Mrs. Guenther’s Classroom Connection March 2017 From the Class of Awesome Kids! Important Reminders Teacher’s Corner March 6 - SCC Book Exchange @ 6:30 March 8th – Sledding with Carepartners March 16 - Student Led Conferences Grades 1-3 March 17 - WES Spirit Day- St. Patrick’s Day- Wear Green; Grade 1-3 Progress Reports go home March 21 - Garden Experiences Field Trip; Requested Parent/Teacher Interviews March 23 & March 24 - NO SCHOOL March is finally here! We have been working very hard this term and I have seen tremendous growth! As I prepare for progress reports and conferences there will be more information coming your way. As usual, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to let me know. Thanks for your continued support!  Mrs. Guenther Learning is a Journey… Student Led Conferences March 16th are our Student-Led Conferences. Information was sent home last week with instructions about how to sign up for a designated spot. This is intended to be a time where your child can walk you through their learning accomplishments so far in Grade 3. I will be connecting with each of you during this evening to discuss with you how your child is doing! Should you feel that more time is required to sit down and talk, please let me know and we can schedule a meeting during the evening of March 22nd. I look forward to seeing each of you! SCC Book Exchange This year’s SCC Book Exchange is happening March 6th from 6:30-7:30 in the evening. A note went home before the break with all the information for this event. The details can also be found on our School website. All participating students will be eligible to fill out entry forms to win gift certificates for our upcoming Scholastic Book Fair. This is a family event and we encourage adults to join their children. The School Community Council wants to encourage a fun family evening that highlights the importance of reading. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to trade some of those books that are no longer read, for ones that will encourage your child to spend time with a good book!

Writing is an essential skill Writing is an essential skill. It is more than just putting words on paper. Writing is a process of communication that plays an important role in your child’s life—both in and out of the classroom. Parents can make a big difference in helping a child develop writing skills by encouraging writing activities that are simple and fun. The following are activities you can do with you child to promote writing at home. Postcards - Have your child write and mail postcards on family vacations or special outings. “Year in Review” Notebook - Keep an ongoing record of your family’s life. Every family member can add to your family’s story. Include important events that happen during the year. On New Year’s Eve, sit down and read through your “Year in Review” and start a notebook for the next year. To add to your story, include family photos whenever possible. Letters - Make letter writing a habit for your child. Have your child write letters to family and friends. Give Writing as a Gift - For birthday presents or for other gifts, have your child write a story for the recipient. Copy - If your child likes a particular song, have him/her copy the lyrics. Children can also copy their favorite poem, quotation, or short book. Encourage neatness for legibility. Be Creative - Encourage your child to write and perform skits or puppet shows. Set aside time for other family members to see the performance. Travel log - When you go on vacations, trips, or special outings, have your child record new sights and experiences from his/her journey. Send a Message - Frequently leave notes on pillows, desks, mirrors, wherever. Have your child write you a note in return. A family chalkboard or message board is a great tool for encouraging your child to write messages. Say “Thank You” - Let your child get in the habit of writing “Thank You” notes for gifts or whenever it is appropriate to do so. Journals - On your child’s birthday, give him/her a special journal. Encourage your child to write in his/her journal as often as possible. Make a Menu - Let your child design and write the menu for a family dinner. This is a great activity that will keep a child busy while mom or dad is cooking. If some of the words are difficult, write them down on a separate sheet of paper for the child to copy. Use Writing Prompts - Writing prompts are a great way to help a child begin a story. An example of a writing prompt is— Pretend you are the first person to create a flying car. Tell what the car would look like and how it would work. March Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 SCC Book Exchange at 6:30 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Student-Led Activity Conferences 17 St. Patrick’s Day – Wear Green Progress Report # 2 18 19 20 21 Garden Experience Field Trip Requested Interviews 22 23 Prep Time – No Classes 24 Day in lieu of interviews - No School 25 26 27 28 29 30 31