Student Council Candidates & Scholastic Book Orders

Today our student council candidates were selected.  Each class--grades 3-5 is able to send 2 students to be a part of the Student Council.  Yesterday, we did an interview session with 12 out of the 24 total students in our classroom!  I am thrilled to have so many students interested in participating in Student Council--HALF OF OUR CLASS!

After our interviews, we did a classroom vote.  I also reviewed all student council applications (Thank you parents & community members for taking time to help your 3rd graders get those filled out) yesterday and this morning for those who were still finishing them up.  I talked to previous teachers as well as specialists throughout the building and adding everything up, I am happy to announce our 2 Student Council Members:

Katie & Aidan!!!!  Congrats!  We look forward to having you represent our classroom this year!

Every month or 2 I will be sending home Scholastic book orders!  This is an opportunity for students to build their home library + help build our classroom library.  Our current book order is due tomorrow-Friday, August 30, 2012.  Please view the website:  https://orders.scholastic.com/KWYLK if you would like to make an online order!

What an awesome day!!

Today was such an awesome day in 3rd grade!  The day started with Math!  Our math curriculum is all about learning through everyday experiences and today we were able to talk about where we see numbers!  (See homelink 1.1 in your child's home folder tonight for their homework assignment.)  There is also a "Unit 1 Family Letter" for you to hold on to throughout the Unit.   It will give you more information about the curriculum. Vocabulary, routines, and a homework key for the entire unit are also included in the family letter.  Please keep that as a guide to help you better understand the work that is coming home with your child each day!

We also started Cursive writing today--we practiced the Undercurve.  The students were really excited about it!  You will see cursive pages come home every few days!

We had a "Life Skills Behavior" Assembly today where all of the students in the building reviewed 2 of the 10 skills we have been working on!  Tonight--ask your children about the Life Skills of "Following Instructions" and "Listening" as they were practiced and reviewed today!

Lastly--I want to recognize a few students who showed OUTSTANDING behavior today: Andy, Dalyn, Elle, Tara, Travis, Nate S., Kylie, Peyton, Dante, Ulaini, Jack and Katie!

The following students also earned PAWSitive tickets for having a GREAT DAY: Calvin, Aidan and Katilyn!

Way to go GRADE 3!

Wow...what a day!

Whew, we made it!  Today was quite the whirlwind of a day!  Your children worked so hard, listened alot, moved alot, talked alot and even danced like animals!  Thank you for giving them the opportunity to learn!  I am so excited to dig into math, writing and reading next week! 

Just a few reminders...
Your children will be bringing an agenda home with them each night.  At the end of each school day, we will write the homework for the evening.  There will be a few things we ask for you to do each night--reading for 20 minutes is one of them!  We haven't started our literature groups yet, but once we do, I will be sending books home with them.  We also won't have our library time until next Wednesday, so watch for books to come home then as well!
Your children will also bring a home folder in their backpack each day after school.  (It is the same folder that Back to School information was sent in. This folder should come back each day to school. It's the easiest way to transfer papers and keep them organized.

In the home folder tonight:
Student Council information--only sent home with students who were interested in this opportunity. Please go through this information with your child and work with them to decide if they would like the opportunity.
Book orders--for those who weren't at back to school night, I also sent hom Book order forms. I received a few more in my mailbox today that will be sent home Friday 8/24/2012.  All book orders for August are due next Friday 8/31/2012!

Last, but not least!  We have gym this Friday, so please remember to have your child bring tennis shoes!

Have a great one!

Meet Mrs. Steinbrink

Thank you so much for visiting my classroom blog and being involved in your child's learning! I believe that by communicating openly between home and school, and by parents supporting academics at home, we can create an optimal learning experience for each student throughout the school year.

Let me introduce myself! I graduated from the University of North Dakota in May of 2008 with a B.A. in Elementary Education. That fall I began my career at Jefferson Elementary in Fargo as the YMCA before and after school program coordinator.  While in this position, we had our beautiful daughter, Emma!

In 2009, I accepted a traveling position between Lincoln Elementary and Bennett Elementary in Fargo as an English Language Learners teacher. In 2010, I made the move over to Westside Elementary and was the English Language Learner teacher here for the past two years.  I am very excited to begin a new adventure in 3^rd grade with a great team of teachers!

I've been fortunate to work with great families and staff, and have gained a wealth of knowledge through my work on the district's Report Card Committee and completing a M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from Minnesota State University-Moorhead in 2010.

My husband Elliot and I met in Grand Forks and were married shortly after graduation. Elliot owns an up-and-coming construction business –Steinbrink Construction. He is also a project manager for Holly & Company Classic Homes. We have been blessed with our daughter Emma, who is currently 3 1/2. Our family is expanding—with another little girl early this winter!  Our family loves to be outside running around our neighborhood, doing projects around our house, trying new recipes, and reading books. Emma knows just as much, if not more about tools than I do as she loves doing projects with daddy. I love to organize and decorate my home, do different craft and sewing projects and search Pinterest for new ideas!

Some of my favorite things are Starbucks, fruit smoothies, fabric and books.

I look forward to working with you!!

Mrs. Steinbrink