STAAR Results
Parents, we have been told that STAAR Results will be available June 13th. You may access these from the Home Access Center. Directions for this can be found here. If you have difficulty accessing the home Access Center, you will have to contact Blanca Olvera in the Patsy Sommer office. Her email is blanca_olvera@roundrockisd.org and her phone number is (512) 704-0602. 3rd Grade Summer Studies Site We have a Summer Studies site, if you would like to direct your child towards some fun but academic things to do. The link is here, but I have also added it to our Google Classroom. The 2018-19 Academic Calendar can be seen here. Once again, I have truly appreciated all of your support this year. This was my first year at Patsy Sommer, but my 20th year teaching, and I have enjoyed every minute of it. Have a wonderful summer! "Needs-to-Know" ListACTION ITEMS: Please complete the following:
ALL PURCHASED YEARBOOKS WENT HOME TODAY. Volunteer Luncheon is Monday, May 21st. at 12:44 pm (our lunchtime). If you have not RSVP'd, please do so online at: https://goo.gl/PqowkT Pizza and Salad will be served. This will be a busy week! This is the long, printable version of what I posted last week, so I will just give you a "needs-to-know/bring" list below. Each day, please bring/do: M 5/21
T 5/22
W 5/23
Th 5/24
F 5/25
M 5/28 MEMORIAL DAY--NO SCHOOL T 5/29 Last Day of School
STAAR Testing this week STAAR testing is here! Monday, May 14th: 3rd & 4th Grade Math Tuesday, May 15th: 3rd & 4th Grade Reading Wednesday, May 16th: 5th Grade Science On these days, the campus will essentially be closed to visitors, so that we can maintain the best testing environment possible. I've tried including all the possible information I can below. Those of you with older students will already be familiar with this information, but it's always helpful to be reminded, too. My oldest child is a third grader and will be taking his first STAAR Test as well, so believe me when I say I COMPLETELY understand what this is like for families. This weekend:
Please have your child bring:
Please leave at home:
M/T Schedule: On Monday and Tuesday, we will begin testing as soon as possible. Students have a four-hour block to take the test, which should end before our regular lunch time. After lunch, we will have an abbreviated specials time, followed by recess. M/T Teacher Contact During testing, teachers' computers will be turned off, and our phones will go straight to voicemail. The office staff can always contact us if it's urgent, so if you have a message or transportation change those days, please contact the office directly. Results STAAR Testing results will be available online during the summer. If you have any other questions, please email me. Upcoming EventsMay 21st-25th is Student Appreciation Week!!! In addition to enrichment learning and STEM challenges, we have something AMAZING planned each day to show our appreciation for our students' hard work all year! Click here for a printable schedule to keep on your fridge. M May 21st: Student Appreciation Week: Escape to a world of reading!! Wear your pajamas! You can bring a blanket, a small pillow, and a stuffed animal to enjoy part of the day reading in our room! T May 22nd: Student Appreciation Week: We’re Never “Board” at school! Students may bring in a favorite game/board game [NON-electronic] today. * *All games must have child’s name visible to ensure each item goes home with the person who brought it. Students are responsible for their own games. Assembly, 1:45 pm : This is an awards assembly for 3rd graders. W May 23rd Student Appreciation Week: Electronic Day bring a device/STEM Challenges)*All devices must have child’s name visible to ensure each item goes home with the person who brought it. Students are responsible for their own devices. Th May 24th: Student Appreciation Week: Engineering/Craft Day. Bring any activity or craft to do/make in the classroom. Bring yearbook and special pen(s) for yearbook signing EOY Party, 3rd Grade, 10:00-10:40 am F May 25th Student Appreciation Week: Let's Pop Into Summer!: We’ll enjoy a film version of a chapter book we’ve read this year. Bring your favorite popcorn (or favorite movie munchies.) Epic Water Balloon Battle w/ Knicky & Kramr's classes, 1:30 pm
T May 29th: Last Day of Classes
Teacher Appreciation Week
I wanted to thank you all for the kind words, cards, and gifts I received this week, from both families and PTA. It is such a privilege to teach your children every day, and your generosity and support is appreciated. I will be thanking each of you individually, but I wanted to make sure to let you know that it has been a wonderful week! STAAR Testing is coming up on May 14th and 15th. I will send more specific information next week about what they should bring/wear on testing days. For now, I’m asking for your help in two ways to help encourage your child for the upcoming STAAR Tests of May 14th and 15th: 1. SURPRISING YOUR CHILD: Our students are in need of supporting and encouraging words from loved ones, especially since this is their first STAAR testing experience. I am asking that you or someone special write a letter of encouragement to your child that he/she can read the morning of their STAAR tests. Let me know if you cannot write one, as I do not want anyone’s child to be left without a heartfelt note on test days. So that we can achieve a full effect of the encouragement on the days of testing, please don’t share your letter with your child beforehand or explain what the letter is. It is amazing to see how loved, heartened, and supported they feel after reading their notes! Please put your letter in an envelope, address it to me, Mrs. Mensing, and have your student give it to me at school. I am hoping to receive all letters by Wednesday, May 9th. 2. The second thing I am requesting are pictures from home of those who are encouraging & instrumental in their life. These can be computer- or photo-lab-printed. Students can choose grandparents or other relatives, coaches...even pets! We will be creating a photo collage on our front wall, so that if/when anyone feels discouraged on test days, they can look up to their photo for inspiration & encouragement. These also need to be submitted by Wednesday, May 9th, but is NOT a surprise. Thank you for helping us make sure everyone feels supported during this rigorous process! UPCOMING EVENTS F May 11th: ALL LIBRARY BOOKS DUE M May 14th: STAAR Testing for 3rd Graders (Math); closed campus T May 15th: STAAR Testing for 3rd Graders (Reading); closed campus T May 22nd: Assembly, 1:45 pm Th May 24th: EOY Party, 3rd Grade F May 25th: Epic Water Balloon Battle w/ Knicky & Kramr's classes T May 29th: Last Day of Classes UPCOMING FOR 5/7-5/11 Math: Students will continue our last unit in math for the year. Our focus will be place value to 100,000 and personal financial literacy. Talk to your child about how you use credit and savings in your family. Science: Students will continue to explore with different life cycles. In the garden they will see the life cycle of the tomato plant. Reading: In the final week before the STAAR Test, we are reviewing reading strategies and skills learned throughout the year. Writing: We will use mentor text to learn how to organize informational text in our expository essays. Social Studies: Students are learning about how communities change over time. It is hard to believe that it is already MAY, and that we only have a few more weeks left of school! A special thanks goes out to Katherine Chong, who subbed for the class while the third grade teachers had an extended lunch. We love our Sommer Stallion parents! You all make us feel so supported every day, and we truly appreciate it. ALADDIN Tonight [Thursday] is the choir performance of Aladdin. Tomorrow morning students will see the performance in an all-school assembly. We wish all of our choir members good luck! (Actually, I said, "Break a leg," but then I made sure I explained what that really meant! ) GRADES Progress reports go home today. Please keep in mind that grades are being updated every week, and that you can check on Home Access. MATH FACTS Even though students have stopped recording this in their binder daily, I wanted to remind everyone how important it is for students to know their multiplication and division facts. Third graders are only required to memorize up to 10 x 10, but knowing those facts up through 12 x 12 with automaticity is tremendously helpful for streamlining the problem solving process. I have a few links to multiplication and division sites on our class website, but even using flash cards a few minutes a day in the car would be helpful. EPIC WATER BALLOON BATTLE Our class will be having an epic water balloon battle with Mrs. Knicky and Ms. Kramr's classes on May 25th. We are trying to accumulate as many water balloons as possible. This is the kind that we need. You can buy them in pack of 100 at HEB for $7.88 or 420 at Costco for $19.99. They are also available at Walmart and Target. While we love old fashion balloons, those are too hard to fill in bulk. Thank you so much! UPCOMING FOR 4/30-5/4 Math: Students will start our last unit in math for the year. Our focus will be place value to 100,000 and personal financial literacy. Science: We are starting our next unit life cycles of lady beetles, tomato plants, and frogs. (We received our lady beetles/ladybug habitat with larvae today!) Reading: We will continue bridging our reading strategies and skills we have learned throughout the year. We are learning how to apply these skills to the testing genre, in preparation for the STAAR test. Writing: Students will continue writing persuasive essays on topics they are passionate about as they move through the writing process. Social Studies: Students are learning about how communities change over time, including how settlers choose a location to meet their needs. UPCOMING EVENTS Th April 26-Evening Performance of “Aladdin” F April 27 Whole School Assembly-Choir Performance “Aladdin” M-F April 30-May 4 Patsy Sommer Staff Appreciation Week M April 30th: Anti-Bullying Presentation @ 9:30 F May 4th: Last day to check out books from the library M May 14th: ALL LIBRARY BOOKS DUE M-T May 14th & 15th: STAAR Testing for 3rd Graders (Math/Reading); closed campus Th May 24: EOY Party, 3rd Grade T May 29th: Last Day of Classes 3rd Grade Garden
Did you hear? 3rd Grade Gardens won the “Search for Excellence” Award. Placed 1st place in the Youth Junior Master Garden program for the whole state of Texas!! (out of 254 counties, since each county has a MG program, and can submit a project for the award) We are so proud!!! Our Master Gardener volunteer Wendy Odlum submitted our garden for this award. UPCOMING FOR 4/23-4/27 Math: Students will continue learning different strategies to help them solve 2-digit x 1-digit multiplication problems and will apply these strategies to problem solving during math. Science: We will be continuing with structures and functions of plants and animals. Students will have an assessment coming up the following week. Reading: We are bridging our reading strategies and skills we have learned throughout the year. We are learning how to apply these skills to the testing genre, in preparation for the STAAR test. Writing: Students will continue writing persuasive essays on topics they are passionate about as they move through the writing process. Social Studies: Students are learning about how communities change over time, including how settlers choose a location to meet their needs. Important Dates: F April 20-Spring Carnival Th April 26-Evening Performance of “Aladdin” F April 27 Whole School Assembly-Choir Performance “Aladdin” M-F April 30-May 4 Patsy Sommer Staff Appreciation Week M April 30th: Anti-Bullying Presentation @ 9:30 F May 4th: Last day to check out books from the library M May 14th: ALL LIBRARY BOOKS DUE M-T May 14th & 15th: STAAR Testing for 3rd Graders (Math/Reading); closed campus Th May 24: EOY Party, 3rd Grade T May 29th: Last Day of Classes Individual Photo Proofs were distributed today. These are due April 25th, if you would like to purchase them.
Multiplication 2 x1 1 digit If your child has already been taught the traditional algorithm for multiplying with regrouping, please make sure they understand what each step means. In class we are beginning by breaking apart a multiple-digit number by place value, multiplying each by the one-digit number, and adding the products. Class Book Thank you for returning these envelopes so quickly. We needed to have an envelope returned from each family, whether or not an order was made. I gave each student the opportunity to choose their writing genre. Some students are drawing options for the cover this weekend, and we will vote on our favorites on Monday. One cover and two inner artwork pages will be chosen. UPCOMING FOR 4/16-4/20 Math: Students will be looking at different strategies to help them solve 2-digit x 1-digit multiplication problems. Science: Students will explore how structures and functions of plants and animals allow them to survive in a particular environment. Reading: We are beginning our unit in the Persuasive genre. Students will identify the ways in which persuasive texts are structured and how authors try to convince the reader. Writing: We are using the writing process to begin our persuasive writing pieces. Social Studies: We are learning about current events using Time For Kids, identifying real-world examples of how people persuade others to take positive actions to better the growth of their communities. Important Dates: Sat April 14-RRISD Celebration of Families-Empty Bowl Festival F April 20-Spring Carnival Th April 26-Evening Performance of “Aladdin” F April 27 Whole School Assembly-Choir Performance “Aladdin” M-F April 30-May 4 Patsy Sommer Staff Appreciation Week M-T May 14th & 15th: STAAR Testing for 3rd Graders (Math/Reading); closed campus Th May 24: EOY Party, 3rd Grade T May 29th: Last Day of Classes This week we have been talking about capacity in math. I have asked students to find a container that is labeled with its capacity: a milk jug, a cereal box, etc. I told them to make sure it was clean, and that they should look for containers that had been emptied, and not to bring things like measuring cups for baking, etc.
I would still like students to practice their multiplication and division facts, but we will not continue to write that in their planners. Just please know that having that fluency helps make their problem solving more efficient, and we would like for them to practice it at home, because we don't utilize our class time to drill math facts. UPCOMING FOR 4/9-4/13 Math: Next week we will be finishing up Unit 9 and be taking Unit 8 & 9 DCA. Unit 10 will be on deepening reasoning of multiplication and division relationships. Science: We will be finishing up our unit on food chains and environmental changes. The test will be coming up on Monday, April 16th. Reading: We are continuing our novel study of The Tale of Despereaux. We are using this book to go deeper into fiction concepts, like character traits and changes they go through. We are also inferring using details written, finding cause & effect episodes, and predicting next events based upon what we understand about the characters. This is a fun unit and it will continue for up to two more weeks. Writing: We will be working on personal narratives for two more weeks. During this time, we will be trying to show our actions instead of telling/listing things. Students are working on slowing down a moment and adding in details to help readers make mental images. We are also using our novel to study various grammar needs in each classroom. Social Studies: We will learn how communities change over time. Important Dates: T-W April 10-11 4th & 5th Grade STAAR Testing F April 13-Friday Assembly 3rd-5th Grades: Wear light blue 3rd Grade shirt or Sat April 14-RRISD Celebration of Families-Empty Bowl Festival F April 20-Spring Carnival Th April 26-Evening Performance of “Aladdin” F April 27 Whole School Assembly-Choir Performance “Aladdin” M-F April 30-May 4 Patsy Sommer Staff Appreciation Week M-T May 14th & 15th: STAAR Testing for 3rd Graders (Math/Reading) Th May 24: EOY Party, 3rd Grade T May 29th: Last Day of Classes SPRING PICTURES are coming! Look for the flyer in today's Thursday folder.
Empty Bowl Festival Food Drive - April 2nd-12th Next week the Student Ambassadors will begin collecting food for the Round Rock Serving Center. This food drive is part of the Empty Bowl festival. We will be collecting food and other items through April 12th. Please share with your class and add to your class websites. We are hoping to collect over 1000 items this year!! There will be a collection bin outside the office. Most Needed Items to Collect:
Thank you so much for your donations!!!! :) Important Dates: F Mar. 30th: Student/Staff Holiday T Apr. 3rd: SPRING PICTURES Th Apr. 5th: Report Cards go home T-W April 10-11 4th & 5th Grade STAAR Testing F April 13-Friday Assembly 3rd-5th Grades Sat April 14-RRISD Celebration of Families-Empty Bowl Festival F April 20-Spring Carnival Th April 26-Evening Performance of “Aladdin” F April 27 Whole School Assembly-Choir Performance “Aladdin” M-F April 30-May 4 Patsy Sommer Staff Appreciation Week M-T May 14th & 15th: STAAR Testing for 3rd Graders (Math/Reading) Th May 24: EOY Party, 3rd Grade T May 29th: Last Day of Classes UPCOMING FOR 4/2-4-6 Math: In math, we will continue our unit on measurement. This week our focus will be on weight and capacity. Science: Students will be able to identify and describe the flow of energy in a food chain and predict how changes in a food chain affect the ecosystem such as removal of frogs from a pond or bees from a field. Reading: We are continuing our fiction genre unit. Writing: We will continue to improve our personal narrative writing pieces this week as we respond to our reading and/or share our experiences. Social Studies: We will learn how communities change over time. Welcome Back! It's hard to believe that it's almost April!
Please remember that we do not have school on Friday, for our Spring Holiday. Important Dates: F Mar. 23rd: End of Third Quarter F Mar. 30th: Student/Staff Holiday T Apr. 3rd: SPRING PICTURES Th Apr. 5th: Report Cards go home M-T May 14th & 15th: STAAR Testing for 3rd Graders (Math/Reading) T May 29th: Last Day of Classes UPCOMING FOR 3/26-29 Math: In math, we will continue our unit on measurement. This week our focus will be on time and capacity. Ask your child to help you when measuring as you are cooking at home! Science: We are learning about environments and food chains. Students will research an animal’s ecosystem and habitat and create a product, sharing the important characteristics of the that animal’s environment. Reading: We will start our new unit this week, revisiting the fiction genre. Writing: We will begin Unit 7, Going Deeper into Fiction & Personal Narrative Writing. Social Studies: During the new grading period, we will learn how communities change over time. |