September 23-27

Reading: Students worked hard applying the problem and solution skill to various texts including The Perfect Pet, and “Pets: True or False”.  Each text followed the weekly theme of people and their pets.  Multiple meaning words were discussed and practiced in context.  Diagrams were the text features analyzed this week.  Students learned how diagrams help them understand the meaning of the text.  We also did a close reading activity with the poem “My Neighbor’s Cat” where we determined different character traits. Reading Logs are due Monday, September 30.  (100 minutes)

Math: We continued practicing function boxes by analyzing patterns and rules.  Number stories were another main focus for the week.  Students worked on solving number stories with the problem solving steps and different diagrams.  Total-part-part, start-change-end, and quantity-quantity-difference were the diagrams students used.  The partial sums addition method was practiced, in addition to the trade-first and counting up method.  The unit 2 test will be next Thursday, October 3.  A review guide will be going home next week.

Social Studies: At the beginning of the week, students worked hard reviewing for their map skills unit test.  Students also shared their wonderful map projects!  It was very enjoyable to see all the interesting ideas and hard work students put into the projects.  Today, students learned about mental, pictorial, and physical models.  They made their own physical models of favorite animals using clay.  Next week, we will begin our first science unit: habitats!

Writing: Students continued working on the skill of focus.  They wrote about a time when they laughed and used tiny details to describe the moment.  In grammar, we worked on combining sentences to form compound sentences, which included a connecting word and a comma.

Cursive/Spelling:  In cursive this week, students practiced the letters “m, x, y and z”.  We took our week 5 spelling test.  Next week will be a review week for spelling.  We will not have spelling homework and the test will be multiple-choice.

Miscellaneous:  This week, students enjoyed a visit from Lieutenant Larson, an Arlington Heights fireman.  He shared many important tips and rules about fire safety.  Thursday, October 3 is picture day!  If you wish to order pictures, please send in your order forms.  Thank you again for all your continued support at home.  Have a great weekend!

This week, in 3-2...

September 16- September 20, 2013

Reading: We continued practicing the reading strategy of main ideas and details. Students worked hard to identify detail sentences that would help them discover the main idea of a paragraph. They recorded their ideas in a main idea and details chart. “Life in Antarctica” and Penguin Chick were read in conjunction with the weekly theme: Antarctic Life. We analyzed the poem “In Praise for Penguins” with a close

reading activity. Students determined the author’s purpose with evidence from the text. Homographs were also a focus. Students found various definitions for the same word and showed their meanings through sentences.

Reading Logs are due Monday, September 23. (100 minutes)

Math: As we began unit 2, students discovered different kinds of fact families. Students practiced using fact triangles to help them learn their basic facts. They also analyzed various fact extensions by finding patterns. At the end of the week, students completed function boxes by following various rules and solved total-part-part number stories. We continue to have 2 fact tests a week. Please remind your child to be

practicing their facts at home…thank you for your support!

Social Studies: By looking at a map of downtown Washington D.C., students learned how to use the metro system! They also worked on identifying various lines and transfer stops. Students also used map grids and indexes to locate points of interest on a map of Brazil. We are all looking forward to sharing the students’ creative country projects next week! Our map skills unit test will be on Tuesday, September 24. A

review guide went home today.

Writing: In WEX, students learned how to give specific feedback to classmates by using various response starters. They also started working on their first skill: focus. We practiced focusing on a single moment in time by using careful observation and tiny details. In grammar, we worked on identifying the predicate in a sentence.

Cursive/Spelling: In cursive this week, students practiced the letters “n and o”. We took our week 4 spelling test.

Miscellaneous: We enjoyed a wonderful presentation by Steve Cotler, the author of Cheesie Mack is Not a Genius or Anything! Students learned about the writing process and how authors create characters. They practiced character analysis with Mr. Cotler using the main characters from his book series. As always, please let me know if you have any questions. Have a fantastic weekend!

This Week...

September 9- September 13, 2013

Reading: In reading, students focused on nonfiction pieces of text.  Many of the selections came from the magazine, Time for Kids.  Students practiced the reading strategy of finding main ideas and details.  “Home Sweet Harlem” and “Who’s Habitat is it” were pieces of text that followed the weekly theme of building communities.  We used a web to help us visualize how the details of a nonfiction piece support the author’s main idea.  Reading Logs are due Monday, September 16.  (100 minutes)

Math: Exact change and estimation were discussed using money.  Students practiced representing change with pictures and analyzing number patterns with frames and arrows problems.  They also reviewed other major concepts from unit 1.  A review guide went home on Wednesday.  Our unit 1 math test was today and we will be starting unit 2 next week!

Social Studies: Students learned how to use a physical map to determine various landforms across the country.  They also learned how to use map scales to find accurate distances from one place to another.  On Thursday, we discussed the country project, which students will create at home.  A list of guidelines and directions were sent home, as well as a piece of white construction paper.  These country projects will be due on Friday, September 20.  I am looking forward to seeing the students’ creative ideas!

Writing: We started our writing program: The Writer’s Express (WEX)!  Students enjoyed learning about the writer’s mindset, the rules for writing, and how to “show” readers with their words.   We also discussed how to share our work and provide positive feedback to classmates.  In grammar, we worked on identifying the subject in a sentence.

Cursive/Spelling:  In cursive this week, students practiced the letters “c, d, q, and g”.  We took our week 3 spelling test.

Miscellaneous:  We had another great week!  Students were very excited to name our class hermit crabs: Scooter and Hermit!  The crabs will help us understand more about habitats in our upcoming science unit.  Just a reminder, book orders are due on September 27.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and please let me know if you have any questions!

This Week, In 3-2...

September 3 - September 6, 2013

Reading: Students read our main selection, Dear Juno.  In order to find out character traits, students found text clues to support their ideas.  They learned that Juno was a clever young boy by analyzing his actions throughout the story.  Students also practiced their reading fluency by focusing on expression, punctuation, accuracy, and medium speed.  At the end of the week, we revisited a National Geographic article on bats.  Students determined the author’s purpose and provided evidence from the text.  We continued to practice using context clues to figure out unknown vocabulary. Reading Logs are due Monday, September 9.  (100 minutes)

Math: Students utilized number grids to find differences between various numbers.  They practiced using calculators to solve “change-to” problems where a number is given and needs to be changed to a new number.  Students were responsible for figuring out how to get to the new number using a variety of operations.  Money concepts were also reviewed at the end of the week.  Students wrote different amounts in dollar-cents notation.

Social Studies: Hemispheres were a main focus this week.  Students learned that the equator and prime meridian divide our world into four different hemispheres.  They continued utilizing cardinal and intermediate directions to interpret various maps.

Writing: Students finished their juicy sentence projects!  They enjoyed incorporating interesting adjectives and adverbs to create informative sentences.  In grammar, we differentiated between exclamations and commands.

Cursive/Spelling:  In cursive this week, students practiced the letters “p, s, r, j, and a”.  We took our week 2 spelling test.

Miscellaneous: I hope you all had a restful holiday weekend!  September book order forms went home this week.  If you choose to order, please send a check or order online.  Thanks for supporting our classroom library!  Also, Flat Stanley information was sent home on Thursday…please let me know if you have difficulty finding someone who would like to participate in this project.   If you need to order a recorder from Mr. Deptula, please send in your form and money as soon as possible.  Thank you again for all your hard work this week…I truly appreciate your support in helping your child get into the routine of a new school year.  As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions!

This Week, in 3-2...

August 26- August 30, 2013

Reading: We started the first week of our Treasures reading program! Students

worked on identifying the plot of a story. First Day Jitters was our main selection. As

we read, we looked for main characters, the setting, and the beginning, middle, and

end. We practiced figuring out unknown vocabulary using context clues. Students also

identified and formed compound words. At the end of the week, students read a

National Geographic article about bats. We focused on identifying the main ideas of

the selection, as well as recording our own thinking about the information in a double

entry reading log.

Reading Logs are due Tuesday, September 3. (100 minutes)

Math: This week, we dove into our first math unit. Students reviewed number

sequences and patterns. They also practiced using their number grids to solve addition

and subtraction problems. In addition, students had the opportunity to explore their

student reference books. They were very excited to see the types of resources available

in the book. At the end of the week, students explored different ways to write

equivalent names for numbers. The first fact tests of the year were also given. Please

remind your child to be practicing their basic facts at home. In general, fact tests will

be given twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays).

Social Studies: Students explored our first social studies unit: map skills! They

looked at a variety of maps, including community maps. They compared and

contrasted maps and aerial photographs. Cardinal and intermediate directions were

reviewed, in addition to the location of the seven continents.

Writing: In writing, we discussed letter form. Students learned the various

components of a letter, including greetings, indents, closings, and dates. They applied

their knowledge to write a letter to their parents, outlining the first week of school! In

grammar, students differentiated between sentences and fragments. Students also

worked on sentence elaboration by learning the importance of including details. They

realized that if the writer does not use specific words, the reader cannot form an

accurate picture in his or her mind. Students experimented with this idea by starting to

create their own juicy sentences about a favorite animal.

Cursive/Spelling: In cursive this week, students worked on making the various

strokes required for many of the lowercase letters. They also wrote the lower case “i, t,

u, and w”. We took our week 1 spelling test.

Miscellaneous: I had a wonderful time meeting many of you on Curriculum Night! I

truly appreciate your support and enthusiasm for the upcoming school year. Please

remind your child to bring a water bottle to school in order to help him/her stay

hydrated during this hot weather. Just a reminder, there will be no school on Monday

(Labor Day holiday). Please let me know if you have any questions. Enjoy the long

weekend!