Author's Tea

Just a reminder that this Friday at 9 AM is our second Author's Tea of the year.  The students will be sharing the personal narratives they wrote from the perspective of their Chinook characters.  The kids have really incorporated a lot of their learning about the Chinook and salmon into these pieces.  They've been working on beginnings, endings, paragraphing, and dialogue to boot.  Consider yourself invited to join us for this on Friday.  If anyone would like to bring treats to help us celebrate, please contact me.  Thanks!

Musical Parent Volunteer Meeting

Just a friendly reminder that Ralph Nelson, our musical director, will be having a meeting for all parents who are interested in helping with "Portland - A Musical" this Thursday at 3:00 PM in Jeremy's room (203). The performance is coming up in just a couple of short months (Feb. 22nd), so now is the time to start preparing.  

Please attend if you can help in any way (including things that can be done at home, such as make the program). 

 Let me know if you cannot attend, but would still like to help in some capacity.  

Homework

Homework this week

There is no weekly homework sheet this week, just a math worksheet or two (each student is working on what they need to be working on in math) to be turned in on Friday. Instead, students are to bring their writing binder home AND BACK(!) each day until Friday when their personal narrative (about Chinook life) is due and we will celebrate with another Author's Tea. I really want these to be written by your child, but you are welcome to help in the following ways:

* The narrative can be typed (this is completely optional) if you or they type it exactly as written (incorrect spelling, capitals and all). You will need to turn off auto correct for this. They can bring the printout to school to work on and then home again each day.

*If they/you choose to type it, you can leave spell check on! It may seem overwhelming to them at first, but when the child sees the red underlined words, it becomes them vs. the computer, rather than them vs. you! You can guide them through the process of spell checking and choosing the correct word.

*If they ask for spelling help, offer language such as, "Would you like me to circle three, five or all misspelled words I notice?" Then you can offer the first few letters of the word and ask that they look it up using a resource at home or on the computer.

Tomorrow each child will be given a final publishing checklist from which to work. So far all students have been given separate revising and editing checklists from which to work. Look for this publishing checklist to come home tomorrow, along with their binder.

Homework over the break

There will be no weekly homework over the break. That said, over the break, some parents want me to assign no homework, others want me to assign a lot. Our team settles in the middle with some choices, suggestions and math fluency. We feel kids need a break to enjoy family. Look for the  homework sheet to come home this Friday. I'd love for the starred items to be done (you'll see, but there aren't many and I mainly request that kids read every day.)

Ride Share

One of our 3rd grade families has moved and no longer has reliable transportation to Sunnyside. She and her sister are hoping to find a carpool in order for them to be able to stay at SES, who lives near 82nd and Duke. Please e-mail me if you can help and I will put you in touch with them.

Thanks for sending such hardworking students to school each day,

Catie

Photos from another busy week

So thoughtful!

Buddy reading the latest issue of National Geographic

Native Fishing Tool Demonstrations

The first visit to the computer lab-the students set up their accounts and practiced placing their fingers on the correct keys (they will start typing practice soon, an essential skill!)

The Salmon release. Take care!

Another Native Event-January 19, 2013

WACIPI Fourteenth Annual Traditional Pow-Wow

Portland Community College and the Sylvania Multicultural Center are proud to present WACIPI - a celebration of Native American culture and tradition.

Please join us for an extraordinary campus and community celebration. This cultural event features drum groups and dancers from across the region and attracts more than 1,000 participants each year. The Pow-Wow also supports Native American businesses by offering vendor space. 

Proceeds from the Annual Winter Pow-Wow support the PCC Sylvania Native American Student Scholarship. Your participation and support of Pow Wow will ensure that the tradition of increasing access and retention of Native American Students continues. 

• Saturday, January 19, 2013
• Sylvania Campus, Health Technology Building (HT)
• Doors open at 12 noon

Activities for children:

12 noon - 9pm

College Fair:

12 noon - 4pm

Grand Entries:

1pm and 7pm

Community Dinner:

5:30pm

For more information about Pow-Wow or if you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the Native American Student Scholarship Fund please email Stephan.Herrera@pcc.edu  or call 971-722-4116.

http://www.pcc.edu/about/events/powwow/

Thanks Miriam!

Weekly Update-Catie's Class

Math

Last week we worked on a variety of strategies for solving 2 and 3 digit subtraction problems.  The team and I are working on a worksheet to send home to parents to explain the variety of strategies we are using.  As of yet, we haven’t found anything very helpful online and I’m not sure how to properly show math solutions in a typed format.

Writer’s Workshop

This past week, we focused on writing Great Endings and adding dialogue to our personal narratives.  It’s very common for third grade writing to appear rushed at the end or to end abruptly.  I’m encouraging the kids to take time with their endings in order to leave their reader feeling satisfied.  We are also working on doing additional revising to their stories.  Our next Author’s Tea will be on Friday, December 14th at 9 AM.

Reader’s Workshop

This past week, we finished our read aloud, Island of the Blue Dolphins. We practiced asking questions and reflecting in paragraph form. The students need lots of practice with paragraphs, and we will continue to work on this in Reader's Workshop and Writer's Workshop. Next week,  we will work on the ART of Comprehension.  ART stands for “Actively Reading Text.”  I continually tell the kids that reading is not sounding out words, it is thinking.  Actively reading text means that they are constantly making meaning, asking questions, making connections, and visualizing in their heads.  After Winter Break, they will begin to do this with their own Independent Reading books.

Salmon

Thanks to all of you who were able to come out to release the salmon-that was pretty amazing. I've been thinking about those little fish all weekend.

Chinook

Last week, our villagers read about and created a variety of fishing tools in order to catch the many salmon that are spawning in our river.  We did indeed catch enough salmon to last us through the winter.  We also received a mysterious invitation to co-host a potlatch with two other nearby Chinook villages.  Next week we will prepare for our potlatch, which will be on Thursday afternoon.

Forest Festival

This coming Friday, Dec. 7th from 5:30-8:00 is Sunnyside’s Forest Festival.  This will be your only opportunity to come in and see all that the 3rd through 8th graders have been studying and working on this fall.  Our classroom will be open from 5:30-7:00 PM.  You will get to see your child’s longhouses, Chinook characters, native plant and animal cards, totems, salmon posters, and more.  At 7 PM, everyone is invited to join the community sing along in the auditorium.  There will be lasagna, music, and lots to see.  I hope you can come!

Ask Your Third Grader...

What were some ways that the Chinook people would catch salmon?

What is a potlatch?

How will you leave your reader satisfied at the end of your personal narrative?

What is your wish for the salmon that you raised at school?

Important Things Coming Up...

Dec. 6 - Potlatch 12:30-3:00 pm

Dec. 7 - Forest Festival 5:30-8:00 pm

Dec. 14 - Author’s Tea 9:00-10:00

Dec. 15-Jan. 1 - Winter Break

Thanks for sending such crafty students to school each day,

Catie