Geometry in Art Correction

It turns out that there is a mistake on the Geometry in Art project description - the description said there should be 1 set of parallel lines and 1 set of intersecting lines, but on the rubric it says there should be 2 sets of each.  If your son/daughter includes only 1 set that is fine!  (If points were taken off, please let me know and I will award the points back).  Sorry for the confusion, please let me know if you have any questions!

Unit 2 IXL

A Unit 2 checklist for IXL has been posted to the third grade website!  This is a great way for your child to practice and reinforce different mathematical skills and concepts that are being instructed in the classroom.  

All-Stars After-School Clubs Starting!

Today students brought home student registration forms for After-School All-Stars clubs which will be starting on Tuesday, October 15th 2013.  

If you are interested in having your child participate in any of these programs please turn in the form ASAP! 

Skinner North Walk-a-Thon 2013

On Friday, students will be bringing home packets that contain information about the Skinner North Walk-a-Thon which will be held on October 31st.  Third grade will be walking from 10:10-10:40.  Here is a list of important due dates:

• Student Consent form (needed to be able to participate!) - Due: Mon. 10/7
• Sponsorship form - Due: Mon. 10/7
• Volunteer form - Due: Mon. 10/7
• Pledge Sheet - Due: Mon. 11/11

Collaborative Groups - Social Studies

Today students worked in collaborative groups, creating a concept web about the four focus Native American groups - the Cheyenne, Iroquois, Pueblos, and Nez Perce.  Each group's poster included information and facts focused on the following three key concepts:

• 1.  The homelands of native people have influenced their food, clothing, and shelter.
• 2.  The stories and arts of native people were an expression of culture and a way of passing on values. 
• 3.  Early trade was a way of exchanging both goods and ideas. 

Be sure to ask your child how these key concepts apply to the Native American tribe they are studying in the classroom!

Parent Check - Homework Folders

CPS photo release forms were sent home today with your child. Please return this form as soon as possible!  This is a form that needs to be signed and returned each year. 

Also, progress reports are being sent home today.  Please make sure to review the progress report with your child and cut off the signed, bottom portion to be returned back to school by Friday.  Now that I have "Friday Folders" officially rolling, students will be brining home corrected assignments and class work this Friday!  Feel free to e-mail me with any questions.  Thanks!

Author Visit tomorrow!

To prepare for Steve Cotler's visit tomorrow, your child can explore the Cheesie Mack website! - http://cheesiemack.com/

A Sneak Peek at Our Week ...

Literacy Stations:  Beginning Wednesday this week, we will begin literacy stations during a 15 minute section of our mornings.  Usually, students will participate in one station each day.  Students will rotate between the following stations this week:

• Work with Teacher: Each day I will work with a different group of 6, providing guided/strategic small-group reading lessons 
• Independent Work: Students will continue work from the "work with teacher" station
• Book Shopping & Independent Reading: Students will have the opportunity to "book shop" in our classroom library and begin reading their selected texts
• Vocabulary: Students will work on vocabulary maps for content specific S.S. words
• Book Talks:  At this station, students will independently practice writing 1-minute book talks - they will begin sharing these "book-talks" during morning meetings

Writing:  Students will post their second blog comment this week to one of their peer's "My Buddy and Me" posts.  For their second comment, students focused more on elaborating their thinking, and will reflect on how this improved their writing.  Afterwards, students will continue creating journal entries focused on a topic.  Lessons will focus on organization of paragraphs, elaboration of ideas, and using varied sentence structures.  Be sure to check out and comment on your child's blog if you have not done so yet! - Room 210 Students Blogs 

Reading:  We will be continuing with our Self-Monitoring unit.  This week students will  practice monitoring their comprehension noticing when they have "clicks" and "clunks."  They will learn to recognize when and why their comprehension breaks down, and learn different "fix-up" strategies to use to improve comprehension.  

Math:  Unit 1 of Everyday Math was a review unit for students.  One of our main focuses during this unit was having students understand and practice math workshop routines and procedures.  We focused largely on the routines and procedures of math stations, so students understood expectations and could have the most productive math learning experiences possible.  

Now that we will be beginning Unit 2, we will be full-fledged into our differentiated math workshop.  Students will take a pre-assessment Monday and lessons 2.2-2.5 will be instructed this week.  Based on NWEA data, and the Unit 2 pre-assessment, students will be placed in flexible groups to best support their learning needs.  Be sure to check out Unit 2 on the Third Grade website for resources and parent information!

Social Studies:  Students will continue reading about different Native American groups.  This unit has been a great and very effective way to integrate literacy related skills in the content areas!  The four different sets of Native American texts that students are reading vary in reading complexity.  Therefore, students' reading skills are being strengthened because they are each reading texts that are "on their level."  Towards the middle of this week, students will work in collaborative groups composed of students reading about each of the four different tribes.  Students will have the opportunity to draw connections amongst the different Native American groups, more deeply understanding key concepts of the unit.  

Important News & Information

• Please turn in your child's photo-release form as soon as possible!
• Author Steve Cotler will be visiting Skinner North on Tuesday.  Third graders will view a presentation by Cotler in the morning!

Happy Birthday!

Biplop celebrated a birthday this week - Happy Birthday Biplop!!!

Math Reminder

Just a friendly reminder that the Unit 1 Math Test is due tomorrow, and one mini-project for the series of Quarter 1 Projects is due as well! 

Unit 1 Math Study Guides

Study guides were not passed out today - we will be completing them in the classroom on Thursday instead! 

Weekly Reading Homework

Each week, students will be sent home with a text to do a "close" reading on.  They will have a specific assignment to complete with the reading each night.  Here is an overview of the homework assigned for Monday and Tuesday:

• Monday - Preview: Use text features to preview the text.  Students need to make at least 4 previewing "tracks of thinking" in the boxes.  They can make predictions, ask questions, or activate background/prior knowledge (4 total, not 4 of each).
• Tuesday - Annotate: Using the text codes listed below, students need to annotate the text writing directly on the article.  

A Sneak Peek at Our Week ...

Writing:  This week we will be focusing on paragraph construction.  Students will construct a paragraph each day focused on a specific topic.  Lessons and instruction will focus on brainstorming, explaining/elaborating details, and including topic and closing sentences.  

Reading:  We will continue our self-monitoring reading unit.  Last week, students learned how to use double-sided journal entries when reading.  The purpose of double-sided reading journals is for students to base their thinking with evidence from the text.  Students will continue using double sided journals this week, and then use their journals to have text-based conversations with their peers.  Students will end the week by learning to use different fix-up strategies when their reading or comprehension breaks down.  

Math: Students will explore lessons 1.5-1.7 this week.  Lesson 1.5 focuses on exploring properties of polygons, during lesson 1.6 students will practice using a compass, and finally, lesson 1.7 will guide students in defining circles and provide opportunities for them to design circles.  On Tuesday, the Unit 1 study guide will be passed out (it will also be posted on the third grade website!).  This study guide will be due Thursday.  The Unit 1 math test will be Friday.  Please make sure your child is continuing to use the IXL checklist for extra practice and reinforcement of learning goals!

Social Studies:  This week students will begin completing an informational text study that focuses on taking a historical look at different Native American groups in the U.S.  The class will be divided into groups, each group will be learning about about the history of different Native people - the Nez Perce, Pueblos, Iroquois, and Cheyenne.  Check out the Third Grade website for more information on this unit! - Unit 1: Before Chicago

Important Reminders:

• The first mini-project of students' Quarter 1 projects is due this Friday, September 20th.  Please be sure to check the Third Grade website for project descriptions, rubrics, and resources! - Quarter Project Information
• Be sure to help support your child by making sure their green homework folder, planner, and daily homework assignments are returned to school each day.  
• The third grade open house is Wednesday, September 18th from 4:00-5:00.
• The Skinner North Scholastic Book Fair begins this week!

A few things ...

• Parent information night for both third grade classrooms will be on Wednesday, September 18th from 4:00-5:00.  An informational presentation will be presented that provides an overview of the year ahead.  There will also be time for parent questions!

• Now that I have a few grades for each of the different subjects area, Gradebook will be updated next week.  Be sure to check your child's progress on Parent Portal!

• In regards to social studies/science instruction - social studies is instructed the first 1/2 of the quarter, and science is instructed the second 1/2.  Therefore, there will be no science grades on students' first progress report because it reflects the first half of the quarter.  Literacy skills and strategies are integrated in both content areas!

• The Scholastic Book Fair is this week!  If your child is interested in purchasing books they will have different opportunities during the week to do so.  

We're up ... and BLOGGING!

After spending time interviewing a peer in the classroom, students then began writing "Buddy & Me" papers.  First, they wrote information about themselves, then described their buddys' interests, and finally, highlighted similarities between the two.  

Students posted their writing on the Room 210 Student Blogs.  Afterwards, we spent time discussing what "thoughtful" comments looked like, and students commented on each others' blogs sharing connections they had. 

Be sure to check them out!  *You can also comment on your child's blog too, which I know they would absolutely love!  (After you comment, I receive an e-mail that alerts me about the comment.  I need to approve each one, so if you don't see it show up right away, that is why!)

Lunch & Emergency Forms

If you have not yet sent in your child's lunch or emergency form, please turn them in as soon as possible!  Thanks!

Homework Reminder

Just a reminder about homework!   I know students are still learning the new routines of third grade, so here is a helpful reminder of how you can continue to support them at home:  

*** Planners and homework folders should be returned to and from school each night!  The study links packet (for Unit 1) should be put back in students' homework folders each night after your child completes the study link.  Students are only to complete the Study Link that was assigned that night - they may not work ahead!  Study Links are checked each and every morning for completion.  

Please e-mail me if you have any questions!  Thank you for your continued support at home!

Picture Day

Picture day will be OCTOBER 8TH! - There will be other reminders once the date gets closer!

Volunteers - Take-Home Work

A big thank you to Henry, Harry, and Isaiah's moms for volunteering to help this week!

I am also in need of 4 volunteers for take-home work.  I simply need study links ripped out of students' math journals and stapled in unit packets (I'll give an example!).  I'd be sending home 7-8 books to each parent.  I won't need the packets ready for a week or two either.  E-mail me if you are interested or available to help!  Thanks!!

IXL Shout-Outs!

Shout-outs to Isaiah, Max, Harry, Kevin, and Lauren for already getting started practicing their math skills on IXL!  Keep it up!!  The IXL checklist for Unit 1 can be found on the following link: Unit 1 Math

A Sneak Peek At Our Week ...

Morning Work: Students will begin independently completing vocabulary practice this week with new and interesting words they have been finding during our classroom read-alouds.  Students will practice using context clues to infer the meanings of these words using the PAVE format (here is a brief description of the format students will follow - PAVE format).

Interactive Read-Aloud:  This week we will be reading a mini-chapter book that is part of the Inch & Miles Journey to Success series.  

Reading:  We will begin a new unit during Reader's Workshop focused on Self-Monitoring & Context Clues.  The Third Grade website will be updated with unit information and resources soon!  The following are enduring understandings of the unit:

• How does our inner voice change between genres and how does it stay the same?
• How can readers prepare and participate in thoughtful discussions about texts?
• What strategies can we use when our inner voice becomes confused?

Writing:  Students will finish typing their "Buddy & Me" paragraphs this week and will post them to their blogs.  Near the end of this week, on Thursday and Friday, we will kick-off writer's workshop with a focus on paragraph construction and organization.  Students will practice brainstorming ideas related to a topic, generating details to support the topic, elaborating/explaining those details, and then creating a topic and closing sentence to reflect the main idea of their writing.   

Math:  Instruction will focus on lessons 1.2-1.6 this week.  During Unit 1: Naming & Constructing Geometric Figures students will review concepts and ideas previously learned in Everyday Math.  One of our focuses during this unit is providing opportunities for the students to understand and practice the math station routines in the classroom.  Information and resources for Unit 1 can be found on the following website: EMD: Unit 1.

*** In the past, many parents have asked for additional math resources for their child to be using and practicing at home.  This week, each child will be given an IXL checklist for Unit 1 (this can also be found on the unit page on the Third Grade website).  Each IXL activity listed on the checklist correlates specifically with each EDM lesson!

*** Homework for math will start this week!  Please read the previous post for more information about homework in third grade.  

Social Studies: Towards the end of this week students will be starting Unit 1: Before Chicago.  Before students start exploring the unit's guiding questions, they will complete an informational text study that focuses on taking a historical look at different Native American groups in the U.S.  The class will be divided into groups, each group learning about about the history of different Native people - the Nez Perce, Pueblos, Iroquois, and Cheyenne.  Check out the Third Grade website for more information on this unit!

Homework Folders & Planners

Students have two sides of their green homework folder.  The left side is the take-home side.  This side of their folder will contain graded papers, classroom handouts, and school handouts/forms that need to be taken home.  Every Friday, students will put graded papers into the take-home side of their folder.  Please be sure you go through the passed back work with your child and clear out this side of the folder by Monday.  

The right side of students' folders is the Homework side.  Students will put their weekly/nightly homework on this side.  This Monday students will put a stapled packet of all of Everyday Math's Unit 1 Study Links on this side - this packet should always stay on the homework side of their folders.  Each night, students will complete the study link that correlates with the lesson completed in class that day.  Students are not allowed to work ahead on the Study Links packet.  This will ensure that they have received the necessary instruction needed to complete the work correctly.  

Students' planners should also go to and from school each night.  Because this is a new organizational tool for students, it would be helpful to your child if you took a moment each night to look over their planner together.  Together you can "check off" each homework assignment after your child has completed it.  It's so important for students to begin learning these organizational skills at a young age!  If you ever have questions regarding what was assigned for homework, please be sure to check my classroom homework page on the Third Grade website which is updated daily: Mrs. Magina's Classroom Homework

*** Also note - on my classroom homework page there is a link that provides all of the Everyday Math Study Links for Grade 4.  If your child ever misplaces their Study Links packet/page, or forgets it at school, you can download them and print them from the website!

Volunteers Needed

If anyone would be available to come into school on Tuesday (at whatever time works for you!) to help me by making copies for an upcoming Social Studies unit, I would greatly appreciate it!  Leave a comment or send me an e-mail if you are available to come in!

Also, if anyone has a hot glue gun at home, and would be interested in completing some "at-home volunteer work" please let me know too!  I need pom-pons glued onto students' white board markers and could use some help with that as well.  All supplies would be able to be sent home.  Thanks!

Q1 Math Project - Update on Website

The Quarter 1 Math Project page of the third grade website has been updated!  A PDF of centimeter grid paper is attached which will be very helpful for the "Design a Droid" project.  A website is also included on the page that will help your child create a bar graph for the "Conduct a Survey" project.  - Quarter 1 Math Project

If you have any questions regarding the Quarter 1 Project, you can post them below in the "Comments" box, or feel free to e-mail me!

First Week of School Team-Building Activities

Click to view our first week's slideshow of photos!

Make your own free picture slideshow

During the first week of school team-work, communication, and collaboration was a large focus of activities and discussions.  The photos above highlight a few key activities.  

• Team-Building:  Early on, our classroom had discussions about what made successful teams.  Through a "team player personality quiz" students concluded that it takes different types of team members to make a group successful.  After determining which team member they were, students were organized into groups and had to work to complete a puzzle as team.  We discussed how effective teams have team members who contribute in different ways. 

• Buddy Interviews: As part of a "Get-to-know-you" activity, students held interviews with each other learning more about their classmates.  They also had the opportunity to practice "Respectful Listening" which was a communication skills discussed previously in class.  After interviewing each other, students took what they learned about their buddy to compose "Buddy & Me" papers.  Their writing will be posted to their blogs early next week!

• Communication Rally: We spent one classroom period talking about different communication strategies (i.e., making eye contact, asking open-ended questions, speaking slowly with an enthusiastic tone, etc.) and then students had to practice these strategies in action!  They were given the following task to complete: You and a partner will have to use effective communication skills to accomplish your task today.  Each team will be given to sets of shapes which are identical.  The first person will need to create a unique arrangement that includes all of the shapes given.  Then, they will need to communicate specific directions given to the other partner as to how to arrange the shapes to match the design created by the first partner.  The goal of your task is to communicate effectively!

Happy Belated Birthdays!

Happy Birthdays to Henry and Matiyas - both boys had birthdays last week!!

Quarter 1 Project

The Quarter 1 Math Project descriptions and rubrics went home today!  Information on the three mini-projects can be found on the Third Grade Website: Quarter 1 Project Information. 

Here is a description of the Quarter 1 Project: 

*** For the "Geometry & Art" project there is a correction.  Students need 2 sets of parallel lines and 2 sets of perpendicular lines!

Quarter 1 Project

Math Choices

Throughout the next quarter, your child will be completing three mini-projects based on important math concepts that were instructed last year, and that will continue to be reinforced and extended this year as well.  There will be three separate due dates for each of the mini-projects.  Your child can choose to complete the projects in any order.  Included on this website are the three project descriptions along with a rubric for each.      

Due Date #1: Friday, September 20^th

Due Date #2: Friday, October 4^th

Due Date #3: Friday, October 18^th

A Sneak Peek at Our Week

Room 210 had a wonderful start to the school year!  Our main focus for the first week of school was getting to know each other better, understanding expectations and routines of the classroom, and developing communication and team building skills together as a classroom.  Here is a "sneak peek" at our second week:

Interactive Read-Aloud:  We will finish reading Coach John Wooden's Inch & Miles: Journey to Success this week and will finish the week reading related shorter chapter books.  This book presented students with different "pillars of success" individuals need in order to do their personal best.  Ask your child what pillars they remember!  These "pillars to success" serve as a foundation for discussions during students' entire third grade year.  

Reading:  This week students will be introduced to reading workshop and discover what it looks like in third grade.  Students will spend the week deciding how to make book choices based off of level and interest, and finish the week organizing and understanding how to use their reading binder.  

Writing:  Last week, students held interviews with a peer in the classroom.  This week, students will be writing "My Buddy & Me" papers where they write about themselves, their buddy, and then similarities they found between themselves and their buddies.  Their work will be posted on their student blogs later this week!

Math:  Towards the end of this week we will be starting Unit 1 of Everyday Math.  The Unit 1 Family Letter, IXL checklist, and correlating games can be found on the following page of the Third Grade Website: Unit 1 Information.

Social Studies/Science:  For the remainder of the week during our social studies/science block, students will continue participating in team-building activities.  Team-building and communication skills that the children are developing are life-long skills that will be helpful to them at any age!

Important Updates:

• Students will begin using their classroom planner this week.  Along with the green homework folder, the planner and homework folder should be taken home and returned each night.  There is homework page on the Third Grade Website that is updated on a daily basis: Homework Page
• Students' green homework folders has two sides.  One side is the Homework side which is where students' homework will go.  The other side is the Take-Home side.  This is where important papers and graded work that is passed back will go.  Please make sure your child empties the Take-Home side of their folder on a weekly basis!
• Every Friday graded work will be passed back to students.
• The Quarter 1 Math Project information will be passed out tomorrow!  Project due dates, descriptions, and rubrics can be found on the Third Grade Website as well: Quarter 1 Project Information