3rd Grade...a transitional year of learning!

Mrs. Dunlap

Allen Avenue Elementary School

Year Book Photos

The Yearbook Committee is asking for pictures for Yearbook consideration.

(Friendly reminder, school events and locations only)

Please use the link below

https://plicbooks.com/go/4BT61C

Classroom News

Dear Parents,

We are on the countdown to the end of the year. It seems like after Spring Break the days go by quickly- six more weeks of school.

All students need to have earbuds for state testing. Please check with your child to make sure they have working earbuds. The plug in style is best. Please do not send in the type that connect via Bluetooth. These are too confusing for the kids to use and they don't always connect

Third grade testing schedule:

Math- 4/30-5/2 (Tues, Wed, Thurs)

ELA- 5/7-5/9 (Tues, Wed, Thurs)

Make sure to be at school on time, get a good night's sleep, eat breakfast, and use the bathroom before school.

Our class is happy to announce that we have read a total of

5, 157, 684 words this third grade year. Our next goal is to read

6, 000,000 words by June.

Also many students have Expo markers that are dried out. Please check with your child to see if he/she needs new expo markers.

Mrs. Dunlap

This month our Character trait is " Perseverance ". Blue is the color of the month, so be sure to wear blue each Tuesday.

I am a big proponent of healthy eating and want to also promote healthy habits in the classroom. That being said I allow for students to eat healthy snacks in the classroom. Good choices include cut apple, carrots, grapes, blueberries, a banana (does not need to be in a container or cut). If a students' snack is too distracting or they are caught sharing food in the classroom, then classroom snack eating privilege will be lost for a week, then we will try again.

Here are the rules:

fresh fruits and vegetables only
- nothing too messy, like watermelon
- nothing that requires a fork or spoon to eat
- must be in a reusable container
- no sharing

If I did not see you at BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT then be sure to schedule a fall conference using the Sign Up Genius. Here is the link to the Sign Up Genius page-Click Here

Use this website for classroom updates and messages from the teacher-me! There are weeks when this page does not get updated until Tuesday, but I try really hard to do updates on Monday afternoon.

I am ready for some learning fun this year. I am so excited for this school year, I think it is going to be very productive and I have a lot of fun activities planned for the students.

All the best,

Mrs. Dunlap

Reminders

Students can eat fruits and vegetables in class as long as they are brought in reusable containers. Water bottles are OK also.
Everyone needs a zippered pencil pouch for pencils only for my "BE A FRIEND TO PENCILS"

PE days-Mon. Tues, Wed. Thurs, Fri. Remember appropriate clothing.

PTA

Copy and paste the link into your browser to read the PTA newsletter and keep up with the latest information

(pending)

A Little About Me

My Philosophy

My philosophy on teaching took root during my time as a preschool teacher. In my mid 20's I taught at an exclusive preschool in Palos Verdes, CA that was very child centered and very well run. During my time at this preschool I worked with many well seasoned teachers, the school psychologist, and a very gifted director. This is where I learned about children's behaviors and why children act in certain ways at certain times. I learned how to best deal with children's needs based on their behaviors and how to employ basic behavior modification techniques. I took this knowledge with my when I moved to San Dimas and was hired as the lead preschool teacher at The Learning Centers at the Fairplex.

The eight years I spent as in child development shaped my basic philosophy that I still carry with me today and is very simple. First, I don't believe in doing things for children that they can do for themselves. Whether it is tying shoes or organizing a desk, I believe children have to be provided the opportunities to learn how to take care of their own surroundings. Next, I want to instill the idea in my students that it is OK to do things wrong, and that they are not expected to know everything. It is OK to fail. Every failure teaches us something, so there is never really failure, only learning. Finally, I do not want my students to depend on me for all the answers. I encourage them to test out new ideas and develop new ones as they begin to develop a sense of confidence in their own thinking abilities.

When my students leave my classroom at the end of the year, they may not remember everything they have learned and how much they each have grown, but I do hope that they leave remembering and feeling that they were loved and respected as individuals.

When I Am Not Teaching

I am wife (just celebrated 28 years!) and mom of two college boys (yikes, where does time go?)

However, with older kids I have more time to do what I want to do. I love to garden, ride jet skis, water-ski, off-road go camping, and do yoga. Thanks to COVID I am the proud owner of 7 chickens. Yep, I am a chicken mom and learning as I go. As a family do are entrenched in the jet ski business. We have a racing team for the vintage 550 class which my boys are a part of and that keeps us very busy. The hubby ( and now my sons) build vintage race skis and we spend all summer riding and testing. Weekends are definitely for family fun!

If you are thinking of a teachers gift here are some of my favorite things:

I grew up at the beach and love all things "beachy".

I have decided cookies are my favorite food, peanut M&M's are my weakness! Although I eat healthy daily, I love a good round of junk food! I like dark chocolate & chocolate covered pretzels. I love Trader Joes snacks. I drink decaffeinated tea and Starbucks Hot Chocolate (Keurig cups).

I shop at Bevmo, Target, Marshall's, Amazon, Hobby Lobby, Walmart, and Michaels

I go to Yogurtland, Jersey Mikes, Subway, Panera, Habit, Porto's, Chilies, Red Robin

I am not very picky, really.

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