Fun Friday

"Fun Friday" is a privilege they earn minutes towards all week. I do not make this an easy venture, as seen by the last few weeks where our Fun Friday time was under 10 minutes. This past week however we have been working harder and they earned more time. Also, the spelling tests were FANTASTIC- I can tell so many are really studying! They earned closer to 25 minutes for Fun Friday. During this time we have games that have been donated to the class, educational kid magazines, white boards to draw on, cards to play, and sheets to color. This is also the time that they can come and use the money ("Bond Bucks") they have been earning over the week, or saving, to buy small trinkets. We have made the break through with some of the students this week that when you have $25 and spend it on a notepad that costs $22, you get money back!! Here are some pictures I snapped of our Friday afternoon!

Money Math

Could not pull myself out much to take photos, but some groups were able to make up problems, count the money and change on their own. It helps when they can see and feel the actual money!

This was one of those mornings I suddenly looked around and everyone was working either independently or with a small group on their stories and journal responses. I had to take a moment to snap a few pictures and share!

Class Photo!

Hello again!
We have published our first newsletter out today and the hope is to make this a weekly update. The letter was supposed to go home Friday, but the day's end is still a little bit crazy :)
This blog is a place people can add on comments about the post or school in general.
This week we will be working more on money, place value, world geography with directions, sentence structure and journal writing! Miss Bond's class goes to Mrs. Tengei's room (other 3rd grade) each Tuesday for science while Mrs. Tengei's class comes in with me and works on Social Studies. On Fridays each class stays in their respective rooms for the other lesson. This way, we as teachers can focus on one lesson to teach both classes and our student's can work with another teacher.
Food for thought: While at the store, out to dinner, or looking at something dealing with money this is a good opportunity to ask your student to round the price (nearest dollar) and estimate the total price. This is a fairly new skill in the classroom but every real experience will help them!
Enjoy!

First Day of School!

It was so good to meet everyone in our classroom today! Procedures for assembly, lunch/ recess, and after school will get worked out soon- PLEASE BE PATIENT!

Our class is amazing and I cannot wait to see what we can accomplish this year. Only 19 students today, so we will see if we grow in the days and weeks to come or not! :)

Our phones were still not working as of about 5:30 tonight when I left school. If you have been trying to call, keep trying and know that there are people working on it. Also, my computer was set up tonight and I think I am able to receive e-mail now. My address is cbond@legacyschoolaz.com, if I do not reply- assume it is not going through for the next few days.

This next week in school will be sorting out more procedures, getting to know each other, and setting up a successful school year! Thank you for your cooperation and see all my students in the morning.

School Year Schedule

Legacy Elementary School 7464 E. Main Street, Mesa, AZ 85207 (480)981-1500

Legacy Elementary School
2009-2010 School Calendar

Fall Semester 2009

August 10 - First Day of classes

September 7 – Labor Day. No School

October 9 - End of first quarter (Early Release)
12-16 - October Break

November 11 - Veteran’s Day
26 & 27 – Thanksgiving. No School

December 18 – End of Semester (Early Release)
21 – January 4, 2010 – Winter Break

Spring Semester 2010

January 4 – First Day of 2nd semester classes
18 – MLK/Civil Rights Day. No School

February 15 – President’s Day. No School

March 9 – End of third quarter (Tuesday – Early Release)
10 – 19 – Spring Break

April 2 – Easter Break

May 28 – Last day of classes (Early Release)

Welcome Letter

School is starting soon! Our summer is winding down, the teachers are going back to school, getting our year planned and ready for you to come. The new building is getting closer to being finished and looking better everyday, I can't wait for us all to use it!
The welcome letter is getting sent home, but I am posting it here as well:
Hello and welcome, I hope you are as excited as I am to be at Legacy Elementary School for this next school year. I am Miss. Bond and will be one of the 3rd grade teachers for this 2009-2010 school year in the NEW school!
We have so many interesting subjects and fun projects planned; I am ready for the adventure to start! Our classroom will be focused on working together and diving in to many new topics such as; writing letters to pen pals, reading new stories, Ancient Rome, and the Zoo! I love being active and coached many sports while going to school- so I hope you are ready to stand up and move a little!
In our classroom everyone will be involved in helping each other learn. I am working on a blog for our classroom at http://bond3rdgrade.blogspot.com/, this is a work in progress. I want to have this available for students and families to keep in contact in other ways and to see pictures from our classroom.
I moved to Arizona this past year after growing up in Oregon. Although it is my first year as a full classroom teacher, I have been working towards this my whole life. My parents and grandparents are and were all elementary teachers and even taught in the same schools that I went to! From Oregon State University I received a bachelors of science in Human Development and Family Sciences. Then I moved and got my Masters in Education from the University of Oregon.
We are having a “Meet the Teacher” night August 6th 6-7:30pm. This is a time we can meet each other, answer some questions, see the new school and classroom, and bring your supplies if you would like.

See you in August! Sincerely,
Christa Bond

If you have any questions or comments, please call the school at 480-981-1500 or
e-mail me at cbond@legacyschoolaz.com
Please visit our class blog at: http://bond3rdgrade.blogspot.com/