Reminder

Spring is fast approaching, but since we are still in the winter months it is a good chance to be aware of possible pest problems that occur with greater frequency in public schools during this time of year. As a refresher, head lice is one such pest that can be spread whenever there is direct contact with the head or hair of an infested individual. Lice can also be spread through the sharing of personal articles, like hats, towels, brushes, hair ties, and hooded jackets. There are brochures available in the office that can provide greater information and detail about diagnosis and treatment.  I just want to take this opportunity to share with you the procedures that we follow each year to ensure the health and safety of your child at SMES. Students are keeping their jackets, hats, and other personal articles contained inside of their backpacks at all times, with the exception of recess time. In addition, students are not permitted to share or exchange articles of clothing with classmates at any time. We have on site staff who are available to discretely inspect students if any question arises about a possible infestation. Your help in inspecting your child weekly would be greatly appreciated. Here are the procedures for doing so:

1. Under bright light begin looking at the back of the head just above the neck area.
2. Part the hair section by section and look closely for head lice or nits (eggs). Eggs will usually be located near the scalp.
3. Depending on the length and thickness of the hair, it should take between 5 and 15 minutes to properly inspect a child's head.

If you suspect your child is infested with head lice please notify the school nurse. In addition, the entire family should be inspected for head lice as well. My intent isn't to frighten anyone, but to provide up front information about a problem that occurs each year in schools across the nation. This way together we can do our best to deter the spread of this pest and keep this learning environment safe for children to learn and be their best. Thanks for your help and understanding.

Hurricane Sparky

Mr. Pfaff's class.

Mr. Morgan's class.

Mrs. Weigel's class

Valentines Day

I apologize for being out much of this past week. Pneumonia is tough enough to spell much less to try and teach through. I am finally feeling myself again after a very difficult week. Thank goodness for antibiotics. I really appreciate all of your patience through this. My plan was to have the following information sent home earlier last week. Since that didn't happen, we are forced to deal with a much shorter time line. I have posted information regarding Valentines Day in the right hand column under Writing Homework. Everything you need to know, including the class list, can be found in that document. If you need more information please email me ASAP.                                                               I hope that this next week is a happy and healthy one for all Sexton Mt. families.

Homework

I apologize that the math homework this past week didn't have the story The Doorbell Rang to go with it. In the story, the grandma makes a dozen cookies to start with. So for the sake of the first story problem, start with dividing 12 cookies onto two plates. If this proves to be a little easy for your child, try 24 or even 72 cookies. Hope this helps, and again I apologize for any inconvenience.                                               

Next week will be lesson #14 for spelling and vocabulary.

What's New in 2012

People of the Longhouses, a storyline unit weaving together learning targets from different content areas, wrapped up this past December with a dramatic ceremony. Chief Atotarho of the Onondaga nation had been fueling the fires of animosity between the different tribes for far too long. Then a man known as the Peacemaker (Mr. Mori) arrived from the north with ideas of bringing peace amongst the five tribes. After serveral informal meetings, the elders of each tribe decided to create a list of laws for a great peace-making ceremony. Each tribe also brought arrows to bury, symbolically letting go of the resentments and frustrations that kept them at war for so long. Cheif Atotarho eventually changed his ways, and the Iroquois Confederacy was formed with representatives from each of the five nations.

Currently, we are shifting gears to geography, and will be starting our winter storyline unit soon. We are creating maps of the world, and learning how to give and interpret cardinal directions (north, south, east, and west) on those maps.

In math, multiplication and division will be a major focus for the month of January. An informational family letter was sent home with each child today (January 4).This should give you some specific information and vocabulary to support the learning going on at home.

In the fall, Mrs. Spidal supported the writers in the class through addressing written Conventions and Word Choice. This trimester we will turn our attention to improving our writing in the areas of Organization and Ideas/Content in our writers' workshop. If you start seeing scores on your child's writing samples, they will relate to Organization and Ideas/Content. Right now we are learning how to use the scoring guide to improve our writing in those areas (the scoring guide can be found under Templates in the right hand column). In the coming months, peer editing techniques/tools will be utilized, as well as taking a closer look at the process of revision.

Thanks for your continued support from home!

Homework Clarification

I apologize that our first week of homework, using the links on this blog, has been so confusing and frustrating for many of you. I am working hard to smooth this process out, making it something useful, efficient, and supportive for everyone.
To clarify, homework is always due on Monday, unless there is no school. In that case it will be due on the following day of school (Tuesday in most cases). 
Spelling and Vocabulary words for the entire winter trimester can be found by clicking on the link found in the right column, and then selecting the current week of school from the folder (it appears as two dates signifying the beginning and the end of the homework week e.g. Dec. 5- Dec. 12). Spelling (Sp) and vocabulary (Vocab) documents are printable from home. The spelling provides Tic-Tac-Toe activities for the students to work on. You will notice that the vocabulary and corresponding spelling documents have numbers indicating the specific unit of instruction. For example,  Sp 11 (Dec. 12- Jan. 3) is connected to the document Vocab (11-15) because the 11 is the unit of instruction. Therefore, select the appropriate spelling document dates and corresponding vocabulary unit number words each week to focus on with your child.
My goal is to update the Writing and Math homework every weekend, so that it is available Monday morning for the new week of school.
Thanks for your patience and understanding. 

Welcome To Our Class Blog

     In an attempt to be in better communication with the families of my students, I have created this blog containing pertinent information about homework, educational support links, coming events, as well as a closer look into the topics and curriculum that are impacting these children at school.
     After my first few weeks, I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the unique qualities, personality traits, and interests/motivations of these wonderful third grade students.  Looking ahead, I hope to gain an even better grasp on the needs and strengths of each child so that I might be able to better prepare myself to challenge and motivate them in the coming trimesters.
     Each week I will post new homework to be printed, completed, and turned in by each student. Homework is always due the first of the week (Monday usually). Please try to click on the homework documents (right column) to see if you can print them for use. If you cannot print them for any reason, I have sent a letter home where you can indicate that you need me to print them for your child. I am happy to do that, I just need to know from you as soon as possible.
     If you have any additional questions please email me at brian_pfaff@beaverton.k12.or.us

Please feel free to add your own postings to this blog, but make sure to take into account that this is public access, and we want to make sure that everything stated is appropriate for viewing.