December 18, 2015

Ms. Zurales' 3rd Grade News

December 18, 2015

ELA We are continuing our culture and traditions unit. We will read The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco. We will focus on character feelings, and vocabulary. 

Spelling The pink “Words Their Way” spelling menu/spelling work will go home on Monday when we return, with a new word sort. The students are required to complete 6 activities over the 2 week time period, but they are lengthier. Student's work should either be written on a sheet of notebook paper and everything stapled to the pink “menu” or completed in a word document and shared with me through google drive. Please make sure you initial the box on the menu that the work has been completed. The next due date for homework is 1/15.  The test will also take place on that date.

WIN  A quick WIN update for you all... Trimester #1 in WIN class focused on Vocabulary Studies and Skills at their level based on their MAP scores.  At our last data day, we re-grouped the 3rd grade students based on their MAP score for Informational Text (non-fiction text) Skills.  This means that as of today, your student may be switching WIN teachers and most likely will be working in a group with many different students from Trimester #1.  Since the students are grouped by skill level, they will work on reading and comprehending Informational Text at their level.  Individual teachers may be doing activities that differ from others but fit the ability level of your student.  Most classes will work with weekly Scholastic News Readers, online kids news websites, continue vocab work as it relates to informational text, and more.  Trimester #3 will be focused on Literature Skills and Comprehension.  These activities are in addition to our differentiated Core English Language Arts Curriculum based on the Common Core State Standards that all 3rd grade students participate in.

Math Students will continue their work with measurement, first investigating liquid volume and then they will have hands on opportunities to estimate mass, liquid volume, and length. They will also be solving measurement-related story problems. There will be a checkpoint quiz on time, Tuesday.

Science When we return, students will begin learning about the properties of matter. Our first lesson we will learn what matter is.

Important Announcements

Luke is our Panther of the week. He likes to ride his bike. Did you know that Luke means bringer of light.

 December/January Dates to Remember

DEC 21 - JAN 1 Winter Break
JAN 4 - December Reading Logs are due
JAN 5 - Checkpoint Quiz in Math on Time
JAN 11 - MAPS TESTING
JAN 15 - School Improvement Day - Early Dismissal @11:30
JAN 18 - No School - Martin Luther King Day

December 11, 2015

Ms. Zurales' 3rd Grade News

December 11, 2015

ELA Students will be researching with a partner a country to find out how they celebrate Christmas. They will be creating a slide presentation. Students are finishing up their December Non Fiction Reading Contracts. 

Spelling Spelling words this week are holiday words. They will go home on Monday. Students will have 2 homework assignments: pyramid words and write a sentence for each word. A test will be given on Friday.

WIN  A quick WIN update for you all... Trimester #1 in WIN class focused on Vocabulary Studies and Skills at their level based on their MAP scores.  At our last data day, we re-grouped the 3rd grade students based on their MAP score for Informational Text (non-fiction text) Skills.  This means that as of today, your student may be switching WIN teachers and most likely will be working in a group with many different students from Trimester #1.  Since the students are grouped by skill level, they will work on reading and comprehending Informational Text at their level.  Individual teachers may be doing activities that differ from others but fit the ability level of your student.  Most classes will work with weekly Scholastic News Readers, online kids news websites, continue vocab work as it relates to informational text, and more.  Trimester #3 will be focused on Literature Skills and Comprehension.  These activities are in addition to our differentiated Core English Language Arts Curriculum based on the Common Core State Standards that all 3rd grade students participate in.

Math We began a new Unit on Time and Mass. Students will investigate time and mass. Next week they will practice telling time and begin working with elapsed time. They will also look at what is capacity.

Social Studies  We will be learning about community leaders.

Maddie is our Panther of the week. She likes to Paint.     
Did you know she can Boogie Board in the Ocean?

Important December Dates & Announcements

17 - Bowling Trip 9-11:15am

18 - Spelling Homework due and Test

  18 - Trip to Ogden 6 11-2pm
DEC 21 - JAN 1 Winter Break

December 4, 2015

Ms. Zurales' 3rd Grade News

December 4, 2015

ELA Students are working on their December Non Fiction Reading Contracts. Grammar lessons will focus on verbs: action, helping and linking.

Spelling The pink “Words Their Way” spelling menu/spelling work has changed.   The students are required to complete 6 activities over the 2 week time period, but they are lengthier. Student's work should either be written on a sheet of notebook paper and everything stapled to the pink “menu” or completed in a word document and shared with me through google drive. Please make sure you initial the box on the menu that the work has been completed. The next due date for homework is 12/11.  The test will also take place on that date.   

Math Students will be continue working with algorithm subtraction. Wednesday, 12/9, is the test date for Unit 3. A study guide went home today. Please make sure your child completes this as it will greatly help in preparing for the test. Please review the study guide with your child after they complete it. The answer key will go home on Monday.

Social Studies There will be a test on Downers Grove on Tuesday. Our next lessons will focus on local government. 

Important December Dates & Announcements

8 - Test on Downers Grove 
9 - Unit 3 Math Test
11 - Spelling Homework Activities due - all six
11 - Spelling Test

November 24, 2015

Ms. Zurales' 3rd Grade News

November 24, 2015

ELA We will begin a new unit: What is Culture? We'll introduce the unit with a close read of the song "Circle of Life" from the Lion King.

Biography book contracts are due on or before December 1st. Please remember students only have to do 2 tasks in each column.  Next month, we'll be reading non fiction books.

Spelling The pink “Words Their Way” spelling menu/spelling work has changed.  Please check it out on Monday, 11/30, when your child brings it home.  I am requiring only 6 activities over the 2 week time period, but they are lengthier.   Student's work should either be written on a sheet of notebook paper and everything stapled to the pink “menu” or completed in a word document and shared with me through google drive. Please make sure you initial the box on the menu that the work has been completed. The next due date for homework is 12/11.  The test will also take place on that date.   

Math Students will be working with expanded notation and algorithm addition and subtraction. Wednesday, 12/9, is the tentative test date for Unit 3.

Social Studies We will continue to learn about modern day Downers Grove.

Important November Dates & Announcements

25 -27 - Thanksgiving Break - Happy Thanksgiving!
12/17 - 3rd grade bowling trip

12/18 - Last day before holiday break!

November 20, 2015

Ms. Zurales' 3rd Grade News

November 20, 2015

ELA Students will be performing their biography presentations. They are finishing their November Reading Contracts. They are due on December 1.

Spelling There will be no spelling homework next week. New word sorts will go home on Monday, November 30th.

Math On Monday students will have a graded checkpoint over the number line subtration strategies and estimation. A study guide went home today. Please review it with your child.

Social Studies We will be learning about modern day Downers Grove.

Important November Dates & Announcements

John in our Panther of the week. He likes to run around the house.  Did you know he has an arcade machine.

Our field trip to Downers Grove was awesome!

November Dates to Remember

23 - Biography Person Presentation - Bring artifacts
23 - Math Graded Checkpoint
25 - 27 Thanksgiving Break - Happy Thanksgiving

November 13, 2015

Ms. Zurales' 3rd Grade News

November 13, 2015

ELA We will focus on biographies. Students will be filling in a biography graphic organizer and making a trading card for the person they are researching. Students will be coming home this weekend with a turkey body that they will have to decorate to make the turkey disguised. Next week they will be completing a persuasive writing piece convincing readers that their turkey is not really a turkey. Language lessons will continue to focus on prefixes and suffixes.

Students are busy reading a biography of their choice. They have started their November non fiction independent reading contract.

Spelling New spelling sorts went home on Tuesday. All 7 spelling homework activities, should be attached to the Spelling Homework Sheet and turned in on Friday, November 20, which is the day of the assessment.

Math  Next week students will be working on problems designed to bring students deeper understanding of the difference strategy. They will be selecting the best estimate for a subtraction problems, and working with subtraction strategies. 

Social Studies We will learn about the underground railroad in Downers Grove.

Important November Dates & Announcements

Emily in our Panther of the week. She likes to dance. Did you know she biked in the Woodridge Triathlon?

November Dates to Remember

19 - Field Trip - History of Downers Grove 
25 - 27 Thanksgiving Break

November 5, 2015

Ms. Zurales' 3rd Grade News

November 5, 2015

ELA We will focus on biographies. Students will be introduced to biographies by reading the biography of Bill Melendez. They will be completing an interactive timeline on the person they chose to read about for the month of November. Language lessons will focus on prefixes and suffixes.

Students are busy reading a biography of their choice. They will be completing a November non fiction independent reading contract.

Spelling An assessment was given today. New spelling sorts will go home on Tuesday. All 7 spelling homework activities, should be attached to the Spelling Homework Sheet and turned in on Friday, November 18, which is the day of the assessment.

Math  Next week students will be learning strategies to solve 3 digit addition and subtraction story problems. 

Social Studies We will continue to learn about the history of Downers Grove. We will learn about Chief Waubonsee and Israel Blodgett.

Important November Dates & Announcements

Thank you for taking the time to discuss your child's progress with me. I enjoyed meeting so many of you this week. 

If anyone has a veteran in their family, we are inviting veterans to come into PV on Veteran's Day, 11/11, to say the Pledge of Allegiance with our students.  If you do, please let me or Mr. Pagel know.

We are also looking for a parent representative to help our PBIS team by organizing various charitable events throughout the school year.  Let me know if you are interested and I'll connect you with the appropriate people.  

November Dates to Remember

  6 - No School -P/T Conference Comp Day
  9 - No School - Teacher Institute
11 - Veteran's Day - Recognition of our Veterans begins with the Pledge of Allegiance
19 - Field Trip - History of Downers Grove 
25 - 27 Thanksgiving Break

October 30, 2015

Ms. Zurales' 3rd Grade News

October 30, 2015

ELA Students will continue discussing myths. We will learn about the Gods Demeter and Persephone. Students will have to identify the claim in the myth and then find evidence to support it. 

Next week students will begin working on a non fiction biography selection for their next independent reading contract. They were given time during library checkout on Friday to pick out a biography.

Spelling New spelling sorts went home on Monday. All 7 spelling homework activities, should be attached to the Spelling Homework Sheet and turned in on Thursday, November 5 which is the day of the assessment.

Math  An assessment on Unit 2 was given today. Students will begin Unit 3, Multi Addition & Subtraction next week. They will be introduced to the idea of rounding 2 and 3 digit numbers to the nearest ten and nearest hundred.

Social Studies Next week will begin to study the history of Downers Grove.

Important October Dates & Announcements

Thank you to Mrs. Wauwo for coordinating our Halloween Party. Also, thank you to Mrs. Koniecko, Mrs. Sarno, Mrs. Narejko, Mrs. Rossi, Mrs. Rerucha and Mrs. Mesker for foods, drinks, party supplies and the activities. The students had an awesome time!

Abeer in our Panther of the week. She likes to ice skate. Her mom and dad are her heroes because they help her whenever she needs it.

Conferences for home room students’ parents are next week. I look forward to meeting you. 

November Dates to Remember

 2 - Parent/Teacher Conferences
 3 - Parent/Teacher Conferences 
 4 - Parent/Teacher Conferences
 5 - Spelling Test and homework activities are due
 6 - No School -P/T Conference Comp Day

October 23, 2015

Ms. Zurales' 3rd Grade News

October 23, 2015

ELA Students will finish typing and editing their persuasive writing piece, selling a haunted house. They will also be sharing them. We will also begin discussing Myths. We will read about King Midas and Leonidas and the 12 Gods.

Students are actively reading their good fit books during Read to Self.  The entire book must be read before continuing the rest of the Independent Reading Contract.  Ask your child about their contract. The October contract and activities will be due on October 30.

Spelling An assessment was given today. New spelling sorts will go home on Monday. All 7 spelling homework activities, should be attached to the Spelling Homework Sheet and turned in on Thursday, November 5 which is the day of the assessment.

Math  Students will gain experience with different types of graphs and organize data into tables, picture graphs, bar graphs, and line plots. There will be a study guide going home for Unit 2 on Monday. The Post Assessment will be given on Friday. Please make sure to go over the study guide with your child.

Science A study guide for Ch 9 went home on Thursday. There will be a test given on the entire chapter, The Water Cycle, on Wednesday. Please make sure your child reviews all the worksheets, quizzes, text, as well as the study guide to prepare for the test.

Important October Dates & Announcements

Marcin in our Panther of the week. He likes to play soccer and ride his scooter. Did you know he speaks polish?

Conferences for home room students’ parents will be held the first week of November.  An invitation to sign up has been sent by email. Please take time if you haven't already to sign up.

Halloween:

The Halloween party and parade will be on Friday, October 30th. The party is at 1:10. The parade will begin at 2:10.

Please keep in mind the following guidelines when helping your child pick out a Halloween costume:

1. We only have 15 minutes for costume changes. Please make sure your child can change into his/her costume easily and by themselves. If the costume can be worn over their clothes, then both the time to change and the chances of losing any clothes is minimized.

2. If the costume involves make up, please apply it before your child comes to school. If you send your child in with make up, then your child has to be able to apply it themselves. 

3. Please do not send any weapons (guns, swords, etc.) as part of the costume. Save those for trick-or-treating.

4. We will not have time to change back into our clothes for dismissal. Your child will wear their costume home.

October Dates to Remember

28 - Ch 9 Science Test
30 - Unit 2 Math Assessment
30- Independent Reading Contract due
30 - Halloween party (1:10) and parade (2:10)

October 16, 2015

Ms. Zurales' 3rd Grade News

October 16, 2015

ELA Students will continue writing their persuasive writing piece, selling a haunted house. We are focusing on good descriptive language.

Students are actively reading their good fit books during Read to Self.  The entire book must be read before continuing the rest of the Independent Reading Contract.  The October contract and activities will be due on October 30.

Spelling New spelling sorts went home on Tuesday. Students are being asked to choose a different activity from the Spelling Homework sheet to complete each night (Mon-Thurs) to help them master their spelling words. Once your child has completed the activity, please place the activity in their spelling folder and initial the activity square. There are only 7 activities this week, due to Columbus Day. They should be attached to the Spelling Homework Sheet and turned in on Friday, October 23, which is the day of the assessment.

Math  We wil continue the chapter on multiplication, focusing on the strategies. 

Science Next week we will focus on Lesson 3, Weather. There will be a study guide for Ch 9 sent home next week too. 

Important October Dates & Announcements

Thanks to the following families for the gift certificates to purchase books at the book fair:  The Majchrzak Familiy, The Rerucha Family, and the Wauro Family.  I picked out some great books for our class library! Thanks so much!

 Conferences for home room students’ parents will be held the first week of November.  Sign ups will be coming out soon.

Halloween:

The Halloween party and parade will be on Friday, October 30th. The party is at 1:10. The parade will begin at 2:10.

Please keep in mind the following guidelines when helping your child pick out a Halloween costume:

1. We only have 15 minutes for costume changes. Please make sure your child can change into his/her costume easily and by themselves. If the costume can be worn over their clothes, then both the time to change and the chances of losing any clothes is minimized.

2. If the costume involves make up, please apply it before your child comes to school. If you send your child in with make up, then your child has to be able to apply it themselves. 

3. Please do not send any weapons (guns, swords, etc.) as part of the costume. Save those for trick-or-treating.

4. We will not have time to change back into our clothes for dismissal. Your child will wear their costume home.

October Dates to Remember

23 - Spelling Homework Activities Due - all 7
23 - Spelling Test

30 - Halloween party (1:10) and parade (2:10)

October 9, 2015

Ms. Zurales' 3rd Grade News

October 9, 2015

ELA We will focus on the fable Tortoise and the Hare. We will compare the story video with the commercial video. We will be looking at the videos through the 3 lenses (3 levels of questioning), each time viewing the video for a different purpose. For language, we will continue with descriptive writing, with the focus being on sensory words. Students will also start a persuasive writing piece. They will create a sales pitch for a haunted house.

Spelling An assessment was given today. New spelling sorts will go home on Tuesday. Students are being asked to choose a different activity from the Spelling Homework sheet to complete each night (Mon-Thurs) to help them master their spelling words. Once your child has completed the activity, please place the activity in their spelling folder. If the activity does not require something to be handed in, please initial the activity square. All 8 activities, should be attached to the Spelling Homework Sheet and turned in on Friday, October 23, which is the day of the assessment.

Math  A  quick checkpoint assessment will be given on Tuesday that focuses on the multiplication concepts they have been working on.  Students will continue to deepen their understanding of multiplication. They will make cube trains and paper strips to show the multiples of 2-10. They will solve problems where they use relationships to place either a multiplication problem or a product on a number line. 

Science Next week we will continue studying the water cycle. We will conduct an experiment where we can see the water cycle in motion. We will also have an open book graded review.

Important October Dates & Announcements

Jace was our our Panther of the Week.

Did you know he likes to play football and baseball. His dad is also his hero because he works hard for his family.

Halloween:

The Halloween party and parade will be on Friday, October 30th. The party is at 1:10. The parade will begin at 2:10.

Please keep in mind the following guidelines when helping your child pick out a Halloween costume:

1. We only have 15 minutes for costume changes. Please make sure your child can change into his/her costume easily and by themselves. If the costume can be worn over their clothes, then both the time to change and the chances of losing any clothes is minimized.

2. If the costume involves make up, please apply it before your child comes to school. If you send your child in with make up, then your child has to be able to apply it themselves. 

3. Please do not send any weapons (guns, swords, etc.) as part of the costume. Save those for trick-or-treating.

4. We will not have time to change back into our clothes for dismissal. Your child will wear their costume home.

October Dates to Remember

12 - No School - Columbus Day
13 - Checkpoint Assessment in Math
30 - Halloween party (1:10) and parade (2:10)