Third ASPIRE News

January 11, 2026

CUP STACKING COMPETITION

I wanted to let you know about an exciting new opportunity coming up for our third, fourth, and fifth grade students.

For the first time, our school district will be hosting a cup stacking competition. This event is designed to be a fun and positive experience, not an intense or high-pressure competition. The focus is on participation, trying something new, and enjoying a unique activity with other students from across the district.

Sport stacking helps develop hand-eye coordination, focus, and confidence, and it’s a great way for students to challenge themselves in a new and engaging way. Whether your child has tried stacking before or would be brand new to it, this event is meant to be welcoming and encouraging for all participants.

Please see the attached flyer for more details about the event. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

Thank you for supporting new and fun opportunities for our students!

Coach Maupin

BATTLE OF THE POEMS

Next Friday, January 16, we will begin our 3rd ASPIRE Battle of the Poems tournament! All students will need to memorize their chosen to poem to perform on Friday. They will need to practice at home in order to prepare for this competition. I have demonstrated in class how to make the poems exciting by playing with volume, speed, hand gestures, and facial and vocal expressions. Let the fun begin!

Interim Testing

Beginning Thursday, January 22nd, interim testing will begin (practice STAAR). Please be sure that your child has had a good night's sleep, has a snack, and has a charged device when they come to school, along with their charger (just in case). Additionally, there are no visitors and students should not at any time during the day for doctor visits. The dates of testing are below:

Thursday 1/22 - Math Interim Assessment
Tuesday 1/27 - ELAR Interim Assessment

Chromebooks & Ipads

Please remind your child to take proper care of their Chromebook or Ipad: always carry it with two hands, keep it away from food, drinks, and younger siblings, and store it safely when not in use. Each night, ensure there is a designated place to charge the Chromebook and double-check that it makes it into your child’s backpack each morning. While we will reinforce that caring for the device is the student’s responsibility, your support is essential.

Additionally, please send in wired earbuds or headphones that plug into your child’s Chromebook. If possible, label them with your child’s name.

Reminder about Smart Watches

We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! 🎉 We’ve noticed that some of our students received smartwatches for Christmas and are excited to wear them to school. Please remember that these devices are only allowed to be used for telling time. If students use them for anything else, they will need to be confiscated. To help avoid any issues, we kindly ask that your child leave smartwatches and cellphones at home. Thank you for helping us keep our classroom focused and fun! This is in accordance with House Bill 1481.

Upcoming Curriculum

Reading/Language Arts

I can identify types of poetry and its elements.
I can identify root words and their meanings.
I can alphabetize a series of words to the third letter.
I can write a response to a literary passage and use evidence from the text to support my answer.

Math

I can summarize a data set with multiple categories using a frequency table, dot plot, pictograph, or bar graph with scaled intervals.
I can solve one and two step problems using categorical data represented with a frequency table, dot plot, pictograph, or bar graph with scaled intervals.

Science

I can explain how temperature and precipitation affect animal growth and behavior through migration and hibernation and plant responses through dormancy.xplain how temperatur

Social Studies

I can use cardinal and intermediate directions to locate places on maps and globes in relation to the local community.

EVENTS

Monday, January 19th MLK Jr. Day

No School

Thursday, January 22nd

Math STAAR Interim

Tuesday, January 27th

Reading STAAR Interim

Friday, January 30th

Pep Rally/Club Day

MATH CORNER

Data Analysis

Unit Summary: January 7-January 23

This unit bundles student expectation that addresses summarizing data sets with multiple categories using a frequency table, dot plot, pictograph, or bar graph with scaled intervals. Students collect, organize, represent, and summarize a categorical data set with multiple categories using a frequency table, dot plot, pictograph, and bar graph with scaled intervals.

BIG IDEAS:

Graphs are a part of our everyday lives.
Data is collected and organized in order to answer questions and interpret data about real world situations.

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