Social Studies Test

Today students will be bringing home their review guide for Unit 2 in social studies.  They began making note-cards in class to help them review and study.  Questions and possible answers to the review guide are posted on the third grade website: Unit 2 Review

Progress Reports

Progress reports will be sent home tomorrow, Thursday, December 20th!  It will be put in your child's green homework folder.  The bottom portion should be signed and returned when students come back from winter break in January.  Thanks!

THANKS

A big thanks to Ellie and Evan's family for bringing in some supplies off of our Classroom Wish List! :)

Math Homework

Over the next few nights, students' study links will focus on the partial-products method for multiplication, as well as the lattice method.  Explanations and examples of both algorithms can be found on the following website: Everyday Math Family Resources.  After going in the cite, click on ...

• Algorithms in Everyday Math
• Grade 4
• Multiplication
• Partial Products OR Lattice

School e-mail

My school e-mail has been having a few problems lately.  I've had a few parents e-mail me, re-sending past e-mails that I did not receive.  If I have not responded to an e-mail from you  within 24 hours, please re-send the e-mail, as all my messages are not coming through for some reason.  Sorry for the inconvenience!  Thanks! - E. Magina

A Sneak Peek At Our Week ...

• Vocabulary:  The morphology/vocabulary focus this week will be on the prefixes re- and un-.  

• Writing:  Students will spend the week writing their Character Analysis Essays on James and the Giant Peach.  Mini-lessons for the week will focus on creating thesis statements, using transitional phrases, using language to explain evidence, and crafting conclusion paragraphs.  

• Math:  Students will complete lessons 5.5, 5.6, and 5.7 this week.  Students will learn about the partial products algorithm and lattice method for multiplication.  In math workshop we will begin starting a new weekly routine.  Every Friday will be "Problem Solving Friday."  Students will collaboratively work in groups to work on problem-solving activities related to concepts being taught in class.  

• Read-Aloud:  We will be finishing There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom this week!

• Reading:  Students will have five class periods to work on their final project choice for James and the Giant Peach.  Please remember to have your child bring in any needed materials!

• Social Studies:  On Monday, students will complete a Jigsaw Activity about events that effected Chicago culturally and economically.  Working as a team, students will create a poster together that reflects how The Great Migration, immigration, Chicago Fire, and the Industrial Revolution affected Chicago.  On Tuesday and Wednesday student learning will focus around guiding question #5:  How has Chicago’s geographic features changed over time?  On Thursday students will complete a study guide in class, and on Friday they will have a test over Unit #2.  

Concert Reminder

Just a reminder that the Winter Concert for 3rd graders is tomorrow at 2:00!  They are so excited to perform for everyone!

Wish List

On the right hand side of the blog, I'm starting to include some items on the Room 203 "Wish List."  These are items that we could use in the classroom!

1.  Lunch-Sized Plastic Bags - we use these all the time to help keep students' materials organized
2.  $1 Store Word Puzzles/Crossword Books - this would be a great free choice end of the day activity for the final 10 minutes of the day (3:05-3:15) when pick-up students are left
3.  Decks of Cards - having additional decks of cards would be very useful to have during the math games rotation of math workshop

James and the Giant Peach Final Project

Students will finish reading James and the Giant Peach tomorrow.  It has been a great shared experience for them reading this book!  Not only have they enjoyed the story, but they've demonstrated strong analysis skills reflecting on the main character James. 

To conclude the character study, students will be completing a final project, and writing a final paper.  You can find descriptions and rubrics for both on the third grade website: James and the Giant Peach.  

Students will have five writing class periods next week to work on their character analysis essays.  They have already done a large majority of the pre-planning during class.  Writing mini-lessons for the week will focus on different elements of the paper (i.e., developing a thesis, paraphrasing, etc.).  If students do not finish their final paper during class time next week, it will be due Thursday, January 3rd.  They will have the option to have their final draft written or typed.  

Today students will be bringing home a "menu" of 12 different project choices, in which they will choose one project to complete.  I ask that they have their choice made by this Friday, December 14.  Many wondered if they could complete a second project (which as a teacher, melted my heart!).  If they would like to complete a second project, they can for extra credit.  Because students will be completing a variety of character-based projects, the rubric used to grade the assignment is more open-ended.  It focuses on six main areas: character analysis, text interpretation, supporting evidence from the text, creativity, effort, and mechanics.  Please let me know if you have any questions about the projects/grading rubric!  During our reading block next week, students will have five class periods to work on this project.  Please have your child bring any materials needed to complete the project by next Monday, December 17.  

Next Week - SPIRIT WEEK!

Next Monday starts Skinner North Spirit Week (December 17-21)!

Each day your child is encouraged to show their SCHOOL SPIRIT by participating in each themed day!

SHOW YOUR SPIRIT ALL WEEK LONG!

MONDAY, Dec. 17
Crazy Hair Day! PHOTOS WILL BE TAKEN!
TUESDAY, Dec. 18
Pajama Day!

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 19
Dress as you favorite Hero, Heroine, Prince or Princess Day! (no weapons, shields, wands. etc...)

THURSDAY, Dec. 20
Math Day! Wear clothes, shoes, and accessories that represent math
concepts in some way - patterns, numbers, symmetry, etc.!  See if you
can be Math-y from head to toe.
(Laura P., 3rd grade, Principle-for-a-Day selection)

FRIDAY, Dec 21
Hat Day!  Wear your favorite hat.  It can be silly, stylish, or
seasonal!  (Hats may not cover the child's face - no masks.)
(Tony M., 4th Grade, Principle-for-a-Day selection)


Have fun and thanks for all your school spirit!

Interactive Website - Chicago Fire

Students have really enjoyed learning more about the Chicago Fire during our second social studies unit.  In particular, they were quite engaged with the following website: Interactive Fire Timeline.  I'm sure they would enjoy showing you!

A Sneak Peek At Our Week ...

• Morning Work/Vocabulary:  Instead of completing our PAVE vocabulary activities, students will begin focusing their learning on two affixes each week.  The affixes we will be focusing on this week are -ful and -est. 

• Writing:  Students will learn the fourth, and final summarizing strategy this week - somebody-wanted-but-so-then.  This strategy will help them synthesize fictional texts into very concise summaries.  

• Math:  This week, students will be pre-assessed on learning goals and objectives of Unit 5: Big Numbers, Estimation, and Computation .  This pre-assessment will be used to differentiate groups for each and every lesson.  Following the pre-assessment, lessons 5.1-5.4 will be instructed this week.  Be sure to check the third grade website for the parent letter and unit explanation: Unit 5

• Read-Aloud:  We will be finishing There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom this week.  It has been a favorite amongst all students!  We will end this read-aloud discussing the theme, or author's message, and how it applies to the students' lives.  This discussion will continue into the next week as well.  

• Reading:  Students will finish reading James and the Giant Peach this week.  After choosing character traits to describe James at the beginning, middle, and end of the story, they will draw conclusions as to how he has changed throughout the novel.  Then, they will dig deeper and determine which events of the story had the most affect on James, causing him to change.  Finally, students will determine the theme of the text by identifying a theme topic, creating a theme statement, and finding evidence from the text to support their thinking.  

• Social Studies:  Students have really enjoyed working on their alphabet books, and will continue to work on them this week.  Lessons and activities this week will focus around the following guiding question:  What were some problems Chicago faced in its early development?  

Math Study Guide/Review Correction

There was a mistake on students' study guides.  They do not need to complete #19 and #20 about prime/composite numbers.  Instead, an important concept to review from Units 1-3 are open sentences.  Examples are listed below! (We will review this concept in class tomorrow!)

• 48 / x = 8
• 3n = 27
• 31 = 22 + r
• 57 - d = 31

Family Art Night

Family Art Night will be held on Monday, December 17, 2012 from 3:30-5:30.  Participating families will interact with one another as they create pieces of art.  Children and their parents will enjoy three engaging art activities. 

Flyers will be coming home this Friday.  You can send your RSVP to dmfetzer@cps.edu.  Be sure to include the following things in your RSVP:

• Child's Name
• Total Number of People Attending (Adults + Children over 5)
• Which Grade Level Activities You'll Attend

Yearbook Order Forms

Yearbook order forms will be passed out this week.  Expect to see them on Friday with students other passed back materials.  The order forms are due Friday, December 14th!

What's Happening in the News

Last Thursday students did a wonderful job presenting their news article to the class.  Students had interesting comments and questions to add and discuss as well.  Listed below are the next due dates for students in Room 203.  

• 12/6/12: Ian, Brian, Beila, Nicholas
• 12/13/12: Isis, Faith, Denise, Nia
• 12/20/12: Nathan, Adriana, Roshni, Matthew

Please remember, the page students will complete and websites for online newspapers can both be found on the third grade website: What's Happening in the News

Social Studies Unit 2 Project

Students will create an alphabet book for the culminating project of Unit 2 in social studies.  Students will have one class period each week to use as work time for this project.  Third graders began working on this project last week, and will continue working on it for the next three weeks.  The final book will be due shortly before winter break.  

You can find the project rubric and page format on the third grade website: Unit 2 - "How Chicago Came to Be".  Your child can work on this project at home as well.  If they would like to use a visual besides an illustration, like clip-art, magazine clippings, etc., they will have to find those materials at home.  Please let me know if you have any questions! 

Half Day Reminder

Please remember there will be a half day this Wednesday, December 5, 2012!  

Students will spend the morning rehearsing for the Winter Music Assembly, and then will participate in their clubs.  Lunch will be served at 11:15.  If you would like your child to wait and eat lunch after school, please send them with a snack.  Bus service will be available for students coming to school and going home at 11:45.  Youth Guidance will be available to families that need childcare until 6:00 p.m. for a fee.  Registration packets are in the main office.  Please contact Grace Dickman at gdickman@youth-guidance.org with any questions.  

A Sneak Peek at Our Week ...

• Writing: Students will continue learning strategies for summary writing.  The shift this week will focus on writing fictional summaries using steps of the plot mountain (exposition/introduction, rising action, climax, falling actions/resolution).  

• Math:  This week we will wrap up Unit 4.  Reviews and study guides will go home on Tuesday (and be posted on the website!) and will be due Thursday.  After playing a review game as a class on Thursday, students will have their test on Friday.  

• Read-Aloud:  As a class, we are continuing to collaboratively work on a thorough writing response after students drew conclusions about how the main character Jeff has changed throughout the text.  We will continue reading the novel this week. 

• Reading: During the week, students will independently read Chapters 16-27.  Learning goals will focus on how the setting affects characters, using the setting to predict character action, and lastly making predictions about plot events based on our knowledge of the characters.  There will be a small group discussion and weekly comprehension/vocabulary "check" on Friday.   

• Social Studies:  Throughout the week, students will focus their learning on discovering causes and effects of the Great Chicago Fire.