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Valentine’s Day

Hi All,

On the 14th, we will be having a Valentine’s party at the end of the day from ~1:45-2:45. We will be playing a game, having snacks, and then passing out valentines. Your child can choose whether or not to bring valentines for their classmates, but I ask that if they do bring them, they bring them for everyone, not just a few selected people. Your child is also welcome to bring a snack/treat to share with the class. We’ll just share whatever snacks come in. It would be great if at least a couple of parents could join to help pass out snacks, help with the game, clean, etc. Just let me know if you’d like to join us. I’ll plan on sending home a class list of names on Friday.

Take Care 🙂

Adam

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Welcome Back!

Hi All,

I hope you a wonderful (and maybe restful?) winter break. I got to spend a couple of weeks in the sunshine of Mexico with family, so being back in the Oregon winter is a bit of a change!

We’ve slowly started getting back in to our 3rd grade routine this week, and we’ve also started a number of new units of study. 

In Science, we’ve begun a unit called Water and Climate. We’ve already done some experimenting with how water acts when dropped on different surfaces such as paper, wax paper, and aluminum foil. We’ve also learned that although there is abundant water on our “Blue Planet”, only a very tiny amount of it is actually usable fresh water. 

In Writing, we’ve started our second big writing unit–Opinion Writing. We’ve started putting together our new notebooks, and will have a fun time learning how to choose an opinion and defend it with strong examples.

In Math, we’re continuing our work with fractions, which includes learning how to make fractional measurements and then record our data on a line plot.

In Art, we’re continuing our work with line drawings, but now beginning to use oil pastel techniques to color them in. As I’ve mentioned before, all of this artwork will be part of a portfolio that will be sent home towards the end of the school year. 

And homework will be starting again this week, so please look for new homework tomorrow.

Also, our class continues to collect boxtops to raise money for our school. If you (or anyone you know) has any boxtops, please send them in. We’re hoping that our class can get first place in the school!

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Take Care 🙂

Adam

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Cozy Clothes Day and Family Meal Project

Hi All,

In case your kids haven’t let you know, we are having our 2nd Cozy Clothes Day on Monday! Kids can bring one stuffed animal, one pillow, and one blanket or sleeping bag. 

Also, Please remember that the Family Meal Project is due on December 17th. If your child hasn’t planned things yet, please help them do this so that they can be successful with this project. If you have any questions, please let me know.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Adam

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Family Meal Project

Dear Families,

In your child’s homework folder you will find the instructions for their first big 3rd grade homework project–the Family Meal Project. Please take some time to sit down and read through these instructions with your child. Your child will have the opportunity to plan a meal, shop for the ingredients, prepare the meal, serve the meal to you, and write and draw about the experience. It should be a lot of fun, but they may need help with figuring out how to organize the whole experience, and perhaps help with some of the shopping and cooking too!

They have ~1 month for everything, and the project will finish with them giving an oral presentation to the class the week before winter break. 

After you have taken a look at the instructions, please let me know if you have any questions.

Have a great weekend!

Adam

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Seesaw for Sharing Student Learning

Dear Families,

This year we are using a program called Seesaw to share and communicate with families! Your child will post to Seesaw to share examples of their learning and photos from school. There are already a handful of things for you to see, and more will be added throughout the year. Seesaw is private; you’ll only see posts created by your child.

Please Sign Up Now

  1. Click on this link: https://app.seesaw.me/s/163-254-095
  2. Choose your child from the list
  3. Create your account
  4. Once I approve you, you can see content from your child

After you sign up, download the free Seesaw Family app and sign in. You can also access Seesaw from a computer at https://app.seesaw.me.

Thank you for supporting your child’s learning!

Adam Shepard

P.s. If you used Seesaw last year or have more than one child using Seesaw, follow the link above, then click the ‘Sign in’ tab at the top of the screen. You do not need to create a new account.

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Field Trip to the Hult Center

Hi All,

As you may know, we have the wonderful opportunity to visit the Hult Center and see the Eugene Symphony Orchestra. The Symphony offers two educational youth concerts this year, and our Music teacher at Edgewood, Ms. Nixon, has graciously helped arrange for the entire 3rd grade to have this opportunity. You can learn more about the youth concert at:

https://eugenesymphony.org/education/schools/youth-concerts

If you have not already signed and returned your permission slip, please do so by tomorrow. Because of the many upcoming no-school days, the field trip will be coming up soon–Tuesday, November 13th–which is the day we return after the break.

Please let me know if you have any questions and I look forward to meeting with you at our conferences the next couple of days.

Take Care 🙂

Adam

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Conference Times

Hi All,

Your kids should be bringing home a green paper today that shows the date and time of your parent/teacher conference. Please sign and send back the bottom part of the paper so I know whether or not the time works for you. Or if it’s easier for you, feel free to just email me and let me know whether or not the time on the form works for you.

Take Care 🙂

Adam

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Cozy Clothes Day

Hi All,

Our class will be having our first Cozy Clothes Day on Friday. It’s just a regular school day EXCEPT… kids can bring these three things with them. One stuffed animal, one pillow, and one blanket or sleeping bag. It’s kind of like a pajama day, except kids can just wear comfy clothes if they don’t like pajamas. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Take Care 🙂

Adam

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October News

Hi All,

I hope everyone is well and enjoying this lovely fall weather! Just wanted to give you a quick update on some of the cool things we’ve been doing in 3rd grade.

In Science we’re in the middle of a unit called Motion and Matter. We’ve begun exploring forces such as magnetism and gravity by using things like magnets, ramps and wheels.

In math, our focus has shifted to a unit on area. This is a new concept for most of the students, but allows them to use their existing multiplication/addition skills. We also continue to practice our basic math facts, with each child working through their addition/subtraction/multiplication/division facts at their own pace. 

In Social Studies we’re doing a unit called Town Builder. We’ve started off by learning about various landforms and natural resources, and now the kids have chosen where on our classroom map they would like to settle and start their town. You can ask your child if they chose to settle in the hills, by the lake, or on the peninsula. This is a simulation-type unit where the choices they make will affect the progress of their settlement. Should be fun!

We’ve been having a great time with our writing. We’re working on personal narratives, and most kids have now finished a first draft of their first “Masterpiece”. We’ll now be going through a detailed revising and editing process where the kids will learn how to add in things such as dialogue, transitions, leads, endings, as well as work on their spelling and punctuation. It will be fun to look at their progress during conferences. 

And if you haven’t seen the artwork your child has been working on, you’ll be in for a nice surprise. We’ve been working on line drawings, and have so far completed a parrot and a fish, with our drawings of castles currently in progress. You will receive a lovely portfolio at the end of the year (as we are hanging all of our artwork in the classroom!).

This is just a taste of life in 3rd grade, and I’d be happy to offer more details if there is something you’ve been wondering about!

Oh… and if you’re interested in helping out at the class Halloween party, please let me know. We already have a parent who will be coordinating the party, but we could use some people to show up and help during the party–October 31st, ~1:45-2:45.

Take Care 🙂

Adam

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Conferences

Hi All,

Parent/Teacher conferences will be held on November 7th and 8th this year. Please take a look in your child’s homework folder for the conference scheduling form. It would be great if you could return it ASAP–by 10/15 at the latest. 

Conferences will be a great time to sit down and touch base about your child’s school experience so far. If there are any specific things you want to make sure we check in about, please let me know. Of course, I’m also available other times, so please feel free to let me know if you need anything.

Have a great weekend!

Adam

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