January 15, 2016

Ms. Zurales' 3rd Grade News

January 15, 2016

ELA We will be reading another story by Patricia Polacco, When Lightning comes in a Jar. 
Students will compare the 2 stories by Patricia Polacco, focusing on character traits and traditions.

Students are working on a book report about their mystery book. 

Spelling  A spelling test was given today. A new pink “Words Their Way” spelling menu/spelling work will go home on Tuesday, 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 January 29th.  The test will also take place then.

Next week we will be conducting a classroom spelling bee. The winner and runner up will advance to the district spelling bee held on Feb 11.

Math Students will be creating a number line and practice locating fraction points between 0 and 1. They will also work on a project where they create paper beanstalks, measure them, and display length data on line plots.

Science Students are learning about the states of matter.

Important Announcements
                      

Jonathan is our Panther of the week. He likes to roller skate and cycle.

January Dates to Remember

JAN 18 - No School - Martin Luther King Day

January 8, 2016

Ms. Zurales' 3rd Grade News

January 8, 2016

ELA We are continuing our culture and traditions unit. We will finish our lesson on The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco. There will be a vocabulary test on Thursday. Students should be studying their google slides.

This month students are reading a mystery book. They will be completing a book report in class.

Spelling The pink “Words Their Way” spelling menu/spelling work went home on Monday 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 Friday.

Math Students will be solving measurement-related multi-step story problems. Next, they will begin studying fractions. There will be a measurement checkpoint on Tuesday.

Science Students are learning about the physical properties of matter. We will be looking at buoyancy next week. A homework assignment was given on Thursday. Please make sure your child has gathered their samples of matter that fit in the 5 senses categories. We will be working on a project on Wednesday using them.

Important Announcements

Maps testing will be on Tuesday and Wednesday. Make sure your child gets a good night of sleep, eats a healthy breakfast and brings a healthy snack. Please make sure that your child's chrome book is charged the night before. 

January Dates to Remember

JAN 12 - MAPS READING TESTING
JAN 12 - Math Checkpoint on Measurement

JAN 13 - MAPS MATH TESTING
JAN 13 - Samples of matter due

JAN 15 - School Improvement Day - Early Dismissal @11:30

JAN 18 - No School - Martin Luther King Day

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