Weekly Update November 10, 2010

Upcoming Events

No School~Thursday, November 11th

Thanksgiving Break:

EARLY DISMISSAL~NOON~ Wednesday, Nov. 24th

No Extended Care

No School~Thursday, Nov. 25th and Friday, Nov.26th

Here's What's Going On

In The Beacons' World:
We need your help! These supplies are desperately needed for an upcoming science project. We need them by Friday,    Nov.19th!
Newspaper
wall paper paste
empty toilet paper rolls
empty paper towel rolls

Thank you so very much!

Reading: These next few weeks are very exciting for our novel groups as we are nearing completion of our classics: Charlotte's Web and Mr. Poppers Penguins. In the Charlotte's Web reading group, Beacons have finished their challenging vocabulary words and are ready to begin chapter 13! The Mr. Popper's Penguins' group is all primed to complete their higher level thinking skills of answering the next set of chapter questions for chapters 14-17. Once completed, they will then start their vocabulary for chapters 18-20. Please ask  your Beacon about the plot of these respective stories. Each group has worked diligently on their critical thinking skills by completing the chapter summaries.All Beacons are excited to see how their novels end.
Writer's Workshop:We've been in the computer lab last Friday, Monday and Tuesday typing up our awesome Newspaper Discovery stories. The Beacons are all working hard with the Writing Process and they are so excited about their stories! The finished product should be completed very soon.
Math:Both groups took their respective unit assessment tests earlier this week and every Beacon did quite well. We are very proud of the success each Beacon is experiencing in Math. Students are learning the importance of reading the directions for each problem and taking their time to work on computation. Rechecking is a key skill in math and students are learning about its importance, especially when taking tests.
The Math Magicians have started Chapter 3 and the Math Magicals are beginning Chapter 5. Both groups are in the accelerated Math Connects 3rd grade book.
Please talk to your Beacon about the exciting new Math game he/she learned this week called "Array Bingo". It is a great way to learn multiplication!

Spelling: Learning Greek and Latin prefixes is an excellent way for a child to improve  his/her word attack skills not to mention enabling the child to improve his/her reading comprehension skills as well. All Beacons did very well on last week's spelling test and I have no doubt that everyone will try their hardest on this week's words as well. Please do review your Beacon's spelling words each night with him/her. Thank you. We greatly appreciate your skills reinforcement at home. As a side note, one mother told me this week that she is so thrilled that her child is learning Greek and Latin prefixes and how valuable they are to learn at this age. She told me, "Why when I was in Second Grade, all I was given to learn to spell were words like "spot", "cat". "Barn" was an extra credit word! I love Seabury!"

Science:You saw the A.P.B. above in red as to what supplies we need for a culminating science project. We want to thank you in advance for your assistance. All Beacons are working away in the computer lab on their animal research paper power point. We are very excited, as are they, with their progress!

Social Studies:Last week we began leaning about Ferdinand Magellan. We will continue learning about this courageous explorer and how  he was able to be the first to circumnavigate the globe. 

As we take time to pause from our hectic lives to reflect on tomorrow's federal holiday of Veterans Day, we thought you'd enjoy reading this poem: 



In thankful ways we embrace this day

And often think of loved ones away

Those serving us proud are often gone

But their spirit remains, closely drawn

Our Nation should praise each special one

For all we have is through what they’ve done 

©2003Roger J. Robicheau

Looking forward to another exciting week with your Beacon,

Betsy and Tiffany

Weekly Update: November 3, 2010

UPCOMING EVENTS:

November 7th~Daylight Savings Time Ends~

Don't forget to set your clocks back an hour!

No School~ Thursday, November 11th~Veterans' Day

 

Thanksgiving Break:

EARLY DISMISSAL~NOON~ Wednesday, Nov. 24th

No Extended Care

No School~Thursday, Nov. 25th and Friday, Nov.26th

HERE'S  WHAT'S  GOING  ON  IN

THE  BEACONS'  WORLD:

Language Arts: After the long Halloween Break, students were asked to write in their journals about their weekend experiences. Then, Beacons made "tail feathers" for the turkey on our classroom door for what they are thankful and grateful. Please come in and "read" our door for you will greatly enjoy what your Beacon had to say. 

Reading: Both the Charlotte's Web group and the Mr. Popper's Penguin group are making extraordinary headway through their respective classics. Those Beacons in the Charlotte's Web group have completed Chapter 11 and are headed to Chapter 12! Mr. Popper's Penguin's Beacons have just completed their vocabulary and are ready to go onto Chapter 14! All Beacons have greatly improved in their summary writing skills and we are very proud of their progress.

Writers' Workshop: On Monday, all Beacons went to the Computer Lab to start work on their Newspaper story! The Beacons are improving their keyboarding skills as they type in their personalized word document on the school's shared server. It is exciting to see how happy they are working. 
Math:The exciting news is that both math groups will complete their respective chapters this week! By Friday the Math Magicians will have completed Chapter 2 and the Math Magicals will have completed chapter 4. They will be tested next week, so be sure to look for the Study Guide that will be coming home on Monday.  Both groups are in our accelerated math curriculum of the 3rd grade Math Connects program. Great work for both groups!!

Spelling:This week the spelling list is comprised of both Greek and Latin prefixes. The spelling sheet has both the prefix with its meaning and then a sentence using the prefix in a word. For instance "cycle" means circle or round and "bi" means two. Therefore, a bicycle has two circles or wheels.

Science:On Tuesday, in science we had the Point Defiance Zoo specialists come to us. It was an "in school field trip". The zoo education specialist brought in a real screech owl and then played the sound of the screech owl on the computer. The real screech owl responded back with a screech! She said that she had never see that happen before. The kids have also begun work on their PowerPoint presentation on their animals.  Be sure to look for the invitation to see their finished work soon.
Social Studies:Since we had the Beacons' Halloween party  last Wednesday afternoon and then conference days Thursday and Friday, we didn't have Social Studies this past week. However, today we had a great discussion on yesterday's election. It is very impressive to hear how much your Beacon had gleaned from discussions at home.

Gratitude is the memory of the heart. ~Jean Baptiste Massieu, translated from French

Here's to another great week with your Beacon!

Betsy and Tiffany

      Tuesday was an especially exciting "in class field trip" when the Point Defiance Education Center came to visit.
    In the photos below, the zoo educator hands out film canisters to the students. The film canisters are filled with dried beans, coins etc.which, when shaken, make a unique sound.
    Students had to listen intently to each others' "shaking sound" and then form groups which they thought were making exactly the same sound. The students were mesmerized when the screech owl responded to the computer screech owl's "call". 

Ghosts, Goblins and Beacons OH MY!!

Halloween arrived early and in all its glory Wednesday afternoon at Seabury School. We know you'd love to see all the Beacons dressed up in their costumes of the century!!

Halloween with the 2010-2011 Beacons!

    

  

                                         Hermione Granger and Harry Potter
                                                        visited us!

                                        Watch out for this Beacon Vampire!
                                                        He's hungry!
                                             "I vant to suck your blood!"
                       

                                                     Who is that Masked Man??

Surprise!

                                                      
                                    Look who the alien captured! It's her wonderful friend!

                                                                    

                                                    So Pretty in Pink!

                                                                      "Say Cheese!"

                                         Now you're as "pretty as a peacock"!

                                        Watch out for "My Favorite Martian!"

       Here I am with my Grandpa. Look below at the great pumpkin I made at home!

             I also brought in my Skeleton Bear! It's not scary. 
                        It's "bear-y-cute!                                                       

                           A surprise visit from the Middle School office manager and her
redheaded pooch,"Grandma".

                                                 by Harry Allard                 Miss Viola Swamp

                               Queen Elizabeth and Viola Swamp. Yikes!
Mrs. Price is Missing! What happened to our teacher?

Where can she be? Ahh, here she is with her the world's cutest dragon!

P.S. If you haven't yet read about Ms. Viola Swamp, the incredible substitute teacher in the hilarious children's, Miss. Nelson is Missing! you are missing out. Once you see the picture of Ms. Viola Swamp, you'll see how terrific Mrs. Price's costume is! She met the Beacons at the door Wednesday morning with the sign, "Mrs. Price is Missing!" and then read them the story, Miss Nelson is Missing! by Harry Allard. We we were so surprised to learn that very few Beacons had never read this book! Ask your Beacon to tell you about it or enjoy reading this delightful and hilarious book with your Beacon over the long break. Have a safe and Happy Halloween! See you on Monday, November 1st!!

Weekly Update, Wednesday, October 27, 2010

UPCOMING  EVENTS

Halloween Parade 2:00~ Wed. Oct. 27th
Seabury Book Fair~Wed. Oct. 27th-Sat. Oct. 30th

NO SCHOOL:Thursday, Oct.28th and Friday, Oct. 29th

   Parent Teacher Conferences

NOVEMBER'S UPCOMING EVENTS:

November 7th~Daylight Savings Time Ends~

Don't forget to set your clocks back an hour

No School~ Thursday, November 11th~Veterans' Day
EARLY DISMISSAL~NOON~ Wednesday, Nov. 24th
No Extended Care

No School~Thursday,Nov. 25th and Friday, Nov.26th
~Thanksgiving Break~

Here's What's Going On In
Beacons' World

Language Arts: Beacons are completing chapter 10 in Charlotte's Web and chapter 13 in Mr. Poppers' Penguins. They have all completed their respective chapter summaries and vocabulary words. Way to go, Beacons!
Last week we instituted a sentence homework sheet that incorporates our "Vocabulary Word of the Day" with sentence writing. Please feel free to review your Beacon's homework vocabulary sentences. Both the daily word of the day and its definition are on this homework sheet. These sheets are to be turned in each Friday, as they were last Friday. After going over them with each student, they were put in their respective Friday Folders. Also, please feel free to ask your Beacon to try and use that word at least once a day. It should be a fun way to help build and improve all the Beacons' vocabulary and writing skills.

Writers' Workshop:Wow!We are well on our way to completing our New Animal Discovery newspaper articles. Last week I was in a teacher/student editing session and the student had written about a new animal discovery: a blue tarantula. Believe it or not, in the Nation/World section, on page A6 of Tuesday's (Oct. 26th) Tacoma News Tribune, scientists searching the Amazon have discovered a new species of a blue-fanged tarantula! That's right,  you  heard it here first in the Beacons' classroom Writers' Workshop! Very exciting indeed.
Math:Both the Math Magicals and the Magicians have been working hard in math.  Magicals are working on multiplication and Magicians are estimating and adding. They are working diligently in their math folders and in our small group lessons. We are very proud of their progress!

Science:Last Friday we had an "Enviro-challenger" educator come into our class and share with us how we can help our planet. Then on Tuesdsay, we had the Point Defiance Zoo come into our classroom and share with us exiting information and hands on activities with invertebrates. We have included a few photos for you at the end of this blog entry. We know you'll enjoy them!
Beacons also are working hard on their Science research report of the animal of their choice to get ready for their power point presentations.

Social Studies:Students are enjoying learning about Marco Polo this past week. They were amazed that he actually had a passport made out of medal that Kublai Khan had made for him. They were really excited to see a power point presentation about his travels and an interactive computer activity which incorporated social studies vocabulary and Marco Polo's travels. There is an excellent  National Geographic website which you might be interested in viewing. I pulled a few items from it to share with the class. One quick vignette. When I asked the class what they knew about Marco Polo, they shared that he was the one who invented the Marco Polo game for the swimming pool.

It's Halloween! It's Halloween! /The moon is full and bright/ And we shall see what can't be seen/ On any other night/ Skeletons and ghosts and ghouls,/ Grinning goblins fighting duels,/ Werewolves rising from their tombs,/ Witches on their magic brooms./ In masks and gown we haunt the street /And knock on doors for trick or treat./ Tonight we are the king and queen,/
For oh tonight it's Halloween!
-Jack Prelutsky

"Halloween is when your grandmother pretends she doesn't know you" ~Erma Bombeck

Looking forward to another exciting week with your Beacon,

Betsy and Tiffany

Envirochallenger

Point Defiance Zoo Education of Invertibrates

 Now this is some centipede!

 Here's a millipede