Third Grade News, August 19, 2011

What we’re learning in class

Bible: Our new Bible series focuses on building our lives on the rock of Christ.  Our first concept will be that God is truth.  Memory Verse quiz on Friday over Isaiah 45:19.

Spelling: Our first spelling pretest is Monday, August 22.  Our first test will be Wednesday.  Please complete the spelling activities assigned on Friday, August 19 by Wednesday, August 24.

Math: We are still largely reviewing 2^nd grade material.  We will have a quiz over addition with carrying, telling time, and subtraction on Friday.

History: We begin our study of history with Christopher Columbus.  As we read and review, we will be ready to take our first quiz on Wednesday.

Language: Sentences help give order to what we are saying and reading.  We will take a quiz over identifying whether groups of words are sentences on Tuesday.

A Note From Mrs. Cooper

The first week of school has gone remarkably well!  The students seem eager and excited to participate and learn.  I hope that I am doing my part to make it as interesting and fun as I can.

Our school’s theme verse for the year comes from Romans 12:2 which tells us to renew our minds by conforming ourselves to Christ.  As we start our new school year, I am encouraging each of us, as adults, to give the students the chance to “renew their minds.”  Although we can certainly serve them best by taking care of their individual needs, we also need to remind ourselves that needs change.  The student that couldn’t sit still last year, maybe can now.  The student that didn’t like to read over the summer might be a star reader.  So I encourage to cast the old away while still loving and encouraging your child, and allow your child to emerge anew, beginning this new year fresh and excited.

Another new year

Dear Third Graders,

I am so excited for a new year.  As I am taking some break for the summer, I am also already thinking about you and praying for you.  I hope that you guys are out there going swimming, playing outside, visiting family, going on vacation, playing baseball, eating popsicles, and doing all those other wonderful things we get to do during the summer!

My husband and I just finished painting Natalie’s playroom and put all her toys in it this morning.  It’s nice to get all those toys out of our living room!  But it made me think of our upcoming third grade class.

Every year at the end of the year, Mrs. Cooper cleans out the classroom from the year before.  I throw away all my old papers and used up markers and broken pencils.  I wipe out the desks, vacuum the floor, clean the windows, pack up my books, and get ready for the next year.  In the eagerness of preparing for the next year, I often forget about the year that has just been.  Just like I’m so excited about moving Natalie’s toys out of the living room and into her playroom, I get excited about cleaning up last year, and getting ready for this year. Do you ever feel like sometimes we do that to Jesus?  I know I do.  Sometimes I get so excited about what I want Jesus to do next, that I forget about what He’s already done! Just like you, I ask Jesus to help me with things that are coming, or things that scare me.  I ask Jesus to take care of my family, or keep us safe during our vacation.  But I get so wrapped up in what I want Jesus to do, that I forget about all the wonderful blessings that he’s already given me!  I forget that He died for me, so that my sin-wrecked life could be new again.  I forget that He blessed me with a house to live in.  I forget that He blessed me with food to eat and clothes to wear.  So, third graders, as you’re out there doing what you do during the summer and getting excited about third grade in the fall (and I hope you are) my encouragement to you is this: don’t forget what Jesus has already done for you and praise Him and give Him glory for all of it.

*Mrs. Cooper*

Happy Summer

I hope that everyone is enjoying the summer! I personally don’t like hot weather, so I’m very glad that it wasn’t as hot this year as it was last year!

One of the things I really like doing over the summer is reading. The other is cooking. I just caught up on some reading from when I was a little girl (I would say about … fourth or fifth grade) and finished Anne of Green Gables and Little Women. Again. For probably the tenth time. My favorite books are always the ones from when I was little – they make me feel happy and are comfortable to read. I also love the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. What did you read this summer? Leave a comment and tell me!

The other thing I love doing is cooking. This summer, Mr. Cooper, my husband, and I, decided to try and eat healthier and one of the things we really liked to eat was black bean tacos. I would make the filling and the tortillas myself. These tortillas are really easy to make and only have three ingredients. Ask your mom and dad if maybe your family can do a fun family taco night using Mrs. Cooper’s tortilla recipe (which I actually learned from someone else). Remember, DO NOT touch the stove, knives, or anything else in the kitchen unless you have mom or dad’s permission! Stuff in there can be dangerous.

Teacher’s note: You can practice your fractions, multiplication, and division with this recipe.  If you have a big family, consider doubling it!  If you have a smaller family, cut this recipe in half!  Math is fun!

Black Bean Tacos with Fresh Flour Tortillas

Black Bean filling
1 can of black beans, rinsed and drained (be sure to get all the starchy liquid off)
1 tomato, diced
2 Tbsp. Cilantro
1/2 onion, chopped
2 Tbsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. red cayenne pepper
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
juice of 1/2 lime
2 cups of Monterey Jack cheese grated or shredded

Mix together the black beans, tomatoes, onions, cumin, salt and pepper. Squeeze the lime juice in, and give it a good stir. Put it aside while you make the tortillas so that the flavors can blend together. After the tortillas are done, add in the cilantro.

Fresh Tortillas:

For tortillas:

3 cups all-purpose flour (plus extra for flouring the board)
1/3 cup vegetable oil, with extra for coating
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
3/4 to 1 cup warm (not hot) water

Mix flour and salt in a bowl. Add vegetable oil and mix lightly, then add warm water gradually, kneading until you have a soft dough.

Divide the dough into 12 equal balls, coat them lightly in vegetable oil, then cover with a dish towel and let the dough rest for 15 minutes.

On a floured surface, roll each ball into the familiar tortilla size and shape. Stack them out of the way, separating layers with wax paper or plastic wrap.

Preheat an ungreased griddle (I used a cast iron pan). Throw a tortilla on and cook until it begins to puff and the bottom is brown in a few spots.

Flip the tortilla and press down on the top, squeezing out air pockets. After about a minute, remove the tortilla and keep warm in the oven or wrap them in a cloth. Spoon in the black bean filling, top with the Jack cheese, sour cream (if desired) and your favorite salsa.

many thanks to Dinner With Kirsten, a food blog by my friend Kirsten, for the tortilla recipe

Until next time, happy summer!

*Mrs. Cooper*