Out of the Classroom

I will be out of the classroom this Friday 11/30, and Monday 12/3 for a professional development opportunity on Responsive Classroom training.  After tonight, I will get back to you with any e-mails or questions on Tuesday - thanks!

Weekly Reading Quiz

Continuing with the routine we've been following, each Friday students will have a weekly quiz or "assessment check" on learning goals of the week in reading.  This week the quiz will focus specially on chapters 1-15 of James and the Giant Peach.  Students will also be assessed on the seven weekly vocabulary words.  

Math Next Week

For math next week ...

• Tuesday - Study guide will be passed out
• Thursday - Review game in class
• Friday - Unit 4 test

A Sneak Peek at Our Week

• Writing:  Students will learn the "key word strategy" to write nonfiction summaries.  After focusing on the "5 W's" of a text, they will choose key words from their responses to help them construct a brief summary.  They will begin learning strategies for fictional text later this week.  

• Math:  Work on Unit 4: Decimals will continue this week.  Lessons will focus on the following: 
• 4.4: Explain why decimals are useful and estimate the sums and differences of different decimals
• 4.5: Extend methods of whole-number addition and subtraction to decimals
• 4.6: Adding and subtracting decimals to compute balances in a savings account
• 4.7: Extend basic computation to the thousandths
• 4.8: Review relationships between metric units of length
• *** A test will be Wednesday or Thursday of next week!

• Interactive Read-Aloud:  When reading There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom this week, students will focus their thinking and discussions around character motivation.  After identifying things the main characters say and do, they will look deeper at the motivation behind their choices.  

• Reading: The third grade will be reading James and the Giant Peach for a shared Character Study Unit.  This week, students will focus on learning about characters "deep down" by analyzing their appearance, the things they say, what others say about them, their actions, and their thoughts, and then conclude what this reveals about them.  

• Social Studies:  Unit 2 focuses on How Chicago Came to Be.  A brief unit description can be found on the third grade website: Unit 2: How Chicago Came To Be.  For the final project, students will create an Alphabet Book demonstrating their understanding of the guiding questions and key concepts of the unit.  

Homework

1.  Reading Response Logs:  Today students started a Character Study, using the shared text James and the Giant Peach.  For the next few weeks, their reading responses will reflect learning goals of the unit.  They correlate with the different mini-lessons that will be taught during the week.  Your child was provided with a list of different response questions/prompts.  Students were asked to choose a different response each night.  They can choose whichever prompt they like, and are not required to go in a particular order.  

2.  Vocabulary:  On Monday of each week, students will be introduced to 7 higher-level vocabulary terms that will be found in the text during the week.  They each were given a vocabulary "word map" packet to gain a deeper understanding of the terms.  These packets will be due on Thursday.  Each Friday, students will be assessed on the terms which gives them Thursday night to study and review the terms.  Here is a "suggested" schedule for your child to complete the packet:

• Monday: synonyms and antonyms, 1-3 per box (box #'s 4 and 5)
• Tuesday: other forms of the word, and an association, example, or sketch (box #'s 6 and 7)
• Wedesday: my very own sentence (box #8)

* Students will complete box #'s 1-3 in class

What's Happening in the News

Each quarter, your child will be a completing a What's Happening in the News assignment.  Students will select a current events news article and then read to discover the "Who, What, Where, When, and Why" of the news.  They will then use key words to provide a brief summary of the article.  After completing the assignment your child will present the information to the class on Thursday during the "share" portion of our classroom meeting.  There will be 4-5 presenters each week.  When presenting, students will need to summarize the news, and also share what the possible effects from the event may be. Students will not only practice their researching and public speaking skills, but will also discover that importance of staying up-to-date on current events.  For more information and resources, click on the following link: What's Happening in the News

This Thursday, the following students will be presenting: Ellie, Veronica, Charlotte, Naomi-Erin

Testable Questions

During class this morning, I shared students' testable questions that have already been approved to help others generate ideas.  I also shared a website with them that they found particularly helpful.  *Please note, these are just example questions - I told the students they could change the variables of the question to make it fit their interests/needs: http://www.sciencebob.com/sciencefair/ideas.php (this website can also be found on the third grade website!)

Quarter 2 Project

Just a reminder that Steps 1 & 2 will be due Monday, November 26th for approval.  In class over the last week we have focused on creating testable questions and hypotheses, and identifying different variables in a science investigation.  Click on the following link for more information about the project or these three components: Science Fair Project: Testable Questions, Hypotheses, & Variables

A Sneak Peek At Our Week ...

• Writing:  For the next few weeks, students will focus on summarizing expository and narrative texts.  This week, students will learn to use the Main Idea & Detail strategy to summarize texts.  

• Math:  Today students completed a math activity that integrated the arts.  Students studied a few of Ellsworth Kelly's art pieces.  They discovered how he used a grid system as the foundation of his work.  Students replicated this, and created abstract or patterned designs on a square grid of 100 (representing one whole).  Then, they counted the different colors they used, and determined the fraction, decimal, and percentage representations of those colors.  For the remainder of the week students will focus on comparing decimal values and adding and subtracting decimals up to the hundredths.  

• Interactive Read-Aloud:  We are continuing to read There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom by Louis Sachar.  Students have enjoyed the humorous parts in the text, as well as the more serious ones.  They are connecting and empathizing with the story's main characters.  

• Reading:  Students have finished determining explicit and implicit main ideas of expository text, and will begin to determine the main idea and supporting details of narrative texts.  

• Science:  This week students will finish introduction activities related to the Quarter  Project.  Today your child focused on taking a testable question, and creating a hypothesis statement using the key words if and then.  On Tuesday students will define different variables, and identify the different variables related to specific testable questions.  

Wax Museum Statues

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A Sneak Peek at Our SHORT Week ...

• Writing:  On Wednesday, students will share their final personal narratives with Mrs. de Nazarie's class who also wrote personal narratives. Students will enjoy celebrating and sharing their hard work!  Later this week, students will take a pre-assessment on different prefixes/suffixes and a spelling pre-assessment.  During Quarter 2 we will begin using the Words Their Way spelling program.  

• Math:  Tomorrow students will take a pre-assessment on Unit 4 of math to determine their prior knowledge on different concepts and objectives related to decimals.  The pre-assessment will be used as a tool to differentiate small group instruction throughout the unit.  Following the pre-assessment, students will complete lessons 4.1: Decimal Place Value and and 4.2: Review of Basic Decimal Concepts.  The Parent Letter for Unit 4 can be found on the third grade website: Unit 4: Decimals.  Be sure that your child is continuing to practice their multiplication facts!  Use the online sites/games provided on the third grade website as a resource.  

• Interactive Read-Aloud: We are continuing to read There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom by Louis Sachar. 

• Reading Workshop:  This week our focus will be on types of Main Ideas.  Students will learn the difference between explicit main ideas (main ideas that are stated directly in the text) and implicit main ideas (main ideas that are not directly stated in the text).  They will learn the different approaches needed in order to determine each type of main idea.  

• Science:  On Wednesday, the project description, planning pages, and rubric for the Quarter 2 Project will be passed out and explained.  For the remainder of the week, we will discuss and review specific vocabulary and concepts related to the scientific method, and will complete a "mini" in-class experiment.  More information on the Quarter 2 Project can be found on the third grade website as well: Quarter 2 Project - Science Fair (this portion of the site will continually be updated throughout the quarter!)

Specials

Starting this week, we will be changing the specials schedule a bit.  The third grade schedule will change so that students have 60 minutes in Art and P.E. only.  Every other class will still be 30 minutes.  This seems to be more practical for art and P.E.  

Listed below is the specials schedule for the remainder of Quarter 2:

• Monday: P.E. (1 hour)
• Tuesday: Art (1 hour)
• Wednesday: Spanish/Music (30 minutes each)
• Thursday: Spanish/Music (30 minutes each)
• Friday: Art (1 hour)

Picture Retakes

Just a reminder, picture retakes are this Thursday!

Quarter 2 Project

We are excited to announce that our 2^nd Quarter Project will be a school-wide Science Fair!  This quarter, each student will have the opportunity to design an experiment that will help them investigate a topic and question they are curious about.  Next week, students will receive a detailed outline of each part of the project, important due dates, and helpful hints.  In order to help students practice effective time management skills, as well as get help from us and input from their peers, parts of the projects will be due at various times throughout 2^nd quarter.  The final project will be due on January 25^th.  Along with “check-in days”, we will also have classroom lessons to help students review the scientific method and several “project work days” during science class which will be announced in advance. 

The science fair requirements are different at each grade level have been designed so that students can complete the project independently with minimum assistance from adults.  The goal is for students to choose a topic that is of interest to them and design their own experiment.  Parents can help out in many ways, such as making sure experiments are safe and materials are accessible, helping students stay on schedule, and providing support and assistance as needed.

Although students will receive much more information next week, they may want to start thinking about their project this weekend!  On the back of this letter, you will find a list of helpful websites to begin brainstorming suggestions and ideas.  The most important thing to remember is that this project should be in the form of an experiment and not a model, “how to”, or collection of science facts.  Using the scientific method, students will design a testable question, form a hypothesis, research the topic, write a procedure, conduct an experiment, collect and analyze data, and communicate results at a school-wide Science Fair.  Topics, testable questions, and a general plan will need to be approved before students begin testing.  They will receive a planning sheet to help generate ideas and organize their thoughts next week.

Stay tuned for more information and other important dates!  If you have any questions now or throughout the project, please feel free to contact us.  We look forward to helping students in their scientific journeys!

Sincerely,

Skinner North Teachers

Parentheses & Variables

Students learned how to solve number sentences with parentheses and variables.  During class we created a little "rap" to help us remember!

Science Test

During class today, students worked on a study guide for the science test tomorrow.  The study guide and answer key are both posted on the third grade website under the Science Tab for Unit 1: Science Unit 1 Study Guide.  Happy studying!

Multiplication Timed Tests

It is very important that your child is continuing to practice his/her multiplication facts at home.  Students have taken two multiplication timed-tests, and will take them periodically over the next few months.  Having their multiplication facts memorized is needed for strong foundation of future learning and growth in math.  Many concepts that will be taught in the future build off these skills.    

I'm including a link to the third grade website that has a multitude of multiplication practice games online.  Scroll near the bottom of the page, and you will find the websites under related links: Multiplication Fact Practice.  Enjoy!

Conference Slips and School Photos

On Tuesday, expect the following things to be taken home by your child.  Both will be put in the "take-home" side of their homework folders: 

• School Photos
• Parent-Teacher Conference Forms

Due to a high request of similar conference times, I was unable to give everyone one of their "top 3" time slots.  Please let me know if your assigned time does not work for you, as I have a few openings throughout the day.  Thanks!

*** Just a reminder - all pledge money from the Walk-A-Thon is due this Friday!

A Sneak Peek at Our Week ...

• Writing:  This week students will be finishing their personal narrative pieces.  On Friday they were given a revision checklist to use.  This checklist reflects lessons taught throughout the unit of study.  After self-revising their paper, they will then have a peer revise it.  Then they will work on their final draft of their paper.  Handouts and checklists can be found on the third grade website: Personal Narrative

• Math:  Unit 3 will be ending this week.  After completing lessons 3.10 and 3.11, students will complete a study guide.  The test for Unit 3 will be on Thursday.  

• Interactive Read-Aloud:  For our read-aloud, we are continuing to read There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom.  Discussion has focused around learning about who the main characters are "deep down."  Students have focused on what the characters say and do, their actions, and what other characters say about them.  They then use this information to draw conclusions about the characters, and assign character traits to them.  Over the next couple weeks, we will be collaboratively writing extended responses with this text.  

• Reading:  Over the next two weeks reading lessons will be focused around main idea and details.  This week, students will determine the main idea of a paragraph by identifying the topic sentence, distinguish between main details and supporting details, and identify titles for reading selections.  

• Science: Science Unit 1 Water  wraps up this week.  Students will complete their final investigation on Monday, complete a study-guide in class on Tuesday, and take the test Wednesday.  Expect for students to bring home their science notebook and study guide Tuesday night to review.  

A Look at Next Week ...

Looking ahead at next week, we have a few units of study wrapping up for the quarter.  Expect tests on the following days:

• Wednesday, November 7th - Science Test: Water
• Thursday, November 8th - Math Test, Unit 3

Homework 11/1

Because we had such a busy afternoon with the WONDERFUL Wax Museum presentations, students in Room 203 did not complete their homework chart.  

Completing Study Links 3.8 is optional tonight (remember, it can be downloaded from the homework tab of the 3rd grade website!).  If it is not completed tonight, it will need to be completed over the weekend along with Study Links 3.9.  

Walk-A-Thon Pledge Money

Just a reminder to families that Walk-A-Thon pledge money is due by Friday, November 9th!