Mrs. Bukovan's Class

January and February newsletters

2012-02-05T11:44:00.000-08:00

It's been quite a busy month, but I'm back with the January and February newsletter links. If you have misplaced the hard copy, here they are for you to view. :)

January

February

December Newsletter

2011-11-30T17:20:00.000-08:00

The December newsletter will go home tomorrow, along with your child's midterm progress report. Please sign the report and return it on Friday.

We're published authors!!

2011-11-29T16:38:00.000-08:00

Today we received our class book of recipes from Studentreasures. The students were so excited to see their recipes bound in a book and sent from an actual publishing company. I am so proud of their hard work. If you would like to receive a copy of our class recipe book, please have your child let me know as I can give you the information to order or reorder a book. Just look at these proud faces!!

And I'd like to recognize Alyssa for creating our book's cover. Great job!!

Great American Teach-In

2011-11-19T12:57:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday we participated in the Great American Teach-In. We learned a lot and had tons of fun with the parents who volunteered their time to be with us. Check out our slide show. :)

Free photo slideshow made with Smilebox

Pumpkin book reports

2011-11-01T17:30:00.000-07:00

We had a blast sharing our pumpkin book reports. The students seemed to love the idea of decorating their pumpkin to look like a character from the book they read. Just look at their creativity!

(all projects have now been posted)

November newsletter

2011-11-01T16:51:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to see our November newsletter. :)

A.R. information

2011-10-18T14:59:00.000-07:00

After speaking with several parents this week at conferences, I feel I should clear up any misunderstandings about A.R.

A..R. is NOT in any way, shape or form, part of a student's grade. It is NOT counted against a student if they do not take A.R. tests. A.R. is meant to motivate and/or encourage readers. If students are motivated by earning A.R. points, I encourage them to take tests on their independent reading books when they finish reading them. Students should be choosing books because they want to read them, not soley to earn A.R. points. Nothing would please me more than to see a student chose a book they think they will like, read it, enjoy it and can't wait to pick up their next book. :)

If A.R. is something that is motivating to your child, that's great! Whatever it takes to get them reading. :) Our third grade A.R. goal this quarter is 6 points with 85% accuracy. The quarter ends on Thursday and the A.R. celebration will be held on the following Friday, the 28th. Students not attending the A.R. celebration will complete an activity in the classroom. They are not punished, nor am I disappointed in them if they do not meet their goal.

Please let me know if you still have questions about the A.R. program. I have 32 young readers who participate in Real Reading everyday and I'm proud of all of them!

October newsletter

2011-10-04T17:36:00.001-07:00

Please note that our October newsletter is now online. Click on the link in the sidebar to view our current newsletter.

Behavior Celebration

2011-09-25T06:40:00.000-07:00

Our first after-school behavior celebration was a big hit! We enjoyed a light snack while we tried to solve the "Mystery at the Mall". We had such a great time that we did not get to finish it, but a few of the agents took their work seriously and came back with whodunit on Monday. Congratulations agents! Your mission was a success!!

Introducing...Kyle

2011-09-25T06:34:00.000-07:00

Kyle was our first Special Agent of the Week. We enjoyed learning all about Kyle last week. :)

Curriculum Night

2011-09-25T06:28:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all the parents who made it out to our curriculum night. If you could not be there, I've attached the powerpoint that we used. Just click on the link below to view.

Curriculum Night Presentation

Week of September 6th

2011-09-10T08:04:00.000-07:00

This week was short, but lots of special things took place.

We met our new classmate, Kelaundra. The students really helped to make her feel right at home in our classroom. It was wonderful to see the students explain procedures, show her around and make her feel like she's been a part of the class from day one. We love having Kelaundra in our class. :)

We elected our Student Council Representatives. Alex S. is representing Miss Rossi's homeroom class, and Alyssa is Mrs. Bukovan's student council representative. We are proud of all of the students who threw their hat into the ring and even more proud of how the students congratulated and embraced our class reps once the votes had been counted. We are confident the class made a wise decision.

We also held our first "Hot Ticket" drawing for our behavior reward. The students have been receiving hot tickets when they are "caught in the act" of doing the right thing, or for going above and beyond in their classwork. Students then write their name on the ticket and put it in their homeroom bucket. We collect them all month long and then we'll pull the two students with the most tickets and four more random tickets. Our behavior reward is a little different than what we've done in the past. Treasure boxes are okay, but the wow factor wears off after a few minutes. Miss Rossi and I wanted to do something that the students (and teachers) would enjoy experiencing and have a fun memory to take away with them. We've chosen to do a fun activity after school once a month. This month we're going to solve "The Mystery at the Mall". It's a fun, educational one-hour mystery. And of course, we'll have ourselves a mystery snack to enjoy, as well.

We pulled our first tickets on Friday and the winners were.....Alicia, Alyssa, Kira, Uma, Alex S. and Justin.
We can't wait to see you all on Friday afternoon. :) Keep up that brilliant Bronco behavior!!!

Another exciting thing was that we chose our first Special Agents of the Week. We are looking forward to celebrating Peyton and Kyle next week.

Weekly Reading Log

2011-09-10T06:36:00.000-07:00

This week the students were shown how to do their Weekly Reading Logs. This is homework that will be sent home every Monday and is due back on the following Monday. This is different from a typical reading log in that you don't just record the minutes and pages you read, it gives students the opportunity to think about their reading (using METACOGNITION) and reflect on what they've read. Students are asked to read for 100 minutes each week in at least three different sittings. Then, they will choose one of the reading strategies explained on the log and write about what they've read. Students are to respond with a different strategy each session they read.

I am hoping that by having the students think and reflect after their reading, that they will enjoy this more than just reading for a set amount of time because the teacher told them to do that. I want to see them reading thoughtfully and enjoying their books. :)

Attached is our Weekly Reading Log. If, for some reason, a student loses theirs, it gets ruined, or if they just want to write some more, you are able to print it right from here.

Happy Reading!!!

Curriculum Night

2011-09-06T16:24:00.000-07:00

Miss Rossi and I will be holding our Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 22nd from 6:00-6:30 and 6:40-7:15. Please note, this is also the date of the Primary Curriculum Night. We can't wait to see you there!

September 2011 newsletter

2011-09-05T11:08:00.000-07:00

Attached is our newsletter for September 2011. Click on the link below to view.

September 2011 newsletter

Our schedule

2011-08-25T16:35:00.000-07:00

*Updated September 10, 2011

Below is our tentative schedule. I will make updates to this if there are any changes. You can click on it to enlarge.

Clip Chart classroom management

2011-08-20T15:56:00.000-07:00

Clip Chart Parent Letter

SEARCH Book

2011-08-20T15:34:00.000-07:00

Search Book Info

Whoooo's in our class?

2011-08-14T09:39:00.000-07:00

2011-08-10T11:10:00.000-07:00

I would like to invite any parents, older siblings, grandparents, relatives, or other special people to surprise your child by being a “Mystery Reader” this year in our classroom. Students LOVE having their family, friends, and relatives visit our classroom to share in our learning by reading a favorite story aloud to our class. Mystery Readers will visit us on Fridays each week. As soon as I know our class schedule I'll decide upon a time. Readers are asked to bring a book to read or read a teacher-chosen book from our classroom library.

If you can find a date that works for you, please sign up to be a Mystery Reader for the 2011-2012 school year! There are many open dates to choose from throughout the year.

I will have a Mystery Reader sign up sheet at open house on August 22nd. Please indicate at least two dates (if possible) that will work for you so that I can accommodate the most people. You can either email me your preferred dates or send your top three choices in a “top secret” envelope to school with your child. I will get back to you as soon as I can to confirm your official Mystery Reader date.

I have also created a Mystery Reader sign-up book that will be kept in my classroom throughout the year. If you would prefer to just come to the classroom and pick your date, feel free to do that instead. Remember, you are a mystery to the class, so try not to tell your child when you will be coming!

Please see me or drop me a “secret” note if you have any further questions. We can’t wait to meet our 2011-2012 Mystery Readers!

C.S.I.

2011-07-28T14:33:00.000-07:00

The 2011-2012 theme is Adventures in C.S.I. (Creating Student Investigators) I am so excited to meet my team of student investigators. With me and Ms. Rossi as your Special Teacher Agents, there will be no problem we can't solve!

We will be investigating our world by asking questions, searching for evidence and seeking answers. Your mission will be to find the best strategies to use to find clues and solve problems. As part of our elite team, you will be receiving the tools to start on the investigative trail by discovering new people and places in reading and tracking down better writing techniques.

Are you up to the challenge?

2011-2012 Third Grade Battle books

2011-07-20T11:12:00.000-07:00

Attached is the 2011-2012 Third Grade Battle book list. Students are free to read these books as they wish. Some of the books we'll read together as a read aloud...the rest will be read independently at home or at school.

3rd Grade Battle Books

Happy Reading!!

Supply List

2011-07-17T14:05:00.000-07:00

Below is our Third Grade Supply List

1 box of pencils

2 composition notebooks

1 package of pencil top erasers

1 pair of student scissors (used is fine)

1 package of markers

6 gluesticks

1 box of 24 ct. crayons

4 folders with pockets (red, blue, green, yellow)

1 1" hardcover binder

1 vinyl zippered pencil pouch (with holes to fit in 3-ring binder)

1 set headphones:

(3.5 mm plug --used is fine --- in a baggie with child’s name on it)

1 roll of Scotch tape

1 back pack with no wheels

Meet the Teacher night

2011-07-17T13:21:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars - Monday, August 22nd is "Meet your Teacher" night from 4:30 - 6:30. Our room number is 331. Whether you are in Ms. Rossi's homeroom, or mine, I am so anxious to meet you. Please bring your school supplies this night. See you then!!

Mrs. Bukovan

Reading Workshop

2011-06-11T14:53:00.000-07:00

Reading Workshop

The Components
Reading Workshop typically includes: read aloud, shared reading, word study, guided reading or guided practice, independent reading, and conferences.

1. Instruction –
The teacher chooses a primary instructional focus for the day/week based on the curriculum map or data indicating student need. He or she may address that instructional focus in one or more of the following ways:

Read aloud – Teacher reads an unfamiliar text. Focus may be to build background knowledge, introduce different genres, model fluent reading and reading strategies, etc. May include limited interaction with teacher reading, and students invited to share brief comments.

Interactive Read aloud – Teacher reads aloud a picture book or short passage, usually a familiar text, to introduce or reinforce a strategy or skill. May look like modeling (think aloud) or include student participation. Student participation may be whole group or small group.

Word work/study – Includes spelling, vocabulary, word origins, grammar, and phonics instruction. May also appear in the context of Writing Workshop.

Shared reading – All students have access to the text. They might each have their own copy of the book or passage, or the text may be displayed on a chart or overhead. The text is read by a fluent reader while others follow along with a purpose set by the teacher. May also include choral reading.

Guided reading – Small group formed for a specific instructional purpose. May be a setting for extra support, reinforcement, or extension. Students usually read the same text, chosen by the teacher. The text is at the instructional level of each member of the group. This group meets only long enough to address the purpose set for forming the group.

2. Practice –

Independent Reading – Students read self-selected text with the expectation that they are applying the strategies and skills learned in number. Teacher confers with individual students to check for understanding and application, making notes for future lessons and conferences.

Literature Circles/Book clubs – Eventually an arena for students to apply and practice their reading and discussion skills. Implementation generally begins with more teacher support until students are able to sustain natural discussions independently.

Reading Workshop is a model used to deliver reading instruction. It allows for targeted, differentiated instruction, formal and informal assessment, and student responsibility and choice. During reading workshop, students might be working in groups or individually. They spend most of their time reading, but they might also be talking or writing about their text. Teachers use student data to plan for whole group instruction, minilessons, modeling, small group instruction and conferences with students.