8/28/25

 Burg's Buzz

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

8/28/25

Welcome to 3rd Grade

It has been a GREAT first week of school in third grade! The students are learning the daily routines. I will post a blog each Thursday morning. I also make announcements and post pictures on my school Facebook page (Burg's Buzz at St. Malachy School). This is a private page that only parents/grandparents of students in third, fourth, and fifth grade are a part of. 

Social Contract

This week, the third, fourth, and fifth grade students created a social contract. The guidelines that were established are expected to be followed throughout the school day. This includes when students are in the classroom, at specials, and at recess. A copy of the social contract will be sent home next week in the take-home folder. Please place this in a location where your child can read it regularly as a reminder.

Math

The first topic that the third-grade class will cover is multiplication. This week, students have worked on relating multiplication to repeated addition.

Reading/Language Arts

Module 1 focuses on characters. The stories within the module will focus on the traits of characters. The first story that the class will be reading is Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match by Monica Brown. This realistic fiction story is about a lively girl who explores how individuality makes us different.

The class also started spelling this week. An email explaining how spelling works in 3rd grade was sent out yesterday. A hard copy of the note is being sent home in the take home folder.

Dress Code

Here are some reminders about the school's dress code. Students in third grade must wear shoes that stay securely fastened to their feet. This means shoes must have a back on them. The other expectation is that when a student wears leggings, the bottom of the shirt, skirt, or dress must extend to the mid-thigh. I have had discussions with the students about the dress code.

Classroom Fridge

A note was sent home with parents at Meet the Teacher about the "fridge" in our classroom. Students are asked to bring in a fridge worthy picture of themselves to put up. Below is a photograph of what the fridge looks like now. There is still plenty of room for photographs from students who have not brought one in. 

Important Dates

Monday, September 1st-NO SCHOOL (Labor Day)

Wednesday, September 3rd-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Wednesday, September 10th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Thursday, September 11th-Picture Day

5/29/25

 Burg's Buzz
nburg@crestonstmalachy.org 
5/29/25

Math

The third grade class finished the year doing a review of math concepts.

Reading/Language Arts

The class finished reading Poppy by Avi this week.  It is an enchanting story that uses the themes of bravery, friendship, and the triumph of good over evil. There are other books in this series as well for students to read.

School Year

It's hard to believe that the 2024-2025 school year is complete. My heart is full of gratitude and joy as I reflect on the learning and growth that the students and I have experienced together. Each third grade student has grown academically, socially, and spiritually. I have enjoyed getting to know each student through the school year. I hope your child has learned to take chances, know that it is ok to make mistakes, and not give up when things get hard. Thank you, parents, for your unwavering support that you have provided to me as your child's third grade teacher. Throughout the summer, I hope you can build upon the wonderful progress that your child has made throughout third grade.

I hope that all families have a wonderful summer. I will be keeping each third grade family in my prayers. May your summer be filled with God's abundant blessings.

Last Day of School Schedule

9:00 Field Day Activities

10:45-Silly String by PTO

11:00-Lunch Served by PTO

12:00-8th Grade Clap Out

12:10-Dismissal

Important Dates

June 23rd-27th-Vacation Bible School at STM

VBS Registration

  

5/22/25

 Burg's Buzz
nburg@crestonstmalachy.org
5/22/25

Math

This week, the students have been working on subtraction. Students solved problems by using the partial differences strategy using a number line. The class also used the regrouping strategy.

If your child has not passed all of their basic facts on XtraMath, please continue to have them practice at home this summer. I have sent information to students who are not enrolled online in the take home folder.

Reading/Language Arts

The class continues to read the novel Poppy. We are about halfway through the book. The students are really enjoying it.

FAST Testing

The results for the spring FAST screening have been included in your child's take home folder. Every student made growth throughout the school year. Please continue to have your child work on their reading and math fluency during the summer. Five to ten minutes a day will help keep students on track.

Bringing Home Supplies

Students will bring home the supplies in their desks on Thursday, May 29th. Please make sure your child comes to school with an empty book bag. I have talked with the third graders about taking things home in their lockers ahead of time. I plan on sending home your child's writing portfolio with them this Thursday.

Last Day of School

Field day will take place on Friday, May 30th, beginning at 9:00 AM. Students should wear tennis shoes for running around outside. Lunch will also be served by the PTO, grilling hamburgers. School dismisses at 12:10 PM.

Important Dates

Monday, May 26th-Memorial Day (NO SCHOOL)

Thursday, May 29th-Take Home Supplies

Friday, May 30th-Field Day 9:00 AM

Friday, May 30th-12:10 PM Dismissal

5/15/25

Burg's Buzz

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

5/15/25

Reading/Language Arts

The third-grade class is reading the book Poppy by Avi. The story follows Poppy, a deer mouse, navigating life in Dimwood Forest. Poppy has to deal with a fierce owl, Mr. Ocax, and she faces challenges. Throughout the story, the class will work on vocabulary and comprehension skills that we covered throughout the year.

The results of Module 8 have been included in the take home folder.

Science

This week has been spent learning all about corn for the upcoming field trip. Students have learned about the process of planting and harvesting corn. They have also learned about the many uses of corn.

Math

The third grade class is working on addition with regrouping. Students started by solving addition problems by finding partial sums. This involves the students adding the sums using place value (hundreds, tens, ones). From using that strategy, students then moved on to using the standard algorithm.

Important Dates

Friday, May 16th-Spirit Day $1

Wednesday, May 21st-Spring Music Concert 6 PM

Monday, May 26th-Memorial Day (NO SCHOOL)

Friday, May 30th-Field Day 9 AM

The last day of school is Friday, May 30th. 

School will dismiss at 12:10 PM.

 

5/8/25

 Burg's Buzz

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

5/8/25

Math

The remainder of the school year will be spent on covering adding and subtracting regrouping.

Science

The students were given the challenge to design and build a shelter. Students were given specific criteria for success such as could the shelter stand on its own and did the shelter stay dry on the inside when water was dripped on it. Students also had constraints to deal with such as a budget of $10 to buy supplies and only class time to build the shelter. The shelters will be tested Thursday during science class.

Reading/Language Arts

This week, the class read Edison's Best Invention. In this opinion essay, the author claims that Edision's best invention is the light bulb. The author's text includes evidence to support to his claim.  The comprehension skills covered included summarizing, ideas and support, and text and graphic features Students also worked on plurals as the decoding skill. The vocabulary skill focused on the Latin roots of vis, mem, and cent. The students were introduced to complex sentences as the grammar skill.

This was the last week for the class to use the reading textbook. Students will bring home their reading book. The stories can be read over summer break.

There will be one more spelling test next week. It is an end of the year test. It will include one word from each of the twenty-four lists.

Biography Book Report Projects/Presentations

Overall, the students did a wonderful job on their biography projects, presenting to the class, and showing off their projects during the Biography Bash. A completed rubric is coming home in the take home folder for each student.

On the Trail of Iowa Corn Field Trip

On Thursday, May 15th, the third grade class will be attending the "On the Trail of Iowa Corn" event in Greenfield. Heath Mitchell, Lee Madison, and I will be driving/chaperoning the trip. We will the school at 8:45 AM and return back to school around 2:30 PM. Students need to wear tennis shoes for this field trip. Please, no open-toed shoes. Lunch is provided as well. Please complete the permission slip for your child, and have him/her return it back to school.

Mrs. Levine's Retirement

 

After 47 years of teaching first grade at St. Malachy School, Mrs. Levine is retiring from teaching after this school year. Please feel free to pass along this message to anyone you might know who had Mrs. Levine as a teacher. We are trying to reach as many of her former students as possible. Besides working with Ann for the past nineteen years at STM, my own children also had the privilege of being taught by her.

Important Dates

Thursday, May 8th-Glow-A-Thon

Friday, May 9th-Mrs. Burg Absent From School

Thursday, May 15th-On the Trail of Iowa Corn Field Trip

Friday, May 16th-Spirit Day $1

Wednesday, May 21st-Spring Music Concert

Monday, May 26th-Memorial Day (No School)

Friday, May 30th-Field Day 9AM

Friday, May 30th-3 Hour Early Dismissal

5/1/25

 Burg's Buzz

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

5/1/25

Reading/Language Arts

This week the third grade class is reading The Bumpy Ride by Sharon Katz Cooper. In this informational text, students learn the history of the bicycle starting in 18 . The comprehension skills reviewed included making and confirming predictions and author's purpose. Students worked with the prefixes re- and un- and the suffixes -less and -ness as the decoding skill. The vocabulary skill covered the prefix of ex-. The class was introduced to possessive nouns and pronouns.

Students will be presenting their biography projects during language arts time on Friday.

Science

Now that students have learned about engineers and the design process, the plan is to put the skills into action. The students will be presented with the following problem. Students will be challenged to build a shelter from given supplies such as toilet paper tubes, paper plates, straws, aluminum foil, craft sticks, wax paper, and tape. Each supply will cost an amount. Students will be given a budget of $10 to purchase their supplies. Their shelter will be successful if it can stand on its own, keep dry on the inside, and stay on budget.

Math

Students have been working on estimating sums and differences. The class has also been working on addition and subtraction word problems.

Biography Projects

The time has finally arrived. The biography projects are due tomorrow, Friday, May 2nd. Upon arriving at school on Friday, students should bring their project to the classroom.

The Biography Bash will be held on Tuesday, May 6th, beginning at 2 PM in the gym. Parents, grandparents, and other family members are welcome to come and view the projects.

FAST Testing

I will be testing students' reading fluency for the spring screening of FAST during the afternoon of Wednesday, May 7th.

On the Trail of Iowa Corn Field Trip

The third grade class has been invited to the "On the Trail of Iowa Corn" event taking place on Thursday, May 15th. This event is sponsored by several Adair County organizations. It takes place at the Neely-Kinyon Research Farm, which is south of Greenfield, and at the Adair County Fairgrounds. It is a day of learning about corn and all its uses. Every year that I have attended, I have learned something new. Also, lunch is provided.

For this trip, we will be using parent as drivers/chaperones. I will be one of the drivers. I have had one dad volunteer to drive. I need one more parent who can drive for this field trip. The car being driven needs to be able to hold at least five children in the backseat. Also, anyone driving has to complete the required online training required by the Diocese before the field trip. Please let me know if you would be willing to volunteer.

Important Dates

Friday, May 2nd-Spirit Day $1

Friday, May 2nd-Biography Projects Due

Tuesday, May 6th-Biography Bash 2 PM in Gym

Wednesday, May 7th-Fluency FAST Testing

Thursday, May 8th-Glow-A-Thon

Thursday, May 15th-On the Trail of Iowa Corn Field Trip

5/24/25

 Burg's Buzz
nburg@crestonstmalachy.org
4/24/25

Science

The class has started discussing the difference between wants and needs.

Math

Students continue to work on using mental math strategies to solve addition and subtraction problems. Students are also working on rounding to the nearest 10 and 100.

Reading/Language Arts

Module 8 focuses on inventors and their inventions. This week, the class read Timeless Thomas-How Thomas Edison Changed Our Lives by Gene Barretta. In the biography. The comprehension skill covered making inferences, text/graphic features, the central idea, and text structure. Students also worked with prefixes and suffixes as the decoding skills. The grammar skill reviewed adjectives and adverbs when comparing. The class learned about the Greek root graph and the suffix 

-logy.

In the take home folder are the results of Module 7 assessments.

Clean Up Day

Clean up day is scheduled at St. Malachy for Friday, April 25th. Students should wear clothing that can get dirty. Third grade students are asked to bring a rake and work gloves to school. Also, a $1 donation is asked from each student to purchase flowers for the school steps.

 

Biography Book Report Projects

The students are down to one week left to finish their biography projects and have their presentations prepared for the class. Projects are due on Friday, May 2nd.

Important Dates

Friday, April 25th-Clean Up Day (Bring a Rake)

Friday, May 2nd-Spirit Day $1

Friday, May 2nd-Biography Projects Due

Tuesday, May 6th-Biography Bash 2 PM

Wednesday, May 7th-FAST Fluency Testing (Substitute in Room)

Thursday, May 8th-Glow-A-Thon