Thursday, January 30, 2014

Read to Succeed


The third grade at Skinner North will be participating in a "Read to Succeed" program.  A reading log will be sent home Friday.  Information about the program is explained below:

Your child’s class is participating in an exciting program that encourages students in grades K through 6 to read for fun. Read to Succeed is a free program sponsored by Six Flags Theme Parks. Every student who completes six hours of recreational reading before the  deadline noted is eligible for a free admission ticket valid at participating Six Flags Theme Parks. Students will develop a greater appreciation for books when they see that you think reading is important too. You are sure to have fun as you investigate the world of reading together! 

Here’s what you need to know: 
  • Only students in grades K through 6 are eligible to participate. 
  • Review the attached reading log. Your child should use this sheet to record what and how long he/she reads. 
  • Your child must complete six hours, or 360 minutes, of recreational reading. 
  • Please initial each entry and then sign the reading log to verify that the six hours of reading has been completed. 
  • Your child can read books, magazines, newspapers, or comic books. Reading for homework or a class assignment does NOT count. 
  • Students can read silently, aloud, or with an adult—you can read to your child, or your child can read to you. 
  • Remind your child to return the reading log to his/her teacher by the date on the log. 
  • Late entries will NOT be accepted. 

About the Tickets 
  • Tickets will be awarded to students by their teacher/coordinator. 
  • The ticket is valid for admission on select dates only during the 2014 season. Valid dates will be printed on the tickets. 
  • Tickets are valid for students in grades K-6 only and are not valid for anyone over the age of 13. No exceptions. 
  • Each ticket is valid for one free admission only. 
  • Tickets are not for resale and are nontransferable. 
  • They cannot be replaced if lost, stolen or damaged. 


Change Drive - Endangered Animal Adoption

After all students finished presenting their persuasive animal ads, the classroom voted and chose Ireland's animal - the Amur Leopard - as the endangered animal our classroom will "symbolically adopt."

To raise money for the adoption, our classroom will be holding a Change Drive.  If you have any spare change around the house, please have your child bring it in for the drive!  Thanks!

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Chicago History ABC Book Covers - Wordle

Today in class students began creating the final step of their Chicago History ABC book covers - making the actual Wordle.  Many students wanted to print their Wordle at home so that it was in color (not required!).  We will be doing final prints of the Wordles (printed in black and white) in class on Friday.  Listed below are the directions in case your child wants to do so:


Part 2 - Wordle

1.     Highlight over the entire list of words, and click Copy
2.     Go to http://www.wordle.net/
3.     Click Create (located on the top menu)
4.     In the text box, click Paste (this should paste your words in from Microsoft Word)
5.     Click Go
6.     Then you can customize your own Wordle by using the menu at the top (Edit, Language, Font, Layout, Color)
7.     When your Wordle is complete, click "File" in the left hand corner and then "Print" (don't click the Print button on the Wordle screen!)
8.      Don’t forget to put your name on it! 

Report Cards

Report cards will be passed out today.  Please look for them in your child's green homework folder!

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

A Sneak Peek At Another SHORT Week ...

Hope you all are staying warm!

Social Studies/Morning Work:  Students will finish creating their Wordle covers for their Chicago ABC books on Wednesday, and then spend Thursday and Friday morning creating math extended responses.  

ReadingIn reading this week, students will analyze the characters and the conflicts in fables, folktales, and myths.  They will use the characters' traits to name them as a protagonist or an antagonist in the story.  And finally, they will recognize characteristics common to myths and legends in order to distinguish them from other genres. Next week we will begin comparing and contrasting characters, themes, and conflicts within and across texts.  

Writing:  Students will continue working on extended reading responses this week.  Lessons will focus on using transition words in their topic sentences, varying the structure of their topic sentences, and elaborating our thinking about the text.  

Math:  Lessons 5.9: Powers of 10 and 5.10: Rounding & Reporting Numbers will be instructed on Wednesday and Thursday, and on Friday students will complete a differentiated/tiered problem solving activity related to real-world multiplication application.

Science:  Students will continue to uncover the key question, "How are sedimentary rocks formed?"  Key vocabulary will include sedimentary rock, erosion, and pressure.  Then, on Friday, students will begin to explore how metamorphic rocks are formed.  

Important News & Information
  • Friday, 1/31: Quarter 3 Project information will be passed out
  • Because we are now in Quarter 3, students will have P.E. both on Wednesdays and Fridays

Sunday, January 26, 2014

IXL Shout-Outs!

A special shout-out goes to the following students for logging in an hour or more of IXL practice last week.  Way to go above and beyond practicing all of the skills you're learning in the classroom!  

Great Job! - Isaiah, Harry, Julia, Kevin, Maha, Joseph, Rohan, & Kaleb

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Math Homework Tonight

Instead of Study Links tonight, today I assigned for students to complete at least 10 minutes (minimum!) of IXL practice.  Students wrote down skill 4D10 to complete - but working on 4D11 and/or 4D12 would be acceptable too!

Monday, January 20, 2014

A Sneak Peek At Our Week!

Reading:  After learning about the four types of conflict found in stories on Friday (character vs. character, character vs. self, character vs. nature, and character vs. society), students will now independently describe the type of conflict found in different fables.  On Wednesday students will learn more deeply about characters, determining the protagonist and antagonist of different fables and analyzing how these characters affect the plot of a story.  

Writing:  This week students will learn how to include topic sentences in their extended responses.  On Tuesday they will practice creating different topic sentences using responses  they've already completed, and on Wednesday they will apply their learning with a new prompt and extended response.   

Math: Students will complete lessons 5.8 and 5.9 this week!

Science:  The key question students will "uncover" this week is, "How are sedimentary rocks formed?"  Students will be able to explain how minerals and rocks are formed when layers of sediments pile up over time and cement together under great pressure to form sedimentary rocks.  Key vocabulary will include erosion, sedimentary rock, and pressure.  

Social Studies:  Students will create a cover for their Chicago History ABC books using the program Wordle!  Students will include all 26 of their topics in their "word cloud" and then analyze and evaluate which topics had the greatest impact on Chicago becoming the city it is today.  These words will show up larger than the rest!

Important Dates & Information

  • Tuesday, 1/21 - Art Night, 4:00-5:30
  • Wednesday, 1/22 - Field Trip Permission Slips & Fees due!
  • Thursday, 1/23 - Field Trip to the Field Museum
  • Thursday, 1/23 - Science Fair, 4:00-5:00
  • Friday, 1/24 - NO SCHOOL (End of Quarter)


Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Field Trip

On Thursday, January 23rd the third grade will be going on a field trip to the Field Museum.  If you are interested in volunteering and being a chaperone for this field trip please e-mail me to let me know!  Permission forms for the field trip will be going home tomorrow!

Multiplication Algorithms

Part of Everyday Math requires students to learn different algorithms when completing multiplication problems.  Today, students learned about the "partial products" algorithm  which is a great way for students to conceptually understand multi-digit by multi-digit multiplication.  Although this may not be the strategy they ultimately choose to use, it's important for them to understand this method.  

Information regarding this strategy can be found on the following link: Free Family Resources.  Then, click on the buttons in the order listed below:

  • Algorithms in Everyday Math
  • Grade 4
  • Multiplication
  • Choose an Algorithm


Sunday, January 12, 2014

A Sneak Peek At Our Week ...

Writing:  Students will finish their James and the Giant Peach character analysis essay rough draft Tuesday this week.  They will complete paragraph #4 on Monday an paragraph #5 on Tuesday.  Students will need to rewrite or type the final draft of this essay at home.  The final draft will be due Friday.  Then, students will continue writing extended reading responses related to character change and theme for the remainder of the week.  

Reading:  Students will start a new genre study focused on Fables, Folktales, & Myths this week.  Listed below are enduring understandings of the unit:

  • How can readers distinguish between different genres?
  • How and what can readers learn from fictional stories?
  • What can readers learn about different cultures and themes from fables, folktales, and myths?
  • How do themes and morals differ in different fables, folktales, and myths?
  • How do different types of conflicts attribute to the plot of a story?
Math:  Lessons 5.4-5.7 will be instructed this week.  The Unit 5 page of the third grade website has been updated!  A unit description, games that correlate with lessons, and the Unit 5 IXL checklist can be found on this page.  

Science:  We will be continuing our Rocks & Minerals unit this week.  There are lots of great interactive resources and games for students to explore on the Unit 2: Rocks & Minerals page of the third grade website!  This week students will explore the following guiding questions and learning objectives:
  • Lesson 2: How are sediments formed? (3 days)
    • Students will observe the effects of weathering
    • Students will explain the physical effects of weathering using a model
  • Lesson 3: How are sedimentary rocks formed? (2 days)
    • Students will explain how some rocks and minerals are formed when layers of sediments pile up overtime and cement together over great pressure
Important Dates:
  • Friday, 1/17: Final Character Analysis Essay due
  • Friday, 1/17: Chicago ABC book due (we are no longer working on this in the classroom!)
  • Monday, 1/20: NO SCHOOL
  • Thursday, 1/23: Field trip to the Field Museum
  • Friday, 1/24: NO SCHOOL for students

Thursday, January 9, 2014

ABC Book Resource

Tomorrow will be students' final 'in-class work time' to work on their Chicago History ABC books.  Whatever is not completed in class tomorrow will need to be completed at home.  I'm including a link to the "Encyclopedia of Chicago History" website that includes A-Z entries of different Chicago related topics.  

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Welcome Back!

Here is a look at our shortened week this week:

Writing:  Today students began writing a character analysis essay on the shared text James and the Giant Peach.  The essay rubric and example essay (based off a model text used in the classroom) can be found on the Character Study page of the Third Grade Website.  We will be working on a paragraph a day in the classroom.  Today students completed Paragraph 1 - a summary of the text.  Students will be finished writing the rough draft next Tuesday.  After this, they will need to type, or rewrite, their final essay at home for homework.  Final essays will be due on Friday, January 17th.  

Reading: Thursday and Friday this week students will be completing benchmark assessments, as part of a CPS requirement.  Next week students will be starting a new unit on Fables, Folktales, & Myths.  

Math:  Today students began Unit 5: Big Numbers, Estimation, & Computation.  Information about this unit, including the Family Letter, can be found on the Unit 5 page of the Third Grade Website (the page will continually be updated with additional information throughout the unit!).  

Social Studies:  We have finished Unit 2 lessons and activities.  Students will have time Thursday and Friday this week to continue to work on their ABC books.  After this week, students will not have any more time in the classroom to work on them.  ABC books will be due on Friday, January 17th as well.  Please use the Unit 2 page of the third grade website for resources/information!

Science:  This week we will be starting Unit 2: Rocks & Minerals.  An overview of the unit can be found on the Third Grade Rocks & Minerals page.  This week students will complete Lesson 1 which is centered around the key question, "What are rocks made of?"

Important Dates:

  • Friday, 1/10: Quarter 2, Part 3 Projects Due
  • Friday, 1/17: Character Analysis Essays & ABC Books Due
  • Monday, 1/20: NO SCHOOL
  • Thursday, 1/23: Field Trip to the History Museum
  • Thursday, 1/23: End of Quarter
  • Friday 1/24: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

Monday, January 6, 2014

Quarter 2 Project - Due Friday

WARM wishes sent your way on this extremely cold day off from school :).  I hope you all had wonderful breaks with family and friends!

I've had a few questions regarding the Quarter 2 Project, so I wanted to update you all with some additional information: 

  • Both the triangles and the persuasive ad can be typed if your child wishes do so; however it is not required
  • PDF and Microsoft Word versions of the triangle pages can be found on the Quarter 2 Project page of the Third Grade website
  • In class we modeled how to fold and put the pyramid pieces together.  However if your child needs additional help with this, he/she may bring it into school (before the due date!)  and I can help them complete it.
As always, if you have any questions, please e-mail me so I can help, thanks!