Week of August 29th

What a whirlwind of a week! Our first two days together were packed FULL! I already love this group. They are a good-natured, fun, intelligent bunch. We will continue to work on talking during appropriate times.

Thank you for returning the initial paperwork so quickly. I was seriously impressed! I am so sorry that I forgot to send the Annual Student Update sheet. It is in your child's backpack tonight, so make any changes/sign, and then return on Monday. Thanks so much!

This week in reading we will start our new Wonders Reading Series. The initial week focuses on building procedures and modeling what our reading group time will look like. I am anxious to dive-in and learn right along with the kiddos!

In math, we will begin Chapter 1 in our Go Math series. Chapter 1 will review number patterns, rounding to the nearest 10 and 100, estimating sums, and several mental math strategies. I love, love, love math (it is my favorite subject), so I am excited to see what knowledge the students are entering third grade with. We will learn A LOT of new concepts this year, which is exciting. Third graders always make a ton of growth in math!

In science we will begin our first PLTW (Project Lead the Way) module, which will focus on Forces of Flight. This is always a hit with most students, as we will get to build and test gliders. Also, later in the year we take a trip to the Rocky Mountain College flight school up at the airport, which is really fun.

In social studies we will begin by learning about basic geography concept: continents, hemispheres, the Equator, and Prime Meridian.

Our specialist times are as follows:
PE with Mr. Pertuit on Mondays (please make sure to wear tennis shoes on Mondays)
Music with Ms. Waddell on Wednesdays
Library with Mr. Casey on Fridays (return library books or renew them on Fridays)

Thank you for sharing your children with me this year. They already have stolen a piece of my heart and I look forward to a wonderful year together!

Please make sure to mark your calendar: Open House is on September 8th from 6:00-7:00. I hope to see everyone there!

Have a great weekend! See you Monday!

Code Word = Wonders

Brown Bag Activity

Summer Snapshots

Here are some pictures of me and my family this summer! (Well, they are mostly pictures of Bennett! lol!)

If YOU send me a picture of you and your family during your summer adventures, I will add it to the blog and you will earn $100 in classroom money! My email is: petersonw@billingsschools.org  :)

Here is Mya with her brother and cousins!

Mya's baby cousin, Miles, looks pretty cuddly!

Eden and her family got to the Green Bay Packers Family Night while visiting Michigan!

Here is a picture of Easton and his family riding a Jammer in Glacier! Fun!

Here is Evan and his brothers in Yellowstone National Park!

Here is Amy and her family in Iceland (I am soooo jealous - I have always wanted travel there!)

Sam and his family in Denver at a Broncos game! (Same already has a special place in my heart, because his aunt was my BEST friend growing up... Small world, huh?!)

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to a new school year!!! My name is Whitney Peterson and I will be your child's third grade teacher this year.  I look forward to a year of learning and growing together with lots of fun and laughter along the way.  This blog will serve as a way to stay connected to what's happening in our room! I am anxious to meet every one soon!

To tell you a little bit about myself: I was born and raised in Billings. I have always known I wanted to be a teacher: my great-grandma and mother were both teachers who I idolized. I graduated from Skyview High School and then spent several years at the University of Montana, before returning to Billings to complete my student teaching and gaining my reading minor. This is my 10th year teaching and my 9th year at Arrowhead (I have taught kindergarten, third, fourth, and fifth grade). My husband, Nick, is an electrician and we adore our son, Bennett (who will be turning three in October)! I guarantee you will hear A LOT about Bennett throughout the course of the year, because I am pretty obsessed AND he is hilarious! Some of my favorite things: laughing, sushi, live music/concerts, Target, traveling, camping, periwinkle, Lularoe leggings, Shark Tank, reading, and white chocolate lattes, and everything relating to my students and son!

This blog, as well as planners, are my main source of communication. Plus, checking the blog once a week will earn your child a $100 bonus (we will be using a money management system). I am in my classroom each morning by 7:45 if you need to get a hold of me by phone. I do not answer my phone during instruction time but I check my voice mails right away in the morning, at lunch and after school. The easiest way to get a hold of me during the school day is via email, as it doesn't disrupt student learning. I make sure to check my email periodically throughout the day, but if it's an emergency, contact the office! 

Upcoming Events:

*August 24th- Meet the Teacher!

        Bring your supplies between 2 and 3! 

*August 25th- First day of school! 

          **School starts at 8:15 and is dismissed at 2:15**

*Sept 5th- NO SCHOOL!

*Sept 8th-Open House from 6-7-This is a time for teachers to share information with the parents so please try to make other arrangements for your child/children.

*Sept. 16th- Picture Day!

*Sept. 16th- Ice Cream Social at Arrowhead from 5:30-7:30

*Sept 22nd-Early Out NOON DISMISSAL- When the kiddos are dismissed at noon they will not have lunch that day. Please be sure to send a large snack that day!

*Sept. 24th- Saturday Live at Pioneer Park-Hope to see you all there