Week 4

Class Notes

We just completed our first full week of 3rd grade, and I am so impressed with your children! They showed excellent teamwork, kindness, perseverance, sharing, listening, and respect. What a wonderful way to begin the year!

Early Release: This Wednesday is our first early release day. Students will be dismissed at 12:15 p.m.. If they wish, they may order a take-out bento box for lunch.

Literacy: We are continuing to read Dyamonde Daniel by Nikki Grimes, the anchor text for Fishtank Learning’s Unit 1: Defining Identity. Click HERE for more information.

Fundations: We will wrap up Unit 1, focusing on closed syllables (reading and spelling rules) and complete the Trick Word pre-assessment.

Math: In Illustrative Math, we are beginning our unit on Introducing Multiplication. Students will explore multiplication through equal groups and practice representing and solving multiplication equations.

Science: We just launched our new life science unit, Survivor. Students will study animal adaptations and learn how animals survive in their habitats. This unit includes hands-on experiences with live animals! We will be observing isopods (roly-polies) along with soil and dry leaves. Please let me know if your child has any allergies or sensitivities to these materials.

Social-Emotional Learning: We are using the Zones of Regulation to help students recognize and talk about their feelings. All emotions are expected and respected. The Zones provide an easy way to think about and manage emotions:

Green Zone: Calm, focused, ready to learn
Blue Zone: Sad, tired, bored, or sick
Yellow Zone: Silly, frustrated, or excited
Red Zone: Out of control or unsafe feelings
We are also practicing calming strategies such as deep breathing, turn-taking, and taking breaks to build emotional awareness and problem-solving skills.

Technology: Students are becoming more confident with their new iPads and can now sign into Google Accounts with ease. We can also access ST Math and Boost through Clever. This week, we created personalized word clouds to celebrate how each student is unique and special.

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

Lead Room Parents: A special shout out to our lead room parents: Carolyn Kenline (Jack's  mom) and Kim Kaboub (Alex's mom). They will be reaching out soon with opportunities to volunteer in the classroom. Thank you! 

Repeat Announcements

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!

Jump Rope Club:

Jump Rope Club will start up on Thursday September 18th. Jump Rope club is a before school program that meets every Thursday 7:55-8:10 on the basketball court or in the gym depending on weather. It is a great time to connect with other Mitchell learners, and start your day off right with some exercise! Mr. Darling, Mr. Martin along with parent volunteers hope to see you there! No sign ups are necessary to participate.

Links for more information: 

Click HERE for more information about ST MATH. 

Click HERE for more information on the Orientation unit of Fundations

Click HERE  for home support materials for Unit 1 of Fundations

Special Subject Schedule

Monday -- Art

Tuesday -- P.E. & Spanish

Wednesday -- Media

Thursday -- P.E.

Friday -- Music & Spanish

Important Dates

Wednesday, September 17th -- Early Release Day, 12:15 dismissal

Tuesday, September 23rd -- No School, Rosh Hashanah 

Thursday, October 2nd -- No School, Yom Kippur

Wednesday, October 8th -- Early Release Day, 12:15 dismissal

Monday, October 13th -- No School, Indigenous Peoples Day

Thursday, October 16th -- Curriculum Night

Wednesday, October 22nd -- Early Release Day, 12:15 dismissal

Created 9/2025

Jennifer_ramras@needham.k12.ma.us