Field Trip

Thank you to all of our volunteers today!  We had a great trip and beautiful weather.  

LEGO PARTY DAY

Lego Party Day in Third Grade

This Week In Our Classroom...

I hope you enjoyed Memorial Day weekend!  Thank you to all of your family members who have served for our country.  💙

Literacy:  Students will work on a small project to showcase the subject they studied last week.   They will also take an assessment to demonstrate mastery determining important events, identifying setting details, and distinguishing between episodic and chronological structures within a text.  Midweek, students will choose a new subject to study.  They will learn to identify the theme in a biography text as well as obstacles the subject overcame.  In writing, students will continue to type realistic fiction stories.

Science:  Today we'll finish up learning about food chains and webs.  Tomorrow students will explore a population simulation to understand how humans impact food chains.  Later in the week, students will take the Investigation 2 assessment.

Social Studies:  We will begin our next social studies unit this week as well.  It will be integrated into both writing and reading.  Students will spend time researching a large city in the US and comparing it to Chicago.

Math: We will begin Unit 8 this week.  Unit 8 is a review of skills we've learned this year.  Students apply knowledge of fraction operations to solve a variety of multi-step number stories.  Please expect the corresponding Home Links.

NWEA:  Students will take the NWEA this week- both tomorrow and Thursday.  We will test in reading first and then math on Thursday.

WAX MUSEUM SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday, June 12th 2:15-3 p.m.
Research papers due Monday, June 3rd.  Please have your child begin memorizing his/her speech.  It should be NO LONGER than 1 minute long.

Writing Conferences

Peer Writing Conferences

Realistic Fiction Story Conferences

Students worked together to revise their stories today.  They will finish writing today and tomorrow.

SEL for Parents

The way that we interact with our kids when they are misbehaving impacts the relationship you have with them as well as what they are learning from the situation. We all get mad, we all yell sometimes, but when we yell at our kids, we send the message that we can't control ourselves when they are misbehaving. When we lose control, we are putting them in a situation where they feel in control of our reactions. During times of misbehavior, we want to model regulation while helping our kids calm down so they can learn. Anger and anxiety are contagious, but so is calm. In order to stay calm, try these things:

1. Know what you can control and what you can't. If you feel responsibility for every action and decision your child makes, you will be anxious and feel inadequate. You can control your reactions, the consequences you give and the lessons you teach, but not the actions of others. You have to remember that your child is a separate person from yourself. 

2. Know your triggers. If you know that specific behaviors trigger you, make a plan ahead of time for what you will do instead of yelling.

3. Make a commitment to practicing emotional regulation. Staying calm under extreme stress is not something that happens without practice. Find time daily to practice strategies that help you regulate, so they become habitual.

4. Recognize stress in your life. Think of how you can reduce your daily stress load to avoid bringing personal stress into the interaction.

5. Focus on learning Think, what life skills do I want my child to learn? What, when we are both calm, can we take away from this. Remember, a misbehaving child is a discouraged child. They are expressing need from their misbehavior. 

By not yelling and by staying calm and level headed, you will be more credible and respected by your child, and therefore more deeply connected. 

This Week in Our Classroom...

I hope you all had a great weekend.  Below you find a brief overview of what to expect this week in your child's classroom.

Literacy:  Students are studying the biography genre for the next few weeks.  Throughout the study, they will learn to distinguish between chronological and episodic structures.   They will also practice distinguishing between details and important events.  Towards the end of the week,  students will practice developing a theme based on the events and contributions of the subject.  In the writing block, students will wrap up drafting their realistic fiction stories.  I will teach students several strategies for ending their stories and then we'll begin the revision process.  Part of the homework this week will include taking the drafts home and having a parent or guardian help with editing and revising.

Math:  We'll wrap up unit 7 this week!  Students will practice measuring to the nearest 1/8th of an inch and practice gathering data from a line plot.  We will review for our unit 7 test.  Students will be assessed on Friday.

Science:  This week in Science, students will learn the different components of a food chain and a food web.  They will also explore different ecosystems.

Progress Reports:  Progress reports were sent home on Friday.  Please make sure you sign and return the Progress Report as soon as possible.

30BT:  The final 30BT Check-In is June 7th.

Wax Museum:  Please make sure to SAVE THE DATE!  WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12TH IS OUR THIRD GRADE WAX MUSEUM.  WE WOULD LOVE YOUR PRESENCE!  IT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE GYM FROM 2-315PM.

Bug Day

The ABC Countdown has begun!  Thursday the class participated in Bug Day.  They designed the strongest ant possible in a STEM challenge and explored mealworms and isopods in Science.

Spring Wax Museum Project

The Spring Wax Museum Project was sent home today.  Please look over the project with your child and help him/her choose a subject.  Your child will study the subject and eventually "become" that subject in the Wax Museum.  This has always been a favorite project in third grade!  Please have fun with it.  If your child would like to choose a famous Chicagoan NOT on the list, I am more than happy to hear his/her ideas.  Subject choices are due Thursday, May 9th, so I can approve them before the weekend.

This Week in Our Classroom...

Literacy:  Students will finish reading their literature circle choice books and meet with their peers to discuss the end of the book.  Next week, we'll begin our biography unit.  In the writing block, students will continue to draft their realistic fiction story.  Today, students outlined their story on a plot mountain.  Tomorrow we'll begin developing characters and character motivation.

Math:  Our seventh math unit teaches students to multiply fractions and mixed numbers.  They'll continue to use multiplication strategies to solve word problems and analyze data on a line plot.  I will assign several assignments on www.freckle.com as well.  These assignments are great practice and offer more of a challenge than the Home Links alone.

Science:  For the remainder of the week, students will wrap up projects and assignments using the theme set text.  Today they met with each of the different animal groups to learn about the life cycles of Poison Dart Frogs, Giant Pandas, Monarch Butterflies, and Komodo Dragons.  Tomorrow we'll study life cycle diagrams and read a short article.  The test will be given on Friday.  Students will be able to use their book to help them on the test.  Next week, students will begin studying the life cycles of insects and the environmental factors that affect survival.

Field Trip:  This Thursday, May 9th, we'll travel to the Irish American Heritage Center to see a play based on the history of immigration in Chicago.  You can find a detailed description on the theater company's website: http://www.greatworkstheatre.com/chicago.html

Spring Music Performance:  Students will perform in the Spring Assembly on Thursday afternoon from 2-3pm.  Please come!  It will take place in the auditorium.

Shared Learning in Science

Thank You

Thank you for all of the beautiful flowers and kind notes and cards.  I am very lucky to have your children in class this year- they are a fantastic group of kids! 

This Week in Our Classroom...

I hope you are staying dry on this very rainy Monday morning.  Below you will find a brief overview of what to expect this week in our classroom:

Literacy:  Students will continue reading their literature circle novels and meeting for group discussions.  In the writing block, students will begin writing a realistic fiction story.  Students will learn how writers develop ideas, create believable characters, and use the plot mountain to support drafting.  Deciding on an idea is often the trickiest part, please ask your child to share their ideas with you.

Social Studies and Science: Today we will wrap-up our Chicago Today unit and begin presenting final projects.  Each day this week, a couple of groups will share their projects.  We will also begin our final unit in science.  We will begin the unit using a National Geographic Theme set- similar to the Native American theme set and the Shaping the Earth's Surface theme set.  The final set teaches students about the different stages in an animal's life cycle.

Math:  We'll start unit 7 tomorrow.  Unit 7 mainly focuses on multiplying fractions and number stories.  Students will receive a new Home Links packet tomorrow.   Please check with your child to make sure they are completing Freckle assignments as well.

Field Trip Permission Slips will go home today.   Please return BOTH slips as soon as possible so I can arrange for chaperones.

30BT Check-in due Thursday.  Make sure you child has glued on his/her book jackets to receive credit.  26 books are due along with a project.

Please join us after school this Wednesday for STEAM night!  

Check Out Our Very Own Jayden Hatcher!

https://wgntv.com/2019/04/26/adorable-friday-forecaster-steals-the-show/

This Week in Our Classroom...

I hope you had a wonderful Spring Break and enjoyed the beautiful weather yesterday in Chicago!  Below you will find an overview of what to expect this week in our classroom:

Literacy:  Students will review the significance of understanding multiple perspectives in a literary text on Monday.  Following the review, they will take the final Sign of the Beaver assessment and watch the movie as well.  We will spend sometime comparing the movie and the book later in the week.  Following, students will choose a book to read as we begin literature circles.  In the writing block, we'll work on a small perspective writing activity and then begin our unit on realistic fiction.

Math:  We will wrap up Unit 6 early in the week.  Students should prepare to test on Friday.  I will send the study guide home tomorrow evening.

Social Studies:  Neighborhood projects will wrap up early in the week!  Students will share and then we'll begin our next science unit.

SEL for Parents

Encouragement vs. Praise

Praise may seem to work and motivate good behavior temporarily; but what are the long term results? Praise may feel good for the moment but what does it invite children to decide about themselves? 

 

Praise: 

• All A's. You get a big reward.
• I'm so proud of you.
• I'm glad you listened to me.
• I like what you did!
• You are such a good boy/girl.
• You did it just like I told you.

Encouragement: 

• You worked hard; you deserve it.
• You must be proud of yourself. 
• How do you feel about it?
• You figured it out for yourself.
• I trust your judgement.
• You can decide what is best for you.
• I have faith in you to learn from mistakes. 
• I love you no matter what. 

This is not meant to make us paranoid for giving praise once in a while. Praise, like candy, can be enjoyable on occasion but too much can be unhealthy and addictive. Encouragement, however, should be the staple that you give to yourself and your family every day. Encouragement allows your children to see themselves as being capable and it values their effort rather than focusing on perfection or pleasing others. 

This Week in Our Classroom...

I hope you enjoyed the beautiful weather this weekend!  Today is our last day of IAR testing.  It is also a very busy final week before Spring Break.

Passion Projects: Students will present their final passion project product on Friday.  I am excited to see all of the learning!  We will spend time in class tomorrow (Tuesday) and Thursday if students need to work on their projects, but minimal homework will be assigned this week so students can work on it at home as well.  Again the project is very open-ended.

Social Studies Neighborhood Group Project:  Students will use Social Studies time in class to complete the group project.  Although I have not assigned a due date, I believe students will finish up near Thursday.  After Spring Break, we will start our last Science unit.

Reading:  Students will finish Sign of the Beaver this week.  As we finish the novel, students will spend time evaluating the multiple perspectives in the book and determining which perspective aligns with their own thinking.  Students will also work on a perspectives writing activity using different point of views.

Math:  IAR testing concludes today.  Students will participate in a Math Mania assembly this afternoon.  Tomorrow we will continue with our Unit 6 math lessons.  I am going to hold off on the Unit 6 math assessment until after Spring Break- we have a lot of projects going on and just finished testing, so I believe this will be the best option.

Book Fair:  Our class will visit the book fair tomorrow- Tuesday, April 9th.  If you'd like to send money with your child, please send it in a labeled ziplock bag.  The book fair will be open all week.

Conferences:  I am looking forward to seeing all of you at conferences this Wednesday.  I sent home time confirmations with your child last week.  Please email me if you still need to schedule a conference.

Friday Folders:  "Friday" Folders will go home today.  We were in a rush last Thursday afternoon and didn't get a chance to pass them out.  Please look over the work with your child and return to school.

Immersed in Our Neighborhood Study

 

 

SEL for Parents

Many people do not know what they feel because they were not allowed to express their feelings as children. You cut off a large percentage of your intelligence when you suppress your feelings because much of your behavior is based on feelings that you aren't even aware of. When you acknowledge your feelings, allow them with dignity and respect, and find acceptable ways to express them, you have more self-acceptance and more control over your actions. When your child is experiencing strong emotions: acknowledge and allow acceptable solutions. 

Acknowledge anger: 

Sounds like you are really angry

Allow anger:

 Everyone has a right to feelings. I don't blame you. I have felt angry many times. 

Acceptable solutions: 

Would you like to punch a pillow?

Would you like to jump up and down?

Do you need to take some time to yourself?

This Week in Our Classroom...

IAR Testing this week- Please make sure your child arrives to school on time.  If they are late and we've already begun testing, they will have to retake the assessment at a later date.  Testing will take place each morning from 9-10:30 am.

Literacy:  Student will continue to read The Sign of the Beaver and analyze different perspectives in the test.  Some of the literacy block will also be used for Passion Project research and the neighborhood study.

Math: During math time, students will explore measuring angles with a protractor and naming angles.  

Social Studies:  Student will work on their neighborhood projects this week.  Today we will spend a little more time researching and tomorrow and the rest of the week, students will begin creating the final product.

Important Reminders: 

Return your Parent/Teacher Conference Time Preference sheet as soon as possible.  

No School Friday 4/5

Passion Project Presentations 4/12

Parent Teacher Conference Form

Parent-Teacher Conference forms were sent home today in your child's Friday Folder, return as soon as possible.  Please make sure to clean out your child's folder and go over graded work with your child.

Neighborhood Study Project

This weekend, part of your child's homework is to continue researching the neighborhood they are studying.  This research will eventually be used to create a brochure-like group project.  The project will be completed in school, but students may need to do some research at home.  Students are researching the location, culture, assets, transportation, history, government and landmarks in each neighborhood.  All research should be written in your child's Inquiry Notebook.

The very best type of research is actually experiencing the neighborhood.  If you have time, please visit the neighborhood your child is studying!  We would love to include photos and real artifacts from your child's neighborhood of study- they make the projects extremely personal and fun for the children.

If you are unable to take your child on a neighborhood tour, your child may visit the public library near you, as they have many books on Chicago neighborhoods.  Also, I've included a list of additional resources and websites that have a lot of information about the different neighborhoods.

Resources for Neighborhood Research:

The Grid: https://chicago.suntimes.com/section/the-grid/

Choose Chicago: https://www.choosechicago.com/neighborhoods/

Dreamtown Real Estate Guide: http://www.dreamtown.com/neighborhoods/chicago-neighborhoods.html

TimeOut Chicago: https://www.timeout.com/chicago/neighborhoods

City of Chicago (government): https://www.chicago.gov/city/en.html