Discontinuing Blog Posts

Hello 3C families!

I will no longer be posting in the blog each week, as it seems similar information can be found within Google Classroom/class emails (and this will be one less place for you to have to look!). For class messages, please make a habit of checking our stream on Google Classroom. For anything pertinent for parents, I will continue to email. Thank you for understanding :)

Quarter 4, Week 5:

Hello, 3C families! We made it through Week 4! 

I wanted to thank you for spending time learning this new way of uploading assignments into our Google Classroom. I know it is a bit different than the packet uploads and we appreciate your effort! We will be continuing assignments this way moving forward. I would encourage you also to teach your child how to scan their work and upload to the daily assignment tabs. Setting aside a few minutes a day will encourage a good daily homework turn in habit and may save time in the long run :) Again, we really appreciate your efforts here as Ms. Lowe is working hard to grade all of the packets and daily work that comes in. The organization significantly improves her time spent.

Our Zoom Meetings will be posted on our Google Classroom Stream for easy access. These Optional Zoom meetings are every Monday and Thursday at 10am. 

A friendly reminder as we begin a new week! Week 4 work is due in Google Classroom today, Monday the 20th. Please let me know if you are having any struggles or if we can help.

**** Congratulations to Tristen for reaching Division in XtraMath! :) ****

We are proud of you, keep working hard!

A look at the week ahead:

Language Arts: For spelling this week, I would like you to practice phonograms at home each day for a few minutes. Then we will have 15 new spelling words. Be careful and watch the lesson videos in our google classroom. For literature, you will continue Little House on the Prairie! We will have a grammar review lesson this week on Tuesday, so that next week we can learn something new. For writing, we will be reading an old Native American legend, and writing a summary. I think you will really enjoy the story!

Math: This week, we begin a new unit on Length. We start with the metric units of meters and centimeters. Don’t forget to complete XtraMath every day!

History: Students will be reading Chapter 5, “Virginia Colony Succeeds”, learning about two new important historical people, as well as being given some optional reading and questions that enrich or support this chapter reading.

Science: We will continue to learn about the Solar System and the four gas/ice giants within our solar system. Students should read the given passage to answer the two questions. They will have an optional worksheet using their reading to list features of each gas/ice giant and color them accordingly. Last week’s worksheet with the rocky planets colored may be used.

Quarter 4, Week 4:

Hello, 3C family!

Thank you all for working so hard on XtraMath this last week! I am already seeing this great effort pay off! Congratulations to Siena, Ethan, Cage, Waleed, Nick, Natalie, Celine, Michaela, and Ainsley for their great work in reaching the subtraction level, we are proud of you and rooting for you! :) We are also proud of Tristen who has almost beat Multiplication and Levi who has almost beat division! It is always so exciting to see our third graders surpass these levels in XtraMath! Congratulations!!! I am looking forward to seeing continued growth and am hoping to make another blog shoutout next week! :)

We are looking forward to seeing you on Zoom on Thursday! We will have a math review in case there are any questions! :) Please ensure your child is logged into an account that will show their name. For safety we will not allow unrecognizable names or devices into the zoom video chat. Thank you for your understanding!

Announcements:

This week is shortened for the holiday. There will be school work posted on Google Classroom for Tuesday-Friday. 

To help with your learning at home, we have begun recording videos of the literature, science, and history content read aloud. We hope this helps students to become a little more independent and takes some pressure off parents!

Also Google classroom has a cell phone/ipad app that will make uploading daily assignments easier. You can take a picture right from your device! Check it out and see if you like it. :)

Language Arts: For spelling this week, I would like you to practice

 phonograms at home each day for a few minutes. Then we will have

 12 new spelling words. Be careful and watch the lesson videos in our

google classroom.  For literature, you will continue Little House on the Prairie! I know it can be challenging to complete all the reading for class so Little House reading can count as your reading log if you read it independently!

Math: We will continue to practice perimeter this week. If you picked up your materials from the school, be sure to utilize the math workbook for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday so you don’t have to print!  Don’t forget to complete XtraMath every day! 

History: Students will be reading chapter 3, “Captain John Smith” in their on-line packet and reading along while listening to the video recording of the reading. There are also three written response questions that they might want to look over prior to listening/reading the content information. There is also a second day of supporting history content about the Jamestown colonists and Captain John Smith that is for “enrichment” or is optional. It also has video to select. 

Science: We will learn about the Solar System and the four rocky planets within our solar system. Students should read the given passage to answer the two questions. They will have an optional worksheet using their reading to list features of each rocky planet and color them accordingly.

Thinking of you, 3C!

Hello 3C! I know we have had some requests to see Miss Lowe in video too, so here is a little hello from Ms. Lowe and I after packing up our desks and supplies to send home to you. It was a lonely classroom without all of your faces and sad to not have you there with us. Please know we miss you very much and are so proud of you all embracing this big change as best you can and learning new technology with us as we continue our learning through Google Classroom.

Quarter 4, Week 3:

We will begin Google Classroom this week!

Here's a look at our week ahead:

Language Arts: For spelling this week, I would like you to practice phonograms at home each day for a few minutes. Then we will have 12 new spelling words. Be careful and watch the lesson videos in our google classroom.  For literature, you will continue Little House on the Prairie! There are 2 optional activities. Make sure you also read 20 minutes a day. Choose any book you like for that! On Thursday after you read, submit a 5 sentence summary.

Math: We will work on math facts and solve for perimeter this week. If you need any help with the perimeter problems, feel free to reach out to us! Make sure to complete Xtra Math every day!

History: Students will be re-reading parts of chapter 1 & 2 in order to answer the written response question with appropriate supporting information. They will imagine they traveled with the character in chapter 2 to Jamestown. They will write a letter to a friend or a family member in England describing their new home using given vocabulary words.

Science: We will begin our Astronomy unit this week. Students should read the given passages to answer the question and have a dinner discussion with their family about the Big Bang Theory.

French: http://gebaraaretefrench.blogspot.com/

Music: https://arete3music.blogspot.com/

Quarter 4, Week 1-2:

Hello all! I wanted to include a little video for you guys! 

Know I am missing you all and will be here for you as we begin this new week! 

I am only an email away if you are having a struggle. 😊

A Note to Parents

         We appreciate you partnering with us during this time to continue your child’s

 education. You will find in the packet sent from the school roughly 1 ½ hours of work 

per day for your child to complete. The chart below shows the daily subject area breakdown.

Math	15-20 minutes daily
Science/ History	20-25 minutes every other day
Writing	10 minutes a day
Spalding	10 minutes a day
Literature	60 minutes a day (RL included)
Specials	10 min per special 2x a week

Please feel free to pace each day as you would like and create frequent breaks for your child. 

Our intention is that the child complete this first packet independently and we have designed

 it to be a simple introduction to homeschooling. Thank you for your support and reach out 

with any questions you may have. We will be personally in touch with each of you 

sometime this week. 

Letter To Our Students

Dear Students,

    We, your teachers, all miss you very dearly. We have carefully created this packet

 of learning for you knowing that it will enrich your mind and give you an opportunity to 

succeed academically from the comfort of your own home! We hope that you show

 courage and responsibility as you tackle the work inside this packet. We know you

 can do it!

With Love,

Ms. Sipel and Ms. Lowe

"Office" hours:

We will be available during regular school hours, but have specifically designated time to be at our computers for direct help. Ms. Lowe will be available for direct help from 8:30-10am and I will be available for direct help this week from 10-12pm. For this week, that may look like communication via email/phone call. In future weeks we may be exploring zoom meetings (video conferencing), we are waiting on further instruction there. 😊We will feel out the days as they come and keep you informed on if those hours should change. Know that we will get back for help at the earliest convenience outside of these hours. Emails are always always welcome, please CC both of us. Looking forward to hearing from you!

A look at the week ahead:

Language Arts: For spelling this week, I would like you to practice 

phonograms at home each day for a few minutes. For literature, you

 will be completing the Little Prince! Make sure you also read 20 

minutes a day. Choose any book you like for that! On Wednesday, 

after you read your book, go ahead and write a 5 sentence summary

 for me so I can know about what you are reading. 

Math: We will work on math facts and review area this week. If

 you need any help with the area problems, feel free to reach out to us!

History: In History the students will be introduced to the American 

Explorers: Christopher Columbus and Hernan DeSoto/ 

They also will be studying their country of origin, their background 

biography, objectives for travel, discoveries, travel routes, failures

 and successes. This will be a short unit covered this week. Then the

 investigations will move to our Thirteen colonies. 

Science: We will be continuing our Ecology unit. Students should read the day’s given chapter and use text evidence to answer each question in a complete sentence expressing a complete thought. 

Quarter 3, Week 9:

The Galileo Benchmark test is Tuesday! Please send 

your children well rested and fed! We have to take the test on a new 

day due to technical difficulties last week. 

Language Arts: We are writing an AZ merit practice essay and then

 typing it on Wednesday. We will do fifteen spelling words but there

 will be no test. Finally, we continue reading The Little Prince. 

Math: We will continue our area this week and up the rigor. They will

 be multiplying length times width to find area and then look for the 

missing length or width. There will be an area quiz on Wednesday. No math groups!

History: Review of Earliest Americans unit and assessment for most 3rd 

grade classes on Wednesday. Next unit for the new quarter will be: Early

 Explorers. 

Science: We will begin our Ecology unit this Tuesday! Students will

 learn that ecology is the study of the environment.

Quarter 3, Week 8

The Galileo Benchmark test is Tuesday! Please send your children well rested and fed! 

Language Arts: 

We have thirty spelling words this week and a test Friday. We will be writing an opinion essay about which book is our favorite. Finally, we continue reading The Little Prince.

Math: 

We will be starting our area unit this week! We begin by counting unit squares to determine Area (Length x Width). We need parent volunteers every week for Wednesday math partner/groups. Please consider helping out :) and sign up in the sign up genius.

History: 

Students will be studying the Native Americans after the mound builders. Also the peoples of the northern woodlands. How they were impacted by the Revolutionary War. Followed by a review for a unit assessment.

Science: 

We will be finishing our light and color unit this week! Students will have an assessment on Friday.

Quarter 3, Week 7

Language Arts: We have no spelling this week because it is short and because we want to focus on writing a bit. We have completed three explanatory essays and today will encounter opinion writing. Finally, we continue reading The Little Prince. 

Math: We will be completing the time unit. There will be a cumulative test on Thursday. 

We need parent volunteers every week for math groups. Please consider helping out :) and sign up in the sign up genius. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0d49afac2fa1fc1-math1

History: Students will be identifying and comparing the tribes of the Southwestern United States: Apache, Commanche, Hopi, Zuni, Navajo and Pueblo. Also recognizing the changes between these and their ancestral Pueblo cliff dwellers.  

Science: Students will learn more about light and color. They will also explore different parts of the eye and understand how the eye works.

Day for Friendship - Friday, February 14th is Great 

Hearts Day! We have reserved this special day to focus 

on the virtue of friendship and celebrate the traits that 

make a great-hearted student. Teachers are planning 

interactive and fun activities centered around these topics. 

Archway Arete strives to cultivate a rich, academic

 environment rooted in the classical tradition. This

 many times requires popular culture to be left at the 

door. On that note, students will not be permitted to 

bring store-bought valentines, candy, or gifts to school. 

Thank you for partnering with us. 

Language Arts: We will have a condensed week of spelling to

 account for the writing project. Test is Friday. We will be writing 

and typing an essay on a new topic to begin to prepare for AZ Merit. 

The topic corresponds to our history curriculum. Finally, we 

completed our  novel, The Trumpet of the Swan. Please send

 in The Little Prince by Wednesday.

Math: We will be working on telling time. In addition, practicing

 figuring elapsed time and conversion of time units. Practice reading 

clocks at home for practice! We have a quiz Tuesday after review. 

We need parent volunteers every week for math groups. Please

 consider helping out :) and sign

 up in the sign up genius. 

History: Students will be studying about the first people that 

inhabited North America and believed to have crossed a natural

 land bridge between Asia and North America. They will begin to

 study the Innuit people of the far northern climate. In addition 

they will investigate the pueblo and mound building people of the

 southwestern region of our continent, contrasting the people’s 

varied lifestyles. 

Science: Students will continue their Light Unit. They will learn about and experiment with Reflection and refraction. 

Great Hearts Day Reminder:

A Day for Friendship - Friday, February 14th is Great Hearts Day! We have reserved this special day to focus on the virtue of friendship and celebrate the traits that make a great-hearted student. Teachers are planning interactive and fun activities centered around these topics. Archway Arete strives to cultivate a rich, academic environment rooted in the classical tradition. This many times requires popular culture to be left at the door. On that note, students will not be permitted to bring store-bought valentines, candy, or gifts to school. Thank you for partnering with us.

Quarter 3, Week 5:

Friday the 7th there is NO school! :)

A Day for Friendship - Friday, February 14th is Great 

Hearts Day! We have reserved this special day to focus 

on the virtue of friendship and celebrate the traits that 

make a great-hearted student. Teachers are planning 

interactive and fun activities centered around these topics. 

Archway Arete strives to cultivate a rich, academic

 environment rooted in the classical tradition. This

 many times requires popular culture to be left at the 

door. On that note, students will not be permitted to 

bring store-bought valentines, candy, or gifts to school. 

Thank you for partnering with us. 

Language Arts: We will have a condensed week of spelling

 since there is no school Friday. We will be TYPING the final 

draft of a three paragraph essay on the Titanic. Finally, we 

completed our  novel, The Trumpet of the Swan. Please send

 in The Little Prince by Wednesday.

Math: We will be working on telling time. Practice reading 

clocks at home for practice! We need parent volunteers every 

week for math groups. Please consider helping out :) and sign

 up in the sign up genius. 

History: We are starting our new unit “The Earliest Americans” 

the first peoples of North America. Students will discover how it

 is believed they crossed from Asia to North America many years

 ago. How their lifestyles changed and how they lived. Then they

 will do some map reading and discover how America’s first settlers 

learned to live on the land and not follow after moving herds of

 animals to survive. New vocabulary will also be identified. 

Science: This week students will take their science sound quiz on Tuesday. Please encourage them to study with their study guide. We will begin our light unit this week! 

Quarter 3, Week 4:

The Field Trip to the MIM is Monday! Students should wear their school uniforms and pack a sack lunch and throw away water bottle with their name sharpied on the front. Athletic Field Day is Friday, January 31st from 8:30-11:00 for K-2 classes and from 12:00-2:30 for grades 3-5!  Each year classes are assigned a Greek City State for their team.  This year, your child’s team is CRETE, and our team color is BLUE. Your child may wear a plain blue shirt (no logos) other than class section or Greek City State and athletic pants or shorts. There will be no school **lunch offered on Athletic Field Day. 

**Our class has worked hard to earn 10 stars as a team for stupendous work and will be having a pizza  and stuffed animal party during lunch before field day events commence! Students are still welcome to bring lunch that day, but know there will also be pizza to celebrate! (Reminder: no hot lunch will be served this day). Please ensure stuffed animals fit comfortably in a zipped backpack if students wish to bring one! WE ARE CRETE! Field Day attire: "Students may decorate their BLUE shirts with their team name and/or symbol of their Greek City State.   Students should wear athletic clothing free of pop culture references.  Sports team and brand logos are acceptable on clothing.  Athletic shoes are mandatory (any color).  Hats and sunglasses may be worn.  Sunscreen must be applied at home.  Please see pg. 52 in the family handbook for more detailed information." Volunteers for field day are also needed. Please sign up using the following link:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080b4aa8af28a2fc1-field to help with the events.  We need a few volunteers for class to help with donating a cooler and snacks.  If you have not already, please sign up here to volunteer for our class. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0b4ca4a922a0f49-athletic1 The week ahead:

Language Arts: We will have a condensed week of spelling. We will be creating a final draft of a three paragraph essay on the Titanic. Finally, we continue our  novel, The Trumpet of the Swan.

Math: This week we will be working on fractions of a set and money fraction. There will be a unit test on Friday. We need parent volunteers every week for math groups. Please consider helping out :) https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0d49afac2fa1fc1-math1

History: In History this week our students will be completing their study of the Vikings and review material in class for an open note assessment on Thursday. Our next unit will be an investigation of many early explorers. 

Science: This week students will review and prepare a study guide for their upcoming sound quiz.

Quarter 3, Week 3:

Language Arts: Students should be memorizing our poem this week, The Adventures of Isabel. Recitations will be on Jan. 22. We will have a condensed week of spelling. We will be composing a three paragraph essay independently after last week’s successful guided effort . Finally, we continue our new novel, The Trumpet of the Swan.

Math: This week we will be working on fractions. First we encounter the number line and then addition and subtraction. We need parent volunteers every week for math groups. Please consider helping out :) and sign up in the sign up genius.

History: In History this week our students will be reading about the Viking explorer, Leif Eriksson, and his travels to Greenland and Iceland. They will recognize that the Vikings were the first to cross the Atlantic Ocean to the land we now call Canada, and what we know of the Vikings has been discovered by Archaeological discoveries. They will also be learning more geography as we investigate the world map and specifically the northern hemisphere.

Science: This week students will learn and discuss how to care for their ears. They will learn more about the pitch of sound and explore how the pitch of sound can change.