Parents,

First, I hope everyone has remained healthy and safe during this weird time.  I am noticing that your child is not working or turning anything in on Google Classroom.  Please email me if you need help getting them started.  Some of you may need a device or internet.  Some of you may be having technical difficulties.  Here is a link if you need help from the county.   Email me if you still don't have a device.

https://sites.google.com/wcpss.net/instructional-continuity-wcpss/technology-support-for-families 

Your child is falling behind in their work and I want to make sure I can help them get started before it is too late.  They should be logging in to their wakeid portal on a device (ipad, chromebook, laptop, desktop).  From there they will see a chalkboard looking icon that is called Google Classroom.  That should take them directly to the links for the assignments.  If they don't remember their wakeid username or password, I can help them if you email me that you need it.

https://wakeid.wcpss.net

We have been working in remote learning for a week and half and most of the content is new learning.  Please try to get your child started as soon as possible.  I am available to help almost at any time of the day today.  I want your child to be successful and independent with their learning.

Sincerely,

anne simmons

Teacher parade

Coming soon to your neighborhood!!!

Come out and wave to the teachers who miss you so much!

Yellow, Red, Purple Bus Route

Wednesday, March 25 @ 3:00 PM

• Families will be told to look for us between 3:15-3:45 PM.

Grey and Green Bus Route

Thursday, March 26 @ 3:00 PM

• Families will be told to look for us between 3:15-4:15 PM.

Orange and Blue Bus Route

Friday, March 27 @ 3:00 PM

• Families will be told to look for us between 3:15-4:15 PM.

Dear Parents and Students,

I hope you are all healthy and happy at home.  I miss the class so much, but I have been keeping very busy online and hopefully your child has been able to practice at home on a schedule.  I have connected with most of you through email and I have encouraged all students to use the Google Classroom site to find all of their review practice assignments.  I know these are trying times for everyone but together we will get through this.  I am available through Google Meet, which is a video chat on your computer.  If your child would like to ask questions or simply check in and let me know how they are doing I would love to set up a time to meet with everyone in groups or one on one.  It is easy to do, if you email me some times that work for you, I will let you know what works.  It really boosted my mood the other day when I used it to talk with the other 3rd grade teachers and later with one family at home.

All the best,
Anne Simmons

February Tracking-in

Welcome back track 3!

Important  Book Fair dates:
March 3,Book Fair begins
March 4, browsing day
March 6, buying day

Homework
As promised at the beginning of the school year I am still not sending home consistent nightly homework.  However, I am getting more strict on the students completing assignments in class to prepare them for the much more independent climate of fourth grade.  Any class work not completed during class will be sent home for homework and is expected to be returned the following school day.  Please check in with your child nightly to see that they are completing class assignments. 

Literary Classics
Reading a literary classics will continue to be a part of their ALL Block menus.  I have some in the classroom they are welcome to choose from.  However, I have found them to be more engaged if the parents give them an active role in choosing one from the bookstore or public library.

Math unit
We are starting a new unit in Math on area and perimeter.  The following are the basic standards we will be learning in 10 short lessons: 

Area is the amount of space inside a two-dimensional figure. (NC.3.MD.5, NC. 3.MD.7) Perimeter is the sum of all side lengths of two-dimensional figure. (NC.3.MD.8) Arrays, repeated addition, equal groups, and area are related concepts. ( NC. 3.MD.7) The total number of square units in a rectangle is its area. (NC.3.MD.5) Rectangles can be partitioned into two smaller rectangles with the areas of each rectangle being found then added together to find the total area of the large rectangle (distributive property). (NC.3.MD.7)  Perimeter can be used to find the unknown side lengths of a polygon. (NC.3.MD.8)

Timed Quizzes
Please remember to practice multiplication facts each night at home.  The fact that your child is practicing varies depending on which ones they have passed.  I grade the timed quizzes and send them home that day or the next so they should always know what they need to be practicing.  The order they should practice for mastery is 0/1, 10, 5, 2, 4, 8, 3, 6, 9, 7, 11, and 12.

iStation Log Ins
In December, you received a paper that has your child's iStation Log In information, which you access through their Wake ID.  Scores for this assessment will not be sent home.  If you would like to view your child's progress through the year then you need to use the log in to access it at home.  Please let me know if you need a copy of the log in information. 

Social Studies/Science
We are wrapping up our Social Studies unit on Economics this week and then we will finish the quarter with Science.  In Science, we will be learning about Force and Motion and then move into a unit on the 3 states of matter.

Force and Motion

Key Concept 1: Motion is when objects move from place to place.  3.P.1

Sub Concept 1: Motion is when objects move as a result of forces (pushes, pulls). (Review from 1st Grade)

Sub Concept 2: Gravity is a type of pull causing motion. 3.P.1.3

Key Concept 2: Objects can move in different directions. 3.P.1.1

Sub Concept 1: Forces (pushes, pulls) act on objects and cause them to move or change direction.

3.P.1.1

Sub Concept 2: Friction is the force that opposes motion between two surfaces that are in contact with each other, and results in the release of heat energy. 3.P.3.1

Key Concept 3: Objects can move at different speeds. 3.P.1.1

Sub Concept 1: Forces (pushes, pulls) act on objects and cause them to move at different speeds over the same distance. 3.P.1.2

Sub Concept 2: Forces (pushes, pulls) act on objects and cause them to move over the same distance in different amounts of time. 3.P.1.2

Key Concept 4: Gravity is a factor of motion. 3.P.1.3

Sub Concept 1: Gravity is a force that causes motion. 3.P.1.3

Sub Concept 2: The effects of gravity on Earth or near Earth are the same (without touching objects). 3.P.1.3

States of Matter

Key Concept 1: Matter has structure and properties which can be determined by observation.(3.P.2, 3.P.2.2)

Sub Concept: Solids have structures and properties. (3.P.2, 3.P.2.2)

Sub Concept: Liquids have structures and properties. (3.P.2, 3.P.2.2)

Sub Concept: Gases, like air, have structures and properties. (3.P.2, 3.P.2.1, 3.P.2.2) 

Key Concept 2: Matter can change states.(3.P.2,3.P.2.3) 

Sub Concept: Heat energy can be transferred and cause changes in states of matter.  (3.P.2.3, 3.P.3)

Sub Concept:  States of matter (solid, liquid, gas) can be changed by contact with one another. (3.P.3)

Sub Concept: States of matter (solid, liquid, gas) can be changed by giving off or receiving energy waves at a distance. (3.P.3.2)

STEM Extravaganza  
Please consider having your child participate in the STEM (formally the Math/Science) Extravaganza.  The information has been listed in the Brassfield Bulletin and you can sign up online.  The deadline is February 19th, but I am requesting an extension for track 3 students since were tracked out when the sign up started.

Registration for Brassfield’s 2020 STEM Extravaganza (formerly Math & Science Extravaganza) is now open! The registration deadline for ALL tracks is Wednesday, February 19th. The event will take place on Thursday, Feb 27th from 6-8PM, with pizza in the cafeteria at 5:30PM. This is such a fun, family event with many guest exhibitors on-site. It is NOT a judged event and is open to ALL grade levels.The class with the highest percentage of registered students displaying at the event will receive a FREE PIZZA PARTY, sponsored by the PTA! Click here for the registration form.   Please contact Kim Fryar at kimrfryar@gmail.com with questions.

Parents,  

Please see the message below regarding Running Club for the Spring.

Calling all 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students that enjoy running and would like to prepare for a race (1 mile, 2 mile, or 5k). You should join the Brassfield running club!   During our weekly runs, we will work on building endurance and speed while fostering a love of running.  The club will begin on Wednesday, March 25th and will meet weekly on Wednesdays from 3:45-4:45.  Our last running club will be on Wednesday, May 27th. Runners are welcomed to attend running club over their track out if someone is available to drop them off at the track, sign in with a coach, and pick them up at the carpool loop after practice as usual. The runners must be picked up promptly at 4:45 in the carpool parking loop.  We expect that all students participating in our running club will exhibit PAWS behavior. Runners will receive one warning for poor behavior choices. After the one warning, runners who are continuing to make poor behavior choices will be asked to leave the club.  If you have questions, feel free to contact Libby Lipetzky (elipetzky@wcpss.net).  Happy Running!

*Reminder: This form must be completed each season.  If your child participated in the fall, you must still complete this form in order for him/her to participate this spring.

*We will not be ordering t-shirts this spring.

Link to sign up: https://forms.gle/ZntUt2httJwXDwmCA

December 6, 2019

Parents,

Today your child took the i-station assessment in class.  The entire assessment was taken on the chromebook and took about 30 minutes for each student to finish.  If you have any questions about the assessment I am happy to meet with you before our next track out.  I am not sure yet when the scores from the assessment will go home but I will post on my blog when I know.

I hope you all have a safe and happy Winter break.  I will be sending home a math project next that will be due mid January.  I wanted to be sure to give the students plenty of time to work on it and also allow time after we return in case you will be traveling and unavailable to work on it over the break.  My hope is that it might keep them busy over the break if you are looking for something to do.  I will send home the copy of the assignment in their Wednesday folder next week but I am also posting it below this note.  It will be easier to use the links from this page rather than typing in the link from the paper.

Thank you so much,

Anne Simmons


Parents,

Thank you to all the parents that scheduled a conference this fall.  If there is anyone who missed the sign up and would like to meet with me please send me an email and I will do my best to accommodate your schedule.

Dates to Remember:

11/27-11/29  No School for Thanksgiving Holiday

12/3 & 12/4  IOWA Testing (for students who qualify)

12/18  Positivity Project Awards  (Look for invites coming soon if your child is nominated)

12/23-1/1 Winter Holiday Break

2nd quarter:

Math

Multiplication Timed Quizzes

After Thanksgiving we will begin taking timed multiplication quizzes twice a week.  The purpose of these quizzes are to motivate the students to practice their multiplication facts nightly.  Here are a few points regarding the quizzes:

We will take them every Tuesday and Thursday

- Quizzes will be graded THAT DAY or the NEXT and sent home immediately

- Your child will have one minute to complete 22 problems on one fact.  A "passing" score is at least 20/22. Once your child passes one fact, they move on to the next one.

- Third graders are required to be able to fluently state the facts 0-10 by the END of the year.

- We take the quizzes in the following order:  0s & 1s (together), 10, 5, 2, 4, 8, 3, 6, 9, 7, 11, 12

- If your child has extenuating circumstances that will not allow them to pass the quizzes in one minute, then I will allow them extra time.  This is something I do on an as needed basis.

- These quizzes are not part of your child's grades, they are purely a motivation to practice

- So how can you help your child be successful with multiplication?  Practice, practice, practice. - - Please invest in some flash cards (the Dollar Tree is my favorite place to pick them up), or have your child create them on index cards, create quizzes for your child.  If you "google" multiplication games you will find a plethora of online resources as well.  

Please remember that multiplication is the most important skill that I want your child to leave my classroom mastering this year.  It is the focus of this quarter, but beginning in third quarter we are applying the skill rather than practicing it.  

Solar System

We are in the middle of our unit on the solar system.  Our test will be before we break for the Winter Holiday.  We will have quizzes along the way to help them practice their skills.

Reading
This quarter we will be working on our reading and writing skills in Narrative writing and Informational writing.  We will continue to use the Painted Essay Template for our informational pieces and assessing on standards that address focus statements, main ideas, supporting details and figuring out unfamiliar vocabulary.

We will begin assessing the reading levels soon using the new system of i-station.  It is new to all of us this year and you may have seen some information in the Brassfield Bulletin about it.  We begin assessing soon after Thanksgiving.

Here is the post from the Bulletin-

Istation - Parents and Families of Students in Grades K-3 North Carolina has selected Istation as the state’s reading assessment beginning with the 2019-20 school year. Istation helps to identify students’ abilities in phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency. Wake County Public Schools will begin using this assessment for the middle of the year benchmarking period which occurs in December for year round schools and January for traditional calendar schools. Brassfield parents will receive information in Wednesday folders this week.  Included in the information will be directions on how to access the parent portal as well as Ipractice, which allows students to choose activities at home that will help build early foundational reading skills. To learn more about the Istation School to Home Connection, please visit: https://www.istation.com/NorthCarolina/Home.

Dear Parents of 2019-2020,

I look forward to meeting you all at the Open House scheduled on Wednesday, July 17th, 2019 from 5:30-7:00.  If you have questions or concerns  prior to the Open House please feel to email me at asimmons@wcpss.net    Most questions can be answered at Open House and you can also sign up to volunteer in the classroom that night.  It is required to sign up in a Wake County building and must be renewed every year.

If your child received Free or Reduced-price meal benefits last year, those benefits will expire on the date below. Families must reapply for benefits each year. 

• Track 1 - August 19, 2019
• Track 2 - September 9, 2019
• Track 3 - September 10, 2019
• Track 4 - September 9, 2019

Families may complete an application online at www.MySchoolApps.com, pick up a paper application at the school, or request that a paper application be sent home with your child. 

BOG testing date is July 23rd.  Try to make sure your child arrives on time for testing that day.

Check back on my blog for updates after the 17th for any updates.

Sincerely,

anne simmons