HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

A huge thank-you to everyone for the generous and kind notes, cards, and gifts.  I can't express my gratitude enough to you all.  Thank you so much, it is very much appreciated! :)

I hope you all have wonderful holiday breaks and enjoy time with family and friends!

Social Studies Quiz & Alphabet Book

There will be a social studies quiz this Friday.  Students will be allowed to use their text to complete this assessment.  Today, a study guide went home to help students additionally review if they choose to.  Notecards and answers to the study guide do not have to be turned in!

Also, by this Friday, if students do not have 15 alphabet book pages completed, they will need to work on them over break so that 15 are finished when they return.  Alphabet book pages, an example page, and the project rubric can be found on the Unit 2: How Chicago Came to Be page!  

Quarter 2, Part 3 Project

For Part 3 of this project, students will be choosing an endangered species to research more about.  By Thursday, students will need a list of their top 5 endangered animal choices to research.  Because there can be no "repeat animals" in the class, students will make their final selection on Thursday.

On Thursday, students will also be bringing home the colored paper/construction paper they will need to create the pyramid (this is what they'll glue the pyramid piece to!).  They do not have to use this paper, however.  If your child wants to use a different type of paper, the dimensions of each square should be 12" by 12".  

A great list of endangered species can be found on this website - Endangered Species List.  

Also, additional research links can be found on the Helpful Links page of the third grade website which students can use to research more about their animal.  (There are vocabulary resources on this page as well which will help your child with their vocabulary packets!)

A Sneak Peek At Our Week ...

Reading:  This week is our final week with the James and the Giant Peach character study.  Students will complete their final reading response log, vocabulary packet, and comprehension/vocabulary quiz this Friday.  We will also be watching the movie version of this story on Friday as well.  Lessons this week will focus on theme.  This is a very challenging, and very important, concept for students to learn!  Lessons focused on theme will continually be instructed throughout the year.  

Writing:  Students will continue to practice writing reading responses this week.  Students will focus on revising their work, making sure they explain their text evidence thoroughly.  Examples of responses, including an example one, can be found on the Third Grade Website.  (The third component - voice - will not be instructed until we return from break!)

Math:  We will be starting Unit 5 after winter break.  Our focus this week will be on creating extended math responses.  However, your child can continue to review and practice IXL skills at home!

Social Studies:  This will be our final week of Unit 2: How Chicago Came to Be in social studies, and will be starting science when we return from break.  Students will continue to be working on their Chicago ABC books in class this week (the rubric for this project can be found online!).  By the end of this week, students should have about 15 pages of their books completed.    There will be an open-book quiz over material in this unit on Friday.  

Important Dates:

• This week is Spirit Week!  Please read the previous post about the different themes and focuses each day!
• If you have not signed and turned in your child's progress report (only the bottom portion), please do so as soon as possible!
• Quarter Project 2, Part 3 was sent home today!  The due date for this final portion is Friday, January 10th.  

James and the Giant Peach Character Study

This is a picture of a student reading James and the Giant Peach.  We are reading this to find character changes in James.  In the first couple chapters he has changed from depressed to brave. An example is when he went in the tunnel in the peach.  We will finish the book next week and watch the movie.

Written By: Blake C.

Math Homework - Extended Response

Because students will not have math study links for Wednesday and Thursday night, they will be completing a math extended response instead.  A document containing information about steps of a response are posted on the Third Grade website.  An example copy of a response will be posted soon!

Progress Reports

Tonight your child will be bringing home his/her progress report.  Please go over it with them and sign and have the bottom portion signed and returned by this Friday!