I am excited to announce I have started a new blog and will be doing all my posting on it. Please follow the link below. I will NOT be posting on this blog anymore.
Mrs. Sawyer's Blog: http://mrssawyersclassroom.blogspot.com/
Mrs. Henley's Blog: http://mrshenleysclass.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Zoo Field Trip
We will be heading to the zoo on May 12th. Please have your student return the $6 and permission slip as soon as possible. This field trip will be during our endangered animal project so the students will be able to look for their specific animals. We would LOVE to have you come with us on the trip. Attached to the field trip form was information on making sure you are a VIPS volunteer. You must have gone through this process in order to accompany us on this field trip. Please let me know if you would like to come. Also it will cost chaperones the cost of admission at the zoo. So be prepared with about $11.00 cash.
Thanks!!!
Thanks!!!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
GT-Expo
For the second year, Briargrove will participate in a regional G/T Expo. Identified gifted and talented students will present student product/projects-work that exemplifies higher-level thinking. Prior to the regional event, Briargrove will hold our own expo. G/T students in all grade levels are invited to showcase their work on Tuesday, May 4, 2010. (Event time TBD).
Though none of the students are required to participate, I am hopeful the majority will choose to do so. If you are receiving this letter, your child is eligible to participate.
There will be a planning meeting for the students next Tuesday, April 20, 2010 in my classroom, right after my carpool duty (3:30-4:30). The meeting will last approximately 45 minutes. After the initial meeting, students may stay after school on any or all of the following dates to work on refining their projects. We will meet in my classroom on:
Tuesday, April 20 (3:30-4:30)
Wednesday, April 21 (3:30-4:30)
Thursday, April 22 (3:30-4:30)
Monday, April 26 (3:15-4:15)
Tuesday, April 27 (3:15-4:15)
Wednesday, April 28 (3:15-4:15)
Thursday, April 29 (3:15-4:15)
Monday, May 3 (3:30-4:30)
On the day of the Briargrove Expo, a small group of students will be chosen to represent our school at the regional level. More info to follow.
Though none of the students are required to participate, I am hopeful the majority will choose to do so. If you are receiving this letter, your child is eligible to participate.
There will be a planning meeting for the students next Tuesday, April 20, 2010 in my classroom, right after my carpool duty (3:30-4:30). The meeting will last approximately 45 minutes. After the initial meeting, students may stay after school on any or all of the following dates to work on refining their projects. We will meet in my classroom on:
Tuesday, April 20 (3:30-4:30)
Wednesday, April 21 (3:30-4:30)
Thursday, April 22 (3:30-4:30)
Monday, April 26 (3:15-4:15)
Tuesday, April 27 (3:15-4:15)
Wednesday, April 28 (3:15-4:15)
Thursday, April 29 (3:15-4:15)
Monday, May 3 (3:30-4:30)
On the day of the Briargrove Expo, a small group of students will be chosen to represent our school at the regional level. More info to follow.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Black History Project
Mrs. Sawyer's class is coming to a close on our black history project. The students final draft is to be typed double spaced and is due on Wednesday, March 3, 2010.
I will be grading all of the student's work they have been doing in class.
The first grade will be for the articles. If I had to print an article for a student because they did not bring them on the correct day they will be graded accordingly.
Brought all 3 articles: 100
Brought 2 articles: 90
Brought 1 article: 80
Brought 0 articles: 0
Next the student will be graded on their notes. I went through with each child and helped them complete this part. As long as it is completely filled out they will make a 100.
The third grade will be for their outline they completed in class with Mrs. Henley. If a section is left blank they will lose points.
The fourth grade is for their rough draft. They completed four of the five paragraphs in class with Mrs. Henley. So I will grade accordingly.
Has 4 paragraphs: 100
Has 3 paragraphs: 90
Has 2 paragraphs: 80
Has 1 paragraph: 70
Has 0 paragraphs: 50
The last grade will be their final draft. Their paper must be typed and must be double spaced. It needs to have their name and a title on their paper. Please make sure to do spell check before you print your paper.
Next Thursday, March 11th will be the day for presentations. Remember you have a lot of options so please feel free to email me and ask any questions you may have. I look forward to seeing everyone's final product.
I will be grading all of the student's work they have been doing in class.
The first grade will be for the articles. If I had to print an article for a student because they did not bring them on the correct day they will be graded accordingly.
Brought all 3 articles: 100
Brought 2 articles: 90
Brought 1 article: 80
Brought 0 articles: 0
Next the student will be graded on their notes. I went through with each child and helped them complete this part. As long as it is completely filled out they will make a 100.
The third grade will be for their outline they completed in class with Mrs. Henley. If a section is left blank they will lose points.
The fourth grade is for their rough draft. They completed four of the five paragraphs in class with Mrs. Henley. So I will grade accordingly.
Has 4 paragraphs: 100
Has 3 paragraphs: 90
Has 2 paragraphs: 80
Has 1 paragraph: 70
Has 0 paragraphs: 50
The last grade will be their final draft. Their paper must be typed and must be double spaced. It needs to have their name and a title on their paper. Please make sure to do spell check before you print your paper.
Next Thursday, March 11th will be the day for presentations. Remember you have a lot of options so please feel free to email me and ask any questions you may have. I look forward to seeing everyone's final product.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Happy New Year-Late
Happy New Year!!! I have been so bad this school year at keeping up with my blog. But I will try to do better for now on. I have a lot of pictures on my phone from the Snow Day in December, gingerbread houses, gift exchange, pajama day and some from the student of the week celebrations. I will upload those this weekend and try to get them on the blog for everyone.
The kids did a great job last week with the Stanford test and now with that behind us we are focused on preparing for the TAKS in April. We will be working really hard learning a lot of new material between now and then.
Also, I am very busy training for the MS150 from Houston to Austin in April. This is going to be my first time to ride in this and actually I just begun riding this year (Jan 1st was my first ride). I will be sending out emails with more information and if anyone would like to make a tax deductible donation in my name that would be much appreciated. This is going to be very exciting for me. I will keep everyone updated on my progress.
The kids did a great job last week with the Stanford test and now with that behind us we are focused on preparing for the TAKS in April. We will be working really hard learning a lot of new material between now and then.
Also, I am very busy training for the MS150 from Houston to Austin in April. This is going to be my first time to ride in this and actually I just begun riding this year (Jan 1st was my first ride). I will be sending out emails with more information and if anyone would like to make a tax deductible donation in my name that would be much appreciated. This is going to be very exciting for me. I will keep everyone updated on my progress.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Gingerbread Houses
Dear Parents,
We have decided to have a third grade celebration of gingerbread house making for the holidays. However, we need your assistance with the bringing of the following supplies:
Gum drops
Mini candy canes
Brach’s hard candy (different shapes and colors)
M & M’s or skittles
Black or red licorice
Frosting (we will have the recipe soon)
Paper towels
Chinet oval plates
Plastic knives
Graham crackers (Nabisco)
Plastic bags (storage 1 quart)
Sprinkles (various colors)
Chiclets gum
Pretzel sticks
Empty milk cartons (small for kids – well washed out/cleaned—preferably brand new!!!)
Peppermint round candies (red and white)
Anything off the list will be sent back home. Contact us if you have any questions about what to purchase.
We would appreciate having 1 to 2 parent volunteers for approximately an hour on that day. We are planning on having this festivity on December 16th at 1:15PM, which will be the week before Christmas break. This will ensure the houses have time to dry before we send them home.
Sincerely yours,
Third Grade Team
We have decided to have a third grade celebration of gingerbread house making for the holidays. However, we need your assistance with the bringing of the following supplies:
Gum drops
Mini candy canes
Brach’s hard candy (different shapes and colors)
M & M’s or skittles
Black or red licorice
Frosting (we will have the recipe soon)
Paper towels
Chinet oval plates
Plastic knives
Graham crackers (Nabisco)
Plastic bags (storage 1 quart)
Sprinkles (various colors)
Chiclets gum
Pretzel sticks
Empty milk cartons (small for kids – well washed out/cleaned—preferably brand new!!!)
Peppermint round candies (red and white)
Anything off the list will be sent back home. Contact us if you have any questions about what to purchase.
We would appreciate having 1 to 2 parent volunteers for approximately an hour on that day. We are planning on having this festivity on December 16th at 1:15PM, which will be the week before Christmas break. This will ensure the houses have time to dry before we send them home.
Sincerely yours,
Third Grade Team
Monday, October 26, 2009
Ancestry Report
Ancestry Report
A pilgrim was a traveler to a new land. Many pilgrims are still coming to our country. Some came recently; some came long ago, but all our families were once new-comers to the United States of America. Write about your family's journey to this "new" land.
1. Try to answer as many of the following questions while writing your report.
* When did your family first arrive in the U.S.A.?
* Where did they come from?
* How did they get here?
* Why did they come?
* Where did they settle?
* What did they bring with them?
* How long did the journey last?
* What happened on the journey?
* How did you get to Houston?
2. Report length: At least 7 sentences, but no more than a page long.
3. The report can be written by hand or typed on a computer.
Due: Friday, November 6
A pilgrim was a traveler to a new land. Many pilgrims are still coming to our country. Some came recently; some came long ago, but all our families were once new-comers to the United States of America. Write about your family's journey to this "new" land.
1. Try to answer as many of the following questions while writing your report.
* When did your family first arrive in the U.S.A.?
* Where did they come from?
* How did they get here?
* Why did they come?
* Where did they settle?
* What did they bring with them?
* How long did the journey last?
* What happened on the journey?
* How did you get to Houston?
2. Report length: At least 7 sentences, but no more than a page long.
3. The report can be written by hand or typed on a computer.
Due: Friday, November 6
Monday, October 12, 2009
Library
Library for our class will be on Tuesday mornings at 9:35. Library is no longer part of the enrichment schedule, I will be taking the class each week. I will make sure your child is checking out books that are reading level appropriate for them. I do require they at least get 1 chapter book, the second book can be one of their choice.
Class Schedule 2009-2010
Class Schedule
7:40 First Bell Rings
7;45-9:55 Block I
9:55-10:40 Enrichment
10:40-12:35 Block II
12:35-1:05 Lunch
1:05-2:00 Block II
2:00-2:30 Recess
2:30-3:10 Block I
3:10 Clean-up/Dismissal
Homework
I just wanted to restate my homework policy. Homework is given out on Friday's and is due to the next Friday. Occasionally due to copying issues it might be handed out on Monday's but I will always consider that when I decide what goes into the packet.
Homework is not optional, but mandatory. It is important to complete homework and to continue practicing the skills we are working on in class.
Carnival
Lunch Under the Rooftop
Bring your child lunch and enjoy in this Briargrove tradition of eating outside under the rooftop the day before the carnival. Stay after lunch and help the Carnival chairs set up for the Carnival the next day!!
Time: During students' normal lunch times
The Briargrove Carnival is on Saturday, October 24th from 11:00-3:00. I hope to see everyone there!!
Bring your child lunch and enjoy in this Briargrove tradition of eating outside under the rooftop the day before the carnival. Stay after lunch and help the Carnival chairs set up for the Carnival the next day!!
Time: During students' normal lunch times
The Briargrove Carnival is on Saturday, October 24th from 11:00-3:00. I hope to see everyone there!!
Food Law
I wanted to make all parents aware of the Texas nutrition policy, in very simple terms all candy and carbonated beverages are not allowed on school campuses during the school day. I will not be handing out candy to the students unless it has been approved in advance. I have also spoken to the students about the estimation jar for student of the week, they are not to put candy in them. I will send it back home if candy is brought to school. Please consider this with Halloween approaching, candy or chocolate is not a nutritonal snack choice.
In 2004, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) implemented a much more restrictive policy on foods that are provided to students. The policy is aggressively enforced and schools found to have violated the policy will lose a day of meal reimbursement funds from the state and will be required to reimburse the food service account for the lost reimbursement. The policy applies to foods of minimal nutritional value (FMNV), and any type of candy and also restricts the provision of “competitive foods,” which are all foods and beverages not provided by school food services. The policy also limits the number of grams of fat and sugar Texas schoolchildren are served each week, restricts portion sizes for items such as chips, cookies, frozen desserts and beverages, and calls for phasing out deep-fat frying in schools. Nutrition policy exemptions allow for such events as birthday parties, pizza parties and classroom snacks (see the Exemptions section on facing page for details). The full Texas Public School Nutrition policy is available on the Texas Department of Agriculture Web site at www.squaremeals.org. Policy highlights include:
Soda water, Water ices, Chewing gum, Candies and chocolate bars are not allowed at any time during the school day.
Classroom birthday parties: Foods otherwise restricted by the policy are permitted at student birthday parties. It is recommended that such parties be scheduled after the end of the last lunch period so that these celebrations will not replace a nutritious lunch. Federal regulations do not permit FMNV to be served in the food service area during meal periods.
In 2004, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) implemented a much more restrictive policy on foods that are provided to students. The policy is aggressively enforced and schools found to have violated the policy will lose a day of meal reimbursement funds from the state and will be required to reimburse the food service account for the lost reimbursement. The policy applies to foods of minimal nutritional value (FMNV), and any type of candy and also restricts the provision of “competitive foods,” which are all foods and beverages not provided by school food services. The policy also limits the number of grams of fat and sugar Texas schoolchildren are served each week, restricts portion sizes for items such as chips, cookies, frozen desserts and beverages, and calls for phasing out deep-fat frying in schools. Nutrition policy exemptions allow for such events as birthday parties, pizza parties and classroom snacks (see the Exemptions section on facing page for details). The full Texas Public School Nutrition policy is available on the Texas Department of Agriculture Web site at www.squaremeals.org. Policy highlights include:
Soda water, Water ices, Chewing gum, Candies and chocolate bars are not allowed at any time during the school day.
Classroom birthday parties: Foods otherwise restricted by the policy are permitted at student birthday parties. It is recommended that such parties be scheduled after the end of the last lunch period so that these celebrations will not replace a nutritious lunch. Federal regulations do not permit FMNV to be served in the food service area during meal periods.
Updates
Math: We have just finished working on subtraction and addition. However, that does not mean that we are done with it completely. It will show up in their warm ups, on tests, daily work and homework. This week we are going to cover geometric and number patterns along with estimating sums and differences. This week will be our culminating assessment over place value, addition and subtraction. Finally next week, we will begin the much anticipated multiplication. If you are using the enVision textbook, it is topic 12.1 and 12.2 along with 2.5 and 4.4 .
Science: We have just finished working with science tools such as microscopes, balances, beakers, graduated cylinders and thermometers. We are getting ready to begin our unit on States of Matter. The students will end the unit with a project. More instructions will be coming home soon. We will be having a test coming up on all the science tools we have been working on.
Social Studies: Students are studying important inventions and how they effect and improve our lives.
Science: We have just finished working with science tools such as microscopes, balances, beakers, graduated cylinders and thermometers. We are getting ready to begin our unit on States of Matter. The students will end the unit with a project. More instructions will be coming home soon. We will be having a test coming up on all the science tools we have been working on.
Social Studies: Students are studying important inventions and how they effect and improve our lives.
Field Trip
I am excited to announce our first field trip for the school year. We are going to the Main Street Theater on December 3 to see the Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Permission slips will be going home this Wednesday and the $11.00 is due back by October 30th. I am looking forward to this and if any parents are interested in chaperoning pleae let me know.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Star of the Week
The week of September 21-25, Star of the Week was Grace. She brought in her 2 dogs, Tommy and Ali and they were a hit was the class.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Penny Time Line
This week the students are going to be working on making their penny timelines. In their homework is a sheet for the students to record at each age of their life and event that happened. They also need to collect a penny for each year they have been alive and bring them to school on Friday, September 18th. In class the following week we will be putting the penny timelines together. If you have any questions please email at jbronste@houstonisd.org
First three weeks of school
Time has really flown since school started. We have been working really hard on place value and rounding in Math. We talked about good citizenship in and out of the classroom. Now we are beginning science and discussing the importance of science safety rules.
I am looking forward to Open House on Tuesday, September 15 at 7:00. I hope all parents will be able to attend and hear the expectations of Mrs. Henley and me. I will be starting star of the week in late September and then I will start posting pictures of the class doing various activties. I am looking forward to a wonderful year!!!
I am looking forward to Open House on Tuesday, September 15 at 7:00. I hope all parents will be able to attend and hear the expectations of Mrs. Henley and me. I will be starting star of the week in late September and then I will start posting pictures of the class doing various activties. I am looking forward to a wonderful year!!!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
New Year 2009-2010
Dear Parents,
Welcome to 3rd grade. We have a very busy and exciting year in store for us!
Before I give you a short preview of some of the subjects to be covered during the course of this year, let me first introduce myself. I am Jamie Bronstein-Sawyer and I am a native Houstonian. This will be my seventh year at Briargrove Elementary and I consider myself very fortunate to be among such a professional faculty. I teach Math, Science, Social Studies, and Geography. My partner teacher, Krystle Henley teaches Reading, Language Arts, Spelling, and Writing.
I realize that teaching your child is a privilege, as well as a tremendous responsibility. I will do my best this year to ensure that each student has a motivating and safe learning experience in the classroom. However, I cannot do this alone: I need your help. We both need to be partners in the learning process. I need each of you to encourage your child at home by helping to ensure that they have completed their assignments, and help them study for quizzes, if necessary. I will keep you informed of all assignments and subjects that are covered in class with a weekly summary.
I will send more information home on the first day of school. Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Mrs. Sawyer
Welcome to 3rd grade. We have a very busy and exciting year in store for us!
Before I give you a short preview of some of the subjects to be covered during the course of this year, let me first introduce myself. I am Jamie Bronstein-Sawyer and I am a native Houstonian. This will be my seventh year at Briargrove Elementary and I consider myself very fortunate to be among such a professional faculty. I teach Math, Science, Social Studies, and Geography. My partner teacher, Krystle Henley teaches Reading, Language Arts, Spelling, and Writing.
I realize that teaching your child is a privilege, as well as a tremendous responsibility. I will do my best this year to ensure that each student has a motivating and safe learning experience in the classroom. However, I cannot do this alone: I need your help. We both need to be partners in the learning process. I need each of you to encourage your child at home by helping to ensure that they have completed their assignments, and help them study for quizzes, if necessary. I will keep you informed of all assignments and subjects that are covered in class with a weekly summary.
I will send more information home on the first day of school. Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Mrs. Sawyer
Monday, May 4, 2009
Recent News
This week the students are starting to work on two really cool in class projects. First we are starting a class solar system joke book. The students will write their own planet joke and then illustrate it. Second we have just read 100 Hungry Ants. The students are being broken into groups and given a number. Then they have to divide it into smaller groups (up to 10). Then they write their own stories with rhymes, just like the book.
WITS
Dear Parents,
On Tuesday, May 5 we will be having a poetry reading. All year the students have been working with Tria wood from Writer’s in the School (WITS). They have now put together a wonderful anthology and will be sharing a reading. Each student will get to take home their book and share it with their family. I would love it if you could come join us at 8:50 on May 5th to hear our poetry reading. I hope to see you!!
On Tuesday, May 5 we will be having a poetry reading. All year the students have been working with Tria wood from Writer’s in the School (WITS). They have now put together a wonderful anthology and will be sharing a reading. Each student will get to take home their book and share it with their family. I would love it if you could come join us at 8:50 on May 5th to hear our poetry reading. I hope to see you!!
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