Week 21

I hope everyone stayed warm during this bitter cold weekend! 

Please keep an eye out for your child's progress report in their backpacks tomorrow, February 2nd. Progress reports will also be available online this year. Please see Mr. Bayse's newsletter for instructions about accessing the online progress reports.

Please note that this Wednesday is an Early Release Day with a 12:15 dismissal.

Celebrating Friendship

We will celebrate FRIENDSHIP in class on Friday, February 13th. We will make Compliment Collages in class and spend the afternoon playing cooperative games. 

ASSIGNMENT LINK: At home, students will write thoughtful compliments for each other and pass them out in class. 

Please review the instructions with your 3rd grader. I will send home a hard copy of the instructions and hearts on Monday. Compliments are due back in class on or before Wednesday, February 11th. 

Many students have asked if they can also make traditional Valentines for their classmates. Absolutely! If your 3rd grader chooses to make valentines, please be sure your student makes a valentine for ALL of their classmates so everyone feels included. Thank you!

Literacy

We will continue with Unit 8 in Fundations, which focuses on the consonant-le syllable type. This week we will learn about the consonant-le exception "stle" as well as the glued sounds tion and sion.

We will continue with Fishtank Unit 3. This week we will read and respond to stories from the anthology Tales Our Abuelita Told. Students will analyze the texts and pay attention to how the characters behave to determine their specific character traits. 

Cursive handwriting lessons will continue.

Math

We will continue with Unit 4 in Math, Relating Multiplication to Division. Students will represent and solve both “how many groups?” and “how many in each group?” problems. We will also discuss how these word problems can be solved using a variety of strategies.

Science

We will learn how a lightbulb works and learn about simple circuits. 

Second Step/Social Emotional Learning

In Second Step we will begin a new unit: Introducing Emotion Management. When emotions are intense, it is hard to think straight and make good decisions. Strong feelings of anger can lead to aggressive behavior. Students may also struggle to make good choices when experiencing other intense feelings. Recognizing and labeling feelings in oneself and others facilitates problem solving, self-management, and social competence. 

Repeat Announcements:

Warm Clothes and Footwear
The heat is ON! Now that the heaters are running, our classroom can get quite toasty. Pro tip: students should dress in layers so they can bundle up for recess but have a lighter layer to stay comfortable indoors. If your child wears rain or snow boots to school, please send in a pair of indoor shoes, sneakers, or even slippers. They’ll be much more comfortable moving around the classroom and school in dry shoes.

Mystery Reader

Would you like to volunteer as our next Mystery Reader? Click HERE to sign up.

Scholastic Book Ordering:

If you would like to order books through Scholastic Book Clubs, our online ordering code is DPC2T (purchasing online is required).  SHOP OUR CLASS PAGE. By building your home library with Scholastic, you will also be helping to build our classroom library. The more books students order, the more free books we get for our classroom library!

Library Reminder: 

Our book swap day in the Media Center is every Wednesday. Please help your child remember to return their library books.

Links for more information: 

Click HERE for home support materials for Unit 8 of Fundations

Click HERE for home support materials for Unit 7 of Fundations

Click HERE for home support material for Unit 6 of Fundations

Click HERE for home support materials for Unit 5 of Fundations

Click HERE for home support materials for Unit 4 of Fundations

Click HERE for home support materials for Unit 3 of Fundations

Click HERE for home support materials for  Unit 2 of Fundations

Click HERE  for home support materials for Unit 1 of Fundations

Tech Tips

Many students are excited to access Clever and our Google Classroom from home. 

Directions to Access Clever from Home:

Click HERE for a handy link to Clever

Click Log in with Google

Enter student username (initials + # @students.needham.k12.ma.us)

Enter student password 

Click on ST Math App, Amplify App then Boost or other NPS approved learning apps. 

Directions to Access Google Classroom from Home:

Open a web browser (like Chrome or Safari).

Go to http://www.classroom.google.com and click "Go to Classroom."

Sign in with your school-provided Google account and password.

Special Subject Schedule

Monday -- Art

Tuesday -- P.E. & Spanish

Wednesday -- Media

Thursday -- P.E.

Friday -- Music & Spanish

Important Dates

Wednesday, February 4th-- Early Release Day, 12:15 dismissal

Monday, February 16th-- President's Day 

Monday, February 19th-Friday, February 20th-- February Break

Monday, February 23rd-- Classes Resume

Created 2/2026

Jennifer_ramras@needham.k12.ma.us