the end of the year testing, the need to thoroughly complete instruction, and all of the extra curricular activities that the students are involved in, June 16th will be here before we all know it.  It is with all of this in mind that I ask that you help your child find balance with all that this time of year brings and to keep school and rest in the forefront.

Today, we started our persuasive writing unit.  We discussed what the point of a persuasive piece is and then read two books that modeled an opinion piece.   The 1st book was  Dear Mrs. LaRue Letters from Obedience School and the other was Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!  Each book had the main character trying to convince the audience that events from the stories were not their fault.  We will continue to read persuasive pieces and then transition into group writings before moving to individual pieces.

I hope you all have a great week.

Peace,
Tommy

April 14, 2017

Good Morning,

This week we started our unit on the sun and moon.  Our first objective is for the students to gain an understanding that the sun appears to move through the sky.  The students each built a sun dial and spent today (every hour) marking shadows that appeared.  We will look more at these results a week from Monday.

All but 2 students were able to publish their final non-fiction writing piece and have finished the illustrations as well.  Our next writing focus will be persuasive writing.  Each child will be developing their own Pokemon card and a write up for the back of they card.

I hope you all have a wonderful break.  I will be teaching 3rd grade math in the Lawrence Massachusetts area during the week.

 (left)Students perform their jump rope routines during Thursday's assembly.  Each grade has spent a portion of their PE classes learning different techniques and tricks.


Have a great break.

Peace,
Tommy

April 3, 2017

Good Afternoon,

  This morning the class had math and spelling.  After spelling time, we went for our "Power Walk."  This is where we walk for 7 and 1/2 minutes on the sidewalk through town.  Each time we try to make it a little further than the previous time.  After we return we go right into writing.  I have found that this walk has made for a more productive writing time. This afternoon the kids worked on their non fiction writings and had a literacy/reading group block.

  As you know, I am on the Vermont Standards Board for Professional Educators.  Our work encompasses a variety of tasks.  One of the obligations is to be part of a program approval team for college programs.  This Wednesday and Thursday, I will be away from school as I visit Champlain College and help evaluate their education program.

NOTES:
*We are still collecting plastic bottle caps.

*Please make sure your child is still bringing boots for recess time.

That is all for now.  Have a great week,
Tommy