5/14/26

 Burg's Buzz
nburg@crestonstmalachy.org
5/14/26

Science

The class will have a test over the topic of weather next week.

Math

The 3rd grade class is working on representing and reading data from graphs. Students have worked with picture graphs and bar graphs.

Next week, the class will take a school-wide survey. Students will collect the data and then record the information in different types of graphs.

Reading/Language Arts

There will be one more text that the students will be covering in our reading textbook.

The next spelling test that the students take will be an End of the Year test. This test will include one word from each of the spelling lists that your child was assessed on throughout the year. There will be daily assignments that review the words.

Biography Book Reports

The third graders did a wonderful job on their projects and presentations. I received many compliments about how well the students were able to answer questions and discuss their person and project from those who attended the Biography Bash.

The rubric used for grading has been included in the take home folder.

Important Dates

Wednesday, May 20th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Wednesday, May 20th-Spring Music Concert 6PM

Friday, May 22nd-Spirit Day $1

Monday, May 25th-NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day)

Friday, May 29th-3 Hour Early Dismissal (Last Day of School)

5/7/26

Burg's Buzz

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

5/7/26

Math

The class has been learning about quadrilaterals. Students have sorted the square, rectangle, rhombus, parallelogram, and trapezoid by their attributes.

Reading/Language Arts

Students are reading the informational text A Bumpy Ride by Sharon Katz Cooper. In this story, the reader follows a timeline and learns about the invention of the bicycle. Beginning in 1818, a bicycle without pedals was made. The bicycle went through many changes until 1885, when the framework was changed to the bikes of today. In 1889, the modern tire was born, and cycling became a national craze. It wasn't until the 1970s, though, that helmets were used as a form of protection for the head. The comprehension skills being covered include identifying the author's purpose and making and confirming predictions. The students also started working with singular and plural possessive nouns as the grammar skill. The decoding skill focused on the prefixes of re- and un- and the suffixes of -less and -ness. Students used the prefix of ex- as the vocabulary skill.

Science

The class is learning the difference between weather and climate in science.

Biography Bash

Please join the third grade class for their Biography Bash on Tuesday, May 12th. The event will be held in the gymnasium from 2:00-3:00 PM. Students' biography projects will be on display for viewing.

On the Trail of Iowa Corn Field Trip

This field trip is scheduled for Thursday, May 14th. We will leave STM at 9:00 AM. Drivers for the field trip include Stormy Catron, Jenny Purdum, JaLynne Schmaling, Sean Fox, and me. The class will start the day at the Neely-Kinyon Research Farm, then lunch in town at the Adair County Fair Grounds. The lunch consists of a ham and cheese sandwich, chips, apple slices, a rice krispy treat, and milk/water. Followed by more activities for the students. We will head back to Creston around 2:00 PM. Most of the day is spent outside, so tennis shoes need to be worn. Due to this being a short drive, no cell phones or tablets are needed. Please complete the permission slip that has been included in the take-home folder, and return it back to school.

Important Dates

Friday, May 8th-Spirit Day $1

Tuesday, May 12th-Biography Bash 2:00-3:00 PM

Wednesday, May 13th-1 Hour Dismissal

Thursday, May 14th-On the Trail of Iowa Corn Field Trip

Wednesday, May 20th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Wednesday, May 20th-Spring Music Concert 6 PM

Friday, May 22nd-Spirit Day $1

Monday, May 25th-NO SCHOOL

 

4/30/26

 Burg's Buzz

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

4/30/26

Chaperones Still Needed

Parent chaperones are still needed for the field trip to Greenfield on Thursday, May 14th. At this time, there is enough transportation for twelve students. Using grandparents can also be an option if necessary. All paperwork just needs to be completed before the field trip. If I am not able to get enough transportation for all twenty-two students, the class will not be able to attend this event. I am appreciative of any chaperones who volunteer.

FAST Testing

I will test students' reading fluency on Friday, May 1st. Mrs. Brown will be subbing in the classroom while I am testing in a different room.

Cross Picture

The student body cross picture will be taken on Friday, May 1st. There is no specific dress code for the picture this year. Students may wear what they want.

Biography Book Report Projects

We are down to ONE week before biography book reports are due. I have had several students ask if they could bring their projects to school early since they are finished with them. My response is to please keep them at home until Thursday, May 7th. There is not enough storage space, and I do not want anything to happen to a student's project that they have worked so hard on.

Please have your child practice their presentation at home. Students should be able to pronounce all of the words in a clear speaking voice that the audience can hear. Students should also be able to make some eye contact with the audience. They can read the information from the report form.

Math

The class continues to work on time. In addition to telling time to the nearest minute, students have also been calculating elapsed time and solving word problems that involve time.

Reading/Language Arts

Module 8 will focus on inventors and inventions. The essential question asks, "What does it take to make a successful invention?" 

This week's story is a biography by Gene Barretta entitled Timeless Thomas. Students learn about a variety of inventions by Thomas Edison. The author compares present day inventions that were developed from Thomas Edison's inventions. The comprehension skills focused on text/graphic features, making inferences, text structure, and the central idea. Students worked on words that ended with -ed and -ing as the decoding skill. The vocabulary skill focused on the Greek word root graph and the suffix -logy. The grammar skill reviewed adjectives and adverbs that compare.

The results of Module 7 assessments have been included in the take home folder. These are yours to keep.

Science

The class has been learning about severe weather. Students have learned about solutions that can help reduce risks during severe weather.

Important Dates

Friday, May 1st-FAST Fluency Testing (Sub in the Classroom)

Friday, May 1st-Student Body Cross Picture

Wednesday, May 6th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Thursday, May 7th-Biography Book Report Projects Due

Friday 8th-Spirit Day $1

Tuesday, May 12th-Biography Bash 2:00-3:00 PM in the gym

Wednesday, May 13th-1 Hour Dismissal

Thursday, May 14th-On The Trail of Iowa Corn Field Trip

4/23/26

 Burg's Buzz

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

4/23/26

Math

The 3rd grade class is learning about time. Students have identified the time to the nearest minute.

Reading/Language Arts

The Storyteller's Candle is a historical fiction story about a Puerto Rican family that moved to New York City during the time of the Great Depression. As Christmas is approaching, the cousins Hildamar and Santiago are missing their sunny home and their traditions, especially celebrating Three Kings' Day. They meet a librarian named Pura Belpre, who changes everything. Students worked on the comprehension skills of literary elements (identifying characters, setting, and plot), figurative language, and text and graphic features. The grammar skill covered adverbs that compare by adding -er, -est, more, or most. The class also focused on compound words as the vocabulary skill. The decoding skill was words with /oo/, such as mood and wood.

Glow-A-Thon

Glow-A-Thon is a PTO fundraiser that will take place on Monday, April 27th. Since the gym will be set up for Glow-A-Thon, we will not be able to eat in the gym. Students need to bring a sack lunch. Students are asked to wear neon clothing and tennis shoes. Also, please return the donation forms and money back to school.

Biography Book Report Projects

We are down to two weeks until the biography book reports are due. The due date is Thursday, May 7th. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Important Dates

Friday, April 24th-Spirit Day $1

Monday, April 27th-Glow-A-Thon (Bring a Sack Lunch)

Wednesday, April 29th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Friday, May 1st-Fluency FAST Testing (Substitute Teacher)

Wednesday, May 6th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Thursday, May 7th-Biography Book Reports Due

4/16/26

Burg's Buzz
nburg@crestonstmalachy.org
4/16/26 

Reading/Language Arts

The class is reading One Plastic Bag by Miranda Paul. In this biography, the students follow Isatou Ceesay from a young woman to a mother herself as she realizes the need to clean up all the plastic bags that have created a trash problem in her village. She comes up with an idea to turn the plastic bags into purses by cutting the bags into strips and crocheting them together. Eventually, the purses get sold, and this helps with the trash problem. One of the comprehension skills covered was text structure, specifically cause and effect. Another comprehension skill covered is point of view. The students were introduced to adverbs as the grammar skill. The vocabulary skill focused on the suffixes of -ness and -able. The decoding skill went over irregular plurals.

Science

The class continues to study the weather. Last week, Doug Welch, grandfather of kindergarten student Connor Smith, talked to the third, fourth, and fifth grade students about weather balloons. Students have been learning about typical weather conditions to identify patterns and make predictions.

Math

The next topic the third grade class will be covering is figuring time to the nearest minute. The class will also continue to review addition and subtraction using the algorithm.

Mass

The 3rd grade class will lead the liturgy on Wednesday, April 22nd. Mass parts have been included in the take home folder. Please practice speaking parts at home. Mass begins at 9:15 AM. Parents are more than welcome to attend.

Biography Book Reports

Biography book reports are due on Thursday, May 7th. Please let me know if you need any necessary supplies from me. I can provide the pizza box, poster board, construction paper, or the directions to the foldable person. 

Important Dates

Wednesday, April 22nd-3rd Grade Leads Mass

Wednesday, April 22nd-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Friday, April 24th-Spirit Day $1

Monday, April 27th-Glow-A-Thon

Wednesday, April 29th-1 Hour Early Dismissal 

4/9/26

 Burg's Buzz

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

4/9/26

ISASP Testing

ISASP testing will be finished after today. I appreciate the students taking their time on these standardized tests. The school will notify you when the results are in. A big thanks to the PTO for supplying snacks for the students. 

Reading/Language Arts

Since there was no testing this past Wednesday, the third grade students completed a spelling pretest. The class will resume in our reading series on Friday, April 10th.

Math

The class is reviewing for an assessment on estimation by rounding and strategies used for addition and subtraction.

Biography Book Report Projects

Biography book reports were assigned to third-grade students this week. Students were excited to pick out their books on Wednesday. A packet has been included in the take home folder. This packet includes two report forms. I send two home in case of mistakes. Students should write on the report form in pencil using legible handwriting with proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Only one form needs to be returned to school. Also, in the packet are the project options. I have poster boards, pizza boxes, construction paper, and directions for the foldable person. Please have your child let me know when any of those supplies are needed. The rubric that I will use for grading has also been included in the packet.

Projects are due back to school on Thursday, May 7th. I know spring schedules are busy. I talked with the students about not waiting until the night before the project is due to start working on it. Students will present to their classmates on May 7th and 8th.

Parents, grandparents, and other family and friends are invited to the "Biography Bash" on Tuesday, May 12th, from 2-3 PM to view all the projects.

Important Dates

Friday, April 10th-Spirit Day $1

Monday, April 13th-NO SCHOOL (Teacher Professional Development)

Wednesday, April 15th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Wednesday, April 22nd-3rd Grade Leads Mass

Wednesday, April 22nd-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Friday, April 24th-Spirit Day $1

Monday, April 27th-Glow-A-Thon

4/2/26

 Burg's Buzz
nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

4/2/26

Happy Easter to all St. Malachy 3rd Grade Families from Mrs. Burg.

ISASP Testing

This week has been spent completing the practice ISASP tests to prepare the 3rd grade students for the actual testing.

Students will need to make sure they have a book available to read when they finish testing. 

A note card with an envelope was sent home in last week's take home folder. The note card was for parents to write a positive and encouraging note to their child. Notes will be given out to students before testing begins on Monday, April 6th.

Science

The 3rd grade class continues to learn about weather. The students have learned about predicting different types of weather.

Math

Students worked on estimating differences to the nearest ten and hundred, then solved the actual problem. A review of concepts for ISASP testing was also covered.

Peep Adoption

Each third grade student has adopted a Peep to care for over the Easter weekend. Each student filled out a certificate of adoption. Students are asked to complete one journal entry per day, which includes Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Each journal entry should be at least three sentences. Each sentence should start with an uppercase letter and end with punctuation. Students should also include an illustration to go along with the journal entry.  The journal needs to be completed and returned to school on Monday.

Needed

The 3rd grade classroom needs more boxes of Kleenex. Any donation for the classroom is greatly appreciated.

Important Dates

Friday, April 3rd-NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, April 8th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Friday, April 10th-Spirit Day $1

Monday, April 13th-NO SCHOOL (Teacher Professional Development)

Wednesday, April 15th-1 Hour Early Dismissal